The Heart's Charge by Karen Witemeyer

FOR YEARS THEY'VE BEEN NOMADS FOR JUSTICE,

BUT A FINAL MISSION MAY JUST LEAD THEIR HEARTS HOME. 

Members of the legendary Hanger's Horsemen, Mark Wallace and Jonah Brooks arrive in Llano County, Texas, to deliver a steed, never expecting they'd help deliver a baby as well. Left with an infant to care for, they head to a nearby foundling home, where Mark encounters the woman he nearly married a decade ago.

After failing at love, Katherine Palmer has dedicated her life to caring for children, teaming up with Eliza Southerland to start Harmony House. Eliza understands the pain of not fitting society's mold, being illegitimate and of mixed ancestry. Yet those are the very attributes that lead her to minister to outcast children. The taciturn Jonah intrigues her by defying all her stereotypes of men, but there are secrets behind his eyes—ghosts from wars past and others still being waged.

When the Horsemen hear rumors of missing children, they stay to investigate, sticking close to Harmony House and its beautiful owners. As they work together to uncover the truth, love and danger grow hand in hand until a final sinister scheme threatens to destroy them all.

Publisher: Bethany House, 2021

Genre: historical romance

Setting: Llano County, Texas, 1894

Series: Hanger's Horsemen, book 2

My Review

Ms. Witemeyer has done it again! The Heart's Charge is a delightful addition to the Hanger's Horsemen series. The sweet, slow-burn romance between Mark and Katherine sets the story, while a love interest for Jonah keeps readers guessing what will happen for him. The mysterious and danger-filled plot keeps the pages turning. This story is full of sweetness and love, rugged men and pure entertainment. I'm eagerly awaiting book three in the series. 

*sidenote* While this is a standalone novel, I suggest reading book one first, as it gives rich details of the backstory that follows through the entire series. 

The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas

 

Thirteen-year-old Loyal Raines is supposed to stay close to home on a hot summer day in 1934. When he slips away for a quick swim in the river and finds a dead body, he wishes he'd obeyed his mother. The ripples caused by his discovery will impact the town of Beverly, West Virginia, in ways no one could have imagined.

The first person those ripples disturb is Loyal's absentee father. When Creed Raines realized his infant son was deaf, he headed for the hills, returning only to help meet his family's basic needs. But when Loyal, now a young teen, stumbles upon a murder it's his father he runs to tell--shaping the words with his hands. As Creed is pulled into the investigation he discovers that what sets his son apart isn't his inability to hear but rather his courage. Longing to reclaim the life he abandoned, Creed will have to do more than help solve a murder if he wants to win his family's hearts again.

Publisher: Bethany House, 2020

Genre: historical fiction

Series: standalone novel

My Review

Ms. Thomas is a master storyteller. Her folk-inspired characters are every bit as warm and flawed as a decades-old quilt pieced together by the colorful members of the communities she creates. I look forward to her books every year, knowing a part of myself will be whisked away to a home I’ve never visited.

The Right Kind of Fool is both beautiful and heartbreaking. A community is shaken. Misplaced love is found again. Relationships are rebuilt even stronger than before. Set against the backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains, The Right Kind of Fool is a wonderful reminder to embrace differences (even our own), hold our loved ones close, and stand for truth no matter how difficult the circumstances.

Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner

GET READY FOR A HEAPING HELPING OF HUMOR, 

ROMANCE, AND SECOND CHANCES

Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanaugh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he's sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley.

As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.

Fan-favorite Bethany Turner serves up a heaping helping of humor and romance with this thoroughly modern story centered on cooking, enemies, and second chances.

Publisher: Revell, 2020

Genre: contemporary romance; romantic comedy

Setting: Nashville, TN

Series: standalone novel

My Review

I was so excited for the opportunity to read this book. I love the premise. I love the cover art. I love romantic comedies. Bethany Turner was a new-to-me author and I found her writing witty, refreshing, and entertaining. The plot took twists and turns that kept the pages turning, the reality TV angle was unique, and Hadley was so down-to-earth and lovable I would watch her on TV if she were a real-life chef with her own show. However, the story fell short for me with the hero. I didn't love his character or even start rooting for him until almost 3/4 of the way through the story. I enjoyed his character growth at the end, but his behavior during the first half of the book was so despicable I couldn't understand why Hadley was attracted to him at all. I think some redeeming qualities thrown in with his flaws would've balanced him enough for me to like him from the beginning. 


