A Stillness of Chimes Review

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What if the pain of the past revealed an unknown sacrifice that changes everything?
 
When teacher Laura Gantt comes home to Prospect, Georgia to settle her recently-deceased mother’s household, the last thing she expects to encounter is a swirl of rumors about the father she lost to the lake twelve years ago—that he has reportedly been seen around town. Elliott Gantt’s body was never found and he was presumed dead. 
 
Reeling from the sharp loss of a parent, Laura must now grapple with painful memories surrounding her father’s disappearance and the sense of abandonment she experienced after his death. Life-long friend and former beau Sean Halloran wants nothing more than to protect Laura from the far-fetched stories of Elliott’s resurrection and to care for her, but he has his own reasons, troubling echoes from his childhood, to put Elliott’s disappearance to rest.
 
Working together, Laura and Sean begin to uncover the truth, one mired in the wooded peaks and deep waters of the Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding Prospect. Can they fathom how many secrets the steep hills hold? With surprising facts revealed, will Laura be able to understand the sacrificial choices made that forever changed her life? And can love and a peace with God be rekindled in her heart after so much time has passed?

A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley is a sweetly written book that takes the reader on a amazing journey, full of mystery, sadness, romance, humor, and of course some wonderful southern charm. I found some parts to be a little slow but otherwise A Stillness of Chimes was so worth the time spent reading it. The characters were developed so subtly, each in their own deep way that I would have been hard pressed to not fall in love with them. If you're looking for a book that you don't have to invest any emotion in than this is not for you. But if you want a book that is hard to set down and is filled with amazing characters and a beautiful story I suggest you get this book. 

This is the first of Meg's books that I have read and I look forward to picking up one of her others soon. 

4 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack as sweet as the blackberries I pick from my backyard. 

 I received this book for free fromBlogging for Books for this review.

Stuck Together Review

When a lawman who values order gets stuck with a feisty crusader who likes to stir things up, there's going to be trouble in Texas!

Now that she's settled in town, Tina Cahill is determined to get Broken Wheel's saloon closed for good. To that end, she pickets outside the place every afternoon. Unfortunately, so far no one has paid any attention.

Vince Yates earned the nickname "Invincible Vince" because of his reputation for letting absolutely nothing stop him. But Vince is about to face his biggest challenge yet: his past has just caught up with him. His father, mother, and the sister he didn't know he had show up in Broken Wheel without warning. His father is still a schemer. His mother is showing signs of dementia. And his surprise sister quickly falls for one of Vince's best friends. Vince suddenly has a lot of people depending on him, and Tina doesn't approve of how he's handling any of them.

With nearly every other man in town married off, Vince finds himself stuck with strong-willed Tina over and over again. Of course, Tina is the prettiest woman he's ever seen, so if he could just get her to give up her crazy causes, he might go ahead and propose. But he's got one more surprise coming his way: Tina's picketing at the saloon has revealed a dark secret that could put everyone Vince loves in danger.

Stuck Together is the third and final installment of Mary Connealy's Trouble in Texas Series  and one of my favorites. I have read most of Mary's books  and they seem never disappoint me. I'll start one of her books with high expectations and I always finish with them my expectations far surpassed. 

I loved getting to know the new characters that were introduced and becoming even more familiar with the old.  I loved all of the heroes in this series but I must say that I think Vince is my favorite. Oh, and if you haven't yet I suggest you visit Mary Connealy's blog site  and read Closer Than Brothers the story of how the Regulators came to be and there is even a little bit about Callie and Seth (from Over the Edge) :)

5 out of 5. This Afternoon Snack was nothing like Glynna cooking. (meaning it was amazing) ;)

I got a free review copy of Stuck Together from Bethany House Publishers in return for my honest review.

Seasons of Tomorrow Review

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As love restores Rhoda, a sudden tragedy is the test of faith she never saw coming.

More settled in her heart than ever before, Rhoda Byler feels a newfound confidence living in the Old Order Amish settlement she helped establish in Orchard Bend, Maine. Time has helped to heal the wounds of Rhoda’s recent severed relationship, and she finds that even her unusual gift of profound intuition is less of a burden as she continues to seek God’s wisdom for her future. She is happy to be working alongside the King family and the love of her life as they tend and nurture the settlement’s orchard.

Yet when Leah King’s involvement with Englischer Landon Olson becomes known outside of the Maine community, her disregard of the Ordnung could threaten all the Orchard Bend Amish are building. In the midst of addressing the discord, a shocking tragedy challenges the young settlement like never before, threatening to uproot Rhoda’s peace and the future of everything she holds dear.

When several members of Orchard Bend Farms are displaced, the estranged King brother is called upon to return. Can those who founded the new Amish community in Maine unite Or will the lingering pain of past hurts and present struggles result in the end of their dreams?

