Thursday, October 29, 2015

The Homestead Brides Collection by Mary Connealy, Darlene Franklin, Carla Olson Gade, Ruth Logan Herne, Pam Hillman, DiAnn Mills, Erica Vetsch, Becca Whitman, Kathleen Y'Barbo - Review




BACK  OF  THE  BOOK  BLURB
Promises of free land lured thousands to venture into the vast American plains. They built make=do homes and put all they had into improving the land. Very often romantic thoughts took a back burner to priorities having to do with the land.

In these nine novellas, individuals are forced to encounter romance when neighbor helps neighbor, when land ownership is debated, and when natural disaster blows them off course.

Homestead on the Range by Mary Connealy
Priceless Pearl by Darlene Franklin
Proving Up by Carla Olson Gade
Prairie Promises by Ruth Logan Herne
This Land Is Our Land by Pam Hillman
Flaming Starr by DiAnn Mills
A Palace on the Plains by Erica Vetsch
Waiting on a Promise by Becca Whitham
The Bogus Bride of Creed Creek by Kathleen Y'Barbo

Travel along through the Great Plains on romantic adventures as God helps each land prospector find someone with whom to share the dream--the work--and the love.

MY  REVIEW
I love these collections books, they are short stories and the authors do such a great job of pulling you in yet the don't disappoint with them not being a full length book. Some of my favorite authors have included stories in this book and there are some new ones that have done a wonderful job and I will be looking for more of their work. Thank you ladies! ! !

Monday, October 19, 2015

Christmas Mail Order Bride by Kate Whitsby - Review of the first book in the Western Mail Order Brides




BACK  OF  THE  BOOK  BLURB
(taken from Amazon.com)

Penelope Mathers arrives in a remote western town, contracted to marry Anders West, the son of a wealthy local cattle baron. Her prospective parents-in-law pick her up at the coach stop in their buggy and drive her directly to the church, where she meets her groom for the first time at the altar. After the wedding service, Anders drives Penelope to his home, where she quickly realizes all is not as it seems, and she finds herself torn between the increasing hostility of her husband and a growing attachment to Caleb Alexander, a young stable hand working at the West Ranch. Through shared adversity and adventure, Penelope learns more about Caleb and his enigmatic world, showing her the depth and caring of a man she longs to clutch to her heart. As her relationship with her husband deteriorates with every passing day, Penelope relies more and more on her affection for Caleb as well as on her own resources to cope with the mounting tension. Just as the situation seems most hopeless, the situation comes to a shocking climax, leaving Penelope in possession of a shocking secret that will transform all their lives and open the door in unlimited possibilities.


MY  REVIEW

What  great short story this is. I don't think I have read any of Kate's other books but after reading this I will read more. She does a wonderful job of making you want to get inside that story and help Penelope and oh, my what an ending. This is one book I would happily recommend to other historical fiction readers!

Jenny's Choice by Patrick E Craig - review of the thrid book in the Apple Creek Dreams series




BACK  OF  THE  BOOK  BLURB
(taken from Amazon.com)

In the concluding novel to the Apple Creek Dreams series, Johathan and Jenny Hershberger are happily settled in Paradise, Pennsylvania on the farm Jenny inherited from her grandfather. but when a tragic accident takes Johathan's life, Jenny and her young daughter, Rachel, return home to Apple Creek, Ohio to live with her adoptive parents, Reuben and Jerusha Springer.

As Jenny works through her grief and despair, she discovers she has a gift for writing. A handsome young publisher discovers her work and, after the publication of her first book, Jenny is on the verge of worldly success and possible romance.

But when a conflict arises with the elders of her church, Jenny must ask herself how far she's willing to go to pursue her dreams.

A touching story of devotion and triumph over adversity.


MY REVIEW

I started out liking this series, just not quite sure about it. After the second book I was enjoying it and now that I finished the final, I will say that the series was really good. It's not that I didn't like the story but the first book had a lot of flashbacks and I wanted to read more about what was happening 'now'. I understand that you need to know about the past sometimes so you understand what is going on and why, so it was okay.

This third book was very good and I wanted another book in the series, I was sad to see it end. When I got to looking at "The Amish Heiress" in the Paradise Chronicles series, I see that I get go on with characters in this series, thank you Patrick for letting me read on.