Under A Summer Sky by Melody Carlson

First I need to admit my bias. I love and devour every book I can get my hands on written by Melody Carlson. I have read dozens of her books over the years and have yet to be disappointed. She is able to build a strong female character and an interesting read.

Under a Summer Sky does not disappoint and provides a captivating story that provides a nice escape from the world. I read Under A Summer Sky over a weekend. I will admit there are some faults, the story has some flaws and some small things that just couldn’t happen exactly that way. If you are willing to forgive the continuity errors. Carlson invites you to go to Savannah on vacation with art teacher Nicole. The summer however doesn’t turn out as relaxing as Nicole has hoped as tensions arise and a “ghost” or two make an appearance.

If you want an easy read that provides an escape from reality check this book out or many of Melody’s other works.

From the Publisher
About
She’s anticipating a quiet summer surrounded by beauty. She never expected a fresh chance at love.

High school art teacher Nicole Anderson is looking forward to a relaxing summer in Savannah, house-sitting and managing an art gallery for a family friend. The house is luxurious in a way that only old money could make it, and the gallery promises interesting days in a gorgeous setting. Yet it isn’t long before her ideal summer turns into more than she bargained for: a snooty gallery employee who’s determined to force her out, a displaced adolescent roosting in the attic, and two of her childhood friends–who also happen to be brothers–vying for her attention.

With the backdrop of a gorgeous historical city, incredible architecture, and even an alleged ghost or two, combined with the opportunity for romance . . . anything can happen!

Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson invites you to spend the summer surrounded by splendor . . . and tantalizing possibilities.

About the Author
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington’s, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, the Life at Kingston High series, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. She is the winner of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon.

For more information about Melody visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”

A Name Unknown by: Roseanna M. White

A story with a twist and a touch of redemption. The story follows professional thief Rosemary who had grown up on the streets of London just before the first world war. She knocks on the door of her next mark, thinking she can work and angle and get the high valued items she needs to survive on the streets. Instead we follow Rosemary as she slowly evolves from Urchin pretending to be someone better to becoming someone better.

I am a fan of historical fiction, especially with a twist. The story is lively and is a page turner. It will be interesting to see what author Rosanna M. White writes next.

From the Publisher
Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins who helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they are no longer pickpockets–instead they focus on high value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. Rosemary is beginning to question whether she can continue in this life when she’s offered the challenge of a lifetime–determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany. After all how does one steal a family’s history, their very name?
As Europe moves ever closer to World War I, rumors swirl around Peter Holstein. Awkward and solitary, but with access to the king, many fear his influence. But Peter can’t help his German last name and wants to prove his loyalty to the Crown–so he can go back to anonymously writing a series of popular adventure novels. When Rosemary arrives on his doorstep pretending to be a well-credentialed historian, Peter believes she’s the right person to help him dig through his family’s past.

When danger and suspicion continue to mount, both realize they’re in a race against time to discover the truth–about Peter’s past and about the undeniable attraction kindling between them.

About the Author
Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of nine novels, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. Roseanna lives with her family in West Virginia. Learn more at http://www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”

Heart on the Line by Karen Witmeyer

Set in the 1890’s Heart on the Line follows an unsual story of love through the telegraph that unintentionally echoes today’s world of online dating. The author has well defined characters and the novel goes at a good pace. I enjoyed that Heart on the Line had an unusual protagonist of Amos Bledsoe, he is quiet, reserved but through the novel the reader see’s that under his quiet nature is a strong spirit willing to do whatever it takes to keep Grace from danger.

I enjoyed the 1890’s setting, it felt well researched and believeable and the main characters were well developed and felt real, flaws and all. I hope you can check this out.

From the Publisher
About

When Danger Arrives, It’s More Than Just Her Heart on the Line

Grace Mallory is tired of hiding. She hungers for a normal life, perhaps even a suitor like two of her friends in Harper’s Station have found. But when the man she believes responsible for her father’s death discovers her whereabouts, survival takes priority.

Amos Bledsoe prefers bicycles to horses and private conversations over the telegraph wire to social gatherings with young ladies who see him as nothing more than an oddity. His fellow telegrapher, the mysterious Miss G, has been the ideal companion. For months, their friendship–dare he believe, courtship?–over the wire has fed his hope that he has finally found the woman God intends for him. However, when he intercepts an ominous message and discovers her life is in peril, Amos must shed the cocoon of his quiet nature to become the hero Grace requires.

Karen Witemeyer
Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance to give the world more happily-ever-afters. Karen makes her home in Texas, with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at http://www.karenwitemeyer.com.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”

Book Review: High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin

A historical thriller the reader is brought into the world of a WW1 Nurse working in occupied Brussels but there is a twist, she isn’t just a nurse but also a spy working for a resistance group. There is adventure, intrigue, a few times when I was quickly turning pages to find out if Evelyn’s over would be blown.

