The Artisans'sWife by Judith Miller

As Ainslee McKay reluctantly leaves all she's known, the beauty of forgiveness and new beginnings comes to light in a West Virginian town with hidden depths.
Ainslee McKay's world is upended when her twin sister secretly elopes and leaves Ainslee alone to move to Weston, West Virginia, to fulfill their obligation at the McKay family's new tile works. While her brother, Ewan, agrees to travel with her and help her learn the ropes, she still intends to sell this business she no longer wants if a buyer can be found.

When the talented Levi Judson arrives to show Ainslee his designs for new tiles, she's impressed by his skill and passion for the business but feels she must keep her true plans for the business a secret from him. And though Levi hopes for a long, successful career at McKay Tile Works, he's hiding his true reason for coming to Weston. Can the growing feelings between them survive if the truth comes to light--or is a future together as uncertain as the future of the tile works itself?

The continuation of the McKay family was good to read.  Ainslee does not want to go to Weston, WV and leave everything and everyone that she loves.  She goes on the condition that a new buyer will be found and she can come home as soon as possible.  Little does she know that she will develop a love for Weston and a certain man who arrives in town looking for a job. Levi comes looking for a job with grand ideas for new tiles.  His devotion to his brother is commendable. 

I enjoyed reading this story.  I would recommend this book to anyone.  This is the third book in the series.  But it wasn't necessary to read the first two to read and understand this one.

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

The Things We Knew by Catherine West

After her mother’s death twelve years ago, Lynette Carlisle watched her close-knit family unravel. One by one, her four older siblings left their Nantucket home and never returned. All seem to blame their father for their mother’s death, but nobody will talk about that tragic day. And Lynette’s memory only speaks through nightmares.


Then Nicholas Cooper returns to Nantucket, bringing the past with him. Once Lynette’s adolescent crush, Nick knows more about her mother’s death than he lets on. The truth could tear apart his own family—and destroy his fragile friendship with Lynette, the woman he no longer thinks of as a kid sister.

As their father’s failing health and financial concerns bring the Carlisle siblings home, secrets surface that will either restore their shattered relationships or separate the siblings forever. But pulling up anchor on the past propels them into the perfect storm, powerful enough to make them question their faith, their willingness to forgive, and the very truth of all the things they thought they knew.

I am having a little bit of trouble deciding how to rate this book.  A big indicator for me is whether or not I would go back and re-read the book.   The answer is no I will not.  It's not a bad book but it didn't grip me like other reviewers have stated.  The Carlisle family is very dysfunctional.  Lynette has the sole responsibility for her dad and the upkeep of their home.  No other member of the family seems to care one way or the other.   One brother is a druggie, one is unemployed, the other is a missionary.  Lynette's sister is an attorney with anger issues.  I can't say I really cared for any of the siblings.  Lynette needed to get a backbone and stand up to her siblings.  I did like Nick.  It seemed he was the only ally that Lynette had. It was interesting to see how the story unfolded.  The siblings did care for each other but it seemed circumstances drove them apart.

The religious aspect was lacking.  Nick and Lynette were the only ones remotely living a Christian life.  There was no language or sex scenes in the book.

Would I recommend this book?  It would not be on the top of my recommendation list.  Not a bad book, just not my style I guess. 

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

Kiss the Bride

Picture Perfect Love: A June Wedding Story by Melissa McClone
   Jenna Harrison is a wedding photographer who was left at the altar the night of her wedding rehearsal.  Her fiance, Ashton Vance, accused her of  ruining his political ambitions by Photoshopping a picture and posting it on Facebook.  Although she kept denying it, he didn't believe her.  He also left her with all the bills for the wedding which about bankrupted her.  A couple of years later he come to her door apologizing and wanting her to photograph his sisters wedding.  This story is about their journey to forgiveness and trust.  I thought the ending was a little rushed.  I also didn't think Ashton had learned his lesson about trust.

I Hope You Dance: A July Wedding Story by Robin Lee Hatcher 
  Grant Nichols is a genius in the kitchen and a klutz on the dance floor. But his friend’s wedding is shaping up to be a shindig the likes of which Kings Meadow has never seen—including dancing. Lots of dancing.
Former rodeo queen Skye Foster is offering dance lessons for the wedding party. Grant and Skye are no match on paper. But when they step onto the dance floor, they create a melody all their own. The have one major difference of opinion.  She wants lots of kids and he doesn't want any kids. Of course they over come their differences and all ends well.

