The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas

The Right Kind of Fool

By Sarah Loudin Thomas

Published by Bethany House

Publication Date: November 3rd, 2020

Description: 

Thirteen-year-old Loyal Raines is supposed to stay close to home on a hot summer day in 1934. When he slips away for a quick swim in the river and finds a dead body, he wishes he'd obeyed his mother. The ripples caused by his discovery will impact the town of Beverly, West Virginia, in ways no one could have imagined. 

The first person those ripples disturb is Loyal's absentee father. When Creed Raines realized his son was deaf, he headed for the hills, returning only to help meet his family's basic needs. But when Loyal, now a young teen, stumbles upon a murder it's his father he runs to tell--shaping the words with his hands. As Creed is pulled into the investigation he discovers that what sets his son apart isn't his inability to hear but rather his courage. Longing to reclaim the life he abandoned, Creed will have to do more than help solve a murder if he wants to win his family's hearts again. 

Review: 

Oh man, this book! This book! Right from the get-go it totally tugged at my heartstrings. I'm totally a character-driven reader, so if you don't give me good characters, you've lost me. Well, with this book, there are so many characters to absolutely fall in love with. 

There's 13-year-old Loyal, who is bright and loving and wants to fit in despite being deaf--and who also wants to both make his parents proud and do whatever he can to help them. 

There's Creed, Loyal's father, who blames himself for Loyal's deafness and has retreated from his family, living and working on a nearby mountain and only visiting his family periodically. 

There's Delphy, Loyal's mother, who is desperate to protect her son and who wishes her husband would come back while simultaneously wishing she didn't care about him so he couldn't let her down again. It's tough to pick which character to love the most; they all were so REAL and their pain and worries and hopes were so vividly portrayed. 

Take such beautiful characters and weave them together, and wow, what a great start to a story. I loved reading every single one of their interactions, as the three of them are trying to figure out how to interact with each other. They're all good people who are trying hard so you know it's going to turn out all right in the end, but it was still so touching to read each moment. 

 So, take amazing characters (I won't get into the secondary characters other than to say they were great, too) and then add in a really interesting plot (I couldn't wait to find out whodunit!) and a setting that is so well-written that you just immediately feel like you've slipped into West Virginia in 1934, and you've got one heck of a book! 

This is one of those books that will stick with you. I adored it from start to finish. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year! 

An easy 5 stars on this one!

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Hopeful Christmas

A Hopeful Christmas 

Published by Covenant Communications 

Publication Date: October 1st, 2020 

Description:

Lord Blakely's Gift by Anneka R. Walker 

When Miss Ivy Hunt and Lord Curtis Blakely establish a secret acquaintance, neither can deny that their feelings extend beyond friendship. But as the children of bitter rivals, it will take a Christmas miracle for this star-crossed pair to reach their happily ever after. 

A Season of Hope by Sian Ann Bessy 

Following the death of her father, Amelia knows Christmas will be lean. But when circumstances become dire, it is the unexpected arrival of a childhood friend that renews Amelia’s hope—both for the future and for love. 

Christmas by the Sea by Carla Kelly 

After two years at sea with the Royal Navy, surgeon Will Crenshaw longs for a quiet Christmas with his family. But when unrest at home threatens to ruin the holidays, it takes the kindly intervention of a mysterious house sitter to remind them of the true meaning of the season. 

Expectations at Canterwood by Krista Lynne Jensen 

Marina Rowley is a spinster, Richard Stanhope a war-weary military man. A case of mistaken identity throws them together, but the unexpected stirrings of their hearts lead to an unforgettable holiday romance.

Review:
This entire collection was delightful! I enjoyed each story and can't even pick a favorite.

Lord Blakely's Gift: I loved how Ivy and Curtis first bumped into each other, and I loved seeing how Curtis opened up not just to Ivy but to others as he and Ivy worked together to try to find the owner of a lost purse. This was a sweet and funny story.

A Season of Hope: I liked reading about Phillip's return home and how Amelia's family kept their spirits up even during hardships--and how that in turn helped both Phillip and his father. 

