"The Killing Tide" by Dani Pettrey

The Killing Tide (Aug. 6, 2019) by Dani Pettrey.*

There have been two attempts on her life in less than a year. When the second one occurs, Gabrielle “Gabby” Rowley’s boss gives her an ultimatum: Go with her brother and let him protect her or be fired. Reporting is Gabby’s passion, and job offers have been scant since the ordeal with Asim Noren destroyed her international reporting career. Gabby’s brother, Noah, is a lead Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) agent. He doesn’t want Gabby anywhere unless at least he or Finn Walker are present, and her heart is in trouble with Finn around. She broke his heart to keep pursuing her passion for reporting, but it was hard on her, too. It doesn’t help now that she’s staying at his loft. Too close. But there are other volatile situations in play for the both of them. It’s suspected that Xavier Fuentes is still after Gabby, and foul play is obvious after a Coast Guard officer and friend of Finn’s is found dead. For better or for worse, Gabby and Finn have been thrown together again. Will they track down the killer before more are killed?

            Book One in the Coastal Guardians series, “The Killing Tide” is a romantic suspense, inspirational fiction novel. It is rife with mystery, faith, investigation and budding romance and is also anchored with those things, plus studded with a little rivalry between teams, stubbornness and time in (and on) the water. It’s another winning novel from Pettrey, but I admit that I did find Gabby to be frustrating.  I realize she’s very passionate about her job without seeming regard to her safety, but I get the impression that she’s always put herself first, put her work first. That didn’t sit well with me with Finn’s upstanding self pretty much pining for her. Fortunately, I feel she redeemed herself by the conclusion.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 6

If you’ve perused my blog at all, you’ll notice – especially in the most recent years – that I read a lot of Christian/inspirational fiction. Most of them I have the opportunity to read thanks to the publishers. Those in this compilation are NOT books that I was expected to review.  They are novels which I purchased. All opinions continue to be my own.

Blind Spot (Oct. 3, 2017) by Dani Pettrey.

*This is the third in a series.*

There is a threat coming to American soil. The when is unclear, but FBI agent Declan Grey is working overtime to get ahead of the threat. He is certain something is going to go down in Baltimore, but tracking leads will also take him to Houston. While one major kingpin is behind bars, it appears that he worked closely with another whom they are trying desperately to track down. Declan is getting closer, but it isn’t without the help of a mysterious someone thought lost years ago and a woman he’s inexplicably fallen in love with.

            New to the FBI team is Tanner Shaw. Thanks to her tireless work with sex-trafficking victims at one organization and fighting “for the rights of the marginalized and oppressed” at another, she has landed with the Baltimore-based team as a crisis counselor. This means she works closely with Declan, giving them ample opportunity to follow through on leads, be put in harm’s way more than once and butt heads. She’ll realize she, too, loves him.

            Their other friends – Griffin, Finley, Parker, Avery and Kate – have come into an investigation that became alarmingly critical when someone they knew was murdered. They will undoubtedly solve the staged-suicide-homicide and then, surely, they’ll join the fray racing to stop the “wrath” that is purportedly coming.

            Pettrey writes so well, which makes my reader self very happy. Her story is to embark on a harrowing and gripping ride with strong, charismatic characters whose personal faith bases guide and strengthen them. All of Pettrey’s characters have distinct qualities, though they have their similarities, too (independent, resilient). I feel I’ve got to say, though, that I wish Pettrey would include a lead character one of these days – or in the next series – that features a diverse character, preferably Asian (only because I am). The intensity and action start in the Prologue and do not slow down until the book ends. Looking at the protagonists, it’s easy to see them as good and the antagonists as bad; they are love and the bad are hate. Love will conquer, for “Love defied logic, defied hatred, defied division.”

            Book One: Cold Shot (did not review)

            Book Two: Still Life

Out of the Ashes (Jan. 2, 2018) by Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse.

*This is the second in a series.*

Sometimes, all one can do is rise like a phoenix out of the ashes, even though it won’t be easy. Jean-Michel (29 years) and Collette (19 years) Langelier are mourning the death of their father. Jean-Michel was driven to serve in the French army, and now he cannot escape the nightmare-inducing horrors of the Druze Revolt. He can’t escape in his sleep, nor his waking hours, as his leg is a constant physical reminder of what happened to him and of those he couldn’t save. Meanwhile, Collette yearns for adventure, and with Jean-Michel now looking after her, they take up an invitation to go to Alaska’s Curry Hotel at the foot of Denali. Collette is learning the hard way how selfish she has been, only thinking of herself and not of the pain of anyone else, especially her brother’s.

            There is a main reason Jean-Michel accepted the invitation, and it involves Katherine Harrison Demarchis (25 years). A young widow, she does not mourn her late senator husband. Instead, she is relieved, but she has much healing ahead of her as well. To trust any man now seems impossible. Unbeknownst to her, the Curry Hotel has a certain Frenchman in attendance for the summer, the very one from her past whom she still loves. Both have been broken by different faces of violence. Can they heal together, and, in so doing, rediscover the bond once shared?

