Wildwood Creek

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With love and loss tangled together, how was she to know where her life would lead?

Allie Kirkland has always heard the call of her father’s unfinished destiny.  When she’s offered a production assistant’s job on a docudrama filming in the hills near Moses Lake, Texas, the dream of following in her director-father’s footsteps suddenly seems within reach.  The re-enactment of the legendary frontier settlement of Wildwood is a first step into the film industry.  A summer on set in the wilderness is a small price to pay for a dream.

But in 1861, the real Wildwood held dangerous realities.  Town founder Harland Delavan held helpless residents, including young Irish schoolteacher Bonnie Rose, in an iron grip.  Mysterious disappearances led to myths and legends still retold in the region’s folk songs.  Eventually, the entire site was found abandoned.

When filming begins, strange connections surface between Allie and the teacher who disappeared over a century ago, and everyone in Wildwood—including Blake Fulton, Allie’s handsome neighbor on the film set—seems to be hiding secrets.  Allie doesn’t know whom she can trust.  If she can’t find the answers in time, history may repeat itself…with the most unthinkable results.

Review

What a fresh new novel from Lisa Wingate!  From the first page, the story is shrouded is an eerie mystery that mingles the past with the present.  Caught in the middle is Allie Kirkland, who just wants to work as a production assistant, but gets more than she bargains for when she is pulled into the intrigue surrounding the life of Bonnie Rose and the inhabitants of Wildwood.  Add to that her headstrong friend, Kim, who likes to overstep boundaries, and a handsome, albeit secretive, neighbour, Blake, (who Allie can’t help but be attracted to), Allie Kirkland is in for one crazy summer.

With rich characters, some of which appear to have “hidden agendas”, and a story full of twists and turns, Wildwood Creek is a great book with a little bit of everything to satisfy a wide range of readers.  I loved the fact that it is a continuation of Lisa’s "Moses Lake" series, as there are a few reappearances of the town’s most colourful residents.  As with her previous novels, Wildwood Creek shows off Lisa’s lyrical writing and beautiful prose.  I particularly enjoyed the heightened sense of mystery that kept a strong thread of intrigue throughout the chapters.  Lisa’s stories just keep getting better and better!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Dare to Love Again

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She’s a sassy socialite burned by love.  He’s a jaded cop burned by the upper class.  When sparks fly…will love catch fire again?

Spunky Allison McClare is determined to be a fearless, independent woman.  But when she takes a notion to explore the wild Barbary Coast, she quickly discovers she’s no match for the unsavory characters that haunt the dark streets.

Detective Nick Barone would rather do almost anything than teach this petite socialite self-defense, but it seems he has little choice.  Sparks fly every time the two meet until a grudging friendship develops into something deeper.  But is he just a fraud like all the rest of the men Allison’s cared for?  Or is he the one who will let her dare to love again?

Award-winning author Julie Lessman brings the glamour of Gilded Age San Francisco to vibrant life in this journey to find a love that never fails.

 

Review

Not since Jen Turano's novels have I read a more witty and laugh-out-loud story.  Dare to Love Again chronicles the "war" between Mr. Pinhead and Miss La-di-da, aka, Detective Barone (with a long "e") and Allison McClare (who is not a snob, thank you very much) as Allison battles for independence and Detective Barone just wants to do his job and prevent Allison from making foolhardy decisions regarding her safety. Needless to say, these two characters are full of personality and irresistibly engaging.  Combining that with the intriguing mystery surrounding Detective Barone, made this story a very fun and fast read.

I was first introduced to Julie Lessman in Love at Any Cost, the first book in this series, "The Heart of San Francisco".  I loved that novel, and equally enjoyed this one.  I can't wait for the next installment!

 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from BakerBooks, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Dancing Master

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Finding himself the man of the family, London dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire, hoping to start over.  But he is stunned to learn the village matriarch has prohibited all dancing, for reasons buried deep in her past.

Alec finds an unlikely ally in the matriarch’s daughter.  Though he’s initially wary of Julia Midwinter’s reckless flirtation, he comes to realize her bold exterior disguises a vulnerable soul—and hidden sorrows of her own.

