My June Reads

I am pretty pleased with my June read pile. I didn’t get to everything in my want to pile this month and I ended up adding some additional reads that I wasn’t planning on, but all in all a great reading month! Favorite June reads included: Dying For Devil’s Food by Jenn McKinlay, the Legacy of Faith books by Robin Lee Hatcher, Designs On Murder by Gail Leeson, and a reread of A Lady of Esteem by Kristi Ann Hunter. My top read for June was: Karen Witemeyer’s newest novel More Than Words Can Say. Looking forward to knocking out a good stack in July!

Shattered Trust

Protecting her was his job

Failure wasn’t an option

After Natalie Harper was left at the altar, enjoying her honeymoon alone is the best way to cope—until she’s attacked on the beach. Luke Everett, the bodyguard secretly hired by her federal judge father, arrives just in time to rescue her. It’ll take all his professional skills to keep Natalie safe. One wrong move and they could fall prey to the enemy’s deadly scheme. 


My Rating: 4 Stars
Checked this out by choice from the library.

This was an exciting read! Shattered Trust pulled me in from the very beginning and kept my attention well throughout. The mystery was extremely entertaining and kept me guessing through a good portion of the book. I really liked the character of  Luke and I felt for Natalie going through all she went through. She did bug me a time or two especially leaving the hospital the way she did-it wasn’t the smartest idea but she was a good main character. I did feel the romance moved a bit quick on the heels of a broken engagement but I still enjoyed the story a lot! Looking forward to Sara’s next LIS!

The Pink Bonnet

A Desperate Mother Searches for Her Child
Step into True Colors -- a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

Widowed in Memphis during 1932, Cecile Dowd is struggling to provide for her three-year-old daughter. Unwittingly trusting a neighbor puts little Millie Mae into the clutches of Georgia Tann, corrupt Memphis Tennessee Children’s Home Society director suspected of the disappearance of hundreds of children. With the help of a sympathetic lawyer, the search for Millie uncovers a deep level of corruption that threatens their very lives.
 
How far will a mother go to find out what happened to her child?

My Rating: 3 Stars

This was a brutal read! Speaking as a Mama, reading this book and picturing my daughter in this situation was heartbreaking. Especially since my daughter has special needs, and I can only imagine how that evil woman would have reacted to that! Knowing that this was based on ACTUAL events: WOWZA! Liz did a good job at constructing a compelling story and it flows well with lots of twists and turns. It's the subject matter itself that lowers my rating. This isn't a book I will likely reread because it truly makes my heart hurt.

I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson

by Jennifer Robson  
From the internationally bestselling author of Somewhere in France comes an enthralling historical novel about one of the most famous wedding dresses of the twentieth century—Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown—and the fascinating women who made it.

“Millions will welcome this joyous event as a flash of color on the long road we have to travel.”—Sir Winston Churchill on the news of Princess Elizabeth’s forthcoming wedding

London, 1947: Besieged by the harshest winter in living memory, burdened by onerous shortages and rationing, the people of postwar Britain are enduring lives of quiet desperation despite their nation’s recent victory. Among them are Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, embroiderers at the famed Mayfair fashion house of Norman Hartnell. Together they forge an unlikely friendship, but their nascent hopes for a brighter future are tested when they are chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime honor: taking part in the creation of Princess Elizabeth’s wedding gown.

Toronto, 2016: More than half a century later, Heather Mackenzie seeks to unravel the mystery of a set of embroidered flowers, a legacy from her late grandmother. How did her beloved Nan, a woman who never spoke of her old life in Britain, come to possess the priceless embroideries that so closely resemble the motifs on the stunning gown worn by Queen Elizabeth II at her wedding almost seventy years before? And what was her Nan’s connection to the celebrated textile artist and holocaust survivor Miriam Dassin?

With The Gown, Jennifer Robson takes us inside the workrooms where one of the most famous wedding gowns in history was created. Balancing behind-the-scenes details with a sweeping portrait of a society left reeling by the calamitous costs of victory, she introduces readers to three unforgettable heroines, their points of view alternating and intersecting throughout its pages, whose lives are woven together by the pain of survival, the bonds of friendship, and the redemptive power of love.



