A Home in Drayton Valley by Kim Vogel Sawyer - a book review

From the Bethany House publisher’s website: 

“A dream of a better life...
A tragedy aboard a wagon train...
A tentative agreement...
Will it lead to love for two seeking hearts?

Hoping to escape the poor conditions of 1880 New York, Tarsie Raines and her friends Joss and Mary Brubacher and their two children set off for Kansas aboard an unusual wagon train. But when tragedy strikes on the trip across the prairie, Tarsie is thrown into a partnership with Joss that leaves them both questioning God and their plans for the future.

As their funds dwindle and nothing goes as planned, will they give up and go their separate ways? Or will God use their time in Drayton Valley in a way they never expected?”

I’ve said it before....I love Kim Vogel Sawyer’s books and I wasn’t disappointed by this one.  Having said that, I have to say, I would have liked to have had more background for the friendship between Mary and Tarsie.  I didn’t quite get why Tarsie would give her life’s savings to someone she didn’t really seem very close to. Once I got past that, I was able to enjoy the story.  Mary is such a sweet example of a submissive, hope filled wife, always believing that her husband, Joss, will find his way to God.  Joss comes across as a bitter, hate filled man.  I spent most of the first part of the book really disliking him, but there were hints of sensitivity and caring towards Mary, that suggested hope for his character.  Sawyer takes him on an emotional and spiritual journey that at times leaves the reader wondering where he will end up.  Tarsie is a spunky, corageous and moral young woman whose main desire in life is to follow God’s leading.

I love how Sawyer describes the conditions of the time period, from the dirty, crowded tenements of the city to rugged wagon train trail.

This book deals with struggles of that time period and many of the same issues we still deal with today, including predudice, alcoholism, and debt.  Sawyer shows us that God’s love can turn a life around and bring hope to a seemingly hopeless situation.

This is an exciting, emotional, and clean story of romance, forgiveness and redemption. 

You can read an excerpt on the publisher’s website,  http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/a-home-in-drayton-valley/323570.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House  through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Be Still my Soul by Joanne Bischof - a book review

This book is about a young couple who have been forced into a marriage neither one wants.   The bride, Lonnie, is looking forward to the day when she is old enough to leave her abusive father's household.  The groom, Gideon, has no desire to get married and enjoys playing the field.  He is forced by their father's to marry Lonnie but is not at all pleased about it.  There are times during the book, that I found myself really disliking this young man.  He decides that in order to make a living he must move to a different town. It is a grueling trip and along the way Lonnie realizes that she is pregnant.  They are taken in by a loving , older Christian couple who tend to Lonnie.  The man makes it his mission to teach Gideon how to be a man worthy of Lonnie, much to Gideon's dislike.  This is a story about submisson, devotion, forgiveness, dedication and faith.

From the publisher's website:

"Night’s chill tickled her skin. Lonnie pressed her hands together and glanced up. He was even more handsome up close. Having grown up the shy, awkward daughter of Joel Sawyer, she’d hardly spoken to any boy, let alone the one who had mothers whispering warnings in their daughter’s ears and fathers loading shotguns.

Pretty Lonnie Sawyer is shy and innocent, used to fading into the background within her family, and among the creeks and hollows of the Appalachian hills. Though her family is poor and her father abusive, she clings to a quiet faith. But when handsome ladies’ man and bluegrass musician Gideon O’Riley steals a kiss, that one action seals her fate.

Her father forces her into a hasty marriage with Gideon—a man she barely knows and does not love. Equally frustrated and confused by his new responsibilities, Gideon yearns for a fresh start, forcing Lonnie on an arduous journey away from her home in Rocky Knob.

Her distant groom can’t seem to surrender his rage at the injustice of the forced matrimony or give Lonnie any claim in his life. What will it take for Gideon to give up his past, embrace Lonnie’s God, and discover a hope that can heal their two fractured hearts?

Gideon only ever cared about himself. Now that Lonnie is his wife, will he ever be worthy of her heart?"

I really enjoyed this book.  I especially liked reading about the some of the mountain towns we see on our travels. Mount Airy and Fancy Gap have always intrigued me.

Read more about the author on her website HERE.

And take a sneek peek at the first chapter HERE....





I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books and WaterBrook Multnomah through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

In Too Deep by Mary Connealy - a book review

This book is the second in a series called "The Kincaid Brides". The series centers around the lives of three brothers, Rafe, Ethan and Seth.  They are ranchers in Colorado in the mid 1800’s. I had read the first book that centered around Rafe and Julia.  If I hadn’t, I think I would have felt a little lost in the second one. It felt like the reader is thrown into the story with very little background. I had hoped I would like this one better than the first.  I didn’t. 

While the second book is supposed to focus on Ethan and his marriage of convenience to Audra, Rafe and Julia are still featured very prominantly.  It seemed as if the main characters were overshadowed by the overbearing Rafe and bossy Julia.  I couldn’t quite accept Ethan and Audra as the main characters. While the story was supposed to be about them, they didn’t seem to stand out.

 This story has it’s share of drama, suspense, danger, intrigue, humor and mystery.  I was not really comfortable with the degree of intimacy between Ethan and Audra, when neither of them married for love. The intimate scenes were a bit too much for comfort, while still being ‘clean’. I felt like I was intruding on something private. I would not recommend this book for younger readers.

One thing that I did like was how Ethan stepped in took on the role of daddy to Audra's two children. 

 Other reviewers really liked this book, so I think Connealy’s writing style just isn’t my cup of tea, but it might be yours!

 From the publisher: “Ethan Kincaid proposes marriage with the same detachment he gives every decision. Audra Gilliland accepts his proposal so she can stop being a burden to her newly married stepdaughter.

