ReviewsByErin

If you enjoyed The Printed Letter Bookshop, you'll be thrilled to know Of Literature and Lattes takes us back to the town of Winsome and gives us a chance to reconnect with many familiar characters while also embracing new ones.

Alyssa is heading back to Winsome with hardly more than the clothes on her back. Her job imploded in corporate scandal and she's waiting for an appointment with the FBI agents investigating the case. She hopes her dad will let her stay with him, because she definitely doesn't want to stay with her mom Janet, no matter what she's heard about Janet's recent life changes.

There's a new owner at the coffee shop. Jeremy is fresh from Seattle and longs to transform The Daily Brew into something that could be found in any downtown in America. But will his big city ideas fit with Winsome? 

This book is a minefield of family relationship issues. It's relatable but not light. Sometimes it even felt like a punch in the gut. One thing I appreciated was that it pulled me in right away, and I liked that it focused so much on Janet's family and getting to see what happened with her after the end of The Printed Letter Bookshop. The stylistic choice of shifting point of view characters within scenes was odd but not terribly off-putting once I got used to it.

I would certainly recommend reading The Printed Letter Bookshop before this one, and based on the way this ended, I would expect a third book set in Winsome to come next.

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

I love the idea behind Becky Wade's new Misty River Romance series. Five adults have banded together ever since they survived eight days stuck underground after an earthquake hit when they were on a middle school missions trip. A shared childhood trauma is a fascinating way to bind characters together in the present. You can read a post by the author about her inspiration here. 

Book One's heroine is Genevieve, a Bible study author and inspirational speaker. But she has a big secret. After an ankle surgery a year before the story opens, she became addicted to prescription pain pills. She knows it's getting out of control and she's tried to quit before. But when she wakes up in a stranger's guesthouse with no memory of how she got there, it's time to face the fact that she needs serious help.

Sam Turner's regrets chased him from the country he grew up in and have led him to become a very disciplined, solitary person. Attaining his goals has been enough to sustain him and fend off loneliness. Everything changes the morning he sees an unfamiliar car parked outside his guesthouse and investigates to discover the broken woman inside.

Genevieve needs help, and Sam's past experience means he knows more than most what kind of support she'll need. Together with her sister Natasha, he finds himself one of her mainstays during the long road to recovery. And while he doesn't want to fall for her, there's something about her spark and vitality that awakens the deep needs he has kept long buried.

To help fill her days while she gets clean, Genevieve is looking into some threatening letters she's received that indicate her parents have been involved in something dark and dreadful. As Genevieve and Natasha dig for clues, they find themselves uncovering a bigger secret that they could ever imagine—but will bringing it to light allow for for true healing and forgiveness at last?

This is a powerful story. The romance is swoony, but God's faithfulness is also on full display. He knows what we need and He may bring it about in ways we don't see coming. He designed us to live in community and to use His love and strength to be there for others. Readers will be challenged to seek Him more in their own lives. I can't wait for the next book in this series to come out!

I received my copy of the book from Prism Book Tours. All opinions in this review are my own. Keep reading for the giveaway information.

Stay with Me

(A Misty River Romance #1)

By Becky Wade

Christian Contemporary Romance

Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages

May 5th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers



Loving her is a risk he can’t afford . . . and can’t resist.



When acclaimed Bible study author Genevieve Woodward receives an anonymous letter referencing her parents’ past, she returns to her hometown in the Blue Ridge mountains to chase down her family’s secret. However, it’s Genevieve’s own secret that catches up to her when Sam Turner, owner of an historic farm, uncovers the source of shame she’s worked so hard to hide.

Sam has embraced his sorrow, his isolation, and his identity as an outsider. He’s spent years carving out both career success and peace of mind. The last thing he wants is to rent the cottage on his property to a woman whose struggles stir his worst failure back to life. Yet, can he bear to turn her away right when she needs him most?



Other Books in the Series



Take a Chance on Me

(A Misty River Romance #0.5)

By Becky Wade

Christian Contemporary Romance, Novella

ebook, 97 Pages

February 25th 2020



When baker Penelope Quinn steps in to help her brother’s family through a medical crisis, she’s forced into close proximity with charming Air Force fighter pilot Eli Price.

Penelope has one iron-clad dating rule—she does not date airmen. Months ago, she relaxed her rule with Eli and immediately lived to regret it. After a long deployment, he’s now back in Misty River and, to her dismay, she finds him just as tempting as always.

Eli’s spent months thinking about funny, feisty, creative Penelope. He once leveraged his focus and drive to become a pilot, his childhood dream. Now he's set on leveraging that same focus and drive in order to convince Penelope to give him one more chance.

This romantic prequel novella introduces readers to the quaint mountain town of Misty River and a brand-new series from Christy-winning author Becky Wade!