Christmas by the Sea: Will Crenshaw and his family stole my heart. I love how this story is from Will's perspective and we get to read his thoughts about his wife and children. It was just so endearing. It wasn't what I was expecting from a Regency story, since it focuses on the everyday life of a common family, rather than the balls and house parties of the ton, but it was excellent. I smiled so much while I was reading this story.

Expectations at Canterwood: I loved this story as well! Like the first story, there was a cute meeting. Marina felt so real to me--her fears and worries just really came through in the writing. Richard was dashing and kind and it was terrific how he got to know Marina and pursued her even though she had built up walls around herself. 

This was such a great collection! I already want to go back and reread the stories!

5 stars and one of my picks for the Best Books of 2020.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

 

Otherwise Engaged

Otherwise Engaged

By Joanna Barker

Published by Covenant Communications

Publication Date: October 1st, 2020

Description: 

She’s never been afraid of breaking the rules—until she risks breaking her heart.

Constantly stifled by the rules of Society, spirited Rebecca Rowley enjoys finding ways to quietly—or not so quietly—rebel. But riding bareback and avoiding nosy neighbors are nothing compared to the thrilling secret she is keeping from her family. When Rebecca’s quick thinking saves the life of a young girl, she unwittingly attracts the attention of the child’s dashing brother, Lieutenant Nicholas Avery. As that attention turns flirtatious, Rebecca is forced to tell him the truth: she is secretly engaged—to the one man her family would never approve of. Fortunately, Lieutenant Avery is a navy man with no wish to marry, or so they both assume as they enter into a friendship. Rebecca hopes to change her family’s mind about her betrothed, but the more she comes to know the handsome lieutenant, the more she wonders if she promised her hand too hastily. 

After all her carefully laid plans are shattered during a family crisis, Rebecca must force her heart to decide. Should she stay true to the promise she made or fight for the future she’s only just begun to imagine? 

Review: 

This book just made me smile SO much. I loved Nicholas. Oh man, oh man, he is pretty dreamy! I loved Rebecca; she had some growing and self-realization she needed to do, but that made her all the more realistic. I loved how she's spunky and brave and always trying to push the boundaries--and I loved how Nicholas didn't try to reign her in but instead supported her. They were so good for each other! I loved the banter--oh, I love a story with good banter and there was some excellent banter in this book! I loved Nicholas's and Rebecca's first kiss (and the other ones, too, of course). I kept wishing I could read Nicholas's POV on so many scenes--but I also loved seeing them all from Rebecca's POV, so that's an indication of how good it is, not a criticism. 

This book was just so much fun to read. This is easily one of my favorite books of the year and one of my picks for one of the best books of 2020. Definitely add this to your to-read, to-buy, and to-share lists ASAP! 

5 stars. 

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Anxious People

Anxious People

By Fredrik Backman

Published by Atria Books

Publication Date: September 8, 2020 (for the English version)

Description: 

This is a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.
Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers slowly begin opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths.
As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people.

Review:
I love Fredrik Backman's books because they always have such amazing characters--they're so real to life. He has this fantastic way of creating dynamic, totally believable characters, complete with flaws and strengths. He also has a way of inviting the reader to almost become a character, thinking about whether you would react and respond the same way his characters do or in different ways. What I love most about Backman's books, however, is how they make me empathize with others. At the outset of Anxious People, I had the thought that I might have to read it in small doses because several of the characters were annoying or abrasive. But as I continued reading Backman skillfully pulled back the layers on each character, taking me past their outward actions to their hearts. I found myself not only wanting to reread the book when I finished it but wanting to restart right in the middle of the book with my new understanding of and appreciation for the characters so that I could erase my earlier annoyance with them and instead read every moment with my newfound insights into their true characters. These sweet, beautiful, totally flawed, and totally relatable people stole my heart--and also reminded me of how often in real life if we would stop being annoyed with people and see who they really are, our hearts would melt and we would do whatever we could to help them. 

Besides the wonderful cast of characters, Backman's plot and the setting were so interesting--the majority of the book takes place in one apartment--and there were several twists that I did not see coming at all. It was a fascinating read that was so thought-provoking. I adored it, and I want everyone I know to read it so we can talk about it! 

