Review of:  The Key to Love

Betsy St. Amant

Bri Duvall works in the same bakery store, The Pastry Puff, where her beloved mother was renowned for her French-inspired desserts.  The store’s owners, elderly sisters Agnes and Mabel, have developed a reputation for their matchmaking abilities; however they are in danger of losing the business to developers – something Bri couldn’t stand to see happen since she lost both her parents in a car accident when she was 18.  Now that she is in her late 20’s, she has fallen in love with the “idea” of love – and waits for a fairy tale-like romance to happen to her like the one that she believes her parents once had (but which, she discovers, they never really did).  She meets Gerard, a jaded reporter who avoids commitment at all cost due to his own tragic past.  He has been assigned (against his wishes) to cover the story of the matchmaking bakery sisters for a newspaper feature.  Neither Bri or Gerard are very relatable at the beginning of the book due to their extremely immature attitudes; however, they gradually softened and matured over the course of the story.  I wish the author had focused more on showing each person’s spiritual journey and how that led to changes in their hearts and relationships, rather than engaging in so much snark and stereotypes.  Was this a rom-com or a faith-based romance?  It seemed the author couldn’t decide and the book lacked focus somewhat despite the good premise.

Review of:  Endless Mercy

Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

Bethany House Publishers, $15.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-7642-3250-3

Peterson and Woodhouse continue their Treasures of Nome series with the story of the youngest sister, Madysen.  While Madysen and Daniel’s romance take center stage, the authors continue to weave the ongoing tales of each of the Powell family members into the overarching study in family and faith.  Maddy is grieving the recent loss of her mother when her presumed-dead father shows up in Nome, complete with a second family [p. 17 ff].  As she and her sisters struggle to process this information and sift through their conflicting feelings towards their father, Maddy is tempted to run away from the home she loved and abandon her new sheep farm to become a star performer in a traveling circus [p. 48 ff].  She enjoys the attention and lavish gifts showed upon her by Buddy Merrick, the circus owner [p. 82 ff].  But is he sincere or just a trickster looking to use her for money?  Maddy’s feelings are further conflicted when she meets Daniel, the grandson of her wise mentor, Granny Beaufort, who has returned to Nome after fruitless years searching for gold in the Yukon [p. 31 ff].  Daniel befriends Madysen but has turned his back on God after experiencing life’s suffering [p. p. 43 ff].  Through their friendship, both learn to trust God and his Word to guide them and discover both peace and love result [p. 196 ff]  Peterson and Woodhouse do an excellent job of creating a believable cast of characters with plenty of heroes and heroines to root for, as well as evil conmen and criminals waiting for justice to be served.  Readers are advised to begin with the first book in the series to familiarize themselves with the many characters and backstory before continuing with subsequent installments.  [January 2021]

Review of:  Locked Out in the Snow

Kim E. Kimmy (Illustrated by Hannah June)

This is a beautifully-written and illustrated book geared towards children ages 4-8 and their families especially approaching the Christmas season!  The story features Kim, a 7-year-old little girl who hurries home after school one wintry December day to show her family the holiday decorations she has made and join them for seasonal preparations and a warm meal.  However, when she reaches her house, where her mom is always there waiting for her, she finds no one home and the front door locked.  What is she to do?  Kim’s ingenuity proves to be a timely lesson for all, as she finds shelter in a nearby barn and sings Christmas carols to the animals, remembering the birth of Jesus and praying for herself and her family. When everyone arrives home after battling the snow and ice, the family enjoys lots of hugs and a celebration of the true meaning of Christmas. Kim even discovers a special present left just for her from Santa under the tree!  This would be a wonderful book for families with young children as well as Children’s Ministry leaders to stock up on this season. 

 Review of:  The Lakehouse

Joe Clifford

Polis

Publication Date:  9/29/20

Review Date:  9/20/20

I was excited to read this book, thinking that it looked like the perfect murder mystery to get me in the mood for fall and Halloween season, and I wasn’t disappointed!!  Clifford writes with an expert hand, shifting easily between his main characters’ perspectives.  I loved the psychological studies of each, as through each character and scene we learn more about the backstories behind the murder mystery and how everyone’s lives are linked together both past and present. Red herrings abound, and I kept changing my guess of who the killer was and their motivation until the shocking conclusion which will knock your socks off!!  This being said, I would have liked a cleaner ending as there were some leftover questions Clifford failed to wrap up completely. I think this book would make for a great movie – it really reminded me of tv shows such as “Criminal Minds.”  It was a quick, well-paced read that I couldn’t put down until I finished.  I’ll definitely look for more titles by this author!

