The Calling of Ella McFarland by Linda Brooks Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Calling of Ella McFarland written by Linda Brooks Davis

Linda is a first prize winner of the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild Operation First Novel Contest..
A first but I am sure not the last of this authors books.

A calling,This is what the Bible tells us of this:Romans 8:28

~And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.~

Ella has a strong dream and has worked toward the purpose of being a teacher,she feels this is what she should do with her life and works hard toward this goal. The Worthington School for Girls is the elite place for the girls that are well off. She has always felt this is where she should teach so when they do not accept her, she is devastated. The only good thing about her visits there with the board is that she met the newest member , Andrew.
Andrew wanted to court Ella but she was sure she should have a school and teach young girls so she started with one Lily that worked in the fields. Lily was the young abused daughter of a sharecropper. She brought Lily to her home -bathed and fed her-then started helping in anyway that she could to better the girls life. This caused her fathers abuse to be even worse not wanting charity from others.
Frank was a childhood friend that she had known many years but He proved false in his doings as an adult and hurt her in many ways...unbeknownst to her -he went after her sister secretly and caused so much heartache for the family and also the community.
The early 1900's brought Hope of Oklahoma statehood and the women's suffrage debate is raging, Ella meets women working in this and feels led to make her voice heard as she speaks for those that can't. Education is her heart's desire but there is also another desire that she cannot deny , Andrew pursues her and lets her know he is willing to let her do and be whatever she feels she has to do.
God's will is so important to Ella...She is a strong determined woman that will not let personal life deter her helping those that need her.
Her sister that she loves so strongly seems to always be doing things that hurts her. She flaunts her caring for Frank and he for her in front of the family. Viola thinks only of herself and is always shirking responsibility when it comes to helping at home, leaving Ella to help so her mother won't have to do so much.
Ella is determined to teach-to work towards women's rights yet she wonders can she have more..Andrew is such a warm caring loving person that she knows they can help one another in this journey called life. Finally she accepts his courtship and blossoms in the days to come.

I challenge you to read this story ,learn more about Ella McFarland ,the character named for the authors Grandmother and her journey in life, I loved the fiction and facts blending into a fictional story that gives us a bit of history from an earlier time. I will be looking for other books to come and am sure you will to from Linda.


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Paula-O Osborne's Reviews > The Calling of Ella McFarland

Until The Dawn by Elizabeth Camden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Until The Dawn by Elizabeth Camden

I know when I pick up a book by this author it will be a great story and this one is special,I fell in love with the brash Quentin and Sophie is just fantastic with her loving caring heart that will not look at evil or believe that it exist.
Quentin's family has owned a huge estate called Dierenpark that sits on a river that is secluded and believed to be Cursed...His father wants him to tear it to the grounds and burned, so there is only ashes and back to the bare earth.
Sophie had situated a weather station that she does volunteer work and loves this old estate with all her heart. No one in the family has been around for several decades so she felt like she was not hurting anything by moving it to the rooftop and getting her data. But.....
Now the family has came back and with dire explamations about the place.
Pieter is the young son of Quentin and was once kidnapped and now has many days when he is scared of everything, Sophie's heart wants to help him forget and live a full life, Quentin , his father has many days of pain and distress from his leg not healing properly years ago but he loves this son and wants to be closer to him since they have been seperated a lot in his few years. Pieter even fears his own father because of his brash ways..Will Sophie help bridge the gap and bring this father and son closer? Can Dierenpark be saved? Can Sophie ever have her hearts desire and man a weather station in her little community?
So many secrets abound, you will love to read this story and find the answers that Elizabeth has for us.

I received this copy from Bethany House Publishing Group to read and review,thank you so much for the opportunity of meeting these wonderful characters...


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She Sells Priceless Antiques.
He Sells Livestock by the Pound.
Is He Really the Man to Make a Bid for Her Heart?

After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she’s accidentally sold a powerful family’s prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the people who could ruin them forever, they track it to the Missouri Ozarks and make an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house and all its holdings before the painting can move again.

