Love's Reckoning by Laura Frantz

This was a hard book to read.  Silas comes to the Lee household as an apprentice blacksmith.  He is unaware that he is expected to marry one of Liege Lee's daughters.  The despicable Elspeth has been 'given' Silas and she begins her campaign to woo Silas, but Silas is drawn to the gentleness in Eden.

The characters in this book are awful!  Eden is weak and lets everyone walk all over her.  Elspeth is so vile that I would not read a book if it was about her.  The father, Liege is a bitter and verbally abusive man and his wife is a spineless, voiceless coward.  The only redeeming character in the book is Silas; he has strength, compassion and ambition.

Not only are the characters horrible, but the plot is depressing.  It was painful watching the disfunction of this abusive family as darkness and evil are unfurled.  Just when you think light might enter the story, Eden's nephew is murdered and she is raped.  Only the last few chapters have any redeeming quality to them.

Boring and painful!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Over The Edge by Mary Connealy

I just love a book that starts with a bang and keeps on going!  Callie is on her way to find her abandoning husband to shoot him when her stage coach is attacked.  Callie, being the tough Texas girl that she is, sends her baby out the back door with the preacher and his wife so that she can fight the outlaws and give her baby a chance to get out of this disaster alive.

Enter Seth, an injured and mostly crazy man; he can't remember getting married.  When he comes upon the stage coach and a bloody Callie, he almost loses his head when Callie starts shooting at him.  Callie is furious, but now that he's met his beautiful wife again he wants to make his marriage work.  Being abandoned with a baby on the way wounded Callie and she isn't convinced that Seth won't do that to her again.  She determines not to let Seth out of her sight until she can trust him not to run off again.  She isn't going to have a 'real' marriage again either until she can trust Seth not to hurt her.

There is also the matter of the stolen diamonds that continue from the previous two books in this series...  Can Callie and Seth overcome his mental issues and her trust issues in spite of the danger swirling around them?

Mary Connealy is one of my favourite authors for a reason!  She's funny and she knows how to grab your attention in a hurry and keep it.  I have read 12 of her books and have loved them all!

To Love and Cherish

Melinda is and excellent choice for a lady's maid.  Having grown up in the demanding world of the elite socialites, Melinda knows how to placate her demanding lady Mrs. Mifflin making herself invaluable.  What Melinda doesn't know how to do is make her expectations for marriage clear to Evan who is her beau on Bridal Veil.  Melinda and Evan separate for the season as each work their different jobs.

Evan wants to marry Melinda, but he holds off until he can get a promotion and support her as he feels is necessary.  When a hurricane hits the island in her worry Melinda rushes to the island to find out what happened to Evan and hopes to finally tie the knot despite the fact that everything is in a shamble.  Of course things happen to keep them apart and make them doubt the other's devotion...

Evan is a pretty dense fellow in my opinion.  That he couldn't understand Melinda's hopes for marriage and explain his position is ridiculous.  Melinda herself had some unreal expectations and I found that she annoyed me.  Despite the fact that their was a hurricane and then intrigue near the end of the book, I found this read to be plodding.    

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".  

Mary Magdalene by Diana Wallis Taylor

Who is Mary Magdalene?  She is a woman who was possessed by seven demons.  Imagine living with that!  Mary is kidnapped as a girl and is never the same after that.  She is afflicted with an illness that her parents cannot get treatment for.  Everywhere she goes she is called Mad Mary and she despairs of ever getting married and having a family.  Mary's story follows her through her debilitating illness, her healing at the hand of Jesus, and then her following of Jesus in his ministry.

I thought the author did a fair job of showing what it was like to live with demons in your person, but I never really felt the terror that Mary must have felt.  However, it was very thought provoking for me when Mary left Magdala to follow Jesus.  It had never crossed my mind that Jesus also had women with him and not just the disciples.  I was also mesmerized with the story of Jesus's faithful followers when he was crucified.  How the disciples and his other followers such as Mary would have grieved.  It was a confusing and heartrending time for them.