            With Jean-Michel, Katherine and even Collette in their own wounded places, it’s intriguing and encouraging to watch them grow in faith in this story of hope and healing. The authors include a character battling through PTSD and another trying to heal from past domestic abuse. Seeking the Lord helped their characters immensely, which is not the route everyone in those situations would go to, but considering that this is an inspirational, historical fiction novel, this route worked wonders for their characters. I think it’s commendable that the authors went those routes with, not one, but two, characters, to tell us that any stigma that anyone may harbor toward either PTSD or domestic abuse is unfounded. Sometimes I thought the multiple-character perspectives were too many, but I still enjoyed this story. It’s heartfelt, but not without trial and tribulation. A bit busy, but I rooted for the new characters, even “that Scotsman” in Chef Daniel Ferguson. It was pleasant having familiar characters from the first book in this second in The Heart of Alaska series. I look forward to greeting them all again in the next book!

            Favorite quote: “But you mustn’t let worries over what might be steal the joy of what is. Life is full of both beauty and danger, and we must give attention to both, but we should never let worry steal our focus. Otherwise, we see neither the beauty nor the danger and suffer because of it.” – John Ivanoff to Collette Langelier (p. 107)

            Book One: In the Shadow of Denali

The Proving (Sept. 5, 2017) by Beverly Lewis.

*This is a standalone novel.*

Five years ago, Amanda “Mandy” Dienner was prompted by her mother to leave her home. She did and has been an Englischer ever since. But her mother has unexpectedly passed away, and so the now 23-year-old returns to her childhood home. In returning to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, she returns to the family she left behind, including her twin sister, Arie Mae. Once so close, Mandy turned away from her upon her sister’s betrayal. She needs to successfully run the Amish B&B for one year. There is handsome widower Karl Lantz and his adorable son, Yonnie, but why establish a relationship when she’ll be an Englischer again in a year’s time?

            25-year-old Catrina “Trina” Sutton finally needs a break. Although it’s been a year, she continues to heal after her fiancé was killed by a drunk driver. Possessing a point-blank personality, Trina has difficultly doing anything on a whim, but she signs up for a mystery trip. Instead of a sunny beach, she finds herself at The Butterfly Meadows Amish Bed-and-Breakfast during a snowstorm, where she meets regular guest Gavin O’Connor. He’s annoying and argumentative, yet she hasn’t scared him off. Could he be interested … in her?

            While I enjoyed this novel, I felt there was a different dynamic at play. The main characters, Mandy and Trina, are both refreshingly different than other main characters. Despite both characters having a strong faith base, Mandy struggles greatly with grudge-holding, and Trina has a demanding personality and she’s blunt to boot (the term “control freak” has been whispered behind her back). Although Mandy was never baptized into the Amish church, I noticed that the Amish neighborhood, including many of her own relatives, still seemed to shun her. While I know this is not an uncommon practice, I found it bothersome. They value church and family relationships, but only within the confines of what has been deemed okay? So, for those who do not conform, it is okay to be judgmental? Healing of all kinds is present in this story, as is the openness to love, and not just in the romantic sense.

"A Defense of Honor" by Kristi Ann Hunter

A Defense of Honor (June 5, 2018) by Kristi Ann Hunter.*

After willingly turning away from London society over a decade ago, Katherine “Kit” FitzGilbert finds herself in the type of place she swore never to return to. A ballroom. In so doing, she has promised a dance to a potted shrubbery and encountered Graham, the Viscount Wharton, heir to the earldom of Grableton. She has not heard of him, which is to his credit, as she has spent these years avoiding ballrooms by dedicating herself to helping women escape the same wrath and disdain that fell upon her and her best friend, and they raise the innocent children that resulted. Kit has her ways of obtaining funds to raise the children at Haven Manor, and she isn’t alone in charge of the children. Daphne is the nurturing one, while Jess is the tough one. When Lord Wharton is stranded at Haven Manor because of flooding, he becomes the father figure all of those children are missing, and Kit sees he is not the despicable, wanton type of gentry she is accustomed to dealing with. Is it worth it to tell him everything, even as she knows he suspects the origins of the youth?

            After meeting Kit in a random ballroom, he cannot seem to get her out of his mind. But where does one begin to look for one who does not want to be found? It turns out, do not try at all. One of his best friends, Oliver, Lord Farnsworth, is desperately trying to locate his missing sister, Priscilla. It’s apparent that their father knows why Prissy is missing, but he has set a stubborn line and will reveal nothing. The only piece of information Oliver has is a strange, albeit legitimate, contract. Graham embarks on a search with Oliver and eventually finds himself at Haven Manor. The more Graham learns about Kit and the children, the more his eyes are opened. He wants to help, though he’s unsure exactly what he should do. But he doesn’t know Kit’s entire story. If he did, would he be repulsed by her past? Or the person she is now?

            Having enjoyed the previous book I read from this author, I was curious to see where this new series would go, and I was not disappointed. I felt this first story in the Haven Manor series read at a steady clip. I enjoyed how well Hunter introduced her main and supporting characters; they are well fleshed-out to be believable individuals and not carbon copies of other characters. I appreciate that flaws are visible even while characters are faithful. For example, Kit’s heart is in the right place, but the way she goes about obtaining and maintaining funds is misguided. No one likes a bully, after all. But flaws give her room to grow, just as our flaws give us endless room to grow.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Together Forever" by Jody Hedlund

Together Forever (May 1, 2018) by Jody Hedlund.*

As a placing agent with the Children’s Aid Society in 1858 New York, Marianne Neumann’s focus is on her young charges, those whom she has cared for and groomed in hopes of uniting them with new families. And she is focused on them, but her main objective in taking the agent job is the potential opportunity it gives her to seek her sister Sophie. But as she is an empathetic female agent on her first placing-out trip to small towns in Illinois, she can’t help but let her heart get attached to some of the children, dear as they are, and most with pasts too painful for even adults to bear.