Upon crossing the country, however, Miranda and her grandfather discover their new auction house doesn’t deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its frustratingly handsome manager, Wyatt Ballentine, is annoyed to discover his fussy new bosses don’t know a thing about the business he’s single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more heads of cattle than they can count–but no mysterious painting–Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and prevent a bad situation from getting worse.

At Love’s Bidding

What a delightful book! The relationship between Wyatt and Miranda develops naturally and comically. Their banter serves to ratchet up the romantic tension and propels the match forward in a captivating way. Great romance, sprinkled with a bit of mystery, and some laugh-out-loud humor, this tale is entertaining from start to finish. – 4 Stars, Romantic Times Reviews

The Christmas Ranch by RaeAnne Thayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Special Edition of two stories by RaeAnne Thayne,The Christmas Ranch and A Cold Creek Holiday...

The Christmas Ranch is a part of ranch that was set aside for all things for Christmas,decorations with lights, raindeer, a magical wonderland. Hope Nichols had traveled far afield for many years and is now coming home..BUT she finds out that this part of the ranch has been temporarily closed after her sisters husband died a few months before. Hope is determined to open it again even though Christmas is fast approaching.
She meets someone from her past and at the beginning does not remember him, he offers his help to get the place open and she accepts. working together so closely she soon finds she is losing her heart to this former navy seal,Rafe Santiago. Sparks fly when she realizes who he is and that he has not mentioned to her they had a past...One that left her with nightmares for awhile.
Come read a wonderful holiday book where you get two for one. thanks RaeAnne.

The second story , Emory needs to get away and chooses a Bed and Breakfast far away during the holidays to be alone and get some work done. She does not count on meeting a hunk of a man who is gaurdian to some adorable kids that want to be friends. They are drawn to her as a mother figure -now missing their Mom that had died. Holidays is not one to be alone and she is soon in the midst of helping the kids have a memorable Christmas and finding she is being drawn closer to the "The Hunk" more and more. This is a couple of stories you must read for the season.


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If I were Betty sitting in the garden looking quite complete, would you listen?

Gardens are special places that we fix flowers and items to view sometimes whimsical....
                                   at least I do...do you?

Steps made of stone or brick making a pathway to walk and view, makes me think of the mazes some choose to make and a couple getting lost -finding the middle with a bench where they sit,talk a bit and maybe even spoon....a little kiss or maybe two.  Then emerging once again to face life as it is.

A Birdbath where the robins play sometimes drinking and sometimes bathe, but always with a merry tune for all to hear making the world a little sweeter that day.

A cat comes sneaking along the walk ...looking for someone or just taking a stroll down the pathway.

Dreams in the garden are always a little more sincere when we sit on a pretty bench and view the trees overhead swaying with the breeze, listening to the little small voice that wants to be heard and in our busy world we have no time to listen.  Now we do....

Sunshine cast its spell and warmth as we sit a spell ..in the silence do you hear it, that magical moment when time stands still and no worries abound, just peace and quite making Hope spring into our souls and "just knowing" all is right with the world.

Streams of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series "Song of Blessing",book #3 Streams of Mercy written by Lauraine Snelling

I love returning to North Dakota and the little town of Blessing and all the characters that I have read several books about. The character that stands out the most to me is Ingeborg who is now a widow again, Haakan has been gone almost two years and the pain of it, is a little more bearable as the days go by.
But..this story is about Anji Baard Moen who to is recently widowed while in Norway and she returns with her children to the town of Blessing. She is a teacher and writes articles for the newspaper in town.
Thomas Devlin is a minister without a post and came into town looking for work as a carpenter to support himself until a church calls him to preach.
His work on the house of Anji helps to form a friendship that is fast becoming a relationship that both will be happier for. If...they can let themselves.
Within this story is the devastating tale of a circus train coming to town with some sick folks that soon leaves Blessing quarantined and diphtheria is found to be the culprit. Many are so sick and then dying ones everyday. The doctors at the hospital that was filled to capacity were exhausted. Trainees were added to help. An antitoxin was found and sent by train but many died before it arrived.
The little town of Blessing opened its hospital and homes reluctantly helping those that needed help.
Many cities before them would not let the little train stop in their cities. The animals were starving on the circus and the townspeople even helped with that.
If you are a fan of this author and her red river series,you won't want to miss this story and how it ends for the good people of Blessing.