I will read more of Bethany Turner's books, as her writing style and unique premises intrigue me. I gave this book three stars. This review is my honest opinion.

Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes

In the wake of WWII, a grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper asking readers to send rocks in honor of loved ones to create something life-giving but the building halts when tragedy strikes. Decades later, Annie returns to the coastal Maine town where stone ruins spark her curiosity and her search for answers faces a battle against time.

Publisher: Bethany House, 2019

Genre: historical fiction, time slip novel

My Review

First of all, this cover is stunning. The color tones and title were the first to catch my attention. Then, I read the blurb and discovered it was set in Maine, and I was all in. With a unique premise and the time-hopping plot, I was excited to get my hands on this book. 

And it did not disappoint. 

This author’s prose is poetic and graceful and unlike any voice I’ve ever read. She wrote a perfect balance of setting details (so I felt I was really in Maine), character authenticities, and plot pacing. At times I wondered how the two stories would connect and then they did, and it was magical. 

I enjoyed finding little nuggets of similarity between her Maine story and my Cadence of Acadia series, also set in Maine. Like the fact they’re set in a small town in basically the same area, near Machias. The town meetings, the broken heroine who returns to Maine for healing without realizing that’s what she’s really there for, etc. It’s clear we both have a love and passion for the area, and it feels as though I’ve found a kindred spirit in the writing world. 

I have definitely found a new favorite author in Amanda Dykes and will be suggesting this book to others for months to come. I look forward to reading what she brings readers next. 

*I recommend this book to anyone looking for deep, soul-stirring read. For those who don’t like heavy romance, this story is light in those regards. For those who enjoy heavy romance, there’s enough love stories of substance throughout the book to make it completely satisfying. 

On Love's Gentle Shore by Liz Johnson

Fifteen years after she left Prince Edward Island, Natalie O'Ryan had no plans to return. But when her fiancé, music producer Russell Jacobs, books their wedding in her hometown and schedules a summer at Rose's Red Door Inn, she sets out to put the finishing touches on the perfect wedding. But she can't possibly prepare for a run-in with Justin Kane--the best friend she left behind all those years ago after promising to stay.

Justin's never forgotten Natalie or the music career he always dreamed of pursuing. He'd been prepared to follow her off the island until his dad died and he was left to run the family dairy farm. He's done the best he can with the life that was thrust upon him--but with Natalie back in the picture, he begins to realize just how much joy he's been missing.

After Natalie's reception venue falls through, she must scramble to find an alternative, and the only option seems to be a barn on Justin's property. As they work together to get the dilapidated building ready for the party, Natalie and Justin discover the groundwork for forgiveness--and that there may be more than an old friendship between them.

Publisher: Revell, 2017

Genre: contemporary romance

Setting: Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

My Review
I'm a sucker for the angst of a good love triangle--especially if both love interests are so incredible they make it hard for me to decide which one I want to win--but in this book the winner was a no-brainer for me from the start. Both male characters were great, don't get me wrong, but Natalie and Justin have a history--memories and emotions--that connect them in a permanent way. There are many wonderful aspects to this story, such as seeing beloved characters from previous books again, the fantastic setting, the conflict between characters, and the beautiful heart-wrenching emotion spilled out on paper. Ms. Johnson did a fantastic job concluding this series. I look forward to what she'll bring readers next. 

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance, second chances, or the arduous and beautiful journey of returning home. 

I give this book 5 stars!

What Hope Remembers by Johnnie Alexander

When you need a new beginning, sometimes

the best place to start is home.

When Amy Somers loses her job as a lobbyist, she moves to Misty Willow, well aware that she's crossing bridges she'd burned years before. With all the mistakes she's made and the uncaring things she's done--even to her own family--she can hardly believe that happiness will find her, especially when Gabe Kendall, her first crush and her first kiss, rides back into her life atop a buckskin mare.

A former Marine, Gabe is at loose ends after serving a prison sentence for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He sees beyond Amy's hard exterior to the girl he once knew and loved, and he longs to see her open her heart. Yet with his vision clouded by shame for his past and fears about the future, he finds it difficult to see the path ahead.

But the memory of that long-ago kiss just may have the power to reignite a romance that brings out the best in both of them.

