The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M. White

Lady Elizabeth "Libby" Sinclair, with her love of microscopes and nature, isn't favored in society. She flees to the beautiful Isles of Scilly for the summer and stumbles into the dangerous secrets left behind by her holiday cottage's former occupant, also named Elizabeth, who mysteriously vanished. 

Oliver Tremayne--gentleman and clergyman--is determined to discover what happened to his sister, and he's happy to accept the help of the girl now living in what should have been Beth's summer cottage . . . especially when he realizes it's the curious young lady he met briefly two years ago, who shares his love of botany and biology. But the hunt for his sister involves far more than nature walks, and he can't quite believe all the secrets Beth had been keeping from him.

As Libby and Oliver work together, they find ancient legends, pirate wrecks, betrayal, and the most mysterious phenomenon of all: love.

All Libby wants to do is to be allowed to study nature.  Not be a society lady.  Her brother has arranged a marriage for her with his best friend.  The problem is that they argue any time they're together.  She refuses to marry him.  She convinces her mother to let her stay at a cottage in Scilly for the summer.  She soon discovers that she is staying in a cottage that had previously been rented by someone else named Elizabeth.  Only they disappeared and people think she's that Elizabeth.  She meets Oliver, the brother of the missing Elizabeth.  She soon discovers that he loves nature just as much as she does.

The only negative I can say about this book is that sometimes it went into too much detail about the bugs Libby was studying.  Other than that, it was a good book. A little bit of mystery and a little bit of romance.

I received a copy of this books from Bethany House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an hones review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter

After her mother became bedridden and her father bailed on the family, Sophie found herself serving as a second mother to her twin brother, Seth, and younger sister, Jenna. Sophie supported her siblings through their college years, putting aside her own dream of opening a bookshop in Piper’s Cove—the quaint North Carolina beach town they frequented as children.

Now it’s finally time for Sophie to follow her own pursuits. Seth has a new job, and Jenna is set to marry her college beau in Piper’s Cove. But the destination wedding reunites Sophie with best man Aiden Maddox, her high school sweetheart who left her without a backward glance.

When an advancing hurricane strands Aiden in Piper’s Cove after the wedding, he finds the hotels booked to capacity and has to ask Sophie to put him up until the storm passes. As the two ride out the weather, old feelings rise to the surface. The delay also leaves Sophie with mere days to get her bookshop up and running. Can she trust Aiden to stick around? And will he find the courage to risk his heart?

This is the story of Sophie and Aiden as they reconnect after years of being apart.  Aiden left Sophie years ago to follow his dream.  It has been Sophie's dream to open a bookstore.  Just as she is about to open a hurricane barrels through town leaving destruction in its path.  Sophie has also been surrogate mother to her mother and sister.  When they want something she does her best to provide it for them.  This is a nice easy read for someone that doesn't like a lot of action type books.

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

Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller

Riley McAllister is living the dream in New York City . . . if the dream means being a struggling mixed-media artist, part-time food delivery driver, and having a carefully curated social media to hide all of the above. She refuses to admit defeat and move back to small-town Maple Falls, but when her grandmother breaks her leg sliding into third base during a softball game (she was safe, by the way), Riley reluctantly agrees to go home and help the woman who raised her—while secretly hoping she can convince Mimi to sell her house and yarn shop and move in with a good friend. Then Riley can return to her new life in NYC, on her own and for good.

But Mimi has her own plans, which include setting Riley up with local baseball star Hayden Price, who returned to Maple Falls after an injury ended his major league career. Now he works at his father’s hardware store, coaches the church softball team, and worries about the declining town. It’s not the life he dreamed of having.

With a little meddling and a lot of kindness from the town, Hayden and Riley find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other as they discover the true meaning of home.

This book started out slow but picked up its pace about halfway through.  Once I got through the slow part it wasn't a bad book.  I would consider this book to be a nice cozy fireplace or beach read.  

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

Aftermath by Terri Blackstock

A devastating explosion.

Three best friends are at the venue to hear their favorite band. Only one makes it out alive.

A trunk full of evidence.

When police stop Dustin Webb with a warrant to search his trunk, he knows there’s been a mistake. He’s former military and owns a security firm. But he’s horrified when the officers find explosives, and he can’t fathom how they got there.

An attorney who will risk it all for an old friend.

Criminal attorney Jamie Powell was Dustin’s best friend growing up. They haven’t spoken since he left for basic training, but she’s the first person he thinks of when he’s arrested. Jamie knows she’s putting her career on the line by defending an accused terrorist, but she’d never abandon him. Someone is framing Dustin to take the fall for shocking acts of violence . . . but why?

This is non stop action all the way through.  It starts with an explosion where lots of people are hurt and killed.  Dustin is accused of setting the bomb.  But he has an alibi which nobody wants to believe.  Jamie is an attorney who he grew up with.  He hasn't talked to her in years.  But he doesn't know who else to call when he gets arrested.  The closer they get to solving the case, the violence keeps escalating.  If you life action books, you will like this one.

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

Blackberry Beach by Irene Hannon

Katherine Parker is on the cusp of having everything she ever wanted--fame, money, and acclaim. So why isn't she happy? In search of answers, she comes incognito to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast for some R&R. Maybe in her secluded rental house overlooking the serene Pacific she'll be able to calm the storm inside.

Coffee shop owner Zach Garrett has found his niche after a traumatic loss--and he has no plans to change the life he's created. Nor does he want to get involved with his reticent new neighbor, whose past is shrouded in mystery. He's had enough drama to last a lifetime. But when Katherine and Zach are recruited to help rehab a home for foster children, sparks fly. And as their lives begin to intersect, might they find more common ground than they expected . . . and discover that, with love, all things are possible?

I think there are two stories in this book.  Zach's Aunt Stephanie has retired and visits him in Hope Harbor.  She has always put her career ahead of her personal life.  She meets one of Zach's part time employees and has to decided if she's ready to give up New York and move to Hope Harbor.  Katherine is in Hope Harbor trying to make a decision that can be life altering.  Her agent knows how to manipulate her so she doesn't want to talk to him while she's in Hope Harbor.  He ignores her wishes and starts hounding her.  Zach is content owning and operating a coffee shop.  He gave up a high stress job and is now happier than ever.  Then he meets Kat and she makes him realize he doesn't have everything he wants.   

This is a nice cozy read.  

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