The Heiress and the Woodsman by Christine Hill Suntz

 

Title:  The Heiress and the Woodsman

Author:  Christine Hill Suntz

Narrated by:  Cassandra Campbell

Publisher: Tyndale Fiction

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 25 minutes

Source: Thank you to, @christinehillsuntz, @tyndalehouse, @crazy4fiction, and @greatreadsbookpromo for the gift copy of physical version of The Heiress and the Woodsman.  I purchased the audiobook copy from Audible.

What is the setting of your current read?

Charlotte Carruthers is trying to hold her family estate near Toronto together.  Her mother died years ago, and the family fortunes have foundered.  Her brother Simon left, and rumor has it that he has joined the rebels.  Reputation is everything to Charlotte’s ailing father, the famed hero Major Carruthers of the Battle of Waterloo.  Charlotte runs off into the wilderness to find her brother to bring him home to help restore the family’s fortunes and standing.  She hires guide, Joshua Robertson.  Joshua needs the money to buy out his brother’s indentured servant contract.  His farm in the bush is not producing enough to afford this extra expense.  Will Charlotte find her brother?  Will Joshua free his brother?  Will these two find a connection?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I liked Joshua and Charlotte’s relationship through the story.  They slowly grew to know and understand each other.  They are both caring people that like to help others.

·       I enjoyed the novel The Lawyer and the Laundress last year and I liked that some of the characters from that novel made an appearance in this novel.

·       The setting is 1830s Canada near Toronto and the wilderness north. I was very interested in the Canadian history.

·       I would label this book as a historical romance, adventure, clean read, and inspirational.

·       I liked the look at community and how it is important.  I also enjoyed the look at what makes a family.

·       I loved the relationship between Charlotte and Scarlett the horse she raised.

·       This book had great characters.  I liked Fulton.  He works at Charlotte’s family estate and helps to care for her.

·       I listened to audiobook, and it was very engaging.

·       I do wish there was a map in the physical version. I would have liked to track their travels through the wilderness.  I know where Toronto is, but I wasn’t sure where the bush or wilderness discussed where at.

·       I liked the journey in this book and also enjoyed the aftermath.

Overall, The Heiress and the Woodsman by Christine Hill Suntz is an engaging historical romance adventure set in the wilderness of Canada in the 1830s.  I recommend it!

Happy Wife by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores

 

Title:  Happy Wife

Author:  Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores

Narrated by:  Saskia Maarleveld

Publisher: Random House Audio

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 43 minutes

Source: Audiobook from Amazon Music and physical copy checked out from the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

What genre of books do you like to read for your book clubs?

Nora Davies at twenty-eight is married to a prominent forty-six-year-old lawyer, Will Somerset.  They live in Winter Park, an elite coastal town in Florida.  Nora is having a hard time fitting in with the old guard, but she throws a birthday party for Will inviting them all.   The party goes well, but Will disappears after the party. Where is Will?  Is he working a case or has something nefarious happened to him??

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was the July read for the Rogue Book Club.  I think everyone enjoyed it as a fun summer read type of book. It had great characters and an interesting mystery.

·       This is a Read with Jenna selection.

·       I listened to the audiobook in July, and it was an engaging story with a good narrator.

·       My favorite quote from the audiobook was something like “I’ll have to add a category of friends made while looking for my husband’s killer to my Christmas card list.”

·       The story switches from the present time frame to flashbacks showing how Nora and Will first got together.

·       I did like the inner look into high society in this domestic thriller.

·       As the story progresses, it is discovered that not everything is always as it seems.

·       This was a fast faced light and entertaining mystery.

·       I did not guess the ending.  It seemed rather random.

·       I liked how Will swept Nora off her feet but as time went on, she discovered that not all that glitters is gold.

·       I liked being surprised by the plot, so I don’t want to get into too many details and ruin it for others.

Overall, Happy Wife by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores was a light and fun domestic thriller perfect for a summer read.

A Thousand Painted Hours by Barbara O’Neal

 

Title:  A Thousand Painted Hours

Author:  Barbara O’Neal

Narrated by:  Sneha Mathan

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Length: Approximately 15 hour and 22 minutes

Source: Thank-you to @barbaraonealauthor @amazonpublishing @tlcbooktours for both the audiobook and physical review copies.

Do you have a favorite artist?  I enjoy art, and Monet’s paintings have always been “happy place” art that lifts my spirits.

Elsie Turner grew up in India in the early 1900s and was separated from her great love Tanveer, when her parents moved back to England during her teenage years.  The one bright spot was that she was able to go to art school and make new friends.