I was given this book by Bethany House publishing to read and review,thanks.


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The Photograph by Beverly  Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Photograph by Beverly Lewis

Another wonderful story from this author..Lily and her sisters have lost their parents and live in the old family home that a brother will soon move into.  The women are expected to get married and have their own homes.  But then expectations are not always what one expects.
Lily leaves a note and leaves the community in the middle of the night.  Many try to find her and as they find out what has happened leading up to her leaving they are confused and worried.
Eva Esch is the closest to Lily and it seems to have effected her the most.

Jed Stutzman is an amish buggy maker in Ohio who shows up in Eden Valley with a photograph that he believes to be Eva..He soon meets her and a relationship follows in the short time he is there to visit a relative that has a business of buggy making.
You will want to read this tender story and find out if Jed and Eva get past the first stages of friendship.  Will Lily be found?  does she want to live as an English or does she want to come home and just not quite sure how to do it?

I was give this book by Bethany House to read and review with an honest opinion.  thank you.



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Unexpected Family by Jill Kemerer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jill Kemerer has written a wonderful LI story "Unexpected Family"



5 years Stephanie has kept a secret, a large one at that from the man she met -married and divorced years ago.  It has bothered her even though she has led a good life and raised a young daughter on her own.  She feels she should let her ex know that he is a father and let the little girl know her father.
Now just how do you think this is going to play out???
Well Jill does a great job of having Tom Sheffield and his ex meet again and learn that he is a father.
Come read this story and learn how two can find forgiveness and learn that Love just might be sweeter the second time around.


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Restless Hearts by Marta Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series "The Flanigans", book #6 Restless Hearts


This is older book that I picked up at goodwill liking this author.  Fiona Flanagan lost her mother at a young age and her father sent her into foster care when he could not care for her alone.  Years later she goes to live with him when he remarries but life is not the same.  She finds out that her mother came from an amish background and left the home she was raised in to marry her father.  Now Fiona wants to go back to the area where many amish live and start her life as a midwife.  Finding the relatives of her father and mother is not in her mind, so she says but soon finds family is important and wants to know more when the  amish realize who she is.
Fiona meets a young lawman on her trip into town, there is an attraction almost immediately but they both know they must go slow and get to know one another.  Ted left the amish years ago to become a lawman and he is sensitive to the amish in the town where he lives and when there is a group of mischief makers causing problems he is torn in his duty and his love for the amish families.
New Beginnings-forgiveness-Love and adventure all rolled into this book.


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Wagon Train Reunion by Linda Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wagon Train Reunion book #1,series "Journey West" by Linda Ford


I have read this series willy-nilly, reading this first as last.  I kept thinking have I read this before, gee these characters are so familiar.

Well Before Abby and Ben had been close to getting married but then she left him for someone else and broke his heart, now in this book they meet again and he finds he has not forgotten as much as he thought he had.
True Love when it comes is hard to put out or away.  Linda does a great job of bringing this couple closer and helping them see why things had happened as they did.
Can they trust one another..again???? can they forgive?  wagon train trips take a long time so time is on their side.  come read about the journey and two folks that need one another.


