WITH EVERY BREATH by Elizabeth Camden

If two people ever bring out the best in each other, it is Trevor and Kate. Both are extremely competitive and passionate people--although Trevor comes across as rude, stubborn, and cold. When Kate agrees to his challenge and begins to dig deeper she discovers a man who is very passionate about the battle he is warring against Tuberculosis and ultimately passionate about her. However, Trevor has a secret he is closely guarding especially from Kate.

 With Every Breath has you holding your breath with each turn of the page as you delve into history. Ms. Camden does a superb job of intertwining her characters with the quirks of their personalities, their begrudging but growing relationship, their pasts, and a mysterious enemy. The unknown enemy stalks them with escalating incidents and bad publicity which threatens Trevor's career and research.

 A sweet read that educates and inspires one with just the right taste of romance. Above all this is a story  of faith and courage about the kind of people we all aspire to be. I highly recommend this book.

I received this book from Bethany House for an honest review.

SECOND CHANCE CINDERELLA by Carla Capshaw

Carla Capshaw's prologue to Second Chance Cinderella sets the stage for her characters, allowing us glimpses of their foundational traits. In addition, I felt more forgiving of Samuel Blackstone's abusive treatment of Rose when he meets her again because of this early flashback at Sam’s true nature and childhood relationship with Rose.  Later, one can read between the lines and see his ulterior motives of protectiveness towards Rose and notice how he always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

 Rose Smith embodies all that we find admirable about a single mother struggling to raise her child against all odds. The years since Rose and Sam parted have not been kind to Rose. And, Sam's harsh and unjust accusations only serve to fuel her mistrust and hoarding of secrets even more.

 Most of the book revolves around the second chance that presents itself to the hero and heroine to redeem their relationship. It becomes a discovering of the events that have transpired since, the righting of misunderstandings by both, and the identity and true parentage of Rose’s son. Wrapped around the historical romance package are the elements of mystery and suspense.

 Ms. Capshaw does a fantastic job of winding sinister characters and plots around the main premise of a "second chance" with spiritual insights and surprise twists at the end.

 I highly recommend this novel as being well worth your time to read and enjoy. Ms. Capshaw remains one of my all-time favorite authors.

 

IN THE FIELD OF GRACE by Tessa Afshar

Ruth has always been my favorite Book and story of the Bible. No matter how many times I read it, it never gets old. Most of all, it is forever a part of my Wedding memories. Even without having asked him, my Pastor chose to read from the Book of Ruth as a part of the ceremony.

So, it was with high anticipation, that I approached reading Tessa Afshar's fictionalized version of Ruth. I was not disappointed. Tessa took many liberties and interpretations of events but her descriptions of Boaz and Ruth are spot on. Beginning with Ruth in Moab and telling the story from her point of view and having her meet first Naomi and then her future husband, Mallon gave a unique perspective of how the Moabitess Ruth cultural and religious upbringing might have molded her character.

 

The Old Testament does make clear that Boaz was much older than Ruth but Ms. Afshar paints a humble but sensual and strong picture of the man Boaz might have been and accounts for the age difference to be acceptable and believable.

From the beginning page you are riveted to Ruth's struggle to survive and her spiritual struggles as she comes to know and serve the Hebrew God.

Ms. Afshar's account teaches us the customs of the time and the history leading us to understand how and why the account could have unfolded as it did. Lastly, she gives us a taste for how the legacy of Ruth and Boaz touch successive generations.

Tessa Afshar has a gift for telling Biblical Romance novels. All her work deserves superb accolades and belongs on your keeper shelf.

CAPTURED BY LOVE by Jody Hedlund

An interesting historical read, Captured by Love, covers much of the history of Mackinac Island, Michigan during  the War of 1812. You follow the characters through their struggles to survive and through their tangle of relationships. Angelique is obviously in love with Pierre but promised to his brother Jean. However, she depends on her abusive stepfather for protection, a roof over her head, and substenance. She strives to help her friend, Miriam, mother of Pierre and Jean,  who has become blind and has no one to tend her farm with both sons away. Pierre returns and now finds himself caught in the middle as a double agent.

