Healer, by Linda Windsor

Brief Synopsis:
Ronan, future king and Brenna, healer of all, meet under terrible circumstances.  But love blooms and he decides to take her home as his bride.  But sinister events happen, under an evil so great it can hardly be stopped.  Deception, attack and plotting keep them from having the bright, happy, peaceful marriage they desire.

As I have said before, Linda Windsor has become one of my favourite authors lately.  She constantly has me turning page after page, leaving things that I should be doing in favour of reading 'just one more' page.  Her stories are exciting, fast paced, and full of intrigue and mystery.  I can't wait to read more.  This is book one of a series and I must ferret out the next one to find out what happens in the life of one of the characters introduced in this book.  This particular book could stand alone....but I fully believe that once you begin, you will want to read the next and the next in her series. 

Highly enjoyable, highly recommended.

Aging with Gracie, by Heather Hunt

This book was cute.  Syrupy sweet and a cast of delightful characters! 

Grace has basically been shipped off to do an overhaul of an old-age home in the middle of nowhere. Nothing prestigious about the old folks' home!   But then she meets someone.  Throw in two sinister villains and a bunch of nosy old people along with Grace, a super klutzy twenty-something, and you have yourself a fun, delightful afternoon read.

I would totally recommend this and will likely read book number two. 

Cecelia, by Patricia Strefling

This must be book two of a series.  It can be read as a stand alone but there were moments when you know you missed something - nothing huge - and most of the blanks are filled in at one point or another.

Brief Outline:
Cecelia is busy organizing her life.  She is successful in business but not in relationships.  She is somewhat cold and aloof.  Spencer might as well be invisible.  What will it take to get her to notice him in that way?  Learning to let go and let God has been a serious struggle for him.  And Cecelia has no interest in God.  She does wonder what she is missing and why her accomplishments don't seem to be enough.  Flitting from one project to the next keeps her busy.  Always busy.

I didn't like Cecelia.  I wanted Spencer to move on to a 'worthy' girl.  I thought he deserved better.  She treated him terribly in the beginning and another girl, Becca, in my opinion, was more soft, kinder, and she loved God.  She and Spencer would have made a fantastic power couple with the common ground of a solid foundation.
The writing was good, although I found some descriptions lengthy and irritating.  Honestly, I don't really care what fantastic outfit they are wearing and I felt like I was reading a Birkenstock commercial at times.  Seriously, they should be paying the author because she plugs the name so often and with such glowing review. 

I liked the story of forgiveness and acceptance and I did end up liking Spencer and Cecelia as a couple in the end when she was more open and likable.
I thought the character Evan was a great addition, although I would have liked Cecelia to stand her ground, but that wouldn't have made it as good a storyline as what the author penned.   And I liked that the author wasn't afraid to show that life is not always a happy ending for all in the way we assume it should be.  God works all things together for good and I loved that we see just how God does that in this story.

I would read the original book and I bet I would prefer it to this one because Cecelia will not be the main character.  I know I'd like Edwina as a main character; she seems approachable and kind, although a bit insecure.

Overall, an okay read on yet another rainy day.

Heiress, Susan May Warren (Daughters of Fortune Series)

This is book one in a series but can be a stand alone.

This story is set in a time where society rules and dictates what is acceptable or not.  Arranged marriages for the sake of title is quite common.  Men married with no intention of being faithful.  Women suffer in loveless marriages and really have no alternative options as it is not proper for them to work outside the home.  They aer relegated to organizing cotillions and trying to stay in the good graces of the women in the upper echelon that can cause anyone to be snubbed for any (sometimes insane) reason.
The book really pulls at the heart strings but sometimes I just wanted to shake a character or two.  Misunderstandings and misguided notions really affect the lives of two sisters.  I wanted to skip to the ending and make sure everyone lives happily ever after.  MOST of the story line is sewn up nice and tight and I can only assume that the unfinished business will be resolved in book number two.
I will likely read book number two but I did find the first book rather drawn out at times...and yet I wanted more of some of the lesser explained moments.  All in all, a satisfying read.  Not my favourite, but pretty perfect for a rainy afternoon!

Accused - Pacific Coast Justice Series by Janice Cantore

I just finished reading Accused, from the Pacific Coast Justice Series, by Janice Cantore.  I'm not sure where this fits into the series so obviously, it can be a stand alone.
A Brief Synopsis:
Carly Edwards's life is really in a downward spiral.  After being in an officer involved shooting, she is relegated to working the juenilve department which, for her, is more boring than watching paint dry.  Her husband is now an ex-husband after he couldn't bother keeping his wedding vows.  And to top it all off, she has somehow stumbled into a really big case and is now running for her life.  What else can go wrong?!?!
I liked this book.  It was edgy and real.  The characters were not your average clean cut Christian.  They struggle too.  There are some real moments of frustration aimed at the "christian speak" that a lot of people have struggled with.  Let's get real.  Let's cut to the chase.  I enjoyed that.  I loved that, at the end of the day, each person must make a personal choice. 
I did find that there were MANY characters, and at times it was hard to remember who was who, especially because in 'cop-land', their last names are used as often, or more, than their first names, so that was a bit tricky to keep straight.  Because it's a series, I assume some of the lesser characters will be the main feature in a future novel, although I could be wrong.nd
Yes, I do recommend this book.  A little suspense, a little romance, and a LOT of action!!

