Forever After

Deborah Raney's second Hanover Falls novel continues to follow the lives of folks effected by the fire that burned down the homeless shelter in the first book, Almost Forever.

This book focuses on Jenna Morgan, who lost her firefighter husband Zach, in the fire, as well as Lucas Vermontez, who lost his father (both were also firefighters) and suffered severe injuries.

As Lucas struggles physically to get back in to shape to return to work, he also struggles emotionally with the loss of his father and friends as well as the distance he feels from God.

Jenna is struggling with trying to pay the bills left over from a lifestyle she and Zach had that was well beyond their means, while also coming to terms with the fact that she never really loved Zach.

As Lucas and Jenna try to support each other, they grow closer and wonder if they can find a way to be together despite Zach's shadow.

A wonderful read. Even though it is part of a series, you don't need to have read the book before it for it to make sense. However, if you play to read the first book, please read it before you read this one as this one is a continuation of that story so there are spoilers in it.

Highly recommended.

Jody

My copy of this book was graciously provided by Glass Road Publication for my honest review.

Surrender the Heart

Book One of MaryLu Tyndall's Surrender To Destiny series is a page turner.

During the War of 1812, Marianne Denton and Noah Brenin reluctantly announce their engagement. Neither wants the marriage. Marianne is looking to unlock her dowry to secure medical care for her ill mother. Noah wants the dowry to keep his father's ship in the water. Unfortunately neither has any desire to be with the other.

But circumstances conspire for them to spend time together, where they come to find out that neither is who the other thought they were.

A great cast of characters including Noah's first mate, Luke, a young boy named Daniel and a little cat named Seafoam, round out the story and become friends you can't wait to revisit.

Highly recommended.

Jody

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck

Kathleen Y'Barbo's Women of the West series wraps up with this final book. This book is good as a stand alone novel - I didn't know for sure it was part of a series until the very end of the book. There are clues along the way that hint at a series but it reads well on it's own.

Unlikely romance is sometimes just an inconvenient marriage away

Charlotte Beck may be entering adulthood, but she can’t seem to keep to her stubborn, independent spirit from bucking social protocol. Fed up with her behavior, Charlotte’s father Daniel pressures her to settle into a nice marriage despite knowing she is set on going to college. Then Daniel sees Charlotte with the handsome but annoying English astronomer Alex Hambly, and everything changes.

Though Alex and Charlotte can barely stand one another, Daniel offers them a deal they can’t refuse: if they agree to marry, he will save Alex’s family from financial ruin and grant Charlotte the freedom to go to college. Reluctantly the couple agrees, but in private they plot to annul the marriage as soon as possible.

But when Alex’s feelings change and he refuses to dissolve their contract, will Charlotte find a way out of her vows? Or will she discover that maybe this marriage isn’t so inconvenient after all?

This book is a bit different from other "arranged" marriage books in that most of the book leads up to the marriage rather than the marriage happening at the beginning of the book.

Part of the story takes place in London and part takes place in Colorado. The characters are interesting and the descriptions are beautiful. I especially like the little sayings at the beginning of each chapter by Charlotte's tutor, Miss Pence.

Charlotte is a bit ahead of her time in wanting to work in her father's business rather than be a wife and mother, particularly she wants to go to university. She's quite the schemer when it comes to getting what she wants.

Alex is only concerned with the stars. He wants nothing more than to be able to study the stars and explore the nighttime sky. But when he becomes responsible for this family's finances he has to find a way out of debt.

A very good read.

Jody

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

The Lady Of Bolton Hill

Elizabeth Camden's novel set in Baltimore in the late 1890s is a glorious story of young love matured by time, distance and circumstances.

Clara and Daniel are from vastly different backgrounds. Clara grew up the privileged daughter of a minister. Daniel was the only son of a working class family. But music brought them together. For years they enjoying playing and composing music.

Then life intrudes and years go by until they are brought back together. But can the things they experienced in the years apart be overcome so that they can be together?

I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Jody

My copy of this book was graciously provided by Bethany House Publishers.