ReviewsByErin

I recently read three stories from this novella collection, being on a western kick to end 2018, and thought I'd share my thoughts with you.




"A Cowboy Unmatched" by Karen Witemeyer
Neill Archer left his home two years ago on a quest to prove himself. Now he's almost ready to return, but his trip is delayed when he is hired by an anonymous benefactor to repair the roof of a widow's house. He isn't prepared when the widow is young, very pregnant, part Comanche, and in a heated long-standing battle that may be more than she can win without his help.





"An Unforeseen Match" by Regina Jennings
Grace O'Malley's world is disappearing - literally. With blindness encroaching, Grace has had to give up teaching and is trying to settle into the cabin that has been provided for her. Things sure would be easier if she didn't have to live by herself. When a passing cowboy agrees to help with a few things around the cabin, the two find they share a lot in common - including some surprising things that may drive them apart.




"Meeting Her Match" by Mary Connealy
Life keeps jerking the rug out from under schoolmarm Hannah Taylor's feet. Hannah has taken great pride in being a discreet behind-the-scenes matchmaker, but now that she's in such a vulnerable place herself, the women of the town turn the tables and try to make sure Hannah is taken care of by someone who has long loved her from afar.

Find out more thoughts on any of these stories by clicking on their titles.




No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert

Loosely based on real-life events, this story deals with a lot of deep and thought-provoking issues, including some that are often swept under the rug. School districts merge and tensions of every kind run high in the lives of three different women.





Who I Am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher

It's tempting to hide from the past when it is full of pain. Pregnant widow Jessica doesn't want anyone to know that before he died her husband was about to leave her, and Ridley is fresh off a political scandal. Poignant and captivating.




Falling For You by Becky Wade

There's one person Willow Bradford never wanted to see again, and that's the man who is now back in her life. While she carefully maintains a perfect exterior, it may be time to face the things she has kept so deeply buried.

 


The Tales From Ivy Hill series concludes with this new release from Julie Klassen. Once upon a time we met Jane, a young widow who was stepping up to the challenge of being an innkeeper, and Mercy, a schoolteacher whose life took an unexpected turn. Will Jane and Mercy both find the happy endings their hearts long for?

Still trying to deal with her body's limitations, Jane hesitates to accept the offer of marriage that has been given to her. With the unexpected arrival of someone from her past, Jane ponders if it will change her future.

Now in reduced circumstances, Mercy considers becoming a governess in order to find a measure of freedom. She pines for the man who has caught her heart, but meanwhile she's caught the eye of a man who could give her every comfort.

Alongside the other Ivy Hill residents we've come to know and love, a new seamstress comes to town with the hope of making a fresh start. Her mysterious background becomes a source of much curiosity, and it turns out she may have more ties to the village than she even knows.

A wonderful wrap-up to a delightful series, The Bride of Ivy Green had me laughing, cheering, and crying by turns. If you enjoy stories reminiscent of Jane Austen or Elizabeth Gaskell, you'll want to add these to your reading list.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Novellas offer us a chance to see different sides of authors we enjoy. While occasionally I find the short form holds some drawbacks, there are other stories that rise to the top and leave their mark with the depth they are able to achieve. Here are three such that I read this year.

Click on any title for more information on each story.




 Bound and Determined by Regina Jennings

She's determined to stop her father from bringing home a train of camels, but the Army officer assigned to assist her father has a lot at stake if the job is not accomplished. Two stubborn people and a group of unique animals - what a great cast of characters!





Unlucky in Love & Lyrics by Tracy Joy Jones

Amelia Mayberry has been gifted with a beautiful singing voice, but the moment she steps on stage she cannot remember song lyrics. Can help come from an unlikely source? A fun story with a St. Patrick's Day theme.





Then Came You by Becky Wade

This was a very different kind of read, as it was written in epistolary form. Containing no traditional dialogue, interaction, or narration, it still captivates one's attention. Though not for young readers due to content, it really stood out for its uncommon approach.

 


Lieutenant Jack Hennessey has found himself thriving as he serves the Indian nations surrounding Fort Reno. He's learning their languages, earning their trust, and helping build bridges between the tribes and the troopers. Though his heart has always pined for his childhood friend Hattie Walker, he knows she has never really taken him seriously.

Pursuing her career as an artist has always been important to Hattie, and when her parents begin insisting it is time for her to leave it behind and find a suitable man to marry, Hattie decides to venture west to improve her scope of experience. Though one might mistake her determination for stubbornness, deep down Hattie is sweet and vulnerable. She is shattered when misfortune befalls her travels, and her only ray of sunshine is the man who is able to come to her rescue - her former schoolmate Jack.

