Leaving Lancaster by Kate Lloyd

Leaving Lancaster is the first Amish book that I have read in a while. I really enjoyed revisiting this genre. The theme of this book is forgiveness, can Esther forgive herself for taking Samuel away from their home? Can she ever return home? The story is fast moving and enjoyable. I will definitely read more of Ms. Lloyds books in the future.


From Amazon:

Can a splintered Amish family reconcile?

More than anything else, thirty-something Holly Fisher longs for family. Growing up in Seattle without a dad or grandparents, she wonders what it would be like to have a heritage, a place of belonging. Holly is furious when her mother, Esther, reveals a long-kept secret: Holly’s grandmother and uncles are still alive and begging Esther to return. And Holly is shocked when she learns that the family she’s never known lives on a Lancaster, Pennsylvania, farm—as part of an Amish community her mother once abandoned.
Guilt-ridden Esther, terrified to see her mother and siblings, begs Holly to accompany her on a visit to Esther’s mother before she dies. But can their journey to a conflicting world heal their emotional wounds and finally bring them home?
Set in the heart of contemporary Lancaster County, Leaving Lancaster explores the power of forgiveness, family reconciliation, and love where least expected.
Kate Lloyd is a novelist, a mother of two sons, and a passionate observer of human relationships. A native of Baltimore, Kate spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the inspiration for Leaving Lancaster. She is also a member of the Lancaster County Historical Society. Kate and her husband, Noel, live in the Pacific Northwest, the setting for Kate's first novel, A Portrait of Marguerite. Kate studied painting and sculpture in college and has worked a variety of jobs, including car salesman and restaurateur. Find out more about Kate on Facebook or at www.katelloyd.net.


About the author:

Kate Lloyd is a novelist, a mother of two sons, and a passionate observer of human relationships. A native of Baltimore, Kate spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the inspiration for Leaving Lancaster. She is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. Kate and her husband, Noel, live in the Pacific Northwest, the setting for Kate's first novel, A Portrait of Marguerite. Kate studied painting in college. She has worked a variety of jobs, including car salesman and restaurateur, and she raised show-dogs.

A Fine Gentleman by Sarah Eden

Sarah Eden has written an entertaining story in A Fine Gentleman. There were a few times I actually laughed out loud. Mariposa and Jason are a charming couple whos wit is a perfect foil for each other. They are both well thought out characters and I did not want to say goodbye to them. My only issue was that this was book four and I have not read the first three, so stay tuned for more reviews in the future.

I was given this book by NetGalley.com for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

London barrister Jason Jonquil has spent his entire life working to establish his identity as a gentleman, a man of refinement like his father and brothers. But when fiery Spanish beauty Mariposa Thornton walks into his office, he finds himself losing his grasp on his dignified character. The woman is infuriating, pushing him to the limit of his legendary patience. However, her case seems simple enough—a small matter of inheritance. Or so he believes.Once a well-born lady, Mariposa fought to survive the brutalities of Napoleon’s war on Spain. She braved horrific perils and undertook dangerous missions on behalf of those fighting against the invading French army. But her greatest battle still lies ahead: after being separated from her family, Mariposa sets in motion a plan to reunite with her loved ones in England. To avoid drawing the attention of the French, Mariposa dons a carefully crafted persona to conceal her true purpose. As Jason and Mariposa are drawn together by the case, they come to know the people beneath the masks they both wear. When the truth of Mariposa’s quest is revealed, the couple is pulled into a mystery that will test the limits of their courage—and expose the true desire of their hearts.

About the author:

Biography
Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today bestselling author of multiple historical romances, including AML's "2013 Novel of the Year" and Foreword Review’s 2013 “IndieFab Book of the Year” gold medal winner for Best Romance, Longing for Home, and the Whitney Award's "2014 Novel of the Year," Longing for Home: Hope Springs. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a Bachelor's degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah lives with her husband, kids, and mischievous dog in the shadow of a snow-capped mountain she has never attempted to ski.

The Promise Of Dawn by Lauraine Snelling

I loved The Promise Of Dawn. It was very interesting to me as I have been to Blackduck MN many times and can picture the setting in my mind. I enjoyed reading Signe and Runes' story. It is amazing that any survived the hardships of the Northern MN winters without modern conveniences. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
 All thoughts are my own


From Amazon

Beloved Author Lauraine Snelling Launches New Immigrant Series

When Signe, her husband, Rune, and their three boys arrive in Minnesota from Norway to help a relative clear his land of lumber, they dream of owning their own farm and building a life in the New World. But Uncle Einar and Aunt Gird are hard, demanding people, and Signe and her family soon find themselves worked nearly to the bone in order to repay the cost of their voyage. At this rate, they will never have land or a life of their own.

