Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd

 

Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd is a beautifully written split-time novel. I loved the setting of Whidbey Island both in the late 1950s and the present day. The characters were very well developed and I loved the plot. I also enjoyed finding out what the true Heirlooms were.  If you haven't read it yet you should add it to your TBR pile. 

So fix yourself some tea and a plate of cookies while you prepare for a fabulous story.

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

From Amazon:

Answering a woman’s desperate call for help, young Navy widow Helen Devries opens her Whidbey Island home as a refuge to Choi Eunhee. As they bond over common losses and a delicate, potentially devastating secret, their friendship spans the remainder of their lives.

After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother’s love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.

Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother’s final breaths: ask Grace Kim—Eunhee’s granddaughter—to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers’ long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to own their lives.

Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women—grandmothers and granddaughters—intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life.

About the author:

Dream→Jump In→Plot→Create→Work Hard→Enjoy→Get Feedback→Step Up→Revise→Win!

Life. Books, too.

Sandra Byrd's first series of historically sound Gothic romances launched with the best-selling Mist of Midnight, which earned a coveted Editor’s Choice Award from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, was named by the American Library Association’s Booklist as one of the Top Ten Inspirational Fiction Books of the year.

Her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named a Library Journal Best Books of the Year Pick, as was The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr.

Victorian Ladies, a new series, offered its first title, Lady of a Thousand Treasures, in 2018. Sandra has also authored many books for teens, tweens, and devotionals for both adults and children.

Connect with Sandra at www.sandrabyrd.com, www.sandrabyrdbookcoach.com or through any of these social media platforms:

https://www.facebook.com/sandrabyrdwrites

http://www.instagram.com/sandrabyrdbooks

https://www.pinterest.com/sandrabyrdbooks/pins/

https://twitter.com/sandrabyrd

http://bit.ly/YouTubeSandraByrd

Enflamed (Knights Of The Brethren book 5) by Jody Hedlund

 

First off, I need to compliment Ms. Hedlund on another beautiful cover! All of the covers in the Knights of The Brethren series have been fabulous! That said, let's get down to the story. I love Enflamed! I would say that Espen and Sylvie have a marriage of convenience as they search for the Holy Lamp. This tale is full of adventure with a bit of self-sacrifice tossed in to make things interesting! The setting of the coast of Norvegia in the middle ages is intriguing. Most of all I love how the story pays tribute to God.

Although this is classified as Young Adult I believe people of all ages can enjoy it.

My advice is to turn the AC up high, brew a pot of tea, and curl up under a warm blanket for a fantastic read!

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

From Amazon:

During a time when legends were born . . .

ENFLAMED

The most beautiful noblewoman in the kingdom, the lowly knight who can never have her, and the forbidden love they share.

When Sylvi Prestegard discovers that her father has arranged for her to marry a wealthy nobleman known for his thieving ways, she’s desperate to avoid the union. She turns to her childhood friend Espen, a Knight of Brethren, counting on his loyalty and kindness to help her escape.

Espen has been given an urgent mission to locate the holy lamp, an ancient relic necessary to defeat the enemy invading their country. In addition to his royal quest, he’s determined to protect Sylvi, the woman he’s always secretly loved. When she suggests the two of them marry to thwart her father’s plans, Espen cannot deny her request.

As they search for the holy lamp, Lord Prestegard pursues them, intent on reclaiming his daughter. With Espen’s life at stake, Sylvi must conspire to save them both. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles that stand between them, or are the flames of their forbidden love destined to be extinguished?

The real story of the Holy Lamp . . .

About the author:

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes clean, sweet romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com.

KNIGHTS OF BRETHREN SERIES:

Enamored

Entwined

Ensnared

Enriched (Coming July 2022)

Enflamed (Coming August 2022)

Entrusted (Coming September 2022)

FAIREST MAIDENS SERIES:

Beholden

Beguiled

Besotted

LOST PRINCESSES SERIES:

Always: Prequel Novella

Evermore

Foremost

Hereafter

NOBLE KNIGHTS SERIES:

The Vow: Prequel Novella

An Uncertain Choice

A Daring Sacrifice

For Love & Honor

A Loyal Heart

A Worthy Rebel

WATERS OF TIME SERIES:

Come Back to Me

Never Leave Me

Stay With Me (December 2022)

COLORADO COWBOYS SERIES:

A Cowboy for Keeps

The Heart of a Cowboy

To Tame a Cowboy

Falling for the Cowgirl (Coming October 2022)

The Last Chance Cowboy (Coming February 2023)

BRIDE SHIP SERIES:

A Reluctant Bride

The Runaway Bride

A Bride of Convenience

Almost a Bride

ORPHAN TRAIN SERIES:

An Awakened Heart: A Novella

With You Always

Together Forever

Searching for You

BEACONS OF HOPE SERIES:

Out of the Storm: A Novella

Love Unexpected

Hearts Made Whole

Undaunted Hope

Forever Safe

Never Forget

HEARTS OF FAITH COLLECTION:

The Preacher’s Bride

The Doctor’s Lady

Rebellious Heart

MICHIGAN BRIDES COLLECTION:

Unending Devotion

A Noble Groom

Captured by Love

BIO FICTION:

Luther and Katharina

Newton & Polly

Crossfire (Extreme Measures book #2) by Lynette Eason

 

Crossfire is the newest book by one of the queens of suspense, Lynette Eason. Crossfire is a fantastic suspense-filled novel with a bit of romance, a few plot twists, and wonderful, well-developed characters. the plot is engaging and the setting is realistic. This is book 2 of the series but can be read as a stand-alone. I would add that there are some scenes that occur in a school setting that could cause discomfort to some readers. I really enjoyed the way Lynette wove the character's faith into the plot. She made their faith or lack of faith, a natural part of their character.

So grab your beverage of choice and settle in to read Crossfire. Caution, don't start late at night unless you don't have to get up early. You won't want to set this book down until you finish it!

#NetGalley gave me a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

FBI special agent Julianna Jameson is a top-notch negotiator who has never lost a hostage. Surely she can manage to take care of her much younger sister, Dottie, who showed up unannounced to live with Julianna while she finished her senior year of high school.

A former sniper with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Clay Fox left the army after a tragic incident that he can't get past. Now he's working as a high school resource officer until he can figure out what to do with the rest of his life.

Their paths cross when Julianna is called in to negotiate a courtroom hostage situation involving Clay's sister. Impressed and a bit intimidated by the calm, capable woman with the dark hair and blue eyes, Clay invites her to speak at his school. Dottie's school.

But as the anniversary of a school shooting from Julianna's past approaches, it becomes clear that her perfect record is about to be tested and that Dottie is at risk. If Julianna and Clay can't figure out who's behind the attacks, more innocent people will die--and Dottie is next in line.

This intense story of revenge and redemption from bestselling author and master of suspense Lynette Eason will have you up all night as you race toward the explosive finish

About the author:

Award-winning, best-selling author, Lynette Eason writes for Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense line and for Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Her books have hit the Publisher's Weekly, CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won numerous awards such as the prestigious Carol Award, the Selah, the Daphne, the IRCC award and more. Lynette is married, has two children, and lives in Greenville, SC.