Review of 'The Inn Keeper of Ivy Hill' by Julie Klassen

I got this book in exchange for my honest review from Bethany House Publishers.


Julie Klassen has been one of my very favorite authors for a few months now. So, when I saw this book was up for a chance to review it I was thrilled. Like the rest of her stories it is written beautifully and draws you into the story right from the start. If you've ever wanted to know what it is like to run your own inn, read this book. It goes through the ups and downs of being in charge of an inn, even talking about learning to cook if your cook quits and how to find help outside of where you may normally look. 

All in all, I feel like this story had a few too many characters. It was a tad bit tedious to try to place each of them and understand why they were important. However, I figure it is probably going to be explained in other books in the series as this is the first in the 'Tales from Ivy Hill' collection. Thora and Talbot were my favorite characters. I loved their storylines and actually found myself searching for the bits about them over the others. 

Julie Klassen still remains one of my very favorite authors, even if this one isn't one of my favorites of hers. There wasn't anything bad about it as it was a great story with lively characters, but it failed to grab me like some of the others have. I give it four stars because it is written well, the characters are good, and the storyline is intriguing. 

To buy a copy - 

https://www.amazon.com/Innkeeper-Ivy-Hill-Tales/dp/0764218131/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483898014&sr=1-1&keywords=the+innkeeper+of+ivy+hill

Review of 'Fatal Frost' by Nancy Mehl

I got this book in exchange for a honest review from Bethany House.

This is the first book from Nancy Mehl that I have read and I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were real - especially the main character, Mercy Brennan (love that name!) - and I was moved by both Mark and Tally as well. Given the story is about gangs and I don't typically read books like that, I was quite surprised that I enjoyed it.

In all honestly, it wasn't my favorite book, but it wasn't bad. I liked the action and the constant twists and turns held within the pages. A few moments I did get choked up and the faith element is very strong - but not over done. There were a few things I figured out before it was revealed in the plot, but it didn't make me dislike the story.

All in all, it is a good read and one that many people would enjoy. I rate it 3.5 stars because while it is good, I just wish it had held my attention a bit more instead of being one that I read a few chapters and put it down and then came back to read a few more a couple days later.

To purchase a copy of the book: https://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Frost-Defenders-Justice-Nancy/dp/0764217771/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479835481&sr=1-2&keywords=fatal+frost

Have a character named after you in Julie Lessman's book!!

Here is the link to the AWESOME, AMAZING, and SPECTACULAR contest: http://www.julielessman.com/contest/

Review of 'No Other Will Do' by Karen Witemeyer

Thank you to Bethany House for my copy in exchange for my honest review!

The cover of No Other Will Do caught my attention right away. The colors and the pocket watch (big fan of pocket watches) made me want to read it. Then I read the back and the description made me curious to know more. So, I picked it as my review book and was blessed enough to get it. 

Isn't it lovely?! Bethany House always has awesome book covers. :)

The prologue seemed a bit out of place because it made me wonder why I should care about this poor boy, but it made more sense as the story went on and by the end I understood the importance of having it. One thing I really liked about the prologue was when Mal met Emma. It was so cute! - and the line about being allowed to keep him was adorable. That was the moment when I knew I would enjoy the story because up to the point I was wondering. 

The aunts were hilarious. I kept giggling whenever they were in a scene. One of my favorite lines was when Bertie was informing Henry about Mal using explosives. It made me laugh so hard. 

There are strong ties of faith, friendship, romance, and camaraderie throughout the plot - which made this an enjoyable story. The prayer said by the preacher was wonderful and one of my favorite parts. 

I loved Mal! Seriously, he was one of my favorite "heroes" that I have read about in a long time. I adored how he called Emma his angel and how the young kid, Andrew, stuck by his side. It made me wish I had someone like him in my life. I enjoyed the thread of showing Mal who he really was and how God was with him throughout his life. 

I'm also glad the storyline included more than one villain as it gives the plot more of a mystery feel. The final chapter was my favorite and brought me to tears as well as made me laugh. It also held my favorite line in the whole book - which is the last line. I'll not spoil it here, but it made me love the book even more. 

If I had to nit pick about something it would be the amount of women. It was a bit hard to keep track of them and their individual story lines, but it wasn't impossible. 

All in all the book became one of my favorites and I look forward to the next in the series. I give it 5 stars.

Here is the link to purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/No-Other-Will-Karen-Witemeyer/dp/0764212818/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466961284&sr=8-1&keywords=karen+witemeyer

Review of 'Someone Like You' by Victoria Bylin

Thank you to Bethany House for the book in exchange for my honest review.


This is the first book by Victoria Bylin I have read. It turned out to be a great story with lots of ups and downs, struggles and breakthroughs of faith. When I started the book I found myself thinking of how it would make for a wonderful movie and I could picture Candace Bure or Melissa Joan Hart playing the part of Julia Dare. Now I know Candace and Melissa don't look like the description of the character, but they were who I kept picturing the whole time I read. This could be because both Candace and Melissa have played in movies similar to the story (not so much the actual plot, but the style of the plot).