            The male agent on the placing-out trip is Andrew “Drew” Brady. Marianne tries hard not to let her interest in him show, but fails. The former schoolteacher knows he’s handsome and charming, but he surprises Marianne with his easy way with the children, whether he’s being firm or tender and friendly, voicing instructions to behave or regaling the group with a story. He’s struck by Marianne, her competitive, yet sweet, spirit and her compassion for the children. But there is a part of him missing, the part he likes to keep hidden, as horrible guilt from a secret in his past threatens to drown him. Unfortunately, tragedy isn’t done with him yet.

            Hedlund’s inspirational fiction novel, which is the second in her Orphan Train series, tugs at one’s heartstrings as it stays historically grounded. The pacing felt a little slow to me at times, but I love the perspectives of the main characters. Hedlund gives us a fresh take when it comes to placing-out trips or “orphan trains.” Instead of honing in on the perspective of a child, the author takes us on a train ride from the viewpoint of placing agents. It’s stressful and tiring, and record-keeping then isn’t what it would be now. To say that Marianne and Drew make the best of tough situations is an understatement. While Drew walks by faith, he struggles with guilt and lacks inner strength for himself, though he puts on a positive façade. Marianne’s faith grows, but it isn’t without effort at first. There is healing and forgiveness to be done at present in hopes for togetherness and love for the foreseeable future.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"A Breath of Hope" by Lauraine Snelling

A Breath of Hope (Apr. 3, 2018) by Lauraine Snelling.*

While the Carlson family still reside with Onkel Einar and Tante Gerd Strand, Signe and Rune have their own acreage on which to build a place of their own. Einar remains as difficult and ornery as ever. He won’t call Signe by her name, and anything that he can unfairly blame on her, he will. But the long winter has turned to the spring of 1910, and, though the work is as grueling and endless as ever, Signe and her family have found comfort and camaraderie with Gerd, the Benson couple, a neighbor and others from the local Lutheran church. When Rune and Bjorn are not busy helping Einar, they and the other two sons, Knute and Leif, labor on their piece of land to ready it for building a house. Einar, obsessed with his own interests, never helps.

            Signe takes heart, as two of Rune’s siblings are traveling to Amerika and to them in Minnesota. Nilda Carlson (also Signe’s best friend) and her younger brother, Ivar, are set to help on the Strand farm. Nilda is thrilled to go to America, though the transatlantic voyage leaves little to be desired. Nearing Duluth, they meet a fellow voyager named Petter Thorvaldson, who does not appear to be married and is going to Blackduck. There’s also Fritz Larsson, a teacher and organist who teaches English. He, too, is single. Might there be matchmaking in Nilda’s future?

            When a tragedy strikes, will the reason for Einar’s extreme anger toward the community come to light?

            How I enjoyed this story! As with the first story in the Under Northern Skies series, I was impressed with the realism of this inspirational historical fiction novel. The characters are all supremely hard workers; their toil is almost tangible as I picture Snelling’s words in my mind. Einar continues to frustrate me, only because I cannot imagine having such lumps of coal in my heart. I read this winsome story at a brisk pace. Because of all of the modern conveniences I’ve been privileged to grow up with, I am astounded by all of the hard work this family puts in to make a house a home and a farm their own. Through it all, there is a deep connection of faith, which makes love for one another all the stronger.

            Book One: The Promise of Dawn

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"A Chance at Forever" by Melissa Jagears

A Chance at Forever (Mar. 6, 2018) by Melissa Jagears.*

Living up to one’s name can be daunting, and Mercy McClain has felt the pressure of it, especially with the reappearance in Teaville, Kansas, of George “Aaron” Firebrook. Aaron was her biggest tormentor as a youth, daily harassing her about her right arm, which never fully formed. Mercy hasn’t seen him in over a decade, as she moved in fifth grade, and when she returned to Teaville, Aaron was no longer in the area. She finds fulfillment working at the local orphanage for Nicholas & Lydia Lowe, participates in meetings and group efforts with the Teaville Moral Society and serves on the school board. Though her heart may feel otherwise, her mind has long expected and accepted her spinster status.

            Aaron’s return throws many wrenches in. The biggest childhood bully she’s ever known is licensed and wants to, of all things, be a teacher. Unfathomable! But Aaron has been working to turn his life around one bullied classmate at a time, and Mercy is definitely on his list. When he lands a job working at the same orphanage as Mercy, he finds she’s also on his mind and perhaps even on his heart. But just because her name is Mercy doesn’t mean she will forgive easily. He’s got his work cut out for him and not just because of Mercy. Jimmy, a young teenager at the orphanage, is an angry, hurting, stubborn bully reminiscent of himself at that age, and he wants to redirect his path. Will he succeed? Can old wounds be healed and new, positive paths be forged? Or are these chances ones which will fail?

