Book Review: The Girls of Mischief Bay

The Girls of Mischief Bay, the first in the series of Mischief Bay, is a funny, touching, romantic, relationship-changing book written by Susan Mallery. In this book there are three friends that are each facing a change in their lives.

Nicole is a supportive wife whose husband is a screenwriter. However, she has not seen any finished work from him so she has to work full-time, and since he does not seem to be inclined to run the house or look after their son, Nicole must do these too.

Pam is also a loving wife, but her children are grown so she is trying to keep the love alive in her marriage. She is faced with an uncertain future due to changes that are placed upon her.

Shannon is a business executive who has placed a larger emphasis on work than her personal life. Now she has met a man who she sees a future with but is it meant to be?

These three women share, support, and advise each other through these times.

Mallery is a bestselling author of Three Sisters and she has done an excellent job with this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you.

Book Review: Miracle in a Dry Season

. Miracle in a Dry Season, by Sarah Loudin Thomas, and published by Baker Publishing is a book filled with superstition, prejudice, strength and love.

The main character, Perla became pregnant by a married man. This sent her to Wise, West Virginia where she was going to live with relatives. Unfortunately, her circumstances caused her to face judgment by someone that she came to care about.

This debut novel by Sarah Loudin Thomas has made her an author to watch.  

Book Review: When the World Was Young

When the World Was Young, by Elizabeth Gaffney, begins on V-J Day and is written from the perspective of Wally Baker. Wally, throughout the book, feels like a bit of a misfit. First of all, there is her name, which she feels is definitely a boy’s name. Then, even through she loves Wonder Women comics and ants, she feels like these items still separates her from others. Finally, there is her mother, who is not stable and the fact that the lives with her grandparents, but yet her best friends are Loretta, the housekeeper and Ham, Loretta’s son.

Wally is faced with different losses, conflicts, and prejudices throughout the book yet is able to find strength when she needs it.

This is a beautifully written, honest portrayal of human nature at this time as well as today. 

Book Review: Inescapable by Nancy Mehl

Inescapable, by Nancy Mehl, is an intriguing novel. With the main character, Lizzie, having lived in a big city and a small Mennonite village, the reader can sense there will be tensions between the two cultures will arise. These and other scenarios makes this book one that is difficult to put down until the end.

Mehl is a talented author and even though this is the first of her books I have read, I know it will not be the last.

Book Review: God in This Cave by Paul Yoder

For a first novel, Paul Yoder picked an immense topic. God in This cave sends the reader on a familiar journey set in modern time. I think Mr. Yoder did a fine job. There is additional editing that needs to be done but congratulations on this epic work. I look forward to reading more from you in the future.

Book Review: A New Resolution by Rose Dee

A New Resolution by Rose Dee is a book that has unexpected life issues throughout it. The story is set in Queensland and the two main characters show how being a Christian does not mean that their past lifestyles do not affect others they may meet. Each of them had had sexual partners before they became Christians and the way they face this can help others that may face this issue.

This was a well-written book that presented difficult subjects and how it is hard to come across the best decision at the time. Because of this, it is easy to identify with the characters, which helps the lessons taught to be more easily received.

I received this book from the author and bookfun.org in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Book Review: PDQ by Ronald Glanz

Ronald Glanz has written another book that will keep the reader on their toes. This book, PDQ, revolves around robberies and murders that have occurred at a few convenience stores in Madison, Wisconsin. Detectives Schultz and Finney are assigned to this case and their investigation takes some unpredictable twists and turns until they finally solve it.

I have become a Ronald Glanz fan with previous books that I have read. I look forward to his books to keep me on the edge of my chair and to grab my attention and keep it to the end.

I was given this book by the author and bookfun.org in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Never Ending Night by Tanya Stowe

T.R. Sheridan fought and died during the Civil War. Or did he? During a re-enactment of the same battle, Sheridan came out of the woods and suddenly the world changed for several people. The photo-journalist who took pictures of the re-enactment as a part of her newspaper assignment, also took pictures of T.R. coming out of the woods. The gentleman who was in charge of the event, and he was a professor of Sheridan’s poetry. Then there was a dr. who wanted to observe this man from another time.

Never-Ending Night, by Tanya Stowe, tells the story of these people and makes it intriguing. Once I picked up this story I could not put it down. Stowe knows how to build a book to a wonderful climax and then finish it so that the reader is satisfied with the reading experience. I look forward to more work by this author.

