Home by Ginny Yttrup

Not only do I have a cold, but I have just been reduced to a pile of mushy tears when I finished this book! My poor nose!

So many emotions while reading HOME. There was sadness, fear, trepidation, exasperation, empathy, sympathy, frustration and relief. I feared for Melanie and her husband Craig's marriage. I thought for sure that I knew where the author was going with their story, but in reality I had no idea. I experienced exasperation at Melanie's behavior...before I understood what she was going through. I felt sympathy for their neighbor Jill and her husband Marcos. I admired the characters for getting the help that they needed, all in different ways. I admired Craig's faithfulness even when temptation assailed him. I admired Marco's in the way he supported his wife and encouraged her to seek help. Each character had a struggle, a hurdle to overcome and a grief to work through.

HOME is about allowing ourselves to experience and work through the grieving process. Some of the characters in HOME embraced their grief and worked through it, some of the characters were unable to do that until events in their lives brought them face to face with having to deal with their grief. I love what Melanie's husband Craig said at one point,

"What Jesus suffered for mankind, for me, makes what I'm going through look trivial at best. Yet the Spirit assures me that God feels my pain--it isn't trivial to Him."

Isn't it wonderful that we have such a relational God? I know this is a work of fiction, but so many truths were packed in it, so many poignant, gut-wrenching scenes, with characters that seemed so real that I felt like they were a part of my life.

HOME is one of those stories that will stay with the reader long after the final page is turned.

If I'm Found by Terri Blackstock

Casey Cox is still on the run trying to prove her innocence of the murder of her friend Brent. Dylan has been hired by Brent's parents to find Casey and bring her to justice. The media is confused by Casey's behavior. Told that Casey is a cold-blooded murderer, yet her actions in helping rescue a woman held captive, tell a different story. Once again Casey has had to change her identity and move on, and once again she gets mixed up into someone else's troubles and must at all costs help them even if it means being found by the men who framed her for murder. Can Dylan find Casey before these men? And can he find enough evidence against them before they kill Casey?

If I'm Found starts right where If I Run ends. There is a lot of action and a lot of emotions in this book. There are really two stories being told in this book. Of course the main story is Casey trying to prove her innocence and trying to stay alive long enough to do it and then the story of the people that Casey helps is woven into Casey's life. That story isn't pretty at all. I definitely had a hard time reading parts of that. The author has a way of presenting the evils of human behavior that cause the reader to be aware of things that happen outside of our every day bubble of security and contentment. Not only does she show us the evil that humans are capable of, she also shows us the need for a Savior to cleanse us of that evil. The clear message of salvation is definitely one of the things I especially appreciate in this authors writing. At the end of If I'm Found we are left with closure for the secondary story and a cliff-hanger in Casey's life. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

All The Future Holds by Miranda Atchley

In this sequel to A Castle in the Sky, author Abi Hensley has made a name for herself in New York. she is enjoying her success as an author and also enjoying her life in New York. Abi's known for writing strong female characters that resonate with the times. With the Women's Suffrugette movement getting started Abi is not sure what her role will be. Abi believes that all are created equal, but is she willing to go out and march for this cause? Abi is content with her life, but her parents are still disappointed in her lack of interest in any male suitors. Abi isn't against marriage, but it isn't for her at this time in her life. Does that make her a Suffragette? Throughout the story Abi struggles with what society's expectations for women are and her desire to be herself and the woman that God created her to be.

I enjoyed glimpses of the struggle that women in the Suffragette era were faced with. I also liked how Abi's struggle was portrayed. As a single woman in society she was expected to marry and let a man care for her. But Abi chose to make her own living and that was looked down upon not only by men, but even some more vocal and cruel women. In the same way that Abi wished to live her life the way she felt God called her to live, she wasn't willing to just jump in and be the voice of the movement. Abi knew her limits and decided to work within those. I loved how that was portrayed in the story. We each have a gift given us by our Creator, and Abi was using that gift to reach many people.

While the Suffragette movement was a big part of the story I also enjoyed the friendships that Abi has made. Those that have invested in her and the ones that she has invested in have given Abi a nice family of friends to keep her company and her life full. All the Future Holds left us with a huge cliff hanger so I will be looking forward to the next Abi Hensley book!

