Reviewing: Behind Love's Wall (Doors to the Past) by Carrie Fancett Pagels

 ...from the publisher...

Two successful women, a hundred-and-twenty-years apart, build walls to protect their hearts. Modern-day Willa, a successful interior decorator, is chosen to go to Mackinac Island and consult for the Grand Hotel’s possible redesign. During work on a room, she discovers a journal detailing the struggles of a young woman, Lily—which reveals dark secrets. The renowned singer wasn’t who she pretended to be.
 
As Willa reaches out to Lily’s descendant, a charismatic and prominent landscape artist, she lets down her guard. Should she share the journal with him—revealing hidden history—or once again erect a wall as she struggles to redesign both the Grand and her life?

...my thoughts...

Behind Love' Wall is a book where the past comes alive because of Lily's journal and the curiosity of modern day Willa, who unwittingly found her diary. The very woman who is the subject of a recent newspaper article Willa casually picked up on a ferry ride to the island. There are some parallels between the two women, each searching for clarity in their lives.  I liked the mystery both women bring to the story.  This is more than a romantic story that brings readers of Carrie's books back to Mackinac. It is a true mystery and it is not until that end that the answers truly unfold.  

I also like how the author weaves in characters from earlier books with their descendants in this time split story. I have read several of Carrie's books and it was interesting to see how she wove these characters and their talents to span generations.  It is like looking at genealogy and learning of talents shared with a great grandparent.  The setting at the Grand Hotel, rich with history is an invitation to travel across on the ferry and enjoy the sights of this well researched book. 

I hope there will be more stories coming up set in this area of our country that is so rich with stories to be shared.
 

Reviewing: The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

...from the publisher...

When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn't bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it's a full-time job sorting through all of it.

At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it's from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold?

Ivy's quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.

 ...my thoughts...

The Santa Suit is one of those books that you enjoy from the moment you hit page one.  From Ivy's arrival that the farmhouse to finding all the forgotten treasures left behind, I found I couldn't wait to see how the story unfolded. The journey Ivy found herself on led her to a treasure beyond her imagination.  This is one book that will remain in your heart all season long.  

Well written, with wonderful characters, this is one more book to add to your Christmas reading pile. 

Reviewing: Dear Santa by Debbie Macomber

...from the publisher...

 Lindy Carmichael isn’t feeling particularly joyful when she returns home to Wenatchee, Washington, for Christmas. The man she thought was “the one” has cheated on her with her best friend, and she feels completely devoid of creativity in her graphic-design job. Not even carolers or Christmas cookies can cheer her up—but Lindy’s mother, Ellen, remembers an old tradition that might lift her daughter’s spirits.
 
Reading through a box of childhood letters to Santa and reminiscing about what she’d wished for as a young girl may be just the inspiration Lindy needs. With Ellen’s encouragement, she decides to write a new letter to Santa, one that will encourage her to have faith and believe just as she’d done all those years ago. Little does Lindy know that this exercise in gratitude will cause her wishes to unfold before her in miraculous ways. And, thanks to some fateful twists of Christmas magic—especially an unexpected connection with a handsome former classmate—Lindy ultimately realizes that there is truly no place like home for the holidays.

...my thoughts... 

Lindy is a young woman who left it all behind when she left home for the big city and a bright future.  Life isn't always what we dream it to be while we are making plans for the future.  Sometimes it is even better.  It all started with a letter to Santa to turn this discouraged young woman's life into a roller coaster ride of events that will change her life forever.

Skip the movie and read the book to get you into the Christmas spirit!  Set with believable characters in the beautiful state of Washington, it doesn't get any better than a little holiday fun.

Reviewing: Twisted Tea Christmas by Laura Childs

...from the publisher...

 

Tea maven Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, are catering a Victorian An attack on the host of a fancy tea party sends Theodosia Browning looking for answers in the latest entry in the Christmas party at a swanky mansion in downtown Charleston. Drucilla Heyward, the hostess, is one of the wealthiest women in town.

As the champagne flows and the tea steeps, Drucilla is so pleased with the reception by her partygoers that she reveals her secret plan to Theodosia. The Grande Dame has brought the cream of Charleston society together to reveal that she is planning to give her wealth away to various charitable organizations. However, before she can make the announcement, Theodosia finds her crumpled unconscious in the hallway. It looks like the excitement has gotten to the elderly woman--except that there is a syringe sticking out of her neck. 

