TOO RICH FOR A BRIDE by Mona Hodgson

The town of Cripple Creek and the folks in it are starting to grow on me, and so are the Sinclair sisters. They each have their own distinct personalities. This was book two in this series and it really is a good idea to read them in order so you get to know the town and the sisters better.

This story was about the oldest Sinclair sister, Ida, who arrives in Cripple Creek ready to be a successful businesswoman in a town that doesn't look favorably on women who involve themselves in the man's business world. Ida has no interest in pursuing a relationship with either Colin Wagner, the lawyer, or Tucker Raines, the preacher, but then sometimes the heart just doesn't listen to ones well laid out plans.

This story was a good sequel to book one and had a lighthearted tone to it, but also dealt with some lessons on forgiveness, family loyalty, and learning to put the right goals first place in ones life. It had alot of good messages woven throughout this story and I enjoyed my time in Cripple Creek and look forward to book 3 (and just learned that there is a book four coming out soon).

TWO BRIDES TOO MANY by Mona Hodgson

Let me start this review with how much I liked the cover and the title. It had me wanting to read the story. This is the 1st book in the Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek. For me this was a lighthearted romance that started slow, but ended well. Two "spunky" sisters head to a mining town to meet and marry men they have only met through letters. Kat and Nell Sinclair arrive in Cripple Creek and it wasn't exactly what they were expecting, but they don't give up easily. Kat finds out her intended is a drunken scroundrel, and Nell can't find her intended anywhere. So the ladies find themselves alone in a wild western town, when a fire breaks out over the town. Kat and Nell jump in to help and find themselves a part of Cripple Creek real quick. Now they must wait on the Lord for answers to their future and for their husbands.

I didn't find anything I disliked about this story, but it also didn't grab me as one of those stories you can't put down till done. It was just a nice romantic read where problems arose, but were quickly worked out and where you pretty much know how things are going to work out, and you just enjoy watching it happen. I will continue to read this series and see what happens to the rest of the Sinclair sisters.

THE FAMILIAR STRANGER by Christina Berry

This was a book I couldn't put down until I finished! It was wonderfully written and kept me turning the pages to see what was happening next, and then wondering why it ended so quickly. It is a story of a married couple whose marraige is crumbling, but it doesn't come to light just how much until the husband, Craig, gets in a serious accident and loses his memory. The wife, Denise, finds out just how much she has to forgive her husband for as he slowly mends and facts come out. The biggest problem though is Denise likes this "new husband" so much better without his memory because he is much more loving and kind. Craig struggles to remember anything, but realizes what a jewel his wife is as she sticks with him amidst all the heartaches and hardships.

I loved how the author gave each chapter from first the husbands viewpoint and then the wife's thoughts in the story. She nailed both characters and made them feel very real and relatable. This was the author's debut book and she definately hit a winner. There was inspiration, romance, intrigue, and a great deal of soul searching. I was completely captivated by this story and would love to read more by this author. This was one I will remember long after I have read the story as it was very thought provoking.

Love and forgiveness, they really do go hand in hand and is what makes a marraige. Easy to say, hard to live and not possible without help from the Lord. Can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this story. Only wish the ending hadn't left you where it did. Wish it would have led to a sequel!???

File Size: 454 KB
Print Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers; 1 Original edition (August 25, 2009)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B003719G86

THE COURTEOUS CAD by Catherine Palmer

This is the last story in the Miss Pickworth series and the author finished well! There were even folks I had met from her English Ivy Series in this story, which was fun to see. This story was all about Miss Prudence Watson, who appeared in the first two books and who is the youngest of the Watson sisters. She has come along way and has changed a little in each story. Now she finds herself touring the English countryside and comes across a cause she wants to fight for; the inhumane working conditions of the local worsted mill in Otley. Her and the owner of the Mill, William Sherbourne, have a hard time getting along, but they harder to fight it, the harder they fall at the end into each others arms. It is a story of forgiveness on many different levels.