My Review of A Castle in the Sky

Comfort Me by Debbie Viguie

Things start off hoping in COMFORT ME! Now that Cindy is out of a job at her church she is working for a temp agency. Much to her dismay her latest job has landed her with a less than desirable boss and the mysterious disappearance of the girl she has replaced.

Meanwhile Mark and Jeremiah are trying to find out who put Mark's partner Liam in the hospital barely clinging to life.

Once again an exciting read in this fantastic series! If you have been waiting for this latest book, you will not be disappointed and you definitely will be left wanting more, and like Mark, you will be sleep deprived because I guarantee that you will not want to put this one down until you finish it!

Murder Is No Accident by A.H. Gabhart

Maggie Greene is where she shouldn't be when she hears voices and then someone falling. When Maggie discovers a dead woman she panics. She calls 911 from the victims phone and she leaves the scene. Unfortunately someone knows that Maggie was at Miss Fonda's house and that someone threatens to harm her and her family if she says anything to anyone.

Deputy Michael Keane has his suspicions of who called 911. Getting her to talk though is another story. Not only is Michael investigating another death in Hidden Springs, but his childhood friend and the woman he loves, Alex, has returned from Washington D.C. to help her uncle. Michael is ready to move on with their relationship but he senses that Alex is hesitant. Will this be the end of their relationship?

I really am enjoying this series! I like the characters. Michael is a good deputy who cares for the town he grew up in. He loves Alex and is willing to make things work in order to be with her. Alex frustrated me, because of how driven she was for her career and not even willing to think that there could be a way for her and Michael to be together. I like their history together though and that they realize that they are meant to be together. The mystery was good as well and kept me turning the pages to find out what happened late into the evening.

Her Baby's Protector

SAVED BY THE LAWMAN by Margaret Daley

As Kate Forster is out for her evening run with her baby boy a man with a ski mask on tries to snatch him away from her. Hearing her cries for help police officer Chase Walker rushes to her aid. Chase manages to pursue the would-be kidnapper for a while, but when the man jumps in a car and drives away he loses him. As a family-court judge Kate has tried many cases and has made a few enemies. Is one of them determined to kidnap her son to get even with her?

I really enjoyed SAVED BY THE LAWMAN. It was full of suspense and a bit of romance between Kate and Chase. Chase's care for Kate's son was touching and Kate's determination to keep her son safe was inspiring. There was a bit of a twist at the end that I sort of expected to come, but I still enjoyed it.

SAVED BY THE SEAL by Susan Sleeman

Bree Hatfield knows that her friends were murdered even though their deaths have been ruled an accident. Now Bree is raising her friends baby girl and investigating their death. Someone doesn't like her snooping where she doesn't belong. When Bree and her baby's life are threatened she escapes to the only place she knows will be safe. Bree's ex-boyfriend is a navy SEAL pledged to protect people. He's never stopped loving Bree, but his job has made it impossible for them to be together. Clint will stop at nothing to help Bree and her baby even if it means breaking his heart all over again.

It is hard to resist a strong military protector! I loved Clint's character and his desire to protect Bree and her baby. I also loved how he was with the baby. There's something about seeing(or reading) about a strong man who turns to mush when a baby gets put in his arms! I thought the suspense/mystery was well-written as well and kept me turning the pages quickly. Another fantastic read by this author.

Both books were quick reads and both books held my interest throughout with engaging characters and that touch of suspense that kept me wanting more after each chapter finished.

GUEST POST by Author Keli Gwyn

Please welcome Author Keli Gwyn to my blog today! Keli's book HER MOTHERHOOD WISH came out today. Here's a little bit about Keli:

Award-winning author Keli Gwyn writes stories that transport readers to the 1800s, where she brings historic towns to life, peoples them with colorful characters and adds a hint of humor. A California native, she lives in the Gold Rush-era 

town of Placerville at the foot of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains.

When Keli’s fingers aren’t hovering over the keyboard of her newfangled laptop, she enjoys strolling past stately Victorian houses in her historic town, burying her nose in reference books as she unearths interesting facts to include in her stories, and interacting with other romance readers. Her favorite places to visit are her fictional worlds, other Gold Rush-era towns and historical museums. 

