A Lancaster Family Secret by my friend and author Kate Lloyd

My 5 star ++ review of Kate Lloyd's A Lancaster Family Secret.

Kate Lloyd never disappoints and this book is another 5 star ++ and more. She is a magnificent writer as she merges the English in with the Amish and Mennonites. This was a superbly well crafted plot with believable characters. Each and every one had a unique and memorable personality. I was grabbed in from the first sentence and sad when I reached the last because I wanted to keep reading more. This was extremely inspiring and offered hope. If you are a Kate Lloyd fan you know what I am talking about and have either read it or have it on your to read list. If you are new to Kate Lloyd, new to the genre of Amish fiction and inspirational romances this book is a wonderful place to start. It beautifully combines the Amish culture and way of life with those who are not Amish and paints a very real picture. My thanks go to the publisher for my ARC copy and to Kate Lloyd for giving me such a wonderful read.

My 5 star review of Jason Rekulak's Hidden Pictures.

I read this book for a reading club I am part of and wasn't sure what to expect. Most loved it but others hated it and there seemed to be no in betweens. I remained open minded and found myself on a roller coaster of ups and downs, twists and turns and not knowing what to expect next. I thought the writing was outstanding and the plot went in so many different directions that there wasn't really anything to dislike. Not a spoiler, but there are pictures throughout the book so I would suggest either a physical book or ebook and if you choose to do the audio make sure you have a book that you can follow along with. The drawings are a very integral and important part of the story. It did not scare me nor would I consider it a horror story but there were parts where I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before reading on. If you like psychological thrillers, suspense, with a touch of romance and a terrific plot then this 5 star book is for you.

In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber

My 5 star review of In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber due to be released July 26th, 2022.

I am a Heather Webber big time and love everything she writes. At first I had a difficult time getting into this book but I trusted myself and Heather Webber to know it would turn amazing at some point and oh boy did it ever. Heather comes up with the most delightful characters. It's hard to dislike a character in her books, even the bad ones. I love when I can figure out some of the plot twists and keep reading to see if I was right. This was a beautiful crafted story that made fantasy seem like reality and I wish this was not a stand alone but part of a series because I would love to visit Sweetgrass again. If you are a fan of Heather Webber this one is not to be missed and should be added to your want to read list. If you have not read Heather Webber this one is a great place to start. For any fans of Magical Realism, this one's for you.

My thanks go to NetGalley and McMillan-Tor/Forge, Forge Books and Heather Webber for providing me an advanced readers copy in return for an honest review.

Building a Future by my friend and author Amy Clipston. Book 2 in The Amish Legacy series

My five star review of Amy'Clipston's Building a Future. This is the second installment of an Amish Legacy.

Firstly, I must thank Amy Clipston and Zac Weikal for my ARC copy of this book in return for a review. All the opinions shared below are completely mine.

Amy Clipston has produced another 5 star plus read for me. I loved going back and visiting with those we had met in book one of the series but a little over a year later. I enjoyed getting to know the three brothers and Michelle, her two sisters and friends. I found the one that was getting married a little overbearing and annoying...so much so I can't remember her name.

The plot was extremely believable for both the Amish and English world and I have known couples who have actually gone through this. I loved the characters and how they developed in this book. We got to see the boys father happily married...book one featured his story. I really felt the emotion of the characters by the words and descriptions that Amy used. She never fails to paint a picture with her words and those images are as clear as the painting I could imagine on Michelle's milk can pictures. I loved the idea of the scripture on the base of the can.

I am glad that things worked out in the end and I really look forward to seeing how all the marriages progress in hopefully a third book and see how the new relationships work out. Maybe we will see some little Bontragers??

If you have never read an Amy Clipston book before this can be read without having read the first book, Foundation of Love but I prefer to read a series in order. I would definitely recommend this along with all other of Amy's books including her contemporary fiction and feel blessed to have been able to read and review this book.

Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center

 My 4.5 star of Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center.

This was my first Katherine Center book and it definitely will not be my last. I loved this 4.5 star book from beginning to end. Thank you Ms. Center for writing a book where the woman is older than the man. So many books today are out there where the man is older than the love interest but few exist for fans of women older than men and this was a particularly endearing tale. I did like the characters....all of them. I love the banter and the flirting. I enjoyed seeing the relationships go from nothing to something. There were no bad characters. Even the worst character had something charming to offer. I wish we could all at some point during our lives take an chance on an adventure that tests our limits and makes us come back different but not how we expected to come back. I definitely would recommend this to readers of romance, adventure, rom-com, books with strong female characters and of course the older woman loving the younger man. I was truly delighted by this look and cannot wait to read another Katherine Center novel.

A Very Distant Shore by Jenny Colgan

My 4 star review of A Very Distant Shore by Jenny Colgan. This little novella is an introduction to the Mure Island series.

