Midwife's Legacy - A Review

Four women. Four generations. One journal ties them all together as they face the trials and tribulations of being a midwife, and they may just find unexpected loves in the midst of all of their work. Adele Marley is a busy widow, mother, midwife, and Wisconsin farmer to really notice the banker. Polly Schultz is trying to survive the dangers of the Oregon Trail and finds herself falling for the young preacher. Christiana is determined that women can have both families and careers and tries to convince one man of that fact. Modern woman, Kendra Silverstone, has had her confidence shaken and stumbles upon her ancestors' journal. Will it hold the answers she seeks?

I usually avoid the 4-1 collections, because I like my books to have more story to them. The good thing about novellas is that they are short and I can usually read them in one setting. That said, I did enjoy each story in this book. Some more than others.I think my favorite one was the one about Christiana. Each of the four women, Adele, Polly, Christiana, and Kendra, had to come to understand that they were doing exactly what God had called them to do. Their realizations came at different points. Yet they came. My biggest complaint with the book is that the stories weren't long enough for me to really sink into and enjoy. About the time that I'd grown attached to the characters, the story was over and we moved on.

I received this book for free from one of the authors for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating - 4 stars

Lovelier Than Daylight - A Review

On a visit to her sister, Susanna Hanby discovers that her sister has disappeared and her children with her. Susanna goes on to her uncle and aunt's home in Westerville, and enlists their help in finding the children. The Hanbys discover that the children have been placed in orphanages. When a saloon opens in Westerville, Susanna feels very strongly about the dangers of drinking and crosses paths with Johann Giere, a German brewer from Columbus. Despite the attraction she feels for him, her judgement is clouded because of his family's profession. As tensions rise in Westerville and the Hanby's determination to claim the children, both Johann and Susanna must work together and learn to put their differences aside.

This is the third and final book in the Saddler's Legacy Series. I'll admit it was hard to say goodbye to Will & Ann Hanby after following them through the other two books. While this one was not my favorite of the series, I still found it to be very good. Susanna's determination to reclaim the children that she loves was touching. Yet what made her seem more human was the fact that when she realized that her strong opinions could possibly have contributed to the destruction of a family's livelihood, she learned the value of holding her tongue and seeking the advise of her wise uncle and aunt. Johann recognized a choice he'd have to make. He prayed hard about both opportunities that presented itself, both which seemed to be of God, before he made a decision. He's a strong man with a strong faith. Hard topics such as temperance, abuse, and even to some extent prejudice are brought up in the book and dealt with beautifully.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction, Colleen Coble, Cathy Gohlke, Jody Hedlund, Julie Klassen

Rating - 4 stars

Band of Sisters - A Review

Maureen O'Reilly flees Ireland to New York with her younger sister in tow. The girls hope that the family of a man their father saved the life of during the Civil War will honor the promise in the letter their father received over twenty years before. When Katie Rose is quarantined at Ellis Island and Maureen is free to go, she's determined to find the Wakefield family and seek their help. Yet Maureen learns that Colonel Wakefield has died and that his son-in-law refuses to help her out. She's on her own and must find employment or be deported. She obtains a job at a department store with forged references, but soon learns that the store is a facade for a dark secret. She's determined to uncover it especially in light of seeing girls disappear from the store. Olivia Wakefield is livid at her brother-in-law for refusing to help Maureen, and takes it on herself to find the girl. Olivia receives aid from a businessman who soon comes to mean more to her than just a friend even though he is keeping secrets as well. When Maureen and Olivia finally cross paths, Olivia enlists the help of influential women to help fight for the injustice of the poor immigrants. But as the secrets come to light, both Maureen and Olivia's lives could be in danger. But will either woman be able to fully trust the divine leading let alone a chance to fall in love?

This book has so many layers in it that it's hard to fully explain it. It's very different than Gohlke's Promise Me This. I'd have to say that this is one of the most thought provoking books I've read this year. Maureen was abused as a young teen and has a problem trusting men and God. Yet she finally figures out that there are people out there who love her the way that God loves her and she surrenders to that love. This book also takes the concept of what would Jesus do as introduced to the characters via the book In His Steps  by Charles Sheldon. The issue of white slavery  is also dealt with in this book. My only experience with seeing how the poor were treated in New York around the turn of the century come from my high school history classes and the lectures my teacher gave. But the issue of white slavery was never discussed. I've only heard recently of how white slavery is still going strong in parts of America today, and that scares me a little.

While I didn't love this book the way that I loved Promise Me This, I definitely enjoyed this book.

