Autumn Skies by Denise Hunter

When a mysterious man turns up at Grace’s family-run inn, it’s instant attraction. But she’s already got a lot on her plate: running the Bluebell Inn, getting Blue Ridge Outfitters off the ground, and coping with a childhood event she’d thought was long past.

A gunshot wound has resurrected the past for secret service agent Wyatt Jennings, and a mandatory leave of absence lands him in Bluebell, North Carolina. There he must try and come to grips with the crisis that altered his life forever.

Grace needs experience for her new outfitters business, so when Wyatt needs a mountain guide, she’s more than happy to step up to the plate. As their journey progresses, Grace soon has an elusive Wyatt opening up, and Wyatt is unwittingly drawn to Grace’s fresh outlook and sense of humor.

There’s no doubt the two have formed a special bond, but will Wyatt’s secrets bring Grace’s world crashing down? Or will those secrets end up healing them both?

A great conclusion to A Blue Bell Inn Romance.  Each book can be read independently but it would be helpful to read them in order to get the back story of the siblings.  Wyatt is trying to bring closure to the death of his mother that happened years ago.  He was a child when it happened and was there when she was killed.  He thinks it's fault since he didn't do anything to stop it.  Grace and Wyatt try to find the spot it happened at.  Grace has secrets of her own.  Unbeknown to her, her secret is connected to Wyatts.

There's no great mystery in the book.  But it is a good clean romance with a tad of mystery thrown in.  This is a great cozy read and I recommend it.

I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not  compensated in any way.  

The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson

 All Emma Daley wants this holiday season is a white Christmas. But the young teacher and struggling musician sure can't find that in sunny Arizona. Luckily, there's someone living in a perfect mountain home in the Colorado Rockies looking to make a vacation trade this year.

Tyler Prescott is an in-demand songwriter and talented musician who put his own singing career on hold to write songs for celebrity acts to perform. When his mother convinces him to do a vacation trade for Christmas, he never imagined one of the houseguests would be so sweet--or so strikingly pretty. Naturally, he decides to stick around, and, to get better acquainted, he poses as the house's caretaker. But when Emma's friend Gillian discovers his true identity and sets her sights on him, things
get . . . messy.

This is a cute story that takes place at Christmas.  Tyler forgets his music when he leaves to go to Arizona for Christmas.  When he goes back to his house he runs into the people he swapped with.  He introduces himself as the caretaker because he doesn't want them to know who he is.  He is instantly attracted to Emma and her to him.  While Gillian thinks he's just the caretaker, she treats him like an underling.  When she finds out he's famous, her entire attitude changes and she goes after him.  It's a typical Hallmark type movie with the main characters having a misunderstanding toward the end and then a happy ending.

I recommend this book to all who like a feel good Christmas book.

I was given this book by Revell Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in anyway.  

A Joyful Christmas

A Christmas Castle by Cynthia Hickey
Married by proxy in Missouri, Annie Morgan sets off for Tombstone, Arizona, to join her new husband as a cattle rancher. But too soon she finds herself a widow with an unexpected daughter and butting heads with her handsome neighbor.
 
A Star in the Night by Liz Johnson
Wounded within Confederate territory, Union officer Jedediah Harrington finds refuge at the tiny cabin of Cora Sinclair and her grandfather. Still haunted by what she saw as a battlefield hospital volunteer, Cora finds that only Jed can understand. But, though she longs to give him her heart, the risks to both of them are too great.
 
An Irish Bride for Christmas by Vickie McDonough
When Jackson Lancaster’s brother and wife die, he takes his three-year-old niece home. But a meddling busy-body makes the judge give her custody “because an unmarried man shouldn’t raise a little girl.” Now Jackson has until Christmas to find a bride or lose his niece forever. Larkin Doyle is grateful her employer took in the orphan and believes Jackson abandoned his niece. When her heart says otherwise, will romance blossom? 
 
Under His Wings by Liz Tolsma
Adie O’Connell, orphaned and left alone in a dangerous Wisconsin logging camp, seeks the stability she once knew when both her parents lived. Despite the compassion and friendship offered by Noah “Preacher Man” Mitchell, she refuses to consider marriage to a man always drifting from one job to another for God.
 
Shelter in the Storm by Carrie Turansky
The daughter of a wealthy Tennessee doctor, Rachel Thornton begins nursing James Galloway, a wounded artist-war correspondent. As James recovers, their hearts draw closer together. Having already lost one sweetheart to the war, Rachel is hesitant to reveal her feelings for James, who insists on returning to the front lines. Would she be safer in the arms of another man?
 