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A Bride at Last by Melissa Jagears
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

3rd book "A Bride at Last" in series Unexpected Brides by Melissa Jagears

I have not read others in the series but this stand alone story is an amazing one that keeps you reading way past time to stop.  I could not put it down.
Silas Jonesey was a quite man who had taken a mail order bride to live with him in Kansas.  She came from home of wealth and was not used to the hard life in Kansas and left him within a few months.
For ten long years he wondered where his wife was and if she would come back.  He was a lonely man but had his homestead to work or lose it.
Kate Dawson lived in Missouri and had been helping a young woman who was very sick and had a 9 year old son.  Kate became very attached to the boy, Anthony.
Kate worked as a teacher so depended on the community to live with one of the parents of her students.  She received little pay, but with what she got she helped Anthony and his Mom out.
Kate met Silas on the night that Anthony's mom died. Silas had finally found his wife and lost her at the same time.  Upon realizing he was a father he left no stone unturned trying to get custody.  Finally he would have a family and that meant so much to him.
But.....another man arrives in town and says he is Anthony's father and then the battle begins.
Reading of the woman and child and how they had lived and then meeting Kate who wanted to help and becoming involved in the lives of the two was heartbreaking.  When she worked with Silas after realizing there was no way she could raise the boy herself, she found herself seeing the strong caring man he was and began to lose her heart to him.  Can these two hurting lonely people find love and raise this little boy?  I enjoyed the story that Melissa has weaved for us that has so much involved and the mystery unravels as we read.


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I was given this book by Bethany house publishing for an honest review,thank you for the opportunity to read a wonderful author that writes from the heart...

Bad Ground by W. Dale Cramer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bad Ground was second book written by W. Dale Cramer


There is so much in this book and at times I thought this is a mans book.  The details of the mining work and the men that worked underground is told with such clarity you feel as if you are there walking those tunnels.
Danger is everywhere....Jeremy finds his uncle Aiden here and wanting to learn from him he joins the workforce.  His mother told him as she was dying that his uncle had something to give him and he had something to give his uncle that she could not give either one.
All the men have names (unusual ones) his uncle is Snake because of his skin after he was almost killed in an accident that took the life of Jeremy's Dad.  Snake carries a guilt from the accident wondering "if" he had done something different his brother might still be alive today.
When Jeremy went to work there one of the bosses started calling him "Germy" it stuck till the end of story when he showed such courage and declared his name was not Germy but Jeremy.
Reading the last few pages -my heart raced along with Jeremy as he faced the unknown.
This author writes a story you won't soon forget.


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Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beacons of Hope series, book #2 "Hearts Made Whole" by Jody Hedlund


I love to read the stories of the keepers of the Lighthouse and this one is told well.  Caroline loves to live and work with her father at the lighthouse and he has taught her so well she can do it alone but The board would not agree.
Carolyn is the oldest of the siblings and has kept watch over them since her Mother died, she has a sister that is very ill and two brothers who are twins (mischevious little ones)along with another sister who hates living at the Lighthouse and wants to leave and find her own life.
When Carolyn's dad dies in a storm ,his boat overturns out on the lake and he and the good doctor are drowned.  Carolyn becomes the keeper until someone else can be found.  She does the job well for months.
Ryan Chambers is a returning vet haunted by the horrors of war.  He has lost part of his hand and is in great pain that has made him become addicted to opium and whiskey to dull it.  The Lighthouse board wants a man and has offered the job to him as keeper at Windmill Point.
He comes early to the job before anyone expects his arrival and is met by a homey atmosphere with Carolyn and the children not ready to leave and not sure where they will go when they do.
Carolyn soon sees this man is not up to the the job and she continues to do the work while he lays in the boathouse not knowing day from night.
Compassion for his wounded soul has Carolyn helping so he can stay there.
Jody has written a story about forgiving, faith. fortitude as they move through the days ahead of them. Soon  mystery evolves when someone wants Carolyn to leave the lighthouse and she has many happenings that scare her.  come read how the hearts of two become healed and the mystery is solved after some scary moments.


