Mermaid Moon: Sunset Cove Series Book 2 By Colleen Coble

I received this book from Litfuse Publicity for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description: 

Mallory's mother died fifteen years ago. But her father's last words on the phone were unmistakable: "Find . . . mother."

Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn't have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point.

Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O'Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart---and left---without a word, years ago.

When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life---and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie---their search intensifies. There's a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye.

As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father's killer---it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.


My Thoughts:

Mermaid Moon is the second book in Colleen Coble's Sunset Cove Series and it is SUPER! I had the pleasure of reading The Inn at Ocean's Edge, the first book in this series and I was hooked. I was so excited to have the opportunity to read the next book in the series! As a fan of Christian Suspense, I am hooked on Colleen Coble's suspense books! Colleen Coble writes with authority about Maine, Game Wardens, jewelry making, sailing, adoption past and present, and crime solving. I could NOT put this book down, from start to finish it grabbed a hold of me and kept me guessing all the way until the last page. The characters in this book were surprising and real, having lives that are not perfect like all of us. I loved the fact that in Mermaid Moon I met many new characters but also got to see old friends from the previous book. This book really kept me guessing until the very last sentence, something I love about Colleen Coble's Suspense stories. The style of writing made me feel like I was right there with Mallory and Kevin, trying to solve the mysteries in Mallory's life. Mermaid Moon is the second book in this series but it could be read as a stand alone I feel. Colleen Coble writes a story that new readers can read without feeling lost and those of us that have read the first book aren't bored with the details.  I loved The Inn At Ocean's Edge and I felt that Mermaid Moon was just as awesome. I HIGHLY recommend this book, series, and author to anyone who enjoys Christian Suspense books, you will NOT be disappointed. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series! I give this book 5 STARS.

Please Check Out The Giveaway Details Below

To move forward past a life of shame and confusion, Mallory Davis must go back to Mermaid Point to find out who murdered her father in Colleen Coble's new book, Mermaid Moon. As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father’s killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.

Celebrate the release of Mermaid Moon with Colleen and a mystery e-reader prize pack giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Mermaid Moon
• A Kindle Fire
• A mermaid necklace
• A pair of mermaid earrings

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on February 1st. The winner will be announced February 2nd on the Litfuse blog.

After The Rain By Rita Gerlach

I received this book from the author through The Celebrate Lit Blogging program for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description: 

It's 1908, a year in the Edwardian Age, the year J.M. Barrie’s play What Every Woman Knows, premiered in Atlantic City and the first Model T rolled off the assembly line in Detroit. It is a year when the world faced one of its worst disasters in history, when the New Year would heal the wounds of loss. Louisa Borden lives a privileged life in Chevy Chase, Maryland, a new and thriving community on the outskirts of Washington, DC for the well-to-do. Against the wishes of her domineering grandmother, she retreats from the prospects of a loveless marriage and instead searches for what she hopes is her calling in life. When her horse is spooked along Rock Creek, she is thrown from the saddle—an embarrassing situation for any affluent young lady. Soaking wet, bruised and humiliated, she is carried up the muddy bank to safety by Jackson O’Neil, a stranger to the city, who changes the course of everything, including the lives of all those around her.

My Thoughts:

After The Rain is the first book by Rita Gerlach I have had the pleasure of reading. As a fan of Christian Historical Fiction this book really caught my attention, first the gorgeous cover and of course the back cover description. Rita Gerlach writes with authority about the Edwardian Age in the United States and Europe, the social classes in the city and in the country, art, horses, medical care in 1908, and the treatment of down syndrome children during this time.   I enjoyed this book from start to finish, unable to put this book down until the end. I found that the book kept me guessing until the end how everything would turn out. I enjoyed the characters in this book especially Louisa and her father. Their relationship is very special and they truly cared for one another no matter whether together or apart. All of the characters in this book are real, lives messy like the rest of us. After The Rain has a lot of emotion throughout, I found myself laughing in some parts and crying in others. I found Rita Gerlach's writing fantastic, I really felt like I was there in 1908 seeing all of the events unfold. I have found a new author to add to my must read list! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Fiction, you will not be disappointed. I give this book 5 STARS.

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About The Author:

Rita Gerlach lives with her husband and two sons in a historical town nestled along the Catoctin Mountains, amid Civil War battlefields and Revolutionary War outposts in central Maryland. She was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in a large family in the Maryland suburbs.

"Romantic historical fiction that has an inspirational bent, is one way people can escape the cares of life and be transported back to a time of raw courage and ideal love," she says. "The goal of my writing is to give readers a respite from a stressful world and give them hope."

In many of her stories, she writes about the struggles endured by early colonists, with a sprinkling of both American and English history. Her genre - Inspirational Historical Romance / Drama.