5 stars. Definitely one of my favorites for 2020. 

I read an ARC of #AnxiousPeople provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Life Once Dreamed

A Life Once Dreamed
By Rachel Fordham
Published by Revell
Publication Date: August 4th, 2020

Description:
Six years ago, a shocking secret sent Agnes Pratt running in search of a new start. She found it in Penance, a rugged town of miners and lumberjacks in the Dakota Territory, where she became Miss Aggie, respected schoolteacher and confirmed old maid. But the past has a way of catching up with people.
When childhood friend and former sweetheart James Harris accepts a position as the town doctor, Aggie's pleasantly predictable days suddenly become anything but. James wants to know why Agnes left behind the life they had dreamed of creating for themselves--but he is the one person who can never know.
In the shadows of the Black Hills, can a healing light be shed on the past? Or will the secret Agnes can't seem to outrun destroy her chance at happiness?
Fan-favorite Rachel Fordham brings to life the dusty streets of an 1880s frontier town in this story that affirms where you come from matters far less than where you're going.

Review:
Aaahhh, big sigh. This book was just wonderful. I fell in love with everything about it--the setting, the characters, the messages, and more. Aggie is great--she's sweet but also strong and has her feisty moments. James, with his love for Aggie and his confusion about why she left him, just made me smile. Other characters--from little Freddie to Tommy (who asks the most embarrassing questions) to Sam and more--all just stole my heart. They all seemed real. I love reading characters who seem like real people with real problems that they have to work through, and Rachel Fordham is terrific at writing that type of character. The storyline moved along well, with serious moments balanced with laugh-out-loud moments, and the messages--of hope, of God taking the bad and following it with something good, of learning to look at people for who they are--were definitely ones that spoke to my heart. They were woven into the story in a way that didn't make them overbearing; they just felt right and good and uplifting. I seriously just loved everything about this book--including what is perhaps the best love letter I've ever read! This is easily one of my picks for the best books of 2020!
5 stars.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher.

Check out the book club guide, with discussion questions, games, and more!

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.

A Proper Charade

A Proper Charade
By Esther Hatch
Published by Covenant Communications

Description:
Lady Patience Kendrick was born to a life of privilege, and with the London Season looming, she finds herself facing unprecedented pressure to adhere to the rules of society. Unfortunately, the free-spirited young woman is anything but proper. Patience's elder brother, a former military man, bemoans his sister's antics - but when he accuses her of incurable frivolity, it is simply more than she can bear. Determined to prove her brother wrong, Patience undertakes a drastic experiment: she will disguise herself as a maid and demonstrate her ability to work as hard as anyone.
Taken on as household staff by her brother's former general, Patience soon learns that willingness and ability are two very different things. While her plan sounded promising in theory, the reality is that she is out of her depth - and the irresistibly charming son of the house isn't helping matters. Patience soon finds herself embroiled in a charade far more complicated that she imagined. With both her pride and her heart at stake, she is determined to prove her brother wrong - even as her plans spiral delightfully out of control.

Review:
I smiled so much while I was reading this book! A lady posing as a maid in a man's house is not my favorite storyline, and yet, I enjoyed it in this book. With Patience's desire to prove herself, as well as a tendency to act or speak first and then think later, running away to become a maid actually fit with her personality. Patience was terrible at being a maid, but her enthusiasm and sincerity at trying to do her best were endearing. I loved the fact that she couldn't keep herself from blurting out things that no true maid ever would. She was just a really fun character. Anthony was absolutely perfect and stole my heart right along with Patience's. I mean, how can you not love a man who completely writes out lists and plans, trying so hard to make things work out, and yet will stop to help an inept maid do her job? He was so kind and yet so unaware of his own worth, and I just adored him. (If I hadn't already loved him early on, his sixteen-page letter would have done it!) There are lots of lovable secondary characters, too. I love a book with great dialogue (good banter wins me over pretty quickly!) and there were so many awesome lines!

I just thoroughly enjoyed this book and am picking it as 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.

