The Master Craftsman

 The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart is a historical fiction novel filled with treasure hunting, suspense and romance.  

In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in the House of Faberge, was charged to protect on of the greatest secrets in Russian history, an unknown Faberge Egg that Peter Karl Faberge secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial tsar's family.  When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family.

Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him.  With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face.  As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.  

When I first cracked this book open I was instantly intrigued by the mystery of the hidden treasure, what it was, what was so secretive about it and of its importance.  I did enjoy the mystery and romance, but there was something lacking for me.  I had a very hard time staying engaged after the first couple of chapters.  The excitement soon fizzled out.  I've seen a lot of good reviews about this book though and I am fully aware that we all have different taste in books and this may be something you really love.  I personally would give it about three stars, but it may just be something you would give five!

***Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Spark of Love

Oh how I have loved the Mesquite Springs series by Amanda Cabot.  Although these three stories have been set in the fictional town of Mesquite Springs in Texas I found a bit of a connection there since my son and daughter-in-law in Mesquite, Texas.  

All three of the books make great stand alone book, but trust me when I say you should read them all as a series.  Every book is so good, this third one, Spark of Love, just may be my favorite out of the three though.  It is so much more than just a historical romance.  The love touches on that between families and the love God has for us.  He is there ready to redeem us.  

When a spurned suitor threatens her, heiress Alexandra Tarkington flees New York for Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country, where her father is building a hotel.  But the happy reunion she envisions is not to be as her father insist she return to New York.  Instead, Alexandra carves out a niche for herself in town teaching school children to paint and enjoying the company of Gabe Seymour, a delightful man she met on the stagecoach.

But all is not as it seems.  Two men, each with his own agenda, have followed her to Mesquite Springs and Gabe is an investigator, searching for proof that her father is a swindler.  When a series of apparent accidents threaten her life.  Alexandra and Gabe will have to work together to discover the truth and perhaps along the way they will discover that the sparks of attraction they've felt from the beginning are more than sparks.  They're love.

I'm kind of sad that this series has come to an end, but I cant wait to read whatever Amanda Cabot writes next.  This series has made her one of my favorite authors!

Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

100 Plants to Feed the Birds

 If you are a bird watching enthusiast, or maybe you just desire to have more birds in your yard, this is the book for you.  I enjoyed it so much and I have to mention that the pictures are absolutely gorgeous.  This could definitely be a coffee table book.  I would enjoy just flipping through the pages and admiring the photographs.  But beyond the photographs this book has so much more to offer.

This book touches on everything imaginable that will attract birds to your yard...flowers, trees, berries and more.  Pictures are included of each plant/fruit and the birds they will attract.  Along with the pictures there is plenty of valuable information on what zones and conditions the plant grows best in.  There's also lots of info on the birds and why they are attracted to this type of plant.

I learned so much from this book.  It's not only a good reference book for birds, but I learned so much about plants as well.  This would be a great addition to any nature lovers library. 

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Dog Behavior Answer Book

If you know me at all you know I am a huge lover of dogs, so I was very excited for the opportunity to read The Dog Behavior Answer Book:  Practical Insights & Proven Solutions For Your Canine Questions.  This book answers questions in story form which I found enjoyable.  It was interesting to read about other peoples struggles with their dogs and how they deal with them.  It's also the kind of book that you can read bits and pieces of it a little at a time.  This makes it an easy read.  

I didn't really fell like there was some great insight into training your dog or breaking bad behavior.  You would have to know very little about canines to not know the answers to the questions that were included.  Even though I didn't really learn anything I felt like it was an enjoyable read.  This would be a good resource for a first time dog owner, or maybe a gift for a young person who loves animals.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book through Net Galley.

Until Leaves Fall In Paris

When it comes to WWII historical romance Sarah Sundin is hands down the best Author.  Her impeccable research shines forth in her writing and I am always amazed at how she draws me into the pages as if I'm right there on the sidelines watching as the story unfolds. If you have a facebook you should follow her as well.  She posts some great pics and information about her research.  

Until Leaves Fall In Paris is my favorite book of hers yet. It is fast paced, heart-wrenching at times and oh the ending will have you near tears as it is just about perfect. 

As the Nazis march toward Paris in 1940, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape.  Lucie struggles to run Green Leaf Book Books due to oppressive German laws and harsh conditions, but she finds a way to aid the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books. 

Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers.  As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory.  After they meet in the bookstore, Paul and Lucie are drawn to each other, but she rejects him when she discovers he sells to the Germans.  And for Paul to win her trust would mean betraying his mission.

Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Prince and The Prodigal

When it comes to biblical fiction Jill Eileen Smith is my favorite author.  She has a way of weaving true biblical truths with fictional details that make it easier to connect and understand what life was like during Bible times.  So often the Bible is short in its descriptions that we forget that they are real people with real feelings.  I think it's important to remember while reading biblical fiction that it's just that....a fictional account of a biblical truth.  

In The Prince and The Prodigal we get a closer look into the life of Joseph.  I enjoyed this so much and it actually changes my perception of Joseph.  I always viewed him as a bit of an arrogant, spoiled boy, but from this perspective I realized that maybe that was not necessarily the case.  Maybe Joseph didn't want to be singled out and favored by his father.  Maybe he just really wanted to fit in with his brothers.  I also enjoyed reading about his other brothers, with Judah being a main focus.