I was given this book by the author and by bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Mansfield Park

Every work by Jane Austen is loved by my family. This does not vary with Mansfield Park. I have read this book, as all of her others, many times and even though I know what happens throughout the story, I cannot put them down until I am finished with the story.

Due to the circumstances of the time, and being a member of a very large family, it is decided that Fanny Price be sent to live with a wealthy aunt. In this wealthy family, Fanny is treated as a poor relative.

Henry Crawford comes into the house and thus begins the romantic part of the Jane Austen story.

Jane Austen did an outstanding job in this novel and I know that I will continue to read it again, and again.

Book Review: Fatal Exchange by Lisa Harris

Fatal Exchange, by Lisa Harris, is a modern-day suspense novel. Before beginning this book, find a comfortable seat and a nice cup of a favorite beverage, because once you begin to read this you will want to stay with it to the end.

Emily Hunt’s brother, a police officer, was killed. Whereby Emily and her family have their own suspect, it needs to be proven. The path that this book takes you on will keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

This is a very good book and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I was given this book by the author and bookfun.org in exchange for my fair and honest review. 

Light the Fire by Marry Manners

Light the Fire is the kind of book that readers have difficulties putting down once they begin reading. The characters are complex and the incidences in the book are down-to-earth.

Even though this sounds similar to other books of this genre there is a difference. God is interspersed throughout to help the characters develop. He also is there through the resolution of problems that are encounters.

Mary Manners is an excellent writer and I plan on reading more of her books now.

I was given this book by the author and bookfun.org in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Unexpected Marriage by Carla Roassi

Unexpected Marriage by Carla Rossi is about two people who meet while working at a summer camp. Rocky is a strongly independent man who has learned to adapt to life in a wheelchair. At time he appears to be, almost, too independent.

Gia is the daughter of an evangelical minister. She became a rebellious teen who then became an adult that had trouble believing in herself or trusting others.

Both of these adults met and filled holes that the other had within their hearts. Along their paths they had to learn to trust in God more than themselves.

This is a book worth celebrating. As I read it I found myself recommending it to others, even before finishing it. Rossi made me feel as if Gia and Rocky were friends, yet I know their lives, after the book ended, would go on successfully.

I was given this book by the author and bookfun.org in exchange for my honest and fair review. 

Book Review: The Sinners' Garden by William Sirls

The Sinners’ Garden by William Sirls spoke to me deeply. Sirls was able to reflect on his own life and bring the faith that he developed through his experiences into this book.

The characters in The Sinners’ Garden, Heather, Rip, Judi and Andy all needed God’s love through different difficulties in their lives. One was troubled by an unsolved murder, one was abused by a former spouse, her child was also affected by the abuse but did not know who to blame and the other was a rock for the others to turn to, even though he was a former convict.

Each had their heart touched by an iPod, the words of a boy, a “Summer Santa,” and a miraculous garden.

It has been a long time since I have felt a book touch me as this one has. Thank you Mr. Sirls.

I was given this book by the author and by bookfun.org in exchange for my fair and honest review

Sincerely Yours: A Novella Collection consists of four stories, each involving a life-changing letter.

The first story is Moonlight Promises by Laurie Alice Eakes. This story begins with Camilla Renfrow, a titled gentlewoman from England, fleeing to a steamboat where she runs into a rakish, mysterious ship’s owner and captain.

Lessons in Love by Ann Shorey introduces the reader to a woman who writes for an advice column, Marigold Montgomery Bentley, known to her readers as MM, writes primarily marital advice, even though she is a single woman. The editor comes to meet this MM, who he thinks is a man and now Marigold has to come up with a plan to keep her job.

One Little Word is written by Amanda Cabot. An heiress, Lorraine Caldwell, is in danger of losing her money to a cousin. The only way to avoid this is to marry soon. While dealing with this, she discovers that her lost brother may still be alive. Searching for him leads her, to her surprise, to a carver of carousels.

A Saving Grace by Jane Kirkpatrick tells about Grace Hathaway. While rescuing a friend from a false clinic, she discovers lies and cover-ups which can endanger the lives of many people. She is unsure where to turn.

This book was give to me by the authors and bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: The Icecutter's Daughter

A tomboy, yet wanting something more, Merrill Krause spends most of her time helping her father and her brother.

Rurik Jorgenson leaves home and a broken engagement, to help with his uncle's furniture business.

Rurik and Merrill meet and then have to rely on God to help them find His purpose for their future lives.

Tracie Peterson writes such true-to-life characters which makes the reader want to continue on at the end of the story.