Surprised to see her, Jack senses a chance to make a favorable impression on Hattie, but things go sideways when he finds out that the celebration he initiated ended with an Indian marriage ceremony to which neither of them consented! When he tries to untangle the mess, Jack is dismayed when his commanding officer says that due to his work with the tribes, it would be damaging and disrespectful to annul the vows spoken over them. How can he possibly break the news to Hattie that they are married, and even worse, that there will be no easy release from their union?

The predicament these two find themselves in is quite intriguing, and Regina writes with such a fun style that I often found myself laughing out loud. I liked the fact that Jack and Hattie had grown up together, giving an air of depth to their relationship when they must make a bargain about their unusual marriage. There are threads of mystery and danger woven in, and it was interesting to read about Jack's work with the Indians. I would highly recommend this story to all fans of historical romance. I could hardly wait to find out how it would come together in the end!

I received my copy of this book from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.

Jessica Mason's world was turned upside down in the span of a few weeks. First her husband told her he wanted a divorce, then he and their 6-year-old daughter died in a car accident. A positive pregnancy test only complicated matters. She never had a chance to tell anyone about her husband's unfaithfulness, and now it's a burden that grows heavier with each month that passes.

Trying to escape a political scandal for which he took the blame, Ridley Chesterfield finds himself nearly off the grid in rural Idaho. Fixing up his parents' vacation home gives him a perfect excuse to hide from the world for a while. Ridley did not anticipate making any friends in the small town of Hope Springs, but he can't help but he drawn to his pretty and very pregnant neighbor.

Both weighed down by secrets, both with few reasons to trust others, both trying to find out what God is doing in their lives - I may not have found myself in their exact scenarios, but I am familiar with similar situations and emotions. I really appreciated how the author wove authentic hurt with the hope of healing and of seeing God work even in the midst of tragedies.

Mixed along with the contemporary setting of Jessica and Ridley's story is that of her great-grandfather Andrew Henning, whose Bible Jessica recently inherited. Brief scenes of his life during the Depression add another element to the plot, reminding us that the problems we may face today are not so different from the ones faced throughout time.

This character-driven book deals with deep emotions and spiritual truths which will touch your heart. I had a very hard time putting this story down, and felt a kinship with the uncertainties the characters were going through. We don't know how things will play out. We all need God's healing and help from one another. Robin Lee Hatcher reminds us that with God all our futures are full of hope, no matter what heartaches lie in our pasts.

I received my copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Eisley Barrett gets a break from her three children and her difficult real life when she takes a dream trip to England in order to research the novel that her dying uncle is writing. The effervescent Eisley has been invited to stay with an older couple with whom Uncle Joe has been corresponding, and they are perfectly charming. Unbeknownst to her, they also happen to be the parents of one Christopher Wesley Harrison, a famous British actor with quite the playboy past. A bit starstruck, Eisley rather embarrasses herself at their first meeting and feels like she made a very poor first impression.

Highly suspect of his parents' house guest, Wes is sure Eisley is visiting for more reasons than novel research. Now that he has gotten right with God and reformed his ways, Wes hasn't dated anyone in two years, and he is certain the American visitor is not going to break his resolve. Until he suddenly decides that Eisley is guileless and genuine, and then he full-out pursues her, much to her consternation.

She doesn't want to be involved with someone with his kind of past. Not when it so resembles the past that made an ex of her husband. Yet the new Wes has a genuine joy and peace about him which can't help but draw her to him, and the two decide to become friends.

I did take issue with a few things in this novel. I knew from the first chapter that this book was way more straight-up romance than I prefer to read. I strongly considered not continuing because it was not my style. But the characters had so much potential, with Eisley healing from betrayal and Wes proving he is not bound by previous mistakes, that I decided to stick with it. There's a lot of silliness with how many people try to convince these two they are perfect for each other, which is far from anything I've encountered in real life. Additionally, due to content I would not recommend this to readers under age 16.

From an editing perspective, I was distracted by missing words or quotation marks, character names inconsistently spelled (using McKelroy and MacLeroy on the same page was particularly noticeable), and other goofs like the scene where Eisley's stated hairstyle changes from being in a ponytail to being loose to being in a ponytail again. I realize these things happen and that some readers truly do not mind, but they are big detracting factors to me and it would be unfair not to address it when I've taken other books to task for similar issues.

All that being said, I did think the author did a good job making use of her characters' potential. The complexities of the relationship star in the final third of the book, with each working through obstacles both expected and surprising. Overall I liked it enough that I would try this author again, and I realize it's not the book's fault that it isn't in my preferred genre. Sometimes it takes more than one try to click with an author, and maybe that will be the case here.