This is exactly the type of book that makes you examine your relationship with Jesus as you insert yourself into history.  It fills in the blanks of Mary's story as well and brings her to life.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Whispers in the Wind by Lauraine Snelling

In the first book of this series, Cassie Lockwood left the Wild West Show where she had performed and lived her whole life.  Because of her 'uncle's' mismanagement of the show, Cassie is left with only her father's gypsy type wagon and a couple friends.  The story continues in the second book with Cassie arriving at the ranch she owns half of.  She and the Engstrom's try to figure out how it will all work out between them.

The mother Mavis is very welcoming because she has always known that a Lockwood might come back to claim their share of the ranch.  Mavis' son Ransom, however, had no such warning and he is having a difficult time even being civil to Cassie.  On the other hand, the other son Lucas figures that he is in love with Cassie.

Cassie has her own worries.  She has no where else to go and has formed a family with the friends that she brought with her.  Worry is her constant friend as she attempts to forge a home for her family and support them financially.  Will Cassie finally have the home she desires?

I liked the idea of this book, but I find that it is sloooowww.  The most exciting part of the series was at the beginning of the first book when the author describes Cassie life and act in the Wild West Show.  After that the series so far has moved at a snail's pace.  I wish the author would inject more humor and more of Cassie's riding skills into her story.  Perhaps I would enjoy the book more if she did.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".  

A Path Toward Love by Cara Lynn James

Katherine Osborne is desperately trying to keep her home and business, but debts and miss management of her late husband is making this even harder.  The Florida orchard that Katherine owns is in need of some funds to succeed, however the bank has denied her request because she is a woman on her own.  Although she comes from a very wealthy family, Katherine feels that she cannot ask her father for funds because they became estranged when she married against their wishes.

That is why it is surprising when her father shows up along with her long time friend Andrew and tries to bully her into going home with him to take up her life as a socialite.  Katherine negotiates a deal in which she will go to the family ‘cottage’ for the summer in exchange for funds for her orchard.

That is when the pressure begins in earnest for Katherine.  Her mother is determined to see her wed to a groom of their choosing.  however, Katherine is determined not to get married because her first marriage was far from ideal.  Through it all, Andrew and her eccentric aunt are the only ones she can trust and share her concerns with.  Andrew is obviously a love interest, but he is not the man her parents have chosen for her.  As the pressure mounts and Katherine faces more and more unpleasant surprises, can she find her way on a path toward love?

A Path Toward Love is a very good read. I did enjoy reading this book although I found the pressure her parents and the other surprises a little unrealistic.  I think that most people would have combusted under that kind of stress.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Inescapable by Nancy Mehl

Lizzie ran away from her hometown of Kingdom five years ago and vowed to never go back, but now she has a been framed for theft, is being stalked and has a daughter to protect.  Kingdom is the only place Lizzie can go to hide from her problems, yet she must face her painful past when she gets there.

Growing up in a strict Mennonite town and an even stricter Mennonite home, all Lizzie knows is criticism and judgement.  Yet when Lizzie returns she finds that her childhood memories are not necessarily reality when she reacquaints herself with the town and finds they are really very kind.  She also renews her friendship with Noah Housler, a former schoolmate.  Lizzie's daughter Charity thinks Noah is Prince Charming, but can he help her when the stalker shows up in her hometown?

Inescapable was a great book with a lot of depth to the characters.  I felt like I understood why Lizzie's father was so critical and cruel even though I didn't like his actions.  Lizzie's mother is also another complex character.  Why would she allow her daughter to suffer so?  Her conversation with Lizzie sheds light on the hurts and struggles she suffered through as well.  Ironically, the only character that I felt wasn't developed as much as I'd like was Noah.  I wish I would have seen a bit more interaction between him and Lizzie.

This was great suspense and a lovely romance as well.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".