"When the Day Comes," by Gabrielle Meyer

"When the Day Comes," by Gabrielle Meyer

How will she choose, knowing all she must sacrifice?

Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. While she's the same person at her core in both times, she's leading two vastly different lives.

In Colonial Williamsburg, Libby is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor, trying to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. The man she loves, Henry Montgomery, has his own secrets. As the revolution draws near, both their lives--and any hope of love--are put in jeopardy.

Libby's life in 1914 New York is filled with wealth, drawing room conversations, and bachelors. But the only work she cares about--women's suffrage--is discouraged, and her mother is intent on marrying her off to an English marquess. The growing talk of war in Europe only complicates matters.

But Libby knows she's not destined to live two lives forever. On her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path and forfeit the other--but how can she choose when she has so much to lose in each life?

This was such an unique book/story.  I have never read anything like it before.  Generally I am not a fan of skipping from one time period to another, but the way this book was written I just had to keep reading to see what happened next.  Each time period was as interesting as the other.  Each story unique and you were drawn into Libby's life from the beginning.

If you ask me what genre to place this book into I wouldn't really know how to answer that as first and foremost in my mind it is historical fiction.  Though with Libby spanning two lives and time frames, it adds another dimension to the book.

I will say I never guessed the final outcome/ending of this book.  The author wrote it in a way that you think you know what's going to happen, but she twists it up a bit.

Stars out of 5 : 5 I would thoroughly recommend anyone reading this book, it was such a good book.  I have sent an email to the author as this is the first book in the "Timeless" series, but I couldn't find any other information about any of the other books.  I have never read anything by this author before, but will be looking up more of her books.  Super book.

***Update: The author got back to me and here is what she said;  

"Book two will release in May 2023 and will be Maggie’s story. She will have three paths. 1861, 1941, and 2001 in Washington, DC." ***

"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".

"The Sweet Life," by Suzanne Woods Fisher

"The Sweet Life," by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Welcome to summer on Cape Cod--a place where the sweet life just might be possible.

Dawn Dixon can't believe she's on a groomless honeymoon on beautiful Cape Cod . . . with her mother. She was supposed to be here with Kevin, the man she loves. Still, Mom was the right choice. Dawn's heart may have been broken, but Marnie Dixon is in need of mending as well.

But Mom--being Mom--creates a mess when, on a whim, she buys a run-down ice cream shop in the town's tightly regulated historic district with big plans to fix it up. She's never remodeled anything. And she's never even made ice cream!

Dawn knows she has to stay and fix this fiasco. But her mother's money pit ice cream shop may have created a chance for a happy ending . . . one Dawn could never have expected.

This is the perfect summer reading, set by the sea and all about ice cream.  Add in a bit of craziness, a broken heart, and a lot of ups and downs and you're onto a winner.  This book is the first in the "Cape Cod Creamery" series and it's off the a good start.

I think a lot of us can relate to the whole mother/daughter relationship.  Add in that this mother and daughter duo are more or less complete opposites, and that they go into business together; what could possibly go wrong?

The cast of characters in this book were so well thought out and all fitted into the story perfectly. Funnily enough I am not a huge fan of ice cream, but even I thought that all the flavour combinations that Marnie and Dawn came up with was interesting.  It would have been fun to have a couple of recipes included in the back of the book?  I enjoyed the historical preservation part of the story also.

This book does have a more serious side to it and that part of the story was interesting.  I can't say more without giving away the story; but again well worth reading for that aspect as well.

Stars out of 5 : 5 No complaints from me.  A great easy read.  Perfect book for down by the beach.  Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

"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".

"All That Fills Us," by Autumn Lytle

"All That Fills Us," by Autumn Lytle

The journey toward healing starts with a single brave step--but it is never walked alone

Mel Ellis knows that her eating disorder is ruining her life. Everyone tells her rehab is her best option, but she can't bring herself to go. Broke, broken, and empty in more ways than one, Mel launches one last-ditch effort to make hers a story worth telling. She will walk her own road to recovery along the lesser-known trails of the North American wilderness.

Though she is physically and mentally unprepared to face the difficulties that lay ahead, she sets off on foot from Michigan. Her goal? Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State. During the long journey, she meets strangers with their own stories, as well as ghosts from her past who can no longer be ignored. But though the land she travels threatens her success at every turn, it's her own dark thoughts she'll have to overcome in order to find peace in the life and the body she has been given.

This book was such an inciteful book; my emotions were all over the place when reading this. The main character Mel, strikes so many feelings in you and is such a strong leading character you feel as though you are with her every step of her journey.  Add in the people whom she meets along the way and you cannot help but cheer her along.

Each of the people whom she meets, adds that something extra to the story.  The struggle with her anorexia was also very interesting.  I learned a lot and felt it was so well written.  I think it helps that the author has first hand experience with the condition.

It was a learning experience for Mel, to understand the way that God sees us and accepts us.

Stars out of 5 : 5 I was glued to this story from the beginning.  It helps I have always had a secret desire to do a thru-hike; I never will.  I know a couple of people who have had/have anorexia, so I was interested in how Mel took on her illness and what her thoughts were, and how people with anorexia think. Overall I couldn't fault this book.

I will be interested to see what the author will write next.....

"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".