Holly Zook has respectfully pressed beyond the Amish social norms to become a pharmacy tech, and she is even pursuing further education with the support of her bishop. She sees the need for her people to realize that consistent medical care can save lives and reduce physical suffering. Understanding that this strange passion may lead her to a life of singleness, since working outside the home is frowned upon once a woman marries, Holly is willing to make the sacrifice.

Working at Greene's Pharmacy has been fulfilling for her, not just because she's able to help people, but also because pharmacist Lyle Greene has become a father figure in Holly's life after her own father's early passing. As our story opens Lyle is facing a health crisis of his own, and the complications that come with it may mean that the pharmacy has to permanently close its doors.

While fighting for her friend and the business close to her heart, Holly must work with Lyle's son Brandon, who is on the verge of receiving his pharmacist's license himself, and Joshua Smucker, a young Amish man from a neighboring district who has liked Holly from afar. As Christmas approaches, can they save Greene's Pharmacy and bring better awareness of medical care to Holly's beloved Amish people?

I appreciated Holly's determination to help her community and her willingness to push past tradition. I confess I found it hard to get into this book at first for a few reasons, but the more I got into the story the more I enjoyed it. I liked that the obstacles our characters faced all carried weight and were not easily overcome, because it gave the story a level of reality as they worked for a good outcome through all the trials.

If you enjoy heartwarming Amish fiction or holiday stories, this might be one for you to pick up!

I received an advanced reading copy from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

As far as I am concerned, Katie Ganshert is in a class by herself when it comes to tackling sensitive issues in fiction. If you haven't read her books yet, please consider checking them out!

"No One Ever Asked" tells the story of three women whose lives are connected by the merging of two school districts. Camille Gray is a go-getting mom of 3 whose life seems to be unraveling by the seams. Her husband is pulling away, her oldest is about to drive her to distraction, and when she speaks up at a school meeting she is branded as a racist.

Jen Covington's dreams of motherhood finally came true when she and her husband brought home their daughter from Liberia, but being Jubilee's mom is more difficult than anything she could have imagined. Was international adoption really the right choice for them?

Anaya Jones is just beginning her career as a teacher, and feels like she's turning her back on her father's legacy by accepting a position at a more upper class, mostly white school. She wonders if she can find her voice and make a difference or if she'll be marginalized and unheard.

This story deals with a lot of deep and delicate issues. How race is perceived in America. Adoption. Violence. Assumption of guilt. Marital problems. Sexual harassment. This is not a book to curl up and read on a rainy day. It's a book that will make you think, that will make you weep over divisions and preconceived notions between people. It's a book that aims to tear down walls and facilitate both self-reflection and discussion. 

This is a book everyone should read. And then let it make a difference in their lives.

We first fell in love with London's premier family of thieves in A Name Unknown, and continued following their adventures in A Song Unheard. Now oldest brother Barclay finally gets his turn to star on the pages, and he cuts quite a dashing figure as he tries to help Mr. V and the Admiralty with anything they need while the Great War rages.

Barclay has worked hard to build their family - a collection of orphans who have banded together to escape life on the streets. He is fiercely protective of each one of them, and even though he's now reformed from his life of stealing to earn bread, there is still an element of his background coming into play in his honest work for the British government. Barclay is assigned to attain the design of a gear that is being developed by a local clockmaker, and Barclay approaches him with honesty rather than the subterfuge that would once have marked his steps.

The clockmaker's daughter, Evelina Manning, has tried hard to fight for her independence, both personally with her recovery from a childhood bout of polio, and also politically as an active suffragette. She is passionate about issues close to her heart. Her world receives a serious setback, however, when her fiancee breaks their engagement and enlists in the war. She was on the cusp of attaining a higher place in society to better proclaim her social ideals, but now she's relegated to being at the mercy of her demanding mother and aunt once again.

Evelina's spark draws Barclay towards her, and for her part, the alluring and somewhat mysterious Barclay makes an excellent diversion from her current unpleasant reality. His family is also highly intriguing. Their friendship will be tested as it becomes apparent that the Admiralty isn't the only one interested in Mr. Manning's gear, and German zeppelins begin their bombing raids over London. It's a dangerous time to live and love, and Roseanna M. White brings it to life beautifully in this engrossing story.

I loved Barclay. His all-out passion for his siblings is something I understand, as well as his lonely musing about romance: "Maybe... Barclay [was] destined to spend his life with children aplenty but no wife by his side to care for them." As a sister and a teacher, that's a sentiment I relate to! I thoroughly enjoyed his story, and I hope Roseanna decides to write another series about this unusual family - there are enough of them to carry us readers through for quite a while!

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.