Every Bride Has Her Day Review

Katie Fisher is ecstatic. Pro basketball star Brady James has proposed, and she can't wait to start planning their life together. She's confident she'll make it down the aisle this time--but it still may be easier said than done. A high-society Houston bride has Katie and the Cosmopolitan Bridal team scrambling to get the perfect dress done in time for her spectacular wedding. Meanwhile, Katie finds herself bombarded with everyone's competing visions regarding her own special day--and she's beginning to worry that her own ideas will get lost in the crossfire. Will she ever manage to settle all of the details for her perfect day? Or will bridal shop chaos and overzealous friends and family make a mess of everything?

Every Bride Has Her Day by Janice Thompson is a great conclusion to the fabulous Brides with Style series! Katie finally has a reason to wear the wedding dress that started it all and I couldn't be happier with her choice in groom. Every Bride Has Her Day if a fun-filled read that will have you laughing and crying with the characters as you watch their story wrap up. With her signature blend of humor, faith, and romance, Janice delivers yet another book to add to your favorites shelf, right next to all of her others!

5 out of 5. A wonderfully fun romantic Afternoon Snack. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Faith Review

The Civil War battlefield is the last place Quakeress Faith Cathwell thought she’d find herself. But with a gift for nursing, Faith seizes this opportunity to join the fight for abolition―and to search for Shiloh, a freeborn childhood friend who was kidnapped and sold south by unscrupulous slave catchers.

Knowing it’s much too dangerous for her to search enemy territory alone, Faith enlists the help of Colonel Devlin Knight, who is indebted to her for saving his cousin’s life. A career soldier, Dev is committed to the preservation of the Union but conflicted about freeing his own slave and confidant, who plans to enlist as soon as Dev gives him manumission papers.

Blazing a trail east with the rest of Grant’s army, Dev and Faith fight their personal battles―and a growing attraction to each other. When beliefs clash and passions flare, they quickly find that the only thing more dangerous than the war surrounding them is the battle within their hearts.

Faith by Lyn Cote was a great addition to the Quaker Brides series. Faith is a strong woman of great, well, faith  and the journey she takes for her friend shows that. I loved all the historical details that was put into this story and realistic struggles that the characters each have. The friendship and romance between characters is well written and the growth seen in them is definitely worth the read. If you're a fan of civil war era reads then Faith (as well as the first two books in this series) is a great way to kick off your summer reading plans!

5 out of 5. 

 I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House in exchange for an honest review.

Room for Hope Review

In a desperate time, can Neva find forgiveness for a grievous wrong—and make room for hope?

 

Neva Shilling has a heavy load of responsibility while her husband travels to neighboring communities and sells items from his wagon. In his absence, she faithfully runs the Shilling Mercantile, working to keep their business strong as the Depression takes its toll, and caring for their twins.

 

When a wagon pulls up after supper, Neva and her children rush out—and into the presence of the deputy driving a wagon carrying three young children. The deputy shocks her with the news that Warren and his wife have died, insisting it was their last request that the three children go live with “Aunt Neva.”

 

Neva’s heart is shattered as she realizes that Warren’s month-long travels were excuses for visits with his secret family. She wants nothing more than to forget Warren, but can she abandon these innocent children to an orphanage? Yet if she takes them in, will she ever be able to see them as more than evidence of her husband’s betrayal and love them the way God does?

Room for Hope by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a wonderful story of hope, just as the title suggests, and forgiveness. I loved the style in which Room for Hope is written, reading from the point of view of several characters made the story resonate even more for me. You got to see how Neva dealt with her husbands betrayal as well as how the children dealt with it. Arthur and Jesse provide a wonderful outside view of the situation as well. I would have to argue that Room for Hope is one of  Kim Vogel Sawyer's best novels yet. Treat yourself to this book, you won't regret it!

5 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack that is simply the best!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

The Reluctant Duchess Review

A Riveting Edwardian Series Set among Britain's High Society

Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland earldom, but she has never felt good enough--not for her father, not for the man she thought she'd marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she's willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping Loch Morar.

Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has found himself in possession of a rare treasure his enemies are prepared to kill for. While Brice has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, the last thing he needs is the distraction of Lady Rowena, who finds herself in a desperate situation. But when Rowena's father tries to trap Brice into marrying his daughter, Brice makes a surprising decision.

Rowena wanted to escape the Highlands, but she's reluctant to marry a notorious flirt. And when she learns that Brice is mixed up in questionable business with a stolen treasure, she fears she's about to end up directly in the path of everything she was trying to avoid.

