LOVE'S FIRST BLOOM by Delia Parr

Ruth Livingstone's life is suddenly changed when her father, Reverend Livingston,  places a young child in her care and sends her away from her home, to a small village in New Jersey.  She can tell no one her real name and must act as if the child is hers, until her father can be cleared of serious charges against him and the child's dead mother.

Ruth finds her new life hard for many reasons, but finds some solace tending a forgotten garden along the River.  Here she meets Jake Spencer, a man recovering from a serious fall (or so he says).  He also is in town hiding his identity so he can "get the scoop" on Ruth for the newspaper he works for.  Both have a lot they are hiding from each other and so their whole relationship is based on lies.  But love does begin to bloom.  Then the secrets come out and that tender blossoming love will see if it can stand the test of time.

I liked the story, but was a little confused throughout the story why Ruth's father did what he did with the child and with his daughter Ruth.  It will become clear near the end of the story.  It was not a fast paced, action packed, romance read, but a "slow and steady wins the race" kind of book.

BECOMING LUCY by Martha Rogers

A story that takes place in the Oklahoma Territory in the late 1800's.  It was a book that kept moving and always had something happening to keep your interest.  It begins with Lucinda Bishop, a young girl of 17 who loses her parents in an accident and finds herself leaving the well-to-do life in Boston and going to live with her Aunt and Uncle in Oklahoma.  She must adjust to her new surroundings, learn the joys and hardships of living on a ranch in the wild open countryside, and learn what it means to love and be loved.

Jake is a ranch hand who has a lot of things from his past he is hiding.  But his feelings for Lucinda and his new found faith in the Lord help him come to terms with his past and face the consequences for his wrongdoing.  Can they trust their God to work things out for good?  I think you all know the answer, but it is still enjoyable watching how everything works together.  I look forward to reading more in this series as I liked the way this author wrote and felt a part of the life on the Oklahoma Territory.

AGAINST THE WIND by Bodie & Brock Thoene

I was taken back in time through this story and I found myself on a small boat trying to survive until help arrives.  It is a time of war, where Germany is attacking the British skies, London is being bombed and children are trying to be evacuated to America for safety.  I experienced sadness, hope, and wanting to endure this tragedy.

I liked the way the author kept taking you back in time and letting you read some of Elisa Lindheim Murphy's diary entries.  It helped you in a small way see how she got to where she was at the present in the story.  The people on this small boat, both young and old, you will come to know; some you will like and some you will want to throw overboard.  As it says on the back cover, "Zion Diaries ventures into the lives of the inspiring and intriguing characters who loved intensely, stood up for what was right, and fought boldly during Hitler's rise to power and the dark days of World War II".

This was a hard story to put down once I started, with an ending I wasn't expecting.  I will say no more, except I look forward to more in this series!

OHIO BRIDES by Cara C. Putman

The three stories written in this one book all take place in the 1940s and are about the Miller family; their two girls and one son.  In book one Josie Miller has just married her sweetheart Art, and now they face the challenges of a new marriage, new job and new city.  It was a good look into how they faced the heartaches and joys that were set before them.  In the second story you find Mark Miller working on a secret project for the war and finding himself drawn to Evelyn Happ who is with the WAVES.  She finds herself working with Mark and they both work together as engineers to help the war effort.  They will battle their feelings for each other as they learn to trust each other.  In story #3 you will fall in love with the youngest Miller, Kat as she makes the All-American Girls Professional Softball League.  Kat will struggle to prove her worth as one of the youngest on the team and also to prove to reporter Jack Raymond that she is more than just a young girl who loves playing ball.

I enjoyed all three stories and getting to know the Miller family.  They were a family that had a love for the Lord and convictions that they lived by and it made a difference in their life.  Each story was different but all had a common thread and that was keeping God in the center of your life and waiting upon Him through difficult situations.  All three had a good love story built in and I enjoyed my time in Dayton, Ohio!

AT THE SCENT OF WATER by Linda Nichols

I don't think I can adequately express what a great job this author did in telling a story.  As it says on the back of the book, "Two unimaginable tragedies . . . Two broken lives. . . .  that gives one a small clue as to what you can expect.  The title of the story, which comes from Job 14:7-9, also gives one a clue as to what to expect, "At least there is hope for a tree:. . . . Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet 'at the scent of water' it will bud and put forth shots like a plant."  This was a story filled with sorrow, heartache and pain, but through it all God was able to bring forth hope, joy and healing.  You will see Him directing the path and you will find hurting hearts healed.  I will definitely be reading more by this author.

This is a story of Samuel and Annie Truelove.  Samuel is a gifted heart surgeon who married the love of his life, Annie.  They had their home in the mountains of North Carolina and  were blessed with a little girl.  Tragedy will strike this family and deep sorrow will overtake them and they will run from each other and from their God.  But God is faithful and will send people and circumstances into their life to draw them unto Him and back to each other.  Be prepared to feel their sorrow and heartache and to shed some tears, but you will also see the hand of God at work and rejoice in how He works things out.

I will close with a poem you will read near the end of this story which if you never read this story you should at least read this poem,
 "My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me.
 I cannot choose the colors He works so steadily.
Oft times He weaves in sorrow, and I, in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.
The dark threads are as needed in the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.
Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles case to fly
Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why."