Knitting Block by Block by Nicky Epstein

Let me start out by saying I am not a novice knitter nor a super expert knitter.  The patterns are not written with a novice in mind or even someone like myself who has done quit a bit of knitting.  I would say you would need to be an expert knitter to follow a lot of the instructions.  I had to look up several of the abbreviations as I didn't know what they meant. I didn't find the directions to always be clear.  I am also challenged with any knitting project as I am left handed and have to reverse a lot of patterns.

That being said, the book is presented in a very pleasing fashion.  Good color photos. 

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

Sabotaged (Alaskan Courage Book #5) by Dani Pettrey

Growing up, goody-two-shoes Kirra Jacobs and troublemaker Reef McKenna were always at odds. Now, working together as search-and-rescue for Alaska's arduous Iditarod race, a growing attraction seems to be forcing aside old arguments. Then Reef catches Kirra sneaking from camp in the middle of the night.

Kirra's uncle, a musher in the race, has disappeared. Kirra and Reef quickly track the man, but what they discover is harrowing: Frank's daughter has been kidnapped. Kirra and Reef, along with the entire McKenna family, are thrown into a race to stop a shadowy villain who is not only threatening a girl's life--but appears willing to unleash one of the largest disasters Alaska has ever seen.

Reef is a relatively new Christian.  Having grown up in church, he turned his back on God and lived his life his way.  Kirra is a strong Christian who has been struggling with what happened to her in college.  As Reef, Kirra, and the McKenna family try to track down Meg, Reef and Kirra learn to trust each other and God. 

I have read the previous four books in the series. But I still felt like I was dropped into the middle of the story when I started reading this book.  It didn’t take long to refresh my mind as to who was who.  But I feel a little more background on Reef and Kirra would have been helpful.  Also, where were they and why.  It would be really beneficial to read the previous four books to understand this one better.  That being said after getting into the book I really enjoyed it and didn’t want to put it down.  I would recommend this book to anyone. 

As this was the last book of the Alaskan Courage series, I am anxious to see what Ms. Pettrey comes up with next.

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

Hidden Agenda by Lisa Harris

Presumed dead by friends and family, Michael Hunt is alive--and on the run. Presumed dead by friends and family, the undercover assignment he's been working for the past eight months has just been blown. With a hit out on his life and corruption inside the Atlanta police department, Michael finds himself hunted by both the cartel and the law. His only hope is Olivia Hamilton--the daughter of the man who wants him dead.

This story revolves around Michael, Olivia, and Ivan (Olivia’s deaf brother) trying to survive the hired killers who are after them. The only thing that has kept Michael going for the last eight months is his faith in God. To me he is presented as a sort of super cop. Kind of like you see on TV. Olivia starts out kind of wimpy then does a complete turn around and wants to see justice done after finding out what kind of man her father really is. Ivan is the one who gives Olivia the shove she needs to help Michael, therefore setting the whole story in motion.

The book starts out fast and the action doesn’t stop. There is the romantic interaction between Michael and Olivia. As in most books, they fall in love right away. Which I always find a little farfetched.

I would recommend this book to anyone. There is nothing offensive in any part of this book. No language or sex scenes. If you like suspense thrillers, then this book is for you. I really enjoyed it.

I was given this book by the publisher is exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated is anyway.

A Thing of Beauty by Lisa Samson

Former child star Fiona Hume deserted the movie biz a decade ago--right after she left rehab. She landed in Baltimore, bought a dilapidated old mansion downtown, and hatched dreams of restoring it into a masterpiece, complete with a studio for herself. She would disappear from public view and live an artist’s life.
That was the plan.
Ten years later, Fiona’s huge house is filled with junk purchased at thrift stores, haggled over at yard sales, or picked up from the side of the road. Each piece was destined for an art project . . . but all she’s got so far is a piece of twine with some antique buttons threaded down its length.
She’s thirty-two years old and still recognizable, but Fiona’s money has finally run out. She’s gotten pretty desperate, too, and in her desperation she’s willing to do almost anything for money. Almost. So it is that she comes to rent out the maid’s quarters to a local blacksmith named Josia Yeu.
Josia is everything Fiona isn’t: gregarious, peaceful, in control without controlling . . . in short, happy. As the light from the maid’s quarters begins to permeate the dank rooms of Fiona’s world, something else begins to transform as well—something inside Fiona. Something even she can see is beautiful.

This book was a complete disappointment.  From the first pages there were things mentioned that weren’t explained until further into the book.  There were times I felt completely lost.  This could have been a very good story.  But I found it sadly lacking.  There were elements about the book I did like. I could understand how Fiona ended up the way she did and could sympathize with her. 

