Sleuth Finds More Than Expected

First time I have read a book by Nancy Mehl. Rising Darkness did not disappoint. I was captured by the main character's dialog and her desire to amount to something after having a terrible childhood. Sophie's goal is to become an investigative reporter so she begins by trying to solve an unsolved crime by following a lead that takes her to Sanctuary, Missouri. She takes an alias and creates a story as to why she is visiting so as not to arouse suspicion. Unexpectedly, she meets someone there from her past who eventually recognizes her. Not only that, this person offers to help her solve the mystery when Sophie begins getting threatening notes. Will she be able to solve the crime and further her career before she is hurt or someone else is hurt? And will she come to terms with God? A must read if I do say so. I received this book free from Bethany House Publishing to review and give an honest opinion.

Love Triumps as Trilogy Ends

When Love Returns is the third book in the Zimmerman Restoration trilogy by Kim Vogel Sawyer. The book we have all been waiting on to discover if Paul and Suzanne are able to move forward from their past and forge a new relationship. It also finds Alexa wanting to discover who her birth mother might be. With what little information Suzanne can tell her, she moves forward in her search by returning to Indianapolis. Meanwhile, Suzanne tries to run the bed-and-breakfast with help from Anna-Grace. She is torn between supporting Alexa on her search and fear she will lose her adopted daughter and never have a mother-daughter relationship with her real daughter, Anna-Grace. It was a great read but I felt it ended to quickly after spending so much time building up to this point. A few more chapters may have helped, although over all an enjoyable book. I received this book free from WaterBrook to review and give an honest opinion.

Family Secrets

Cindy Woodsmall has created another must read in the new series The Amish of Summer Grove. In book one, "Ties That Bind," the reader is introduced to Ariana Brenneman-a young Amish woman with the dream of opening her own cafe to help support her family. When she discovers Quill Schlabach, who left the Amish life, is back in town she begins to fear he is back to help someone else leave the faith. Ariana figures out it is someone in her family. Thinking it is her younger sister, Ariana enlists her sister to help work at the cafe but does she have the correct family member? And what about the strange way her parents have been acting? And will she ever earn enough money to purchase the cafe? Or even get her cafe opened? The author does a great job drawing you into the story so much so that it is hard to put down the book! I received this book free from Waterbrook Press to review.

Beauty Begats Wisdom

Angela Hunt writes an enthralling tale about David and Bathsheba in her latest book Bathsheba. The story is written from the perspective of Bathsheba and the prophet, Nathan. Hunt developes a storyline that is so believable and heart wrenching at the same time. It is so hard for us in today's American culture to fathom how this could happen. But if I put myself in that culture at that period of time, it makes one stop and think. Bathsheba is innocently taking a ritual cleansing bath in her courtyard. Remember no bathrooms during that time. David is on the rooftop of his palace surveying his kingdom when he happens to see Bathsheba. All within the kingdom belongs to the king, and David as king, acts accordingly and demands the woman be brought to him. It is only after the fact that David realizes what he did and tries to correct the error by bringing Bathsheba's husband back from the battlefield. But the plan back fires on him. To make matters worst Nathan calls on David giving him a message from God "I will generate evil against you out of your own household..." So begins the fulfilment of the prophecy with the death of the firstborn son

to Bathsheba and David. This book really brings the Biblical story alive. It truly provides a different perspective of a very familiar Old Testament story.

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Comparison Shopping

   

     I found myself nodding my head so many times in agreement with the author, Kay Wills Wyma, as she talks about contentment in "I'm Happy for You." Wyma uses humor, real life experiences, and a conversation style writing that is easy to follow as she talks about our culture's obsession with comparison. I had not thought of myself being apart of the comparison game, but after reading this book, I had to rethink that thought. Wyma writes "the longing to know we belong compels us to race after anything that offers to secure our feelings of importance and worth" (p. 2015, p. 32). I particularly liked the chapter on yardstick living: how do we measure up or how do we measure ourselves to others. This book offers a way back to living a simpler, more contentment filled life.  
     I received this book free to review from waterBrook Press.

Potter and Artist

        "The Potter's Lady" is the second book in the series Refined by Love by Judith Miller. Before I read the book I did read the first one in this series. Although this second book would stand on its own, it was nice to have the background going into it. With that said, Judith Miller does a great job building the characters and setting. Rose McKay is a strong female character who knows what she wants. After graduating from design school she travels back home to live with her brother, Ewan, and his family. Ewan has been displaced from his job and is looking to purchase a brickyard with financing from his mother-in-law. Ewan and Rose visit a pottery that is for sale in the same town as the brickyard. Rose convinces her brother and his family to purchase the pottery. But problems begin to pop up from the workers and to lack of contracts. On the other hand, Rose's beau, Joshua Harkness' pottery is doing a great job at landing contracts. Rose fears the pottery may not have been a good choice until a letter arrives from her former headmistress about an art contest. Ewan insists that Rose and Rylan Campbell work together to produce a winning entry.  Will they be able to put aside their differences and create a winning entry? Will they figure out why they cannot obtain more contracts to grow the pottery business?
     This is a historical fiction set in West Virginia. There is reference to several sites well known for their pottery. I happen to live near a few of these sites and so this novel intrigued me. If you like historical fiction with romance mingled in, then pick up "The Potter's Lady."
   I received this book free from Bethany House to review.