Review of:  Murder, Forgotten

Deb Richardson-Moore

This is a wonderfully crafted, evocative murder mystery that will have you questioning everything you think you know!  Julianna, a gifted author of murder mysteries, is losing touch with reality, drifting in and out of her own fictional tales and back and forth through time.  Her memory is such that she even forgets that her beloved husband, Connor, was recently stabbed to death in their own home with her letter-opener!  Could she have committed the crime herself?  If not, who did it and why?  Julianna’s adult daughter, Logan, helps her investigate as she shifts through clues in the home and tries to connect with the mother she never really knew.  Could her mother’s unfinished original manuscript hold the key?  There are a lot of potential suspects and red herrings, and I didn’t figure out the true culprit until the very end when all was finally revealed!  This is a psychological thriller at its best, brilliantly imagined and expertly written. I especially enjoyed the addition of Discussion Questions at the end for digging deeper into the book’s themes (family relationships, reality vs. fiction, writing, mental illness).

Review of:  Love at the Fall Festival (A Sugar Maple Romance Book 1)

Belle Bailey

Reviewed:  September 14, 2020

If this book has not already been picked up for a Hallmark movie, somebody should give them a call!  Readers are guaranteed to fall in love with the picturesque setting of Sugar Maple, TN – the descriptions are so beautifully and tenderly written that I might just have to visit the area myself someday! The seasonal fall ambience lends itself perfectly to this heartwarming romance between a young woman seeking to find her true home, and a man who wants nothing more than to make up for past mistakes.  Brynn was enticed to venture beyond her small-town rural upbringing by the bright lights of a big city, only too quick to discover that big dreams come with a hefty price.  When she accepts a position as an event planner at Oakleaf Manor to help with the town’s fall festival, she is willing to do what it takes to save the family’s farm and main source of income for the local farmers and artisans. She adapts easily to farming life and befriends the townsfolk, including the Oakley family’s handsome, yet brooding, oldest son, Jack.  Jack made a terrible mistake once, but can he forgive himself enough to accept Brynn’s help and trust her hopeful instincts?  As they fall for each other, can they let go of the past and learn to trust again?  Grab a steaming mug of apple cider and cozy up by the fireplace as the town of Sugar Maple and its quirky residents will be sure to charm you this holiday season!  The only thing that would have pushed this into a 5-star ranking would have been a good editor/ beta reader – some typo’s and minor inconsistencies (see 1^st chapter) would be easily corrected and worth the bit of extra effort for future series installments.

Review of:  The Puccini Connection (A Milkwood Murder)

Sam Bond

Reviewed: September 8, 2020

I was excited to read this debut cozy mystery series as it combines the element of musical appreciation with a fun contemporary whodunit, plus is set in the picturesque English countryside - what could be better?  I’m so glad this book grabbed my attention as I wasn’t disappointed. The author has a gift for creating immersive settings with richly described locales and examples of colloquial speech patterns that were a total treat!  I really felt like I was right there in Milkwood with the protagonist, Josie, who was instantly relatable as a newly-divorced piano teacher who returns to her native country to attend her half-sister’s wedding.  Of course, her plans go awry after she discovers the body of her Aunt next to the piano in the study and reconnects with family and friends from her past. I enjoyed the snarky humor throughout the book but would have liked Josie to have either displayed more shock/ grief at finding the body of her beloved aunt from her childhood, or else have had her aunt’s true character (she wasn’t such a nice person after all) more obvious from the beginning to explain the lack of sympathy from Josie and the townsfolk. I also think that this book could really have been split into 3 novels, as there are so many characters and a lot of backstory (some of which wasn’t explained sufficiently, like the sudden appearance of her mother’s long-lost sister). I would have actually liked to have had some threads left hanging at the end. That being said, there was a Cast of Characters at the beginning which was an extremely handy reference, and some fun “extra’s” like local maps, links to classical music pieces, and fun tidbits of information about the composer Puccini. I felt like I learned something in addition to reading a good mystery! All in all, a fantastic debut by a clearly talented and knowledgeable writer!  I look forward to seeing this series continue, and more from this author.

Review of:  Amish Christmas Twins

Shelly Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, Loree Lough

Kensington

Publication Date:  9/29/20

I just finished reading an advanced copy of Amish Christmas Twins, a collection of 3 absolutely heart-warming stories by 3 of my favorite authors:  Shelley Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, and Loree Lough!!  I couldn't recommend this collection more, especially as we await the holidays in the hope of Christ. I loved that each of these inspirational romances features children, reminding readers of the true meaning of Christmas and the miracle of the birth of our Savior. 

