The Goodbye Bride (A Summer Harbor Novel, #2) by Denise Hunter

 

Book Description:  She only remembers loving him. But he can’t forget the way she left.

Lucy Lovett can’t remember the last seven months of her life. She doesn’t remember leaving her fiancé Zac Callahan weeks before their wedding or moving to Portland, Maine. And she sure doesn’t remember getting engaged to another man. All she remembers is loving Zac more than life itself

Zac was just beginning to get his life back on track after Lucy left him with no explanation. And now she’s back—vulnerable, homeless, and still in love with him. Has he been given a second chance with the only woman who stirs his passion and haunts his dreams?

Lucy knows she must unlock those missing months and discover why she threw everything away. And Zac knows that if he follows his heart he’ll win back the love of his life—but if Lucy’s memory returns, his would-be bride might say goodbye forever.

My Thoughts:  This is one of the "funniest" christian romances I've read this year.  I'm not sure it's suppose to be a humorous read but as I read it I kept seeing the scenarios in my head and would laugh out loud.

Lucy Lovett seems to have lost the last seven months of her life.  She doesn't remember leaving her fiancee, Zac, or moving to Portland.  

But when Lucy has to go back "home" with no memory of the last seven months and love in her heart for Zac....well, it makes a confusing world for Zac.  This is what I found humorous.  All the situations and poor Lucy still doesn't understand because she has no "back memory."

And, then, poor Zac he is SO confused but it is a romance story  and without letting out all the juicy details I will tell you it is a fun read.

Christian romance readers are sure to enjoy this lovely novel.

And here's bonus for you lovely readers you can go to Spotify music playlist and listen to the playlist for The Goodbye Bride as you read the novel:  SPOTIFY Music for The Goodbye Bride  Enjoy the music and the book!

• Series: A Summer Harbor Novel (Book 2)
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718023730
• ISBN-13: 978-0718023737     

Dead Wrong (Agatha's Amish B&B)

 

Book Description:  When Agatha Lapp’s brother and sister-in-law are tragically killed in a buggy accident, Agatha relocates to the new Amish community in Hunt Texas, nestled in the Texas Hill Country.  She’s there to make a success of her brother’s dream--an Amish B&B. Agatha is friendly, efficient, and capable. She's also a fifty-five year old widow who has learned to be independent. When she discovers Russell Dixon’s lifeless body in Cabin 3, she runs next door where retired detective Tony Vargas lives. The police determine that her guest died of natural causes, but as Agatha and Tony put together the events of the previous two days they become convinced that the police are Dead Wrong.

My Thoughts:  I love books penned by Vannetta Chapman.  I also love cozy mysteries so this book is a win-win for me.

And THIS book cover!  It speaks of simplicity but, yet, there's that red color all throughout the cover.  Do you see the little red Amish buggy to the right of the house?  And that house!  It's so big and elegant.  What a nice B&B!

Then there's the name of the B&B-Agatha's Amish B&B.  A reference to Agatha Christie maybe? 

Agatha Lapp is one fiesta Amish woman and ever.so.efficient.  If I were half as efficient as Agatha I'd have to get up pretty early in the morning to get it all done.  And she does it all with ease and grace not to mention solving a mystery.

And the setting of the story takes place in the Texas hill country.  Such a beautiful area.

This is a fun read.  Even though it's a cozy mystery the lightheartedness of the story brings the reader to a happy place of all.is.right.in.the.world.

I loved, loved this story!  

• Series: Agatha's Amish B&B (Book 1)
• Paperback: 298 pages
• Publisher: Vannetta Chapman 
• ISBN-10: 1734046007
• ISBN-13: 978-1734046007

The Apple Creek Announcement (Creektown Discoveries, 3) by Wanda Brunstetter

 

Book Description:  Welcome to Apple Creek, Ohio, where piano teacher and artist, Andrea Wagner, has a fascination with painting the rural Amish landscapes around her home. She has made it to her thirties feeling like she has had a charmed life and finally has fallen in love with Brandon Prentice, a local veterinarian. But then she discovers she was adopted and all she thought she knew about herself has crumbled. Andrea becomes so fixated on finding her birth mother that she pushes Brandon away, so she writes to the "Dear Caroline" column in the newspaper for romance advice. What will Andrea lose before she finds herself again?

My Thoughts:  A new book in the Creektown Discoveries Series by Wanda Brustetter.  Andrea Wagner is a piano teacher and an artist but she feels something is missing in her life even though she has had a good life.

She has a handsome and smart boyfriend, Brandon Pierce but she then discovers she is adopted.  She feels her world crumbling about her.  Feeling down and somewhat discouraged she pushes poor Brandon away and begins writing a column in the local news paper titled "Dear Caroline."

Andrea doesn't find the answers she's seeking and life seems to bit muddled.  

There are some laugh out loud moments because well her approach is somewhat unethical.