Becky Wade is the 2018 Christy Award Book of the Year winner for True to You. She is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, then put her career on hold for several years to care for her children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. Her humorous, heart-pounding contemporary romance novels have won three Christy Awards, the Carol Award, the INSPY Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award for Romance. Becky lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children.





There is also a bookstagram tour with its own giveaway. Follow on Instagram.

It's been a great year for books! Click on any title to read my original review, or click on the cover if you're interested in purchasing it.

"Now and Then and Always" by Melissa Tagg
He's hit rock bottom and she is hiding from the world. Can restoring one old B&B also restore hope for their futures?

"Sweet On You" by Becky Wade
They've been best friends for a long time. Zander is ready to declare his love, but nothing scares Britt more than losing their friendship.

  "Charming the Troublemaker" by Pepper Basham
Two complex, wounded characters make a lovely story about risking your heart to find hope and healing.

This post contains affiliate links - click here for more information.

 


This split-time novel is set in the East Suffolk English countryside. Each of the three stories intertwines at the historic Framlingham Castle.

• Modern day art historian Keira Foley leaves her native Ireland for what should have been a quick appraisal job on items uncovered during a home renovation. She had not intended to take any more art jobs for a while—not after the way the last one ended—but when approached by a suspected art thief who knows way too much about her history, she can't help but investigate further. Especially when the main piece Emory Scott wants appraised could be an unknown painting by Franz Xaver Winterhalter.

• In 1944, Amelia Woods is trying to hold her late husband's estate together and also take in the children who have been sent to the countryside for shelter from the war. Things are turned on their head when the United States Army decides to quarter its officers on her property and in her manor house. Gentle Captain Stevens tries to make the intrusion have as little affect upon her or the children as possible, but there's no denying the friendship that quickly springs up between them.

• In Victorian England, Lady Elizabeth Meade knows she's supposed to be hunting for a profitable marriage partner to save herself and her mother from financial ruin, but she's really only after one thing: finding the man who murdered her father. Elizabeth was there the night he was killed, and she's never forgotten the face of the young man in the alley. When her mother's top candidate for Elizabeth's marriage turns out to be that young man all grown up, she faces a choice about how to proceed.

Out of the three books in the Lost Castle series, this one was decidedly my favorite. I had suspected it would be, as I'm more familiar with England and its history than I am with France (The Lost Castle) or Ireland (Castle on the Rise). I actually enjoyed all three of the stories in this novel, though if pressed I might say my favorite belonged to Amelia.

Like the other books, I found juggling three sets of timelines and characters continued to rob each of development and the understanding of motivations. These issues were less noticeable this time, but still present. Split-time just isn't my favorite genre. However, many people enjoy it and this was a rather good sampling of it. It may be just what you're looking for! 

I received my copy of the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

 


Kristy Cambron's Lost Castle series continues with this Ireland-inspired tale. Like the first book in the series, this is a split-time novel featuring three separate timelines, characters, and plots. In the late 1700s our heroine is Maeve, largely running her family's estate and trying to be a generous mistress, including rescuing strangers who are found wounded in nearby fields. The middle storyline focuses on the 1916 Easter Rising, with young photographer Issy wanting to join the fight for freedom. Our current day setting brings us Laine, a hurting divorcee with a small daughter whose unplanned visit to Ireland may end up bringing hope and healing to both of them.

Having found the timeline in "The Lost Castle" confusing to follow, "Castle on the Rise" is truly refreshing in its straightforward chronology. The historical stories grabbed me right away, and I also felt for Laine and the burden of the secrets she was keeping.

However, much like the first book, I felt too much was lost trying to pack three stories into one. I love learning history through fiction, but it seemed the rebellions of 1798 and 1916 as Cambron tried to describe them lacked context, and the real life people and places lacked impact because they were not developed enough on the page. I felt Issy's story was the strongest and that I could have gathered so much more of Ireland's struggle if only it had a chance to truly grow and blossom here.

My other main complaint was that even basic conversations were difficult to follow because none of the characters' motivations were very clear. I often had no idea why any two characters would be having the conversations as presented in the story.

It is clear that Cambron loves Ireland and wished to honor this country and its fight for freedom. Her description of the location were beautifully done. Perhaps other readers would be able to enjoy the split-time approach more than I this time.

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

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.

 
This Christmas novella collection was excellent company over my recent travels. The stories were engaging but short enough that I felt I could read significant portions of them in small snatches of time while in a vehicle or before falling asleep in a hotel room. These novellas feature one family's treasured heirloom as it passes from one generation to the next, beginning in Regency Era England and ending in current day Washington state. 

"Legacy of Love" by Kristi Ann Hunter
Sarah Gooding works as a companion to the elderly Lady Densbury, whose grandson Randall she secretly admires from afar. When Lady Densbury's health begins failing and her family is not respecting her wishes, Randall may be Sarah's biggest ally in making sure the woman's final holiday is full of joy and peace.