Publisher: Revell, 2017

Genre: contemporary romance

My Review

What Hope Remembers is book three of Alexander's Misty Willow series and is a nice conclusion to the Somers family saga. Set in rural Ohio, this romance features two broken characters fighting for a fresh start. With pasts that both bond them together and makes their future relationship challenging, this story brings the Somers family together, heals, and brings true faith to light. The twist at the end caught me completely off guard, which was nice as that doesn't happen often. This book reads as a standalone novel, however, I recommend reading the entire series in order to better appreciate Amy's character. I give this book four stars, and I'm looking forward to what Ms. Alexander brings us next!

Where She Belongs by Johnnie Alexander

Can Love Redeem

A Broken Past?

Shelby Kincaid is ready to move on from her grief. With high hopes for the future, she longs to purchase her family's ancestral homestead so she can raise her young daughters in the only place she ever truly belonged. She plans to transform the abandoned house into the perfect home of her memories. But she'll have her work cut out for her.

AJ Sullivan never wanted the homestead. Inherited as a punishment from his grandfather, it has sat empty for fifteen years and fallen into ruin. He's glad to finally unload it. But a clean break isn't possible when he can't get the young widow Shelby off his mind.

Welcome to Misty Willow, a place that will have as great a hold over the reader as it does over its inhabitants. With writing that evokes a strong sense of place and personal history, Johnnie Alexander deftly explores the ties that bind us to home--and the irresistible forces that draw us to each other.

Publisher: Revell, 2016

Cover Design: Studio Gearbox

Cover Collage: Shutterstock

Author Photo: Jodie Westfall Photography

My Review

A beautiful novel that explores the meaning of home and the people we share it with.

Widow Shelby Kincaid returns to the family farm established by her ancestors to raise her two daughters in a place that holds so many wonderful memories for her. Upon her arrival, she meets AJ Sullivan, the man who inherited Misty Willow, who has finally agreed to a rent-to-own contract. Their families have been rivals for years, and Shelby can't wait to have the farm back in her family's possession. But as time passes, Shelby realizes AJ isn't like the rest of the Sullivan's and despite her attempts to shut him out, he slowly works his way into her heart. 

Full of twists, emotion, and lovable characters, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance, family sagas, and those who believe in the meaning of home. I give this book 4 stars!

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Johnnie Alexander is the award-winning author of Where Treasure Hides. Johnnie is an accomplished essayist and poet whose work has appeared in the Guideposts anthology A Cup of Christmas Cheer. In addition to writing, she enjoys reading, spending time with her grandchildren, and taking road trips. She lives near Memphis, Tennessee. Learn more at www.johnnie-alexander.com.

Surprised by Love by Julie Lessman

She can turn the head of the man who spurned her—

but can she turn his heart?

When Megan McClare left San Francisco to study in Paris, no one would accuse her of being poised and pretty. But on the other side of the Atlantic, this wallflower blossomed into a beauty with big dreams. When she returns to California and accepts an internship at the district attorney’s office, she’s thrilled that her life is taking shape. But the exciting opportunity quickly loses its glow when she discovers she’ll be working alongside Devin Caldwell, who mercilessly mocked her at school—and with whom she was hopelessly enamored.

Bram Hughes is the best friend to whom Megan has always turned for support and advice. But when she seeks his counsel about working with Devin Caldwell, Bram’s vision is clouded by his sudden unwelcome attraction to a girl he had always thought of as a little sister. He advises forgiveness, but can he forgive himself for pushing the woman he loves into the arms of another man?

Author: Julie Lessman

Publisher: Revell, 2014

Cover Photography and Design: Brandon Hill

My Review

Surprised by Love is the third novel in Lessman’s “The Heart of San Francisco” series. This story was sweet, torture. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time two love triangles battled for the best man to win. Lessman had a magnificent way of making me root for all the men, until their secrets are revealed. And there were a lot of dirty secrets. Then I was nail-biting to see if the wreckage could be salvaged. Another strong and lovely romance from Lessman with a goose bump-worthy moral. I’m definitely putting the rest of this series on my “to read” list. I give this book 4.5 stars!

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Award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change series, Julie Lessman was

American Christian Fictions Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards. She has also garnered seventeen RWA and other awards and made Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction. Her book A Light in the Window is an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Reader’s Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner. You can contact Julie and read excerpts from her books at julielessman.com.