The story failed to grab me during the first five chapters because it felt like it was meant to be a movie and not a book. That is until I met Julia's mom, Ellen. Ellen is the kind of character I enjoy reading about and when she meets George - well, let's say the book bloomed into life. After that I found myself hooked and unable to put it down, but it was because I wanted to know what happened with Ellen and George. I wish I could say I loved Zeke and Julia, but they were a little lackluster for most of the book. As the story progressed it got better and better, to the point where I did care for Zeke and Julia by the end.

I saw a photo of a shirt on pinterest and I think it is fitting. It said, "I don't care who dies so long as the dog lives." Change dog to horse and add the names Ellen, Max, and George and you've got how I felt about the book. I don't care who dies so long as the horse, Ellen, Max, and George live. Now, I will give you a spoiler - no one dies, so relax. :)

The cover of the book is beautiful and quite like the covers I would love to do for a series I am writing.

All in all, I liked the book. I didn't love it, but I did like it. I give it 3 1/2 stars because I still think it would be a better movie than book.

One last thing - I love the acknowledgement to Victoria's husband. It made me laugh. How cute. The dorky pink hair bow. :)

To buy a copy, go here: http://www.amazon.com/Someone-Like-You-Victoria-Bylin/dp/0764217372/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464151737&sr=8-1&keywords=Victoria+Bylin

Review of 'The Reluctant Duchess' by Roseanna M. White

Thank you to Bethany House for my free copy in exchange for my honest review. 


This was the first Roseanna book that I have read. I didn't even know who Roseanna M. White was until a few months ago when I attended a book party on Facebook. She had been talking about her first book in the Ladies of the Manor series, 'The Lost Heiress'. That book sounded very intriguing, but after the party ended life got in the way and I forgot about it. When the Bethany House email came around for us to choose which book we would like to review, I picked The Reluctant Duchess for three reasons. One - it was the only one which sounded like something I would enjoy, Two - because I knew Roseanna's name (I couldn't recall why I knew her name, but I knew that I knew her name), and Three - the cover was lovely (What? I am picky about covers. I know, I know - 'You can't judge a book by its cover'. Well, I can and I do.)   Boy was this a great choice!

Right away I got a real feel for Rowena's personality and could practically hear her voice in my head. This similar thing happened with Brice and Ella. I could picture them and what they looked like and acted like. In my opinion this is the mark of a great story. 

There were moments when the plot line seemed to stretch on quite long when it could have been shortened and there were a few side stories that felt like they didn't quite fit with the main plot, but there weren't too many. All in all, the story was written beautifully with a strong line of faith weaved throughout it. Moments made me cry, some made me laugh, a few I related to, and a couple made me swoon. What? Come on, Brice is amazing!

When I first began to read the book, I wasn't sure if I would be able to get into it or if I would end up keeping it - but now you may have to pry it from my hands if you wish to borrow it. I have fallen in love with the characters and look forward to many more Roseanna books in the future. Five out of five stars! 

Here is the link to buy a copy: http://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Duchess-Ladies-Manor/dp/0764213512/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1461193919&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Reluctant+Duchess

Review of 'Dressed for Death' by Julianna Deering

Thank you to Bethany House for my copy in exchange for my honest review. 

As much as I try to convince myself that I don't have favorite authors, I know this just isn't true.

Reason I say this? I LOVE Julianna's books. 

She has become one of my very favorite all-time authors. The characters she creates are so alive and wonderful that I feel sad when the story comes to an end. Because of my love for Drew, Nick, and the others I have gotten my mother and sister into the series. I plan to work on my father eventually as well as my other friends and some family. Julianna is very talented and inspires me to continue to keep going with my own writing even when at times I feel like giving up. 

Another reason I adore her books is because she always manages to surprise me. I am not one who is typically surprised by mysteries, but each time Julianna does it. The first book in the series I was completely wrong, the second one I kinda suspected but doubted it was that character, the third I was sort of right, and the fourth... well...

With the fourth book in the series 'Dressed for Death' I was left a bit speechless. I had figured one part of it out about half-way into the story and was almost yelling at the book what was going on (ha-ha), but the person I suspected turned out to not be who it was. Granted I figured out who it was a few chapters before the end - which is an improvement over how I have done for the last three - but it is still a delightfully frustrating thing for me because I can usually spot the culprit pretty fast (if not right away). 

The characters were still just as wonderful and alive as ever, and the fact that she opened the story with a grand collection of Jane Austen references made me love it as soon as I read the first chapter.

It was wonderful to have Carrie and her brother show up in the story as well. 

There were moments when I cried, moments when I laughed, and moments when I was so stunned I had to put the book down for a bit. 

All in all, I can only say really one thing and that is - Julianna Deering has done it again! Five stars and a wonderful spot on my shelf with the other three. 

To buy a copy - http://www.amazon.com/Dressed-Death-Drew-Farthering-Mystery/dp/076421411X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1459028204&sr=1-1&keywords=dressed+for+death