Gifts of Hope by Heather Hunt

Gifts of Hope is the second in The Gift Series.  This can be read as a stand alone, however, so if you haven't read the first one yet, no big deal!  Dive right in.  I think you'll like it.
I enjoyed this book.  I liked that it wasn't trying to be the typical Christian fiction, you know, all nice and tidy and neat.  For instance, where the worst transgression is a huge misunderstanding between friends.  Don't get me wrong, I like that too!  This one had a misunderstanding of mammoth proportion.  But I liked that that the author wasn't afraid to show the messy side of things.  I liked thinking, "Boy, if they had just followed the path that God lays out, none of this would have happened."  It gives me hope that my own kids will, hopefully, follow the paths of righteousness.  Yet, if they did mess up, there is forgiveness, grace, and mercy.  I, for one, am SO relieved that God majors in grace!
The story was intriguing, the characters well developed and the love portrayed seemed very realistic.  I did find the 6 year old a bit older than her age.  I found her quite precocious though, so I was able to get past it.  I do wish sometimes, that characters would open up and be honest a little sooner.  Of course, that would have considerably shortened the novel, so I can understand why the book wasn't written that way. 
Overall, a great book.  I will definitely read more of her work.

Honor Redeemed by Lorie Lough

Normally, I love Lorie Lough.  Her characters are rich, she writes in a way that you can actually feel what the characters feel.  Her stories are great, intriguing and gripping.

But I'm having an issue with her First Responder Series.  I read the first one, From Ashes to Honor, and enjoyed it.  But it didn't end the way I would have chosen.  Enter book two, Honor Redeemed.  It lets you know what happened to the characters from book one.  But it was done in such a way that I felt like I had missed out on something.  I didn't like that part but since Honor Redeemed was a book about a new couple, I figured I'd give it a try.  Except this book ended just like the first, with things left hanging in the balance.  That is not my kind of book.  You become so invested in the characters that to jump forward to such a degree without reading what happened, at the time it happened, and not in retrospect, left me feeling somewhat removed....or empty.
I'll likely read the third of the series.  Eventually there will be a happy ending.  At least I hope there will be!  This series is worth reading, but it's not the type of series where one feels absolutely compelled to get the next book.  It's more of an "It's on my list; I'll read it someday"...which I will.

Having said that, not all people like a happy ending.  So if you want angst and a dangling ending, this is just the book for you!

Maire, by Linda Windsor

Okay, Linda Windsor is my new favourite author of the week.  This is the first book (of hers) that I have read and I have already determined I will be adding others to my collection as soon as possible.

A Brief Synopsis: 
Maire, warrior queen has come to invade.  She pillages, she plunders, but she really does not have a taste for violence. Conquering? Yes, absolutely; but violence, not so much.  And then she meets Rowan.  Rowan is a warrior and he has the scars to prove it.  But he refuses to kill.  He doesn't even want to fight.  So, being the smart, sassy woman that she is, she decides he will make a great hostage husband - even if he is a Christian.  And she will rule.  But along the way, something happens.  Rowan is not easily controlled.  He really does become king in his own right.  But danger lurks.  Evil is waiting.  The horrid Morlach is ready to curse the two of them in order to take over all the land.  Will they ever be one in spirit?  Will they overcome the evil of the enemy? 

This was a great read.  The characters were gripping.  The heroine was real; she had confidence, she had doubts, she was human; she was not just a warrior or a queen but she was a woman.  The hero, was a perfect blend of strength and softness.....and the 'bad guy' was really bad!   The other characters all had distinguishing personalities and they were each very easy to get to know.  The village of Glennmara is quaintly described and the peasants are just everyday folk trying to eke out an existence in a land that has been robbed of its value. I found myself really gripped by this book and found myself wanting to read the next in the series right away.  The book was serious, engaging, often fun and light-hearted and at times heart-wrenching....which makes a great recipe for a novel. 

I highly recommend this book.

The Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato

So, why did you start a blog? 
Let me tell you why I started mine.  To get free e-books.  Really.  I LOVE reading.  I figured I might as well put my fiction reading to good use.  I thought I would start publishing reviews of the books I read.  And to do that, I either needed a rather large budget, or I needed free access to these books.  I read fiction.  I tried to join a site and guess what?  They came to look at my newly formed blog and noticed I just created it.  So, in a most humiliating, yet kind fashion, I was declined.  How truly embarrassing. 
The good news is, I get free ebooks from Amazon quite often so will maybe review those instead.  I read one today.

Here's the deal: Prize of My Heart, by Lisa Norato, was a good piece of fluff to read on a gorgeous spring day.  The characters were well developed and I enjoyed the pace of the novel.  I did think she got a bit wordy in her description of places and people but overall, I enjoyed it.  (Obviously, I read it in two days and would have likely read it all at once (as is my M.O.) but alas, other things also required my attention.)
Normally, I can pretty much catch the drift of how a book will go, what events will transpire and what the end will be.  Now, since I read happy fiction, it, of course, had a great ending. But there was one event in this novel that I didn't anticipate. And I don't dare mention it for fear of spoiling it for you.

A brief synopsis:
Lorena, a young girl of suitable marrying age (although some would say she was old enough to be approaching spinsterhood) is caught between two men.  One a long time friend, and the other, a man she doesn't know much about.  She senses he is hiding something, something that makes him seem almost burdened but yet she loves the heart he shows in relation to her young charge, Drew, and she is drawn to that gentle way he has of truly loving her little man.  Trouble is afoot and there is no happy sailing.....until, that is, they could almost sail into the sunset.

Would I read more of her work?  Absolutely.  Is she my favourite author?  No, but she is new to me and I do enjoy her writing.  Would I recommend her to others?  You bet.  I'm recommending her to you! 
Here is my endorsement:  If you enjoy period pieces, happy ending romances with a little suspense, and a heart-tugging moment or two about orphans being mistreated back in the day, then this just might be the book for you.

Happy Reading.