Ride of Her Life

Over the past few years, I have so enjoyed reading about the adventures of Marguerite, Emily, and Lilly in the Lake Manawa Series. In Ride of Her Life, written by Lorna Seilstad, I was able to follow the story of Lilly Hart, and her experiences at Lake Manawa which were vastly different than those of Emily and Marguerite. Lilly Hart is a widow living at Lake Manawa with her young son Levi. Whereas Her one goal is to provide a better life for him and a home which he can call his own. With that in mind, she works tirelessly at a local diner, whereas Marguerite and Emily were always vacationing at the Lake. Little does she know, the foreman who is constructing a roller coaster, Nick Perrin, will enter her and her son’s lives in a way she never expected.

I have to say, I always look forward to these books, and I am upset to see the series come to an end. Although I am disappointed there won’t be any more stories about Emily, Marguerite, and Lilly, I really enjoyed each and every one of these books. I think each character learned something important during their summers, and the same can be said of Lilly. She was fiercely independent, and did not want to ask anyone for help. Throughout the story, we see this lessening, as she learns to rely on Nick. Although she is faced with hardships, in the form of her ex father-in-law, Lilly never lost her faith. Although there were points she questioned what her feelings were toward God, I feel as if deep down she was always living her life with him in mind.   

In addition to the strong character of Lilly, I really liked Nick. He was always kind and understanding to Lilly, even when she tried to push him away because of her confusion with falling in love again after the death of her first husband. He showed this same compassion to her young son Levi, and he provided a great “father-figure” for the adventurous young boy. All of the characters were very well written, and I will definitely be looking for new books to read by Lorna Seilstad to find some more entertaining main characters!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"Available May 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

Beloved Enemy

Beloved Enemy by Al Lacy is exactly the type of book I like to read on a rainy summer day, so it was perfect for reading this past week since I was trapped inside with non-stop rain!! Jenny Jordan and her father find themselves Virginians living in Washington D.C. during the Civil War. Due to her father’s military background, he is assigned to President Lincoln’s Wartime Committee. Little does anyone know, Mr. Jordan is still faithful to his home state and the Southern Cause. As Jenny herself becomes involved in the spy ring, she must consider her feelings for Buck Brownell. Buck is a part of the Union Army, and has been forbidden from spending time with Jenny due to the War. As you can imagine, tensions arise as Jenny’s espionage becomes known as she is found delivering a message to General Stonewall Jackson. I liked seeing the relationship between Jenny and Buck, as well as learning more about the events leading up to the Battle at Bull Run. Since I love anything to do with the Civil War, it was very easy to fall in love with this story and the characters. Although the book was full of facts, it was written in a way that didn’t seem bogged down in dates and strategic military maneuvers, rather it felt like I was actually with Jenny throughout this time in her life. I think the most interesting part of the book was that although Jenny and her father were spying for the South, they were still compelling characters. I just found out there are other books in this series, so I will definitely be reading them in the near future :-) With that said, this book was easy to read as a stand-alone, and I did not have any difficulty following the story. I will definitely recommend this book to others, and I cannot wait to read more books by Al Lacy. The following Link has more information about the book http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781590529034 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

A Love Forbidden

All Shiloh Wainright has dreamed of is teaching the Ute Indians, and when she gets the opportunity to move to Northwestern Colorado to teach at the White River Indian Agency, she jumps at the chance. Little does she know, her past will catch up with her as she meets Jesse Blackwater, a young man who once worked on her family’s ranch. As Shiloh and Jesse become closer to one another, tensions arise between the US Government and the Ute Indians. Jesse is caught between his loyalty to the Ute Indians and Shiloh, while Shiloh is torn between her love for Jesse and the U.S. Soldiers who are battling the Indians. Shiloh is a very likable character. She is strong in her faith and feels great connection to her family, yet she does not let their desires run her life. When she felt it was her place to teach the Ute Indians, she followed her heart. I really liked the relationship between her and Jesse. Although they came from two entirely different backgrounds, they were still able to make their relationship work. You can tell through the book that Jesse really cares for Shiloh and only wants what is best for her. I also liked the focus on forgiveness in this book. Shiloh must forgive the Indians for their treatment of her, while Jesse must forgive himself for his actions in the past and also the US Government for their treatment of the Indians. I am really glad I read the second book in the Heart of the Rockies Series by Kathleen Morgan. I read the first book in the series, and I was excited to read about another Wainright sibling. A Love Forbidden can easily be enjoyed by someone who has not read the first book in the series. I cannot wait to learn more about the Wainrights in future books!! Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." “Available May 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.” Available May 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

The Pursuit of Lucy Banning

Olivia Newport’s most recent book, The Pursuit of Lucy Banning, is the first in the Avenue of Dreams series. Lucy Banning is lucky enough to live on Prairie Avenue in Chicago, where some of the most wealthy families from Chicago have their homes. Lucy is engaged to be married to banker Daniel, whom she has known her whole life. Having grown up together, their families had their engagement planned before they were even old enough to understand what spending their lives together would mean. After taking a course at college and volunteering at a local orphanage, Lucy decides she wants more than a marriage to Daniel, who she does not really love. With the entrance of her brother’s friend Will, even more complications arise. As Lucy’s life becomes more complicated, and she must hide some very serious secrets, Daniel’s life also changes from what he expected. With these changes come some very strange circumstances, and Lucy finds herself questioning who Daniel really is. Set amid the backdrop of the World’s Fair, this book was not at all what I expected. Lucy and Daniel’s relationship was more than just a typical love triangle, as Daniel truly meant something to Lucy and her family. I found myself not believing that he could do anything to hurt Lucy, and the end of the book helped clear up the reasons he acted in the behavior he did. I really liked the characters of both Lucy and Will. Although Lucy was keeping secrets from her new friend, he never once pressured her to reveal what she was hiding. This was especially interesting for the story as women during that time were not given much ability to keep their lives to themselves. I did not find myself particularly liking Lucy’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Banning. Although they were supposed to be caring parents, they seemed to be more worried about how others viewed them than how they should treat one another. Mrs. Banning was always criticizing the clothing choices of her daughter, and she was not at all understanding of her desires to attend college. Although there were some characters I didn’t care for, the characters of Lucy, Will, Leo (Lucy’s brother), and Charlotte (Lucy’s maid) helped me become invested in the book and its’ cast of characters. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." “Available May 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Wildflowers from Winter

Since I have recently been reading a lot of historical fiction books, I decided to make a change and read a book set in the current time. So I set out to find a book in my LARGE stack of unread books, and I decided my next book to read would be my advance copy of Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert. I have to say I was not at all disappointed with my choice of books. Bethany Quinn has the perfect life; she has made her way out from the trailer park she was raised in and now lives in Chicago and workes for an arcitecture firm. Although everything in her life seems perfect, she finds herself traveling back to her hometown in Iowa after learning that her grandfather is having health problems. Upon inheriting land, she begins to face all of the things she was running from when she left her home: a preacher who tainted her view of Christianity, her best friend, and her family. In addition to coming to terms with her past, Bethany finds herself falling for the man who maintains her family farm, Evan Price. I was very glad I chose this book to read, and although I was looking for a light romance read, I got so much more than that. Bethany lived a difficult life, and she must begin to come to terms with what happened to her in the past. Throughout the book, I felt I could empathize with her, and I understood how a past like hers could cause someone to stray away from religion. I think the cast of characters who were placed in her life were perfect for leading her back to God. From what I read on Katie Ganshert’s website, it looks like a second book will be released in the year 2013. I am very excited to learn more about Bethany and the other characters who were brought into her life as she travelled back home. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."