 ...my thoughts...

Theodosia and Drayton are at it again only this time, they are in the thick of it after catering a house full of suspects attending the grand event that Charleston will talk about for years to come.  At least one would have hoped it was because of the exceptional event itself, not the murder of a beloved hostess. 

Laura Childs has once again delivered a mystery that will keep you guessing while you turn the pages as fast as you can.  It would seem that our heroine has nine lives and each time they set upon a caper, the plot is as thick as can be.  For a mystery that will make your Christmas mystery list on high, pick up a copy of Twisted  Tea Christmas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas With the Cornish Girls by Betty Walker

 ...from the publisher...

1941. The bombs still fall, but in St. Ives Christmas is finally approaching for the Cornish Girls…

With the war ongoing, Lily is feeling anything but festive. That is, until Eva asks if she’ll join her in working at an officers’ convalescent home, lifting her spirits no end.

Eva came to St. Ives to be near the man who almost gave his life to protect hers. But will the wounded pilot ever help to heal himself by opening his heart to love?

Rose suspects the local orphanage is mistreating its charges – and it’s her job to uncover the truth before it’s too late…

Can the Cornish Girls help one another through the darkest days in order to give everyone in St. Ives the sparkling Christmas they so deserve?

...my thoughts...

What a delightful story to ring in the Christmas season.  It seems World War II is endless and the Cornish girls are feeling it.  Lily, Eva and Rose all have issues they are dealing with privately but their professionalism keeps their problems at the door of the convalescent home where they are working tirelessly to care for the casualties of war. 

I enjoyed this book for the glimpse it gives into the lives of women of a different era who display courage and fortitude that comes with serving others.  The lives of these women, though this is a work of fiction, could be the story of our mothers, grandmothers or aunts. I admire their courage and fearless dedication to duty while finding ways to live, love and celebrate. 

Betty Walker's characters come alive, whether it is piling into an old ambulance for a Christmas visit, waiting it out in a dank bomb shelter or calling rescuing abused orphans, this book will keep you on your toes while keeping the spirit of the season alive.

 

Reviewing: A Crhistmas in the Alps A Novella by Melody Carlson

...my thoughts...

After a time of heartache and loss, Simone Winthrop discovers a tantalizing letter from her French great-grandmother, which seems to suggest that she is heir to a family treasure. Ever practical, Simone assumes the claim is baseless, but her best friend encourages her to find out for sure. Despite her deep-rooted fear of flying, Simone boards a jet to travel to Paris at Christmastime to uncover the truth.


During the long flight, Simone meets the charming Kyle Larsson, who's on his way to France to become an apprentice clockmaker. Though they abruptly part ways, an unexpected rendezvous in the French Alps at Simone's family's clock factory may lead to the discovery of the family treasure . . . and so much more.

For anyone who is wearying of staying home, Melody Carlson invites you to spend Christmas with her in the beautiful French Alps this year. So pull on your mittens, tie your scarf tight, and prepare yourself for a magical mountain holiday. 

...my thoughts... 

Melody Carlson's A Christmas in the Alps is a wonderful novella that tells the romantic story of Simone and Kyle.  It is one of those stories that will warm your heart because, after all, with their chance meeting on a flight that Simone dreaded, everything was destined to fall in place for their happy ever after. However, that was not how it played out.  Learning about her great grandmother's amazing past was well worth the trip out of her comfort zone. Finding a new path for her own life was priceless. 

I enjoyed this story for the rich color within the fabric of these characters lives. Simone's family, like so many who lived through the rigors of World War II are inspiring.  Had Simone stayed behind and bathed in her practical comfort zone she would have missed out on all of the rewards life had to offer her.

Every year I wait to read Melody Carlson's latest Christmas story.  A Christmas in the Alps is just one of those stories that make you glad you picked up a book and skipped a cookie cutter Christmas movie. Novellas may be short but this one is long on heart!

Reviewing: To Write A Wrong by Jen Turano

 ...from the publisher...