The Reluctant Duchess by Roseanna White is the second book in the Ladies of the Manor series. Brice and Rowena are wonderful characters that are hard not to fall in love with as they struggle with dealing with the situation they are hastily thrown into.  The Reluctant Duchess can be read on its own and still make sense but I think it would be much more enjoyable if it is read as it was intended, as the second book in a series. All in all this is a beautifully written story that is sure to have you engrossed from start to finish.

5 out of 5. A delightful Afternoon Snack.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. 

The Hearts We Mend Review

Planning and Post-It notes are the epitome of Evie’s life. But when she meets Jack, her life gets more than a little complicated.

Thirteen years ago, Evie's firefighter husband was killed in the line of duty, leaving her to raise their young son, Cody, alone. Now, Cody is marrying the love of his life, and as he packs up his belongings, the house feels as empty as Evie's heart. But for all her planning and mad organizational skills, Evie could never have anticipated the dramatic shift her life is about to make.

Tattooed, rough-around-the-edges Jack raises quite a few eyebrows in the tight-knit community of Banister Falls. Where Evie's life is stream-lined, Jack's approach to living is moment-by-moment. But as Evie gets drawn into Jack's world—a world that isn't as safe or predictable as the one she's worked so hard to create—he challenges her to open her eyes to the problems outside the walls of the church.  

Jack doesn't make Evie feel comfortable, but he definitely makes her feel something. Something she hasn't felt since Max passed away—or, maybe ever. Because even though Jack isn't anything like her late husband, he just might be everything she needs.

The Hearts We Mend by Kathryn Springer was a super sweet read. Its characters are real and easy to fall in love with. At least I fell in love quick! Evie and Jack's story is one that I enjoyed so much reading. It's so realistic with all of its messy circumstances and the journeys that come with them. After reading this book I realized that this is a second book in the Banister Falls series, but reading the first book isn't required to enjoy The Hearts We Mend. (I just like to do things backwards so now its time for me to read The Dandelion Field!)

5 out of 5. An wonderful Afternoon Snack.

I received a copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review.

Playing the Part Review

Lucetta Plum is an actress on the rise in New York City, but is forced to abandon her starring role when a fan's interest turns threatening. Lucetta's widowed friend, Abigail Hart, is delighted at the opportunity to meddle in Lucetta's life and promptly whisks her away to her grandson's estate to hide out. 

Bram Haverstein may appear to simply be a somewhat eccentric gentleman of means, but a mysterious career and a secret fascination with a certain actress mean there's much more to him than society knows. 

Lucetta, who has no interest in Abigail's matchmaking machinations, has the best intentions of remaining cordial but coolly distant to Bram. But when she can't ignore the strange and mysterious things going on in his house, it'll take more than good intentions to keep her from trying to discover who Bram is behind the part he plays.

Playing the Part by Jen Turano was a great conclusion to her latest series A Class of Their Own. Lucetta Plum is a great character and it's great finally getting to read her love story. Bram is also a very fun character to follow around. I mean the first time Bram and Lucetta meet Bram's wearing an eye patch for no apparent reason at all! Who wouldn't be intrigued by that? Playing the Part is a wonderfully humorous story filled to the brim with mystery and romance. If you've ever read any books by Jen than you can look forward to the same wild ride you get with any of her books! Pick up Playing the Part, you won't be disappointed!

5 out of 5. A playful Afternoon Snack!

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. 

A Fool and His Monet Review

Sketchy politics and a palette of lies can't stop Serena Jones from exposing the mastermind behind the daring theft of a priceless work of art.

Serena Jones has a passion for recovering lost and stolen art--one that's surpassed only by her zeal to uncover the truth about the art thief who murdered her grandfather. She's joined the FBI Art Crime Team with the secret hope that one of her cases will lead to his killer. Now, despite her mother's pleas to do something safer--like get married--Serena's learning how to go undercover to catch thieves and black market traders.

When a local museum discovers an irreplaceable Monet missing, Jones leaps into action. The clues point in different directions, and her boss orders her to cease investigating her most promising suspect. But determined to solve the case and perhaps discover another clue in her grandfather's murder, she pushes ahead, regardless of the danger.

A Fool and His Monet is the first book in the Serena Jones Mysteries series and definitely a new favorite of mine.  I instantly fell in love with Serena and her compelling personality.  A Fool and His Monet (love this title!) is for sure my favorite of Sandra Orchard book to date. I love Serena's Aunt Martha and can't wait to see what kind of trouble she gets into next time. This book has a great pace that makes you want to continue turning it's pages until late into the night. 

5 out of 5. This Afternoon Snack was a piece of art.

TEAM TANNER!! 

I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.