Like Flames in the Night

Like Flames in the Night (Cities of Refuge #4)
By Connilyn Cossette
Published by Bethany House
Publication Date: March 3rd, 2020

Description:
Strong-willed Tirzah wants to join her people in driving the enemy from the land of Israel and undergoes training for a secret mission inside the stronghold of Shechem. But soon after she has infiltrated the ruthless Aramean commander's kitchen, she makes a reckless decision that puts her and her allies in grave danger.

Fresh off the battlefield, Liyam returns home to discover his beloved daughter is dead. After his vow to hunt down her killer leads to months of fruitless pursuit, his last hope is in a family connection that comes with strings attached. Strings that force him to pose as a mercenary and rescue an infuriating woman who refuses to leave her mission uncompleted.

When an opportunity to pave a path to a Hebrew victory arises, can Tirzah convince Liyam to fight alongside her in the refuge city of her birth? Or will Liyam's thirst for vengeance outweigh his duty to his people, his God, and the woman he's come to love?

Review:
Oh, my goodness! I cannot possibly overstate how much I enjoyed this book. Anyone who has ever read anything by Connilyn Cossette will not be surprised that she has written yet another phenomenal book. (Those who haven't read anything by her--go do it, now!) Each time I read one of her books, I'm blown away by how much I enjoy it, so for me to say that this book is my very favorite of hers is high praise. I just loved everything about this book. It never ceases to amaze me how she takes readers into the Hebrews' world, with rich details about their struggles against their enemies as well as their day-to-day life. Within her carefully-crafted setting, she also gives terrific characters, who are well-developed with both strengths and weaknesses. I loved getting to know both Tirzah and Liyam, as well as getting to see other favorite characters from her earlier books. Both broken in their own ways, Tirzah and Liyam are so relatable and so engaging; I just adored both of them and loved reading about their journey. The plot was so gripping as well! This book was just an absolute pleasure to read, and it's definitely one of my picks for the best books of 2020. The only "bad" thing about it is that it's the end of a series that I wish would go on and on!
Five stars!
I read an ARC provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Land beneath Us

The Land beneath Us
By Sarah Sundin
Published by Revell

Clay Paxton is training to be a U.S. Army Ranger in Tennesse, looking forward to the day when he will meet his end. After being betrayed by both his brothers and his girlfriend, Clay's vision of his impending death brings him peace. But when he meets Leah Jones--and then rescues her after she is attacked--things get more complicated. Leah, an orphan who is trying to make her way in the world, is sweet and kind--and absolutely devastated when she finds out that she's pregnant and will have to give up her baby. Clay, knowing that it will destroy Leah to have to give up her baby, convinces her to marry him, figuring that she and her baby will benefit financially from his death. But when he heads to Europe, he and Leah exchange letters--and Clay finds himself not so enthralled by his impending death.

I absolutely loved the first two books in this series--and yet, this one might be my favorite. I adored Leah; she was just such a loveable character. Her feelings of being unlovable and a desire for a family were so poignant (but not overly sappy). I also loved Clay, who is so relatable--he's been wronged and he's hurt and struggling to forgive his brothers. His journey was so realistic; forgiving his brothers didn't come easily to him and wasn't without relapses of anger. This book was just beautifully written and so interesting. It's definitely one of the best books of 2020!
Five stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

An Uncommon Woman

An Uncommon Woman
By Laura Frantz
Published by Revell
Publication date: January 7, 2020

Tessa Swan's life isn't an easy one--living on the western Virginia frontier in the 1770s means she can never quite let down her guard, as there could be trouble with the neighboring Indian tribes at any time. Although she throws herself into working alongside her family members, she also yearns for more, perhaps even a life away from the dangers she's known for her entire life. When Clay Tygart comes to take command at the fort named for him, Tessa finds her heart yearning for him. Captured by the Lenape Indians but later returned to white society where he became a hero in the French and Indian War, Tessa is instantly drawn to him. But Clay fears entangling himself with a woman--even Tessa, who is different from any woman he's known--will put him, her, and even the settlement at risk as he needs to focus on his job.