The first story, "The Christmas Not-Wish" by Ms. Gray, finds orphaned siblings Jemima and Roy being placed into yet another foster home.  Fans of Ms. Gray's "Walnut Creek" series will be excited to see Elizabeth Anne (E.A.) and Will Kurtz take on the role of foster parents!  4/5 stars

The second tale, "New Beginnings" by Ms. Good, features Elizabeth, a young widow working at a year-round Christmas shop whose grief and anger with God over her losses nearly keeps her locked in the past.  Thankfully, her new-found friendship with Luke, her late husband's best friend, helps them both rediscover their faith in God and the miracles that come of trusting the Lord.  I actually cried at the beautiful ending!!  This was my favorite of the collection!  5+/5 stars

The third story, "Twins Times Two" by Ms. Lough also features crossover characters from her series "A Little Child Shall Lead Them." I loved that I recognized Emily, Willa, Max, and Frannie!  This story was absolutely adorable as twin cousins not only discover the value of responsibility and hard work, but also develop generous and giving hearts, including uniting estranged neighbors Jubal and Abigail right in time for Christmas!  4+/5 stars

Review of:  To Steal a Heart

Jen Turano.  Bethany House Publishers, $15.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-7642-3531-3

The queen of historical romance is back with the first in her new “Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency” series set in late 1800’s New York. Turano brings the Gilded Age to life in this lavishly imagined tale replete with unforgettable characters and layers of intrigue. No one is who they seem in this upstairs-downstairs story featuring Gabriella, an outspoken seamstress who comes to live at Miss Eunice Holbrooke’s Bleeker Street boardinghouse after aging out of the orphanage [p. 16]. When fellow boarding house resident Jennette Moore is wrongfully accused of stealing jewels from the Linwood family estate, Gabriella and the other young ladies of the residence agree to join forces to try to catch the real culprit and clear their friend’s name [p. 9]. After brainstorming means to gather information on the suspects, including donning various disguises and sneaking into ballrooms, readers will enjoy every hilarious detail when their best-laid plans go outrageously awry [p. 14 ff]. During her sleuthing, Gabriella runs into her old friend from the streets, Nicholas Quinn, now a distinguished member of the New York City elite and most sought-after bachelor of the Season [p. 18]. Old friendships are rediscovered and secrets from the past revealed, leading Gabriella and Nicholas to recognize the defenses each had built around their own heart [p. 143 ff]. Readers will laugh out loud at the witty dialogue and cheer when justice gets smartly served and true relationships are tenderly formed. A hands-down award-winner. [Nov]

Review of:  Burden of Proof

Davis Bunn.  Revell, $15.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-8007-2788-8

Four-time Christy award-winning author Bunn (Outbreak, Unscripted) has penned another riveting best-seller with this action suspense novel. 55-year-old Ethan Barrett has a month to live after being diagnosed with terminal cancer [p. 10]. He is filled with regrets over prioritizing his pride and the resulting selfish choices that led him through a life filled with broken relationships, failure, and loneliness [p. 21]. He remembers the final conversation – an argument – he had with his brother Adrian before he was murdered thirty-five years ago [p. 43]. As he takes his last kayak paddle, Ethan is surprised to find Adrian’s widow, Sonya, standing with his grown niece at the pier. They announce that Sonya, a neurobiologist, has developed the technology to travel back in time, and they ask Ethan to help save Adrian’s life by doing so, even though going back in time will result in his own imminent death [p. 21]. Ethan, having nothing left to lose, welcomes the opportunity to exchange his life for his brother’s and is sent back to 1985 to try to prevent Adrian’s murder and re-chart the course of history [p. 27].  As he races against the clock to uncover the identity of the enemy and stop the pending attack, he also seizes the chance to make better decisions and treat others with compassion and generosity [p. 110]. Bunn’s imaginative tale is brilliantly plotted, with sharp writing and an accelerating pace. What makes this work exemplary however is the poignancy of the narration that manages never to detract from the action but rather weaves a subtle cautionary message to readers. A beautiful story of tragedy and redemption, smartly executed.