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Love's Rescue by Christine  Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

New Series Keys of Promise, Book #1"Love's Rescue" by Christine Johnson

This author really pulls at the heart strings as we read the pages of this story.  Elizabeth Benjamin is a wonderful character with desires that she is not sure will come true.  Time is slipping away and she wonders if her time has already came and gone.
Secrets abound in the family that she never knew and she is half afraid to find out...Her mother left a diary and reading the pages leaks things she never knew.
Elizabeth feels guilty about her brother's accident at the time of a storm and it eats at her soul.
Rourke is a "wrecker," he has a ship and when another runs aground or flounders he comes to the rescue for a price.  He has loved Elizabeth since she was a young girl and now that she is grown he is wanting to court her if only he can get her father to agree.  Father has arranged for Elizabeth to marry and she is fighting it every step of the way-hoping beyond hope that she can marry the man of her dreams.
Key West is a special place in the 1800's , this story has an aunt who is overbearing, Father is an attorney busy in his dealings, Elizabeth has a maid that has been with her for years about the same age as she and they do many things together...more friends then maid and mistress.
Reading this story will bring a tug at your heart for Elizabeth and Rourke.
Thanks Christine for hours of enjoyment and an ending that made me smile with contentment.


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Hearts Made Whole (Beacons of Hope #2)

by Jody Hedlund (Goodreads Author)

4.55 of 5 stars 4.55  ·   rating details  ·  20 ratings  ·  12 reviews

After her father’s death, Caroline Taylor has grown confident running the Windmill Point Lighthouse. But in 1865 Michigan, women aren’t supposed to have such roles, so it’s only a matter of time before the lighthouse inspector appoints a new keeper–even though Caroline has nowhere else to go and no other job available to her.

Ryan Chambers is a Civil War veteran still haunted by the horrors of battle. He’s been given the post as lighthouse keeper, and the isolation where he can drown in drink and hide from his past is appealing. He’s not expecting the current keeper to be a feisty and beautiful woman who’s none-too-pleased to be giving up her position. They both quickly realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but Ryan’s unwilling to let anyone close, ravaged by memories and guilt. Caroline’s drawn to this wounded soul, but with both of them relying on that single position, can they look past their loss to a future filled with hope…and possibly love?

Getting ready to read this story and know it will be a good one because the author is "Jody Hedlund"  Love her stories....

Book 1 ~ Love's Rescue

Coming June 2015!

A tomboy tries to become the perfect Southern belle in order to win her father's approval of the man she loves

Set in 1850 Key West, this rousing adventure sets sail on the treachurous high seas with life-shattering secrets and heart-melting romance. 

I am soon to read this story by Christine whom I have read before and enjoy her stories, you will too when you try one of her books.  Christine writes from the heart and fills ours up along the way....

Stories of the 1800's has always made me love them with their rowdy cowboys and their genteel ladies.  This one is little different with a young girl who is a tomboy but wanting to become a Lady in every sense of the word, I know Christine will bring her to life for us.

Come read with me as we see this moth turn into a butterfly.

Amish Promises by Leslie Gould
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series Neighbors of Lancaster County, book #1,"Amish Promises" by Leslie Gould

This story is little bit amish and little bit "English", neighbors who learn to be truly "Good Neighbors".  I liked reading and learning some of the differences between these two neighbors.
Joel has came back to his wife after Iraq, he is healing both physically and mentally.  Many challanges ahead for him.  Shani chose Lancaster County home of her grandfather to bring peace for them.
Eve Lehman  is helping her brother raise his children after his wife dies, he is protective of her because she left the community when she was younger and he is afraid she will again.  Tim is a brother who has not got over his wife's death and he is a man that is very strict with the family.
Joel has a good friend and fellow serviceman "Charlie" who has helped them a lot and visits often from Philly.  He and Eve become friends quickly and it is hard to be "just friends" for them.
Can an amish woman once again leave and accept more then a friendship from Charlie...she loves the children and once made a promise to her close friend -their mother-she would always be there for them.  She is torn.
The children accept one another instantly Zane is son of Joel and Shani.  He becomes so close to the amish children and even tries learning some of their Pa Dutch words.

Many things are going on in this story and you must journey the quiet Lane in Lancaster County where Love and Heartache and Friendship and Healing will meet.

I received this book from Bethany House to read and review, thanks so much


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~Before becoming a Mom~

As a young girl 

getting ready to wed

thoughts running through my head

none were of children...

