Melanie Dobson

Dear Readers,

I am not sure what I was expecting when I started Shadows of Ladenbrook Manor by Melanie Dobson, but what I got was a wonderful story about a family full of secrets.  

Heather is returning to her family cottage after her father dies to ready it to be sold.  What she finds instead are secrets and lies that have marked her life since the day she was born.  As she searches farther she struggles to figure out what is truth and what is deceit.  Even when it came down to her first love and what happened with that relationship. 

Melanie weaves a story full of lies and half truths.  Heather's family is not what they seem and when Heather learns more and more about her past, she is hurt and troubled by it all.  

I have to admit I am not sure how quickly I would forgive my parents or family if I found out some of the stuff about me that Heather did.  But that is kind of what made this book interesting, it made me wonder, "what if?"  It was also a good reminder that lies are not a good thing in a family or anywhere. Though they may seem to spare the person's feelings at that moment and myself some embarrassment at that time, it usually ends up hurting someone later.  

An interesting read, one that will make me read Melanie's next book shortly after it releases. 

Happy Reading, 

P.S. The Cover is a bit different that the picture here. 

New Release - Undercover Bride - Margaret Brownley

Dear Readers,

This time of year I can not resist recommending at great book to take to the beach.  Undercover Bride by Margaret Brownley is second in the Undercover Ladies series.  It is a series about women who work for the Pinkerton Detective agency and of course the cases never go quite as planned.

Maggie Cartwright is posing as a Mail-Order Bride.  They suspect Garrett Thomas of being the Whistle-Stop Bandit and Maggie is certain she can solve the case long before she would be forced to walk down the aisle with him.

When Maggie arrives in town, she is meet with Garrett's meddlesome Aunt who insist they move the wedding date up.  Making Maggie have to work even harder for the answers to her case.  Garrett on the other hand is a bit confused by the woman who steps off the train, she is nothing like the letters she had sent him.  But he finds her attractive and is ready to protect her from anything and everyone who threatens her.

You just know that this is going to be a story filled with hijinx and laughter.  Nothing ever happens in these books as any of the characters think it should.  I love to read these type of books while sitting on the beach with family or friends.  It is easy to look up and join a conversation, but even easier to go back to reading to enjoy a fun little western.

Happy Reading,

New Release - The Wonder of You - Susan May Warren

Dear Readers,

I have read Susan May Warren off and on over the years.  Some of her historical, some light contemporary and some of her contemporary.  I have enjoyed her writing style and her characters.  I will admit I have not read any of her Christiansen Family series as I just didn't want to get caught up in a series.  Well with each new release I keep rethinking that and wondering if I should go back and read the series.  The Wonder of You by Susan is the latest in the series and once again I wonder if maybe I should.

Amelia Christiansen is back in town after having her year abroad cut short.  To make matters worse the man who breaks her heart follows her back home to ask for forgiveness.  Roark St. John has run from his family name all his life.  Amelia is the first woman that made him want to stop. But will he be able to win her back?

Amelia and Roark are searching for something we all are looking for, our place in God's plans.  That has been the thing I hear about this series, "They always have such an interesting message in them.  They are not books just for entertainment, they have something to say."  I am sure that is what makes readers return again and again to the Christiansen Family series.  The chance to find your own answers in the pages.

Happy Reading,

New Releases - June 29 - July 4

Okay that is a couple days late, but Happy 1/2 way through summer day.  Oh that is depressing I am not quite ready for fall yet.  But lets not think about that and enjoy these wonderful days of summer and once again a beautiful list of books.

Happy Reading,

The Wonder of You - Susan May Warren -A Christiansen Family novel #5 - Amelia is back home.  Her year aboard is cut short and she is certain that she is not ready to embrace the life the family has planned for her.  When an new old flame returns to ask her forgiveness all is slightly topsy turvy for her.

A Promise of Grace - Lynette Sowell - #3 Seasons of Pinecraft - Rochelle keeps her past firmly tucked away.  There are many painful memories and she wants nothing to do with them.  She decides to return to nursing school, something she had to give up years ago.  As she is finding her way, her past come back to town.  Is she ready to face it?

