Fired up by Mary Connealy

    Review by:  Regina

Title:  Fired up

Author:  Mary Connealy

Collection:  Adult Fiction

Book two in the Trouble in Texas series starts off fast. Glynna and her two children are smack dab in the middle of moving from the ranch that her ex-husband had stolen from Luke Stone. As she and Luke’s Regulator friends travel through the narrow cut, boulders avalanche down from the hill, narrowly missing them but Doc Dare Riker suffers from a deep gash to his back. When they finally arrive in town, Glynna decides to open a diner in one of the empty storefronts and surprising does an amazing business, even if she can’t cook and burns everything she makes. Dare in the meantime has healed from the rockslide incident but encounters more things that threaten his life – his home is torched while he’s sleeping and Dare is leery of Glynna’s cooking although it sends many men with upset stomachs to his doctoring business. The tension is strong between Glynna and Dare, as she and her children do not want another man in their life that could possibly hurt them again but she can’t help being drawn to the honest, heroic doctor.

Themes are forgiveness, faith in what God has called you to do, honesty, and loyalty. You’ll giggle at some of the antics including Glynna’s cooking skills. The third book in the series will involve Regulator/lawyer, Vince Yates and new-to-town Tina Cahill, Jonas’s sister.

The tutor’s daughter by Julie Klassen

    Review by:  Regina

Title:  The tutor’s daughter

Author:  Julie Klassen

Collection:  Adult Fiction

Emma Smallwood enjoys assisting her father with his small boarding school. But, things have fallen away since the death of his wife and Emma’s mother two years before. Attendance has dropped and finances are becoming tight. Emma has written to former graduates Phillip and Henry Weston’s father, a baronet in Cornwall, to inquire of the two younger sons. Mr. Weston is more interested in the Smallwoods joining him at his estate on the coast and teaching the boys onsite. When Emma and her father arrive in the nearby village, no one is there to meet them so a young boy and cart are hired to take them to Ebbington Manor, where unfortunately not only had their arrival slipped Sir Giles mind but his wife, Lady Weston had not even been informed of the teaching position being filled. The rude beginning gets worse, when the younger sons, twins, do not like being taught and mystery and suspicion surround the Manor – especially at night, when howling can be heard.

Written along the lines of Jane Eyre, readers of historical and Regency romance will enjoy this novel.

The longest ride by Nicholas Sparks

    Review by:  Regina

Title:  The longest ride

Author:  Nicholas Sparks

Collection:  Adult Fiction

We can’t get enough stories on love and relationships from super writer Nicholas Sparks. In his latest novel, two couples’ courtships – one nearing its ending, one just beginning – are the love stories that Sparks explores. Ira, a widower, had one last mission to complete before joining Ruth, his beloved wife, forever, but fails when the car he is driving plunges over the side of a hill. Ira begins to see visions of Ruth, encouraging him to stay alive, and as he slips in and out of consciousness, Ira reviews their tender relationship over the previous decades. At the same time a young couple, Sophia, a college student and Luke, a bull rider and rancher, are being drawn into a relationship and suffer from expectations and immaturity. As the story nears its conclusion and both love stories unfold, the connection is finally revealed.

Written from different viewpoints, the characters’ vulnerability and passion show through across a span of over 90 years.

Soon to made into a movie….

Twice promised : a novel by Maggie Brendan

    Review by:  Regina

Title:  Twice promised : a novel

Author:  Maggie Brendan

Collection:  Adult Fiction

Greta Olsen, a mail-order bride, arrives in Central City, Colorado – much to her surprise, finds herself in competition with another woman for shopkeeper, Jess Gifford’s hand in marriage. A bigger surprise awaits both of them for Jess has no idea that his younger brother Zach had arranged this entire debacle! Even though Jess’s shop really could use some organizational help, he certainly wasn’t looking for a life mate! As the two hardworking women compete for Jess’s attention, they inadvertently become fast friends and even Zach begins to think that, just maybe, he could use a wife as well.

The lemon orchard by Luanne Rice

    Review by:  Regina

Title:  The lemon orchard

Author:  Luanne Rice

Collection:  Adult Fiction

Grief and heartache bring people together as in the unexpected romance between two unlikely people. One – an immigrant that has crossed the USA/Mexican border illegally, at the cost of his young daughter, Rosa, and the other, an anthropologist who lost both her husband and 16 year old daughter in a car accident. They meet in a seaside, lush lemon orchard in the beautiful Santa Monica mountains owned by Julia’s aunt and uncle. Julia is there to house-sit with her beloved Bonnie Blue, a seven-year-old border collie when she meets Roberto, manager and caretaker of the orchard whose quiet, strong ways reach across Julia’s barriers and draw her in. As Julia learns more of Roberto’s past, she feels the need to redeem her loss by solving the clues that surround the missing Rosa.

