Novella - The Perfect Arrangement (By: Katie Ganshert)

The Perfect Arrangement

By: Katie Ganshert

This novella is one of the Year of Weddings Novella Collection. We enjoy reading these little stories from Zondervan, as a new author writes a wedding tale each month of the year.

 In The Perfect Arrangement, Amelia is shy and likes her quiet life as owner of the Forget-Me-Not flower shop, but her love life has been non-existent since her long standing college relationship that ended years ago. When she finds out her ex-boyfriend is getting married, she can't help but be curious and decides to just "drive by" the chapel on his wedding day. Not paying attention, she rear ends someone - well, a very cute someone - in front of the church while she is spying. Frantic and needing a fast getaway before she gets caught, she leaves this man with her business card and quickly moves on.

Nick is intrigued by this girl who rear ended him. After contacting her, he and Amelia begin a lengthy back and forth email discussion. Soon, both of them eagerly are writing back and forth, and hoping just maybe the other is feeling the same excitement! However, lingering on Amelia's conscience is the fear that Nick will find out the real reason she was driving by the church that day - and what would he think of her then?

This novella is cute and fun to read! Unfortunately, however, we could not give it a higher rating because some parts were just too repetitive for a short novella. Several times we read what happened, only to re-read it again in the emails exchanged between Nick and Amelia. A novella is short enough but this made us feel our time was cut too short.

Find it on Amazon: The Perfect Arrangement

Falling Like Snowflakes (By: Denise Hunter)

Falling Like Snowflakes

By: Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter has become one of our favorite authors because any of her books are almost a sure guarantee of an entertaining read! And with this newest novel, the first book in the Summer Harbor series, she has hit another home run.

Storyline
Eden Martelli is on the run from dangerous men who want to take her life and the life of her son, Micah. When her car breaks down and her cash is stolen, they become stranded in Summer Harbor, Maine and must find a way to make a living but stay hidden from those who would destroy them. When she meets the Callahan family - three grown brothers and their aunt - it seems God is providing not only a place to stay and a job for her, but a family to call her own as well. Beau Callahan slowly learns of the danger Eden is in and wants nothing more than to protect her and her son. But how can he do so when she is determined to keep hiding and running? 

This book captivated us from the first page and never stopped pulling us in. We were completely swept away into the story, so much so that we didn't want the book to end! Author Denise gave us her usual intriguing characters and dynamite romance, but she also ventured into the world of mystery and suspense and nailed it!

Depth

Eden faces a lot of fear in the wake of her past and the danger now at her door. She has to learn to let go of the fear in order to open herself up to a new life, but it isn't easy and takes some painful lessons to learn how. Beau is struggling with the loss of his parents and the responsibility of the family now that it's their first Christmas alone. Family relationships are complicated at times but they always come back to each other, despite the conflicts. We loved the way Denise writes families - flawed, funny, lovable and real.

Faith

"When you can't trust others, and you can't trust yourself, you can always trust God. He'll carry you through whatever comes your way." Faith is an important part of the character's lives, and they have to learn many things: giving fears to God, trusting the Lord, letting go at times, learning His character and knowing the Bible.

Squeal Factor

Eden does not feel she can ever trust a man again. But when she and Beau can no longer deny their strong attraction to one another, she lets her guard down just a little - and the chemistry they share is like fireworks! Denise is so good at writing deep, clean, passionate romance!

Overall

This book felt like a hot buttered roll right out of the oven. We savored every bit of it as it tantalized our taste buds and settled warmly into our bellies! We are putting this book on our Golden List because it was just that enjoyable. Now we are eager for the rest of the Summer Harbor series!

Find it on Amazon: Falling Like Snowflakes


Note: We were given this book in exchange for our honest review 

The Mistress of Tall Acre (By: Laura Frantz)

The Mistress of Tall Acre

By: Laura Frantz

Storyline
This book takes place following the revolutionary war. Times are hard as soldiers are getting back to life, and tension still remains between Tories and Patriots. General Seamus Ogilvy is now a widower and heading home to parent his young daughter, Lily Cate. His estate, Tall Acre, is in need of attention and so is his daughter! 

Sophie Mezies is all alone after losing her mother. Her father, who fought in the war, betrayed their country and family, and has returned to Europe. Even living with the bad reputation he left, Sophie is determined to stay in her home and make her life in America. When her neighbor, General Ogilvy, returns home, she hopes to at least have company from him and his daughter. Sophie quickly befriends Lily Cate and the two create a special bond. 

