TITLE:  A Christmas by the Sea
AUTHOR:  Melody Carlson
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ****

When Wendy Harper inherits her family's beachside cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. But before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. She and her 12-year-old son Jackson move in--temporarily, she reminds him--in order to do the work themselves, even though Christmas is coming. The charming town, along with local craftsman Caleb Colton, pulls on both Wendy and Jackson, who even registers himself for school in a bid to get his mom to move them there permanently. Wendy knows that the most responsible thing to do is to sell the cottage and return to Ohio, but the lure of the sea is hard to resist.

I’ve read other books by Melody Carlson and looked forward to some light, sweet storytelling. I was not disappointed, and the length warned me not to expect too much depth. Also true. A Christmas by the Sea was an easy afternoon read, enjoyable and non-challenging.

The setting of a seaside town and cottage drew me, and since I love renovations, Wendy’s quest to improve her inheritance kept the pages turning. While Wendy and Caleb are charming and attractive characters, the one I appreciated most was Wendy’s son, Jackson. His emotions are clearly shown, and I yearned for his dreams to come true.

The romance between the main characters was told more than shown, making it less real. The faith element is light, also, but I appreciated its inclusion.
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A Christmas by the Sea is a sweet story suitable for all ages. I received this book from the publisher; all opinions are my own. This story earns four stars.

TITLE:  The Hope of Azure Springs
AUTHOR:  Rachel Fordham
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

Seven years ago, orphaned and alone, Em finally arrived at a new home in Iowa after riding the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her new life in the Western wilderness is a rough one. When her guardian is shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to search for her long-lost sister, but she won't be able to do it alone.

For Azure Springs Sheriff Caleb Reynolds, securing justice for the waifish and injured Em is just part of his job. He's determined to solve every case put before him in order to impress his parents and make a name for himself. Caleb expects to succeed. What he doesn't expect is the hold this strange young woman will have on his heart.

The Hope of Azure Springs came to me as an unexpected gift, and reading it was another gift. From the beginning, Em’s story tugged at my heart. I’d read other books about the orphan trains of the 1800s, where orphaned children rode west on appointed trains to whoever would take them in. For some, their new home became a prison. Em’s story begins in hers.

But her pluckiness and determination to be honest in actions and emotions endeared this “mighty plain woman” not only to me, but to those who came to know her. I loved how she encouraged her friends to face their grief—an emotion she knew too well—to allow healing to soothe its pain.

An honorable man, Caleb’s strength and insecurities touched me as well, and watching the friendship grow between Em and him was a joy. I especially loved the scenes at his parents’ home, where revealed true colors surprised each person involved.

Faith is not preached in this story but is shown clearly. Em’s faith carried her through many trials, and while her knowledge lacked, her conviction of God’s goodness inspired me.
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I received this book as a gift from the publisher. I loved this story and will read it again. The Hope of Azure Springs earns five stars. Highly recommended. 

TITLE:  The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond
AUTHOR:  Jaime Jo Wright
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: *****

For over a century, the town of Gossamer Grove has thrived on its charm and midwestern values, but Annalise Forsythe knows painful secrets, including her own, hover just beneath the pleasant facade. When a man is found dead in his run-down trailer home, Annalise inherits the trailer, along with the pictures, vintage obituaries, and old revival posters covering its walls. As she sorts through the collection, she's wholly unprepared for the ramifications of the dark and deadly secrets she'll uncover. 

A century earlier, Gossamer Grove has been stirred into chaos by the arrival of controversial and charismatic twin revivalists. The chaos takes a murderous turn when Libby Sheffield, working at her father's newspaper, receives an obituary for a reputable church deacon hours before his death. As she works with the deacon's son to unravel the mystery behind the crime, it becomes undeniably clear that a reckoning has come to town--but it isn't until another obituary arrives that they realize the true depths of the danger they've waded into.

Two women, separated by a hundred years, must uncover the secrets within the borders of their own town before it's too late and they lose their future--or their very souls.

The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond is a haunting tale of past, hidden sins and their cascading effect on future generations. Swinging from one century to the next, we meet two troubled young women, each hiding a devasting secret. While both their stories are shadowy and tainted by death, the courage and growing faith of these heroines shine a light into the dismal haze of circumstances.

I enjoyed getting to know both Annalise and Libby, so different yet similar. The plot held me captive until the very end, with each chapter revealing just a bit of the mystery. The supporting casts in both centuries were well defined. Finding out from the author’s notes that the wild twin revivalists were based on characters from the time added even more realism.

This story will linger in my mind, and I award it five stars. Recommended. Book was provided by Graf Martin Communications and Baker Publishing.

TITLE:  The Lady of Tarpon Springs
AUTHOR:  Judith Miller
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: ****

Much to the dismay of her Greek family, Zanna Krykos makes a living as a lawyer in Tarpon Springs, Florida. When her friend Lucy needs legal advice about the business she inherited upon her father's passing, she ends up asking Zanna to run the business instead so she can focus on her medical career.

Nico Kalos is a Greek diver who has worked on sponging boats in the Aegean Sea since the age of 14, giving him a vast knowledge of the trade. When he hears of an opportunity to lead a group of spongers to the United States, he seizes it. But his excitement is quickly quelled when he arrives only to discover that a young woman with no experience in the business will be in charge of the new crews. 

But as Zanna and Nico face even more complications than they could have imagined, they must learn to work together or risk everything they've worked so hard for.

I enjoy unusual heroines and heroes, and the combination of a lady lawyer and sponge diver in the early 1900s certainly fit the bill. The amount of research the author must have done is impressive! Learning a bit about the sponge diving industry of that time was fascinating, and the growing relationship between Zanna and Nico held my interest.

The supporting cast of The Lady of Tarpon Springs added much to the atmosphere of this novel. I especially enjoyed Zanna’s Yaya, a forceful yet loving grandmother. The antics of the three Rochester sisters added comic relief with their complicated relationships.
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Faith was assumed, almost as though an afterthought, and there were times I wished the actions were shown more than told.
Overall, I truly enjoyed reading The Lady of Tarpon Springs and award it four stars. This book was provided courtesy of Graf Martin Communications and Baker Publishing.