A Simple Change by Judith Miller

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers.  Jancey Rhoder has a job that she loves, but when her parents announce that they are moving back to the Amana Colonies she doesn't have to think twice about joining them.  Nathan Woodward wants her to stay and marry him instead.  Jancey can't leave her mother as she is slowly dieing.  As Jancey starts fitting in to the Colony she learns much about herself, God, and the people around her.  I enjoyed this book.  Jancey is a very believable character.  She is trying her hardest to know what is best for her and her family and trying to abide by what God has given her.  I like that when she finally puts her trust in God, thinks start to work out.  She is finally able to understand what she needs to do, and do it.  I did not understand why she kept Nathan around.  He never seems like a very nice person, but she keeps hoping that he will change and be better.  I would give this book 3.5/5 stars.

A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers.  Arabella Beckett manages to find herself in some pretty interesting scrapes as she works to help the women of America. Theodore Wilder has been sent across the country to find and bring Arabella back home.  When he finally tracks her down he finds more than he bargained for.  I was able to read the first book in this series and really enjoyed it.  This book does carry on from the first book, but it would still be understandable without having read the first one.  The characters are hilarious and they take you on quite the ride.  A lot of what happens seems completely impossible, but I find myself not caring because it is just such a fun book.  I would give this book 4/5 stars.

A Bride for All Seasons by Margaret Brownley, Debra Clopton, Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers.  This book contains four novellas.   Each novella is about a different bride from the Hitching Post Mail-Order Bride Catalogue.  I thought that this book sounded kind of cute.  I'm not sure what I expected, but the books were quite sappy.  In each story, the couple meets and finds out that something in the ads and replies has been changed.  They all start out feeling like there is no way that they could ever love each other.  In each story the couple overcomes whatever the misunderstanding was and comes to love each other.  The characters are interesting and all quite different.  All of the stories take place in 1870, so you get a small feel for what the time period was like.  I would give this book 3/5 stars.

Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers.  Eve Marryat's family is finally leaving St. Paul.  It is 1931 and St. Paul is not a place that you want to raise your family.  Eve's father has lost his job and her Uncle Cy has offered to let the family help out at his Marryat Island Ballroom and Lodge.  Eve thinks that she has landed in just about the perfect place.  She is making friends and even has a boyfriend.  Then she finds out a secret and everything changes.   I thought that this was a wonderful book.  The characters are very believable.  There is a lot going on and it is all tied together nicely.  I really connected with Eve and loved seeing the strength and drive that she had.  I like how the story started with Eve as a grandma, and how she is telling the story of that summer to her grandson.  Very will written.  I would give it 4.5/5 stars.

Gone South by Meg Moseley

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Multnomah publishers.  Tish McComb has fallen in love with her great-great-great-grandparents home.  The only problem is that it is located in Noble, Alabama and she lives in Michigan.  Tish decides to buy the house and start fresh.  Her fiance died in a tragic accident five years ago, and her mother has moved to Florida.   After arriving in town Tish discovers that the McComb name is not well liked and has a hard time trying to make friends or find a job.  Making matters worse, Tish finds Mel Hamilton just after she has been kicked out of her parents home and offers to take her in.  The town might have forgiven her being a McComb, but they won't forgive her helping out the local thief.   I really like the characters in this story.  It is nice to think that there are still people out there that are willing to risk everything to do the right thing.  Tish is a strong women who is trying to overcome the challenges in her life, and thrive where she is.  George seems like a nice guy, and I found myself hoping that he and Tish would be able to work things out.  Mel is a very immature girl.  I had a hard time believing that she was really supposed to be 20.  Overall I enjoyed this book.  It is great to see a book that shows how just a little help up can change a life so completely.  I would give it 4/5 stars.

Grace's Pictures by Cindy Thomson

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers.  Grace McCaffery has been given a chance to start over in New York City.  After growing up with an emotionally abusive father and then spending years in a workhouse in Ireland, Grace has a hard time believing in herself.  Can she trust the people that are trying to help her?  Can she be the independent women that she wants to be?  Can she survive the gangsters that she has managed to make mad?  I liked the character of Grace.  She was believable.  It was nice to watch her overcome what others had been telling her about herself and become the strong women that she knew she could.  There was a lot of coincidences in the story.  She just happened to take 3 pictures that made a group of gangsters mad.  This seemed like a stretch.  Overall I enjoyed the book.  I would give it 3.5/5 stars.  An Author Q&A can be found here.   An excerpt from Chapter One can be found here.  And the authors blog can be found here.

 

The Guardian by Beverly Lewis

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers.  Jodi is still reeling from losing her only sister a year ago.  She has come to Lancaster to house-sit and spend some time regrouping.  Soon after arriving she finds a little girl asleep on the roadside.  Where did she come from?  The girl cannot speak English and Jodi finds herself in Hickory Hollow trying to find the girls family.  Can the gentle Amish friends that she makes help her draw closer to God and help mend her relationship with her Fiance?  I enjoyed this story.  It is interesting to get a glimpse of the Amish life.  I also enjoyed how the characters had a complete faith in God and what he had planned for them.  They were striving to listen to Him and do what He wanted them to.  Jodi is able to find the answers that she needs and make the changes that she needs to.  Even when things don't look like they are going to work out, she is gently be lead down the path that she needs to go.  I would give this book 3.5/5 stars.