Seamus knows his daughter is in desperate need of a mother; he also knows Sophie is in need of a husband and home. Sophie agrees to marry Seamus out of convenience, but her heart longs for more from this man she has always been fond of. As the three become a family, mysterious happenings occur and they must bond together as they are threatened to be torn apart.

Depth

Laura Frantz did a great job writing about the struggles many faced after the Revolutionary War. Two sides - a General and a daughter of one who betrayed his country. Both have different wounds and heartaches. Some mystery in the second half of the book adds to the depth of the story and keeps you guessing until the end.

Faith

Sophie has great faith and it has sustained her through many hard times. Seamus' heart is hardened from the war and he has given up on prayer and trusting in the Lord. He eventually comes to realize he must turn back to the Lord, but we found his growth to be a bit lacking. More story seeing his need for the Lord would have been nice. However, we still appreciated what faith was present in the book.

Squeal Factor

Sophie and Seamus have a great deal of romantic tension as they become attracted to the other, but both fear it may be one sided. As their feelings start to present themselves, something always distracts them. When they finally profess their love for one another they share some intimate and sweet scenes together. br />

Overall

This book was enjoyable and we appreciated the original storyline, although we felt it dragged on at a few parts. Overall, however, it was an entertaining read and we look forward to trying out some of the author's other books!

Find it on Amazon: The Mistress of Tall Acre
 
Note: We were given this book in exchange for our honest review 

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (By: Beth K. Vogt)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

By: Beth K. Vogt

It is always a pleasure to write a review on an author for the first time. It's an added bonus when that book is excellent and hard to put down! We were completely wrapped up in it and had many late nights reading!  
 
Storyline
Vanessa is busy planning a destination wedding in Destin, FL, but this is not her first marriage. Ten years ago, she eloped with her boyfriend Logan when they were just 18, but it ended after only two years. Moving on from what her mother calls "her biggest mistake" has not been easy the past eight years but she is ready for the new life that awaits her with her fiancé Ted; or so she thinks! 

Logan is a highly regarded professional storm chaser. When he comes home to Florida for a vacation with his team for a much needed break, he never expects to run into his ex-wife, Vanessa. It knocks him off his game and brings back all the memories of what he lost eight years ago. But the worst part about it is when he finds out she is engaged to be married. Is there any way God would give him a second chance with his first and only love, his ex-wife who is about to marry someone else? Will she at least forgive him for past mistakes? His heart longs for her but he must trust the Lord in whatever path He has for each of them. 

Beth Vogt does a fabulous job writing flashbacks from Vanessa's and Logan's pasts and having them flow nicely into what is taking place in the present.

Depth

Vanessa grew up in a military home and moved around a lot. Because of this she has always struggled with getting "close" to others and maintaining lasting, loving relationships. She claims she is good at saying "hello" and "goodbye," but not at the relationship in between. Marrying Logan was a relief to her as she craved stability and a place to call home. This book is packed with emotion and has honest, loving, flawed characters who learn about loss, forgiveness and second chances.

Faith

Through this read, the faith is subtle but intensifies near the end and finishes strong. Vanessa blames God for much of the loneliness in her life. She has given up on trusting Him and doesn't know what a strong and giving relationship looks like with others, much less with Him. She is encouraged greatly in her faith by a friend who has chosen to love her, even when there is no love given in return. Logan wrestles with feeling guilty and unworthy to come before the Lord. Both Vanessa and Logan grow in their faith and love for the Lord and we found much joy in reading about it; it was simply beautiful near the end. The lesson throughout the book is that it's always better to go through any stage of life with God and others by your side, rather than alone.

Squeal Factor

In the flashbacks we get a front row seat as Vanessa and Logan fell in love and shared many sweet, tender moments. The present scenes are filled with passionate discussions, and a longing for what once was. However, we especially love the author's realistic portrayal of how hard it is to remain in purity before marriage. We were hooked and kept turning the pages to see what would happen next!

Overall

The main question Beth Vogt had us pondering through the book is this: What if what you thought was your worst mistake was actually the right choice all along? You may find the book starts off a little slow, but hang on because soon you'll have a hard time putting it down! We kept telling ourselves, "Just one more chapter!" It was a delight to read!

Find it on Amazon: Crazy Little Thing Called Love 

Through Waters Deep (By: Sarah Sundin)

Through Waters Deep

By: Sarah Sundin

If you were a fan of Nancy Drew mysteries growing up, you will love this book! Although written for an adult audience, it has the classic feel and innocence of an era gone by. The writing is simple, yet smart, and the pages keep us interested from start to finish.