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor - Melanie Dobson - Libby Dolye captured the heart of the heir of Landenbrooke Manor.  After he is murdered she disappears.  45 years later, her sister Heather comes to close up her parents house.  What she finds begs more questions than answers. 

Joseph's Dilemma - Ervin R. Stutzman - Return to Northkill #2 - Taken captive as a teenager, Joseph is caught between two worlds.  He is unsure of what the future holds for not only himself but also for the woman he loves and the people he has come to understand.

Blessing - Lyn Cote - #2 Quaker Brides - After becoming a young widow, Blessing returns to her Quaker faith and vows to fight for women's rights and abolition.  Then Gerard Ramsey arrives and town and she may go back on the vow to never marry again.

Undercover Bride - Margaret Brownley - #2 Undercover Ladies - Maggie has no intention of ever walking down the aisle, but this new case of her's may cause problems.  Posing as a mail - order bride to help catch a thief, Maggie is beginning to have feelings for her suspect.  Will her feeling get in the way of catching the Whistle -stop Bandit? 

Zachary Bartels

New Release - Love arrives in Pieces - Betsy St. Amant

Dear Readers,

The Summer months are upon us and the dog days of summer are rapidly approaching.  It is time to start getting that pile of books ready to take to the beach.  There is something about the reads that you take to the beach that may or may not be a little different that what you normally read.  I know a couple people that only read romances while at the beach.  They don't know why as that is not what they really like to read, but as one of them put it, "there is something about sitting in the sun, with no time pressures or worries that makes a lovely romance the perfect fit."

Maybe that is it, but what ever the reason, Love Arrives in Pieces by Betsy St. Amant should be the perfect fit.  Not only is it a romance, the story of two hurting people finding each other at the right time, it is also the story of those two people working at healing together.

Stella has always known her identity.  It was her beauty.  She worked the beauty pageant circuit, but now after a divorce and age has her wondering who she really is.  She no longer feels beautiful so spends her time making things beautiful with her design work.  Her next job better come soon or she may end up living with her parents.

Chase lost his fiancee and is now living a life with no regrets.  He lives fast, trying to accomplish as much as possible.  He returns to his home town to renovate the old theater in town and finds out his old flame Stella has just been hired to do the design work.  Will their old chemistry kick in again?

Betsy's books always seem to have that element to them that leaves you thinking about things you wouldn't normally.  What is it like for an aging beauty queen?  What happens when the beauty fades and all your life you have had only that to identify yourself with.  Interesting.  So not only a romance but also a story line that will make you think.  Hmm  sounds like the perfect anytime read.

Happy Reading,

New Release - Until Shiloh Comes - Karl Bacon

Dear Readers,

Maybe it is because my father taught history for years at a local middle school, but for what ever reason, I love reading and learning history.  Now I am not interested in reading some long boring tome about history, but a novel with set in the past? Wonderful!

Until Shiloh Comes by Karl Bacon is one of those books.  It gives you a lot of history, but with a story wove throughout it to make everything come to life.  Karl sets his books during the Civil War and takes the time to do the research so that he not only gets the setting right but also the characters and their interaction with each other correct.

Stanley Mitchell is a Yankee who is wounded in the battle of Shiloh in Eastern Tennessee.  Aaron Matthews is a Confederate and is killed in the same battle.  When his mother comes looking for her son, Stanley knows where he is, but refuses to tell her where he is until they strike a bargain.  Stanley will show the family where Aaron is, if they are willing to take him home and nurse him back to heath.

Reluctantly they agree and Stanley goes home with them.  To the Matthews home, in Confederate territory, where there are people so fueled by anger at the Union army that they would rather kill a Yankee than allow him to live among them.  Was this a good decision by Stanley or is it just going to cost him his life in the end?

What an different way of looking at the war between the states.  Two young men that may or may not have been friends at one time, fighting on different sides.  Both are wounded, one dies and the other lives.  Now as the family of the one killed, would you have taken the other one in knowing it is possible that he killed your son?  Something to think about as you read.

Until Shiloh Comes is the first of a trilogy and sure to make you want to come back for more.

Happy Reading,