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About

“I live in the in between. Between yesterday and forever. The way forward haunts me. The gap I must cover daunts me. And hope beckons, ‘Run to me,’ but I just learned to walk.” 

After a lifetime of abuse, the Vanderbilt siblings flee their home, finally free to pursue new dreams while running from yesterday’s nightmares. 

Once bed-ridden Jesse navigates the Chicago streets, concealing his identity and planning revenge. A chance encounter in the rain 
introduces a girl who offers Jesse a glimpse of a sunnier future, but how will he weather the growing storm inside himself? 

Separated from her Post-it note prince, Talia hides at a safe house for survivors of domestic violence while her father turns the city upside-down to find her. Surrounded by women fighting their own demons, Talia faces her past at every turn. 

Review

If you read the first book that left you with that cliffhanger ending, than naturally you had to pick up this one to find out what happened with Jesse. Jesse is probably the main voice in this book, though Talia gets her share as well. 

Here’s What I Liked:

Jesse’s voice. He is uniquely him and though he may make some frustrating choices, he makes choices that make sense for him. 

Talia. I think Ms. Paulus does a wonderful job of showing the lingering effects of abuse in not just Talia, but with others. Talia doesn’t become magically whole. It’s a process.

Lagan. He hasn’t changed. He’s still wonderful for Talia and Jesse, and though I could have wished to see more of his personality, this book is not focused on Lagan and Talia like the last one. So I was very happy and satisfied when he showed up on the pages. 

Spiritually, though its a bit vague, I liked watching Talia walk out her faith more and to see Jesse realize that revenge just isn’t going to solve anything.

What I didn’t like:

The dad is such a huge presence in this book, but we don’t actually see him as much. I think I kind of wanted to see his downfall be a bit more…widespread.

Jesse and Summer seemed a bit rushed. Talia and Lagan got way more time develop.

I wanted it to be longer! It was over too soon (I mean this in a good way)!

Romantic Scale: 7.5

Overall, a very good followup. You won’t want to put it down and the pages will just fly by!

Wildly Fun Adventure and Romance in Connealy’s New Series

Kylie Wilde fought in the Civil War dressed as a boy and now she’s homesteading as a man. But she makes one lousy man! When land agent Aaron Masterson comes to inspect her claim, he immediately realizes she’s a woman. She begs him not to tell, but can he in good conscience defraud the U.S. government, even if she really did serve in the war?

Aaron is interested in the little spitfire from the moment her long hair falls from her cap, but when he tells her of his plan to stake his own claim, farther west and up in the mountains, she draws away. Kylie’s focus is to “prove up” her homestead, sell it for a profit, move back east, and live the rest of her life in civilization.

But all Kylie’s future plans are put in jeopardy when someone tries to burn her out. Who would attack her way out here? Aaron and Kylie suspect it’s the local land baron–but Gage Coulter denies any involvement. He does suggest a way for Kylie to stay safe, though–marry him! More attacks scare Kylie near to death, and she can’t face living on her own any longer. Should she tie her fortune to Gage or Aaron? Either choice will put an end to her dreams of a civilized life. And what if marrying doesn’t stop the attacks after all?

A Perfect Blend of History and Romance, with a Whisper of Mystery

All she’s ever wanted was a home. But stranded at Presque Isle port after their steamboat sank, Emma Chambers and her brother, Ryan, couldn’t be farther away from security. While Ryan at least can find work, Emma can’t even find a place to stay. An unlikely solution arises when the lighthouse keeper, who recently lost his wife and is struggling to raise his young son, arrives in town. A traveling preacher believes they might be the answer to each others’ problems, and after a hasty marriage, Emma is headed back to the lighthouse with this handsome but quiet stranger.

But nothing in her wandering life has prepared her for suddenly being asked to raise a child and keep a house. Struggling at every turn, Emma also suspects Patrick may be keeping something hidden from her. In town she hears whispers about strange circumstances surrounding his previous wife’s death, and it seems as though Emma’s answered prayer for a home and family may actually be something much more dangerous.

Abigail Foster fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry to improve her charms and the one man she thought might marry her–a longtime friend–has fallen for her younger, prettier sister.

When financial problems force her family to sell their London home, a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll’s house left mid-play . . .