Julia is quickly attracted to the handsome dancing master—a man her mother would never approve of—but she cannot imagine why Mr. Valcourt would leave London or why he evades questions about his past.  With Alec’s help, can Julia uncover old secrets and restore life to her somber village…and to her mother’s tattered heart?

Filled with mystery and romance, The Dancing Master brings to life the intriguing profession of those who taught essential social graces for ladies and gentlemen hoping to make a “good match” in Regency England.

Review

Julie Klassen loves Jane Austen and the Regency classics, and it shows throughout The Dancing Master.  Julie pays homage to the social classes, propriety, closeted scandals and arranged marriages that were a mark of that time of life.

While a tad slow at the beginning, the story eventually picks up the pace as many different intriguing revelations come to light throughout the novel.  The romance is sweet, the relationships complicated, and the story was full of many twists and turns.  Overall, The Dancing Master is a lovely period drama that would be enjoyed by the most ardent Regency fans.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

No One to Trust

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She doesn’t know who she’s running from—

And the man she loves may be someone else entirely.

Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she’s been living based on a lie.  Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry?  The computer programmer she met in line at the bank?  Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover?

The search for her husband—and answers—takes Summer ever deeper into a world of organized crime where people are used one moment and discarded the next.  And with her deepest relationship of trust already shattered, Summer doesn’t know who to believe.

Always thrilling, bestselling author Lynette Eason outdoes herself in this taut, breakneck story of lies, loyalties, and love that will have you up all night to discover the truth hidden in the shadows.

Review

It was SO hard to book this down.  Non. Stop. Action!  It was a constant roller coaster: the first chapter, and practically every other one, starts off with a bang, and ended with another.  Bullets fly, brawls break out, car chases ensue, all of which are squished between lots of intrigue, and a double-shot of drama to make this a thrill-seeker’s dream.  Forget the latest action movies in the theatres – just pick up this book for crazy suspense experience!

I know this is a short review, but honestly, not much else needs to be said.  No One to Trust = a GREAT read!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

 

Orchard of Hope

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The smoldering embers of unrest are stirring—

And even Jocie’s sweet spirit can’t put them out.

It’s already been an eventful summer for Jocie Brooke.  Little does she know, things have only just begun to heat up.  Drought has gripped the quiet Kentucky town of Hollyhill and it seems as if everyone is waiting—for rain, for a fresh start, for the next step toward the future.

Into this tense haze of anticipation comes a new family, aiming to make a better life for themselves by planting an orchard on the outskirts of town.  Fresh off the freedom train, Alex and Myra Hearndon are sensitive to what the color of their skin may mean in the segregated South.  And even though Jocie quickly befriends the family, suspicion from both sides of the racial divide proves a formidable obstacle.  Can Jocie help bridge the gap?  Or will life in her quiet community fall apart at the seams?

Bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you back to Hollyhill for a gripping tale of unexpected friendship, forgiveness, and the bright promise of a new beginning.

Review

Ann Gabhart is such a beautiful writer.  When it comes to quality of writing, Ann slides neatly into the same group as Lisa Wingate, as her words create clear pictures and a flow in the story that seems completely effortless.  Reading books by Ann is akin to taking a breath of clean air – fresh and utterly satisfying.

Orchard of Hope is the sequel to Scent of Lilacs, and I thoroughly enjoyed the continuation.  Jocie is as endearing as ever, viewing the world through her unique and introspective lens.  Not one to shy away from tough topics, Ann brings the issues of racial discrimination and cruel judgment to the forefront of this book, aptly showing how God’s love can change lives and bring people together even in the midst of such harsh adversity. 

Orchard of Hope is a wonderfully written novel that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Singularity

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Jevin Banks is searching for a killer—
And answers to terrifying questions he never even thought to ask.

 

When his friend is murdered, illusionist Jevin Banks is determined to find out what really happened. 