Laura Frantz is an absolute master at establishing the setting and taking readers there. I haven't read many books set in this time period, but because her writing is so detailed and yet accessible to any reader, I quickly slipped right into the story and felt at home in the setting, understanding what was going on and thoroughly enjoying the look at life in this time and place. Tessa and Clay are both terrific characters--I love how Tessa is so strong and will just speak her mind. She and Clay were a great pairing--both strong and stubborn and even better together. The romance was sweet and slow, and the plot was really captivating. This book is really well-written and just great all around. One of my picks for the best books of 2020.
5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Valley of Dreams

Valley of Dreams (Longing for Home/Hope Springs #6)
By Sarah M. Eden
Published by Mirror Press
Publication Date: February 4, 2020

Patrick O'Connor has spent over a decade letting his family think he died in the Civil War, knowing it would hurt them more to know the truth than to assume he had died. However, when he receives a letter from his mother, he decides to seek out his family, even if they can never forgive him for things in his past. On the stagecoach west, he meets Eliza Porter and her daughter. Despite his appearance and his grumpy demeanor, Eliza seems determined to befriend him--and when it turns out she's heading to the same town he is, Patrick finds himself in Eliza's company time and time again--and he finds himself unable to resist her cheerfulness and determination to make the best of life. In each other, they find companionship, but can Patrick let go of his past in order to embrace a brighter future?

Oh, this book was lovely. This entire series is fantastic, and this book captured my heart as it continued the story of one of my favorite fictional families. Patrick's struggle was so heartrending, as he wants to be with his family but also doesn't believe he can ever truly belong again. He's so tender-hearted and I just couldn't help but adore him. Eliza was such a bright spot, with her big dreams and her determination, which inspired Patrick in turn. Besides delightful characters, the plot is so good--I love how this series deals with hard issues. Even though it's painful to see the characters go through their trials, it makes the books realistic and gives them a depth that makes them so much more than just a historical romance (which isn't to discount the romance--each love story in this series has been terrific!). That depth, along with well-developed, lovable characters, is what makes Sarah Eden my favorite author. Definitely put this on your to-read-as-soon-as-possible list!

5 stars and one of my picks for the best books of 2020!

I read an ARC provided by the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.

On Wings of Devotion

On Wings of Devotion (Codebreakers #2)
By Roseanna M. White
Published by Bethany House
Publication Date: January 7th, 2020

Nurse Arabelle Denler knows there's more to Phillip Camden than meets the eye. While most of England has branded him as a monster who intentionally caused the deaths of several of his fellow pilots. Ara isn't convinced that's true, though, especially as she comes to know him and realizes that he's fiercely loyal to those he cares about and not at all the Black Heart he has been labeled by society. Knowing the power of God in her own life, Ara wants to help Phillip find God's forgiveness as well as his own.
Phillip is waiting for the day when the military decides to execute him, knowing he deserves it. When he realizes that his actions have left Ara attracting the attention of men who only want her vast inheritance, he appoints himself her guard dog, and in so doing, finds that maybe his heart isn't as dead as he thought. But as he comes to care for Ara, through his work as a codebreaker for the Admiralty, he finds himself mixed up in a plot that could put Ara in danger and must find a way to distance himself to keep her safe.

Okay, I read this in November 2019 but I'm already willing to say this is one of my picks for Best Books of 2020. It was phenomenal! The plot was so interesting, with details about WWI that really take the reader to England during the war. There were some good twists but not so many to make the story feel contrived. Beyond that, the characters were amazing! I'm a character-driven reader, so a book that has a good plot but the characters are meh won't do it for me; I'm thrilled to say that both Ara and Phillip are characters who I will be thinking about for a long time. They are both so well-developed. Ara has a kind heart and a sincere desire to help others, mixed with her insecurities about her appearance and whether anyone can truly love her and want to stay with her, while Phillip is so torn up by his own poor choices and thinks he's beyond redemption but finds himself desperately wanting it and, despite his poor opinion of himself, reaches out to others more than he even realizes. Both of these characters had so much depth and were so relatable. I just adored them both! There are terrific themes of healing and redemption, and there was some terrific dry humor. All in all, just a fantastic read! An easy 5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.