But Ethan never expected Audra to affect him so profoundly, and it terrifies him. Someone he loved was once seriously injured on his watch, and he won't let that happen again. If Audra will just do as he says, he can keep her safe from the dangers that lurk on the ranch.

Audra has been cared for all her life by one man or another--and they've done a poor job of it. Now she's planning to stand up for herself. And her new husband had better agree or get out of her way!

Can two fearful hearts--wary of getting in too deep--become two trusting hearts, willing to let go and fall in love?”

You can find out more about this book and the author at the Bethany House website.

To learn more about Mary Connealy, go to her website and check out her other books,

While I can’t say that this is a bad book, I can’t give it more than 3.5 stars. It just didn’t appeal to me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

For sons and daughters

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck by Kathleen Y'Barbo

From the WaterBrook Press web site:

Unlikely romance is sometimes just an inconvenient marriage away

Charlotte Beck may be entering adulthood, but she can’t seem to keep to her stubborn, independent spirit from bucking social protocol. Fed up with her behavior, Charlotte’s father Daniel pressures her to settle into a nice marriage despite knowing she is set on going to college. Then Daniel sees Charlotte with the handsome but annoying English astronomer Alex Hambly, and everything changes.

Though Alex and Charlotte can barely stand one another, Daniel offers them a deal they can’t refuse: if they agree to marry, he will save Alex’s family from financial ruin and grant Charlotte the freedom to go to college. Reluctantly the couple agrees, but in private they plot to annul the marriage as soon as possible.

But when Alex’s feelings change and he refuses to dissolve their contract, will Charlotte find a way out of her vows? Or will she discover that maybe this marriage isn’t so inconvenient after all?

This book started really slowly for me.  I had to restart reading it four times because as much as I wanted to love it, I couldn’t get into it.  It took about 75 pages and nine chapters for it to draw my attention.  I can’t really put my finger on why I wasn’t drawn to it.  To be fair, I did enjoy the middle of the story, but the beginning and the ending were a little flat.  There was almost no mention of faith and Christianity and when there was, it seemed as if it was randomly thrown in.  The first half of the book takes place before the marriage.  Then, the reader is fast-forwarded to four years later.  I would like to have seen how the characters changed and developed during those skipped-over years and what their lives had been like.

The main characters, Charlotte and Alex, enter into a marriage based on a lie and continue to deceive their friends and family.  And, as usually happens, more lies must be told to support the initial lie.  Eventually, they realize that the people that they are lying the most to are themselves.

There were many comical scenes and times of clever, funny conversation between Charlotte and Alex, and the historical settings were a plus. One particularly enjoyable scene worth mentioning occurred when Charlotte backed too close to the fire place and her bustle caught on fire. Alex has to react quickly and grabs a pillow and smacks her on the backside to put the fire out. Of course, Charlotte is oblivious to the fire and is mortified by his actions. Witty banter and verbal sparring ensues.

If you’re looking for a clean romance story with very little ‘religious’ content, you might like this. Don’t take my word for it, though - read a segment of it here:

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

 But, if you’re looking for a Christian romance with characters deeply founded in their faith, this probably isn’t the one for you. I give this book a 3 out of 5.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Press  through their Blogging for Books book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Hidden Affections by Delia Parr

From the Bethany House website:

A Tale of Unexpected Romance

Betrayed by her husband, Annabelle Tyler wears the burden of legally being a divorcee, a difficult position for an upstanding young woman to find herself in. While attempting to start a new life for herself, an unexpected turn of events once again has Annabelle married--this time to Harrison Graymoor, the most eligible, yet elusive, bachelor in Philadelphia. Harrison assures her that he will secure an annulment immediately, unaware that the constable has sent word of the marriage to the press in Philadelphia. And here things continue to go awry. Harrison's past, a philanthropic cousin with his eye on Annabelle, and the appearance of Annabelle's ex-husband threaten the tentative relationship growing between Harrison and his "wife." For two individuals set against marriage, there are certainly a lot of second thoughts regarding the one forced upon them.

How could you not want to read a book with a first line like... “Annabelle Taylor may have hoped she would marry again someday, but she never dreamed she would be wearing handcuffs during the ceremony when she did.” ?  Annabelle’s story is this – she marries a man , who after a week, leaves her only to return months later with the news that while he was away, he had divorced her and married a wealthier woman.  She is left with no option but to leave her hometown in disgrace and look for employment elsewhere. This is where chapter one begins.  Through a series of unfortunate and stressful events she again finds herself married to a man who has no interest in marriage.  This time, it is she who keeps her past a secret.  As they spend more time together, Annabelle and Harrison form a guarded friendship. 

There are many interesting characters in this book, and I think for me the most memorable, other than the two main characters, was Irene,  the housekeeper.  She dispenses wise counsel, offers a shoulder to cry on and at times is comically manipulative, in her own loving way.  Her faith is evident in her life.

The setting was also very intriguing as most of the story takes place in a country home inspired by an historic home now located in the Philadelphia Zoo.  You can read more about it here : http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/about/AboutZoo/Zoo-History/The-Solitude-House.htm

I won’t give away the outcome, but I will tell you that many times while I was reading , I wished I could reach into the book and grab these two folks and give them both a good shaking! 

This was a very enjoyable and easy book to read. If you’re looking for a book with deep, profound lessons and doctrinal statements, this isn’t for you. But, if you are looking for a book with enjoyable characters, interesting historical settings from a Christian fiction point of view then you will want to read this.

Read the first three chapters here:

http://www.bethanyhouse.com/Book.asp?isbn=978-0-7642-0672-6

 I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House  through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”