Rice takes on the controversial subject of illegal immigration and wraps a heartrending  story around it..

Small town girl : a novel by Ann H. Gabhart

    Review by:  Regina

Title:  Small town girl : a novel

Author:  Ann H. Gabhart

Collection:  Adult Fiction

Small Town Girl continues the story of Angel Sister with the same beloved characters but introduces a newcomer, Jay Tanner. Jay, a bit of a roamer and ladies’ man, comes to town to be his best and only friend Pastor Mike Champion’s best man at his wedding and ends up staying and liking the small town of Rosey Corner. Jay also has his eye on Mike’s sister-in-law, independent Kate Merritt but is afraid to commit to a relationship because of his background.

Set on the verge of World War II, Small Town Girl is a sweet, historical and inspirational novel whose vulnerable characters wrap themselves around your heart and won’t let go…

An untamed heart by Lauraine Snelling

    Review by:  Regina

Title:  An untamed heart

Author: Lauraine Snelling

Collection:  Adult Fiction

After reading Lauraine Snelling’s Red River of the North series, I’ve often wondered what Ingeborg Bjorklund’s, the main character, life was like in Norway before she traveled to America with her husband and his small son. This book will connect the dots and Snelling, an expert at historical fiction, will draw you in with fine, descriptive details about Ingeborg’s large family, how each member shares in the daily workload, and how important the bible and God’s word are in their home life. You will share in Ingeborg’s desire to learn how to be a healer and be saddened when her loss seems monumental. Snelling’s latest writing, a prequel, did not let me down.

The cottage at Glass Beach : a novel by Heather Barbieri

    Review by:  Regina

Title:  The cottage at Glass Beach : a novel

Author:  Heather Barbieri

Collection:  Adult Fiction

Nora Cunningham is taking refuge on Burke’s Island, a small remote strip of land off the Maine coast and settled by the Irish centuries before. Her famous husband and his affair have been splashed over tabloids so Nora and her two girls, Annie, 7 and Ella, 12 going on 21 are hiding out. Nora’s earliest memories are of Burke’s, being able to swim like a fish, and her beautiful mother that disappeared when she was only small. Nora’s elderly Aunt Maire lives in the old homeplace nearby and who summoned her with a letter still believes in the magical legends of the island including selkies – a mythical creature. As the island begins to heal Nora, she is drawn towards a quiet fisherman who guards his own secrets but Ella blames her parent’s breakup only on her mother, causing her to say and do things that put her and her sister into danger.

Beautifully written and full of mystery, The Cottage at Glass Beach, makes a good anytime read.

Swept Away by Mary Connealy

    Review by:  Regina

Title:  Swept Away

Author:  Mary Connealy

Collection:  Adult Fiction

Mary Connealy is known for writing her female characters full of grit and determination – definite factors needed in the Old West and pioneering days. In Swept Away, Ruthy MacNeil is that strong personality that can handle a gun and a horse, quite easily at that! Used to working hard from sunup to sundown, when she falls in with rancher and ex-regulator Luke Stone, who is bent on recovering his ranch, Ruthy doesn’t even blink. I’m looking forward to the second book in the Trouble in Texas series to continue this engaging, sometimes-hilarious, historical romance.

A home for my heart by Anne Mateer

    Review by:  Regina

Title:  A home for my heart

Author:  Anne Mateer

Collection:  Adult Fiction

Historical fiction that tugs at your heart – Miss Sadie Sillsby helps run the Raystown Home for Orphan and Friendless Children, caring for the orphans on a daily basis and assisting the Matron and dear friend, Hazel. But when Hazel offers her the position of Matron, as she herself is marrying soon, Sadie will have to set aside her own marriage plans to Blaine. A matron can not be married and must attend to the many duties of running the orphanage, including keeping the finances straight and acquiring needed donations. Sadie accepts the position without consulting Blaine and forges ahead with her new career, even though she is sorely lacking math skills. The home continues to operate in the red and her records don’t match the bank figures. On top of these problems, Sadie realizes she may soon lose Blaine to someone else. Sadie must take a hard look at herself and ask some very difficult questions…