We wanted to be happy

having fun 

getting to know one another

having our first place...

Met in an idylic spot

Galveston Texas

beautiful ocean

we walked the boulevard beside it...

Leaving after his service

Coast Gaurdsman

Going to his hometown

in South Carolina...

Now I am expecting a son

our first born

we have joined our lives

and moving on ....

March 1962 I became a Mom

A tiny baby so cuddly and warm

our lives have changed once again

Responsibility of being Dad and Mom...

I miss Hometown in Ky

another family we have become

raising a son and learning

just how to be a Mom...

My Son (His Navy Years)

This son is my youngest and has a birthday this month

I recall his growing up years and toddling after his brother.

I remember my Mother-in-law saying the time would go fast

on days when I thought two little boys were a lot of trouble

for this MOM...

I didn't believe her then and now...

I know she knew because she had two sons too

that were grown .

This son needed us more then his brother

and today is no different then back then...

I yearn to hold him in my arms and keep him safe

BUT

This is not something a Mom can do

we must let them make their mistakes

while loving them and being there

to support them when needed...

I know Mothers reading this will know

where my heart is as I write these words

AND

Remember his time as a child

His time in school

His time in the Navy

His time trying to live life after the Navy.

My Mothers heart aches

and sometimes breaks

BUT

I cry his name out to the Lord

and place him in the hands that can heal

Anything-Anywhere

this is all a mother can do

all she should do.

The Love Letters by Beverly  Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Love Letters written by Beverly Lewis

Marlena Wenger's life has changed drasticaly when she leaves a beau behind and goes to stay the summer with her Mothers Mother in Brownstown, PA.
Grandmother is a Mennonite and she came from old order amish, this makes for some changes that she never thought she would see in her life.
Love letters are written back and forth to her beau and she soon knows he is not happy with her going to a Mennonite church.
A sister that had left the amish community dies is an accident and her husband is in army faraway along with his parents out of the country.  Marlena is asked to care for the child until others can be found and told.
Marlena soon loves this little one and will be sad when the father comes to get her.  This is another thing that her beau is unhappy with as he ask in his letter often, "When will someone come for the child"?
Marlena tries to be a helper to all, grandmother-baby and to neighbors-meeting others in the community and seeing how Memmonite study their Bible and talk and pray to Jesus has her thoughts confused.

I was given this book by Bethany House publishing to read and review, thanks for the opportunity to read this author again.


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Together with You by Victoria Bylin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Together With You novel by Victoria Bylin


This is a story mostly about FASD(Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), but Victoria has also added the story of Carly Jo Mason and Dr Ryan Tremaine....
She  has worked with this syndrome before and has a heartache that she has not forgiven herself for that happened with one on her watch.
He had an affair that contributed to the end of his marriage and also to the child born having this syndrome with his drinking.  He is agnostic and has no peace that could help him cope better.  My opinion here.
These are some tough issues yet Victoria has woven them into a story that will touch your heart in so many ways and leave you wanting to know more.
My heart bled for Penny who tries so hard to understand and yet brings so much confusion to all around her because she has this FASD and has also lost her Mom recently so she deals with a lot in the story.

I received this book from Bethany House pubishing to read and review, thanks so much for a wonderful story.


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Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck


Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck


This is a story written about the low country and the traditions of that area.
A man had a cafe named The Frogmore cafe steeped with tradition -it even had a wall signed by many vets from way back.  Memories here ran rampant and the crew that ran the Frogmore were just like family.
All through the story the song of sweet Caroline kept running through my mind...
The owner Jones died suddenly from heart attack and everyone is surprised to find that Caroline has inherited it, she more then anyone.
She inherits all the debts and a place that needs much work to keep it running.
There is the lost love of a high school sweetheart when he leaves Caroline to make it in the music business in Nashville,gone many years and then returns to wreck havoc with all her senses.
A job offer in Barcelona...can you imagine a low country girl in that setting,neither can she.  Will she accept it?
come read this wonderful story and hear the sounds of "Sweet Caroline" running through your mind.