Review of:  The Love Note

Joanna Davidson Politano.  Revell, $15.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3689-7

Fans of inspirational romance are in for a treat with Politano’s sweeping tale of love lost and love found. In early 1800’s England, Willa Duvall mourns the loss of her mother as she studies medicine alongside her famous physician father [location 221/ 5566 ff]. Determined to become a doctor herself despite being female, she agrees to tend a patient of her own for a month’s time with an outcome of measurable improvement. If this goal is not achieved, she must return home to wed to a man of her father’s choosing [location 266/ 5566]. After finding an old unsigned love letter wedged between the cracks of an antique desk gifted to the family by a grateful former patient at Crestwicke Manor [location 166/ 5566], Willa answers an advertisement from another of the Crestwicke residents [location 296/ 5566]. Willa accepts the nursing position in hopes of reuniting the letter’s writer with its intended recipient [location 266/ 5566]. She works to discover the identities of both as she cares for her new patient Golda, the lady of the house, and gets reacquainted with her childhood friend Gabe, one of the Gresham brothers [location 452/ 5566 ff]. However, the letter keeps getting misplaced only to be found by various members of the household, who each believe the passionate sentiments are meant secretly for them [location 713/ 5566 ff]. The effects of the letter have far-reaching consequences, as Willa soon finds out as her own love story unfolds and relationships are forever altered [location 1020/ 5566 ff]. Politano’s prose glitters with a masterful command of language, and readers will be entranced with mysteries that seem to multiply even as secrets are uncovered.  This novel is itself a love letter to readers reminding them of the gift of God’s love for his children.  An instant classic, not to be missed.

Review of:  Point of Danger

Irene Hannon.  Revell, $16.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3617-0

Award-winning novelist Hannon (Hope Harbor, Guardians of Justice) introduces readers to sisters Eve, Cate, and Grace in the first installment of her brand-new trilogy, Triple Threat.  This tale of romantic suspense features Eve, a conservative radio talk-show host who becomes the target of a sinister plot [p. 21 ff].   First, a fake bomb containing a sinister note is left on the doorstep of her home [p. 39], then she receives a disturbing call on-air from an anonymous caller with information about her personal life [p. 69].  Commitment-phobic detective Brent Lange works to track down the suspect before he makes good on his threats to silence Eve, but he is unable to deny his growing attraction to the subject of the investigation [p. 87 ff]. His efforts to avoid a relationship only serves to intrigue Eve, however, who becomes determined to show him that happy endings are real [p. 132 ff]. As the threats escalate and suspects multiply, Brent realizes that life is too short not to grasp the opportunity for true love that stands before him [p. 350 ff].  Hannon’s tale is heavy on romance but light on action. Unfortunately, much of the work is spent brow-beating readers through her main character’s voice to push a conservative political agenda instead of focusing on the spiritual growth of her characters (Eve is completely unrelatable as Hannon paints her as a moral ideal). The book comes across as more a political tool rather than a vehicle to explore biblical themes, which may not sit well with readers in the current cultural climate.

Review of:  The Stone Wall

Beverly Lewis.  Bethany House Publishers, $26.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-7642-3327-2

From beloved author Lewis comes a resplendent tale of love, loss, and faith in the Amish community. Lewis deftly weaves different perspectives and time periods together through the interconnected stories of Anna and her maternal grandmother, Eliza, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease [p. 10]. Anna, recovering from a breakup, leaves her hometown to live with her mother’s cousin Sadie and her husband for a change of pace despite her parents’ disapproval and concern for Eliza’s health [p. 23 ff]. Unlike her mother’s family who are Beachy Amish, Sadie and her side of the clan are Old Order. Soon, Anna is faced with choosing between two suitors – Mart, who comes from a more modern sect similar to Anna’s and represents the more acceptable choice, or Gabe, an Old Order widow with a young troubled child who stirs Anna’s heart [p. 198 ff]. As her bonds with Gabe and his daughter grow, Anna ponders the deep divisions between the Amish communities and discovers that many paths lead to the same God [p. 310 ff]. The redemptive union of Gabe and Anna is all the more poignant set alongside Eliza’s fleeting memories of losing the man she loved because of the same insular divides [p. 46 ff]. The symbolism of the stone wall [p. 71 ff] adds a lovely dimension to Lewis’ work which will delight readers with the abundance of historical and cultural detail.