Signe tries to trust God but struggles with anger and bitterness. She has left behind the only life she knew, and while it wasn't an easy life, it wasn't as hard as what she now faces. When a new addition to the family arrives, Signe begins to see how God has been watching over them throughout their ordeal. But after all that has happened, can she still believe in the promise of a bright future?

About the author:

Biography
Award-winning and best selling author Lauraine Snelling began living her dream to be a writer with her first published book for young adult readers, Tragedy on the Toutle, in 1982. She has since continued writing more horse books for young girls, adding historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers to her repertoire. All told, she has over eighty books published with more than 4 million copies in print.


Shown in her contemporary romances and women’s fiction, a hallmark of Lauraine’s style is writing about real issues of forgiveness, loss, domestic violence, and cancer within a compelling story. Her work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German, and she has won the Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Inspirational Fiction, the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.


As a sought after speaker, Lauraine encourages others to find their gifts and live their lives with humor and joy. Her readers clamor for more books more often, and Lauraine would like to comply ... if only her paintbrushes and easel didn’t call quite so loudly.

Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a watchdog Basset named Winston. They love to travel, most especially in their forty-foot motor coach, which they affectionately deem “a work in progress”.

Waiting For His Return by Carrie Turansky

I gave Waiting For His Return 4 stars only because I am not a fan of Civil War stories. Carrie as always created wonderful characters in a believable plot. I did enjoy the story. The story itself along with the excellent writing causes me to give this novella a 4. I always look forward to Carrie's stories.

I was given this book by the author for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon

The daughter of a wealthy Tennessee doctor falls in love with an injured artist-correspondent on assignment to cover battles near Union occupied Nashville.

The year is 1864 and the Civil War rages on, impacting families in the North and South. British born James Galloway, a special artist for Harper’s Weekly, travels with the Union troops, sketching battle scenes to bring war news home to those in the North. It’s dangerous work, but he is committed to the Union cause. When he is captured by Confederate troops, he spends several months in a prison camp. Finally, he escapes and travels north, hoping to reach the Union lines, but a bushwhacker attacks him, steals his horse, and leaves him seriously injured at the side of the road outside of Nashville.

Rachel Thornton, a kind-hearted doctor’s daughter, takes James into her home and nurses him while he recovers. Her feelings for James grow, but she has already lost one man she loves in the war. How can she give her heart to James, when she knows he may become another casualty of the war? With Christmas coming, will James return to Rachel or will she be left waiting for his return?

This novella was originally published in A Blue and Gray Christmas. It has been revised and updated for new readers to enjoy.

About the author:

Bestselling Inspirational Romance Author Carrie Turansky writes inspirational historical and contemporary novels and novellas. She has won the ACFW Carol Award, the Crystal Globe Award, and the International Digital Award. Readers say her stories are: "Heartwarming and inspiring! I couldn't put it down! . . . Touching love story. It captured me from the first page! Rich characters, beautifully written . . . My new favorite author!"

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Blind Spot by Dani Pettrey

I have just finished reading Dani Pettrey's Blind Spot and once again Dani has proved that she is a master of suspense. I both loved and hated this book. I loved it because Dani kept me entertained with fantastic characters and a storyline full of plot twists. I hated it because it kept me enthralled and I read it much faster than I wanted to. Also, I assumed this was the final book in the series and I was wrong! Now I have to wait to see what else happens. LOL . As always Dani Pettrey is one of my favorite authors. I always pre-order her books. So grab a cup of tea and a cozy chair and settle in for one heck of a story!

I was given this book by the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

https://www.amazon.com/Blind-Spot-Chesapeake-Valor-Book-ebook/dp/B0713TL6RN/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1509675520&sr=8-4&keywords=blind+spot

From Amazon:


Each of Pettrey's Novels Has Been a Multi-Month Bestseller
FBI agent Declan Grey is in the chase of his life--but isn't sure exactly what he's chasing after. Threatened by a terrorist that "the wrath is coming," Grey fears something horrible is about to be unleashed on American soil. When his investigation leads him to a closed immigrant community, he turns to Tanner Shaw to help him. She's sought justice for refugees and the hurting around the world, and if there's anyone who can help him, it's Tanner. 

Tanner Shaw has joined the FBI as a crisis counselor . . . meaning she now has more opportunity to butt heads with Declan. But that tension also includes a spark she can't deny, and she's pretty sure Declan feels the same. But before anything can develop between them, they discover evidence of a terror cell--and soon are in a race against the clock to stop the coming "wrath" that could cost thousands their lives.


About the Author:

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of one’s faith and plenty of romance. She’s a huge fan of dark chocolate, is always in search of the best iced mocha and her dream is to one day own a little cottage on a remote stretch of beach. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.