The Gold Digger by Liz Tolsma (Review)

Series: True Colors #9
Genre: Historical Suspense
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Released: December 1, 2020
248 pages

About the Book:

Men Are Disappearing in LaPorte, Indiana

In 1907, shy but loyal Ingrid Storset travels from Norway to support her grieving sister, Belle Gunness, who owns a farm in LaPorte, Indiana. Well-to-do widow Belle, who has lost two husbands and several children, provides Ingrid with enough money to start a small business. But Ingrid is confused by the string of men Belle claims to be interviewing for her next husband. When Nils Lindherud comes to town looking for his missing brother, who said he was going to marry Belle, Ingrid has a sinking feeling her sister is up to no good.

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved it! Nils brother Sven has disappeared after leaving the family home and headed to Belle Gunness' farm. Nils comes to town to try to get some answers of where his brother may be. He quickly discovers that other men have disappeared after being headed to Belle's farm. As he's searching for answers he meets Ingrid (Belle's sister), and the two form a connection. I was quickly hooked and had suspicions of what had happened to the men but for Ingrid's safe I hoped I was wrong. I loved the bond that formed between Nils and Ingrid and even they though they didn't always agree on their opinions they respected and supported one another. There is a strong faith element included with the characters learning to trust God and that He will be there for him through everything. I loved how we see them grow and realize what is important over time. Ingrid realizes she is much stronger than she ever thought and with God's help can handle whatever comes her way. We know some gruesome acts have taken place but they are not described in detail on the page. I had to make myself put the book down so I could get some sleep, but I wanted to keep reading. This was the first book that I've ever read by the this author, but it won't be the last.

Favourite Quote: 

“When he tried to rely on himself, he was a miserable failure. He needed God's strength. Every good gift came from above.”

(I borrowed a copy of this book; opinions expressed 

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

 

Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin (Review)

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: March 5, 2019
367 pages

About the Book:

In spring 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries on the front, receives a message by carrier pigeon. It is from Jewel Reyer, the woman he once loved and who saved his life—a woman he believed to be dead. Traveling to France to answer her urgent summons, he desperately hopes this mission will ease his guilt and restore the courage he lost on the battlefield.

Colin is stunned, however, to discover the message came from Jewel's half sister, Johanna. Johanna, who works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence, found Jewel's diary and believes her sister is alive in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is skeptical of Johanna, but as they travel across France and Spain, a tentative trust begins to grow between them.

When their pursuit leads them straight into the midst of a treacherous plot, danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives.

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I found the beginning slow but then I got fully invested in the relationship between Colin and Johanna. Could they find what they were searching for and how will the answers affect them? Set during WW1 with agencies from multiple countries involved and our main characters are trying to figure out who they can really trust. I was kept guessing for most of the story. There is quite a bit of travel as the characters journey between England, France and Spain. I easily pictured what was being described. It was the interactions of the characters that kept me hooked. Their banter had me laughing and I was rooting for them to realize their compatibility and feelings for one another. There was lot of discussions between them about God and faith which is really enjoyed. I also loved how Johanna showed Colin that he wasn't less than due to his war injury. I was pleased with the way the story wrapped up.

(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:   

   

High as the Heavens

Checked Impressions by Carolyn Miller (Review)

Series: Original Six Hockey Romance #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: February 24, 2022
390 pages

About the Book:

Sparks fly when a hometown hockey hero meets a classy art-loving museum guide hiding a secret...

Jai Mullins is used to being the fastest man on ice. Trouble is, his ability to find a genuine woman is tracking at glacial melt levels. He’s trusting God she’s out there, but he’s wary of getting trapped by a superfan, when all he wants is someone with whom he can be real.

Allie Davis has two great loves: impressionist art and hockey. More specifically, a certain hockey player. But between her shyness and her family, she’s convinced she’ll never meet him, let alone connect with him in a non-embarrassing way.

Until she does. And they connect. And romance sparks.

But she is hiding a big secret, and he’s about to find that first impressions sometimes need a reality check. Will they learn to trust and find a way forward, or will half-truths lead to further hurt on opposite sides of the country and lonely lives?

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐

I'm sad to say this was not a favourite. I struggled to feel the connection between the characters. I enjoyed the initial meeting of Allie and Jai but I struggled to form a connection with Allie. I also wish she had told Jai about the website herself. Just as I was beginning to root for and care about the characters the story began encompassing the NHL playoffs and there were details that were incorrect which really bothered me. If you are going to use real teams, please ensure you get the divisions and conference lines correct. I liked watching the friendship develop between Allie and Amber and the opportunities to share about God that were happening. I wonder if we'll catch up with these characters in future books in this series.

Favourite Quote: 

“We'll never be able to control what others, and trying to live according to other's opinions is a sure fire way to insecurity.”