Rita is a breast cancer survivor, and incorporates into her newer fiction what she learned through her journey --- courage, faith, and the precious gift of family and friendship.

Currently she is writing an Edwardian era novel set in Chevy Chase, Maryland, a historical community on the outskirts of Washington DC, leading to a fictional village in the western Maryland mountains. She is also co-authoring a historical series with bestselling Christian author Gilbert Morris.

Rita's Website

Inspire Blog

I Hope You Dance By Beth Moran

I received this book from Kregel Publications for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description:

Can dancing mend Ruth's broken heart?
Ruth Henderson has moved back in with her parents--something she swore she would never do, especially not at the age of thirty-three. But in the face of the mountain of debt left by her late partner, and the fact that her teenage daughter, Maggie, is expressing her grief through acts of delinquency, there was really only one option.
Returning to a house Ruth swore never to set foot in again is bad enough. Add to this an estranged father, whirlwind mother, and David--the boy next door who broke her heart--and it is little wonder Ruth can barely make it out of bed.
But then, reunited with her old friend Lois, Ruth is persuaded to go along to a monthly girls' night. Here she meets a bunch of incredible women and for the first time since leaving home at eighteen, Ruth begins to make some genuine friends.
She also has her first ever date--with the charming Dr. Carl Barker. However, after a disastrous dinner, and an upset Maggie still struggling with her father's death, Ruth promises her daughter she won't go out with any other men. A promise she quickly regrets when David, the boy next door, asks her to dance.


My Thoughts:

I Hope You Dance is the second book by author Beth Moran and it is fantastic. I had the joy of reading her debut book, Making Marion and was excited to have the opportunity to read her next book. I Hope You Dance is a great book that I could not put down. From the start the story of Ruth and her family grabbed ahold of me until the end. Beth Moran writes with expertise about Southwell, Nottinghamshire, ballroom dancing, foster care, lives of pastors and their families, parenting, loss of spouse and parent, and marriage.  I Hope You Dance is a book about second chances in life and finding out who you are in midst of tragedy. The characters in this book are fantastic! I loved them all especially the women's group Ruth goes to, they sure offer well needed comic relief, support, and God's love.  Really shows the true meaning of friendship, which Ruth was in much need of.  Ruth is a great character, she is NOT perfect and embraces that. Her life is at its lowest point and she works so hard to pull herself up and keep her daughter Maggie together. I Hope You Dance really brings out many emotions. I found myself laughing out loud in lots of places and crying in others as my heart went out to Ruth and Maggie. I did really enjoy this book and highly recommend this book and author to anyone who enjoys Christian Fiction, you will NOT be disappointed. I cannot wait to read more from Beth Moran and meet more of her characters. Definitely a must read author for me. I give this book 5 STARS.

Friends and Enemies: A World War II Romance (Promise for Tomorrow) (Volume 1) By Terri Wangard

I received this book from the author through The Celebrate Lit Blogging Program for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description:


Christian Historical Romance set in World War 2

In 1943, widowed seamstress Heidi Wetzel finds new meaning in life by caring for evacuated children on a rural farm in war-torn western Germany. Never a supporter of National Socialism, she takes pleasure in passive resistance, but must exercise caution around neighbors who delight in reporting to the Gestapo. Flying cadet Paul Braedel's wife dies while he trains for the U.S. Army Air Corps. Following bereavement leave, he returns to B-17 "Flying Fortress" Bomber navigator training but he's lost his zest for life and heads to England, not caring if he lives or dies. When he and his crew are shot down over Germany, he evades capture and, for the first time since Rachel's death, hears the voice of God whisper guidance: Find Heidi. When Heidi stumbles into a man she recognizes, she is shocked to realize he is a friend from her high school days in the United States, and the husband of her best friend Rachel. Aiding an enemy downed airman is punishable by execution, but she agrees to help. Then they're betrayed. A war-time adventure with romantic second chances.

My Thoughts:

Friends and Enemies is Terry Wangard's debut novel and it is FANTASTIC.  This is the first book in The Promise for Tomorrow Series.  I am a big fan of Christian Historical Fiction and debut novels so this one was definitely in my wheelhouse. I found myself unable to put this book down. Terri Wangard writes with authority on World War 2, Germany during that time, the United States during that time,  the US Military, the German Military, and life for these peoples. I found myself learning more about this time in our history while reading this book. I found myself drawn in from the beginning and unable to put it down until the end and definitely kept me guessing until the end. Friends and Enemies was definitely an emotional read. I found myself laughing in places and crying in others as the characters experienced joy and sadness. Terri Wangard's writing made me feel like I was right there watching the events unfold. I definitely have found another author to add to my must read list!! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Fiction, you will NOT be disappointed. I give this book 5 STARS



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