I read the Kindle version for pure pleasure. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Karen Kingsbury, Laura Frantz, Lynn Austin, Julie Lessman, drama, Francine Rivers, and Sarah Sundin.

Rating - 4 stars

Hello Hollywood - A Review

Athena Pappas is the head writer for the popular Stars Collide sitcom. When the producers bring in comedian Stephen Cosse to help boost the show's ratings, Athena feels threatened. Sparks fly immediately between Stephen and Athena, especially when her large Greek family is added into the mix. Will the two learn that it's better to write romances for their characters than their own lives?

I have read the others in the Backstage Pass series and loved them. This one was no exception. This is book 2, and having read book 3 before reading one and two, I was already prepared for the outcome of the happy ending. What made this book so entertaining was how the characters got to that happy ending.

I read the Kindle version for pure pleasure. Recommended to fans of romantic comedies, Denise Hunter, Jenny Jones, Sandra Bricker, Karen Witemeyer.

Rating - 4 stars

Wreath of Snow - A Review

Meg Campbell is leaving Stirling on Christmas Eve to escape her family. Gordon Shaw is also leaving Stirling on the same train. When a snowbank forces the passengers to return to Stirling, Gordon hopes that he finally has a chance to make restitution to the family that he injured a dozen years before. He knows the connection between him and Meg, but she doesn't realize it. When she does, she's angry at him for not telling her and for the hurt he caused her family. Will Gordon find the forgiveness he longs for or will he forever be left out in the cold?

I've read all of Liz Curtis Higgs' books and I have loved each and every one. While this particular one wasn't my all time favorite, that belongs to Mine Is the Night, I did enjoy this book. Both Meg and Gordon long for forgiveness and peace from the same incident. As they each figure out how beautiful forgiveness really is, they learn that carrying such a heavy burden is not the way to happiness. I do wish that the ending wasn't quite as abrupt, but perhaps there will be a sequel that will continue Meg and Gordon's story.

I received the Kindle edition for free from the publisher, Waterbrook Multnomah for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Christmas stories, Victorian stories, Julie Lessman fans, Karen Kingsbury fans.

Rating 4 stars

Coming up in November

Happy November! I love all of the fall decorations and all of the baking and things associated with fall and Thanksgiving. Of course my favorite season is Spring, but Fall's a close second.

I've got a lot planned for this month. I'm planning on getting really busy on my Christmas gifts. I've already gotten part of my Mom's present. And most of my best friend's. Of course there are still several more I need to get or to make. Including figuring out what soup mixtures to make to give my friends.

I'll be hosting my first ever author interview around the middle of the month. I'm excited about it. Rhonda Gibson will be joining me and we're going to have a nice chat. I hope everyone will stop by and chat with Rhonda.

My monthly giveaway is planned with four of the Love Inspired Historicals.

Now for what I'm planning on reading (sorry no pictures tonight. Didn't want to take the time to find them). It's a slow month for me with one of the publishers so I can catch up on some of my other reviews.

All of these are for reviewing.

Two Christmas novellas -

Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

Christmas Roses by Amanda Cabot

Other fiction books on my list -

Lovelier Than Daylight by Rosslyn Elliot

Deposit Slip by Todd Johnson (finally getting to this)

Whispers in the Wind by Lauraine Snelling

And to read for fun.

Light in the Window - Julie Lessman

Widow of Saunders Creek by Tracey Bateman

Band of Sisters by Cathy Gohlke

For some reason, there are more books on my Kindle to read this month than paper copies.


Let me tell you about some of the Christmas gifts I'm working on. My best friend just had her second baby, so I'm working on Abi's baby blanket. I've got one that I hope to finish for my cousin's daughter she adopted last year. There's a scrapbook I'm working on. So between scrapbooking, crocheting, and the very special project for my mom, I'm going to be spending evenings being very crafty!

Stars Collide - A Review

Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy are the leads on the popular sitcom Stars Collide. On the show, they play a couple in love. But, there's a secret - they're not just in love on the show, they really are head over heels for each other in real life. As the pair struggle to keep their real life romance out of the pages of the Hollywood gossip magazines, they discover that sometimes it's ok to let life happen.

This is the first book in the Backstage Pass series. I'd read the third one a while back and loved it. Even though I already knew the ending, I still enjoyed going back and seeing how Kat and Scott actually got together. Filled with hilarious supporting cast members and antics, I laughed and laughed while reading this book.

I read the Kindle edition for pure pleasure. If the book is still free, I highly recommend downloading it.

Recommended to fans of romantic comedy, Denise Hunter, Mary Connealy.

Rating - 4 stars