Wednesday, August 12, 2015

The Innocent by Ann H Gabhart - Review of the sixth book in the Shaker series




BACK  OF  THE  BOOK  BLURB
Carlyn Kearney has spent two lonely years not knowing whether to mourn or to hope after she receives word from the Union Army that her husband is missing. When the war ends without further word, Carlyn finds herself penniless, in debt, and forced from her home. With nowhere else to go, she seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill.

The Shakers profess peace through simple living, but to Carlyn, the Shaker life seems anything but simple. When mysterious deaths disturb the peace of the village, Carlyn falls under intense scrutiny. Can a kind sheriff help her expose the true culprit?


MY  REVIEW
This may be the best book in the series so far. A great story of love, faith and strength by one woman, who thinks she is alone against the world. Even a little bit of murder and mystery, so good. The one thing she encourages, through her mother, is to "pray anyway". What a good thing to remember/do, even if you think God isn't listening, if you have temporarily lost your faith, anytime you need help with anything, no matter how trivial it may seem to someone else, "PRAY ANYWAY".

This has been a very interesting series and I would encourage all to read it. I learned a lot about the Shakers, even though they seem peaceful, loving and faithful, I almost feel like there is a problem with their lifestyle and sometimes they seem mean to me. I really don't think I could be a Shaker. I'd be interested to know what others opinions are.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Paper Roses by Amanda Cabot - Review of the first book in the Texas Dreams Trilogy series




BACK  OF  THE  BOOK  BLURB
Her future stretched out like the clear blue Texas sky.

But a storm is coming.

Leaving the past behind in Philadelphia, mail-order bride Sarah Dobbs arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom--a man she has never met but whose letters, her paper roses, have won her heart from afar. But there is a problem--Austin Canfield is dead, and Sarah cannot go back East.

As Sarah tries to reconcile herself to a future that is drastically changed, Austin's brother Clay wants nothing more than to shake the Texas dust from his boots, but first he must find his brother's killer. And then there's Sarah.

Something is blooming out in the vast Texas landscape that neither Clay nor Sarah is ready to admit, and the promise of redemption blows like a gentle breeze through the prairie grasses.
(copied from Amazon.com)


MY  REVIEW
I love the song "Paper Roses" so this title naturally pulled me to get this book, and I must say that I enjoyed the book as much as I do the song, two completely different 'stories' though. Well maybe if I do a little finagling there may be something kind of similar, let's see if you can figure it out. I am looking forward to reading the next two books in this series and I also have my eye on The Westward Winds series.

Due or Die by Jenn McKinlay - Review of the second book in A Library Lover's Mystery series




BACK  OF  THE  BOOK  BLURB
What is the original meaning of the word clue?*

Answering tricky reference questions like this one is more than enough excitement for library director Lindsey Norris. That is, until another murder is committed in her ciy hometown of Briar Creek, Connecticut, and the question of who did it must be answered before someone else is checked out--for good.

Carrie Rushton, the president of the Friends of the Library, has been accused of murdering her husband.. The evidence is stacking up against Carrie, but neither Lindsey nor the Briar Creek crafternoon club is buying it.

When a nor'easter buries the small coastal town, the police are too busy digging out the locals to investigate the murder. With the help of her crafternoon friends and an abandoned puppy they name Heathcliff, Lindsey has to solve the question of who murdered Mr. Rushton before the killer closes the book on Carrie...

*a ball of yarn or thread


MY  REVIEW
I think Jenn has pulled me into this series, I am enjoying it much more than the first cozy mystery series that I tried reading. This book makes the library seem like a much more interesting place. It's not just a place to check books out and read. A fun read, would be good to read on a cold, windy,  night with some good hot chocolate.