Wednesday, April 26, 2017

"To the Farthest Shores," by Elizabeth Camden

"To the Farthest Shores," by Elizabeth Camden


The unpredictability of her upbringing prepared army nurse Jenny Bennett to face any challenge at the Presidio Army base, but the sudden reappearance in her life of the dashing naval officer who broke her heart six years ago is enough to rattle even her.

Lieutenant Ryan Gallagher is one of the few men in the world qualified to carry out a daring government mission overseas--an assignment that destroyed his reputation and broke the heart of the only woman he ever loved. Honor-bound never to reveal where he was during those years, he can't tell Jenny the truth, or it will endanger an ongoing mission and put thousands of lives at risk.

Ryan thinks he may have finally found a solution to his impossible situation, but he needs Jenny's help. While her loyalty to her country compels her to agree, she was too badly hurt to fall for Ryan again despite his determination to win her back. When an unknown threat from Ryan's past puts everything at risk--including his life--can they overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds stacked against them in time?


This was an interesting book covering an array of topics, including Japan, pearls, spies, nursing and a number of other subjects, all which I knew little about.  This book was full of twists and turns and kept you on your toes and thinking.

I like a book where you can learn something new, while you are reading a story.  I didn't know the history of cultured pearls and had never heard of the MID.  Even the little facts like Jenny working night shift and how she just wanted to get enough sleep all added depth to this book.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5  Well worth the read.  Such a lot of interesting information packed into this book. The final outcome won't be a shocker.  I do feel a follow up book about Finn would be a great read as well, as there is a story to tell there.  Great book Elizabeth!


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

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group
".

Thursday, April 13, 2017

"Treasured Grace," by Tracie Peterson

"Treasured Grace," by Tracie Peterson
Grace Martindale has known more than her share of hardship. After her parents died, raising her two younger sisters, Hope and Mercy, became her responsibility. A hasty decision to head west seemed like an opportunity for a fresh start but has instead left Grace in a precarious position. When missionary Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife agree to let Grace and her sisters stay at their mission for the winter, Grace is grateful. Until they hear from their uncle in Oregon City, the three sisters have nowhere else to go.

As Grace adjusts to life in the West, she meets a fur trapper named Alex Armistead who intrigues and infuriates her in equal measure. But when a measles outbreak threatens lives at the mission and among the native Cayuse who live nearby, it is Alex who helps Grace use the natural healing remedies she learned from her mother to help where she can, despite Dr. Whitman's disapproval. As the death toll rises, so do tensions between the settlers and the natives, and Grace soon finds herself and those she loves in more danger than she imagined possible.


This is the first book in the "Heart of the Frontier," series and what an interesting book it was.  It is a fiction book which is centred around The Whitman Mission Massacre of November 1847.  I am familiar with that, so to have a fiction book which was written about that kept me very interested and wanting more.  

The hardship they all went through just to get to the mission and then to be attacked was so sad.  However what happened after was as interesting as the actual massacre.  The way Tracie wrote about it made it all come to life more and was well written.  This first book centres around Grace, the next will be about Hope and the third about Mercy.  I MUST read all three as the story carries on from one to another.  There is much more to this book that will keep you interested

Stars out of 5 : 5 I loved this book.  Tracie tells a great story and makes the characters of her books feel so real.  The added tidbits of information she includes; like Grace's natural healing remedies just add another layer to an already wonderful story.  If you are at all interested in a historical story with a bit of romance thrown in, this is a book for you.  Well done Tracie.

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

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group
".

A Stolen Heart by Amanda Cabot

"A Stolen Heart" by Amanda Cabot
From afar, Cimarron Creek seems like an idyllic town tucked in the Texas Hill Country. But when former schoolteacher Lydia Crawford steps onto its dusty streets in 1880, she finds a town with a deep-seated resentment of Northerners--like her. Lydia won't let that get her down, though. All will be well when she's reunited with her fiancé.

But when she discovers he has disappeared--and that he left behind a pregnant wife--Lydia is at a loss about what to do next. The handsome sheriff urges her to trust him, but can she trust anyone in this town where secrets are as prevalent as bluebonnets in spring?

Bestselling author Amanda Cabot invites you into Texas's storied past to experience adventure, mystery--and love.


This is the first book in the "Cimarron Creek Trilogy," and was very enjoyable.  It was a mystery story first and a love story second to my mind.  You will guess "who-dun-it," so no surprise there, but the story has plenty of twists and turns in it, to keep you interested.

If I were being picky the fact that a town of under 200 people could keep a sweet shop in business, was a bit far fetched to my mind, but still very interesting to hear about what sweets/candy they liked to eat.  What would have made this book perfect would have been recipes for the different candies included in the book.

Stars out of 5 : 4 It is one of those books that would be perfect to sit and read over a couple of afternoons.  The next book in the Cimarron Creek Trilogy will be available early 2018 and it is a book I will be looking forward to reading.  It's a feel good book that doesn't over tax the brain.  It also made me curious to visit the Texas Hill Country as well.

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

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"The Hidden Palace," by Dinah Jefferies

 "The Hidden Palace," by Dinah Jefferies 1925.  Among the ancient honey-coloured walls of the tiny island of Malta, strangers slip...