An Appalachian Summer

An Appalachian Summer
By Ann H. Gabhart
Published by Revell

Description:
In 1933, most people are focused on the Great Depression but all Piper Danson can think about is how to get out of being a debutante and marrying Braxton Crandall, especially when her heart belongs to Jamie Russell. Even with Jamie out of the picture, Piper isn't quite ready to commit to Braxton, and in an act of defiance, volunteers as a frontier nursing courier in the Appalachian Mountains where adventure awaits.

Review:
This is a lovely book. The Appalachian setting just might be the star of the novel. Gabhart's descriptions of the flora and fauna and the people made me want to head to Appalachia to listen to birds and cross swinging bridges. The frontier nursing program was so interesting and I loved being able to get a glimpse of what that entailed. Although lacking any big problems or tension, the sweet romances made it a gentle and enjoyable story.
4 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Not Over You Blog Tour

Not Over You (Prosperity Ranch #3)
By Heather B. Moore
Published by Mirror Press

Description:
He left her behind. She's spent years ignoring him. But some things can never be forgotten. Knox Prosper knows he can never go back in time and correct his mistakes, so he has to find a way to move forward, and start a new life. Become a better man, and a father, if only for his young daughter. His regrets have taught him to simplify and to focus on what’s real and important. Returning to his hometown to ride in the rodeo gives him a chance to spend time with his daughter and to continue mending bridges with the rest of his family.
But what he doesn’t expect is to run into Jana Harris—the first woman he loved—the woman who faded from his life years before because Knox continued to mess up one thing after another. Someone as good and as sweet as Jana is the last person he deserves. Hope is dangerous. And hope can break his heart once again. Yet Jana might be the one person with the power to redeem his past once and for all.

Review:
This is a clean contemporary romance, with a second chance trope. I liked seeing how Knox, who we get glimpses of in earlier books, has really worked to make necessary changes in his life, and he was pretty cute as he tried to woo Jana. This was a fun, quick read. 3.5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the author:
Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty publications. Her historical novels and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.
Literary awards: 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner


Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/
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A Bride of Convenience

A Bride of Convenience (The Bride Ships #3)
By Jody Hedlund
Published by Bethany House
Publication Date: June 30th

Description:
Upon discovering an abandoned baby, Pastor Abe Merivale joins efforts with Zoe Hart, one of the newly arrived bride-ship women, to care for the infant. With mounting pressure to find the baby a home, Abe and Zoe get married. But after a hasty wedding, they soon realize their marriage of convenience is not so convenient after all.

Review:
This might just be my new favorite book by Jody Hedlund--and with how much I've enjoyed all of her books, that's saying something. I loved Zoe from the get-go; she was so sweet and always caring for others. Her absolute devotion to Violet, a half-white, half-Indian child whom a lot of people would have rejected, was just so sweet. Zoe's mother-heart, combined with her spunk, just drew me in right away. Abe was lovable, too, although there were a couple times I wanted to smack him upside the head for not realizing how wonderful Zoe was. However, he had a good heart as well and truly wanted to help others and was trying to follow a plan he thought would allow him to do that. Seeing his journey and ultimate realization of what God was truly calling him to do was such an engaging story that it kept me interested just as much as the romance did. I just devoured this book, enjoying every minute of it. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year!
5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Set the Stars Alight

Set the Stars Alight
By Amanda Dykes
Published by: Bethany House
Publication Date: June 30, 2020

Description:
Lucy Clairmont's family treasured the magic of the past, and her childhood fascination with stories of the high seas led her to become a marine archaeologist. But when tragedy strikes, it's Dashel, an American forensic astronomer, and his knowledge of the stars that may help her unearth the truth behind the puzzle she's discovered in her family home.
 Two hundred years earlier, the seeds of love are sown between a boy and a girl who spend their days playing in a secret sea cave, while the privileged young son of the estate looks on, wishing to join. As the children grow and war leads to unthinkable heartbreak, a story of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption unfolds, held secret by the passage of time. As Lucy and Dash journey to a mysterious old estate on the East Sussex coast, their search leads them to a community of souls and a long-hidden tale that may hold the answers--and the healing--they so desperately seek.

Review:
This book has so much going for it--there are wonderful characters (both the main and secondary characters), two storylines (the contemporary one with Lucy and Dash, and the one set two hundred years ago, with Frederick), each of which is compelling, a mystery, family dynamics of both the heartbreaking and heartwarming variety, sweet stories passed from Lucy's father to her and Dash, love stories, and so much more--and it's all wrapped up in this beautiful writing style. There are lots of great authors in the world, but only a few of them have this almost mystical storytelling ability, and Amanda Dykes has it. This is one of those books that you want to hurry through because you HAVE to know what's going to happen but that you also want to read slowly so you can savor every single bit...and that you then want to go back and re-read as soon as you finish. Very, very well done. This will be very well-loved by many, many readers.
5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.