This brought a well familiar Bible story more alive than ever before for me.  As always with a biblical fiction read I feel the need to go back and read and study straight from the Bible after the fictional account.  I don't want to veer from the truth, but also want to be aware that there is much more than what is told in the biblical account.  

Christian fiction is always a plus to read if it challenges you to draw closer to God and read His Word more.  This was just such a book.

***Thanks to Revell Reads for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water

 

When novelist Kendra Brennan moves into her grandfather's old cabin on Hidden  Lake, she has a problem and a plan.  The problem?  An inflammatory letter from A Very Disappointed Reader.  The plan? To confront Tyler, her childhood best friend's brother and the man who inspired her antagonist in her first book.  If she can prove that she told the truth about what happened during those long-ago summers, perhaps she can put the letter's claims to rest and meet the swiftly approaching deadline for her next book.

But what she discovers as she delves in to the murky past is not what she expected.  While facing Tyler isn't easy, facing the consequences of her failed friendship with his sister, Cami, may be the hardest thing she's ever had to do.

Let's jump right into the review.  The title and cover of this book is is intriguing and instantly caught my eye and was the main reason I wanted to read this book.  However, it didn't take me long to remember that this author is not one of my favorites. I am not a fan of first person narrative in a fictional novel so that was an instant draw back for me.  The story line was promising, but there were so many things I could not get past.  

The book could be "triggering" for some individuals as it touches on abuse.  Child molestation was very detailed and descriptive, as was a sex scene.  The abuser seemed to be justified because of their upbringing and this really bothered me.  The descriptiveness and the lack of faith portrayed in the book left me questioning how this is considered to be a Christian fiction title.  There was also drinking, bikini wearing and other things that I thought was not appropriate for the genre.  

Now, I have read books that are not "Christian fiction" and there is a difference considering this one is not laced with profanity, but it is not something I could in good conscience recommend, nor would I want a young teenager to pick it up.  So, even though I don't like to give negative reviews, I'm going to have to give this one two stars.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

God Is My Hiding Place

 

God is My Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom is a collection of 40 devotions of refuge and strength.  You will be so encouraged as you read through these devotions.  Each day has a scripture, usually just one verse, followed by a short devotion from the life of Corrie Ten Boom.  Each devotion then ends with a prayer.

As I read through this devotion one thing I kept thinking is how easy my life really is.  If you look at the struggles Corrie Ten Boom faced and how she kept the faith and pressed on you can't help but be encouraged.  One thing I really like is that it's not all fluff.  She doesn't just share how she had this great faith, she shares the struggles, the times that she didn't want to think positive or maybe couldn't see the best of the situation in the moment, and at times even struggled with forgiveness. But throughout all the struggles she knows that it is prayer and God will help her through. She shares with us, her readers, of the lessons she learned and she shares of how great God really is.  

I felt so uplifted and can't recommend this devotional enough.  I will soon be reading The Hiding Place again.  

Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for providing me with a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Never Leave Me

 Never Leave Me by Jody Hedlund is the second book in the Waters of Time series. I did not read the first book in this series and do not feel it is absolutely necessary, but I do think the reader would gain more enjoyment and connect better if you read them in sequence.

Ellen is living out her last days in the home of her friend Harrison who is a paraplegic.  Because of his condition he has never allowed himself to act on his feelings, but his affection for Ellen runs deep.  He is desperate to save her by finding the holy water that is believed to have healing powers.  When he finally locates them, Ellen refuses to drink.  She believes the holy water is what killed her sister and father. Harrison drinks it in his effort to prove to her it is safe and once she witnesses first hand the power in the water she knows it is safe.  There are some dangerous men who are desperate to get their hands on this miraculous water and will do whatever it takes to get it.  Even if that means sending Ellen back to the past.

Okay, I really wanted to like this book.  Jody Hedlund has been one of my favorite authors through the years, but I just couldn't with this story.  The time travel was just weird to me and Ellen was not a character I could connect with at all.  She was down right irritating to me.  I did like the character of Harrison, but overall it became a chore for me to get through this book.  

This is not an author I will abandon because of one book I dislike.  She has written so many that sit on my favorite shelf and all though this one did not cut it for me, I'm sure there will be others that will love it.  

Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

A Heart Adrift

 Within the very first pages of A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz I knew I was going to love this book.  The story centers around Esmee and Captain Henry, who were both, many years ago, very much in love with each other.  Esmee refused to be the wife a seaman and Captain Henry refused to give up the occupation in which he loved.  Many years have passed and their paths have crossed once again.  

Captain Henry has returned to port and is set on completing the lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay.  Esmee is working as a chocolatier in her family's business.  Their paths first cross at a ball and the chemistry is instantly sparked again.  As I was reading I kept feeling like they were both very stubborn and wanted to hurry their love up a bit.  But sometmes sweet happy endings take time and this one was just that.  

There are so many things I loved about the book and I felt I was transported back to colonial Virginia through the Author's detailed descriptions.  I loved the history involved and there was some suspense too.  The love story is what kept me turning the pages though.  I so wanted to see these two make it.  There were some lessons in grief and idolatry which gave me some things to think about.  It seems in the past couple years there has been so much loss and I personally have suffered the loss of a dear friend.  There were some things mentioned that gave me pause.

If you are a fan of historical fiction I highly recommend this book.  Laura Frantz never disappoints and this may very well be my favorite of hers to date.

Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.