Cousins of the Dove by Mindy Starns Clark & Leslie Gould

France, 1685. Catherine Gillet knows her brother, Jules, wants to protect her from the sinister threats of the French crown. But Jules is involved in a potentially deadly enterprise, one connected with an encoded document. When his actions put the whole family at risk, will Catherine find a way to save them?

Virginia, present day. Renee Talbot, a direct descendant of Catherine's, is fascinated by the document that's been part of her family legacy for more than three centuries. Certain its pages hold hidden secrets, she takes a closer look—and makes a shocking discovery. But when memories of a childhood trauma are rekindled, she's forced to seek answers of a different kind. Inspired by the faith and bravery of Catherine, can Renee find the truth and face her deepest fears at last?

 Virginia, 1704

Celeste Talbot is usually such a sensible young woman—until she falls for an English soldier reassigned to the Colonies. Leaving her Huguenot family behind, she sets sail for America, only to realize that her younger sister Berta has been kidnapped and forced on board the very same ship. Whom can Celeste trust? The dashing soldier? Or the vigilant carpenter who remains by their side in the perilous New World?

Virginia, present day

Madeline "Maddee" Talbot has her hands full when she agrees to take in her younger sister, Nicole, following a serious car accident. The young women grew apart when Nicole fell into drug addiction, and Maddee prays this will be the start of a better life for her sister. But as they investigate a trauma from their childhood, Maddee must keep a diligent eye on Nicole—and the shadowy figure watching them from afar.

Virginia, 1864

Therese Jennings cannot abide the thought of owning slaves. When her widowed mother inherits a plantation, Therese flees to Civil War Richmond, where she works as a governess by day and tends to wounded soldiers at night. But when trouble befalls her family, can she reconcile her obligations with her beliefs? And will love—whether with an old beau or a handsome new suitor—ever fit in her broken world?

Virginia, present day

Nicole Talbot's life is back on track after years of substance abuse. Home from college for the summer, she's finally ready to share a shocking secret, one that raises new questions about a traumatic childhood experience. But when facts she uncovers cast doubt on her family's legacy, she must risk all that she's gained—her fresh start, her family's trust, and her growing relationship with a new man—to unlock the secrets of the past.

My Thoughts:  It's so exciting to receive a whole set/a trilogy in the mail.  I love to read the first book and then to have the next two that come after is so nice.  No waiting to see what happens!

Cousins of the Dove is an exciting trilogy that begins in France.

Each of the books goes back and forth from the "old" day to the present day.  this gives the reader a glimpse at what has happened and what takes place in the present day.

From the Huguenots, the Colonists, and the American Civil War AND then a suspenseful present day fiction that goes right along with what happened in the past.  

Such an ingenious stories.  

Two great authors bring out the best in a reader: fear, anger for misguided people, helping the lesser, confusion and love.  

Such a trilogy should not be missed. . . you'll learn more and be fascinated by what is happening in fictional people's lives.  Oh, I'm sorry did I say fictional people?  I meant fascinating people.  The characters in the books seem so real and could/might have been one's neighbors. 

What a grand trilogy!

*These  books were provided for review by Harvest House*

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

Wondering what to do with all those wonderful vegetables in our garden...

I found this delicious recipe on Pinterest (of course!)

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil 
• 1 medium yellow onion 
• 1 tsp minced garlic 
• 1 medium zucchini 
• 1 medium yellow squash 
• 1 medium potato 
• 1 medium tomato 
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• to taste salt & pepper 
• 1 cup shredded Italian cheese 

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Finely dice the onion and mince the garlic. Saute both in a skillet with olive oil until softened (about five minutes).
2. While the onion and garlic are sauteing, thinly slice the rest of the vegetables.
3. Spray the inside of an 8×8 square or round baking dish with non-stick spray. Spread the softened onion and garlic in the bottom of the dish. Place the thinly sliced vegetables in the baking dish vertically, in an alternating pattern. Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, and thyme.
4. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, top with cheese and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.

{The Fiction Guild} The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

Book Description:  Tenley Roth’s first book was a runaway bestseller. Now that her second book is due, she’s locked in fear. Can she repeat her earlier success or is she a fraud who has run out of inspiration?

With pressure mounting from her publisher, Tenley is weighted with writer’s block. But when her estranged mother calls asking Tenley to help her through chemotherapy, she packs up for Florida where she meets handsome furniture designer Jonas Sullivan and discovers the story her heart’s been missing.

A century earlier, another woman wrote at the same desk with hopes and fears of her own. Born during the Gilded Age, Birdie Shehorn is the daughter of the old money Knickerbockers. Under the strict control of her mother, her every move is decided ahead of time, even whom she’ll marry. But Birdie has dreams she doesn’t know how to realize. She wants to tell stories, write novels, make an impact on the world. When she discovers her mother has taken extreme measures to manipulate her future, she must choose between submission and security or forging a brand new way all on her own.

Tenley and Birdie are from two very different worlds, but fate has bound them together in a way time cannot erase.

My Thoughts:  Two lovely brave hearted women, one desk.  The writing desk brings these two women together at different times in history.

Birdie Shehorn was dealing with some of the same issues during the Gilded Age that Tenley Roth was dealing with in the tweet-first century.

A story of two women with stories to write and people to deal with.  People who don't understand their need to write or their love of the written word.  And strong willed mothers who think they know the best for their daughters.  But in reality seem to just want to control people's lives.

A great story with sweet romance and the way to love those around you and still pursue your dreams, your calling.