A very sweet introduction to the Mure series of books. I had read books one and two and was happy to find this novella introducing us to Mure Island and the characters that live there and are featured in the book. Having read this, some of the things in book one and two are more obvious to me now and I find myself wanting to reread them so I can appreciate them all the more after this introduction. This is a must read for fans of Jenny Colgan and for those who have never read her books this would be a wonderful way to get to know her. Her plots are always so well constructed with characters that we would like to know if they really existed. They often feel like friends and acquaintances rather than just fictional characters in a book. I would say that even if you have read others in the Mure series of books it is worthwhile to go back and read this novella.

Magnolia Wednesdays by Wendy Wax

 My 4.5 star review of Magnolia Wednesdays by Wendy Wax.

Another great 4.5 star book by Wendy Wax. As always with Wendy's books, she introduces us to characters who are believable and seem very real in stories that are beautifully crafted and so well written. I read Wendy's books because they are fun. They give me laugh out loud moments..many of them and also grab a kleenex and shed a tear or two moments. We are often introduced into problems that many of us could face in our lives and gives us a gentle look into the way her characters handle these issues. Wendy takes many of today's issues and handles them with kid gloves while making us aware that the world is not a peaceful paradise. If you are looking for a literary masterpiece then Wendy's books are not for you. However, if you are looking a delightful chick-lit, women's fiction rom-com, Wendy's books are a must read and this book is no exception. I know many of my friends would like this book and there is enough meat in it for a light reading book club to have a wonderfully productive discussion. Thank you Wendy Wax for yet another treat.

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

I am not even sure where to start with this one. There were times in the book when I wished it was a movie and I could fast forward. It was tough to read for me in parts. My stomach is still churning. I am not squeamish and have practically no triggers, but this was a little bit too much for me. It was well written but was a plot like no other I have ever read. I ended up giving it 3 stars bases on the writing and plot and not my love of the book. This book was definitely a horror story and depicts evil at its very best. I was not really happy without how it ended. I think the ending didn't match the quality of the rest of the writing or the book. There were a lot of Swedish sentences in the book and most were easily understood. However, there were some pretty long sentences with no explanation, or if there was I missed it and at times I felt this to be a little irritating. I doubt that I would recommend this to my friends unless I knew they had strong stomachs, don't mind horror and evil children. I would say that folks should read this and come to their own conclusions and not use this review to help them make a decision. 

Goodreads Description

Meet Hanna.

She’s the sweet-but-silent angel in the adoring eyes of her Daddy. He’s the only person who understands her, and all Hanna wants is to live happily ever after with him. But Mommy stands in her way, and she’ll try any trick she can think of to get rid of her. Ideally for good.

Meet Suzette.

She loves her daughter, really, but after years of expulsions and strained home schooling, her precarious health and sanity are weakening day by day. As Hanna’s tricks become increasingly sophisticated, and Suzette's husband remains blind to the failing family dynamics, Suzette starts to fear that there’s something seriously wrong, and that maybe home isn’t the best place for their baby girl after all.

The Victor by my friend and author Marlayne Giron

This is my 4.5 review of Marlayne Giron's The Victor

I normally don't read medival era books, but this ARC was provided to my by the author and in return I promised to give an honest review of my own opinions.

This is my third Giron book and each one I have read has been from a different genre and time in history. This was a beautifully written book with a well constructed plot. Some scenes were so incredibly descriptive that I found myself feeling as if I had gone back in time and was one of the crowd gathered. The bad boy was extremely villainous and heinous; this coming from somebody who usually loves the bad boys. This one was so well written that I still have a bitter taste in my mouth when I even think about him.

This was a wonderful story with all the ingredients in it to make it a book many would enjoy. It had drama, battles, family, love stories, history and of course touched on religion but in a very tender way and not preachy.

I would recommend that if you have a weak stomach when it comes to fighting and blood then this is not something you should read. For everybody else I would recommend this 4.5 star book if you are looking for fantasy for adults or a plain good story that is exceptionally well written.

Thank you Marlayne and Mary the Reader for my ARC copy of this book, which I shall treasure.

One Chance to Love the Duke: A Historical Regency romance novel by Hanna Hamilton

My 4.5 star review of One Chance to Love the Duke: A historical Regency romance novel.

Thank you Hanna Hamiliton for my copy of Once Chance to Love the Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Novel.

I really loved this 4.5 star book. The plot was so well crafted with wonderful characters and was a difficult book to put down. It kept me enthralled from beginning to end. I found myself laughing and crying. The book was full of emotion. This would make a wonderful movie...the bad boy Duke and the innocent lady finding their way to each other. If you are a fan of historical novels then I would say this is a must read for you. If you are new to the genre, this would be a great introduction. I look forward to reading my next Hanna Hamilton novel.