I have never read a book by this author before and I most likely never will again.  I was very disappointed in this being labeled a Christian fiction because of the language used in the book.  There was also no mention of God or Christianity whatsoever.  As a matter of fact, Fiona didn’t even believe there was a hell.  I am also disappointed in the publisher for publishing this as a Christian book.  It does not set the example of what I would want a young Christian, or any Christian to read and think of as acceptical behavior for a Christian. The only reason I finished it was because I read it for review purposes.  I will be deleting this book from my Kindle.

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

Love at Mistletoe Inn: A December Wedding Story (A Year of Weddings Novella Book 1) by Cindy Kirk

Sometimes the road to happiness is paved with youthful mistakes. Hope Prentiss didn’t go to the Harmony High School senior prom. Instead, she and John Burke drove to Boise and got married. At eighteen. But when Hope panicked after saying “I do,” the mail-order preacher assured her he just wouldn’t send in the paperwork. No forms, no marriage, no problem. Right? Well . . .Now, ten years later, Hope discovers that her prom-night wedding counted—and, as fate would have it, the jilted John Burke has just ridden back into town. And he’s staying with her Aunt Verna at the inn where she and Hope host weddings. Though Hope thinks she wants an annulment, a little time with John makes her think twice . . . and emotions between the more-or-less Mr. and Mrs. Burke reach a boiling point a soon as they get a moment alone. With annulment out the window, Hope finds herself staring in the face of a divorce. But after spending some time with John and helping plan a Christmas wedding for a mystery couple, Hope begins to wonder if she really wants a divorce … or a real wedding of her own.

Spoiler alerts follow:  Hope approaches John with the intention of asking for an annulment. I find it awfully hard to believe that after ten years Hope would immediately fall into bed with John.  Now all of a sudden Hope and John want their marriage to work.  The book just seemed to jump from wanting an annulment/divorce to being in love again.  There was no in between where they got to know each other again.  I realize this was a novella, but it just didn’t work for me. 

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

Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden

Anna O'Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across a baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. She is thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, but her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.

Luke Callahan was one of the nation's most powerful congressmen until his promising career became shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship.

Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglement with a member of Congress.
From the gilded halls of the Capitol, where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for themselves?

As I was reading this book, I was drawn to Anna and Luke.  Anna lost her father on the Navy ship Culpepper and was raised by her aunt and uncle.  Her uncle in a drunken rage pours lye down her throat and her throat it burned terribly.  Luke was raised by a father who when drunk was a very mean and abusive man.  Luke has trouble controlling his temper, which gets him into trouble more than once.  Luke’s first contact with Anna is when he requests map information from the Library of Congress where Anna works in the map room.  From there Luke pursues Anna.  Anna finds proof that her father’s ship didn’t sink in a hurricane as reported and enlists Luke’s aid to prove it.  They are thwarted at every turn.  Anna might seem like a meek person, but she is determined to find her answers no matter what.

I found the historical aspects of this book to be very interesting.  I could tell that the author did a lot of research on the political atmosphere of the time leading up to the Spanish American War. 

I am having trouble on how to rate this book.  I think I can only give it a three.  I enjoyed the book and will read more from this author.  But it was not one that I just couldn’t put down. 

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

Always on my Mind by Susan May Warren

After a failed dig in Honduras, aspiring archaeologist Casper Christiansen heads home to Minnesota to face his unresolved feelings for Raina Beaumont, the woman of his dreams. But when he arrives unannounced on her doorstep, he receives the shock of a lifetime: Raina is pregnant with someone else’s baby.

Heartbroken, especially when he discovers the identity of the baby’s father, Casper tables his dreams and determines to be dependable for once, helping his older brother, Darek, prepare the family resort for its grand reopening. Casper longs to be the hero of at least one family story, but a never-ending Deep Haven winter and costly repairs threaten their efforts—and the future of the resort.

Worse, one of Casper’s new jobs constantly brings him into contact with Raina, whom he can’t seem to forget. A tentative friendship begins to heal fresh wounds, but can they possibly overcome past mistakes and current choices to discover a future together?

This is the continuing saga of the Christiansen family.  Casper is the middle of the boys.  Big brother Darek is running Evergreen Lodge and Owen the former hockey star is still running.   Casper can’t seem to get Raina out of his mind or heart.  He feels betrayed by her and especially when he discovers her pregnant.  Raina doesn’t feel like she is loved by anyone especially doesn’t see how God could love someone like her.  Casper and Raina form a tentative truce when they work on solving a mystery of the disappearance of US Bonds long lost. 

I love Susan May Warren books and have been anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.  This is the fourth book in the series.  It is not necessary to read the other books, but it would be helpful as the other characters stories are continued in this book.   Now I am waiting for the next installment in the Christiansen family.

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