Unforeseeable by Nancy Mehl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series Road to Kingdom, book #3"Unforseeable" by Nancy Mehl

Romance and mystery the ending is Unforseeable, you will be quite surprised...I know I was.

This book begins with a body being found and an investigation soon follows leaving the folks in Kingdom feeling a little unsecure.  A feeling that this little community was not used to.  They were a close knit group of folks and most spent time at the resturant where Lizzie says "Murder and Meatloaf just don't go together".
Callie Hoffman grew up in Kingdom Kansas with a very strict father after her Mother left them years ago.  She was just beginning to see life a little differently after her father dies and Levi ask her to marry him..Callie has loved Levi since she as just a little girl and never thought he would ever take a second look at her.
Life has its ups and downs even in Kingdom and you will enjoy reading this story that Nancy writes so well.


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Return to Me by Lynn Austin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Return to Me", book #1 in series The Restoration Chronicles by Lynn Austin

Lynn brings the old Testament to vibrant life as she tells the story of the exile to Babylon for the jews of Jerusalem and their return to build God's temple..

Iddo has had nighmares of the exile and what he saw as a child when his family was lost to him.  In exile he married his beautiful Dinah and they had sons that grew up away from the temple and their beloved lands, many though taught of the God of their father had grown distant in a distant land, one grandson Zechariah whom all called Zaki showed much promise in his love of the Lord and was put to studying the Torah at a young age.  He loved his grandfather, there seem to be a special bond between the two throughout this story.
Iddo was a strict man leaning on the rules of God more then his Love and it worried Dinah, I felt she helped him see God is Love and though laws need to be kept -compassion and love must be there too.
Zaki was fond of a young girl named Yael who was fearless it seemed, she lost her Mother at a young age and as her mother was dying even a seer was used to help her, Yael became enamored by the woman and was taught some of her ways to read the stars.  Yael grew up growing away from God and leaning towards the way of the world.  Zaki cared for her always and tried to show her how she was dabbling in something that could get her stoned were the jews to know she was doing it.
Will God remain true to Zaki as he befriends this girl who is not a true believer?
After an exile of almost 70 yrs the jews were told they could go back to Jerusalem and would be given the treasures of Gold that has been taken from them so they could build God's temple.  Many had become conplacent living in Babylon and didn't want to go, even Iddo's sons. Zaki was given the choice to make if he wanted to go with his grandfather or stay. He had a vision on the day of his bar mitzmah and chose to go knowing in his heart that God wanted this.
Zaki spent much of his youth studying the Torah and he and Yael grew apart.
When they returned to the lands of Jerusalem they had many problems with the samaritans and were unable to build the temple for many years.  Their hearts remained true to God though and they knew one day it would be built.
Dinah worked as a midwife and saved life of a young samaritan girls baby when they would have let it die,the child had a crippled foot and girls were not that important to the samaritans. Dinah took it home with her and adopted the baby loving her and helping her grow into a beautiful young lady.

I felt like I was walking the streets of old through this book and the ways of our past generations became close for me.  I am thankful that Lynn has done so much research and made this story come to life.

I received this book from the Bookclub network and Bethany Publishing to read and review, thank you.


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Fired Up by Mary Connealy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mary Connealy series Trouble in Texas book #2"Fired Up"

Mary has a way with western stories, living on a ranch in Nebraska probably helps some too.  I know I am going to scratch my head and wonder, now why did she put that in there but she always manages to pull her characters out of danger and make them move lovable to her readers.
This series is about Regulators grp that teamed up together while they were in Andersonville Prison camp that came about in Ga at the time of War between the states, Dare-Luke-Vince&Jonas tried to keep law and order among the prisoners there.
Dare had doctoring experience-Luke some of lawyering and Jonas was the clergy of the group.  Somehow they all ended up in Broken Wheel and you are in for an adventure in this book.  Glynna has two children and wants to run a diner to support them- yet she cannot cook...The town didn't care because she sure was "Purty" to look at.
We will read about an avalanche and a fire that almost kills Dare and then he gets shot, who is trying to kill him?  Big question of the day and many are trying to find the answer.
 Everyone knows when a doctor who attracts danger and falls for a cook who is determined she will not come under the spell of a man again, there is going to be "Trouble in Texas".

I received this book from the Bookclub network and BethanyHouse publishing to read and review...Thank you


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An Untamed Heart by Lauraine Snelling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An Untamed Heart by Lauraine Snelling


This book was a prequel to the Red River of the North series that I had read before and knew I wanted to learn more about the character of Ingeborg Strand....Lauraine took me back with ease and I loved getting to know the young girl before she came to America.
If you love reading about strong families you are going to love this story.  I loved the way the whole family loved and helped one another esp when they went to the high mountains in the summers and worked there.  Most were just young kids but they had awesome responsiblilities and they did not shirk their chores, each knew what they were to do and if they didn't, they learned from older ones.

