The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers.  Emma Smallwood's father has been ailing ever since his wife passed away.  Emma is determined to help him recover.  She accompanies him to the manor of a baron where he will be a tutor.  As soon as they arrive, odd things begin to happen.  Sounds in the knight, things appearing and disappearing.  This was an excellent book.  The characters were well developed and likable.  The plot was well written.  There was suspense and a few surprises along the way.  There was romance, but it wasn't silly or extreme.  The book definitely grabbed you.  There were christian themes without being preachy.  I really enjoyed this book.  I would give it 4/5 stars.

Firefly Island by Lisa Wingate

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House publishers.  Mallory Hale finally meets the man of her dreams.  He is everything that she has ever wanted, and he is moving across the country in a month.  Mallory decides to give up everything in her life and marry Daniel and become a mother to Nick.  Mallory learns a lot about herself, how to be a mother and a spouse very quickly.  The house is awful, the location is in the middle of nowhere.  Slowly Mallory learns that this is better than she thought.  When a scandal starts to emerge that threatens her family and her home can she figure it out in time?  I really like Mallory.  She was interesting.  I felt that the supporting characters could have been developed more.  Daniel in particular.  I had a hard time understanding why Mallory was so in love with Daniel.  The suspense was good, but the final plot seemed like it was a bit of a stretch.  I would give the book 3/5 stars.

Threads of Grace by Kelly Long

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers.  Grace Belier has escaped one awful marriage only to have be faced with another.  When her neighbor offers to marry her and keep her from having to marry some one else she decides to take the chance.  She hardly knows Seth, but he seems like a good man.  Will she come to love him as she loves her?  This was a light read.  It was enjoyable.  Some of the plot felt like it was a stretch.  Would anybody really be able to take away her son because she had not remarried within six months of her husbands death?  I like the theme about our past not having to rule our future.  This is the third in a series, but it works as a stand alone.  I would give this book 3/5 stars.

A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House publishers.  Lady Eliza Sumner has had a really bad year.  She has lost her father, her fortune and her fiance.  She is determined to recover her fortune.  She has left England and followed the thief to New York.  Because she has no money left she has to take on a job as a governess.  Eliza meets Hamilton Beckett and falls in love at first sight, she just doesn't know it yet.  This book was very fun to read.  The characters were very fun, although they were somewhat inconsistent.  There was a lot of crazy adventures and romance.  The plot had some holes, but all in all I didn't care.  It was fun to see what was going to happen next.  I would give it 4/5 stars. 

The Girl in the Glass by Susan Meissner

I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Publishers.  Meg has been waiting for almost twenty years to make a promised trip to Florence.   When it finally comes about it is completely different that she had always imagined it would be.  Meg finds herself arriving alone and completely unprepared.  With no where to stay she finds herself tracking down some of the authors that she has come to know through her publishing job.  Meg meets Sophia and begins a whirlwind tour of the city.  I really enjoyed this story.  Meg is an interesting character.  She is confused about many things, but she is willing to trust those around her.  She trusts her father when she has absolutely no reason to.  Meg spends a lot of time trying to figure things out and in the end she comes to the realizations that she needed to.  The characters all felt very real.  My heart ached for Sophia and the hard times that she has gone through.  I found myself loving Meg even more because of how she helps Sophia deal with the troubles that have come her way.  This was a fun story and I am glad that I had a chance to read and review it.  I would give it 4/5 stars. 

A Home in Drayton Valley by Kim Vogel Sawyer

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers.  Tarsie hates living in New Your City.  She has been saving her money for years to get herself out.  Eventually she is able to leave with her friend Mary and her family, and head for Drayton Valley Kansas.  Tragedy strikes when they are almost there and Tarsie's life takes a different path than she had imagined.  I enjoyed this book.  I really liked the character of Tarsie.  I found myself wanting her to succeed at what she was doing, and proud of the strength that she showed.  It was nice to see the changes that came over Joss and to see him become that Tarsie had always know he could be.  The story was well written and believable.  The romance was sweet and not overbearing.  I would give this book 4/5 stars. 

Undending Devotion by Jody Hedlund

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers.  Lilly and her sister have grown up in orphanages.  Lily has finally found a home for her sister and a job for herself.  She is trying to find a way to make a home for her sister and her self when her sister disappears and says that she is going to go and try and make some money at the lumber camps as a prostitute.  Lilly is devastated and does everything that she can to try and find and save her sister.  This story is trying to deal with a big issue, and trying to show us some of the ramifications that go along with it.  Overall I enjoyed the story, I liked the point that it was trying to make.  I did feel that the author was trying to bash me over the head with certain things.  The author dwelt on how Connell had to restrain himself around Lilly.  I felt that this was talked about more than it needed to be.  There were other instances where the author kept repeating things over and over.  I felt that the book could have been much shorter.  I would give it 2.5/5 stars.