Always on My Mind By: Susan May Warren

Back of the Book

After a failed dig in Honduras, aspiring archaeologist Casper Christiansen heads home to Minnesota to face his unresolved feelings for Raina Beaumont, the woman of his dreams. But when he arrives unannounced on her doorstep, he receives the shock of a lifetime: Raina is pregnant with someone else’s baby.

Heartbroken, especially when he discovers the identity of the baby’s father, Casper tables his dreams and determines to be dependable for once, helping his older brother, Darek, prepare the family resort for its grand reopening. Casper longs to be the hero of at least one family story, but a never-ending Deep Haven winter and costly repairs threaten their efforts—and the future of the resort.

Worse, one of Casper’s new jobs constantly brings him into contact with Raina, whom he can’t seem to forget. A tentative friendship begins to heal fresh wounds, but can they possibly overcome past mistakes and current choices to discover a future together?

My thoughts

If you have been counting down the days for the next Chrstiansen family novel, the count down is over, and it is well worth the wait. Susan May Warren did such an amazing job on this book, it was emotional, entertaining and really made you pause and ask the question "what would I do?"  As both Casper and Raina struggle with their own past mistakes they must learn to forgive each other.  Always on My Mind reminds us that we must learn from the past but find peace and joy by looking towards the future.  I would recommend this book and can't wait to start reading it again. (But I will have to wait, because I have loaned it out to family.)

I was given this novel free from Tyndale House Publishers for my honest opinion.

A Most Inconvenient Marriage By: Regina Jennings

Back of the Book

Abigail Stuart Thought She was Jeremiah Calhoun's Widow.
But Jeremiah Calhoun Is Very Handsome, Very Alive, and Very Perplexed.
Most Inconvenient Indeed.

With few options of her own, nurse Abigail Stuart agrees to marry her patient, a gravely wounded soldier calling himself Jeremiah Calhoun. They arrange a quick ceremony before he dies, giving Abigail the rights to his Ozark farm and giving Jeremiah the peace of knowing someone will care for his ailing sister after he's gone--a practical solution for both of them.

After the war, Abigail fulfills her side of the bargain--until the real Jeremiah Calhoun shows up, injured but definitely alive, and wastes no time in challenging Abigail's story. Abigail is flummoxed. After months of claiming to be his widow, how can she explain that she's never seen this Jeremiah Calhoun before? How can she convince him that she isn't trying to steal his farm? And will she find a way to stay, even though this practical arrangement has turned into a most inconvenient marriage?

My Thoughts

  A Most Inconvenient Marriage is an entertaining novel that centered around the Calhoun family farm.  Jeremiah and Abigail seem to go back and forth between her staying or going, and Jeremiah liking her or going back to the girl he left before the war.  I never felt a real connection with anyone in the story to keep me drawn into the book. The setting for the novel was the end of the civil war and I did find it interesting to see how the town was divided because of the war, and some of the issues they faced because of those divisions.  

I was given this book free from Bethany House Publishing for my Honest review.

Trading Secrets By: Melody Carlson

Back of the Book

Back in fifth grade, Micah Knight got an Amish pen pal, and over the years, they've exchanged many letters--and many secrets. At age seventeen, Micah finally has the chance to meet her pen pal face-to-face. The only problem is that because of confusion about her name when the pen pals were assigned, her pen pal was a boy, Zack Miller. And all this time, Micah's never told Zack that she's actually a girl! While she wants nothing more than to experience life on Zack's Amish farm, she's afraid he'll hate her for deceiving him all these years. But she makes up her mind to face the music--and that's where the fun really begins.

Bestselling author Melody Carlson brings young adults another fascinating tale of worlds colliding, secrets being revealed, and friendships forming. Teens will love this story of miscommunication and mishaps along the way to the truth.

My thoughts

This was a cute...hum, its not a romance or drama.  I would call it more of a snippet in the lives of Micah and Zack, where choices have to be made that will alter the directions theirs lives are going.  Trading Secrets was an entertaining book, but don't let the cover fool you, they are in High School.  I kept waiting for a large span of time to pass, because I looked at the cover picture and have honestly never seen a 17 year old look that old.  This is a clean, and enjoyable book for anyone preteen and up.

I was given this book free from Revell Publishing for my honest review.

A Matter of Heart By: Tracie Peterson

Back of the Book

Texas born and raised Jessica Atherton is a wealthy young woman whose heart was broken when the man she intended to marry wedded another. But her world is upended when two new men come into her life, and both manage to stir her heart.

Harrison Gable is a successful young lawyer with ambitions that match Jessica's dreams. His warm, attentive manner and thoughtful gifts make her feel special.

Austin Todd, a former Secret Service agent, enjoys working now as a Texas Ranger cattle inspector. But after learning of forged gold certificates and missing printing plates, he's drawn back into the world of intrigue and agrees to help solve the case. Jessica is drawn to his kind nature and the unspoken pain she sees in his eyes. 