"Gift of the Heart" by Karen Witemeyer
From Regency England to 1800s Texas, our heroine is now Ruth Fulbright, a widow with a young daughter who hopes to support herself by moving to a resort town and getting a job as a cook. She's forced to pawn her family heirloom in order afford housing, and as she gets to know the town's reclusive banker, finds that her second chance in life may hold more than she ever imagined.

"A Shot At Love" by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Fleeta Brady is not like most girls in 1950s West Virginia. She's loved hunting and sportsmanship as long as she can remember, and she's been saving to purchase her own gunsmith shop. Through twists, turns, and an unexpected friendship, Fleeta finds that there may be more love in life than she expected with her orphaned background.

"Because of You" by Becky Wade
In modern day Washington, Maddie Winslow is paired up with widower Leo for a church holiday project - which is both wonderful and terrifying because she's had a crush on him for a long time. Working closely together for the benefit of others will force them to reevaluate if their friendship is growing to mean more to each other as well.

Easy to read but overflowing with the delights of the season, The Heirloom would be a nice addition to your holiday reading list.

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

 


From the outside looking in, Willow Bradford's life looks perfect - and that's the way she likes it! She's from a happy, wealthy family and has a successful modeling career. Everything that she can control about her life is beautiful and smooth. But she can't control the fact that she struggles with her mom's abandonment, or that Corbin Stewart, her one big regret and the man she's never forgiven, is back in her life.

When our story opens Willow is on sabbatical from modeling, taking care of her stepmother's bed and breakfast for a few months. She's enjoying the slower pace and the chance to spend more time with her sisters. She reluctantly agrees to see Corbin when his young niece wants to meet her, and can't help but be drawn in by the mystery Charlotte asks her to help solve.

Corbin has had a tumultuous year. A jarring injury ended his career as a professional quarterback. A team chaplain helped him through his depression and led him to Christ. Now he's in Washington state for extensive shoulder rehab, and face to face with the gorgeous but aloof Willow for the first time in four years, asking for her help for Charlotte's sake.

Charlotte just discovered a family secret - her great-aunt Josephine went missing in 1977 and has never been heard from again. In her 12-year-old eagerness, she is certain she can crack this mystery even though it has been a cold case for four decades. Willow, Corbin, and Charlotte work to connect the dots and turn over leaves, hoping for some measure of closure for Josephine's family. Meanwhile the time together offers Corbin and Willow the chance to talk about their intense breakup and to evaluate if there might be room for love to rekindle in the future.

I enjoyed this book a lot! The mystery was quite well-done, with many twists and turns. There were two scenes with some tactful yet frank moments, which were completely relevant and necessary to the plot, but I wouldn't recommend this for readers under 16 years old for that reason. I thought the faith aspect of the story was especially moving, and I related to Willow a lot more than I expected to. Out of the Becky Wade stories I've read, this one is my favorite!

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

"The Lost Castle" is a tale of The Sleeping Beauty in the Loire Valley - a castle that has kept its tales close to home through many generations. Now Ellie Carver is on a quest to uncover them all, guided only by the knowledge that once upon a time her grandmother lived and loved in its proximity. Now that Grandma Vi is being stolen from her due to Alzheimer's, Ellie's journey to France feels like a mission of utmost importance.

Running alongside Ellie's story is that of Viola Hart in 1944 - 'Grandma Vi' when she was still a young girl herself. With WWII having changed everything for London families, Viola is recruited to be a linguist for Britain's Special Operations. Things take an unexpected turn when she winds up in Nazi-occupied France working under threat of her life every day.

A third storyline takes place during the French Revolution. Aveline is a woman of noble birth who is on the eve of marrying the elder son of one of the richest dukes in France. She herself is not so interested in wealth, but with politics and finding a way to break down the walls between the aristocracy and the lower classes. She's been conditioned to keep this part of her heart under wraps. Before she can meet her betrothed face to face, a fire at his castle injures Aveline and leaves her in the care of the workers of the estate. As the war progresses, can Aveline be a part of building together the things that are good and right about mankind no matter their rank or station?

I have to say that having three different storylines in three different time periods with three sets of major and minor characters was a bit much for this reader, especially because within each storyine was a fair amount of flashbacks, making its already tenuous chronology even harder to follow. Each individual story felt shallow because it didn't have its full chance to expand and grow, being compressed by the others demanding their own share of the pages. I felt that Aveline's story would have worked very nicely as a prequel novella, so that those of Vi and Ellie could have had more depth.

There were a few other things that detracted from my full enjoyment of this book, but I do like Kristy Cambron a lot and fully plan to read more of her stories in the future. This book's personality just didn't suit my own, and that's no one's fault at all.

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