Carolina Breeze (By: Denise Hunter)

Carolina Breeze
By: Denise Hunter

Story Line: 5 Stars
Depth: 4 Stars
Faith: 4 Stars
Love Story: 5 Stars
Overall: 4.5 Stars

Picture a quaint, cozy inn on a small lake in Bluebell, North Carolina and all the delight that image conjures up. From page one of Denise Hunter's newest book, Carolina Breeze, the reader steps into this serene setting and easily gets swept away into the beauty of this story! 

Book two in the Bluebell Inn series focuses on big brother Levi's story. As he and his two sisters, Molly and Grace, continue running the inn inherited from their parents, Levi finally gets a chance at love he didn't ask for and never saw coming. Steeped in responsibility, he acts as a lone ranger, taking care of everyone and everything - but not telling his sisters just how much financial trouble the inn is really facing. Not until Levi is willing to let go of controlling it all can he truly relax into God's best for his life. 

Meanwhile, Mia Emerson, a rising Hollywood movie icon, comes to visit Bluebell after being dumped by her fiancee and facing scandal that could ruin her reputation and career. From the moment she and Levi meet, their connection is real and genuine. Levi promises to keep her location a secret and together, they slowly open up hearts and vulnerabilities to each other, while searching the inn for a lost piece of treasure. 

Denise Hunter has delivered a solid, incredible read - even better than the first book in the series! The love story is touching and exciting, the story pace kept our lights on a little too late most nights, and the faith and depth gave us something to really sink our teeth into. Note: We were given this book in exchange for our honest review.  

Runaway Bride (By: Jody Hedlund)

Runaway Bride
By: Jody Hedlund

Story Line: 4 Stars
Depth: 4 Stars
Faith: 4 Stars
Love Story: 5 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars

We were highly anticipating this second book in the Bride Ships series and Jody Hedlund did not disappoint! 

Arabella Lawrence comes from a wealthy family, but must flee her home after facing some painful circumstances - most easily done by joining other women on a bride ship bound for a far away land. Once they reach British Columbia she is terrified to be on her own, but even more afraid of being sought by the wrong suitor. Two men, who could not be more different from each other, quickly notice her and try their best to win her favor - and this new competition to win her hand will only complicate matters. 

Peter Kelly, the local baker, has worked hard to overcome his past mistakes. He longs to make his father proud, and one day he would love to settle down with a family of his own. The moment he meets Arabella he longs to win her heart. But Peter questions if he is enough, especially since she is used to wealth and comfort, and Navy Lieutenant Richard Drummond has also set his sights upon her. 

Arabella befriends a young Indian girl who has been left behind to fend for herself since her village was burned down after a smallpox outbreak. Due to many differing opinions on how the Indians should be dealt with, secrecy and caution are imperative. Can Arabella break free from the expectations society has placed on her? Can she trust God to care for and lead her to make the best decisions for her present and future? Jody weaves this story together beautifully. We highly recommend it and again anticipate the next book in the series!

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

The Fifth Avenue Story Society (By: Rachel Hauck)

The Fifth Avenue Story Society
By: Rachel Hauck

Story Line: 5 Stars
Depth: 5 Stars
Faith: 5 Stars
Love Story: 4 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars

One of our favorites authors, Rachel Hauck, has delivered a home run in her newest book! Not only does the charming cover make you want to get cozy with this read right away, but the very first page draws in its readers from the first line.  
Five seemingly random people in New York City - Jett, Lexa, Chuck, Coral and Ed - are sent mysterious invitations to join the Fifth Avenue Story Society at a little known, out of the way library. Each of them are skeptical, but due to their own personal reasons decide to join: Jett, a professor who may have stumbled on evidence that his literary idol was a fraud; Lexa, an overworked executive assistant who is continually overlooked; Chuck, an Uber driver, desperate to see his kids again; Coral, president of a cosmetics company who recently left her famous groom at the altar; and Ed, a widower trying to write the story of his loving marriage. 

Each person shows up to the society meeting with broken hearts, broken lives and a desperate need for peace. Each continually comes back to the weekly society meeting for reasons even they cannot understand; except that an invisible force continues to draw them into relationship, community and healing with one another. Who sent these invitations, and why? What is the higher power at work here, and how will each character find answers to their questions and desires? 

Reminiscent of movies that follow multiple, seemingly disconnected storylines which all eventually come together, Rachel absolutely blew us away with her expert weaving of these storylines! The entire book was easy to get swept away in and the pace at which she revealed stories kept us eager for more. There were even a couple of twists at the end we did not see coming that helped us finish this ride with a bang! 

The characters in this book were just the right mixture of real, flawed and lovable. Their realistic traits kept us as readers believing we could also be sitting in that library; really flawed, yet worthy of friendship and love, and most importantly, never too far gone for God's gentle grace. His loving kindness pursues all of us, often in quiet ways, meeting us exactly where we are, and inspiring others to see what it's all about. We recommend this book to anyone looking for an enticing read and maybe some inspiration and heart to go with it!.

