An Unlikely Suitor

An Unlikely Suitor by Nancy Moser
Published by Bethany House Publishers

This book was provided to me free of charge by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my review.

Life is tough for Lucy Scarpelli and her family. After moving to the United Stages from Italy to pursue a better life for their family, the Scarpelli family is crammed into a 2 room tenement apartment with no private bathroom and no hot water.

To make matters worse, the tenement they've lived in for years is scheduled to be destroyed in a matter of days.

With her father gone and her uncle and aunt moving out West to be with their son, the burden of finding a mew place to live falls on Lucy's shoulders.

After a quick prayer for guidance, Lucy sets out to find such a place. Little does she know that finding a place for her family to live will change their lives forever.

For Lucy not only finds a place for her mother, sister and herself to live, she also finds new jobs for all of them at a dress botique - Madame Moreau's Fashion Emporium.

There Lucy forms a special bond with Rowena, a girl with a disability that Lucy is able to help hide with her abilities as a seamstress.

Their blossoming friendship prompts Rowena to invite Lucy along to her family's summer retreat in Newport, Rhode Island. Lucy jumps at the idea, never having the opportunity to visit such a place.

While there, much to Lucy's surprise, she meets a dashing young man, and love begins to take bloom. But Lucy resists this love, wondering why a man of his station would fall for a poor dressmaker like her.

Meanwhile, Rowena faces an arranged marriage to a young man she is not in love with. But can she hope for anything else, being crippled as she is?

And finally, Lucy's younger sister, Sophia, begins to fall for a man above her station, too.

Will the 3 girls find love in the end, or will all their hearts be broken.

An enjoyable historical fiction book with just enough twists to keep you guessing til the end.

The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen

The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen

Published by Bethany House Publishers

This book was provided to me free of charge by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my posted review.

Set in the early 1800's, The Girl in the Gatehouse follows the life of Mariah Aubrey, a young lady who has to leave the only home she has ever known to live in the gatehouse of a distant relative - an aunt by marriage, named Mrs. Prynn-Hallsey - because of a scandal surrounding her name. 

Having no money to her name, Mariah must support herself and her trusted servant, Miss Dixon, the only way she knows how - by writing novels. This can only compound the scandal already attached to her name.   You see,  women writing novels in the early 19th century is frowned upon!

So Mariah writes anonymously. Trouble presents itself, though, when the man who offers to publish her book wants to meet her in person. Should she allow this? Can she trust him? Or will he be the one to ruin it all for her?

As the meeting looms, a wealthy Navy captain, Matthew Bryant, comes to rent the estate from Mrs. Prynn-Hallsey's step son following her death. He sees the publisher going to visit Mariah, and wonders what a man would be doing visiting "his" estate's gatehouse. 

When he  checks it out, he realizes there is a young lady who lives there.  And she is quite beautiful. Kind, too.  As he gets to know her, and discovers she has a secret to hide, he becomes aware that befriending a young lady with scandal attached to her name is not the best idea. 

Add to all this drama some mystery surrounding the gatehouse itself, 2 servants falling for the Miss Dixon at the same time, and the fact that although Captain Matthew is drawn to Mariah, he is determined to win back an old flame,  and you have a book Jane Austen fans will enjoy.  

 

The Alarmists - By Don Hoesel

The Alarmists - by Don Hoesel

Published by Bethany House Publishers

The Alarmists was provided to me free of charge by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my review.

I have to say I was so excited to receive the book The Alarmists. It is a fiction book about the theory of the end of the world coming in conjunction with the end of the Mayan Calendar in December 2012. Now I love a good mystery. I ask questions all the time, and want to know things like if paranormal activity or UFOs are real. I watch all I can about alien space crafts, Area 51, and the Bermuda Triangle. So this seemed right up my alley.

I started reading with enthusiasm, but was not impressed. The story line was not bad. It was, though, in my opinion, too wordy and the plot was too drawn out. I felt there were too many characters to keep up with.

Please don't get me wrong. I love details. This just wasn't my cup of tea.

The entire book takes place within 21 days, but it felt like it took me that long to read it. I finally had to skip to the end just to see how it would end. Even the ending was a bit disappointing to me, because of it's abruptness.

Wish I could have given it a better review. But I have to write it like I read it. Sorry, folks.

Max on Life - By Max Lucado

Max on Life - By Max Lucado

Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers

(This book was provided to me free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my agreement to write a review on it.)

Have you ever wished you could ask Max Lucado some really tough questions? Questions like, "Why am I here?"