Miss Daphne Beekman is a mystery writer by day, inquiry agent by night. Known for her ability to puzzle out plots, she prefers working behind the scenes for the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, staying well away from danger. However, Daphne soon finds herself in the thick of an attempted murder case she's determined to solve.

Mr. Herman Henderson is also a mystery writer, but unlike the dashing heroes he pens, he lives a quiet life,

determined to avoid the fate of his adventurous parents, who perished on an expedition when he was a child. But when he experiences numerous attempts on his life, he seeks out the services of the eccentric Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency to uncover the culprit. All too soon, Herman finds himself stepping out of the safe haven of his world and into an adventure he never imagined.

As the list of suspects grows and sinister plots are directed Daphne's way as well, Herman and Daphne must determine who they can trust and if they can risk the greatest adventure of all: love.

...my thoughts...

To Write a Wrong is a funny story.  To be sure, it is a mystery but it is a humorous one.  Daphne and Herman make quite a pair as they play off each other in the quest to find whomever is trying to kill Herman. In the end, the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, the mystery is finally solved. This book is just right for the young or young at heart who don't mind the constant references by the heroine to her "swooning" at the drop of a hat.  Jen Turano is an experienced writer who knows her audience and targets her writing accordingly. 

Reviewing: A Season on the Wind by Suzanne Woods Fisher

...from the publisher...

Ben Zook had only two loves in his life: books and birds. In a stroke of good fortune, he'd stumbled onto a way to cobble together those two loves into a career, writing books about rare birds. He was as free as a bird--until a chase for a rare White-winged Tern takes him to the one place on earth he planned to never return: his Amish home in Stoney Ridge.

Desperate for photographs of the elusive tern, Ben hires a local field guide, Micah Weaver, and boards at Micah's farm, planning to "bag the bird" and leave Stoney Ridge before anyone recognizes him. But he neglected to plan for Micah's sister, Penny.

Ben. One long-ago summer, Penny had introduced Ben to birding, even sharing with him a hidden eagle aerie. That was when she knew true love. She'd always hoped he would come back to Stoney Ridge. Back to his Amish roots. Back to her. The only problem? Ben has absolutely no memory of Penny.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher welcomes her readers to the Amish community at Stoney Ridge in this engaging story of discovering just who the rare birds are in life.

...my thoughts...

A Season on the Wind by Suzanne Woods Fisher is destined to become a favorite among her fans. Picking up this book is like coming back for a nice stay in Stoney Ridge. Micah and Penny Weaver are new to the area.  Penny had other ties to the area, having spent one particularly fine summer with her late grandmother.  During that summer, she met and spent time with Ben, talking about birds while creating beautiful art.  Micah may have the corner on finding the birds birders seek but Penny is the center of it all.  Knowledgeable too in the study of birds, she seems to be everywhere supporting her younger brother.  

Ben had no plans to ever return to this area but a pending book deal won out any reluctance he may have had before this trip.  Nothing went according plan.  The plan, in the end, didn't seem, in the end, to be as important as the real journey he took, within the walls, with the Weavers.  

One important thing in this book as well as Suzanne's other books is that she has characterization down to an art.  Challenging characters are her forte. Lives are changed and the endings are neatly wrapped up. I recommend this book to fans of Amish fiction, or those who want a good story without all the extra fluff so common today.  Good books are a treasure.  I enjoyed this one immensely! 

 

Reviewing: To Find Her Place by Susan Anne Mason

 ...from the publisher...

In the midst of WWII, Jane Linder pours all her energy and dreams for a family into her career at the Toronto Children's Aid Society. As acting directress, Jane hopes for a permanent appointment so she can continue making a difference in the lives of troubled children. But if anyone were to find out she is divorced, everything would change. 

Garrett Wilder has been hired to overhaul operations at the Children's Aid Society. He hopes to impress the board members with his findings and earn the vacant director's position. A war injury ended his dream of taking over his parents' farm, but with the security of the director's job, he'd be able to contribute financially and help save the family business. 

Despite their competing interests, feelings begin to blossom between them. But then Jane's ex-husband returns from overseas with an unexpected proposition that could fulfill her deepest desires. Suddenly at a crossroads, can Jane discern the path to true happiness?

 ...my thoughts....