Review of:  Jeb’s Wife

Patricia Johns.  Zebra, $7.99 (352p) ISBN 978-1-4201-4913-5

Johns continues her inspirational romance series set in the small Amish community of Abundance [p. 4]. This story features Leah, a 30-year-old unmarried woman whose fiance broke their engagement upon discovering her inability to bear children [p. 2]. Her grief is intermingled with a sense of insufficiency – perhaps she is unlovable? [p. 56].  Upon returning to Abundance following a brief stint teaching school in a neighboring community, she finds her younger brother Simon beaten as a result of unpaid gambling debt [p. 9]. In order to save Simon’s life she agrees to marry Jeb, a scarred widower who lost his first wife in a fire [p. 40]. The two agree that the marriage will be strictly for business-purposes, as Jeb can only inherit his late uncle Peter’s estate if he marries within four weeks of Peter’s death [p. 12]. Leah will then have enough money to be able to pay off Simon’s debt [p. 20]. As Jeb and Leah attempt to convince the community that the marriage is a love-match, they form a friendship as they share their daily life and learn to trust the other [p. 126]. The arrangement becomes complicated when romantic feelings develop [p. 129]. Johns crafts a town and characters that feel intimate, with rich back stories and relationships. This is a series readers will fall in love with and eagerly await the next installment.

Review of:  A Haven for Her Heart

Susan Anne Mason.  Bethany House Publishers, $15.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-7642-3519-1

Mason brings readers a profoundly moving tale based on true events in the first of her new series, Redemption’s Light. Set in 1940s Toronto, Olivia Rosetti’s father disowns her and turns her over to the authorities after discovering she is secretly pregnant outside of wedlock [p. 9]. She is charged with the crime of “being incorrigible” under the law and sent to the Mercer Reformatory for Unmarried Women [p. 9-10]. There she and the other women are victims of unspeakable atrocities and their babies are placed for adoption upon birth [p. 13 ff]. After Olivia is released, she meets Ruth, an elderly benefactor, whose story mirrors her own [p. 26]. Ruth helps Olivia as she struggles with shame and guilt to discover the redemptive love of God. Together, they open Bennington’s Place, a maternity home, where they can care for other unmarried women and children who would otherwise face imprisonment like Olivia [p. 38]. In their quest for public support, Oliva meets Darius, a widowed father of a young daughter [p. 45]. He is also coping with the aftermath of tragedy after losing his wife of Greek heritage to a horrific hate crime [p. 28]. Both he and Olivia learn to overcome judgment and fear through faith as they begin to trust one another [p. 120 ff]. Through Darius’s love, Olivia’s internal scars are finally able to heal [p. 214]. She accepts forgiveness for herself and discovers that she is worthy of love and life’s blessings [p. 247]. A particularly timely work with themes of systemic discrimination and oppression, readers should have a box of tissues on hand.

Review of:  Romancing Nadine

Amy Lillard.  Zebra, $7.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-4201-4958-6

Lillard continues her beloved Wells Landing series with this tenderly-written tale of love in the golden years of life. Nadine Burkhardt has been widowed twice and has moved with her daughter-in-law and disabled adult granddaughter to the small Amish community for a new start.  One day in church she notices a 60-ish man with bright blue eyes staring at her [p. 6] and cannot stop thinking about him and wondering who he is. She learns that he is Amos Fisher, a bachelor who recently moved back to town [p. 9]. Amos falls in love with Nadine the moment he sees her, as he knows in his heart that God has brought them together [p. 19].  However, convincing her of this proves to test his patience and leads him to question his relationship with God [p. 33 ff].  Nadine reacts angrily to his attentions and announces to Amos and her family that she is uninterested in finding love again at her age [p. 33]. However, despite her protestations, she likes the man and enjoys his company, finally agreeing to be friends [p. 152].  When Amos suddenly falls to the ground as they are visiting an art festival, Nadine realizes that her fear has kept her from acknowledging that she has fallen in love with him [p. 299 ff].  Lillard does an excellent job of populating Wells Landing with true-to-life characters grappling with the challenges of life, faith, and love. An inspirational and heartwarming tale.

Review of:  Jane Doe

Lillian Duncan.  Harbourlight Books, $15.99 (296p) ISBN 978-1-5223-0276-6

When Raven Marks awakens in the hospital, she has no recollection of what happened to her [p. 25].  She finds herself in a rehabilitation center where she begins to heal from both her physical and mental injuries with the support of Gracie, the center’s wheelchair-bound chaplain [p. 44 ff].  After recovering sufficiently to move into a home close to her sister, the memories of being held captive start to return with the exception of the identity of the madman who kidnapped her [p. 89 ff].   Raven must face her fear in order to discover her abductor’s identity and the reasons behind her kidnapping.  She is befriended by Hunter, the deputy and self-defense instructor she meets while in recovery [p. 70].  As they work together to decipher the clues, Raven’s faith is tested as she wrestles with feelings of shame and guilt over what happened to her [p. 80 ff].  She discovers that in order to truly heal she has to learn to stop keeping secrets and trust God [p. 169 ff].  Only when she does is she able to move forward with her life and find justice for herself and others.   Duncan’s tale of suspense and salvation will keep readers invested in the storyline despite the harrowing scenes in the first few chapters.