The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem to know something about the manor’s past, the only information they offer Abigail is a warning: Beware trespassers who may be drawn by rumors that Pembrooke contains a secret room filled
with treasure.

Hoping to improve her family’s financial situation, Abigail surreptitiously searches for the hidden room, but the arrival of anonymous letters addressed to her, with clues about the room and the past, bring discoveries even more startling. As secrets come to light, will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks…or very real danger?

Lula Bowman has finally achieved her dream: a teaching position and a scholarship to continue her college education in mathematics. But when she receives a shocking telephone call from her sister, Jewel, everything she’s worked for begins to crumble.

After the sudden death of Jewel’s husband, Jewel needs Lula’s help. With a heavy heart, Lula returns to her Oklahoma hometown to do right by her sister. But the only teaching job available in Dunn is combination music instructor/basketball coach. Neither subject belongs anywhere near the halls of academia, according to Lula!

Lula commits to covering the job for the rest of the school year, determined to do well and prove herself to the town. Reluctantly, she turns to the boys’ coach, Chet, to learn the game of basketball. Chet is handsome and single, but Lula has no plans to fall for a local boy. She’s returning to college as soon as she gets Jewel back on her feet.

However, the more time she spends in Dunn, the more Lula realizes God is working on her heart–and her future is beginning to look a lot different than she’d expected.

Yearning for a fresh start, Ewan McKay travels with his aunt and uncle from northern Scotland to West Virginia, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial assistance from his uncle Hugh. Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, but it’s Ewan who gets the business up and running again. Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner’s daughter, and he feels a connection with her, but she’s being courted by another man–a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Besides, Ewan has resolved he’ll focus on making the brickmaking operation enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business
and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Scotland.

But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan’s hard work may come to naught. As his plans begin to crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. She and her mother may have a way to save the brickworks, and in turn Ewan may have another shot at winning Laura’s heart.

Having fled a difficult home life, Civil War nurse Abigail Stuart feels like her only friend in the world is sweet but gravely wounded patient Jeremiah Calhoun. Fearing he won’t survive, the Confederate soldier’s last wish is that Abigail look after his sickly sister at home. Marry him, return to his horse farm,
and it’ll be hers.

Left with few choices, Abigail takes him up on his offer and moves to Missouri after his death, but just as the family learns to accept her, the real Jeremiah Calhoun appears–puzzled to find a confounding woman posing as his wife. Jeremiah is determined to have his life back to how it was before the war, but his own wounds limit what he can do on his own. Still not fully convinced Abigail isn’t duping him, he’s left with no choice but to let the woman stay and help–not admitting to himself she may provide the healing his entire family needs.

Don’t these look fun! I’m always so impressed when authors (Jody Hedlund, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings) have more than one book coming out in a year. Which ones stand out to you?

About

Review

There is something about reading about the south through the eyes of someone who is coming of age that can be done so beautifully and this book is no exception. This book is a bit out of the ordinary with what I read, but the writing is addictive and manages to really pull you in. I found myself very much invested in the characters. The Biblical story of Tamar is really a very tragic story and let me tell you, it’s tragic in this story to, but it ends with such hope that I know if you pick this book up, you will enjoy it. 

There are two narrators in this book: Anniston, the young girl who is growing up amidst all of these family secrets and Comfort (who is like Tamar) who has lived them. 

What I liked:

Anniston is a great narrator. Her voice manages to stay the same throughout the book, even as she gets older. I love the way she thinks, acts, and responds to the situations around her. I especially like her with Jed. Though they are young, you can begin to see the depth of their relationship. And Jed is such a sweetheart. He has issues of his own, but he always manages to be there for Anniston (and vice versa).

Comfort is a woman who is going through and I love how the author does not sugarcoat it. There are days where Comfort’s faith is strong and there are days when her faith is weak, but I love the journey the author takes you on that shows why she chooses to move on beyond her circumstances and not stay the victim. And Solly? He’s such a good man. 

Spiritually, I loved the use of Jacob’s Ladder and that God comes to us when we’re most alone and have nothing; that His angels are always tending to us, taking our pain up to Heaven and bring down peace for our hearts. This was just shown so beautifully. There is also the theme of not letting your past impact your future because if you don’t come to terms with your past it may destroy you.