            The next story in the Teaville Moral Society series, I thought the pace moved steadily forward. Bullying isn’t new to the news, and I found it interesting that the author chose a lead character who was a bully in the past. He is trying to atone for his vast misdeeds of the past, and that is admirable. Meanwhile, Mercy struggles to forgive Aaron. She knows she should, but it’s too easy to hold onto the grudge. They both find it difficult to let go of the past, but you “shouldn’t let the voices of your past or present define who you are. Let God do that” (p. 94). This inspirational, historical fiction (set in 1909) novel is gripping. The only critique I have is that, with everything going on, I sometimes felt the story was too chaotic. Is that real life? Certainly. But there were too many things going on that weren’t central to the story of Mercy and Aaron. From a very difficult orphan to a fire at the lumber mill to the relationship issues between employees Sadie and Franklin to Caroline, there’s extra stuffing. The author wrote it well, but leaving a few items out would not have detracted from the story.

            Also from this series, which I’ve reviewed: A Love So True

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"A Refuge Assured" by Jocelyn Green

A Refuge Assured (Feb. 6, 2018) by Jocelyn Green.*

Lacemaking is an honest trade and an artisan of such a trade nowadays would be rare, but in the 1790s, being a lacemaker to the queen of France, Marie Antoinette, and other aristocrats is enough to send one to the guillotine. So lacemaker Vivienne “Vienne” Rivard flees Paris, “the Paris she loved – and the Paris she hated,” across an ocean to Pennsylvania. When it becomes necessary to leave Philadelphia out of concern for the safety of her young charge and herself, she goes to French Azilum (Asylum).

            Having met Vienne in Philadelphia on his mail runs between there and Asylum, schoolteacher-turned-militiaman William “Liam” Delaney is drawn to the Frenchwoman who is a different person than he initially assumed her to be. Liam served during the American Revolution, but he now feels caught up in the Whiskey Rebellion. How does he dutifully serve the democracy he fought for, but barely recognizes, when the oppressive whiskey tax impacts his own family? Did he trade one revolution for another? Add in the fact that he lives near French émigrés fleeing their own revolution, including a woman and boy he’s come to care for deeply, and what’s a man to do?

            My first novel from Green, I enjoyed the richness of the story with the details the author wove together – the details based on historical fact and those she used literary license with. She was able to weave fact with fiction seamlessly. This inspirational, historical fiction novel is smartly written, and the faith of the main characters supports them and does not overwhelm who they are. Vienne and Liam are relatable characters that I wish I could meet in present-day real-life. And I appreciate Vienne’s thought, which can pertain to anyone who is struggling to put the past behind them: “It was time to lay aside the shape of her old life.” We cannot move forward when we keep looking at the past. This story isn’t just about fighting for peace and safety; it’s about moving forward despite a traumatic past and forming new relationships (and not just of the romantic variety).

            Humor within the pages that I enjoyed: “He killed an ice cream! Such villainy!” -- Martine to Vienne when she shares her horror over a loathsome man purposely beheading a lobster-shaped ice cream to prove his point (p. 100).

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"A Song Unheard" by Roseanna M. White

A Song Unheard (Jan. 2, 2018) by Roseanna M. White.*

Where would you go if you needed a top-notch thief to steal a key before it ended up in the wrong hands, and the person you suspect holds the key is a famous master violinist? If you’re Mr. V, you go to London and find Willa Forsythe – “one of London’s best pickpockets.” She is also a violin prodigy. She poses as a family friend of the wealthy Davies sisters of Aberystwyth, Wales, where they are patrons for the Belgian Symphony Orchestra, which is made up of Belgian refugees. World-renowned violinist Lukas De Wilde is one of these refugees. He is Willa’s target, but he’s also the target of others, who would do him harm and already have, if his healing shoulder is any indication. He wants nothing more than to continue the search for his mother and sister. But with Germany invaders in Belgium, it is too dangerous to travel freely there. His only distraction is the amazingly gifted Willa and his newfound faith. But what will happen when her secret crosses his path? No cipher key will help him then.

            As I would expect from White, she has created a captivating, historical fiction novel with another strong-willed and savvy woman. Willa also has street smarts. But whereas Lukas’ faith grew throughout the story, Willa struggled longer. Because she has been as broken as a destroyed violin for a long time. Incorporating that into the plot, along with points-of-view from Lukas and his sister, Margot, provided extra elements. Instead of one layer like a piece of music for violins only, there were multiple layers like music for an entire orchestra. And White orchestrated well. My attention was kept, and I expect an encore when we are next introduced to Barclay’s story!

            Quotable: “Can a man compose a symphony without paying attention to each individual note? Can he put together an orchestra without caring about each musician in it? It’s ridiculous to posit a Creator who stands back, unconcerned. If we grant a God, we have to grant a complete God.” -- Margot, in a reminiscence by Lukas when he tried to challenge her faith (p. 126).

            Shadows Over England: Book One: A Name Unknown

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Holding the Fort" by Regina Jennings

Holding the Fort (Dec. 5, 2017) by Regina Jennings.*

With her “uncommon talent,” Louisa Bell should audition for America’s Got Talent. As it were, Louisa is a fictional character, and her story takes place in 1885, so that’s not even close to possible. Still, Louisa does have amazing vocal ability, and the first time Major Daniel Adams hears her voice, he’s done something ridiculous and has a head wound. Louisa has traveled to Fort Reno because her brother, a cavalry soldier, has run afoul of his commanding officer (ahem, Major Adams) for hijinks performed. She’s just lost her job as a dance hall singer, so she is hoping for work at the base in Indian Territory.

