A Reluctant Bride by Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund is one of my favorite authors of Historical Fiction. She does a fantastic job of researching the setting and subject matter. Her words convey vivid scenes that create pictures in my mind. I could feel Mercy's despair and desperation to find her own way in the world, but fear joining her life or heart to anyone else. I fell in love with Mercy's kindness and found myself cheering her on. Joseph Colville has a title and wealth, but not happiness. He is serving as a ships surgeon while he hides from the life God has planned for him. This was an awesome book and I look forward to the next in this series.
So grab some ginger tea to settle your stomach from the ups and downs of life aboard a ship and settle in for a great read.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Living in London's poorest slum, Mercy Wilkins has little hope of a better life. When she's offered an opportunity to join a bride ship sailing to British Columbia, she agrees. After witnessing so much painful heartache and loss in the slums, the bride ship is her only prospect to escape a bleak future, not only for herself but, she hopes, someday for her sister.

Wealthy and titled Joseph Colville leaves home and takes to the sea in order to escape the pain of losing his family. As ship's surgeon, he's in charge of the passengers' welfare aboard the Tynemouth, including sixty brides-to-be. He has no immediate intention of settling down, but when Mercy becomes his assistant, the two must fight against a forbidden love. 

With hundreds of single men congregating on the shore eager to claim a bride from the Tynemouth, will Mercy and Joseph lose their chance at true love, or will they be able to overcome the obstacles that threaten to keep them apart?

About the Author:

 Following

Biography

Jody Hedlund is the author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Crenshaw is an interesting read about the issues some of our children facing homelessness. Jackson is in fifth grade and he remembers being homeless when he was younger. Now bad times are happening and he fears he will again be living in the family car. So, Crenshaw, his imaginary cat reappears to help him deal with the uncertainties in his life. The story was well told and left me with the idea that when the kids I work with are struggling in school I should remember to look beyond the behavior to the reasons behind it. So grab a glass of water, 2 purple jellybeans and settle in for an emotional read.

From Amazon:

In her first novel since winning the Newbery Medal, Katherine Applegate delivers an unforgettable and magical story about family, friendship, and resilience.

Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.

Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?

Beloved author Katherine Applegate proves in unexpected ways that friends matter, whether real or imaginary.

This title has Common Core connections.

About the author:

 Follow

Biography

New York Times bestselling author Katherine Applegate has written many books for young readers, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal and soon to be a Disney movie. 

Katherine’s picture books include THE BUFFALO STORM, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (Clarion Books), and THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF IVAN, THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books). She also wrote ROSCOE RILEY RULES, a seven-book early chapter series illustrated by Brian Biggs (HarperCollins.) 

Books for middle-grade readers include HOME OF THE BRAVE (Feiwel & Friends), THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, illustrated by Patricia Castaleo (HarperCollins), and CRENSHAW (Feiwel & Friends.) Her newest novel, WISHTREE, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends), was an ALA Notable, New York Times, Boston Globe, NPR, Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Chicago Public Library, and Booklist Best Book of 2017.

With her husband, Michael Grant, Katherine co-wrote ANIMORPHS, a long-running series that has sold over 35 million books worldwide. They also wrote two other series, REMNANTS and EVERWORLD, and a young adult novel, EVE AND ADAM (Feiwel & Friends.) 

In 2018, Katherine will publish two new books, a picture book called SOMETIMES YOU FLY, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion), and the first book in a middle-grade fantasy trilogy, ENDLING (HarperCollins.) 

Katherine’s books have been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades including the Christopher Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green Earth Book Honor Award, and the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, as well as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists, and numerous Best of the Year lists.

Katherine lives in Marin County, California, with her family and assorted pets. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties, Inc.

No Less Days by Amanda Stevens

  I was fascinated by Amanda Steven's No Less Days. I mean honestly what would it be like to not be able to die? Everyone you know would age and pass on and you would still be here. Would you keep making friends knowing you would lose them or would you shut yourself off to avoid the pain? In No Less Days Ms. Stevens has offered her version of what that life might be like. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the sequel coming out next spring!
        So grab a pot of tea and settle back for an intriguing read!

From Amazon:

David Galloway can’t die.
 
How many lifetimes can God expect one man to live? Over a century old, David Galloway isolates himself from the mortal humans who die or desert him by making a quiet life as a used bookstore owner in Northern Michigan. But then he spots a news article about a man who, like him, should be dead.

Daredevil celebrity Zachary Wilson walked away unscathed from what should have been a deadly fall. David tracks the man down, needing answers. Soon David discovers a close-knit group of individuals as old as he is who offer the sort of kinship and community he hasn’t experienced for decades—but at what cost?  

David finds himself keeping secrets other than his own. . .protecting more than himself alone. He’ll have to decide what’s worth the most to him—security or community. When crimes come to light that are older than any mortal, he fears the pressure is more than he can stand. What does God require of him, and is David strong enough to see it through?