What I didn’t like:

Jed and Anniston were just getting good when the book ended. I so want a book with them grown up. Please?

Romantic Scale: 8 

** I received this book from Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in anyway.**

I just recently read a book that had lots and lots of drama in it. And I so enjoyed it. I was on the edge of my seat figuring out relationships and the way things worked. To be perfectly honest, I don’t always enjoy drama, but when it’s done well, I never want the book to end. So, I thought, what is the difference between good drama and bad drama? Here are some of my ideas:

1. Bad drama usually occurs when the main character is not taking into consideration other people’s feelings. The book will end with the main character and her man happy, and yet leave trails of depression everywhere else. Bad drama leaves you believing the main character is selfish. Bad drama has one of the main characters doing something they don’t want to do and hiding that under the badge of honor. It is not honorable to be in a relationship with someone you don’t want to be with no matter the reason (unless they’re married and if they’re married what were they doing wanting to be with someone else in the first place!). Bad drama has no consequences (of any substance) for the main character if they’ve done wrong.

2. Good drama leaves everyone happy and satisfied at the end even if they had a bit of rollercoaster to get there. And I don’t mean contrived happiness. It must feel authentic. Good drama leaves you believing that the main character is a bit of a victim of their circumstance. If two people can’t be together in a good drama, there is a good reason (war, class restrictions, race issues, etc.).

So, what do you consider bad drama? What do you consider good drama?

About

The boy was 8-years-old when he died. Decades later he came to play with us. 

Almost every kid grows up playing with ghost runners, imaginary people who run the bases for you when you don’t have enough kids to play. Twelve-year-old Chandler Dean is no exception, but nothing could surprise Chandler more than a real ghost joining the game. 

Chandler must uncover the mystery of the ghost runner all the while dealing with middle school adolescence, including his best friend moving away and awkward interactions with a new crush. Chandler’s search for answers uncovers both past and present tragedies. Is Chandler strong enough to endure why the ghost runner has come?

Review

The Ghost Runner is a short novella that you can have read in one reading…and not just because it’s short! It’s engaging, interesting, and a wee bit mysterious. Though the main character in this novella is 13 years old, I would argue that the story is probably geared more towards older readers. 

What I liked:

– Though I’m not one for children’s books, I actually really liked that Chandler was young and that you got to see everything through his eyes. 

– I really liked the idea of a ghost runner because I had never heard it before and the added bonus of Nicholas really had me invested in the story to see what had happened. 

– Spiritually, I would have to say that this book deals with the issue of death and how God works all things out for the good to those that love him and those that are called according to his purpose. There is tragedy and then there is hope.

What I didn’t like:

– The ending was a surprise to me. I didn’t see that one coming. 

– Chandler’s voice in the narrative sometimes was informational and sometimes came across as older than he was.

Overall, a very good novella that is both creative and intriguing.

Romantic Scale: N/A (though there is a huge case of puppy love)

**I received this book from the author. My opinion was not affected in any way.**

I really enjoy YA novels and the Christian arena is starting to open their doors to more. I’ve showed a couple of covers of YA novels that are coming out this year, but here is one I hadn’t expected:

The isolated town of Beldon, Wisconsin, is shocked when a high school freshman’s body is found in Lake Algonquin. Just like everyone in the community, sixteen-year-old Daniel Byers believes that Emily Jackson’s death was accidental. But at her funeral, when he has a terrifying vision of her, his world begins to rip apart at the seams.

Convinced that Emily’s appearance was more than just a mere hallucination, Daniel begins to look carefully into her death, even as he increasingly loses the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality.

What’s real? What’s not? Where does reality end and madness begin?

As Daniel struggles to find the truth, his world begins to crumble around him as he slips further and further into his own private blurred reality.

Full of mind-bending twists and turns, Blur launches a new trilogy of young adult thrillers from Steven James, a master of suspense.

Anyone else planning on reading this?

About

A twenty-first-century doctor. A third-century plague. A love out of time.

First-year resident Dr. Lisbeth Hastings is too busy to take her father’s bizarre summons seriously. But when a tragic mistake puts her career in jeopardy, answering her father’s call seems her only hope of redeeming the devastating failure that her life has become. 

