Friday, May 2, 2025

The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz

Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Tyndale House
Releases: June 10, 2025
368 pages
About the Book:

Lawyer James Kinney isn’t looking for love, and laundress Sara O’Connor doesn’t want to be found. When their paths cross in a British colony on the brink of rebellion, a marriage of convenience may be their best hope of survival.

Canada, 1837. Widower James Kinney knows his precocious daughter, Evie, needs more than his lessons on law and logic, but Toronto offers few options. Classes with the neighbor children seem ideal until James discovers Evie is secretly spending her time with Sara O’Connor, a kind and mysteriously educated servant. For propriety’s sake, James forbids their friendship. But then Evie falls victim to the illness ravaging the city, and James must call upon Sara’s medical knowledge and her special bond with Evie to save his daughter’s life.

When Sara’s presence in his household threatens scandal, however, James offers an unexpected solution: become his wife, in name only, and help him raise Evie to be a proper young lady.

If Sara can ignore the sparks she feels when they’re together, his logical proposal could keep her secret secure forever. But soon, the forces of rebellion unravel their tidy arrangement. When James is accused of treason, Sara must find the courage to face a past that could save her husband’s life.



My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐


I enjoyed getting to know these characters and was rooting for them to find love and belonging. I quickly became invested in Sara and Evie and the situations they were dealing with. Some hard moments are detailed with child disciple. It did take me a while to connect with James but as his attitude changed over the course of the story the more he grew on me. I loved how he stuck up for those around him and fought for what he believed was right no matter the pressure from others. I really enjoyed the two children, Evie had opinions and wasn't afraid to express them and was brave enough to confront some of adults around her. Henry was a street smart child who seemed to be around just when he was needed, I loved him. In addition to the personal situations of the characters there is also a political thread to the story with fighting for land rights being a main topic. This story encompasses a marriage of convenience, distinctions between classes, fighting for justice, reconciliation of family, and found family.

(I received an ARC of this book from Revell through NetGalley; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)
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Saturday, April 19, 2025

Easter Bride by Shanna Hatfield

Series: Holiday Brides #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Wholesome Hearts
Released: March 21, 2019
227 pages
About the Book:

Piper Peterson loves the small community of Holiday, Oregon. She resides there at a beautiful, old farm where she’s surrounded by animals she’s rescued. And she manages the feed store that’s been in her family for more than a hundred years. Despite her contentment with life, her grandfather’s plans to sell the store and farm leave her future up in the air. When a sly matchmaker works to set Grandpa up with the perfect woman, Piper jumps at the chance to lend a hand. But the last thing she expects is to fall in love while helping her grandpa find happiness. Stuck at a crossroads in his life, Colton Ford can’t decide which direction to head. Then an invitation to stay at his brother’s ranch in Holiday provides an opportunity Colt can’t pass up. He hopes time spent at the Flying B Ranch will help him clear his head and sort out his life. Before long, he finds himself entangled in a matchmaking plot involving his widowed aunt and a charismatic old gent. When he agrees to give the budding romance a nudge, he has no idea the man’s delightful granddaughter will capture his heart. A heartwarming story filled with country charm, laughter, and hope, Easter Bride is blossoms with the joys of budding spring and sweet romance. 


  

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐


Fun story with two young people thinking they are helping with a matchmaking scheme for two elderly folks, and the elderly folks thinking they are helping set up the two young people. I enjoyed seeing Piper's dedication to feed store and her heart for animals. The proposal was entertaining you knew what he was trying to say, but he kept flubbing it up and kept coming out wrong. It was so fun to spend more time with Carson, Fynlee, Matilda and Ruth from the prior books. This was a fun quick read.

