Secrets of My Heart by Tracie Peterson

For people familiar with Peterson's work there probably won't be a lot of surprises in Secrets of My Heart. In fact, for long-term readers, there will even be a few familiar characters making an appearance. However, this also means, unsurprisingly, that Peterson has penned a tale full of characters you'll want to journey along with once again.

I really appreciate Nancy as a lead in the ways Peterson explores grieving both from Doug and Albert as well as against God and with herself. Nancy may be set in a specific time period but her emotional struggles feel relatable. Grief is complex and I appreciate how Peterson presses into it for Nancy.

Nancy also brings a host of characters with her borders. Now, recognizing that this is book one of a new series (most likely trilogy) I truly hope some of these characters find their feet in future endeavors. The sisters and Mrs. Weaver added some interest and it felt as though their secrets were merely introduced not resolved and my sense is that Clementine and Gabe could easily step up as book two's central figures maybe allowing Mimi to shine a bit more. 

I think it's a mark of skill for an author to not only leave a satisfying main story but leave you with questions about the rest of the cast. I have some theories on Mrs. Weaver.

As I said earlier, the main plot feels familiar as Nancy and Seth seek the truth about Albert Pritchard's dealings and demise but I still enjoyed Peterson's pacing of the plot and inclusion of details. Honestly, I think given the current chaos the familiarity made the novel that much more inciting.

Finally, I appreciate Peterson's working in of the Gospel. Nancy's interactions with her family and mentors never came across as sermonizing but rather as a natural mentoring and care letting the words and their message move seamlessly within the story, never jarring but encouraging interaction with the story and reflection on meaning.

4.5 out of 5 stars

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

Out of the Embers by Amanda Cabot

I have no problem stating it upfront. Out of the Embers is hands down my favourite book by Amanda Cabot to date.

While Cabot provides all the usual character growth and romance possibilities with her main character Evelyn, she has filled in her plot with twisting turns, lots of heart, and some of the best narrative timing I've seen in this genre when it comes to Evelyn's growth.

Evelyn easily holds this story as a lead character thanks to the personality and resilience she's developed in the face of a past filled with loss and fear thanks to the ongoing presence of one she's deemed "the watcher." I like Evelyn, she's a strong lead but not one who's isolated from her past, Cabot took the time to make sure her insecurities were realistic given her history and that she had the support in the narrative to work through them.

Wyatt and Polly were amazing secondary characters. Polly's backstory kept me guessing as it was unfolded and her innocence provided a good counter to Evelyn and Wyatt's concerns.

Wyatt was interesting as a male lead and I appreciated Cabot's notes explaining how he changed a few plot points on her thanks to his personality. This freedom Cabot gives her characters to grow and change as the narrative speaks really makes for a solid and engaging cast.

Second the romance. I've said before it annoys me when two character meet and fall in love immediately. So, I was a little concerned when Polly and Wyatt first meet. But, my fears were soon eased. Cabot really does a masterful job keeping her characters motivations in line and provides a satisfying romance for Evelyn with her three potential suitors. Also, side note, she does an excellent job capturing the environment of falling in love in a small town, the nosy but caring neighbours, Polly's opinions, everything just rings true in Evelyn's journey and made it such a joy to read.

I will admit, I'm curious to see if the charm of Mesquite Springs continues without Evelyn anchoring the plot, not to mention how one characters journey for mental health treatment will be handled in future stories but with Dorothy already confirmed to be continuing the story in book 2 I doubt fans will have too long to wait.

4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book as part of the #RevellReads book tour. All the opinions are my own.

Hope’s Highest Mountain by Misty M. Beller

Adventure, faith, romance, and loss Misty M. Beller knows how to craft a tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. I cannot believe Beller's only coming onto my radar now!

Hope's Highest Mountain centers upon Ingrid Chastain, a young woman on a mission to assist a Montana town on the brink of outbreak and Micha Bradley, a man driven to the wilderness by an overwhelming grief. With most of the story held by these two characters (assisted by the eventual addition of two new friends) Beller had to craft personalities capable of carrying their own stories. For myself, Ingrid and Micah more than held their own keeping me enthralled as they faced the dangers of the wilds of the Rockies in the winter.

Beller captures such a balance between Ingrid's steadfast peace and her stubborn determination, she's feels true to her time frame and geography but with the spunkiness needed to survive on the frontier. While Micah's grief, both personal and professional,  was portrayed with care and Beller's use of the letters to Rachel were such a smart way to invite readers into Micah's mind without making it available to his companions. 

As far as plot goes, Beller excels in writing exciting, adventure filled plots that will have you on the edge of your seat. I kept pointing out to my husband all the obstacles our central characters face throughout the plot to his incredulity. However, Beller's done her research and there was certainly a reason most did not venture through the mountains once winter had arrived. Ingrid and her companions face everything from wagon accidents to avalanches. I found it interesting that, in my opinion, Beller gives a quick run down of the event unfolding before focusing primarily on the characters reactions and interaction. This definitely made for a stronger and more interesting story with greater character investment.

To round things out, Beller did manage to find the time and space to explore some romance along the way. This adds some much needed balance to the story and gives way to some very satisfying conclusions to the story.

In Hope's Highest Mountain  Beller has balanced a satisfying blend of adventure, romance, and faith for a fully engaging read and this is only book one of the Hearts of Montana series! I can't wait to see what Beller releases next.  

