New Releases: Stuck Together

Book Title: Stuck Together
Publishing Date: June 3, 2014

A little bit about the book: When a lawman who values order gets stuck with a feisty crusader who likes to stir things up, there's going to be trouble in Texas!

Vince Yates earned the nickname "Invincible Vince" because of his reputation for letting absolutely nothing stop him. Not his tyrant of a father. Nor the injuries he suffered in the Civil War. Nor the fact that he is Broken Wheel's only attorney and sheriff yet has no law degree.

But Vince is about to face his biggest challenge yet: his past has just caught up with him. His father, mother, and the sister he didn't know he had show up in Broken Wheel without warning. His father is still a schemer. His mother is suffering signs of dementia. And his surprise sister immediately falls for one of Vince's best friends. Vince has a lot of people to take care of, and Tina doesn't approve of how he's handling any of them. But with almost all the other men in town married off, Vince finds himself stuck with feisty Tina over and over again. Of course, Tina is the prettiest woman he's ever seen, so if he could just get her to give up her causes, he might go ahead and propose. But he's got one more surprise coming his way: Tina's picketing at the saloon has revealed a dark secret that could put everyone Vince loves in danger.

My Review: Some books grab your interest from the beginning and some don't. From the very first chapter I was captured. I actually laughed out loud during the first pages, which earned me some weird looks from my sister who was in the room. :) Maybe it was just me but the scene was written so clearly I could picture the comical events in my mind. And they were comical! I'm sure you will like this book too. Not only was it funny but Stuck Together was full of adventure and meaningful as well.

After finishing this book I got right on my library's website and put on hold the other two books in this series. I have to wait at least two weeks but if they're as good as Stuck Together I know I will enjoy them immensely. If it's not clear already I definitely recommend this book to read.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Note: I received this book on NetGalley. I recommend to check this website out. Totally worth your time!
http://netgalley.com

New Releases: Truth Be Told

This is another book by my one of my favorite publishers, Bethany House. I requested this book from NetGalley and, like most the others by Bethany House, I really enjoyed it. 

Book Title: Truth Be Told
Publishing Date: June 3, 2014

A little bit about the book: Sometimes the truth can be dangerous...
 
When Amelia Wagner takes over her father's newspaper in 1893 Granite Springs, Arizona, she vows to carry on the paper's commitment to reporting only the truth. But Amelia soon learns that even the truth can have serious consequences. Her father's revealing articles about the Great Western Investment Company have caught the attention of the wrong people, and pressure mounts for Amelia to retract her father's statements.

Determined to find out the real story, Amelia begins her own investigation. She's joined by Benjamin Stone, a Great Western employee who's been assigned to keep tabs on her for the good of the company, a man Amelia finds both perplexing and intriguing.

What they uncover stuns them both--and has far-reaching implications for not only Ben and Amelia but all of Granite Springs. Can they reveal the truth before the enemy finds a way to silence them for good?

My Review: This book was great! I love novels with a Western theme and Truth Be Told definitely gave me a nice taste of it. I liked how Amelia was determined, even though it was not popular, to share the truth with people; no matter the cost. Truth Be Told was slightly funny, adventurous, and a book I totally enjoyed.   

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Homeward Trilogy / Book 3

Hard to believe May is already two-thirds of the way over. Seems like it just started. These last few days have been really busy for me and my schedule gets even fuller during the next couple weeks! I will be out of school on June 1st so for the next two weeks I will be really busy with last minute assignments and getting my portfolio assembled. And from May 28th to June 6th I have three orders for Rebecca Lynn's Bakery. Also, a three-day conference in the beginning of June, which I'm really looking forward to, and right after that school evaluations. Whew, just thinking of all of that makes me dizzy. Good thing I'm sitting down. :)

Claim is the last book in The Homeward Trilogy series. I think it's my favorite in the series. If anyone has a book series they would like me to review please let me know in the comments.