            Imagine her surprise when she’s mistaken for a governess to Major Adams’ two daughters! Desperate for a position and with nowhere else to go, she works hard to keep up the façade. But Louisa is not whom Daniel was expecting. She is fair of face and younger than he; he was expecting an old widow, “a matron experienced in training young ladies.” Instead, he has a governess whom he finds too attractive. The chemistry is there, but how can Louisa express her true feelings for Daniel with her background and deceit?

            This charming, historical inspirational fiction novel is the first in Jennings’ Fort Reno series. While nothing overly surprised me as the story unfolded, I still found it to be multi-layered with likable protagonists in a dusty, character-driven setting. There’s a lack of cavalry when an uprising seems imminent, a mother-in-law who’s rather like a monster-in-law, secrets and deception. There’s also strong faith and faith absent. Louisa asks some questions, gets some answers and wants to embrace faith and gain a respectable future, but she carries so much shame. She doesn’t understand God’s love for her and feels she’s so undeserving of Him that He could therefore never accept her as His child. It is heartening to see her progress and, yes, struggle through the story to reach Him. “Holding the Fort” is smartly written and is an enjoyable tale that’s easy to enjoy if you’re a fan of the author and/or genre.

            Extra note: My favorite character is supporting character Lieutenant Jack Hennessey. He is quick-witted and funny and is Daniel’s right-hand man. If he’s the male lead in the next book, I want to read it!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Out of the Ordinary" by Jen Turano

Out of the Ordinary (Nov. 7, 2017) by Jen Turano.*

Working as a paid companion is nothing out of the ordinary in 1883, but Miss Gertrude Cadwalader’s employer tends to exhibit peculiar tendencies, often making Gertrude’s job unpredictable. She does all manner of things from wearing a birdcage on her behind (in the name of “fashion” … and large bustles) to returning pilfered items (not hers, but Mrs. Davenport’s, her employer and lady of the elite set). Upon returning pilfered items to wealthy shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair’s yacht, she is caught by Harrison’s mother, the indomitable Mrs. Sinclair, who immediately thinks the worst of Gertrude.

            Harrison cannot stand for his mother to think ill of Gertrude. Not only does he consider Gertrude to be a good friend, she also has a “delightful figure,” which is alarming only in that he doesn’t tend to notice such things about women. But with other thefts, including at the Manhattan Beach Hotel (considered a swanky place amongst the elite set), things aren’t looking so positive for Gertrude or Mrs. Davenport. Before Harrison can properly court Gertrude, there’s a mystery to be solved. Is he ready for the adventures?

            Like Turano’s other stories, I found “Out of the Ordinary” to be a delightful, fizzy, light-hearted tale. Gertrude is an independent woman who does questionable things (like return pilfered items) out of a dependence on her only source of income. Harrison is confident in his shipping work, but is something of a bumble despite all of his sisters’ romance novels that he secretly reads. Both of them are imperfect, yet are just right for this story. It is bright with humor and liveliness, but there are moments, too, where you shake your head with empathy. Gertrude may think herself ordinary, but she shouldn’t, and neither should we. After all, “God doesn’t expect His children to live ordinary lives, but extraordinary ones” (p. 123).

            Apart from the Crowd: Book One: Behind the Scenes

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Too Far Down" by Mary Connealy

Too Far Down (Oct. 3, 2017) by Mary Connealy.*

All of the danger has not passed. In fact, there may be more danger. Cole Boden, who’s both of the western life and of the city, has to deal with an explosion at the mines he oversees. People die, one of which was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but for the others, their injuries are too consistent to be just an accident. Together with his brother Justin, brother-in-law Heath, Melanie “Mel” Blake and her Uncle Walt, they discover a series of tunnels connecting a series of mines, including those belonging to the deceased. The Boden parents are still in Denver, where Chance’s leg continues to heal, but he and Veronica (a.k.a. Ronnie) aren’t free of danger, either. The entire family is determined to put an end to those who threaten them, the CR Mining Company and those that work with them before anyone else is put in harm’s way.

            This includes Mel Blake. A cowgirl who’s a regular tomboy (in fact, even in 1881, she’d rather wear pants than dresses), Mel’s a tough young woman who’s comfortable in her own skin. As long as her own skin is around horses or cattle in the outdoors and not stuffed inside a kitchen or sewing room. She’s great with a lasso and an even better shot. Despite thinking that Cole is a well-studied worm, she still wants to help the Boden family. But will helping them mean putting herself in direct danger?

            I have read all three books in this trilogy, and I have enjoyed every one. “Too Far Down” is an inspirational, historical fiction novel that is steeped in fast-paced adventure and set in a West that is more wild than tame. Although the Boden siblings have spats like any other siblings, I appreciate the bonds of this family, because their bond goes beyond just their family unit; it extends to the boundaries of the Cimarron Ranch, all who work with them and their neighbors beyond. For anyone who likes stories with a dash of romance and plenty of daring, while sporting a historical setting and a western feature, I recommend this trilogy from start to finish!

            Book One: No Way Up

            Book Two: Long Time Gone

"An Inconvenient Beauty" by Kristi Ann Hunter

An Inconvenient Beauty (Sept. 5, 2017) by Kristi Ann Hunter.*

One thing that Griffith, Duke of Riverton, learned from his childhood was that he would remain in control. Always. He prefers order, logic and sensibility, and he applies that rationale to his choice of a bride. He’s logically certain that Miss Frederica St. Claire is his perfect choice for a wife. As it were, she appears to ignore his interest, but it doesn’t stop him from trying to pursue her. Distractingly, though, where Frederica is, there too is Miss Isabella Breckenridge, Frederica’s stunningly beautiful cousin. As often as he tells himself to forget about Isabella, thoughts of her continue to sneak in.