While exploring the haunting cave at her father’s archaeological dig, Lisbeth falls through a hidden hole, awakening to find herself the object of a slave auction and the ruins of Roman Carthage inexplicably restored to a thriving metropolis. Is it possible that she’s traveled back in time, and, if so, how can she find her way back home? 

Cyprian Thascius believes God called him to rescue the mysterious woman from the slave trader’s cell. What he doesn’t understand is why saving the church of his newfound faith requires him to love a woman whose peculiar ways could get him killed. But who is he to question God? 

As their different worlds collide, it sparks an intense attraction that unites Lisbeth and Cyprian in a battle against a deadly epidemic. Even as they confront persecution, uncover buried secrets, and ignite the beginnings of a medical revolution, Roman wrath threatens to separate them forever. Can they find their way to each other through all these obstacles? Or are the eighteen hundred years between them too far of a leap?

Review

For some reason I cannot fathom, I really like time travel romance novels. Admittedly, they make things really complicated (I’m always worried about how it’s going to end!), but if they’re done well, than my day has just been made. There aren’t a lot of christian time travel romance novels (Michelle Griep, Tamara Leigh, and  Lisa Bergren’s series are the few authors I can think of), so when I saw this one was coming out, I had to snatch it up. And I’m so glad I did!

What I liked about this book:

Time travel to the roman era. I mean those people were all kinds of crazy and yet the time period is so rich. I thought Ms. Gentry did a fabulous job of making the roman times feel “real.” Her research felt authentic, and the people came across as genuine. At the end of the novel, Ms. Gentry explains that several of the people and things that happened in the novel really happened in real life, so that brings a really great touch to the story. Furthermore, I loved the examples of the early church and how people had to struggle to believe in God in a time where such belief was almost an automatic death sentence. Their doubts and fears become so understandable, and yet their continued faith in God makes them all the stronger.

Dr. Lisbeth Hastings. I now know, if I ever have the option to go back in time, I need to be a doctor. I also liked how her faith in God develops gradually as she walks these early Christians live out their faith.

Cyprian. I loved who he is (was) as a person and how he related to Lisbeth. 

The romance. It completely fit the era and I was very pleased with where it went.

Magdalena. She comes out of nowhere and I love the surprise here. 

There’s a sequel! The ending is so unfair, so I’m super glad there’s going to be another!

What I didn’t like:

There were a couple of times Lisbeth did seem to demand 21st century treatment and I wanted to say, come on girl, think where you are, let’s not be silly.

Overall, a very good time travel novel that will pull you in and have you totally invested.

Romance scale: 8

** I received this novel from Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in anyway.**

About

Review

I really enjoyed going back to the boardinghouse in Baker City, Oregon. The series is almost like a TV show, because the novels, though focused on two people, always have these lovely side stories with the secondary characters that you just don’t want to miss. Book Two makes Jeffery and Beth the main attraction. 

Beth is an interesting heroine. She’s got this mysterious past on two fronts: her ex-beau and her parentage. Watching the two pasts unravel slowly was really nicely done. I found myself turning the pages and trying to figure out what had happened with Beth. However, Beth is not one of the best heroines. She’s a bit flighty, because I wasn’t sure what she wanted in life. She was a bit self-absorbed because she thought everything and everyone was talking about her. And to be perfectly honest, this is not a romance, this is a book about Beth deciding whether or not she wanted a romance. That said, she’s not the most annoying heroine I’ve ever read, and if you just remember that she’s overdramatic, than she won’t bother you as the reader.

Jeffery is another mysterious character because you’re not sure about him in book one, but in this novel you really get in his head. You learn his passions, what he’s hiding, and who he’s hiding from. I will say, that he is a very beta, low-key male. Sometimes I wanted to say stop whining and do something already! But that low-keyness is probably what makes him and Beth work. Jeffery also has some parental issues (like in the first book) that are worked out really nicely in this one. 

The secondary characters are all there! Plus there is an extra boarder or two who causes trouble and will bring a smile to your face. I particularly enjoyed Frances’ character. I love that though she has changed, she hasn’t changed. 

Spiritually, Beth has to learn to trust God and realize that she can’t control everything while Jeffery learns that God is very interested in everything that we do.

Overall, I think if you don’t go into this novel expecting a romance, it’s a great book about this boardinghouse and the things that go on there. The writing is strong, I didn’t find myself bored at all, and I’m very interested in what is going to happen in the third book in this series.