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Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series "Texas Trails" book #2 Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis


I received this book from author as a little thank you and was excited to read about the Morgan family.  Thanks.

This is the story of a young girl captured by indians and kept captive for many years, she went through a lot of heartache before she was able to escape wanting to find her white family.
She grew to love the indian family but always kept alive a yearning to return to her life as it had been.
There were so many things that had to be relearned after she was found along the road by a stagecoach driver who had nuns as passengers.  The nuns had much compassion for the young girl and took her with them to heal her body and soul.
It was quite a journey to find her white family and I know you will enjoy reading this story as much as I did.
I now want to find the rest of this series and learn more about the Morgan family and "The rest of the story".


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Gabriel's Bride by Amy Lillard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gabriel's Bride is a Clover Ridge Novel by Amy Lillard


I enjoyed this book and its characters so much that I finished it in couple days, staying up late at night reading.
Gabriel lost his wife of many years and has 6 children to raise, it is so hard being both mom and dad.  There are inside cores and outside chores .  Many of the chores around the house fell to his only daughter Mary Elizabeth.  one son had downs syndrome and needed special care also.    Mary nearing her running around years was so tired of working dawn to dusk and missing out on fun so she left a note and left the community.  Gabriel is devastated to find her gone in the early morning but knew there was no time for tears...much work needed done and the children needed breakfast.

When one of the ministers told him of a death in the community that he needed to attend with him, he was surprised but went because it was the right thing to do.
He met a young woman, who was the neice of the woman that died, on this trip and his life would never be the same.
Gabriel is a widower needing a wife and Rachel is about to lose her home and her goats if she must leave and go to Ohio where there is distant family.
I read of lonliness,fatigue,depression and on the flip side of that -love of the lands -the goats- the man that Rachel has just met and cannot seem to forget. the giant of a man with a gruff voice at the funeral.
you must read this wonderful story and then you will probably do as I have and search for the rest of the Clover Ridge stories.


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Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Where Trust Lies is the second book in series "The Canadian West" by Janette Oke

I have not seen the tv series so reading the book was first of the Canadian family -The Thatchers.  A well to do family that has daughter Beth who taught a year in Coal Valley far away and is now coming home for a summer with the family.
Beth is given quite a surprise when her Mother and sisters let her know they are all going on a long cruise and want her to join them.
Father has a business trip of his own so won't be home long and not long after arriving she is thrust back into traveling but this time on a ship.
She does have one special thing to look forward to this summer, Jack whom she calls "Jarrick" has reminded her of his interest and wants to write letters and maybe call while she is away. She met this mountie while in Coal Valley and they became fast friends. They both are hoping she is called back to teach again in Coal Valley.
The steamship tour opens up a new world to the travelers and also to new people and some are not as honest as others.
Come read this exciting story that unfolds with family,friendship,faith and a love that slowly grows.

I received this book from Bethany Publishing to be read and reviewed, thank you so much, I enjoyed reading the story and meeting the characters.  An ending that was exciting and a surprise for me.


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The Outlaw Takes a Bride by Susan Page Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Susan Page Davis writes "The Outlaw Takes a Bride"

I am never dissappointed when I read a book by this author, great story that just wraps itself around you like a warm blanket and you don't want to leave it.
Goodreads now has a freebee on this one and you will want to check it out if you are a member there.

Sally Golding is a young widow that was so dissappointed in her first marriage and it leaves her cautious when entering into thoughts of marriage again..but..
women had little choices in making a living in the year 1885.

A pastor and his wife let her stay with them for room and board till she could get on her feet but the wife took advantage of Sally and did not make her feel welcome.  Soon after writing letters to a man in Beaumont Texas, He ask her to come and be his bride.  Her parents live in Texas also and it will be good to be closer to them and his letters makes Mark Paynter seem like a good christian man who has a small ranch and they could have a good life together.