*This book was provided for review by The Fiction Guild*

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (July 11, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310341590
• ISBN-13: 978-0310341598

Fatal Trust by Todd M. Johnson

Book Description:  Ian Wells is a young criminal defense attorney struggling to build a Minneapolis law practice he inherited from his father while caring for a mother with Alzheimer's. Nearly at the breaking point, everything changes for Ian when a new client offers a simple case: determine whether three men qualify for over nine million dollars of trust funds. To qualify, none can have been involved in criminal activity for the past twenty years. Ian's fee for a week's work: the unbelievable sum of two hundred thousand dollars. 

Ian warily accepts the job--but is quickly dragged deep into a mystery linking the trust with a decades-old criminal enterprise and the greatest unsolved art theft in Minnesota history. As stolen money from the art theft surfaces, Ian finds himself the target of a criminal investigation by Brook Daniels, a prosecutor who is also his closest law school friend. He realizes too late that this simple investigation has spun out of control and now threatens his career, his future, and his life.

My Thoughts:  I have quite a few favorite authors but I also like to read books by new.to.me authors.  Todd Jonson is a brand new author to me.

This is a legal suspense novel.  One of my favorite kinds of reads.

Ian is a likable guy but he is quite weary.  So when a client offers him a great sum of money to do a simple job he grabs it.  

Funny though how a simple job sometimes becomes a deep entailing job.

As Ian goes about trying to make sure that the three men on his list have never been in criminal activities he drawn into quite an entangling mystery.  Then to top it off Ian finds himself on the wrong side of the law.  Somehow Ian was trapped into a not so simple job.  

O! MY!  This is an excellent read!

If you love suspense with a legal twist then this is the book for you.

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*

With You Always

With You Always

by Jody Hedlund

A Riveting Look at the Orphan Train from Historical Novelist Jody Hedlund

When a financial crisis in 1850s New York leaves three orphaned sisters nearly destitute, the oldest, Elise Neumann, knows she must take action. She's had experience as a seamstress, and the New York Children's Aid Society has established a special service: placing out seamstresses and trade girls. Even though Elise doesn't want to leave her sisters for a job in Illinois, she realizes this may be their last chance. 

The son of one of New York City's wealthiest entrepreneurs, Thornton Quincy faces a dilemma. His father is dying, and in order to decide which of his sons will inherit everything, he is requiring them to do two things in six months: build a sustainable town along the Illinois Central Railroad, and get married. Thornton is tired of standing in his twin brother's shadow and is determined to win his father's challenge. He doesn't plan on meeting a feisty young woman on his way west, though.

{The Fiction Guild} Beneath Copper Falls (Rock Harbor Series) by Colleen Coble

Book Description:  As a 911 dispatcher, Dana Newell takes pride in being calm in tough circumstances. In addition to her emotionally-charged career, she’s faced enough emergencies in her own life. She recently escaped her abusive fiancé to move to tranquil Rock Harbor where she hopes life will be more peaceful.

But the idyllic town hides more danger and secrets than it first appeared. Dana is continually drawn to her new friend Boone, who has scars inside and out. Then she answers a call at her job only to hear a friend’s desperate screams on the other end. Soon the pain in her past collides with the mysteries of her new home—and threatens to keep her from the future she’s always wanted.

My Thoughts:  I was excited to receive Colleen Coble's newest novel.  It's like Christmas when a brand new book by a favorite author comes in the mail.

The setting for this story takes place in Rock Harbor.  Such a beautiful and, yet, mysterious place.  

It seems that where ever Dana Newell goes there is sure to be action and adventure.  Of course, poor Dana doesn't go looking for trouble it just follows her.

After her fiancée gives her a punishment of dunking her head in the  kitchen sink she tells herself he was just upset and didn't mean to hurt her. But her fiancee has been abusive more than once.  Finally, Dana gets smart and heads home to Rock Harbor.  This is where the action begins.

This is such a story with twists and turns that have the reader wondering just where and what the villain is thinking up next.

This is one great read for those who enjoy suspense and a touch of romance.  

*This book was provided for review by The Fiction Guild*

• Series: Rock Harbor Series
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 11, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401690327
• ISBN-13: 978-1401690328

{Fiction Guild} Abiding Mercy (An Amish Mercies Novel) by Ruth Reid

Book Description:  Sixteen-year-old Faith has worked full-time in her parents’ restaurant since she finished eighth grade. She loves her Amish community—and the romantic attentions of her longtime friend, Gideon.

When her sister seems to be getting too friendly with Englischers, and her parents are in a buggy accident, Faith wants to escape into her dream of joining the church and getting married.

But then a local newspaper runs a story about a child named Adriana who was kidnapped fifteen years earlier, and everything Faith has held true comes into question.

Suddenly the community Faith has known her whole life seems unreal. Can she even trust her own family? And how will she ever find home again if she no longer belongs in the world she knows best?

My Thoughts:  Ruth Reid has long been a favorite author of mine.  

It seems that a child named, Adriana, was kidnapped 15 years ago. And sixteen year old Faith begins to wonder . . . is this me?  Have I been lied to all these years? 

When Faith's parents are in a buggy accident Faith and her family have to take on more responsibilities.   And Fatih has more questions about her life.

As the questions begin to take a toll on Faith, for she is determined to find the truth, it seems that Faith also gets a lesson in growing up and understanding that sometimes all things are not as they seem.  But this doesn't mean that people are mean or evil.

The mysterious events of Faith's existence make Faith wonder if she can trust these people she has called family.  How can she ever have a home again?

This was quite an interesting read and quite different than the usual Amish fiction.

I loved this read and think it's probably the best story, yet, by Ruth Reid.

*This book was provided for review by The Fiction Guild*

• Series: An Amish Mercies Novel
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 4, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718082443
• ISBN-13: 978-0718082444