I enjoyed this story and Catherine Palmer does an excellent job of making you feel you were walking the streets of Otley, Yorkshire in 1817. You feel saddened at what the poor people had to endure working in the mills and a little astonished at the children and the dangerous jobs they had to work at. There was such a class distinction then and even good people had a hard time thinking there was anything wrong with thinking that the poor will always be poor and the rich were just born to be rich. I like a book that brings to life the history of the time it is writing in, and throws in some good romance as an added extra! I have read quite a few of Catherine Palmer's books, and so far I have enjoyed them all!

THE BACHELOR'S BARGAIN by Catherine Palmer

This is book two in this series and could be read as a stand alone very easily, although there are characters in this book that you would know much better if you read book one first. The year is 1815 in Devon, England, a time when there were royalty, nobility, merchants, and laborers and each person remianed in their class distinction in society. So when lowly Ann Webster accepts a marriage proposal made in jest by Ruel, the Marquess of Blackthorne, everyone is appalled and in shock. Ruel is a man who has "found his education boring, most of his pers simpering, and his propsects for the future deadly dull. Travel, adventure, and gambling - whether at cards or in speculative exploits - were the only things that interested him." For many reasons Anne goes through with the marriage, even though she knows Ruel is incapable of loving her. Can a lowborn lady who is headstrong, stubborn and impatient heal a man's heart and hope to transform him and help him see what love really looks like?

This was a story that dealt with history and the making of lace, but more than that it dealt with breaking through the boundaries of the class system at that time. There was alot of battles of the wills between these two characters, along with some mystery as to who was really in danger and why. A little bit of everything all wrapped up in a story I very much enjoyed. Looking forward to moving on to book 3 next!

THE AFFECTIONATE ADVERSARY by Catherine Palmer

In the back of this book the author writes, “My prayer is that God will use this series to provide you with respite from the cares of the world and challenge you to keep your focus always on Jesus Christ.” I must say, reading book one of this series, it did just that for me.
This is the story of two people who are learning how to handle riches and the loss of riches in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. I must say Sarah, in this story, was a little harsh in her understanding of how to handle riches and at times I was quite frustrated with her. She also had a hard time understanding what real love is as she didn’t have an example of it growing up (how sad). Charles on the other hand, had to deal with being happy and content without riches. There was a lot of thought provoking verses from scripture that each of these characters used and it truly had me thinking on Jesus Christ and what His word does say about money and the love of it. I also felt myself being taken back in time to the early 1800s and enjoying myself there. There was action and adventure at the beginning of the book and unrequited romance throughout the story. Sarah and her two sisters held a special bond that I enjoyed. I am looking forward to reading the next two stories in the series.

SHADES OF BLUE by Karen Kingsbury

A story of lost innocence that brought tears to my eyes. I found myself crying with these two people who had alot of issues to deal with and a need to find forgiveness. It is a story that touches on the heartache that abortion can bring in the lives of people, long after the act is done. I was moved by the heartache and the love that was lost by two people who in a moment of weakness, made some wrong decisions. Years later they need to "finish that chapter" of their lives, so they can move on and fnd peace and happiness. A story very well written, a story with a real good message for those thinking of aborting a child and a story I highly recommend you read with a box of tissues at your side.

ALL I'LL EVER NEED by Harry Kraus, M.D.

What more could happen to one couple than what has happened to Claire McCall and her fiance John Cerelli! To get a true picture of these folks you need to read the first two books in this series first. I found myself frustrated, irritated, scared and emotional exhausted after reading this series.

In this last book Dr. Claire once again begins to doubt her fiance John and I just threw my hands up and said, "John you deserve better; you deserve someone who will believe in you and trust you more!". He is a jewel of a guy and very patient and understanding with Claire. Then I started to say to myself, "John, don't be so stupid! Can't you see what that girl Ami is trying to do to you and Claire?" Sometimes men can be very blind to the ways of women. But through it all their faith in God and in each other does see them through some very hard, rough and emotionally challenging trials in their life. The author finished well in this 3rd book!

This is a book with death, rape and other hard subjects. But it was written very well and stayed very true to the story line and also seemed very true to life. The author, being a surgeon, truly does "flavor his writing with exceptional authenticity and technical knowledge", and I enjoyed that aspect of all 3 books in this series. If you are looking for intense, thrilling and an emotional roller coaster of a ride, then I suggest you pick up this series and get started!