The Secrets of Emberwild

4 stars…Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, who sent me this book to review. I love a good horse story especially when it involves a woman who loves horses. I also love a good feminist and Nora definitely is out of the norm as she wears pants, rides horses, wants to run the farm, and doesn’t want to marry for anything, but love- in 1905. At the beginning of the story Nora and her father have a discussion on his death bed that leaves an initial mystery. The mystery grows as a new horse trainer arrives to the farm searching for answers to his own mystery: what was the situation regarding his father’s death, and where did his father’s prized horse go after his death. The mysteries bring Nora and Silas together. I liked the relationship between the two. 

 

Beneath the Bending Skies

Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to read and review. I love historical fiction and bonus when the protagonist is a leading lady who is brave, intelligent, and courageous. Mollie Sheehan Ronan is that type of lady. The story begins (1860s) with her and her father traveling from the Midwest to Montana, Idaho and California. Side note-Her father drove me NUTS! This story had a “coming of age” feeling to it as you see Mollie grow up throughout. I loved the female relationships that were highlighted throughout the story. I knew little about the “agencies” that were set up by US government to “help” the Indians… I believe this was the beginning of assimilation efforts which again I know very little.

The book focuses on how parents can affect their children’s life course, how love does sometime prevail challenges/road blocks, and side story of what the US government and what the “white man” did to the American Indians.

Overall great read, felt a little lengthy, and again I just was so annoyed with Mollie’s father.

 

The Last Way Home

 

The Last Way Home by Liz Johnson

3stars. Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to review. 

Loved the setting in Prince Edward Island. Two leading characters in this one; each with their own past and baggage to make the story interesting. Liked that one of the characters, Eli Ross, is a former NHL player who was let go of his team for unknown reasons. He comes back to his home town because honestly he has no where else to go. 

Violet is working in Eli’s mom’s pottery shop. She creates the pieces for sale and helps with the everyday ins and outs of the business. She too comes with her own secrets, which she is trying to hide from. 

They are brought together by two circumstances: one related to the pottery shop and the other in regard to the local hockey team needing a coach. 

A great read for summertime. 

Where The Road Begins

 

Where the Road Begins by Rachel Fordham

4stars. Thanks Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to read and review. 

A lovely summer read- romance, strong personalities, and some challenges along the way. Bonus takes place in Iowa (I think fictitious)…but resembles the 1800’s midwestern pioneer days I grew up watching on Little House on the Prairie. 

Norah is our protagonist and a second major character Quincy keep this story rolling. This story highlights the plight of women in the 1800’s. Struggles for women, children, and those of lesser means is throughout this story. Perseverance despite gender, age, or financial status is a major theme. 

 

The Sweet Life

The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher

4 stars.  Thanks to Revell, division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to read and review. Perfect read for the summer. If you like Cape Cod- added bonus. As you probably can tell ice cream is definitely a player in this book. Side note- I knew very little about making ice cream before this book and the author did her research-learned it’s not an easy task. 

Two main leading ladies in this read, mom/daughter duo. Daughter is trying to make partner in accounting firm, mom just survived breast cancer and learning to live as widow (husband died almost year ago).  Dawn, daughter, recently broke up with fiance’ ( really he left her). She couldn’t get her honeymoon deposit back so her mom goes with her to the hotel in Cape Cod.  While there her mom decides to buy an ice cream shop and rebuild her life in this quaint little town.  As one could expect there were roadblocks to the opening of the ice cream shop.  Good story and not over-fluffy. 

Bonus- had to get ice cream to set up a perfect pic to promote this book  

Looking for Leroy

Looking for Leroy by Melody Carlson

4 stars. Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to read and review. I first “met” this author in her book The Happy Camper. I like her writing style… Hallmark movie in a book. Sometimes I need a break from the heavier reads and her books are easy to jump into, go by quick, and leave me feeling satisfied in the end. 

Looking for Leroy did not disappoint. I enjoyed the story line: girl meets boy at summer camp, they fall in love, she returns home and ends up back with jerky boyfriend from high school who ends up being jerky husband, now ex-husband present day. The boy returns home from summer camp and writes to the girl, but then his life up-ends when his father dies suddenly. He has to leave college to come home and run his family’s vineyard. He ends up marrying a local girl, has three daughters, and then loses his wife and is a widow present day. Leroy is the guy and Brynna is the girl. 

Brynna and Leroy are brought back together by fate.I appreciated the ups and downs of the story. An enjoyable,  light hearted read. 

The Master Craftsman

 

The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart

3 stars. Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to review. 

I’m always amazed at how much I can learn about history via historical fiction. I knew little to nothing about the House of Faberge’, St. Petersburg, Russia. I knew even less about the creative artists and minds that helped Peter Karl Faberge’s  eggs be so iconic and priceless. 

This story goes between present day and early 1900’s. 

I really enjoyed the “past” story. It follows Peter Karl Faberge, his family, and specific employees that were the masterminds behind the House of Faberge’. Specifically it highlights a young girl, Alma Pihl, and her growth as an artist along with her help to hide one of Faberge’s eggs. Bloody Sunday, the fall of the Romanov family, architecture of St. Petersburg, and the hard times for the Russian “common people” are highlighted in this story line

The present day story was not my favorite. Ava Laine and her estranged father, Nick, come together to find the missing Faberge’ egg. The story is too predictable, hard to believe, and I didn’t feel invested in this story line. Hence the 3 star rating. 

The Girl WHo Could Breathe Under Water

 

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water

by Erin Bartels

4 star Read.  Thanks to Revell, division of Baker Publishing group, for sending me this book to review. I love this author’s story telling style. I previously read “We Hope For Better Things” by this author and recommend it. 

I was taken into the story very quickly. I wanted to keep reading to figure out what was going to happen.

The protagonist is 26 year old Kendra who is an author and has pressure to meet her 2nd novel’s publishing deadline. Her debut novel was a huge success. Although it was fiction those that knew her knew it was based on real life place, people and that led to assuming the experience was real too. The debut unearthed years of secrets. Those secrets unearthed, although therapeutic for her- the author,  had negative affects  and repercussions for others.

Favorite lines from the book:
Pg 112 “Human societies may change here and there. But human nature? Nah. People are always people. And people are broken.”

Pg 222 “all fiction is based in reality. That’s why we read it. That’s why we write it. To process reality. To deal with all the crap that happens to us.”

I will say that the Title and cover for this book initially made me question whether I was going to like it.  It made me wonder is this fantasy- mermaids- a girl breathing under water?  However, once you get into the story the title does make sense.  I wonder if there was any discussion about the use of this title and cover art by publisher and author before it went to final print.