"What should I do when all hope seems lost?"

"Is there really a hell, and is it eternal?"

How about questions about sex and marriage? Questions on how to discipline your children?

Well, you're in luck. Even if you, like me, have never physically written him a letter or an email. Because Max's new book Max on Life answers these questions and so many more!

This book, to me, was like another version of God's Promises for Your Every Need. Max Lucado style.

In the easy to read format Max is known to us by, he answers the hard questions we desperately want answers for, and he does it all without beating us over the head with the Bible.

Oh, he uses the Bible to answer all the questions. Many different versions (which I personally loved!) But in the end you don't feel beat up or preached at. You feel the compassion I think Jesus would have portrayed.

The references had me searching my Bible more than ever. Which is what I think Max would have wanted. And I'm POSITIVE God wants me to do that.

So, thanks, Max! You drew me closer to God through your research and answers. I can't wait for your next book to come out.

Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury

Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury 

Published by Zondervan

I've been a fan of Karen's books for several years now, but this one was especially meaningful to me due to the fact that the main character is a teenage boy with Autism, and I have a 13 year old son with an autism spectrum disorder.

Unlocked is based on the true story of a friend of Karen's who showed amazing progress because of music.   

Holden Harris is an 18 year old boy with Autism that renders him non-communicative. He lives locked in his own world - one that no one understands. He's considered an odd kid at school.

But Ella meets Holden and feels an immediate connection. She is determined to be his friend no matter if Holden stays locked in his own world or not.

Can Ella, with the help of God, find the key to Unlock Holden's world?

If you're looking for a great book, "Unlocked" by Karen Kingsbury is for you!!!! Happy reading!

The Vigilante's Bride

The Vigilante's Bride by Yvonne Harris

This book was provided to me free of charge by Bethany House publishers in exchange for my posted review.  

The Vigilante's Bride was set in the Montana Territory - December 1884.  Luke Sullivan is on his way away from a job that he's grown tired of when he overhears the travel plans of his enemy - the man who robbed his father many years ago.  So, on a spur of the moment decision, Luke decides to hold up the stage coach and get back what he feels is rightfully his.  

Only one problem.  The coach was not just carrying the banker and cash, but also a young lady who Luke finds out it a mail order bride for his enemy.  So rather than just taking the money and running, Luke also kidnaps the girl.  And she does NOT take kindly to this!

But what if Luke turns out to be the man of her dreams?  What if he really is the man of her dreams?  

Follow Luke and Emily's journey as they discover how to tolerate each other as they both try to escape the dangerous man Luke has crossed.  

I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes Historical Western style fiction.  

Love's First Bloom By Delia Parr

Love's First Bloom by Delia Parr
Published by Bethany House Publishers

I received this book for free through Bethany House Publishers book review program. I am under no obligation to write a positive review on the book.

That being said, I AM going to write a positive review. I have become a full fledged fan of Delia Parr's now. This is her second book, and I have had the privilege of reviewing both. When I saw that Bethany House was offering her second book to reviewers, I jumped at the opportunity!

Now for the review.

It is March of 1838, and Ruth Livingstone's life is about to change forever.

Ruth is the daughter of Reverend Livingstone, a man who loves God and ministers to the prostiutes who work in New York City's brothels. His ministry is known as The Prodigal Daughters.

Then the unthinkable happens. One of Reverend Livingstone's "daughters in the faith" is found murdered, and he is accused of her murder. After being granted a few days to put his affairs in order, Mr. Livingstone sends Ruth off with a toddler in her arms to live with a family she's never met under the assumed name Widow Malloy.

As Ruth adjusts to her new surroundings and identity, she spends her days praying for her father, and reading the local papers, hoping for word of his acquittal. As another tragedy threatens to consume what's left of her feeble faith, Ruth takes solace in the one place she can find peace - her garden.

There, as she prepares the soil to accept new beauty in the form of flower starters, she meets Jake Spencer, a man who also has secrets. He both annoys and inspires Ruth. As both Jake and Ruth discover their attraction to each other, will the secrets they both keep be too much to overcome? Will Ruth be able to find ANYONE to trust? Will she be able to keep her identity, and the identity of the precious little girl in her care, a secret as she tries to protect her from the newspaper men trying to find them?

A little intrigue, a little romance, and a lot of what we as humans really feel all combine to make this a book - and an author- I would highly recommend.

Thank you, Bethany House Publishers, for allowing me the privilege of reviewing this book for you. And, Ms. Delia Parr, keep on writing. I'll keep on reading!