Seasons of Tomorrow is the fourth and final book in the Amish Vines and Orchards series by Cindy Woodsmall. As with all her other books Cindy has filled this book series with interesting characters who I find very easy to like. Cindy's way of weaving a story together is something I find simply amazing. The twist and turns of the plot come together in such a natural way that its hard to believe that the events within the book are not real.
Seasons of Tomorrow, or if you haven't read the first three books, the Amish Vines and Orchards series is a perfect way to start off your summer.

5 out of 5. A perfectly Amish Afternoon Snack.

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

Until I Found You Review

Finding each other was only the beginning . . . 

When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life.

It's Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate's rescue. Nick is handsome and confident, and he seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She's not planning to get involved with one of the locals.

Nick is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn't expect to be swept off his feet by the car's occupant. He's made a vow--no dating for a year--but keeping that vow is going to be a lot more difficult now that he's met Kate Darby. . . .

Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin is the first book I have ever read by Victoria and I can now say that it definitely will not be the last. I love the cast of characters in Until I Found You, they are so... human. They have real experiences and real questions and I love the change that I saw in them. This book was a wonderful read and I hope that many people will read it and get as much as I got out of it.

5 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack that was just what I needed.

I got a free review copy of Until I Found You from Bethany House Publishers in return for my honest review.

A Broken Kind of Beautiful Review

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Sometimes everything you ever learned about yourself is wrong
 
Fashion is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four year old model Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she’s learned a sacred truth—appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows—so when it starts to unravel, she’ll do anything to hold on. Even if that means moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be the new face of her stepmother’s bridal wear line—an irony too rich for words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white. 
 
If only her tenuous future didn’t rest in the hands of Davis Knight, her mysterious new photographer. Not only did he walk away from the kind of success Ivy longs for to work maintenance at a local church, he treats her differently than any man ever has. Somehow, Davis sees through the façade she works so hard to maintain. He, along with a cast of other characters, challenges everything Ivy has come to believe about beauty and worth. Is it possible that God sees her—a woman stained and broken by the world—yet wants her still?

A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert is a wonderful story of God's unending love and his redeeming grace. I loved seeing Ivy's character grow and her change of heart. I love how the title reflects Ivy, and so many women, so perfectly. The message of healing, love, and forgiveness throughout A Broken Kind of Beautiful is wonderful and I would recommend this book to women young and old.   

4.5 out of 5. A beautiful Afternoon Snack. 

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review.

Mark of Distinction Review

London is said to be the glittering jewel of society, a world unto itself—but to Julia Elliston it is a city of shadows. Her life is swiftly dissolving into scandal. And in Victorian society, even a whisper of scandal—substantiated or not—can be the death of a young woman’s reputation.

Now under the watchful eye of Lord Roy Pierson, one of most influential men in England, Julia begrudgingly accepts his protection. But Chance Macy’s power is far-reaching as well, and he is eager to assert his claim over her.

Thrust into society as the Emerald Heiress, Julia is the toast of London, a celebrated curiosity. But in reality she’s trapped between the clutches of two powerful men. Aided only by a gentleman whose intentions she prays she can trust, Julia must finally take control of her own fate—but outwitting one’s foe rarely goes according to plan.

And once again, like with the first book in the Price of Privilege Trilogy, I have to say something about this beautiful cover. All I have to do is glance at this cover and it makes me long to grab a cup of tea and  settle down for a good Jane Austen movie marathon. (I almost did but I decided to dive right into Mark of Distinction instead. But after I finished I grabbed my Pride and Prejudice movies :)

It took me a couple chapters to fully start to remember everything that had happened in the last book but once I had that figured out I was enraptured. I know there are some people who get frustrated when they aren't quite sure whose the good guy and whose the bad guy but thats what I like the most. It keeps you guessing.  

I love the mystery and dark drama of the series and I'm impatient to read the last book in the trilogy to finally know how it all ends!

5 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack so worth reading! 

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

Death by the Book Review

Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.

Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl's tearful confession point to the victim's double life, but what does the solicitor's murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem--except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.

Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn't at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?

Death by the Book by Julianna Deering is the second book in the Drew Farthering series. I really enjoyed the first book, Rules of Murder and couldn't wait to read this one. I wasn't as thrilled with Death by the Book as I was with Rules of Murder but I did like it a lot. I wasn't that impressed with the ending but I think overall that if you enjoyed the first book in the Drew Farthering series you'll also enjoy Death by the Book. What I loved most was the return of the same fun banter between the characters that was present in the first book.

4 out of 5. This Afternoon Snack was pleasant to munch on.

I got a free review copy of Death by the Book from Bethany House Publishers in return for my honest review.