(I borrowed this book through the library; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other books from this author that I have reviewed:    

Crumpets and Cowpies (Baker City Brides #1)

Thimbles and Thistles (Baker City Brides #2)

Corsets and Cuffs (Baker City Brides #3)

Bobbins and Boots (Baker City Brides #4)

Lightning and Lawmen (Baker City Brides #5)

The Christmas Bargain (Hardman Holidays #1)

The Christmas Token (Hardman Holidays #2)

The Christmas Calamity (Hardman Holidays #3)

The Christmas Vow (Hardman Holidays #4)

The Christmas Quandary (Hardman Holidays #5)

The Christmas Confection (Hardman Holidays #6)

Garden of Her Heart (Hearts of the War #1)
Home of Her Heart (Hearts of the War #2)

Valentine Bride (Holiday Brides #1)

Henley (Love Train #2)

The Christmas Cowboy (Rodeo Romance #1)

Wrestlin' Christmas (Rodeo Romance #2)

Capturing Christmas (Rodeo Romance #3)

Barreling Through Christmas (Rodeo Romance #4)

Chasing Christmas (Rodeo Romance #5)

Racing Christmas (Rodeo Romance #6)

Guiding the Grouch (Summer Creek #5)

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Wednesday, April 16, 2025

While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin

Genre: Historical Fiction 
Publisher: Bethany House 
Released: October 1, 2010
408 pages
About the Book:

In an unassuming apartment building in Brooklyn, New York, three lives intersect as the reality of war invades each aspect of their lives. Young Esther is heartbroken when her father decides to enlist in the army shortly after the death of her mother. Penny Goodrich has been in love with Eddie Shaffer for as long as she can remember; now that Eddie's wife is dead, Penny feels she has been given a second chance and offers to care for his children in the hope that he will finally notice her and marry her after the war. And elderly Mr. Mendel, the landlord, waits for the war to end to hear what has happened to his son trapped in war torn Hungary. But during the long, endless wait for victory overseas, life on the home front will go from bad to worse. Yet these characters will find themselves growing and changing in ways they never expected and ultimately discovering truths about God's love. . .even when He is silent.



My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐


Told from the viewpoint of 3 characters, each a different generation which was interesting. Takes place during WWII but set in Brooklyn, New York so we are following characters stateside. Jacob was the character that I was drawn to the most as his pain and frustration felt so realistic. Penny and Esther both kind of annoyed me at times, but we see them both grow over the course of the story and watching their development, in particular the transformation of Penny pleased me. The letters were some of my favourite parts to read, they told the horrors of war without being too descriptive and I felt connected with the authors. There is heartache but also happiness throughout the book. I enjoyed seeing the friendship develop between characters from different backgrounds. Depicts both Jewish and Christian faith, but it did feel like it had more a Jewish bent than Christian. I do wish it hadn't jumped months in time, but if it didn't the book would have had to be quite a bit longer. I would have liked to have more Roy in the book.

Favourite Quote: 
“Traditions are good. They give order and stability to our lives. But change is part of life, too. The secret is to find the balance.”
(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other books from this author that I have reviewed:   

   
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Monday, April 14, 2025

Murder at the Mikado by Julianna Deering

Series: Drew Farthering Mystery #3
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: June 24, 2014
332 pages
About the Book:

Just as Drew Farthering thinks his life has found smooth waters, Fleur Landis, an old flame, reappears in his life. She's married now, no longer an actress, and he expects she'll soon disappear--until she comes to him in dire need. The lead actor in her old troupe's production of The Mikado has been murdered, and Fleur is the police's number one suspect.

Drew would love nothing more than to just focus on his fiance, Madeline, and their upcoming wedding, but he can't leave Fleur in the lurch--even if she did break his heart once. As Drew, Nick, and Madeline dive into the murder, they discover more going on behind the scenes of the theater troupe than could ever have been imagined. Nearly everyone had a motive, and alibis are few and far between. It's Drew's most complicated case yet.





 

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐


There are so many characters introduced in this one that I struggled to keep them all straight. Starts with the murder of an actor at the theater and then another murder, just when they think they have figured out who is the murderer someone else dies and their suspect has a alibi. I could understand Madeline's resistance to Drew getting involved in the investigating the case due to a past flame being involved. Overall there was a sadness to the book, not only with the number of deaths but so many secrets being kept and people going behind backs of others. It does have an Agatha Christie vibe to it and I liked how the police detective was open to Drew and his friends investigating on their own rather than telling them to stay out of it. I especially enjoyed how the mystery was solved when everyone was together. I cared much more about the personal life of our main characters than the case itself. I was so sad at certain parts and really glad at other parts. I will continue to the series, just because I enjoy the interactions of Drew, Madeline and Nick.

(I received a copy of this book from my mom; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other books from this author that I have reviewed:   

   
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