Romantic scale: 6

**I received this novel from Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in anyway.**

Bold, sophisticated, and flirtatious, Army Air Force flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, leaving men pining in airfields all across Europe. So how can ruggedly handsome C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper be all but immune to her considerable charms? In fact, he seems to do everything he can to avoid her.

Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France, evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them closer to where they don’t want to go. Can they confront the fears and misunderstandings in their pasts?

Sarah Sundin seamlessly weaves together emotion, action, and sweet romance into a tale that transcends time and calls us to believe in the power of love.

Background TBA

Hawaii was the last place Grace Christiansen ever imagined she’d vacation, much less fall in love. But when her family surprises her with a cooking retreat in paradise, she is pulled—or maybe yanked—away from her predictable, safe life and thrown headfirst into the adventure of a lifetime.

Max Sharpe may make his living on the ice as a pro hockey player, but he feels most at home in the kitchen. Which is why he lives for the three-week culinary vacation he takes each year in Hawaii. Upon being paired with Grace for a cooking competition, Max finds himself drawn to her passion, confidence, and perseverance. But just when Grace dares to dream of a future beyond her hometown, Max pulls away.

Wrestling with personal demons, Max fights against opening his heart to a love he knows he should never hope for. And as his secrets unfold, Grace is torn between the safe path in front of her and what her heart truly desires. If love means sacrificing her ideal happily ever after, Grace’s faith will face its toughest test yet.

Sometimes everything you ever learned about yourself is wrong
 
Fashion is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four year old model Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she’s learned a sacred truth—appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows—so when it starts to unravel, she’ll do anything to hold on. Even if that means moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be the new face of her stepmother’s bridal wear line—an irony too rich for words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white. 
 
If only her tenuous future didn’t rest in the hands of Davis Knight, her mysterious new photographer. Not only did he walk away from the kind of success Ivy longs for to work maintenance at a local church, he treats her differently than any man ever has. Somehow, Davis sees through the façade she works so hard to maintain. He, along with a cast of other characters, challenges everything Ivy has come to believe about beauty and worth. Is it possible that God sees her—a woman stained and broken by the world—yet wants her still?

The remnant of Glenrock has been scattered. But they are not beaten. The Safe Lands have long kept the true meaning of Liberation secret from their people. But after being sentenced to Liberation themselves, Mason and Omar soon discover the truth. Levi watched his brothers’ public sentencing and tries to hold out hope they are still alive, He is forced to focus his attention elsewhere, however, when his new wife, Jemma, is captured and made the Safe Lands’ newest Queen. His only choice to save Jemma may be to take up Omar’s old role of undercover vigilante, leading the rebels in their quest to overthrow the government. But will Levi’s new role be enough? Meanwhile, Jemma’s sister, Shaylinn, is ready to give birth to the ‘Safe Lands” children … but not even Ciddah is sure they can be delivered safely in the midst of a rebellion. And Mason must face the fact Omar’s illness could be fatal. If they can all unite their efforts, together they may be able to expose the Safe Lands’ lies to the people. But if they fail, they will all surely die.

Background TBA

A terminal breast cancer diagnosis shatters Kendra Woods’ life and dreams. But through the hurt and the pain, she learns to view her life—however many days that includes—in a new way.

Kendra Woods has always known success. Raised in a prominent black family in well-to-do Clayton, Missouri, she had high aspirations for herself and, thus far, has met them. After graduating from law school she went to work at a prestigious law firm. Now she’s just made partner and in one month will marry the man of her dreams. And it’s only the beginning. Kendra envisions herself becoming a judge one day and she can’t wait to have kids. But a terminal diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer shatters her world—weeks before her wedding.

Kendra is devastated as the reality sets in that she could have no more than two years to live. Her fiance leaves, and as word travels around the firm, she’s no longer given big cases. Kendra is angry with God and feels her life has already ended.

Her path keeps crossing Lance’s, a troublemaker who briefly attended her high school. Kendra has trouble letting go of the person he was a decade ago and can’t believe an encounter in jail turned his life around and he’s now leading a church plant in Clayton. He’s becoming the unlikely source of hope she needs.

Kendra is in the midst of a storm—one that’s apparently here to stay. But the hidden blessings may be just the shelter she needs.

Exciting!