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.

TITLE:  Called To Protect
AUTHOR:  Lynette Eason
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fiance for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She's over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.

When US Marshall Blake MacCallum's daughter goes missing, he's ordered to kill the judge he's protecting and tell no one about his daughter's disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?

I’d been introduced to the St. John family in Oath of Honor, so I expected a fast-paced thriller. No disappointments there! Called To Protect takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride of tension, heartbreak and romance. The subject matter of human trafficking isn’t easy to consider, but the author deal with it skillfully, with enough details to make the scenes vivid without going over-the-top in violence.

Both the hero and heroine of this story have a huge personal stake in catching the monsters who steal and sell young women, and their plight kept my heart as well as my head engaged. I believe the author showed a realistic picture of how easily girls can be trapped, and that’s going to haunt me for a long time.
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I received a copy of Called To Protect from the publisher, and all opinions are my own. I award this story five stars. Recommended!
 

TITLE:  River to Redemption
AUTHOR:  Ann H. Gabhart
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ****

Orphaned in the cholera epidemic of 1833, Adria Starr was cared for by a slave named Louis, a man who stayed in Springfield, Kentucky, when anyone with means had fled. A man who passed up the opportunity to escape his bondage and instead tended to the sick and buried the dead. A man who, twelve years later, is being sold by his owners despite his heroic actions. Now nineteen, Adria has never forgotten what Louis did for her. She's determined to find a way to buy Louis's freedom. But in 1840s Kentucky, she'll face an uphill battle.

River to Redemption opens with tears, as young Adria watches her family die from cholera. Enter Louis, a strong man of even stronger faith, who serves his master and his God faithfully. He and Matilda, another slave, take care of little Adria and find her a home with the young widow, Ruth.

At the beginning, I assumed this story was about Adria; then it seemed to be about Ruth and Pastor Will. All three points of view are featured, including a great deal of introspection. I admired the spunk and frustration of Adria and the gentle goodness of Ruth, and hoped for both their dreams to find fulfillment. Louis, however, is the character I admired most, so I was thrilled to read the author’s note revealing that Louis’s story was true.
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I enjoyed River to Redemption—especially its factual base—and award it four stars. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Sulphur Mountain is named for two sulphurous hot springs near its base, and at nearly 7500 feet elevation, it is one of the tallest mountains in the area. There is a "moderate" trail to the summit, but since I'd barely handled the "easy," 2.2 mile (return) hike up Tunnel Mountain, I voted for the gondola ride. 

My husband and grandson wanted to face outward in the small gondola cabin. Fine with me--zipping all the way up the side of the mountain in eight minutes was enough of a thrill. The view from the top was absolutely amazing. I'm pretty sure my mouth hung open for a few heartbeats. And when I saw Tunnel Mountain from there... Oh. My. Goodness. See that little bump in the middle of the second photo? Yup, that's Tunnel Mountain, the climb that almost did me in. What a difference perspective makes!

Made me think about the mountains I face, complaining about how huge they are, huffing and puffing and feeling sorry for myself, when God's perspective reveals their true size and temporary nature. 
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"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (2 Corinthians 4:17)

TITLE:  Accidental Guardian
AUTHOR:  Mary Connealy
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: *****

When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes the hand behind the attack as the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he'd finally carved out a home and started a herd--while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail, driving off dangerous men. He'd hoped those days were over, but the latest attack shows he was wrong.

Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack, and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace offers the only shelter for miles around, and agrees to take them in until she can safely continue. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture and their arrival is unsettling--yet enticing. 

Working to survive the winter and finally bring justice to the trail, Trace and Deborah find themselves drawn together--yet every day approaches the moment she'll leave forever. 

The gorgeous cover of this book drew me like a bee to nectar. Isn’t it beautiful? I’d read other books by the author, too, so I opened this one with anticipation.

The story begins with a bang. Several bangs, in fact, as the wagon train Deborah, her sis Gwen, and two toddlers were travelling with is massacred. They are the only survivors. But Deb won’t give up, and when she sees a man on horseback, she confronts him to ask for help. She doesn’t know whether he’s trustworthy, but does she have a choice?