 I fully enjoyed reading To Find Her Place. It is easy to connect to the characters and think about them when you have had to set the book down until that next moment when there is time to relax and read.  Susan Anne Mason has a gift for bringing the characters alive and she has certainly been successful with Jane and Garrett.  Both have issues that they feel prevents them from developing anything other than a good working relationship.

Both vying for the same job, each has a reason that compels them to seek the vacant director's job.  As a reader, of course I could see the obstacles they face but also the realization that life is full of things that can be overcome.  I admired Jane's dedication to both her mother and to a difficult career working with orphaned children.  Garrett, a casualty of the war, faced unusual challenges yet was devoted to helping his family financially. In the end, the charity and grace they showed to each other showed qualities we don't often see in today's society.  I highly recommend this book and if you have not read any of Susan Anne Mason's books, you don't know what you have been missing.

Reviewing the Heart's Charge by Karen Witemeyer

 ,,,from the publisher...

 Members of Hanger's Horsemen, Mark Wallace and Jonah Brooks arrive in Llano County, Texas, to deliver a steed, never expecting they'd deliver a baby as well. Left with an infant to care for, they head to a nearby foundling home, where Mark encounters the woman he'd nearly married a decade ago.

After failing at love, Katherine Palmer dedicated her life to caring for children, teaming up with Eliza Southerland to start Harmony House. From mixed ancestry, illegitimate, and female, Eliza understands the pain of not fitting society's mold. Yet those are the very attributes that lead her to minister to outcast children. The taciturn Jonah intrigues her with his courage and kindness, but there are secrets behind his eyes--ghosts from wars past and others still being waged.

However, when a handful of urchin children from the area go missing, a pair of Horsemen are exactly what the women need. Working together to find the children, will these two couples find love as well?

...my thoughts...

Loved this one. Hearts were definitely changed in this story. Two men, just doing their job find themselves acting as midwives to a crazed young widow. Left with a baby girl to find a home for, Mark Wallace ran headlong into the one woman who broke his heart before he left home for good. What Katherine was doing out west was a mystery.  All the details unfolded soon enough: that is, after Jonah Brooks was blindsided by a beautiful woman who captured his heart. Miss Eliza Southerland was even less in the market for a suitor than any of the others. What unfolded was a story wrapped up as only Karen Witemeyer can fashion.

I recommend this book for fans of pure old fashioned romance of the wild west nature. A little danger but a whole lot of fun with a happy ending.

Reviewing: Sustaining Faith (When Hope Calls Book #2) by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan

...from the publisher... 

Sustaining Faith (When Hope Calls Book 2)

 So much has been accomplished. Lillian Walsh has stepped out courageously beyond what she'd ever dreamed of being able to achieve. She and her newly rediscovered sister, Grace, have settled three children from England into new Canadian homes and are prepared to place two more just after the New Year, when it happens--another painful disruption. 

A white lie the sisters used to protect some orphans has resulted in an official complaint and a letter revoking the sisters' permission to manage their little children's home. And unexpectedly, Walter, the young man who has won Lillian's heart, departs for a job in the oil industry without leaving any hope for their future, making her confused and lonely.

With more children on their way from England needing caring homes, Lillian and Grace must use every ounce of gumption to keep their mission alive. But when startling information about the past surfaces and a new arrival comes via suspicious circumstances, they'll have to decide what is worth fighting for and what is better left in God's hands. 

...my thoughts...

I enjoyed Sustaining Faith.  It hooked me immediately and as an avid reader, that is always a delight.  Lilian and Grace once again champion the children who have been left behind.  Both of these women are relentless in their pursuit of providing the best for the children in their care and one small mistake has led to quite a challenge for the newly reunited sisters to overcome.  

Handsome, dashing Quinley Sinclair from the society pulls out all the charm and affability one man can maintain as he sweeps in as their hope in regaining support from the society for Brayton House. In contrast to faithful Walter, Quinley's appearance overshadows the selfless actions Walter has time and again on their behalf.  One has to wonder which young man really has the best interest of the children at heart.  

It is the true faithfulness of Grace and Lillian that will prove see them through the difficult times in this story.  Along the way, the reader learns the value of this sustaining faith for a positive outcome to occur.

I truly enjoyed this book and would love to see a third book written in this series.  It has been adapted to a television series and while I enjoyed an episode or two, television just cannot compete with the books.