Review of:  Amish Generations: Four Stories

Kathleen Fuller.  Zondervan, $15.99 (370p) ISBN 978-0-3103-5954-8

Popular author Fuller (Hearts of Middlefield, Amish of Birch Creek) will delight fans of inspirational romance with her new work.  Generations features four stories of love and faith, with each being a stand-alone tale.  In “Young Love,” 20-somethings Fern and Dan learn to overcome pride and open their hearts to trusting others as they navigate their relationship [pp. 3-94].  “Long-Awaited Love” describes Everett’s and Jemima’s story.  Both in their mid-thirties, Everett takes accountability for selfish decisions made in his youth and repairs his relationship with his father.  In so doing, he recognizes Jemima’s virtue of generosity.  Conversely, she grows in maturity by applying Everett’s example of setting boundaries with others and learning to honor her own needs [pp. 95-184].  “Second-Chance Love” is a tale of discovering love after loss as middle-aged widowers Ben and Lora Beth bond through letters after meeting each other at a local event [pp. 185-265].  Fuller’s writing particularly shines in the fourth and final heart-warming story, “Never Too Late.”  Elva, whose abusive husband has passed away after 45 years of a broken marriage and unfulfilled prayers, finds God to be faithful at age 63 when she finds true love with Jerald, a 70-year old bachelor [pp. 266-348].  A Glossary and Discussion Questions round out the work.  Book sellers will want to stock their shelves for this soon to be bestseller.

Review of:  The Amish School Teacher

Jerry Eicher.  Good Books, $14.99 (224p) ISBN 978-1-6809-9597-8

Beloved author Eicher brings fans of Amish romance a new drama that doesn’t disappoint.  In the community of Adams County, Ohio, Marcus Yoder works tirelessly on his family’s farm as the eldest of seven siblings after the passing of his father [p. 4 ff].  When Mary Wagler arrives to begin her new position as the town’s schoolteacher [p. 1 ff], Marcus’ stoicism is tested by her incessant questions and nontraditional ways.  Can Mary break through the walls he has built around his heart?  She becomes determined to win his approval by proving that she can take care of herself as well as the school without help [p. 64 ff].  However, despite her efforts, Mary comes to realize that she can’t do it all by herself [p. 82 ff].  She must learn to let go of her pride in order to accept help from others.  In doing so, she sees Marcus in a new light [p. 99 ff].  They slowly become friends as he learns to trust her and is finally able to express the grief he has long held inside [p. 159 ff].  Eicher does a nice job of fully developing his characters and readers will cheer for this sweet couple as they find their way together.

Review of:  On a Coastal Breeze

Suzanne Woods Fisher.  Fleming H. Revell Company, $15.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3499-2

Award-winning author (The Inn at Eagle Hill, Amish Beginnings) Fisher brings readers the second installment in her Three Sisters Island trilogy featuring sisters Cam, Maddie, and Blaine.  Maddie’s story is highlighted here, though Fisher continues to deftly weave the tales of each sister into the overarching study in family and faith.  Maddie, the middle child, has rejoined the family on the small coastal island to open a psychotherapy practice (p. 9).  However, all her learning seems to fail her when Rick O’Shea re-enters her life as the island’s new pastor (p. 12).  She is filled with memories of their childhood relationship, beginning with his incessant teasing, and ending in heartbreak the night of Senior Prom (p. 193).  As Maddie and Rick learn how to forgive themselves as well as each other, they bond over their shared faith and rekindle their relationship as adults (p 217 ff).  Meanwhile, Cam, the eldest sister, re-evaluates her priorities as she cares for her adoptive son and plans her marriage (p. 129 ff).  Blaine, the youngest sister, disappoints the family by quitting culinary school and running from her problems as usual (p. 224 ff).  Fisher does a nice job of fully developing her characters and readers will recognize themselves in their strengths and flaws.  While each book can be read as a stand-alone, the trilogy would best be read in order to follow the time arc.  An added bonus is the Appendix with discussion questions.