My Rating: 4 Stars

Where do I begin? This was an enthralling tale! A fictional account of the true story about the making of the then Princess Elizabeth's wedding gown, this story gripped me from the very beginning. It's a dual time set in 1947 and 2016 and has 3 main characters: Nan, Miriam, and Nan's granddaughter Heather. I loved reading this book and meeting these three strong women. It was fun to see a glimpse of how Princess Elizabeth's dress came to be  and visiting that time period.  This is compelling story and I thoroughly enjoyed it! There is one scene that is a bit hard to read but other than that it is a clean read. Recommend! 

Cross My Heart (Legacy Of Faith #2)

Ashley Showalter and Ben Henning have so much in common. Both were raised by single moms. Both want to help where they see a need. And both work with horses in the Boise valley. Ashley runs a horse rescue operation, while Ben has started an equine therapy barn on his great-great grandfather’s farm—and both Ashley and Ben have the feeling that there could be something more between them.

But they share something else that may drive them apart if the truth is ever revealed. Ben is a recovering alcoholic with ten years of sobriety behind him, while Ashley’s brother, Dylan, is an opioid addict, currently residing in court-ordered rehab. Ashley has promised herself she would never walk knowingly into the chaos created by addiction—because in her mind, addicts can never be fully cured. But with God, all things are possible. Will Ashley find it within herself to give love a chance, or will her brother’s mistakes jeopardize her future with Ben?

This book releases June 25, 2019

My Rating: 5 Stars
Cross My Heart was fantastic. Book two in Robin's Legacy Of Faith series, this story was a joy to read. I really liked Ben and Ashley and my favorite character was Grandpa Grant. He was adorable! I loved the fact that Ben is starting an equine therapy center and all the horse stuff in the book. I have a personal experience with a equine therapy center while working as a Para, and I can tell you it works. So to see it in a novel thrilled me! Robin weaves stories that just flow off the page and they are quick, easy reads with a ton of heart and story. I can not recommend this series enough!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Who I Am With You

My Rating: 5 Stars

I LOVED this book! Robin's books have been on my TBR pile for awhile, especially her titles that are county song titles(that has LONG intrigued me!) "Who I Am With You" is my first read of these titles but it will NOT be my last. I love the plot point of using Great Grandpa Andrew's Bible in the series, that was probably my favorite part of all. Jessica and Ridley had my heart from the start. Having a 6 year old daughter myself, what Jessica had been through hit very close to home. The story itself was lovely and wove together very easily. I actually listened to the audio version and the narration was superb. Super easy to listen to and it was narrated by Windy Lanzl who has become one of my favorite narrators. She is so easy to listen too! I will be reading more of Robin's books soon!

Ever Faithful (Vintage National Parks #3)

My Rating: 4 Stars
This Vintage National Parks series has been such fun to read! Set during an interesting time period in our nation's history and set in beautiful locations, this series is not to be missed. The third  installment takes us to Yellowstone in the early 1930's with Elsie and Nate. This was a sweet story with a bit of mystery, as well as romance and overcoming tragedies in the past. I really felt for Elsie and Nate, they had both been through some rough stuff in their lives and had a lot to overcome. I liked the plot addition of Nate's reading difficulties, that isn't something you see often in books so I liked seeing how Karen addressed that. The ending was satisfying and wrapped up things nicely. Karen is very good at describing the scenery and painting a mental picture of Yellowstone back then. This book was a very pleasant "vacation" to Yellowstone!

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Murder In Red

My Rating: 4 Stars
Another good installment in one of my favorite series! I was pleased to see George in this story as he is a favorite of mine. The mystery is very good with two unexplained deaths and kept me guessing. Jessica’s still got it, that’s for sure!! Looking forward to more of Jessica’s adventures. Great read!

A Reluctant Bride (The Bride Ships #1)

My Rating: 4 Stars

This is a superbly crafted read! Jody has woven an immersive tale that does not let go until you finish the book and even then, it lingers. This story has a lot of heartbreak and tragedy given the time period and the harshness of poverty in London during that period but even then there is hope and love that shines through this book. This is definitely a "meatier" read, it's not a light fluffy story but it is a wonderful book. I really enjoyed traveling with Mercy and Joseph aboard The Tynemouth and their arrival in British Columbia and Vancouver Island. That was quite a voyage! I liked most of the characters in the novel, with the exception of Mr. Scott(he played his part well!). Jody wrote him to be the perfect villain/foil to Joseph and Mercy. Mr. Scott was horrid in his treatment of the women. I really wanted to smack sense in to him on more than one occasion!! All in all, this book was a wonderfully entertaining read and I an eagerly looking forward to the next in the series!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Guarding The Amish Midwife