Then add in the growing romance that turned into love between a nurse and an injured pilot. The book is a page turner from the first chapter until the end. You will have to pick this up for yourself to see what happens. I can almost guarantee if you like historical fiction with a love story intwined you will want to pick this up.

From the Publisher
About
A British nurse in WWI German-occupied Brussels, Evelyn Marche spends her days at the hospital and her nights working at a café . . . or so it seems. Eve’s most carefully guarded secret is that she also spends her nights carrying out dangerous missions as a spy for a Belgian resistance group.

When a plane crashes as she’s en route to a rendezvous, Eve is the first to reach the downed plane and is shocked to recognize the badly injured pilot as British RFC Captain Simon Forrester. She risks her life to conceal him from the Germans, but as the secrets between them grow and the danger mounts, can they still hope to make it out of Belgium alive.

The Author
Kate Breslin
A Florida girl who migrated to the Pacific Northwest, Kate Breslin was a bookseller for many years. She is the author of For Such a Time and lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington. Find her online at http://www.katebreslin.com.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”

Book Review: On Love’s Gentle Shores by Liz Johnson

On Love’s Gentle Shores by Liz Johnson
I am a little biased with this story being from the Maritimes and having pleasant memories of Prince Edward Island myself. I enjoyed getting caught up with the charactors of Natalie and Justin. It was a light hearted novel that connected with the heart. The author had well developed characters and I felt transported to the island where I could see the red sand and feel the cool breeze. I enjoyed reading this novel and I couldn’t put it down. It inspired me to take my own trip to island.

I recommend that you pick up this book as a way to relax and escape for a while from the pressures of the world, you won’t regret it, you will only wish that it was longer. I can’t wait what the author’s next books have in store.

From the Publisher
About:
Natalie O’Ryan had no plans to return to Prince Edward Island. But when her fiancé books their wedding in her hometown and schedules a summer at Rose’s Red Door Inn, she sets out to plan the perfect wedding. Yet she can’t possibly plan for a run-in with Justin Kane–the best friend she left behind all those years ago after promising to stay.

Justin has never forgotten Natalie. He’d been prepared to follow her off the island until tragedy struck, leaving him to run the family dairy farm. He’s done the best he can with the life that was thrust upon him–but with Natalie back in the picture, he begins to realize just how much joy he’s been missing.

After Natalie’s reception venue falls through, she must scramble to find an alternative, and the only option seems to be a barn on Justin’s property. As they work together to get the dilapidated building ready for the party, Natalie and Justin may discover that there is more between them than broken promises and an old friendship.

About the Author
Liz Johnson fell in love with Prince Edward Island the first time she set foot on it. When she’s not plotting her next trip to the island, she works in marketing. She is the author of more than a dozen novels, including The Red Door Inn and Where Two Hearts Meet, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She makes her home in Tucson, Arizona.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”

Book Review: Irish Meadows

Title: Irish Meadows: Courage to Dream Book 1

Author: Susan Anne Mason

Publisher: Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group 2015

This is the first book by Susan Anne Mason. It follows the story of two sisters, Brianna and Colleen O’Leary.

The reader is invited into a story of sibling rivalry, love and faith. The story is based in Long Island on a horse farm in 1911 facing financial ruin.

I found at times the story dragged a bit but overall I enjoyed the storyline. I especially enjoyed how the author showed the stresses of family relationship. I will be looking forward to the next chapter in the O’Leary clan.

3 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Graf-Martin on behalf of Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: Travelers Rest by Ann Tatlock

Travelers Rest

By Ann Tatlock

Published by Baker Publishing Group 2012

What would you do if in a split second your life was changed forever? The person you loved forever changed and no longer the man you used to know?

Could you handle the situation of your once fiance going to war a healthy man and returning a quadripoligic? Would you turn away? Would you stay by? Those are some of the questions that the main character Jane has to face when the love of her life returns from war a wounded soldier.

“New Contemporary Novel from an Award-Winning Author Jane Morrow has a dilemma. She”s engaged to Seth Ballantine, a member of the National Guard”s 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, and he”s returned from Iraq severely wounded. Jane hasn”t seen him for nearly a year, and with trepidation, she heads to the VA hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, where he is being treated. Seth isn”t happy to see her. He”d asked her not to come. He wants to end the relationship. But Jane loves him, and despite his injury, she”s determined to convince him that they can have a life together. Her faith has never been strong, yet she hopes God will answer her prayers and tell her what to do. Beautifully written, Travelers Rest takes readers on a journey through pain and tragedy to a place of hope and redemption.”

Travelers Rest is the 9th book for author Ann Tatlock, and it contains twists and unexpected surprises. It is also a story of coming to faith, learning how sometimes there are things out of our control.

Tatlock writes in a clear manner and has well developed characters. The faith journey does not overwhelm the main storyline but works to move the story along and help the reader to question what would they do in a similar situation. It shows the real struggle that occurs in real life. Tatlock doesn’t hide the heartache or pain of the characters. I would put this on a summer reading list and I hope in the future to read more of Tatlock’s novels.

 

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group”.