After reading this story I had more of an appreciation for those who are adopted.  

Mrs. Brunstetter brings out the soft side of love and the somewhat mixed feelings an adopted child might have.

I loved this story.  It's a winner in my book!

*This book was provided for review by Barbour Publishing*

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

The Walnut Creek Wish (Volume 1) (Creektown Discoveries) by Wanda E. Brustetter

 

 Book Description:

My Thoughts:  A whole new series...Creektown Discoveries.  

I enjoy reading books by Wanda Brunstetter because they represent a different way of life.  Sometimes an amish way of living or a Mennonite way of living or as in this story a way of life where other people are helping those in need.

Who would have thought that an antique store could bring healing to people with life hurts? But that is exactly what the Troyers have at their antique store, the Memory Keepers, a place where hurting people come to shop and end up being helped by kind words and deeds.

At first, I wasn't sure about Jeff and Rhonda.  They both seem a bit egotistical and very much all about themselves.  

Then Jeff and Rhonda (they are married) decide to move to a slower way of life.  Jeff loves to fill their garage up with antiques which leads him to buy an antique sled.

However, his wife sees the antiques as a distraction for her husband.  Rhonda feels inadequate because she can't have a baby.  Is jeff buying antiques to fill the void?

This was a great story!  I loved the interaction and love that the Troyers displayed.

And sometimes and antique sled brings more than anyone ever hoped.

*This book was provided for review by Barbour*

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Barbour Fiction 
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 164352741X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1643527413

The Chase (US Marshals Book #2) by Lisa Harris

 

Book Description:  US Marshal Madison James may not be sure who shot her three months ago, but she does know one thing--it's time to get back out into the field. When her partner, Jonas Quinn, receives a message that a federal warrant just came in on a man connected to a string of bank robberies, Madison jumps at the chance to get back to work. What she and Jonas find is a bank robbery in progress that's gone wrong--and things are about to get worse. For these bank robbers, it's never been just about the money. It's about taking risks and adrenaline rushes, and getting caught is not part of the game. When the suspects escape, Madison and Jonas must hunt them down and bring them to justice before someone else--someone close to them--gets hurt . . . or worse. From Seattle to the San Juan Islands, bestselling author Lisa Harris takes you on a nonstop chase where feelings are complicated and failure isn't an option. 

My Thoughts:  Oh, my, STARS!  I waited and waited for this book to come out.  And it did not disappoint.

I did read book #1, The Escape and I'd recommend that the reader read book 1 to understand the dynamics.

All the right ingredients, a pinch of romance, a mixture of suspense and a wonderful story that brings the reader to a place of wanting the next chapter.

Lisa Harris is one of my most favorite authors, especially in the suspense arena.

How I loved US Marshal Madison James and, well, there's Jonas Quinn.  All man and ready to help nab the bad guys.

But it's the suspense, the action and good vs. evil that really make the book.

And the setting is the San Juan Islands.  Yeah, so nice and so dangerous.

It's quite an interesting story how a bank robbery goes haywire but it's not about the money.  That's the interesting part...who puts their life on the line to rob a bank but it's not about the money?!?!

What story!  What adventure! What suspense!  It's a wonderful read!

*This book was provided for review by Revell Reads* 

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Revell 
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0800737318
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0800737313

Critical Alliance (Rocky Mountain Courage Book #3) by Elizabeth Goddard

 Book Description:  Mackenzie Hanson's special set of skills opened the door to a successful career as a professor of cybersecurity at a Michigan university, allowing her to put her criminal past behind her. But when a long-ago partner in crime delivers a cryptic message about her father's tech company being under cyberattack, she heads for Montana to secure exposed assets, close security breaches, and hopefully save lives.

Diplomatic Security Services special agent Alex Knight is back home in Montana to decompress from a mission gone wrong. But even as he's trying to relax, he's drawn into another mystery, complete with suspicious deaths, lethal threats, and whispers of espionage that all have one thing in common--a beautiful cybersecurity expert with a dark past.

My Thoughts:  Elizabeth Goddard does it again in Critical Alliance. A cover to cover action story of cybersecurity and crime.

Mackenzie Hanson has a successful career at the University of Michigan in cybersecurity. But just when things seem settled and fine in her life she gets word that her father's tech company is under cyberattack.  So off the goes to Montana.

But as life goes this isn't a simple fix and she needs help.  It just so happens that Diplomatic Security Services agent Alex Knight is back home in Montana after a mission go wrong.

When Mackenzie needs help Alex steps in to help her.  Hence the title, Critical Alliance.

This intriguing story is full of lethal threats and suspicious deaths.  These two things drew me into this story hook, line, and sinker.

I'm always intrigued with cybersecurity.  It amazes me and makes me wish I knew how to do more in the cyber world.  So this story was right up my alley.

I also enjoyed the light romance and learning more about Montana.  

What a great read!

*This book was provided for review by Revell Reads*