Here are the details about the book:

Her Motherhood Wish

Building a Family

En route to the Double T Orphanage to work on its expansion, carpenter Chip Evans and Caroline Hunt discover two orphaned children—and become their caregivers. But Chip’s determined not to let himself get too attached to the children who just lost their widowed father…or to the lovely woman helping him care for them. Especially since Callie and the little ones just don’t fit into his detailed plans for the future.

Callie can’t help but fall in love with the orphans, and despite her better judgment, she’s falling for Chip, too. Her dreams of being a wife and mother were not quite like this. But Callie believes a plan bigger than Chip’s brought them all together…and now she just has to help him see it, too.

Copyright © 2017 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited
® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
or its affiliated companies, used under license.

You can check out my review of HER MOTHERHOOD WISH

Here's Keli to tell us about her experience with adoption:

The Joys of Adoption

by Keli Gwyn

Adoption plays an important role in my latest release, Her Motherhood Wish. The heroine, Callie, takes a job at an orphanage and hopes the children living there are adopted into loving homes, as she was after she lost her parents.

Two of the recently orphaned children, whom Callie and the hero of the story, Chip, rescued after their father was fatally wounded, come to mean a great deal to her. Her wish is to experience marriage and motherhood, with a husband like Chip and children like Jasper and Ruby, but the handsome carpenter has other plans, which don’t include adoption.

I was excited about writing this story because adoption has played an important role in my life.

When I was seven, my world was rocked when I learned that my dad wasn’t my “real dad.” I don’t remember much about that revelation, but I’ve been told Dad found me on my bed when he got home from work on that life-altering day, sobbing.

I was heartbroken. Dad had been in my life as far back as I could remember, having married my mom when I was one. Finding out that he wasn’t my “real” father left me feeling confused, curious and conflicted.

I consoled myself with the thought that Dad had to take what he got with my younger siblings, but he chose me. Such are the rationalizations of a young child desperate to be wanted and worthy of love.

As children, we long to know we belong. I yearned to be as much my dad’s daughter as my siblings were. Dad didn’t treat me any differently, and yet I knew something was different. Years passed before I was old enough to understand the biology.

For decades, I considered myself my dad’s heart-adopted daughter, but the little girl in me harbored the dream of becoming Dad’s daughter for real.

That dream came true on a sunny day in March 1996. I was thirty-six years old when my husband, our daughter, my dad

and I walked into the historic courthouse in my Gold Rush-era town. I sat at a table on one side of the aisle, facing the judge high up at his bench, with my dad seated at the table on the other side of the aisle.

The proceedings only took a few minutes. The judge concluded them by pronouncing us father and daughter, in the eyes of the law. Although I’d spent my life as Dad’s daughter, making our relationship legal meant a great deal to me. At long last, I had the real dad I’d dreamed of.

Dad gave me a special gift to commemorate that day, a plate bearing the words: “Loved you yesterday. Love you still.

Always have. Always will.” I hung it in a place where I see it every day, and it makes me smile.

We lost Dad a few years back, following his short battle with Alzheimers. I miss him, but I have many wonderful memories of the man who welcomed me into his heart from the start.

Questions for You

When you think of adoption, what comes to mind?

Have you read stories that include the joys of adoption?

Has adoption played a role in your life or in the life of someone you know?

I can answer the last question that Keli asks us. My middle sister has two biological daughters. When they were teenagers my oldest niece told her mom about a friend who needed a place to stay. My sister took him in. Then his brother arrived. And then my sister petitioned to be a foster parent to 4 other siblings. Eventually my sister adopted the 4 youngest siblings, and all 6 call her mom. Adoption is a beautiful thing no matter what age! 

How about you? Can you answer any of Keli's questions? Feel free to leave a comment and share your experiences.

BONUS:

Keli has graciously offered to give one copy of her book HER MOTHERHOOD WISH to one lucky winner. Leave a comment on this post and winner will be chosen by Random.org on Friday March 10th. 

Thanks so much to Keli Gwyn for sharing on my blog today! 

3/10/17

WINNER!!!! Jennifer Hibdon contact me at gravesok@gmail.com and give me your mailing address to pass on to Keli for your book! Congratulations!