Storyline
It's 1941 in Boston, Massachusetts and America is just barely remaining neutral in World War II. Threats of danger and mysterious suspects litter the landscape as Naval Officer Jim Ensign and Boston Naval Yard Secretary Mary Stirling work together to uncover an attempted sabotage aboard the USS Atwood. Jim and Mary are actually old friends from high school, where Jim had been secretly in love with Mary's best friend. The two discover a deep friendship - but can it turn into more? 

Author Sarah got us hooked almost right from the beginning and it was easy to get swept away into this sweet and engaging story. The pace of the book was excellent, neither too fast nor too slow. Her knowledge of Naval history and her ability to capture the feel of the WWII era brought the story together beautifully!

Depth

This read was refreshingly light without being shallow. It's rare to find a light-hearted mystery, but this one is! Adding to the depth are some fantastic insights into the human soul, namely Mary's struggle to come out of her shell and boldly live life.

Faith

Faith plays a big role in Mary's character development and growth, and she leans heavily on the Lord to guide her into who He created her to be. It is also worth noting that most of the characters go to church and at least believe in God (even if they don't all have a close relationship with Him), reflective of a time when it was expected and normal for Americans to attend church each Sunday.

Squeal Factor

There are definitely a few swoon-worthy moments in this book as Jim and Mary fall in love and learn how to express their attraction to each other. Complicating matters is the fact that Jim was once in love with Mary's best friend - and still may be. The romance in this book is suspenseful and downright adorable at times!

Overall

This is our first book by Sarah Sundin, and it certainly won't be our last! Her historical knowledge, her easy writing style and her ability to capture emotions and feelings place her in our favorite authors list. Through Waters Deep is a delightful, solid read that will stay in the readers' mind long after they have closed the pages!

Find it on Amazon: Through Waters Deep 


Note: We were given this book in exchange for our honest review 

Hope Harbor (By: Irene Hannon)

Hope Harbor

By: Irene Hannon

Storyline
Tracy Campbell is trying to do it all - save the cranberry farm that's been in her family for three generations, run a non-profit ministry to the elderly and do accounting work on the side to make ends meet. To all of this, she is fighting loneliness and guarding a tragic secret from her past - but has accepted this will be her life from now on. When widower Michael Hunter comes to town and almost runs her down on her bicycle, Tracy reluctantly begins working with him to ease her load - and starts to believe that maybe God has given her a second chance at happiness after all. 

Author Irene is an excellent writer, delivering solid plot lines with just the right amount of story to keep us engaged. This book lacks the page-turning excitement that would lift it into a five star rating, but has everything else! She transports us to the small coastal Oregon community and makes the reader feel as though they belong there too. These 2 Chicks kept finding themselves craving Charley's fish tacos and wanting to visit the Oregon coast!

Depth

This book is deceptively light-hearted! It reads easily and nothing terribly heavy presents itself, but upon further reflection, author Irene did a fantastic job bringing real life problems into the story - mostly tragic family histories - and dealing with the issues realistically and thoughtfully. There were no easy fixes and she offered redemption in the middle of the problems.

Faith

Some characters have a strong faith in God, some are not on speaking terms with the Almighty, but faith is very real and evident in all the events that take place. God speaks to his people and gently leads his lost sheep back into His care.

Squeal Factor

Since both Michael and Tracy are hesitant to move into a relationship, it takes a while for the chemistry between the two to heat up. But once it does, they share some very tender moments and are themselves surprised to find the courage to love again. As their love grew, our love grew for them too!

Overall

Hope Harbor is an enjoyable, solid read that will stay with the reader long after they've turned the last page. The fictional, quiet town on the Oregon coast is the perfect setting for all the hearts desperately in need of healing in this book.

Find it on Amazon: Hope Harbor


Note: We were given this book in exchange for our honest review 

Novella - Among the Fair Magnolias

Among the Fair Magnolias
Four Southern Love Stories
By: Tamera Alexander, Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love, Elizabeth Musser

This historical romance novella collection has equal parts warmth, sweetness, shocking history and creative writing. Each novella is very different but adds a new perspective on what life might have been like in the post-civil war South. Freedmen, although no longer slaves, still don't enjoy as much privilege as whites and face radical discrimination. Some families are still wealthy while others lost everything in the war, and now their economical differences divide them. 

It is important to note that these stories follow characters from the authors' earlier works, although read just fine as standalone novellas as well. They are thorough, detailed and satisfying novellas that will please readers!

Find it on Amazon: Among the Fair Magnolias