In a second timeline in 1940, the London Blitz is ongoing and Elsie remembers the past and what has led her up to that moment in time.  Will Elsie survive?  And can she thrive and have the future she longs for?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       The novel was written in short chapters which I found easy to read.  Many of the chapters were letters written primarily between Tanveer and Elsie.

·       Tanveer and Elsie had an epic love story that stretched through time, distance, and marriage to other people.  They respected each other’s minds, while also being wildly attracted to one another.

·       I loved the descriptions of India, especially the tigers.  It was a great setting.

·       The Blitz was horrifying and seemed to parallel Elsie’s careful life imploding with her precarious relationship with her husband and mother.

·       It was an interesting look into the prejudice at the time that would not allow a relationship between an Indian man and an English woman.

·       I loved how all the pieces of the puzzle of Elsie’s life came together perfectly at the end.

·       I listened to about half the book on audio and read half of the book in the physical copy. Both were enjoyable and I liked the audiobook narrator.

·       The book included discussion of the Indian independence movement which I enjoyed.

·       I would classify this book as slow burn, character driven, first love, historical fiction, and historical romance.

Overall, A Thousand Painted Hours by Barbara O’Neal was a beautifully written novel set in India and London during the first half of the 20^th century that told the story of an enduring forbidden love.

Twilight Tactics by Lynette Eason

 

Dawn or twilight?  Which do you prefer?  I am not a morning person and will always prefer twilight!

Thank you to @lynetteeason, @revellfiction, and @greatreadsbookpromo for the gift copy of Twilight Tactics.

FBI agents Sully Sulivan and Piper Whitaker are taking are care of and hiding 14-year-old witness Ollie Callahan.  Ollie witnessed a mob hit and is being hid until the trial.  As each of their locations has been compromised, Sully hopes that Broken Chain Ranch, which is the home of an old cousin and friend, will be a safe place.

Maya runs Broken Chain Ranch as a miliary vet retreat, a place where veterans can heal from PTSD and gain tools to deal with their lives.  Her friend and fellow vet, Elana, teaches wilderness skills at the ranch.  Elena bonds with Ollie but has secrets of her own. When the ranch comes under attack, is it Ollie or Elena the mysterious attackers are after?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was an action-packed book that you can’t put down!

·       This was a contemporary romance suspense novel.

·       It was a clean read and Christian.

·       Twilight Tactics was the first in the new series, Soldiers in Shadows.  I can’t wait for the next book.

·       I really liked the relationships between characters such as Sully and Ollie, Elena and Ollie, and Sully and Elena.

·       This book also investigated the dark world of prepper and cult lifestyles.  How can you get out of such a situation?

·       The overall theme of the book was that you can be broken, but you can take control of your life, heal, and have a fresh start.  I liked this theme.

·       Ollie is an orphan that has been shuffled through foster care and has experienced things that no teen should have experienced.  I really felt for her.

·       This book is set in the rural Tennessee mountains.

·       It was told through multiple point of views: Elena, Sully, and Ollie.

·       This story was fast paced and kept from on the edge of my seat from the first page through the end.

Overall, Twilight Tactics by Lynette Eason is an action packed contemporary romantic suspense novel with great characters that kept me on the edge of my seat.  It was a great start to a new series.

A Mismatch Made in London by Melanie Dickerson

 

What is the last book you read in a day?  I didn’t quite finish A Mismatch Made in London in one day while on vacation, but it was close!

Thank you to @melaniedickerson123, @bethanyhousefiction, and @greatreadsbookpromo for the gift copy of A Mismatch Made in London.

Amelia Moore has been invited by her aunt to the social season in London.  As the oldest of twelve, it would help her family if she made an advantageous marriage.  She immediately makes a new friend, Juliet, but Juliet’s older brother, Jeremy, questions her motives for the friendship.  He is the most eligible bachelor of the season.  Is Amelia befriending Juliet to get closer to Jeremy?  Amelia is offended and vows not to talk to him again.  Will Juliet and Amelia find their matches?  Will Jeremy and Amelia mend their differences?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was an enemies-to-lovers story.  It reminded me of Pride and Prejudice with an initial misunderstanding and dislike which eventually became friendship and love.  I enjoyed Jeremy and Amelia’s relationship. 

·       The novel had an interesting dual narrative structure.  Amelia narrated most of the book in first person and Jeremy narrated part of the book in 3^rd person.

·       I greatly enjoyed the friendship between Juliet and Amelia.  It felt like a real relationship.

·       This was a good story of forgiveness.

·       A subplot in the novel made me think about how easily it was to ruin a woman’s reputation and make it so she couldn’t marry, especially if a woman didn’t have male protection.

·       I just loved this story – it was a great escapism read.

·       I would classify this novel as slow burn, regency, historical romance/fiction, clean read, Christian, inspiration, and enemies to lovers.