Book Title: Claim
Series: The Homeward Trilogy (Book #3)
Author: Lisa Tawn Bergren

Description: 
Sent west by their father to make a new life, the St. Clair siblings have done so—but hardly as he’d wished. Beautiful, headstrong Moira, after pursuing a career on the Paris stage, has returned to Colorado Springs—older, wiser, and certainly much poorer—to see if there’s anything left of a relationship she’d left behind. Older sister Odessa and her husband, Bryce, are struggling to rebuild their ranch after a devastating winter. And then Nic, the prodigal son, turns up—broken, haunted, and sick about leaving his sisters.

At last the family is reunited. But Dominic is still at loose ends, seeking a peace that has always eluded him. Only as he mines an old claim deep in the Rocky Mountains and begins a romance with a local schoolteacher does he begin to understand how passionately he is loved—by God, his family, and a good woman. But even as he relinquishes his fury, Nic discovers there is one last battle to fight…

My Review: As the last book in the series, Claim wrapped up the story of Moira St. Clair and tells the many adventures of Odessa and Moira's older brother, Nic. This was probably my favorite book in The Homeward Trilogy series. I really liked how Nic's hardened heart was changed by the love of God and others. Claim was inspiring and action-filled. A great book I'm sure you'll enjoy.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Would I recommend this book? Yes. This book is for anyone who likes novels with a Christian and western theme, a little excitement and romance, and plenty of adventures. (ages 15+)



New Releases: Full Steam Ahead

The newest book by Karen Witemeyer! One of my new favorites too (I'm always having new favorites huh :) but seriously this book is good) Keep a lookout for this book when it is published!

Book Title: Full Steam Ahead
Publishing Date: June 3, 2014

A little bit about the book: When love simmers between a reclusive scientist and a wealthy debutante, will they abandon ship or is it full steam ahead?

Nicole Renard returns home to Galveston, Texas, to find her father deathly ill. Though she loves him, Nicole's father has always focused on what she's not. Not male. Not married. Not able to run Renard Shipping.

Vowing to find a suitable husband to give her father the heir he desires before it's too late, Nicole sets out with the Renard family's greatest treasure as her dowry: the highly coveted Lafitte Dagger. But her father's rivals come after the dagger, forcing a change in Nicole's plans.

After a boiler explosion aboard the Louisiana nearly took his life, Darius Thornton has been a man obsessed. He will do anything to stop even one more steamship disaster. Even if it means letting a female secretary into his secluded world.

Nicole is determined not to let her odd employer scare her off with his explosive experiments, yet when respect and mutual attraction grow between them, a new fear arises. How can she acquire an heir for her father when her heart belongs to another? And when her father's rivals discover her hiding place, will she have to choose between that love and her family's legacy?

My Review: I absolutely loved this book by Karen Witemeyer! Just by reading the prologue I was captured and it was so difficult to set it down. The characters have depth and are exciting as well as occasionally funny. The book has adventure and the details are so clear I felt like I was witnessing the scenes. I would recommend this book to my friends and family. Especially those who are a Karen Witemeyer fan or someone who likes to read books with a historical theme, romance, and adventure.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

New Releases: One More Last Chance

This is another book I've read through NetGalley. It reminded me a lot of some of the books I've read by Rachel Hauck. It had a mix of both Sweet Caroline and Love Starts with Elle.

Book Title: One More Last Chance
Published Date: May 6, 2014

A little bit about the book:
Sarah Cooley has come home to Last Chance, New Mexico, for one reason--because it doesn't change.

After an engagement gone bad with a man who wanted to change everything about her, Sarah is more than ready for the town whose motto may as well be, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Chris Reed, on the other hand, wants nothing more than to spark some change in the little town. As the new owner of the Dip 'n' Dine, he's shaking things up to draw folks from all over the Southwest into his restaurant.

As it turns out, the winds of change are blowing into Last Chance--just not in the ways that Sarah or Chris might expect.