            Isabella has been presented to the London elite for her society debut in 1815. Unfortunately, she cannot enjoy it due to a bargain she accepted out of desperation for her family’s difficult circumstances. Although she finds herself drawn to the Duke of Riverton, she quashes it, knowing that her regretful agreement dashes any romantic hopes she may have for a man of her choosing. And weighs heavily on her conscience as well.

            Not having read a story from this author, I didn’t know what to expect. I’m happy to report that I really enjoyed this story from the Hawthorne House series. It was as delightful as a sunshiny spring day, and I didn’t feel lost in a maze even though I did not read the preceding novels. Hunter writes characters who have substance and are not all frou-frou. She also writes with wit, as more than once did I laugh out loud. Yes, there’s struggle and regret and heartache. Yes, there’s humor and laughter, faith, prayer and love. There are passion projects for the right reasons and passions displaced. And that sounds a lot like life, whether in 1815 or 2017.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Promise of Dawn" by Lauraine Snelling

The Promise of Dawn (Aug. 1, 2017) by Lauraine Snelling.*

Moving from Norway to Minnesota in 1909 is dauntingly life-changing, but with opportunities scarce in Norway and Rune Carlson’s uncle, Einar Strand, offering to loan them money for passage to America, it seems the most viable option. Still, Signe Carlson hesitates to leave home, especially as she suspects she is pregnant with the couple’s fourth child after multiple miscarriages. But Einar has promised them land of their own, something they’d never be able to afford in Norway.

            Rune and Signe, with their three sons Bjorn, Knute and Leif, travel to Minnesota. They are no strangers to hard work, but Uncle Einar and Aunt Gerd are a very demanding and seemingly callous couple. Einar, Rune and Bjorn make it a daily task to fell trees, while Signe has the unenviable task of getting a house back in shape after months of neglect with Gerd fallen ill. As Einar’s demands and his expectations put someone she loves in striking distance of grave danger, Signe’s faith wobbles. Rune is there to encourage her faith as he keeps his. Can Signe find the fortitude she needs to help lead her family and protect them in this new land?

            I have not read many books by Lauraine Snelling, but I was first drawn to this story when I read that the characters emigrate from Norway to Minnesota. It reminded me of American Girl character Kirsten Larson. “The Promise of Dawn” did not disappoint. It is clear that Snelling has put in a great deal of historical research. Reading the story was an immersive experience. It was also emotional, as I’d have strong feelings toward Einar’s treatment of, well, everyone, and Gerd’s apparent dissatisfaction of everything. The amount of love Signe and Rune have for their family is astounding, but their lifestyle in Minnesota isn’t just honest hard work. The environment they’re in is toxic, and I’m not talking environmentally. Patience is a virtue oft-displayed by the Carlson family. They also show us what hard work is and what it means to endure. I was wrapped up in this book and look forward to reading the next installments in the Under Northern Skies series.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"A Name Unknown" by Roseanna M. White

A Name Unknown (July 4, 2017) by Roseanna M. White.*

She is a former street urchin; he is friends with the king. She is a professional thief with a large family-of-sorts. He is a solitary, mostly antisocial sort (due to self-consciousness of his stutter) who spends much of his time click-clacking away at a typewriter. Rosemary Gresham leaves the familiarity of London in 1914 to become a librarian to Peter Holstein in southwest Cornwall. The thing is, she knows nothing about being a librarian and to her family, it is comical that she should have to play at one. But Mr. V has sent Rosemary to become just that. For her and her family, it’s a substantial amount of money, but she is supposed to find hard evidence that Peter is against the Crown because of his German surname and lineage. How can she do that when the evidence points to his goodness? How can she do that when she realizes she cares for him?

            In this first book in White’s Shadows Over England series, this inspirational, historical fiction novel is as charming as a picturesque cottage on a clear, sunny day, but with a sheen of suspicion lurking around the bend by those who would cast aspersions on Peter. It is crafty and witty, and I very much enjoyed the story. The characters are well-developed and each distinct, including the supporting characters. I appreciated that Peter, for all the usual good-looking attributes we get so used to reading about in stories, has something which he is obviously self-conscious about, though he doesn’t let that stall his faith. I look forward to continuing this series and getting to know better Rosemary’s family. After all, surely Mr. V has more in store for them …

            Extra: My favorite passage is heralded on p. 152 when Peter is recalling words of his father. “All a man has is his name, son. The reputation we make with it. Whether it brings a smile or a frown, love or fear to those who hear it. All a man has is his name – that’s who he is before the Almighty.”

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Dark Deception" by Nancy Mehl

Dark Deception (June 6, 2017) by Nancy Mehl.*

In fictional Shelter Cove, Arkansas, Emily Lockhart has been running the Shelter Café diner. Her cook, Bella, is probably the closest person to a friend she has in the small town, though Bobby Wade – who runs the fishing resort – and Sheriff’s Deputy Warren Killian are good to look out for her. It’s unfortunate that she can’t share with them her deepest secret. That her name is not Emily Lockhart, but Kate O’Brien. Her twin sister was brutally murdered six years ago, and she almost died, too. Kate has felt safe in Shelter Cove until the day Tony DeLuca, the Deputy U.S. Marshal who protected her in the original trial, arrives in her small town with the devastating news that the man convicted of murdering her sister might’ve been wrongly convicted. And because of that doubt, he might go free, which is why she’s been subpoenaed to testify.