·       I loved the snippet at the end of the book of “A Proposal Reconsidered” which looks like a great second chance romance and I can’t wait to read it!

Overall, A Mismatch Made in London by Melanie Dickerson is great escapism reading with a lovely Pride and Prejudice inspired regency romance story with great characters and world building.

What the Trees Remember by Abigail Cutter

 Where was the setting of the last book that you read?  I am intrigued by the Appalachian mountain setting in this book.

In 1969, an old woman Dora Minor, awakens to a terrible flood.  Clinging to her dogs and riding out the storm, Dora thinks back over her life.  She was born a Quaker in that very house on a mountain in Virginia. Her grandmother, Alma, raised her after her mother’s death from childbirth and her father’s mysterious death.  What secrets will the flood waters reveal?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a beautifully written novel.  It created a visual picture in my mind to describe the mountain and its inhabitants.

·       It was a great story with well-developed interesting characters and an intriguing and unique storyline.

·       This story was set in the post-Civil War era primarily with some flash forwards to 1969.

·       This novel showed the social unrest that happened after the Civil War as people were trying to come up with the new normal.  A tragic event occurs in the novel and sadly the detailed notes at the end describe how it was based on a true story.

·       Dora’s father Tom taught a school with a formerly enslaved woman, Ginny, for black children.  There was a need for education and unfortunately the townspeople would not provide it.

·       I keep thinking about this book and the trying times after the Civil War.  It took so much work and time for formerly enslaved people to really receive the full rights of citizens. 

·       The flood in 1969 was devastating and based on a real event.

·       I had some maternal ancestors that were Quakers and lived in the Appalachian mountains so this was extra intriguing to me imagining what their lives were like.

·       I loved the friendships in the novel and how they stuck together through good and bad times.

·       Sometimes doing what is right is dangerous.  True freedom was built on the sacrifice of many.

Favorite Quote:  “She’s read what St. Thomas of Aquinas had said about sin; the greatest was turning a blind eye those who most needed help.”

Overall, What the Trees Remember by Abigail Cutter was a beautifully written southern historical fiction novel that truly captured the story of social unrest after the Civil War.  I will be thinking about this story for a long time. 

Book Source:  Thank-you to Get Red PR, Abigail Cutter, and She Writes Press for a review copy of the novel as part of the book tour.

A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann H. Gabhart

If you can read books from only one genre for the rest of your life, what genre would it be?  That’s a hard one for me as I love so many different genres, but it would probably be historical fiction.

Kallie Me has grown up in the Appalachian Mountains dreaming of going to school to learn to read and of her love for Quinn Spencer.  After her mother dies, Kallie Mae must put away her dreams to raise her infant sister.  Her father won’t put aside his feud with the Spencers and Kallie Mae is no longer able to visit Quinn.  Now six years later, Kallie Mae runs into Quinn again and old feelings flare.  Will she be able to chase her dreams after all?

My thoughts on this novel:

• This is a Romeo & Juliet or forbidden romance story between Kallie Mae and Quinn.  I enjoyed this love story.  It was well developed, romantic, and sweet.  They were both hardworking, caring people who took care of their families.  They were perfect for one another.

• This was a lovely story and I enjoyed reading it back in May.

• This book could be classified as Southern fiction, historical romance, and family drama. It was also a clean read with Christian themes of forgiveness and reconciliation.

• It is set in Kentucky in 1911.

• I loved the complex characters that were well written and fleshed out.  I especially loved wise old Aunt Sudie and little sister Emmie.

• I was intrigued to learn about Cora Wilson Stewart, the founder of adult literacy in the United States.  This was new history to me.

• The story uses Appalachian dialogue.

Overall, A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann H. Gabhart was an engaging historical romance with great characters and story. I enjoyed the new to me history on adult literacy education in the United States.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @annhgabhart @revellfiction @greatreadsbookpromo for a review copy of the novel as part of the Great Reads Promo Book Tour.

Thirty Days to Home by Cathryn Rakich

 

Do you have any rescue pets?  Our dog Spot is a rescue dog originally from Texas.  His name was Spot the ranch dog and he was moved to Wisconsin to make way for dogs after Hurricane Harvey.  He still is not a fan of snow and ice but Spot the ranch dog is now a happy Wisconsin dog.

Marli May has faced the greatest heartbreak a mother can with the loss of her teenage son. Trying to reconnect with her husband after the loss, she goes with him on a work retreat to Escondido, Mexico.  While there, her world further falls apart when she discovers her husband is having an affair with a coworker.  On top of that, she receives a mysterious text stating that her son’s death may not have been an accident after all.  After finding a stray dog on the street who needs her help, will this be enough to bring Marli back from the brink of despair?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I liked the added mystery of what really happened to Marli’s son.