My Review: One More Last Chance was a great book and I'm glad I read it. Chris and Sarah had godly character traits and always tried to make the best of every situation. Although the book was fairly realistic and true-to-life, it was still very interesting and exciting to read - a book I would recommend to anyone.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Homeward Trilogy / Book 2

Good morning everyone. I apologize for not posting earlier in the week but Tuesday especially was very busy for me. I made apple pies and between that, school, and chores my day was filled.

The weather has been much warmer than last week and we've seen mid-eighties the last few days. I wonder what the weather will be like in July and August if it's already this hot.

Today's book is Sing, the second book in The Homeward Trilogy series. This book is a story of redemption, trust, and God's forgiveness. It is also about how we can choose to glorify God through singing or use our voice for selfish pleasures.

Book Title: Sing
Series: The Homeward Trilogy (Book #2)
Author: Lisa Tawn Bergren

Description:
Moira St. Clair has done exactly what her father forbade her to do: chased her dreams to sing on the stage. But even as her star rises, she becomes more vulnerable to those who wish to use her—or bring her down….

It is 1886, and the St. Clairs are living out their dreams in three very separate parts of the world—Paris, Brazil and Colorado. And while each has found a measure of success and joy, each is haunted by past sins and secrets.
Once home in Colorado, the St. Clairs struggle to learn what it means to sing praise to God—even in the face of tremendous loss—and trust Him in all things, even when forced to fight for their very lives.

My Review: The book Sing is a continuation of the story of Moira St. Clair, the wayward sister of Odessa from the previous book. Although this book wasn't my favorite in the series, I did like it a lot. What I really liked about this book was how it gave a good example of how our talents can be used for good and bad. For many years Moira chose the wrong path but by the grace of God her life changed into something better.

Note: Moira's story is not finished in Sing and you will need to read Claim, the next and last book in the series, to complete her story.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Would I recommend this book? Yes. This book is for anyone who likes novels with a western theme, romance, adventure, and excitement. (ages 15+)

The Homeward Trilogy / Book 1

What beautiful weather we have been having the last few days! Although it has not been above sixty, the sun is shining, a slight breeze is blowing, it isn't raining, and the grass is long enough to be mowed :P. I hope the weather at your home is pleasant also.

We are starting a new series this week, The Homeward Trilogy by Lisa T. Bergren. The first book, of three, is Breathe. I enjoyed reading these books and if you like books with adventure and excitement I'm sure you will too.

Wishing you a joyous day!

Book Title: Breathe

Series: The Homeward Trilogy (Book #1)

Author: Lisa Tawn Bergren

Description: Devastated by the loss of four sons to tuberculosis and his wife in childbirth, a Philadelphia patriarch sends his three living children west in 1883 to make a new life in the clean mountain air of Colorado Springs. Odessa is struggling to survive consumption; Moira is beautiful and dangerously headstrong; and pugnacious Dominic is charged with establishing a new arm of the family business a business he doesn't want. Readers will love The Homeward Trilogy, in which the St. Clair siblings struggle to follow where the heavenly Father leads them.

In Breathe, Odessa arrives at a famous sanitarium seeking a cure for the disease that killed her brothers. While Moira and Nic establish themselves in Colorado Springs society, Dessa inches her way back to health - and into love with a softspoken fellow patient, rancher Bryce McAllan. When she witnesses a murder in the very hospital where she is recuperating-and other patients begin to die, Dessa struggles to breathe again. She'd always expected to die young, but now that she has a reason to live, can she hold on to her fragile health to solve the mystery?
 

My Review: Breathe tells the story of a consumption victim, Odessa. In more than one way, Odessa has to learn to breathe clear and strong. Not only physically but also mentally and spiritually. As she seeks a new life of health in Colorado, Odessa also begins a new journey in faith and love.

This book by Lisa T. Bergren was an exciting and encouraging book to read. While you can get away by just reading this book, I would suggest reading the other two books in the series. The story continues and, in my opinion, getting more exciting!

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Would I recommend this book? Yes. This book is for anyone who likes novels with a western theme, romance, adventure, and excitement.