My Rating: 4 Stars

This was another fun mystery by Dana. I have come to really enjoy her Amish mysteries and this one was no exception. Lizzie and Issac were great characters that I found myself rooting for. Both had been through tragic events in their lives and it made my heart happy to see them overcome all that they had gone through, all while catching a murderer intent on doing away with the only witness to the crime: Lizzie. Issac and Lizzie were sweet to watch in the story and I really liked the character of Ryder. Looking forward to seeing him again! Can't wait for Dana's next book!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

Wooing Cadie McCaffrey

My Rating: 3.75 Stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. There were parts I loved and parts I didn't care for.  I loved all the mentions of some of my most favorite romcoms, or as I like to call them, ChickFlicks. Bethany hit most of my favorites along the way in "Wooing Cadie McCaffrey." and it was fun to see them mentioned. I enjoyed the characters in this book, especially Kevin and Ellis! I loved the way they joined forces with Will to help him win Cadie back. That was hilarious and sweet and definitely my favorite part of the novel. I didn't love Cadie's parents, they drove me NUTS! Some of the misunderstandings and such drove me crazy, and Cadie annoyed me at times. Overall, the book was cute and a perfect light summer read. There were some aspects that surprised me in the book, but they were handled well. I would give this between a 3.5 and a 4 star review and I will round up to 4 for goodreads etc. 

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own. 

The Number Of Love

My Rating: 4 Stars This was such a fun read! I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of the Codebreakers especially Margot and the way her brain worked so differently from mine(I am not mathematical in the slightest!). Books set during either of the World Wars are intriguing to me and I love that it's set during World War 1. The look into the code breaking that went on during the war was fascinating to me. The characters were likable and different, with Margot's super intelligence and Dot's difficulties so that was a cool element with unusual types of characters that you don't usually see in fiction. The story wove together well and kept me wondering at how it would all turn out in the end. It was a little slow for me at times but overall I enjoyed the story. All in all, a great start to Roseanna's new series. I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

THE NUMBER OF LOVE (The Codebreakers #1) by Roseanna M. White The Toughest Puzzle She'll Have to Solve Might Be the Wishes of Her Own Heart Three years into the Great War, England's greatest asset is their intelligence network--field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack German telegrams for hints of the enemy's plans. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, she discovers for the first time in her life that numbers aren't enough. Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy who just won't give up. He's smitten quickly by the quick and brainy Margot, but soon the dangers of the war draw ever closer. Margot and Drake will have to team up to save themselves from the very secrets that brought them together. Author Links: Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Website Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseannaMWhite/ Blog: https://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/ Website: https://roseannamwhite.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoseannaMWhite Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseannamwhite/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/roseannamwhite/ Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book | More Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42075376-the-number-of-love?from_search=true Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Number-Love-Codebreakers-Roseanna-White/dp/0764231812/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+number+of+love&qid=1557899486&s=gateway&sr=8-2 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-number-of-love-roseanna-m-white/1129716514?ean=9780764231810#/ Christian Book: https://www.christianbook.com/the-number-of-love-1/roseanna-white/9780764231810/pd/231812?event=ESRCG More: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/the-number-of-love/391570/affiliates Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

The Printed Letter Bookshop

My Rating: 4 stars
This book ended up being a charming read! The storyline intrigued me from the first time I heard about it and I immediately wanted to read it. Once I started it, I was drawn in to the lives of the three women. As the book progressed, it did get a little heavy with all the ladies were going through but the story wove together beautifully. By the end I had connected with a couple characters in particular and I ended up loving the book. A great read! It’s not a sunshine and flowers book but it’s real and good.

I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

More Than Words Can Say

My Rating: 5 Stars(and then some!)
Karen has done it again! Karen's books are always at the top of my must read and favorite lists and this one is no exception. I have been eagerly awaiting Zach's story for a year and it did not disappoint in the least. It was going to take a special woman to claim Zach's heart and Karen created a perfect counterpart in Abigail. She is going to be one of my most favorite of Karen's characters, and while Amos is still my favorite of Karen's heroes, Zach is a VERY close second! More Than Words Can Say is full of great characters from Zach and Abigail to a very well crafted villain(who in all honesty, I would love to see her redemption story!) and some adorable kiddos. This book was one I devoured! If you enjoy great historical Christian Fiction with lots of heart and humor and a great faith message, then this is the book for you!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.