The story would be a tough read but Ms. Hedlund's descriptions of living conditions, clothing, the Indians, and strategy's of war add to the plot involving the romance of Angelique and Pierre. Angelique's love for Pierre is complicated by her desire to be an honorable woman. Pierre endures many hardships and comes to realize that he wants to be a better man and do what is right even if it means losing the woman he loves. Jean's return forces them all to face the truth and make tough choices.

Ms. Hedlund has written a story in which her hard work is revealed in the details and is a very realistic but satisfying read.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A MOMENT IN TIME by Tracie Peterson

 

A moment in Time is another quality read from Ms. Tracie Peterson. She introduces us to another generation of Barnett’s, Reid’s, and Atherton’s from her Land of the Lone Star Series. This is actually the second book in The Lone Star Bride Series. There are two story lines to keep your interest. The main plot centers on Alice Chesterfield, a young woman with a physical scar on her face, and emotional scars within. She has lost both parents and a younger brother and serves as an assistant to Marty Wythe. Alice follows Marty to Texas, in order to escape a stalker among other reasons. She meets Robert Barnett, a young rancher, who never seems to notice her scar and treats her with the utmost respect. But Robert is engaged, according to everyone, since a child to Jessica Atherton.

A Secondary plot revolves around Marty Wythe, younger sister to Hannah Barnett whom we met in the Lone Star Series. Marty is married to Jake, whom she met through mail order process. They are separated for a time while Jake seeks work in Texas and Marty remains behind not completely trusting his decisions.

I will not break down the complex plots here but suffice it to say the many twists and turns have one gasping, sniffling and laughing. There are many nuggets of humor, pathos, and spiritual truths. You won't want to miss this one and you catch a glimpse of the hero and heroine from the final book to come in the Lone Star Bride series. A Moment in Time serves up many moments of enjoyment.

I received this book from Bethany House for an honest review.

 

FULL STEAM AHEAD by Karen Witemeyer

If you like action and drama along with your romance, then FULL STEAM AHEAD!  Karen Witemeyer has another quality read under her belt. I have most all her novels on my keeper shelf and this one doesn't disappoint.

 

From the opening salvo where we meet Darius Thornton until the very satisfying epilogue, Full Steam Ahead draws us in and keeps us swimming page after page.

 The energetic opening introduces us to the hero Darius Thornton dealing with the tragedy and grief of a steamboat boiler explosion. Next, we meet the heroine , Nicole Renard in the midst of a traumatic attack of her parents requiring her courageous intervention.

Darius obsession to find a solution to steamboat boiler explosions and his ultimate goal to save countless lives and Nicole's mission to protect her loved ones and incur her father's favor provide the gist of Ms. Witemeyer's plot. Darius is an eccentric young man, not your usual hero. He remains focused on his goal to the detriment of his general appearance and health until Nicole, his new secretary has to come to his aid during one of his experiments gone awry.

 Nicole remains just as adamant in her pursuit of concealing the Lafitte Dagger which she sees as her Father's legacy  and obtaining a husband and heir for her father's shipping empire. She risks her life again and again mostly for failure of realizing that her true value rests with her heavenly father.

 I highly encourage you to read the author's notes at the end as they lend much to the historical perspective and reveal how much of the story revolved around the history of steamboats and the pursuit of public safety in America.

 

This one is joining the other Karen Witemeyer novels on my Keeper shelf!

GATHERING SHADOWS by Nancy Mehl

 



Gathering Shadows told in first person heralds the tale of Wynter Evans aka Emily Erwin, a newspaper reporter, in search of her brother abducted as a child. She travels to the Mennonite Town of Sanctuary looking for a young man accidentally captured in a picture who resembles her long lost brother. Accompanying her is Zac, her photographer. In Sanctuary she meets, Ruebin King, the Mayor of Sanctuary, but a farmer by trade. Rueben becomes her love interest--another thing that bothered me because they discuss their mutual attraction way to soon for the thesis of this story, in my opinion. But Reuben is an integral character for connecting other characters and moving the storyline along.

If you like stories told in first person, you may be delighted with this one; but I didn't enjoy it and found the first half to be rather slow. However, after getting into the story, the good points are that the mystery and the solution are quite entertaining. Ms. Mehl does a fine job of going back over her clues and showing how they entertwined and then reveals how they fit her puzzle.
In the end, I found myself enjoying the read and would recommend it for those who like suspense and mystery reads; but it would not be one for my keeper shelf.

I received this free from Netgalley for review.