Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson

In her kitchen at the Red Door Inn, executive chef Caden Holt is calm, collected, and competent. But when her boss asks her to show off their beautiful island to impress a visiting travel writer and save the inn, Caden is forced to face a world much bigger than her kitchen--and a man who makes her wish she was beautiful. 
Journalist Adam Jacobs is on a forced sabbatical on Prince Edward Island. He's also on assignment to uncover a story. Instead he's falling in love with the island's red shores and Caden's sweets. 
When Caden discovers Adam isn't who she thought he was, she realizes that the article he's writing could do more than ruin the inn's chances for survival--it might also break her heart. 
Readers will discover hope for the hurting, joy for the broken, and romance for the lonely at the enchanting Red Door Inn.


Publisher: Revell, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance


My Review
Where Two Hearts Meet is book two of Johnson's Prince Edward Island Dreams series. This standalone romance also features the continuation of Seth and Marie's story from book one. I enjoyed seeing these characters again, as well as meeting new ones.

Caden Holt loves to cook. She's finally stepped out from under her dad's bakery to make a career of her own as Rose's Red Door Inn's chef and a culinary teacher to local teenagers. But the financial status of the inn, the return of her arch nemesis, and the presence of a handsome reporter threaten everything she's worked for.

Adam Jacobs is on a forced leave of absence from his journalist job to recoup and break through his writer's block. A recent tragedy has knocked his world off axis and he's hoping the beauty and seclusion of the island will help him find his way again. However, the inn's cute cook, her scrumptious food, and a misunderstanding have him more distracted, and confused, than ever. But nothing is more challenging than Taco Bed...

Full of heart and lessons learned, Where Two Hearts Meet is a winner.

Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren

Bestselling Author's New Series Delivers Romance and Adventure as an SAR Team Searches for Others--and Finds Themselves 

Search and rescue pilot Kacey Fairing is home on leave in Mercy Falls, Montana, twelve years after she joined the military to escape the mistakes of her past. With a job waiting for her as the new lead pilot of Peak Rescue in Glacier National Park, Kacey hopes to reconnect with the now-teenage daughter she sees only between deployments. What she doesn't realize is that someone else is also back in town. 

Ben King has been building his country music career since the day Kacey shut him out of her life. Now all of that's on hold when his injured father calls him home to help run Peak Rescue until he's fully recovered. It doesn't take long, though, to discover his father's ulterior motives as Kacey Fairing walks into the house and back into his heart. 
With Mercy Falls in a state of emergency due to flash floods, Kacey and Ben are forced to work together to save lives. But when floodwaters turn personal, can they put aside the past to save their future?



Publisher: Revell, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance


My Review
Wild Montana Skies is the first book in Warren's Montana Rescue series. True to Susan May Warren fashion, this book held me captive from the first page. Kacey Faring is strong, independent, and full of regrets. After an absence from the military, she's back home and ready to start anew. Ben King is famous, available, and still has feelings for Kacey after all these years. Working together brings them closer together but the secrets they hold may just tear them apart for good.

A solidly written romance full of emotion and heart.

A Lady Unrivaled by Rosanna M. White

Lady Ella Myerston can always find a reason to smile--even if it's just in hope that tomorrow will be better than today. All her life everyone has tried to protect her from the realities of the world, but Ella knows very well the danger that has haunted her brother and their friend, and she won't wait for it to strike again. She intends to take action . . . and if that happens to involve an adventurous trip to the Cotswolds, then so much the better. 

Lord Cayton has already broken two hearts, including that of his first wife, who died before he could convince himself to love her. Now he's determined to live a better life. But that proves complicated when old friends arrive on the scene and try to threaten him into a life of crime. He does his best to remove the intriguing Lady Ella from danger, but the stubborn girl won't budge. How else can he redeem himself, though, but by saving her--and his daughter--from those dangerous people who seem ready to destroy them all?


Publisher: Revell, 2016
Genre: Historical Romance


My Review
Lady Ella is determined to find the Fire Eyes diamonds to save her family from any more peril. Even if it means putting herself at risk. She takes on this mission alone, or so she thinks. An unexpected meeting with Lord James Cayton complicates her plans and confuses her heart. 

I loved the banter between the hero and heroine. Both characters are strong yet flawed, and deliciously perfect for each other. This is the first book I've read by Ms. White, and it won't be my last. 

I give this book 5 stars!

A Tapestry of Secrets by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Appalachian Blessings book #3

This Decade-Spanning Novel of Family and Faith Will Delight 

Now in her eighties, Perla Phillips has carried a secret since she was eighteen years old. When she sees her granddaughter, Ella, struggling for perfection, she decides to share her secret to show that God can use even the biggest mistakes for good. But before she can reveal what happened during that summer sixty years ago, she has a debilitating stroke. 
Carrying a secret of her own, Ella arrives back in Wise, West Virgina, to help her aunt Sadie care for Perla. Both know the woman wanted to tell them something, but she's now locked in silence. Together they begin looking into the past, but they may learn more than they expected. 

Will they have the courage to share their hearts? Or will the truth remain buried forever?


Publisher: Bethany House, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Fiction


My Review
Ella Phillips needs a change. Unfortunately, she isn't sure what that change is, until her grandmother, Perla Phillips, has a stroke and Ella returns to the family farm in Wise, WV. The solitude of country living, the support of family, and the connection to her grandmother--and Perla's past--are exactly what Ella was missing. Then an entrepreneur threatens a piece of their heritage, exposing secrets, and testing Ella's relationships and her faith.

This novel was a fantastic conclusion to the Appalachian Blessings series, however, this is a standalone novel that doesn't require the reader to have read the first two books in order to understand this one. Though, I do recommend doing so, as it's so much fun to watch the entire family evolve throughout the generations.