            Since Kate thinks she’s put the past behind her, she doesn’t want to delve into those dark, scary memories. But it may be that she didn’t really give herself time to process and grieve. Seeing Tony doesn’t help, either. She loved him all those years ago, but she chalked it up to her youth and the situation she was in. And with Tony seven years her senior, he can’t see her as more than a kid, right? But before a relationship can be pursued, they’ve both got to survive first, because Kate isn’t the only one threatened.

            Sometimes the past comes back to haunt us and getting through it takes more inner strength and faith than Kate knew she had. As she struggles with her faith, she realizes that, “No matter what happened in life, God’s love and grace were constant.” Lines like those – like little “Aha!” moments – send a message without being preachy. Mehl’s story takes off running, and while it slows down in spots during the novel, it generally keeps up the pace. I’m almost always up for a suspense novel, though it seems to me that considering it romantic is a bit of a stretch. Budding romance, sure, but nothing beyond that. Love is always rather tentative in such stories of late, which is fine by me, as I’m looking toward the suspense of the novel, not the dewy eyes and nervous butterflies. I thought the main antagonists were strong. However, I feel as though we could’ve known more about Tony and Kate, but they were still likable main characters. I didn’t like this story better than the first one in the Defenders of Justice series, but it’s still one I’m glad to have picked up.

            Book One: Fatal Frost

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"A Love So True" by Melissa Jagears

A Love So True (May 2, 2017) by Melissa Jagears.*

A servant’s heart. That is the kind of heart Evelyn Wisely has. She loves working at the local orphanage with her parents and feels called to do so. The children there are offspring of “women of ill repute.” But her love doesn’t stop at the children, for she wishes to help those women, too. She wants to build a shelter for them, and her boss will help fund it, but not without the financial support of at least two other businessmen. One of those men might be David Kingsman. He only plans to be in Teaville, Kansas, long enough to turn a business around and then he’s straight back to Kansas City. There’s little time to connect, right? Wrong. Evelyn and David are drawn to each other, but Evelyn holds back. She’s convinced society that she’ll reject any man’s attentions, because she has convinced herself she’s not worthy of love. But she has plenty of love for those children and the women of the red-light district. Can she keep the faith when the odds seem stacked against her?

            Although I missed the first book in the Teaville Moral Society series, Jagears has written this second installment so smartly that I was not running lost in a shifty neighborhood. Her characters are fleshed out and believable, Evelyn’s servant attitude is inspiring, and the romance is charming. The storyline is thought-provoking and shows the goodness of charity, but also the commitment and hard work that it involves. This compelling story opens readers’ eyes to embracing everyone, every neighbor, no matter their circumstance. This series appears to have substance and yes, it has faith and abundant love. Although referring to Evelyn and David, it also applies to us that God’s love is “a love so true, so consuming, and so good.” Don’t forget that!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Behind the Scenes" by Jen Turano

Behind the Scenes (Apr. 18, 2017) by Jen Turano.*

Just because she’s long been a member of the wallflower set doesn’t mean that Miss Permilia Griswold twiddles her thumbs. Indeed not! Working under the pseudonym “Miss Quill,” she fills the society gossip column of the New York Sun with such goings-on of the upper-crust that only an insider would know. With a reporter’s ear, she overhears a threat against Mr. Asher Rutherford, a dashing fellow, most eligible bachelor and owner of a top up-and-coming department store in New York City. When she informs him ever-so-helpfully, he doesn’t believe her, so she takes it upon herself to look out for him. Her fellow wallflower, Miss Gertrude Cadwalader, provides an assist, as does Asher’s good friend, Mr. Harrison Sinclair. Asher eventually realizes the threat to him is real, and Permilia, in trying to protect him, puts herself in danger as well. When they’re not annoying each other, they will find that they make a pretty good team. Now all they have to do is pinpoint their would-be killer. And would it hurt Asher to understand the value of a progressive woman in 1883?

            I love Turano’s books, and I don’t say that lightly. There are only a few authors that I’ve been introduced to through the blogger review program of whom I’ve gone out of my way to purchase their books if I didn’t already have them, and Jen Turano is one of them!

            This first story in her Apart from the Crowd series has me hooked. It has the charm of a picturesque village, the satisfaction of any happily-ever-after story and humor to tickle the funny bone. The sweet romance is tempered with a fascinatingly impulsive leading lady butting heads with a charming man, a dash of danger, a sense of fashion and cupfuls of faith. “Behind the Scenes” has dimension and history, but does not skimp on the light-hearted moments. It’s an inspirational fictional tale for the [Gilded] ages!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Long Time Gone" by Mary Connealy

Long Time Gone (Feb. 28, 2017) by Mary Connealy.*

With Ma and Pa in Denver, and his brother, Cole, in mortal danger, Justin Boden feels the weight of the Cimarron Ranch (CR) on his shoulders out in New Mexico Territory in 1880. Sadie and Heath are around, as is Rosita, who works for them. The dangers are not behind them, as they had thought. There is a plot that goes back decades, and if the enemy’s plot succeeds, the CR will be lost to the Bodens, as will many of their lives. They must all put their minds together in order to fit the pieces of the story. But there is a traitor working on the CR. Can they root the person out before someone else is hurt? Someone innocent like Angelique “Angie” DuPree? She finds herself at the CR to assist the doctor in tending to Cole’s injury. It is risky for Angie to be there – to associate with the Bodens – but Angie puts her worry over the Bodens above the threat of menace. This clearly bothers Justin, and he doesn’t know if he should banish her to the orphanage or keep her close. She’s as distracting to him as he is to her.