4.5 stars out of 5 stars

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

Aiming for Love by Mary Connealy

Aiming for Love  started out with a lot of promise. The premise of three sisters, raised isolated from the world, suddenly having their world invaded with the arrival of a ranching family fleeing from danger immediately drew me in. Honestly, romance, family bonds, and idyllic winter settings sound like the perfect holiday read.

To be fair,  Connealy does a wonderful job painting imagery of winter forests and untouched frontiers of Colorado and there are definitely plot threads that bear the potential for further, stronger unfolding in later entries to the Brides of Hope Mountain series.

That said, I struggled to engage with this novel on a few fronts. The characters felt more one-note than I'm used to from Connealy. Ursula's fear and paranoia, Jo's curiosity, and Ilsa's healing dominated their characters. I also struggled with their family conflict as I hadn't reached enough of a connection with the sisters as a family unit to engage with that threat.

Additionally, the pacing and flow also felt more stilted and awkward than what I'm used to from Connealy. At first, I wondered if that was to help separate the sisters narrative in light of their isolation but even major story elements like the romance, the illness, and the conflict between Ursula and Jo felt off somehow in their pacing.

Having read Connealy in the past this book felt odd, fingers crossed this was a new series working to find its feet and book 2 will see this series hit its stride.

3 out of 5 stars 

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

Strong Brave Loved by Holley Gerth

At first glance Strong Brave Loved looks like many other devotionals currently on the shelves. Each chapter consists of an opening focus verse, 2-3 pages of personal story and explanation of the verse, a short prayer, and a reflective section consisting of story and room for notes. Wrapped up in a hard cover with attached bookmark (seriously one of my favourite inventions ever), it's a familiar presentation.

However, it's Holley's presentation and communication that make this devotional stand out. Holley presents bold truths wrapped up in a grace so fierce you can feel the care she holds for her message and her readers. Holley's not afraid to get into the messiness of identity and societal lies carefully drawing her readers back to scripture and pointing out the unflinching mercy and love spoken out again and again.

This feels a little like a basic truths theme, things we should know but often forget in the face of life. Holley's clear writing style and open vulnerability make the lessons accessible as she presents each reading as a partnership something not to be done alone but with other women in faith.

4.5 out of 5 stars

I received this book through the Revell Reads Book Tour in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden

I'm always amazed by Camden's ability to weave historical events into a solid foundation for her novels and The Spice King lives up to her skill. 

Set in Washington in the year 1900, The Spice King follows the story of Annabelle Larkin, a young woman from Kansas filled with great optimism that is tinged by self-imposed burdens. Desperate to repay her father's and sister's sacrifices, Annabelle tirelessly works to earn a permanent position in Washington and repay her families efforts. This introduces her to Gray Delacroix, a reclusive spice magnet fighting his own battles. But what starts as a business venture soon turns to romance, intrigue, espionage, and betrayal. 

As usual, Camden includes a lot of historical background to her story. I, personally, find that while the story may take longer to engage with because of this groundwork, Camden's research and writing skills always lead to a far richer story as a result. Getting a peak into early food regulations, life for those who were disabled, and the politics of the time was fascinating and definitely left me curious for more about the time period. 

I actually quite enjoyed Annabelle and Gray as lead characters. While Annabelle had a plucky optimism that is typical of the genre, I appreciate the struggles she had to remain true to her loyalties when faced with a multitude of bad decisions. I also loved the interplay between Annabelle and her sister showing some of the realities of life with a disability and some of the fears and triumphs that can happen for those involved. 

Additionally, I appreciate how Camden was not satisfied giving a straight forward romance. While the attraction is obvious to readers, I appreciate Camden's willingness to let the characters sit with their consequences and allow the relationship to proceed accordingly. Neither Gray nor Annabelle conform for plot but stay true to the character Camden developed making for a much more satisfying story.

Now, on a final note, this does say Book 1 of the Hope and Glory series so while I did feel some of the story was left incomplete (particularly Luke's fate) I expect that will be addressed in book 2. So I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt until Caroline's book is released in mid 2020. 

4 out of 5 stars

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

The DIY Guide to Building A Family that Lasts by Gary Chapman and Shannon Warden

Dr. Chapman is a well familiar name when it comes to topics of love and relationship. So it really wasn't a surprise to see him and co-author Shannon Warden diving into the topic of family life and the 12 areas they felt were most represented by families looking for positive change in their homes.

The book itself follows a very reader friendly format. Comprised of 12 chapters (plus intro and epilogue) each chapter is broken down into an introduction, a planning section, diy, all-in section, review/sweat equity, reveal/conclusion, and questions for reflection. The break down makes each section easy to follow in its repetition and easy for reference once the book has been finished. Stylistically, I felt the authors found a good balance in their working styles, the material certainly reads as a unified front rather than two voices combating the issue on different fronts.

The material itself was interesting. In all honesty, there wasn't any new information within the text. Chapman and Warden have written a self-help guide filled with basic, common sense information so that a family needing help can access and implement the information without creating more issues. This book isn't meant to be a crisis recovery but rather a helping hand for families wanting home life to be more joyful and fulfilling in the everyday and they stay within that bracket well. I do feel as a result some chapters (namely the one on forgiveness) end up a little over simplified, I'm assuming they were operating under the idea that more complex families or those in crisis would be seeking a professional to help them nuance things into their own context.

Overall, it's a great little intro that's easy to read and gives some solid advice to the everyday family who wants to be more impactful in their day to day.

 4 out of 5 stars

I received this book from Moody Publishing in exchange for my honest opinion, the views expressed are my own.