The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes

Ashley Tolliver has tended to the women of her small Appalachian community for years. As their midwife, she thinks she has seen it all. Until a young woman gives birth at Ashley’s home and is abducted just as Ashley tries to take the dangerously bleeding mother to the nearest hospital. Now Ashley is on a mission to find the woman and her newborn baby . . . before it’s too late.

Hunter McDermott is on a quest—to track down his birth mother. After receiving more media attention than he could ever want for being in the right place at the right time, he receives a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother. Hunter seeks out the aid of the local midwife in the mountain town where the phone call originated—surely she can shed some light on his own family background.

Ashley isn’t prepared for the way Hunter’s entrance into her world affects her heart and her future. He reignites dreams of having her own family that she has long put aside in favor of earning her medical degree and being able to do even more for her community. But is it commitment to her calling or fear of the unknown that keeps her feet firmly planted in the Appalachian soil? Or is it something more—fear of her growing feelings for Hunter—that makes her hesitant to explore the world beyond the mountains?

This book is about the journey Ashley and Hunter take on the road to discovering who they really are and where they are going.  Ashley thinks her goal is to earn her medical degree and Hunter thinks he will continue to travel and dig tunnels.  Then God steps in. After 32 years, Hunter learns he is adopted. He heads off to the Appalachian Mountains in search of his birth mother.  What he discovers changes his life completely.  Ashley joins Hunter in his search for his birth mother.  Her grandmother is the midwife who delivered him. 

I’m not really sure how I would class this book.  It has some mystery and romance.  But it’s more of the story of Ashley and Hunter’s journey.  I have never read any books by Ms. Eakes.  This won’t be the last.  I found it to be a very good book and I would recommend it.

I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

For sixty years, the wedding chapel has stood silent and empty. Retired football hall-of-famer Jimmy “Coach” Westbrook built the chapel by hand, stone by stone, for his beautiful and beloved Collette Greer, whom he lost so many years ago. The chapel is a sanctuary for his memories, a monument to true love, and a testament to his survival of the deepest pain and loss.

Photographer Taylor Branson left her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee to make a new life for herself in New York. Taylor had lots to run away from, not least of all a family history of broken promises and broken dreams. Love catches Taylor off guard when she falls for Jack Forester, a successful advertising executive, and their whirlwind romance leads to an elopement – and then to second guesses. Jack, in spite of his very real love for Taylor, is battling his own demons and struggles to show her his true self and the depths of his love for her.

When Taylor takes a photography assignment in Heart’s Bend, she is thrown back into her own past and encounters family secrets buried deep beneath the sands of time. And when Taylor and Coach’s journeys collide, they each rediscover the heartbeat of their own dreams as they learn that the love they long to hold is well worth waiting for.

I don’t really know how to rate this book.  I was really looking forward to reading another book by Rachel Hauck.  I feel let down.  I didn’t really care for how it jumped around from character to character and years.  I realize all this was important to know but somehow it just didn’t click for me.  I liked all the characters.  I would have liked more about Taylor and Jack.  The farther I got in the book the better it got.  I judge how good it is by whether I would consider rereading it.  Sorry to say I will not be reading this book again. I will still look forward to reading books by Rachel Hauck.  I have thoroughly enjoyed all her other books.

I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Every Girls Gets Confused by Janice Thompson

Katie Fisher and Brady James may be a match made in heaven, but that doesn't seem to guarantee them a happily ever after accompanied by angelic choirs. Katie's almost-fiancé Casey is back in Fairfield, ready to rekindle their relationship. And there's nothing Katie's parents want more than for their small-town girl to leave Dallas and come home for good.

But can she really leave Brady behind? And will she ever be able to wear that gorgeous wedding dress she won?

This is a continuation of Katie and Brady’s story.  It would be beneficial to read “Every Bride Needs a Groom” first to understand some of the ins and outs of this book.  Not necessary though.  I enjoy the humorous writing style of Ms. Thompson and this book didn’t disappoint.  I love Queenie and friends.  The bridal store group was a hoot too.  This book also had its serious side.  It showed how Katie stuck it out with Brady when he was having a difficult time after his knee surgery.  The advice that Katie kept receiving from her friends was right out of the Bible and very encouraging for those going through difficult times.  I will be sure to look for the next book about Katie and Brady. 

I would recommend this book to everyone. 

I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

The Chrismas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson

I'm going on a mission, Miranda. I'm going out to spread some Christmas joy along Route 66. And no one is going to stop me."

"But you can't go driving across the entire country in the middle of winter and--"

"I can and I will," Joy declared stubbornly . . .

"I think it's a totally outrageous plan. I can't bear the thought of you being out there by yourself--and at your age too. I'll be scared sick about you being on the road . . ."

Joy had an idea, and she knew this was her chance. She had to give it one good try. "And that is exactly why I want you to come along with me, Miranda."

Joy is an almost 86 year woman who wants to drive her RV along Route 66 to spread Christmas cheer to those in need on her way to Phoenix to an assisted living facility near her sons.  Her sons think she is flying.  Miranda is Joy’s neighbor has been hit with hard times.  Her husband has walked out on her for another woman and she is about to lose her house to the bank.  She has no job and is about to lose her home.  Joy guilt trips Miranda to go with her to Phoenix. 

Joy has an unquenchable Christmas spirit which seemed to rub off on Miranda as the book progressed.  I found the book to be enjoyable. The concept of the book was really fun.  I did find the description of the Christmas decorating at the various places to be a little overdone.  I didn’t really care where the exact spot where all the decorations went.  The last stop for the Christmas Joy Ride was Marcus and his little girl Emily.  I figured out how it would end.  But I felt it was really rushed.  SPOILER ALERT: The feelings that Miranda and Marcus had for each other was very quick.  All in two days.  I would like to have had the book skip some of the decoration descriptive parts and spent more time on Miranda and Marcus. 

I would recommend this book for a quick Christmas time read.

I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Vendetta by Lisa Harris

No one needs to push Nikki Boyd to excel on the Tennessee Missing Persons Task Force. The case of her own missing sister, still unsolved after ten years, is the driving force in her work. When a Polaroid photo of a missing girl shows up at a crime scene, Nikki quickly recognizes similarities to the past. The closer she gets to the abductor, the more she feels this case has become personal, and she is not the hunter . . . but the hunted.

With this explosive first book in The Nikki Boyd Files, award-winning author Lisa Harris takes you on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will have you holding your breath until the heart-stopping finish.

Nikki is rappelling down the side of a mountain when she gets the call that a teenager is missing.  It was supposed to be her day off as she is with her best friends’ husband, Tyler Grant.  They are commiserating on the one year anniversary of her best friend Katie’s death.  Nikki can’t say no to a missing child.  Tyler goes along as he is a psychologist and wants to help. 

Nikki’s character is one with a strong personality.  But she is guilt ridden and blames herself for the disappearance of her sister.  That’s why she became a police officer and joined the task force.  Tyler is a former Special Ops Ranger and also blames himself for his wife’s death.  They will both do everything in their power to find the missing teen.  It’s interesting to watch Nikki and Tyler interact with each other and watch their relationship grow that neither one of them is aware of.  They are both struggling with their relationship God as a result of the tragedy in their lives.  This book also shows that there needn’t be foul language or sex scenes to be a good book.

I have become a fan of Lisa Harris’ books in the last year or so and this one did not disappoint me.  I am looking forward to the next Nikki Boyd book.

I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.   I was not compensated in any way.