If Jessica follows her heart, where will it lead?

My Thoughts

This was a sweet historical romance with a few twists and turns to keep you entertained.  Tracie Paterson wonderfully weaved the etiquette and innovations of the time without overpowering the story.  Harrison and Austin are such polar opposites, one an excellent choice for who Jessica is, and one for who she is trying to become, It was hard not to skip to the back and find out who wins her heart in the end. A Matter of Heart was a clean novel, and even if you don't read many historical novels you will find this book entertaining.

I was given this book free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

A Bride in Store By: Melissa Jagears

Back of the Book

Impatient to meet her intended groom and help him grow his general store, mail-order bride Eliza Cantrell sets out on her travels a week early. But her plan goes sadly awry when her train is held up by robbers who steal her dowry and Axel, her groom-to-be, isn't even in town when she finally arrives.

Axel's business partner, William Stanton, has no head for business and would much rather be a doctor. When his friend's mail-order bride arrives in town with no money and no groom in sight, he feels responsible and lets her help around the store--where she quickly proves she's much more adept at business than he ever will be.

The sparks that fly between Will and Eliza as they work together in close quarters are hard to ignore, but Eliza is meant for Axel and a future with the store, while Will is biding his time until he can afford medical school. However, their troubles are far from over when Axel finally returns, and soon both Will and Eliza must decide what they're willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams--or if God has a new dream in store for them both.

My Thoughts

I was looking forward to reading this book, while it followed the same pattern as the other book in the series, it just did not seem to hold my interest as much as Jagers previous book.  It was well written and the plot has a few turns to keep you entertained, but it just lacked something for me.  Will was a kind, lovable person and Eliza was strong willed and smart, whats not to love?  Both struggled with LOTS of guilt, and self doubt, they had to figure out what mattered most in life.  The book introduced different people in the town than her last book, and many of their personalities helped hold my interest but I don't think I will read it again. 

I was given this book free from Bethany House Publishing for my honest review.

Unexpected By: Karen Tuft

Back of the Book

Eleven years ago, Ross McConnell was devastated by the betrayal of the woman of his dreams. Time does not heal all wounds, and after more than a decade, Ross is no closer to finding love. When his well-meaning family attempts to play match maker, he concedes by creating a list detailing his perfect mate: A member of the Church. Beauty-queen looks. College educated. Never married. Perhaps he'll give love another try, if such perfection exists. . . Natalie Forrester is no stranger to heartache. After two failed marriages, the beautiful single mother of three is determined to make it on her own. Without a college degree, she starts at the bottom: working as a housekeeper may not be glamorous, but it's her first exhilarating step toward independence. And Natalie's most recent cleaning job is ideal--the guy is always out of town, and the pay will go a long way toward supporting her missionary son. Maybe luck is finally on her side. And then Ross and Natalie meet . . . and meet again. And following a series of awkward encounters, Ross is shocked by his growing attraction for this woman. Natalie couldn't be further from his ideal woman, and she is firm in her determination to keep her heart closed to love. But as their tenuous friendship develops and deepens, will the unlikely pair have the courage to set aside the disappointments of the past to catch hold of a bright new future?

My Thoughts

Unexpected is exactly how the book is, I love this book more than I thought I would.  It was amazingly well written and while it did not have any dramatic twist and turns I could not put it down. Tuft has such a talent in writing characters that seem so real, and many of the senarios you find them in are natural, so you never have that 'ya right, like that would happen' feeling with her books.

I would totally recommend you put your life on hold and read this book, you will not be disappointed.

Wildflowers from Winter By: Katie Ganshert

Back of the Book

Like the winter, grief has a season. Life returns with the spring.

A young architect at a prestigious Chicago firm, Bethany Quinn has built the life she dreamed of during her teen years in a trailer park.  An unexpected interruption from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown and a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa. 

Determined to pay her respects to her past while avoiding any emotional entanglements, she vows not to stay long. But the unexpected inheritance of five hundred acres of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan.

Handsome farmhand Evan Price has taken care of the Quinn farm for years.  When Bethany is left the land, Evan must fight her decisions to realize his dreams. But even as he disagrees with Bethany’s vision, Evan feels drawn to her and the pain she keeps so carefully locked away.

For Bethany, making peace with her past and the God of her childhood doesn’t seem like the path to freedom. Is letting go the only way to new life, love and a peace that she’s not even sure exists?

My Thoughts

There is more to this book than you think.  Wildflowers from Winter is well written and addressed some difficult topics.  This book starts at a slow pace but then seems to skip months at a time, while I did check to make sure I did not miss a few pages, the transitions were smooth and had enough information I never felt like I missed important points of the plot.   Ganshert dealt with the subject of grief in an amazing fashion and showed how we all have a choice on our happiness.  

I would recommend this book.  It is clean, well written, and has great characters.