TITLE:  Heart on the Line (Ladies of Harper’s Station #2)
AUTHOR:  Karen Witemeyer
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS:  *****

Grace Mallory is tired of running, of hiding. But when an old friend sends an after-hours telegraph transmission warning Grace that the man who has hunted her for nearly a year has discovered her location, she fears she has no choice. She can't let the villain she believes responsible for her father's death release his wrath in Harper's Station, the town that has sheltered her and blessed her with the dearest friends she's ever known. 

Amos Bledsoe prefers bicycles to horses and private conversations over the telegraph wire to social gatherings with young ladies who see him as nothing more than an oddity. His telegraph companion, the mysterious Miss G, listens eagerly to his ramblings every night and delights him with tales all her own. For months, their friendship--dare he believe, courtship?--has fed his hope that he has finally found the woman God intended for him. Yet when he takes the next step to meet her in person, he discovers her life is in peril, and Amos must decide if he can shed the cocoon of his quiet nature to become the hero Grace requires.

When you read “The End” and sigh, not only because the story was so satisfying but also because you want another story just like it, you know you’ve got a good book. Heart on the Line made me sigh. And laugh, smile, and wipe my eyes more than once.

Grace is thoroughly admirable and likeable. A quiet and lovely young woman hiding from a murderer, she manages to carve out a useful and fulfilling life as a telegraph operator in a small colony of women (plus one or two men). While at her station, she strikes up a friendship with Mr. A, who charms her with his tales of his family and life in general—a frontier “online” relationship.
Amos is a wonderfully unusual hero with his bookishness, quiet demeanor and slender build. When their relationship is pushed to a closer level by the threat to Grace, I could not put this book down. Their faith urges them to trust God when everything looks hopeless, a reminder we all need.
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A joy to read, I give Heart on the Line five stars. I absolutely loved this book and will look for more by Karen Witemeyer. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

TITLE:  High as the Heavens
AUTHOR:  Kate Breslin
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS:  ****1/2

In 1917, Evelyn Marche is just one of many women who has been widowed by the war. A British nurse trapped in German-occupied Brussels, she spends her days working at a hospital and her nights as a waitress in her aunt and uncle's café. Eve also has a carefully guarded secret keeping her in constant danger: She's a spy working for a Belgian resistance group in league with the British Secret Service. 

When a British plane crashes in Brussels Park, Eve is the first to reach the downed plane and is shocked to discover she recognizes the badly injured pilot. British RFC Captain Simon Forrester is now a prisoner of war, and Eve knows he could be shot as a spy at any time. She risks her own life to hide him from the Germans, but as the danger mounts and the secrets between them grow, their chance of survival looks grim. And even if they do make it out alive, the truth of what lies between them may be more than any love can overcome.
 
INTENSE! High as the Heavens is an amazing story with a tangled plot, compelling characters, and a setting so tense I had to put the book down to catch my breath every few minutes. Eve’s double life is one I could never imagine, as she risks not only her own life but the lives of her loved ones. And Simon is caught between sides, without knowing who is on which side.

Secondary characters are well drawn, also, real enough to recognize on the street—but still not be sure if some are friend or foe. I loved the interpersonal relationships, especially between Eve and Simon, as they struggle to trust one another while not being able to divulge secrets. Faith plays an important part of their journey, inserting brightness into the darkness of war.
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Now that I’ve caught my breath again, I award High as the Heavens four and half stars. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

TITLE:  Over Maya Dead Body (Serena Jones Mysteries #3)
AUTHOR:  Sandra Orchard
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS:  *****

FBI Special Agent Serena Jones arrives on Martha's Vineyard with her family, ready for a little bit of R&R and a whole lot of reminiscing as they celebrate the engagement of an old family friend. But crime doesn't take a vacation, and she's soon entangled in an investigation of a suspicious death tied to an antiquities smuggling ring.

When her investigation propels her into danger, Serena must stay the course and solve this case before anyone else dies. But just how is she supposed to do that when the two men in her life arrive on the scene, bringing with them plenty of romantic complications--and even a secret or two?

