Firm Foundation

In The Artisan’s Wife, the third book of the series “Refined by Love” by Judith Miller, the reader is introduced to Ewan and Rose’s sister Ainslee McKay. Ainslee discovers her twin sister, Adaira, has eloped and left her to fulfill the obligation of running the newly purchased tile works in Weston. Ainslee and Adaira have always done things together. Now Ainslee must leave her family striking out into unknown territory of running the new business by herself. Ewan and Ainslee make a deal that he will try to find a buyer while she makes the business profitable. She hires Levi Judson to work at the tile plant and to put his artistic abilities to work in creating mosaics on the tile. As time passes a friendship develops between them that can easily be broken by a secret Levi holds. Ewan finds a buyer for the tile works, now Ainslee must decide if she wants to pursue the mosaic tiles showing her confidence and faith in Levi, or give up the business and go back home where she is most comfortable. Both Levi and Ainslee must learn to trust God through the good and the bad. Overall, it was a nice historical romance to read and discover what the McKay family was up to after the first two books. My only disappointment was that Adaira was left out other than occasional mentions of her. I received this book to read for free to give my honest opinion from Bethany House Publishers.

Sapphire Beauty

"A Beauty Refined" is the second book in the Sapphire Brides Series by Tracie Peterson. I really enjoyed the first book in this historical romance series and was not disappointed by this one as the story revolves around the Yoko Sapphires. Count Frederick Von Bergen is traveling to American to purchase some sapphires for the Dutchess along with his daughter, Pheobe. But there is much Pheobe is not aware of during this visit or who her father really is. Von Bergen has told his daughter that her mother died ten years before in a ship wreck. Imagine Pheobe's shock when she runs into her mother at the hotel she and her father are staying at in Helena, Montana and that she has a younger brother. During her stay at the hotel, Pheobe meets Ian Harper, the local lapidary, who soon becomes a close friend. But Ian can not abide by telling lies. And he soon discovers that is what Pheobe's life is based on. Can Ian and Pheobe find freedom from the lies that surround their lives? Can Pheobe understand where true freedom comes from? A fast read because you become so caught in the story one can not put the book down. The author does a great job with realistic characters and storyline. Looking forward to the third installment in this series. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Dreams, Hope, and Love

In the Land Rush Dreams Series by Vickie McDonough, the reader meets a grown-up Sarah Worley dreaming of owning her own land and a house in Sarah's Surrender. She is not interested in marriage as her good friend Luke McNeil discovers. Sarah views Luke only as her best friend. But Luke is determined to win Sarah over. So when she decides to participate in a land lottery held in El Reno Luke follows along. Sarah, Jack Jensen, her adopted brother, and Luke all enter into the lottery. Her dream begins to come true when she wins a plot of land in the lottery and is able to begin building her house. But along the way mishaps occur which make her question if she is following God's will for her life and questioning her dream. Especially when others begin telling her she is in love with Luke. It was nice to revist with Sarah now that ten years have passed since she ran away from the bordello her father owned with Jo. Although a nice read alone, I would recommend reading the first two books to get the flow and acquainted with the characters. I received a compementary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Deliverance

Meet Delilah in Angela Hunt's third book of the Dangerous Beauty Series. This is a fictional account of the Biblical Samson and Delilah. Hunt does a great job with building believable characters in her newest book. Delilah is a beautiful young woman living with her mother, step-father and step-brother in Gaza, enjoying a previleged life. But all changes with the sudden death of her step-father. Her step-brother, Achish, becomes head of the household, selling Delilah's mother into slavery and abusing Delilah. When Delilah escapes she vows to get revenge on the man who took advantage of her and free her mother. First, though, she must find a way to survive. And then she hears about Samson, Judge of the Isrealites... Hunt notes "Samson and Delilah were not heroes or villains.They were people...because people, with all their flaws, are what God uses to work His divine will (p. 341)." Enjoy this fast paced story of a man devoted to God and a woman devoted to revenge. Two people with a story whose paths cross to fulfill God's will. I received this book free to review for Bethany House Publishers and give my honest opinion.

Taste of Life

Food defines who we are in society. Think of any occasion and food is there. Hillary Manton Lodge in her book Together at the Table uses food as she examines the intricacies of human relationships. Juliette D'Alisa has opened a restaurant with her brother Nico and trying to recover from the death of her mother several months before and the break-up with her boyfriend Neil. She is opening herself up to a new relationship with sous-chef Adrian from the restaurant. Juliette feels she is moving forward albeit slowly. She is also planning on taking a trip to Paris to learn more about her grandmother and her family. Adrain is planning a birthday party for her but Juliette requests a quiet day. But this birthday is anything but a quiet event. To make matters more complicated, Juliette discovers Neil is back in town dredging up memories and emotions. The book includes recipes that are mentioned by the characters throughout the book. This book is the third one in the series "Two Blue Doors." I liked this book with the indepth characters and plot. However, I wish I had read the first two books first as it was hard to know who was who and understand what had occured in the previous two books. So I would suggest reading the series in order. This one does not stand alone, it builds upon what has already occured. Food brings us together as a society, as a family, and creates emotional ties. So try giving Together at the Table a taste today. I received this book for free to review from WaterBrook.

New WWJD? Movement

I remember the "What Would Jesus Do" movement that slowly receded into the background of our society. But Harry Griffith brings the challenging theme back with a modern day twist in his book "In His Place." Meet pastor Steve Long of Incarnation Church who has just learned one of his parishners has died. The parishner's death, particularly the letter that arrives the day after his death, causes pastor Long to stop and ponder what could he have done differently. On top of this, pastor Long has a teenage son at home who is anything but cordial. The reader is right there with pastor Long as he struggles internally with his emotions and thoughts and as he pours out these thoughts and fruastrations to his atheist friend. As the week continues, Steve Long is faced with many decisions about how he will respond to God's calling as well as the members of his church as they rethink what it means to be a practicing Christian. I was moved by this story, even though it is fictional, to reexamine my own life, thoughts and actions. Is there more I can do? We can not become comfortable and apathetic to the world around us. This is a must read for everyone in the Church and outside the Church body. It is water-fountain-topic worthy! I received this complimentary copy book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Fashion Diva

It was slow going as I started to read Fading Starlight, Kathryn Cushman's newest novel. Lauren Summers is a budding fashion designer but the night her design takes the red carpet, disaster errupts, sending her into hiding. This is where the story begins to pick up spead, becoming a page turner with intrigue, mystery and drama. Lauren takes a job helping a high school theater director designing custumes for an upcoming production. Her paltry salery comes with a rent free cottage as long as she abides by the privacy policy. Across the street from the cottage lives reclusive Hollywood actress Charlotte Montgomery who is leary of the newcomer to her neighborhood. Lauren only wants friendship. Charlotte thinks Lauren wants something just as everyone in her past did. Then Charlotte's heirloom necklace disappears. Can Lauren convince Charlotte of her friendship, clear her name in the fashion world and find the necklace? Will Lauren remain faithful in her relationship with God throughout her ordeal? To say "nothing is quite as it seems" is so true in this book and in life. This book has a lot to offer in the way of a great story line but the suttle messege underneath is worth taking to heart. I received this book free to review with my honest opinion for Bethany House Publishers.