            This next book in The Cimarron Legacy did not disappoint. I’ve found that I generally like reading historical suspense fiction, and this novel was fast-paced. We met Angie but briefly in the first book, so I was glad to see her story fleshed out in this next installment. “Long Time Gone” is an inspirational fiction western packed with history, suspense and at least one honest cowboy! It is the opposite of a dry gulch; Connealy fills her tale with a lush plot, engaging characters, faith and humor, but also self-doubt, dangerous anger and, naturally, bad guys. A rich tale indeed!

            Book One: No Way Up

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Still Life" by Dani Pettrey

Still Life (Jan. 31, 2017) by Dani Pettrey.*

When one door closes, another opens. When Avery Tate was blacklisted in the photography world, she answered an ad for a crime-scene photographer and, much to her surprise, nabbed it. Crime-scene analyst Dr. Parker Mitchell changed her life and her heart, so she left his employ after only six months.

            Avery has returned to the photography world to support her childhood friend, Skylar Pierce, as she headlines an “it” photographer’s Black-Dahlia-esque showing. But Skylar doesn’t show up, and all Avery sees is a chilling photo that the photographer didn’t take featuring a friend who appears dead. With the photographer dramatically calling foul, the FBI is called in, and Special Agent Declan Grey arrives on scene, covering for the coworker who usually handles art theft. And Skylar calls Parker when she can’t find Skylar, and it’s obvious that someone has cased her trailer home. In the search for Skylar, one of their suspects has perverse interests and stalker tendencies. But is he a cold-blooded killer? Avery, Parker and their friends will have to solve that mystery and bring the solution into focus.

            With appealing protagonists, a complex plot, certain creatively eccentric (that’s putting it nicely) characters and a probable killer, this second inspirational romantic suspense fiction story in Pettrey’s Chesapeake Valor series is both harrowing and exciting. The story was fast-paced from the Prologue to the end. There was a sub-plot that didn’t entirely seem to fit, one involving Declan, but I’m guessing it is setting up the next story. Whether or not you’re a reader of inspirational novels, Pettrey’s stories are standouts if you enjoy suspense fiction. It’s a rollercoaster that drops you, takes you upside down and goes at high speeds, but also has moments like you might find in a Disney ride when you move calmly through nice, happy scenes … and then get dropped down a waterfall. When the next story is released, I’ll happily hop on that rollercoaster ride again!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"In the Shadow of Denali" by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

In the Shadow of Denali (Jan. 3, 2017) by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse.*

Six years prior, John Ivanoff lost a man on a mountain. It is now 1923, and he continues his expert work as a wilderness and exploration guide. He works for the new and prestigious Curry Hotel where his daughter, Cassidy, works as Cook’s assistant. It is a busy time with the planned visit of the President and his elite entourage. They’re dedicating the new national park at Mount McKinley (“Denali, as it’s still called by the natives.”). This is an honor, and it will also put Curry, Alaska, on the map. During the hubbub leading up to the President’s arrival, Allan Brennan arrives at the Curry Hotel. He is apprenticed to John, though at first neither is aware of their connection – Allan’s dad, Henry, is the man who died on the mountain and whose body was never recovered. Allan bears much anger toward God and John, whom he’s been told is at fault for his dad’s death. But as Allan gets to know John, he sees a far different man from the version told to him by Frank Irving, his late father’s friend and business partner. He finds a good friend in Cassidy, and, in the shadow of Denali, they discover that Henry’s death wasn’t an accident.

            This novel is the first out of the gate in the dual authors’ “The Heart of Alaska” series. While Curry was an actual place in Alaska, it now belongs to a bygone era, but one that you can’t help but wish you could visit after reading this story. Filled with historical realism and a setting ripe with details, “In the Shadow of Denali” is smartly written. I found the story to move swiftly forward. The characters were distinct, including the supporting characters. I would love to stand in the middle of this Curry Hotel and bask in the bustle and busyness of it all at such an historic phase. But, since I can’t go back in time and do that, I will take this story and its successors any day!

Extra (maybe learn something new!):

• Ahtna-Athabaskan: Alaska Native of the Athabaskan-speaking ethnolinguistic group of Alaska’s Copper River a.k.a. Ahtna River. (Wikipedia)

• Denali = the High One (a.k.a. Mount McKinley); Sultana = the Wife (a.k.a. Mount Foraker). (p. 38)

• “I’m part Athabaskan. That’s one of the native peoples in this part of Alaska. There are many groups – tribes, if you would. Those normally thought of as Eskimo are actually Inuit, Inupiat, and Yuit.” (pgs. 122-123)

• tsistl’unni (sounds like chist-loo-nee): hill snowshoes. “What you will need to climb the glacier.” (p. 270)

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”