About the Author:

 Follow

Biography

As a child, Amanda G. Stevens disparaged Mary Poppins and Stuart Little because they could never happen. Now, she writes speculative fiction. She is the author of the Haven Seekers series, and her debut Seek and Hide was a 2015 INSPY Award finalist. She lives in Michigan and loves trade paperbacks, folk music, the Golden Era of Hollywood, and white cheddar popcorn.

The Number of Love by Roseanna White

The Number of Love is the first book in Ms. White's Codebreaker series. Various characters from her previous books are part of the story. It's always cool to run into old friends from previous books! I always look forward to a new book from Ms. White and then before I know it I'm waiting for the next one! I particularly enjoyed Margo and Drake's story. Both are strong, intriguing characters who move the plot along quickly. Ms. White also enjoys research and it shows throughout the story. I always learn something new when I read her books. She is also very adept at weaving faith into their lives.
So grab a cup of tea, no sugar or milk as they were suffering war rations and settle back for a great read!

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own,

From Amazon:

Three years into the Great War, England's greatest asset is their intelligence network--field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren't enough.

Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy who just won't give up. He's smitten quickly by the intelligent Margot, but how can he convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life's answers lie in the heart?

Amid biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save themselves from the very secrets that brought them together.

About the author:

 Following

Biography

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parks

      Carrie Stuart Parks' Formula of Deception is one of the best suspense novels I have ever read. The plot was fast moving and full of twists. I was guessing clear up to the last page. Ms. Parks created a tale full of witty dialogue and interesting characters ( I loved Vesper!). Set in Kodiak Alaska, the scenery was gorgeous. I loved the references to a painful era in US history. And tieing in Inuit legends added another layer to the story. This is the first novel of Ms Parks that I have read, but it certainly won't be the last. So grab a mug of tea and settle in for an exciting adventure full of murder and mayhem!

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts are my own!


From Amazon:

“I love Carrie Stuart Parks’s skill in writing characters with hysterical humor, unwitting courage and page-turning mystery. I hope my readers won’t abandon me completely when they learn about her!” —Terri Blackstock, USA TODAY bestselling author of If I Run, If I’m Found, and If I Live

An artist hiding from an escaped killer uncovers one of World War II’s most dangerous secrets—a secret that desperate men will do anything to keep hidden.

After the murder of her twin sister, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she’s an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man’s memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again—and back in the killer’s crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of an Alaskan hunter have Murphy drawing the five bodies he discovered on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago. But what investigators find has them mystified. Evidence suggests that the bodies were deliberately destroyed, and what they uncover in an abandoned Quonset hut from World War II only brings more questions.

As one by one the investigators who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much darker at stake. What happened on this island during the war? And who is willing to kill to keep its secrets buried?

About the author:

 Follow

Biography

Carrie Stuart Parks is an award winning artist, writer, speaker, and law enforcement instructor. A Certified Forensic Artist, she met her husband, Rick, in the romantic hallways of the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Together they formed a dynamic and successful team in their fine and forensic art, working on major national and international cases and creating exquisite watercolors and stone carvings. They travel internationally, teaching forensic art to a variety of participants: from the Secret Service to the FBI, from large law enforcement agencies to the smallest two-man departments in their one-week classes. They are the largest instructors of forensic art in the world. Carrie has won numerous awards for her innovative teaching methods and general career excellence and is a signature member of the Idaho Watercolor Society.

Carrie's Gwen Marcey series chronicles a forensic artist from Montana and is loosely based on Carrie's forensic cases.She began her fiction writing career while battling breast cancer. Mentored by NY Times bestselling author, Frank Peretti, Carrie's debut novel, along with her subsequent novels, have been met with critical acclaim, including:

2017 Christy Winner: mystery/suspense (When Death Draws Near)
2017 Carol Winner: mystery/suspense (When Death Draws Near)
2017 RT Reviewer's Choice Best Book Awards for 2016 finalist (When Death Draws Near)
2017 Christian Retailing Best Finalist:mystery/suspense (When Death Draws Near)
2017 Inspy Award Finalist (When Death Draws Near)
2016 Idaho Author Awards: winner: mystery/suspense (When Death Draws Near)
2016 INSPY winner: mystery/suspense (The Bones Will Speak)
2016 Christy Award Finalist: suspense/mystery (The Bones Will Speak)
2016 Christian Retailing Best Finalist: mystery/suspense (The Bones Will Speak)
2016 Family Fiction Readers Choice: 15 Best Books of 2015 (The Bones Will Speak)
2016 Idaho Author Awards Finalist: mystery/suspense (The Bones Will Speak) 
2015 Carol Award Winner: mystery/suspense/thriller (A Cry From the Dust)
2015 Christy Award finalist: mystery/suspense/thriller (A Cry From the Dust)
2015 Selah Award finalist: mystery/suspense/thriller (A Cry From the Dust)