Love on a Deadline: An August Wedding Story by Kathryn Springer
  All MacKenzie "Mac" Davis wants to do is write for a big town newspaper.  She returned to Red Leaf, Wisconsin to take care of her father after his heart attack.  She thought it would be for a short time but she has been there a lot longer than she anticipated.  She took a job at the local newspaper and all they seem to want her to do is the fluff things.  The editor wants her to photograph and write a story about the Hollis Channing wedding.  That's the last thing she wants to do.  Hollis was not very nice to her in high school.  Mac also had a big crush on Ethan Channing, Hollis' brother.  Mac and Ethan do indeed spend a lot of time together in preparation for the wedding. 

I enjoyed reading all three novellas.  Some were better that others though.  This was a quick easy read that I would recommend.

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




  

No Other Will Do by Karen Witemeyer

Men are optional. That was the credo Emma Chandler's suffragette aunts taught her and why she established Harper's Station, a women's colony that offers a fresh start to females in need. But when a dangerous and shadowy assailant tries repeatedly to drive the women out, Emma is forced to admit they might need a man after all. One who can fight. And there is only one man she trusts enough to ask.

Malachi Shaw has finally earned the respect he's always craved by becoming an explosives expert for the railroad. Yet when Emma's telegram arrives, he rushes back to Texas to repay the girl who once saved his life. Only she's not a girl any longer. She's a woman with a mind of her own and a smile that makes a man imagine a future he doesn't deserve.

As the danger intensifies, Emma, Mal, and the ladies of Harper's Station must choose between safety or risking everything to fight for their future.

Another hit for Karen Witemeyer.  I enjoyed reading about Emma and Malachi as they struggled to find out who is threatening Harper's Station and the women who live there.  Emma is a strong independent woman ahead of her time.  Women of that day were thought to be only able to marry and have children.  Malachi grew up in the streets and literally had to fight for his life sometimes.  Emma saved his life after one such incident.

I highly recommend this book and am anxiously waiting for the next installment of "Ladies of Harper's Station".

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

All Summer Long by Melody Carlson

Tia D'Amico is thrilled to move to San Francisco to help her aunt transform an old luxury yacht into an upscale floating restaurant. What's not to love? Sunset dinner cruises, upscale wedding receptions--the possibilities are endless and far more appetizing than staying in a monotonous job in her Podunk hometown. Besides, some of her best memories are tied to San Francisco--especially the memory of Leo Parker, her crush from a long-ago sailing camp.

When the self same Leo Parker turns out to be the yacht's captain, Tia is floating on air. But will it all come crashing down around her when she discovers his heart belongs to someone else?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Tia is a chef that has been working in the family's Italian restaurant since she finished chef schooling.  She's never really had a social life and has never been what you would call a girly girl.  She is super excited about the chance to fix up the yacht into a floating restaurant.  When she arrives her uncle is in the hospital with a heart attack and she is met at the airport by the Captain of the yacht.  None other that Leo Parker.  The boy she had a crush on when she was 16 years old.  The only problem is that he just got engaged. 

This book is the journey that Tia and Leo take to get the yacht up and running.  Plus their personal journey to get together.  It was a simple story but and enjoyable one.  The ending was wrapped up rather quickly once Leo and Tia got together. I would recommend this book to anyone.  It's a nice summer beach read.

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


 

Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon

After a devastating layoff, attorney Eric Nash heads back to the town where he grew up--only to discover that his childhood home is being transformed into a bed & breakfast. Instead of plotting his next career move in peace, he's constantly distracted by noise, chaos--and BJ Stevens, the attractive but prickly blonde architect and construction chief who's invaded the house with her motley crew.

As for BJ, her client's son might be handsome, but after a disastrous romance, dating isn't high on her agenda. Yet when they join forces to create a program for Hope Harbor seniors, might they also find healing, hope, and a new beginning themselves?

Eric was on the fast track to being partner in the law firm he worked in.  Due to lay offs he is back home.  All he can think about is finding the next law firm and getting back on the fast track to partner again.  Little does he know God has something else planned for him.  He meets BJ who is renovating his childhood home into a B&B.  She wants nothing to do with him as she sees him as the same type of person who stuck a knife in her back in her previous career. 

This is a nice easy read.  Yes, you do know that the guys gets the girl in the end.  But don't they usually.  I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a clean, sweet romance.

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

Murder Comes by Mail by A. H. Gabhart

Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn't particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses--a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn't last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs' concerned citizens.

Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves--because the killer could be targeting one of them next.

This is the second book in the Hidden Springs Mystery Series.  It is not necessary to read the first book to read and enjoy this one.  Although I recommend reading it as it is just as good as this book.  The main character is Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane.  At one time he was a big city police officer.  But now he is back home where life is much slower and very little crime happens.  Until now.  It seems someone is out to frame his for the murders that are taking place in town.  He is also in fear for those close to him as those being killed have a connection to him in some way.

If you are looking for a good mystery, this book is for you. It has several surprises along the way.  I recommend this book to everyone.

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