by Crystal Caudill | Apr 19, 2016 | Book Reviews
Where do I start with this novel? First let me say I bought this as a clearance audiobook to listen to on a lonely drive. Now I will be purchasing a hard copy to reread.
Michelle Griep masterfully plunks you down into the world of London in such a way you never realize you are not actually there. It is as if you are the one interacting with the setting, not some fictional character. I have never seen that done is such a masterful way.
The characters of Nick Brentwood and Emily Payne are so true to life you feel as if they are living, breathing people whom you are intimately familiar with. Their emotions are you emotions. Their thoughts, yours.
I have a knack for seeing twists before they happen, but I certainly did not see the many twists inserted so skillfully into the plot. If you want suspense, justice, and romance mixed with a whole lot of history, there is no better book out there.
The immersion into Brentwood’s and Emily’s world was so complete I would sit in my car for over an hour waiting for a point when I could break free of my trance. Only the knocking on the window by my concerned children forced me to hit the pause button. When the flu kept me from driving, I snuck out to my car, grabbed the disc, and played it in my bed until it had reached its more than satisfying ending.
Brentwood’s Ward is historical fiction at its best. You would be grievously robbed of an unforgettable experience if you don’t read it! Beware though, it is like a potato chip – you can’t just have one… chapter that is. Once you pick it up, you will never want to put it down.
Thank you, Michelle, for a fantastic book. I cannot wait to read more of your work.
If you wish to visit Michelle Griep’s website go to: https://michellegriep.com/
Place an unpolished lawman named Nicholas Brentwood as guardian over a spoiled, pompous beauty named Emily Payne and what do you get? More trouble than Brentwood bargains for. She is determined to find a husband this season. He just wants the large fee her father will pay him to help his ailing sister. After a series of dire mishaps, both their desires are thwarted, but each discovers that no matter what, God is in charge.
– Blurb from Barnes and Noble
by Crystal Caudill | Apr 17, 2016 | Book Reviews
This is the second book of a series released by Love Inspired, but it can be read as a stand-alone.
Jill Lynn does a fantastic job of creating characters you love and can connect with. I loved how natural and three-dimensional all the characters were, experiencing true-to-life emotions, growing as human beings, and growing in their relationship with God.
Lucy is spunky, independent, and determined to help others have fun. Her personality is one that draws you in and bonds you to her as if she were a living breathing woman. I absolutely loved her energy for life and the fact you never knew what she was going to do next.
Graham is a wonderful, attentive father with a sweet insecure side that tugs at your heart strings. He is handsome and easy to fall in love with. Mattie is a darling five-year-old girl who warms your heart as you watch her bloom into a carefree existence.
The story moved at a natural pace and kept you hooked from beginning to end. As a reader, you experience the struggles of each character as if they were your own, growing with them as they discover God’s will and His ability to overcome any situation.
The romance was just what every romance reader wants: a dance of denying feelings, the tug of attraction, kisses that make you sigh in complete contentment.
I highly recommend Her Texas Family for any romance reader. In fact, I loved it so much I sought out the first book in the series Falling for Texas. You won’t regret purchasing this great read.
Moving to a small Texas town, Lucy Grayson is looking to live life on her own terms. When she agrees to take a job in Doctor Graham Redmond’s office, the two instantly clash. The same can’t be said for the widower’s daughter. They quickly form a bond when Lucy begins teaching the little girl to dance. Graham soon realizes how good Lucy is for his daughter—and for him. Yet his late wife’s parents don’t agree. Their ultimatum to choose between them or Lucy fills Graham with despair. He can’t let his daughter lose her grandparents…but he also can’t lose the woman who could complete their family.
– Amazon Book Blurb
To purchase your own copy, visit:
Amazon Barnes and Noble Harlequin.com
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which you have just read.*
by Crystal Caudill | Apr 17, 2016 | Book Reviews
A Sweet Misfortune is the second in Maggie Brendan’s Virtues and Vices of the Old West series. However, this could easily be read as a stand alone book.
Mrs. Brendan does a wonderful job of weaving the timeless story of finding one’s true desires with memorable characters that you can relate to. While not a fact paced, action packed novel, it is a sweet romance that keeps you turning the pages.
While Rachel is indeed a spunky, independent heroine, she also is subdued and deals realistically with the challenges of being a former dance hall girl and sudden dependence on a family she can never repay.
John is a take action man whose ambition for more land and wealth leads him to overlook the biggest opportunity in front of him. There are many times you want to smack him on the forehead and ask him, “Really?” Even so, he is a sweet, caring man who makes a wonderful hero.
The secondary characters are great in their roles. You instantly fall in love with Grams and grind your teeth in aggravation at Beatrice.
I recommend picking up a copy and reading A Sweet Misfortune.
Rachel Matthews isn’t one to rely on others to take care of her. Destitute and alone, she still wants to make her own way and her own money–even if she’s forced into the life of a dance hall girl. Horrified by her circumstances, Rachel’s brother sends a friend–the widely admired cattle baron John McIntyre–to rescue her, then sets off to earn enough money to buy back the family ranch. But when months pass without her brother’s return, Rachel isn’t sure she can take one more day in John McIntyre’s home–especially once she discovers that he’s the one who holds the deed to her family’s ranch.
Sparks fly between this spunky, independent heroine and the ruggedly handsome hero as they navigate the snarled terrain of pride, greed, faith, and love in Maggie Brendan’s delightful series set in the Old West.
– Back Page Blurb from Amazon.com
If you are interested in seeing more about Maggie Brendan, visit her at her website: http://maggiebrendan.blogspot.com/
by Crystal Caudill | Apr 17, 2016 | Book Reviews
Sapphire Secrets was a real world story that compels you to keep reading. I simply couldn’t put it down! I rarely read contemporary fiction as I tend to get enough of my own reality. However, Sapphire Secrets really lured me in and kept me hooked.
The main character, Livy, is the daughter of a rock star daddy and twin to DeeDee. Their mother was the victim of a heroin overdose preceded by an event that left Livy without memory of what really happened. I won’t give it away, but it is definitely worth the read. That plot alone would have been enough to keep my interest, but Livy’s journey wasn’t just about finding her lost memories.
I really enjoyed Livy’s journey to Christ and the realities that come with it. Yes, you gain Christ and eternal life, but it does come at a cost. Miss Cahill did a fantastic job of illustrating this without the sugar coating so common to Christian fiction.
Miss Cahill’s world was real, filled with real characters many of us encounter every day. Whether they are same-sex couples, divorcees, those affected by drugs, manipulators, or just characters dealing with life changing events, this story dealt with them all masterfully.
Sapphire Secrets filled a hunger I didn’t know I had: a Christian novel that deals with real world elements without preaching and leaves you thinking. I cannot wait to continue following Livy’s story.
*I was given a free copy of this book to review for my honest review, and I honestly believe you should get your own copy to enjoy!*
Pick you your own copy by clicking here.
Visit Miss Cahill’s website at: http://dawnvcahill.com/