 

Drawn deep into a web of conspiracy and top-secret research on human consciousness, Jevin won’t stop digging until the truth is revealed.  Soon he uncovers a dark secret that could change the very fabric—and future—of human life on the planet.

 

Based on frightening scientific realities and bristling with mystery, suspense, and intrigue, Singularity is the riveting sequel to Placebo.

 

Review

 

In this book, Steven James writes that “magic is the only honest profession” as magicians promise to deceive you, and they succeed.  But Mr. James is also an honest guy as he promises a crazy, suspenseful ride, and pulls it off each and every time.

 

Singularity takes you through a complex web of mystery, robotics, the search for eternal youth, government secrets, and desperate people willing to do anything to get the answers they need.  And at the centre of it is Jevin Banks, a man still recovering from a family tragedy, and who is suddenly thrust back into an emotional roller coaster ride.

 

Singularity was a thrilling tale, and in my opinion, was even better than its predecessor, Placebo.  Fingers crossed that there will be another instalment in this series!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Becoming Myself

 

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Becoming Myself is a hope-filled book for anyone who wonders if her life will ever change—if she will ever change.  In Stasi Eldridge’s most intimate book yet, she shares her struggles with self-worth, addiction, and her past as she shows readers how God is faithfully bringing us to a life of freedom and wholeness.

 

God desires to restore us, and he is able to restore us—the real us.  As he heals our inner life he calls us to “rise to the occasion” of our lives.  The most important journey any woman can take is the one into becoming her true self through the love of God.  It’s a beautiful paradox:  the more God’s you become, the more yourself you become-the woman he had in mind when he thought of you before the creation of the world.

 

Review

 

When I first saw this book, I was intrigued.  Becoming myself- what exactly did the author mean?

 

As I dove into the book, it quite often became very hard to read.  Written more like a personal memoir, Stasi walks you through some difficult times throughout her life.  She hit on some very positive points such as we should not prison ourselves to fear (i.e. fear of what others think/say, fear of circumstance, etc.), but rather, release those fears and insecurities to God.  Other points were that beauty does not relate to some specific measurement, hair colour, or height (everyone is unique and beautiful in their own way!), and to always strive to be a good friend.

 

However, for the most part, I felt the book was wrought with some very troublesome issues.  What felt like rants against mothers (and two whole chapters of it), didn’t exactly coincide with one of the author’s agendas of helping eradicate misogyny, or hatred against women.  To blame your mother for any and all weight issues, insecurity, self-esteem, addiction, thoughts, feelings---- reminded me of a “scapegoat”.  Casting blame on others has been around for a loooong time – remember Adam in the Garden of Eden when God spoke to him about eating the forbidden fruit?  Adam said “This woman you gave me…”  And Eve goes on to say, “The serpent deceived me!”  While I understand that circumstances can and do mould us to a certain point, in the end, it is our choice to decide whether or not they will continue to define us. While I think that the author’s end point is about overcoming difficulties, it is shrouded in just heaping blame for our problems on someone else.  Instead of doing that, we need to take responsibility for our own mistakes and run to our Father in heaven, Who is always there with open arms – “Cast all your cares upon Him for He careth for you”.

 

There were other points of concern, such as talk of “soul ties” between two people, which was just plain bizarre, and feministic ideals and refusal to embrace to the God-ordained and wonderful roles of men and women as outlined in the Scriptures.

 

In closing, I want to put out there that I really dislike writing negative reviews.  As an aspiring writer myself, I understand how one person’s written work is viewed like their “baby”.  It’s something you’ve poured yourself into, and nurtured into the finished product it is now, so reviewing books is a task I do not take lightly.  But as this is a book about Christian living, I fear I had to raise some very key issues that do not align with Scriptural truths.  I did not hit on every single thing I was at odds with in the book, but instead choose to end this review with a strong word of caution.  If you decide to read this book (and really, any book about Christian living!), I would highly recommend to have the mind of the Bereans that the Apostle Paul spoke of in Acts 17:11, who after hearing Paul speak would search “the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

Book has been provided courtesy of David C. Cook and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller.