"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".

"The Master Craftsman," by Kelli Stuart

 "The Master Craftsman," by Kelli Stuart

In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in the House of Fabergé, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history--an unknown Fabergé Egg that Peter Karl Fabergé secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial tsar's family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family. 

Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance--and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.

This book has a bit of everything in it; mystery, suspense, romance, action, history, fabulous jewels and artifacts.  It was so good I read it in one sitting/day!  I could not put it down.  It was a page turner right from the beginning; I HAD to know what happened next.

There were twists and turns right until the very end of the book.  Some I guessed; others were surprises.  Even the going back and forward between the past and the present, which normally annoys me; it was written in such a way that I never minded it.

Stars out of 5:5 I would give it 100 if I could, it was that good.  It was so well researched and the details were so spot on that I would love to visit St. Petersburg to see everything.  I have to say I have always loved the Faberge Eggs so that too was good to read about.  A very talented writer, I must look into her other books she has written.

 "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 it Takes," by Nicole Deese

 "All that it Takes," by Nicole Deese

When the ever-cautious Val Locklier moves cross-country with her son for a secure job, everything she'd planned unravels within the first week. After Val reluctantly agrees to rent an apartment from her best friend's brother, an unexpected chance at an elite filmmakers' mentorship ignites fresh hope for a dream career. But as Val's community begins to expand, so do her insecurities, especially those heightened by her growing attraction to a certain friendly landlord. 

Pastor Miles McKenzie returns home from a short-term mission trip to discover that not only does he have an intriguing new tenant living upstairs, he's also been reassigned to a local ministry on life support. Disillusioned and restless, he distracts himself by throwing his energy into a host of new projects--not the least of which is pursuing Val--without stopping to consider the future. 

As Val struggles to stop hiding behind the camera and Miles wrestles with shattered expectations, they'll find that authentic love and sacrifice must go hand in hand.

This is the first book I have read by this author.  I enjoyed it, but found it a bit hard to get into at first.  I felt as though we were being slowly "drip-fed" the story.  It was a little to slow for me.  Saying that though, I did find the subject matter very interesting and did learn some new things, which is always a bonus.

I came away thinking that love is truly about give and take, and with Val and Miles, it was a struggle to find that middle ground.  This book also made you think about what God wants you to do in your life and what plans he has for you.  Even the most religious of people have much to learn as they navigate a path through life.  

Stars out of 5 : 4 It was a struggle at first to get engrossed in the book, but by the time I got half way through it I needed to know what was going to happen next.  It is worth the read though.

"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".

"Sea Glass Cottage," by Irene Hannon

"Sea Glass Cottage," by Irene Hannon

When painful pasts collide, can love overcome heartache--and triumph despite the odds?

Christi Reece is desperate. The one-time golden girl's life has tarnished, and a cascade of setbacks has left her reeling. She needs help, and she's certain Jack Colby is in a position to provide it.

When she shows up in Hope Harbor, however, Jack wants nothing to do with the woman who betrayed him. He's built a new life on the Oregon coast--and there's no room in it for Christi, even after she takes refuge in a charming but mysterious cottage nearby. Yet it soon becomes apparent his opinion of her may need revising . . . especially when he ends up needing her help.

Can these two hurting souls open their hearts to a new beginning?

Irene Hannon cannot write a bad book in my opinion.  So I knew I would like this book.  Add in the fact it is another book in the Hope Harbor series and I knew it would be a winner.  I have read all the Hope Harbor books and each one is better than the last one.  I think I must say this every time, but I have decided I want to live in Hope Harbor.  Bit of a difficult thing to do though as there is no "real" Hope Harbor.

However the way that Irene writes you feel as though you are there with the characters.  I was cheering on from the sidelines that Jack and Christi would renew their friendship and it would lead to more.  It was nice to see character's pop up in the book that I knew from past books.  However you could read this book as a stand alone book without any problems.

Stars out of 5:5 and a very solid 5.  It had a bit of everything in it to keep you wanting to turn the pages.  I can't wait for the next one in the series.  I bet I will want to live in Hope Harbor even more then!

 "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".

"Along The Rio Grande," by Tracie Peterson

 "Along The Rio Grande," by Tracie Peterson

Is her compassion doing more harm than good?

Recently widowed Susanna Jenkins has decided to follow her family to the booming town of San Marcial, New Mexico, for a fresh start and to aid in her family's sudden change in fortune. They are tasked with managing her uncle's new Grand Hotel, and it takes all her patience to try to help her parents see the good of their circumstances and relinquish their sense of entitlement.

She's hopeful when her brother becomes determined to get a job and make his own way, and she feels drawn to his kind boss, Owen Turner, who works as a boilermaker for the Santa Fe's train shops in town. But the hard work only seems to fuel her brother's anger, and his rough new friends give her pause.

When misguided choices put Susanna's family in an even more precarious situation, she worries her help has only made things worse. Leaving her family to fend for themselves seems like the best option, but how can she walk away from the true friendships--and love--that she's found?

I am a big fan of Tracie's books and this was as good as ever.  She writes so well, that I too was very frustrated with the actions of Susanna's parents.  I was ready to step into the pages of the books and give the pair of them a good shake...LOL

I came away with the thoughts that patience is a must when dealing with family.  Susanna's family tried her patience time after time.  However believing in God throughout got her through the hard times.  This book had a few hard times, but many good ones also.  Add in a bit of mystery, some romance and stunning descriptions of an area I have never been too and all in all a jam packed very readable book.

Stars out of 5 : 5  No complaints from me.  An easy book to read.  The first in the "Love on the Santa Fe," series.  Looking forward to reading the rest.

"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".