·       I love books the involve dogs and rescue dogs are even better!

·       I also loved Ben, the handsome widower vet that Marli meets in Mexico, but I also thought it was too soon for a new romance.

·       I liked that Marli’s friend Tammy came down to visit and support Marli in Mexico. On the other hand, something seemed off about her and she wanted to cheat on her husband while on vacation which gave me a weird vibe.

·       I also liked that Marli cared for her mother, Alice, who had Alzheimer’s.  It was a realistic description of how tough care can be in such a situation.  Caring for your parents at the end of their lives would be hard.

·       There was suspense near the end of the novel.

·       I thought I had the ending figured out – but I was surprised.  Great ending.

·       Marli and Ben were my favorite characters and were very well written.  I loved their compassion for dogs and people in need.

·       It was hard to believe that this was a debut novel.

·       This novel dealt with grief and was an emotional read.

·       I would classify this as contemporary, women’s fiction, family drama, dogs, second chance romance, mystery.

Overall, Thirty Days to Home by Cathryn Rakich was an entertaining and engaging novel featuring great characters and dogs.

Book Source:  Review copy from @booksparks. Thank-you!

Served Him Right by Lisa Unger

 

Title:  Served Him Right

Author:  Lisa Unger

Narrated by:  Kristen Sieh, Vivienne Leheny, Brittany Pressley, Soneela Nankani, Tim Paige, Petrea Burchard

Publisher: Harlequin Audio

Length: Approximately 12 hour and 8 minutes

Source: Review copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

How do you feel about revenge stories?  My favorite is The Count of Monte Cristo.

Ana Blacksmith has recently broken up with her boyfriend Paul.  She organizes a celebration brunch with her sister and best friends.  When Paul is found dead, Ana is a suspect. When one of her friends falls deathly ill after the brunch, Ana rises to the top of the suspect list.  Will Ana and her sister Vera be able to prove her innocence?

My thoughts on this book:

·       This was a very engaging thriller.

·       This was great on audiobook.  It captured my attention and made it so I didn’t want my drives to end.  I loved the cast of narrators.

·       Paul is shown to have many enemies and to be a terrible person.  Why is it that people like that are able to keep hurting people?

·       I liked that the story had the ladies be a part of a family that practices “magic” through the use of herbalism.

·       The book had a riveting and scary intro for a poor woman who is r$%^ed by a boss who drugs her after staying late at work.

·       This book made me ponder the question of taking justice into your own hands – when are you justified?

·       I liked the naughty romance between Ana and the detective on the case, Timothy.

·       There were many point of views in this story.

·       I kept guessing until the end.

Overall, Served Him Right by Lisa Unger was a riveting and engaging thriller.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

 

What book has Instagram or other social media convinced you to read?  I kept seeing Yesteryear everywhere, so I read it last month.

Natalie Heller Mills is an Instagram “trad wife” living a seemingly perfect life. She lives on a beautiful farm in Idaho with her cowboy husband and six kids.  Behind the scenes nannies, farmhands and a producer keep the perfect life alive for social media.  When Natalie wakes up one day in the past and must live without modern conveniences, will she make it?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I see mixed reactions to this book online.  People seem to love it or hate it.  I liked it, it was a unique story, and I couldn’t stop reading it.

·       The characters are not likeable, but I did want to see what would happen next.

·       The twist in the story was interesting, I had suspected it, but I was not one hundred percent sure how it would work.

·       It is interesting to think about the power of social media and how it can show things to be 100% different than reality.  It seems like a lot of problems now are that people believe in “realities” that don’t really exist such as the “perfect” life you see in pictures that is not actually reality.  This book also showed how politics and social media are intertwined.

·       I find the “trad wife” trend confusing.  Do women really want to the live the life of our ancestors without having rights and modern conveniences?  I am 100% behind women that want to stay home and raise their kids, but I am not behind women who think that their lifestyle is the only way that women must live.  I didn’t think I would be living in a world that is talking about taking away women’s right to vote.

·       The book show the hypocrisy that even the women who say they want traditional roles are not really following them themselves.  It reminded me of Serena Joy from The Handmaid’s Tale.

·       Natalie’s point of view moves through time to show how her and her husband got together initially and their life leading up to the start of the book.

·       This would be a good book for a book club discussion.

·       This book is hard to classify – maybe contemporary, mystery, speculative, psychological thriller.

·       SPOILER ALERT – I did feel like Natalie is made out to be the villain when she was more the victim of her upbringing, postpartum depression, and from being drugged.

Overall, Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke was a unique and thought-provoking novel that I think would be great for a book club discussion.

Book Source:  Review copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!