Sudden deaths, too many suspects, quirky relatives and two swoon-worthy suitors keep this story spinning—like a Tornado carnival ride! Over Maya Dead Body is the perfect culmination of the Serena Jones mysteries, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Author Sandra Orchard’s ability to deal with serious subject matters like the death of a loved one while keeping the atmosphere light amazes and tantalizes me. I also appreciate how Serena’s faith carries her though heartbreak.

I’ve adored Nate and Tanner since the first book of this series (A Fool and His Monet) with a bit of a preference for mild-mannered Nate. I won’t tell who wins the heart of the heroine, but their competition made me smile many times. Then there’s Aunt Martha—my favorite eccentric is back in all her colourful glory in this story and sharing a few stories of her own.

With so many possible culprits running around, it’s no wonder I guessed wrong (many times) as to who did what. But Serena and her “sidekicks” keep digging, continue to follow the clues, even when they lead where she doesn’t want to follow. The ending is sweet and satisfying, and I closed the book with a contented sigh. Well done!
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For all these reasons and the sheer pleasure of reading this story, Over Maya Dead Body earns five stars. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. Highly recommended.

TITLE:  On Love’s Gentle Shore (Prince Edward Island Dreams #3)
AUTHOR:  Liz Johnson
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS:  *****

When Natalie O'Ryan returns to Prince Edward Island to plan her wedding, she runs into her childhood best friend--and discovers that the love she's been looking for is right where she left it.

One of the best things about reading a series is catching up with old acquaintances. In Liz Johnson’s Prince Edward Island Dreams series, her characters do feel like special friends. Jack and Aretha, Adam and Caden, and Seth and Marie enrich the story—and I enjoyed getting to know Mama Kane, a real sweetheart.

However, this story is Justin and Natalie’s, even though Natalie is finalizing her wedding to someone else, a man who has the power to make Justin’s long-held dreams come true. But at what cost? The answer to that question requires some heart-searching, and the answer changes lives.

Prince Edward Island has always called to me, and after reading this luscious series, I know I need to visit someday. The setting is well-drawn, attractive, and crucial to the story.

Faith is also vital, as both Justin and Natalie struggle to come to terms with the past in order to face the future. I felt Natalie’s pain when she finally shared her history and her fear of becoming what she dreaded. God’s grace is clearly shown in On Love’s Gentle Shore, making it and the rest of the series a favorite of mine.
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I loved this story and award it five stars. Highly recommended. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.

TITLE:  With You Always (Orphan Train Book 1)
AUTHOR:  Jody Hedlund
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS:  ****

When a financial crisis in 1850s New York leaves three orphaned sisters nearly destitute, the oldest, Elise Neumann, knows she must take action. She's had experience as a seamstress, and the New York Children's Aid Society has established a special service: placing out seamstresses and trade girls. Even though Elise doesn't want to leave her sisters for a job in Illinois, she realizes this may be their last chance. 

The son of one of New York City's wealthiest entrepreneurs, Thornton Quincy faces a dilemma. His father is dying, and in order to decide which of his sons will inherit everything, he is requiring them to do two things in six months: build a sustainable town along the Illinois Central Railroad, and get married. Thornton is tired of standing in his twin brother's shadow and is determined to win his father's challenge. He doesn't plan on meeting a feisty young woman on his way west, though. 

First, the disclaimer: Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

With You Always is set in the mid-1800s in New York city and Illinois. Soul-crushing poverty, inhumanity, and hopelessness create a dark backdrop for this story, at times overwhelming. But like pinpricks of starlight on a black night, the author inserts love-lights through her characters as they grow into God’s plan.

Elise is an interesting heroine, both plucky and despairing. Her quirky sense of humor brightened the story, and Thorton’s matched hers. Their verbal zingers elevated the story by lifting it out of the depressing setting.

Thornton is bound by his social status, his family, and most of all his father’s expectations, while Elise struggles with her lack. So this is a story of growth and redeeming love. Triumph, when it comes, is particularly sweet.
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In spite of the depressing setting, I quite enjoyed Thornton and Elise’s story. With You Always earns four stars.