HEART ON THE LINE By Karen Witemeyer

Romance from a unique perspective seems to be Karen Witemeyer's expertise. I find most anything she writes refreshing, fun, and informative.

Grace Mallory is a telegraph operator who has sought refuge in Harper's Station, a Women's colony to escape her father's killer who continues to pursue her because she has something he wants badly, something her father entrusted to her before he died.

Amos Bledsoe has been communicating after hours with a fellow female Western Union operator whom he finds he would like to actually meet and perhaps officially court; however, in the middle of a nightly session, she receives an urgent message indicating her life is in imminent danger and she immediately signs off from Amos.

Heart on the Line is chock full of romance, humor, and mystery. Amos impulsively heads for Harper's Station to do what he can to aid and protect Grace, even though they haven't met. Grace, in the meantime, decides to finally confess to the other women about the danger she is in and that a mysterious man is after her to do her harm. This is the scenario that Amos rides into on an ornery mule instead of the bicycle he prefers and finds himself in jail. The unique way Grace finds to discover if he is who he says he is makes for a very sweet and cute scene.

In the meantime, one of the other women, Helen, who is one of the least trusting of men, discovers an injured man and decides to assist him quietly. At the same time, a Pinkerton agent shows up to confiscate the important items left with Grace by her father. Love, danger, lead, and dots and dashes fill the air making for a page turner.

This novel receives my 5 star recommendation including consideration for your keeper shelf. A very enjoyable and satisfying read. I received this novel from Netgalley for my honest review.

TRUE TO YOU By Becky Wade

Becky Wade has written a lovely story that truly delves into the character of her characters. We find Nora Bradford, a very eccentric, librarian who loves tea, cinnamon toast and genealogy but mostly her books. She lives in Bookish Cottage.

By happenstance she meets John Lawson when she participates in a practice rescue with her sister and put on by John's Company. John comes to her rescue, a quiet, intimidating presence, ruggedly good looking, he is a former Navy Seal (actually a Medal of Honor winning Navy Seal).

Nora mentions to John what she does for a living and he indicates he might seek her out. She is surprised when he follows through and thus begins an adventure as they seek to find John's birth mother.

The twists and turns of plot occur because John has a secret, the reason he needs to find his birth mother; add to that Nora's quirkiness, her family members with their own quirkiness, and the old fashioned village she has restored and brought to life for others to enjoy.

You find yourself rooting for John even more so when it seems life goes from bad to worse--and falling in love with the traditional old fashioned Nora...a very lovely story indeed; but I have to warn you it has some tear jerking moments.

My favorite part are the spiritual struggles that the author deftly uses her characters to depict...the kinds similar to what we all go through. The answers are never easy. Sometimes there aren't any answers; but the important part for all of us as well as for Ms. Wade's characters is from where do we go to find the source for wisdom and strength to help us through the dark times in our lives. 

Read "Tell Me True" for some thought provoking revelations. I give it 5 stars and recommend it for your keeper shelf. I received this novel from Netgalley and through Bethany House Blogger Review Program for an honest review.