Christmas Service by Erica Vetsch

Beth Sorensen has been put in charge of the Christmas pageant at the little log church, and this year she wants something different. But she didn’t count on a Minnesota blizzard paralyzing the whole town. Can the blacksmith teach this preacher’s daughter about what it means to serve one another in love through the storm?

 This book is written by several different authors with stories about women in the old west.  The women are strong and capable to handle anything that is thrown their way.  Even taking care of wounded men. 

The only story I didn't care for was Christmas Service.  Beth seemed to think no one could get things done except here, so she just did it all.  In the end she saw the error of her way.  

Overall it was a quick easy read.

I was given this book by Barbour Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.   

A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

Zivon Marin was one of Russia's top cryptographers until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee to England after speaking out against Lenin, Zivon is driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits. But never far from his mind is his brother, whom Zivon fears died in the train crash that separated them.

Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and re-creating photographs. With her father's connections in propaganda, she's recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove if she ever found out.

After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily that soon takes over their hearts. But both have secrets they're unwilling to share, and neither is entirely sure they can trust the other. When Zivon's loyalties are called into question, proving him honest is about more than one couple's future dreams--it becomes a matter of ending the war.

This is the third book in this series.  It's not necessary to read the first two books in the series.  But it would be helpful to read them to know the characters that are in book three.

This book centers around codebreakers during WWI and the retouching of photographs.  Besides the story line of the book I found that aspect to be quite interesting.  The flu epidemic was also brought into the story.  

The book started out a little slow but got more interesting as it went along.  I would recommend this book.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.  

The Soldier's Lady

 The Colonel’s Daughter by Gabrielle Meyer

Minnesota, 1828—Fort Snelling
Major Nathaniel Ward is tasked with guarding his commanding officer’s daughter, Ally Benson, from the amorous soldiers at Fort Snelling, but he finds the hardest person to keep in line is himself.
 
Frontier of Her Heart by Susanne Dietze
California, 1854—Fort Humboldt
All is fair in love and war, but the contest of wills between fort cook Emily Sweet and assistant surgeon Boyd Braxton is all about pride, not romance. . .until they must work together to stop an epidemic.
 
Save the Last Word for Me by Lorna Seilstad
Kansas, 1864—Fort Riley
Determined schoolteacher Adelina Dante believes every man, woman, and child deserves the opportunity to read and write, but when she approaches Colonel Isaac Scott about why he should allow his illiterate soldiers to attend special classes, she’s the one who gets educated in matters of the heart.
 
Forever Fort Garland by Janette Foreman
Colorado, 1879—Fort Garland
Annie Moreau arrives at Fort Garland to marry her soldier pen pal, Martin, but encounters two surprises—Martin has died in battle and she’s been corresponding with dashing Captain Jefferson Gray all along.

I found this book very easy to read. This would be good to set in front of the fireplace and read.  They were all pretty predictable.  But I enjoyed reading them.  I would recommend them to any one who wants a light read.

I was given this book by Barbour Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.  

Colors of Truth by Tamera Alexander

 Tennessee, 1866. According to the last letter Irish immigrant Catriona O'Toole received from her twin brother, Ryan, he was being dispatched to Franklin, Tennessee, where--as a conscripted Confederate soldier--he likely endured the bloody Battle of Franklin that claimed the lives of thousands. Catriona leaves behind the lush green of their Irish homeland in search of him, with nothing to her name except the sum of cash Ryan sent to their family. Now the sole provider for her seven-year-old spitfire sister, Nora, Catriona hopes to reunite the siblings--the only surviving members of their devastated family.

   
Wade Cunningham is a former Federal soldier who now works for the newly formed United States Secret Service and is trying to uncover counterfeiting rings in the postwar South. In order to infiltrate their sophisticated enterprise, he must pose as a former Confederate in Franklin--a town where counterfeit greenbacks run rampant. When Wade meets Catriona, he is immediately intrigued by her and the little redheaded scamp in her care--but what he doesn't anticipate is that the cash in Catriona's possession is some of the most convincing counterfeit money he's ever seen. Soon the object of Wade's affection is also the suspect in a major crime--one he's expected to prosecute.
  

This book takes place shortly after the Civil War has ended.  Catriona is fresh from Ireland looking for her twin brother Ryan.  Along the way she meets Wade, a Secret Service Agent looking into counterfeit money.  This was quite an eye opener of conditions in the South prior to the Civil War and after. As well as how the Iris were treated in this country.  Its a very interesting book and I recommend it. 

 I'm sorry Thomas Nelson wanted Ms. Alexander to change history by rewriting part of the book.  Kudos to Ms. Alexander for refusing and publishing this book herself. 

I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.