(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:   

   

The Breakup Project - Original Six Hockey Romance #1 

Love on Ice - Original Six Hockey Romance #2 

The Things We Knew by Catherine West (Review)

Genre: Women's Fiction
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: July 12, 2016
337 pages

About the Book:

When their tragic past begins to resurface, can he help her remember the things she can’t?

After her mother's death twelve years ago, Lynette Carlisle watched her close-knit family unravel. One by one, her four older siblings left their Nantucket home and never returned. All seem to harbor animosity toward their father, silently blaming him for their mother's death. Nobody will talk about that dreadful day, and Lynette can't remember a bit of it.

But when next-door neighbor Nicholas Cooper returns to Nantucket, he brings the past with him. Once her brother's best friend and Lynette's first crush, Nick seems to hiding things from her. Lynette wonders what he knows about the day her mother died and hopes he might help her remember the things she can't.

But Nick has no intention of telling Lynette the truth. Besides the damage it might cause his own family, he doesn't want to risk harming the fragile friendship between him and the woman he once thought of as a kid sister.

As their father's failing health and financial concerns bring the Carlisle siblings home, secrets begin to surface—secrets that will either restore their shattered relationships or separate the siblings forever. But pulling up anchor on the past propels them into the perfect storm, powerful enough to make them question all they ever believed in.

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐

There were things I liked but then there were things that I didn't like. The main characters we are following are Lynette Carlisle and Nick Cooper. Lynette is the youngest of 5 children and the only one at home caring for her father who is dealing possible Alzheimer's. Nick is a neighbor who grew up with the Carlisle children, was best friends with Gray Carlisle until a huge fight 5 years ago, and has a strained relationship with his father. These two are the main pov's we follow, but there are times it also switches to some of the other siblings. Between these two families there was a lot of disfunction going on - major secrets being kept, mentions of an affair, alcoholism, drug addition, domestic abuse and health issues. Nick was my favorite character, even through his relationship with the family is strained because of the fight with Gray and the secret he knows, he is determined to help them (in particular Lynette) during this difficult time. At first I found it difficult to keep everyone straight between who was who and what secrets they were keeping from the others, but as I got further into the story I was fully invested in the family repairing their relationships with each other and having their questions answers about what happened with their mother 12 years ago. Once the major secret is revealed I felt like the story ended too quickly afterwards. We don't really see how Lynette deals with the revelation of what she has been blocking from her memory for so long and the issues with the other siblings feels to be resolved very quickly. There was one sibling in particular I would have liked to get more from. I am disappointed with how the book ended. Yes some questions were answered and resolved but I feel left others were left unresolved. 

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed 

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham (Review)

Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Releases: August 13, 2024 
336 pages

About the Book:

Beauty and the Beast meets A Light Between Oceans in historic small-town America where a wealthy reclusive bachelor and an unlikely ally join forces to solve a family secret and inadvertently find belonging along the way.

Early 1900s. When an accident leaves Sadie West's family in dire financial need, she nervously leaves the land she loves to work in the Hoag duster factory. But sending all her money home means that she has nowhere to board, and she's forced to take up residence in an abandoned building--a choice that throws her in the path of the town's mysterious bachelor.

Recently returned from exile, and determined to keep his arrival a secret, Otis Taylor makes the impulsive decision to hire the woman he finds hiding on his family's property with the strict instructions she tell no one he has returned. The dark halls of his boyhood flood him with memories he's long tried to forget. The only bright light is the woman he has hired. Can the optimistic Sadie teach the wounded Otis to trust again? To love? Can the pair unravel the family secrets that have long cast a shadow over the mansion and those who reside within?

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and these characters. Otis Taylor has returned home after being sent away by his father years ago, now its up to him to deal with the family home and the business dealings. Due to his events from his past he has accepted life in the shadows and does not want to risk ridicule from others. Meanwhile Sadie has left the family farm to work at the duster factory to earn money to help the family after her father gets injured. Due to events she has been staying in an abandoned factory owned by the Taylor family, but no one knows. What happens when she is discovered changes the course of her life. I loved Sadie's perspective on life and her determination to work hard for family. I felt Otis' pain and could understand his struggle with being home, he comes across as a grump at first but you quickly see that he has a soft heart and will do anything for those he cares about. I loved how Sadie encouraged him and looked past his exterior to see his heart. There is a bit of a mystery going on trying to figure out who someone is and where they could be. Once some of those questions were answered Otis then needed to make some decisions and that was hard. It was like no matter which decision was made someone was going to get hurt. I also enjoyed the characters of Mildred and Leon, caretakers of the Taylor house. They each came out with some witty comments that made me laugh. One example is: "You're offering her room and board, not matrimony. It makes no difference what you look like." This was an enjoyable to read and I am pleased with the way the story wrapped up.

(I received an ARC of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley; opinions expressed 

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other books from this author that I have reviewed:   

   

The Letter Tree

The Hope of Azure Springs 

Where the Road Bends  

Yours Truly, Thomas