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

The Way of the Brave (By: Susan May Warren)

The Way of the Brave (Global Search and Rescue Book #1)
By:Susan May Warren

Story Line: 5 Stars
Depth: 5 Stars
Faith: 5 Stars
Love Story: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars

Can you keep a secret? We confess Susan May Warren is one of our favorite authors; in fact, we refer to her as the master! We highly anticipate each new release of her books and are rarely disappointed. She captures our attention from the first page, her stories sweep us away, and her writing is flawless. Susan's newest book, The Way of the Brave, was no exception. We thoroughly enjoyed it and eagerly anticipate book 2 already! 

Orion Starr, former pararescue jumper is living - or should we say hiding? - in Alaska after a rescue gone terribly wrong in Afghanistan. As he lives with the pain of the past he can't help but wonder what went wrong, and why it ended with not only losing friends but also a woman he was falling hard for. Will he ever get answers? 

When a former Navy Seal, Hamilton Jones, asks Orion to join his elite global rescue team, Orion claims his rescue days are over. But when a group of mountain climbers - including the girl from his past - becomes stranded on Denali, Orion can't help himself. 

Former CIA profiler and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun lives each day trying to push the past away, and can't seem to escape the guilt of what went wrong in Afghanistan. As she decides to climb Denali with two friends on their annual adventure together, little does she know her past is about to catch up with her. 

Susan does a phenomenal job capturing our hearts with these new characters. The amount of depth and "realness" she adds to her stories always leave us impressed. Get ready for a fast paced, adventure filled, redemptive story on the highest mountain in America. Why not 5 stars? Susan adds in a lot of climbing lingo, leaving us a bit lost at times - but still an excellent story and a joy getting to know the people filling the pages.

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

Lake Season (By: Denise Hunter)

Lake Season
By: Denise Hunter

Story Line: 4 Stars
Depth: 4 Stars
Faith: 3 Stars
Love Story: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars

Lake Season is the first book in the Bluebell Inn trilogy and it starts the series off with a bang! When siblings Molly, Grace and Levi face the tragic loss of their parents, they come together to fulfill their parents' dream: turning their historic family home into a Bed and Breakfast. During construction Molly finds a lost love letter from the 1960's which never reached its intended recipient. Determined to solve this mystery, Molly sets out to finally deliver the letter - but she can't do it alone! Willing to help is the very first guest at the Inn - Adam Bradford, who is actually a best selling author keeping his real identity private by using a pseudonym. Adam is on a deadline to get his new book written but gladly offers to help Molly. Denise takes us on a beautiful journey of love both past and present as we sit back and watch the mystery unfold. What a refreshing story, lovable and real characters, twists and turns and a plot that keeps us hooked. We are already eager for the next book in the series!

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

A Reluctant Bride (By: Jody Hedlund)

A Reluctant Bride
By: Jody Hedlund

Story Line: 5 Stars
Depth: 5 Stars
Faith: 5 Stars
Love Story: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars

Author Jody Hedlund is one of our favorite authors for this main reason: she expertly weaves together realistic, intriguing storylines with a God who is intimately involved with his people. Throw in some romance and tender friendships, and we have yet another book to add to our golden list! A Reluctant Bride is the first book in Jody's new Bride Ships series, and this one kept us up late at night reading until every last page was turned. 

The story revolves around Mercy Wilkins, a young lady from the poorest of the poor slums in 19th century London. When she receives an opportunity to sail to British Columbia, she is eager to begin a new life for herself, not realizing her passage is aboard a Bride Ship - a vessel full of young women destined to marry men in the new world. Mercy is appalled at the thought of marriage, so instead focuses her efforts on assisting the ship's surgeon, Joseph. As they work together and get to know each other, both try to ignore the deep connection between them, but cannot deny the way God is moving them in their lives. 

Jody hits a homerun in just about every way in this book. The storyline is igniting and flows smoothly at an excellent pace, deep issues are explored and dealt with, God is a main character with the way He leads and loves His people, and the love story is touching and swoon-worthy. We cannot wait for the rest of this series!

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

Sweet on You (By: Becky Wade)

Sweet on You
By: Becky Wade

Story Line: 4 Stars
Depth: 3 Stars
Faith: 2 Stars
Love Story: 3 Stars
Overall: 3 Stars

Sweet on You is the final book in the Bradford Sisters Series and we were highly anticipating it being a great finale, but these two chicks were disappointed. 

Sweet on You is the story of Britt, the youngest Bradford sister, and her best friend Zander, who has been in love with Britt for years and desperately wishes she felt the same for him. Britt dates different guys casually but always ends things before they get too serious. Zander is her rock and steady place, but as he is her best friend, she never even considers falling in love with him as it may ruin everything they have. However, as the two of them embark on a journey to uncover a mystery, her feelings suddenly begin to change. Will they give love a chance, and will Britt actually open heart to the thought of forever? 

The story line was well done and we wanted to enjoy it, but it fell short in a few different areas for us. Zander's character was our favorite - loyal, strong, quiet and a hopeless romantic in all things dealing with Britt. Britt, however, was a disappointment to us as the growth she experienced was too little too late. We are all for flawed characters in need of learning some hard lessons and love to see redemption, but the characters struggled showing this which made the faith aspect come up short for us. Although the faith tried to wrap everything up nicely as the end, it was too little throughout the book. Again, this isn't the usual trend we see in Becky's writing and we hope to write a glowing review on her next book.

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