The hesitant, growing relationship between Deb and Trace wove seamlessly with the tension of opposing goals of independence and revenge. Faith and forgiveness is a major theme of this story as they both have to deal with past pain in order to face the future.

I thoroughly enjoyed An Accidental Guardian and look forward to the next book in the High Sierra Sweethearts series. It earns five stars. Recommended!

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

TITLE:  All My Tomorrows
AUTHOR:  Karen Witemeyer, Jody Hedlund, Elizabeth Camden
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: ****

“Three acclaimed authors offer for the first time in print three unforgettable historical novellas that celebrate true love.” (from back cover)

Worth the Wait, by Karen Witemeyer: Five stars
I’ve read two other books by this author and loved them, so I eagerly opened the book to the first story and wasn’t disappointed. Harper’s Station, the setting for this novella, is a sanctuary community for women. Victoria Adams (Tori) fled there with her young son and has grown in confidence enough to run a general store.

Benjamin Porter proved himself reliable and protective as a freighter for the community, but he wants more. Skittish Tori has caught his eye—and maybe his heart.

When the two travel together to sell the store’s goods, Tori must face her worst nightmare head-on. The unfolding relationship of these two, one brave, the other not realizing how much courage she has, enthralled me. Tori’s son, Lewis, adds even more heart to this captivating story.

An Awakened Heart, by Jody Hedlund: Three stars
I wanted to like this novella. I’d read With You Always by the author and enjoyed it in spite of its gritty setting. An Awakened Heart seems to be a prequel to the previously read novel, and through most of the story, the flicker of romance is overwhelmed by the atmosphere of despair. While the heroine, Christine Pendleton, sparked my admiration for her spunk and compassion, her hero, Pastor Guy Bedell remained a hazy outline of a character for me. Well written but disappointing.

Toward the Sunrise, by Elizabeth Camden: Five stars
Julia Broeder is easy to admire—expelled from medical college in her final year, she ends up helping birth kids, the goat kind. But she does so with enthusiasm, compassion, and dedication. Her long-held dream of becoming a medical missionary in China seems an impossibility.

Ashton Carlyle, lawyer for the Vandermark corporation, Julia’s benefactor, is pressured to convince Julia to apologize for her action and outburst at the college. How can he, when she won’t leave the goats until all sixty have given birth. And time is running out.

This novella is great fun, with its spunky heroine and stalwart hero, and I loved watching them grow closer together through their shared trials. It easily earns five stars.
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This collection of historical novellas was (mostly) a pleasure to read and is recommended. Four stars for the collection. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


 

Elk roam freely in Banff--the park areas and town. They're not tame and must be respected, but it's a thrill to watch them wander past the camper. Majestic animals!

Our little group hiked up Tunnel Mountain, and I found out just how out of shape I was. Whew! The younger ones slowed down for this old grandma several times, and we were all overjoyed when we reached the top. What a view! Our grandson Gavin even found a fossil. (That's him in the gnarled old tree.)

The awesome beauty in Banff National Park brings to mind verses from Psalm 36: Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

Have you ever been to Banff National Park? One of Canada's most popular tourist destinations, its rugged mountains, variety of hiking and biking trails, and an enticing town site draw more than four million visitors every year. No wonder the town felt crowded! But take a trail or even a drive, and you may think you're all alone in God's wilderness. That's no surprise, either, as the park covers over 2500 square miles. 

We spent a week there a few years ago, and it's our favorite stopping point between Saskatchewan and British Columbia. I'll share more tomorrow, and I hope this little taste has you waiting impatiently. :)

I'd love to hear your thoughts and favorite memories of this beautiful part of creation.

Ah, the Riviera Maya on Mexico's eastern coast--what a wonderful place to soak up some sunshine! We spent a week there last January, and the only negative, we decided, was that one week was simply not enough! 

The resort where we stayed was comfortable and beautiful, and the kids' play area made us wish we'd had our grandkids with us. Wouldn't that be fun? 

Hubby got to kayak and catamaran while this non-swimmer relaxed on the white sand beach. We even met some folks from home--fun! 

I'm ready to go back; just give me a few minutes to pack my bags. How about you? What's your favorite place for a vacation?