Ingeborg loved the mountains and the outdoors more then anything and when she came up to the mountains she excelled.  It was here that she met Nils, a young man that had been trapped after a bad fall and she and her family rescued him and nursed him back to health.  He had been a little spoiled by his family when he had came to the area but grew up a lot after seeing all that the family did.  He fell in Love with Ingeborg and they were to see one another again when he returned home to his family.

I won't tell you all there is between Nils and Ingeborg you will see for yourself as you read this story and if you are like me you will cry before the story is finished.
I am sure I will go back one day and re-read some of the early books of when Ingeborg came to America.

I was given this book by Bethany Publishing to read and review and thank you so much for the opportunity to do so.


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The Wedding Kiss by Hannah Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Wedding Kiss by Hannah Alexander


My first read by this author and really loved the story, it will make you want to keep reading even when you get to end of chapter...

This was a marriage of convenience wasn't it???? What a kiss after being proclaimed husband and wife, Keara looked at Elam thinking oh my what have I got myself into...

They were friends so when she found out her home farm had been gambled away and she would have no where to go she turned to her friend first.  Marry me Elam because you need the help with your children and home and I need a home...This was supposed to be a marriage of convenience to both.

You will enjoy reading this wonderful story that has adventure along with the romance and keeps you on your toes to see what will happen next.  I look forward to another book from this author.


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White Christmas in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

White Christmas in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad


A trip back to Dry Creek is always fun catching up with the small town folks.  This book is loaded with dragons-prince's and princess's along with the holidays-snow and a Christmas play at the local church with a mean old King.
Renee had recently came back to this community with her little girl to heal some old hurts and start anew...she doesn't want any handsome prince to disrupt her life but here he is on her front porch and needing help..
Can she help and not get involved?  But..Tessie one little girl that does want a prince in her life is determined they will help.
Rusty Calhoun has come back to town after many years and knows the prayers of mrs Hargrove's put him on this path.  When he opened his eyes and saw angel wings he was sure he was in the right place.  If only others in the town will agree.
You will enjoy reading another wonderful story by Janet about small town folks that open their hearts, I know I did.


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The Doctor's Christmas Quilt by Kathi Macias
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Doctors's Christmas Quilt written by Kathi Macias



Author Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 40 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and was the 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net. Her novel set in China, Red Ink, was named Golden Scrolls 2011 Novel of the Year and was also a Carol Award Finalist; her October 2012 release, Unexpected Christmas Hero, was named 2012 Book of the Year by BookandAuthors.net. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband.

This book combines a Mothers Love with pro-life issues, adding historical issue told story form of the first American Dr who was a woman and of her struggles to become one....

A surprise weekend Megan comes home from med school to talk to her Mom earlier then she had planned as Thanksgiving was soon and she could have just waited til then. Megan faces many changes after learning she is pregnant after she breaks up with boyfriend,Alex.  She wants and needs to talk about how she will handle the changes.

Mother and daughter are very close after they lost two of their family, Husband-Father,Son-brother.

Dr Laura Branson is a workaholic and works in a clinic for the poor, sometimes so busy she forgets to eat.
When Dr Laura finally takes some time and stops at a friends gift shop for lunch she hears the story told by the owner,Jenny of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman American Doctor, she weaves her story while working on a Quilt with bits and pieces of her life.  When finished it will go to one who should have it, not known till it is finished.

I think this story will make you think of many things as you read the pages but mainly Forgivness and Faith are at the forefront.

I received this book from New Hope Publishers and the Bookclub Network to read and review, Thank you


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Love Stays True by Martha   Rogers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series The Homeward Journey-book #1 "Love Stays True" by Martha Rogers

Can Sallie and Manfred overcome the distance that the war has put between them and find Love?

This question looms as we read the story...Sallie waiting day after day not knowing if Manfred is alive or dead.
Manfred along with his brother Edwin are in a prisoner of war camp being treated worse then animals, the only good spot in their dismal days with meager food is one soldier has a moment of kindness and returns their Bibles to those that had them.  I believe that the faith of these men helped them to get through unspeakable conditions in war times.
The war finally ends after many long years and many lives gone, many disabled.
Manfred and Edwin start their long journey home by foot and it is amazing to read of the many kind and helpful folks they find along the way.  It had been a trying time for all yet they would offer food and lodging thus restoring the mens faith in their fellow men.  Both young men wanted to repay kindness and helped along the way.  Hearts that could have been bitter filled with love....
On the homefront families had been torn apart, homes lost, fear at every corner as folks tried to live their lives and rebuild what once they had.  Sallie stays true to her feelings for Manfred and though she hears little from him, believes he will return and she will wait for that day.
Martha told a wonderful story about life after the Civil war of folks waiting at home and of the soldiers returning.
I was given this book by The Booketeria to read and review...I have enjoyed reading it.


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