Mark has a brother Johnny who heads to Texas also when he finds he might be considered a suspect in a murder at a ranch he works on.  Another guy that works there, tells him to leave and even offers to go along too, Johnny and a man he considers a friend soon arrive at Mark's place and find him dead.

Many little things change as the friend talks Johnny into staying and pretending to be his brother..this all begins to ravel when Sally arrives also expecting to become a bride to Mark.

You must read and learn how the beginnings of lies can mushroom out of proportion as you continue to lie and deceive as they did.

Sally and Johnny, as Mark, are soon in Beaumont living a lie that needs to be straightened out before they can find happiness.

Thanks Susan for writing a good story with memorable characters, I hope to see Johnny and Sally again.


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Journey's End by Dora Hiers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Journey's End  by Dora Hiers



This is a story that you don't want to miss.
Chelsea has lost her husband and only after several years is she able to begin healing and starting anew.
Journey's End is a place where healing can help the wounded and Chelsea so wants to help when she finds a young man hiding in the barn and then finds out he is son of man that killed her husband- it takes lot of courage and strength to offer her help.
Trey is a marshal who comes to help when he finds out that the killer has escaped from prison and is after the witness, He must protect them both.
Trey also needs to forgive himself for the part he had in the death of Chelsea's husband and it wears on his soul as the years pass.

Come and read this adventure that leads to love and faith as the story unfolds.


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The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sandra Dallas writes novel "The Diary of Mattie Spenser"

I was not sure I would like the story being in diary form, but...The story went well and I enjoyed reading Mattie's story.

The story begins with Hazel(relative of Mattie) is in her 90's and a neighbor who is good friend helps her sort trough things so she can move to a nursing home.
The neighbor likes hearing the old stories and when they find a diary she is so excited and Hazel lets her have the diary to read.  It is written quite unusually as they did in the old days -after writing regular way page is turned and written crossways to have more paper.  Little hard to decipher, yet she did and the story was amazing.
I liked Mattie a lot and felt sorry that she had been used the way she had.  She was not a beauty but a strong woman and this was feature that had Luke asking her to marry and travel to the plains with him to live.
She learns to love the man she married so quickly but it takes Luke many years before he truly appreciates the woman he married.
You will like the way Sandra tells this story and of the hardships- small pleasures and faith that they live out in the plains.


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Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Novel "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

This is first I have read of this author and must confess I picked it because of the title, I like reading about the train riders.
She did not dissapoint me, research is good and I learned much about the kids that had ridden trains like this.
I so enjoyed the correlation between a young troubled girl and older woman that had been through so much.
Vivian and Molly had quite different lives but similar also,don't you think?
Boxes in the attic I felt sure would be emptied and the attic cleared as Vivian was now 90 years old, so many memories there that she sifted thru with the help of a young girl who needed the wisdom Vivian had after her long life.
Thanks to Christina for a great story reminding us of a time long ago and all that the children went through as they traveled west.


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I reviewed a book earlier by Julie Klassen and today remembering a quote from that book , A mask party is held and several are in conversation and one says "And where is your mask?" soon could be heard- with the arch of an eyebrow, "Oh disguise of every sort is my abhorrence", abigail grins and says "Ah that is from Pride and Prejudice,Mr Darcy says that to Elizabeth...." Don't you just love Mr Darcy???
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A Lady in the Making by Susan Page Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series Prairie Dreams book #3 "A Lady in the Making" by Susan Page Davis


I enjoy books about the prairies and this one was great story by Susan...

Millie Evans and her brother led a life of petty crimes always on the run and now she wants to change her life and live differently but the brother hangs on to the past life making them have to split up.
In Millie's travels she meets up with a man that she had once tried to con and he is not having anything to do with her when she tries to let him know she has changed.  They travel many miles together by coach and he comes to see she is different...David Stone is an aristocat heading to England to accept his inheritance when he meets Millie again.  can these two trust one another again?
God forgives so completely but man is always reluctant, come read how David and Millie come to accept one another over the course of their travels over the prairie.


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