I can't wait to read Ms. Loudin's next series. I give this book 4 stars!

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For more about Sarah and her books, visit her website at www.sarahloudinthomas.com and follow her on social media. 

Hope Prevails by Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Neuropsychologist Offers Hope to Those Struggling with Depression 

As a board-certified neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson sees the devastation of depression. Early on, she practiced the most effective treatments and prescribed them for her clients. But when she experienced depression herself, she found that the treatments she had recommended were lacking. Her experience showed her the missing component in treating depression. 
In "Hope Prevails," Dr. Bengtson writes with deep compassion, blending her training and faith, to offer readers a hope grounded in God's love and grace. She helps readers understand what depression is, how it affects them spiritually, and what, by God's grace, it cannot do. The result is an approach that offers the hope of release, not just the management of symptoms. 
For those who struggle with depression and those who want to help them, "Hope Prevails" offers hope for the future.


Publisher: Revell, 2016
Genre: Self-help; nonfiction


My Review
I love the title of this book because it's so true. Our hope--in God--prevails. But as the storms of life thrust us upon the rocky shore, as circumstances out of our control cause us to sink, we tend to forget this truth. Dr. Michelle Bengtson guides readers by the hand through God's promises, backed with sound Scripture. She pours her own heartache and experiences with depression onto the pages, letting readers know they're not alone. She shares her transformation from the darkness of depression back to the light, proving hope truly does prevail.

I chose to read this book as a caregiver to a loved one with depression. Sometimes in my daily struggled to help keep their head above water, I too need reminded of God's promises on days when my task feels too daunting. This book also helped me to better understand the thoughts and mind of one with depression, showing where I need to improve in my support system.  

I recommend this book to anyone who suffers from depression or who plays the role as caregiver. I give this book 5 stars!

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

A Heart Most Certain by Melissa Jagears

Lydia King knows what it's like to be in need, so when she joins the Teaville Moral Society, she genuinely hopes to help the town's poor. But with her father's debts increasing by the day and her mother growing sicker by the week, she wonders how long it will be until she ends up in the poor house herself. Her best chance at a financially secure future is to impress the politician courting her, and it certainly doesn't hurt that the moral society's president is her suitor's mother. Her first task as a moral society member—to obtain a donation from Nicholas Lowe, the wealthiest man in town—should be easy . . . except he flat-out refuses.
Despite appearances, Nicholas wants to help others but prefers to do it his own way, keeping his charity private. When Lydia proves persistent, they agree to a bargain, though Nicholas has a few surprises up his sleeve. Neither foresee the harrowing complications that will arise from working together. When town secrets are brought to light, this unlikely pair must decide where their beliefs—and hearts—truly align.


Publisher: Bethany House, 2016
Genre: historical romance


My Review
Lydia King considered herself a good Christian, taking care of her dying mother, attending church faithfully, tithing, and volunteering through her local Moral Society. Until she meets the reclusive, handsome, and wealthy Nicholas Lowe. To prove to her future mother-in-law she's an asset to her intended's political career, Lydia takes on the task of begging money from the tight-fisted miser to aid the Moral Society's latest project. Lydia fails. No matter how many times she asks or which tactic she uses, Nicholas always answers no. 

Intrigued by her stubbornness and spunk, Nicholas decides to let Lydia dictate other ways he should help the less fortunate without granting her original request. Only there's a twist. Through disguises, late night meetings, and help from the wrong side of the tracks, Lydia discovers what serving God truly means. 

With unexpected twists, lovable characters, and a great faith message, I gave this book 4.5 stars!

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

I Wish He Had Come With Instructions: The Woman's Guide To A Man's Brain by Mike Bechtle

WHAT IS HE REALLY THINKING?

When a woman begins a relationship with a man, she may think she's found her knight in shining armor. As the relationship continues, that armor can begin to feel like a barricade she just can't get past it. What's he hiding in there, anyway? 

Relationship and communication expert Mike Bechtle offers women an insider's guide to the puzzling male brain. Simple and practical, this book provides women with a roadmap for better conversations and improved relationships. Bechtle reminds readers that men and women share many similarities, and by embracing those similarities they can better deal with differences. He explains how men think, act, communicate, and grow in relationships, and even offers tips for communicating in a toxic relationship. 

Wives, girlfriends, mothers, daughters, friends, and coworkers will find real help within these pages.


Publisher: Revell, 2016
Genre: non-fiction, CLWI   Marriage   



My Review
This book piqued my interest for a few different reasons:

1. I've been married for fifteen years and I feel I'm no closer to understanding my husband's mind. We've learned to cope with each other's quirks and differences, but many times we still fail to understand the gap between Mars and Venus. :)

2. I write romance novels from both the hero and heroine's point of view, so the more I understand men the better my heroes will be.

3. I have three sons, two of which are teenagers. On a daily basis, I get frustrated with a lack of communication and all the testosterone (a.k.a. anger and competition) flying around the house. Needless to say, being the only woman around, I need help. :)

First of all, please know my reading material of choice is fiction, so non-fiction writing really has to capture my attention to keep me interested. Mike Bechtle succeeded. His style and tone was informative yet humorous, honest without apology, and very helpful. This book is NOT a set of instructions on how to change a man or how to fix a broken relationship. This book explains the male brain chemical makeup, how men perceive certain things, and how/why they react to various life scenarios.

I found this book helpful in my desire to better understand my husband, thus becoming a better wife. We've been married long enough now we've ceased bickering over certain things and have chalked it up to "things we'll never understand." While reading this book, I came across several things we used to argue over, and I'd wished I'd understood my husband's point of view back then. I wish this book would've been available years ago. :)

I recommend this book to newlyweds and anyone who desires to have a better relationship with their spouse and mothers of boys. I gave this book 5 stars!

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.