TOMORROW'S GARDEN by Amanda Cabot

This was a series I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It was my first time reading anything by this author and she is a great storyteller. All three books blended very well togther, and though you could read them as stand alones, I highly recommend you read them in order because you get to know the people and town and they really grow on you.

Harriet Kirk finds herself moving to Ladreville Texas with her younger siblings to teach at the school and to leave their past behind them. She is an intense little lady who takes very little thought of how she looks, but has a great concern and care of her family. Former Texas Ranger Lawrence Wood is the new sheriff and mayor of the town and he and Harriet don't exactly hit it off. They seem to bring out the worst in each other at times. They both have some fears they need to conquer and a past they need to deal with so they can find happiness in their future.

There are so many good characters in this story. The people you have met in the other two books just seem very real and the town is described in a way that you feel like you would want to travel there and see this town and meet these people. They are diverse and all interesting in their own way. There is some drama and danger, conflicts and solutions and alot of love flowing through this story. I just found myself entertained and had a hard time putting it down until I finished. The men are tender but strong, and the ladies have a mind of their own, but a heart that wants to be wanted and loved. A very good job goes to Amanda Cabot. I will definately be reading more of her work.

SCATTERED PETALS by Amanda Cabot

This is book two in the Texas Dreams series, and although it is good as a stand alone book, I recommend you read book one first so you can get to know the town and background of many of the characters in book two. I didn't think I would enjoy book two as much as book one, but I found myself really enjoying the theme of this story, plus the main character, Zach Webster-he was a real jewel of a man.

The story starts with Priscilla Morton and her parents embarking on an "adventure" from Boston to the Texas Hill Country in 1856 to attend a wedding of a dear friend, who was, once upon a time, a part of their family. Before they reach their destination a heartbreaking tragedy occurs to this family. Zach Webster is the foreman at the ranch Priscilla Morton finally arrives at. She has had a devastating loss and needs lots of time and healing and Zach is the man who has patience and sensitivity to what Priscilla needs. They both have scars that need healing and it is a great love story, but more than that, it is a story of seeing how God can and will work out everything for good, even when it looks impossible.

There was alot of sorrow and heartbreak in this story; alot of deepfelt emotion to work through. You felt for these characters and I enjoyed the beautiful way this author brought healing and hope into these two peoples lifes. A story of a girl setting out to look for adventure and ended up finding love. A story of hope and of joy, knowing that even though we can't see the whole picture, God can and when we step back and see how He orchestrated it all, we see how He makes everything beautiful in His time. I look forward to the next book in this series.

LOVE FOR LENORE by Regina Tittel

This was a quick, short, lovely romantic story. Although short, I felt it was complete (although I wouldn't have minded if the author would have given us many more pages). A family traveling west has a wagon wheel brake in the middle of a snow storm. Their 18 year old daughter, Lenore, must go find help. Her help is a man, Heston, who finds her cold and shivering and caught in one of his animal traps. He takes her to his cabin, and offers to go help her family for a favor; marry him to save his land. Quite a favor! It was a delightful story and well written. I am looking forward to reading more my this author!
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 182 KB
Publisher: Hawse Pipe Ministries (February 15, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B007A0BYFI

PAPER ROSES by Amanda Cabot

Paper Roses - once you read this story the title will seem very appropriate! Sarah Dobbs is leaving her past behind her in Philadelphia and arriving in Texas with her 2 years old sister, to meet and marry Austin Canfield, a man she has only met through letters. Upon her arrival she finds Austin's brother, Clay waiting to take her to the ranch, where he gives her the news that Austin has been killed. Sarah can't go back, so she must find her future there is Texas. Sarah plans to stay, but Clay can't wait to leave, once he finds his brother's killer. There is so much going on in this story. For me it started out as a nice enjoyable read, but ended up being so much more that that. There was such a good message of seeing God's hand in everything, of redemption and forgiveness and of love. This was a story that I really didn't have figured out until the end (which is always a plus for me). There was a mystery to solve, a town to unite and broken hearts that needed to heal. I thought this author did a very good job with this story and was pleasantly surprised how much I liked the story the more I read. I am definately looking foward to reading books 2 and 3 in this series.

HEART OF LIES by Jill Marie Landis

This was a story that captivated you with the life on the bayou and then on the streets of New Orleans in 1875. It also was a story that saddened you when you read about the life of the street urchins during this time in New Orleans, but it was also a time of rejoicing to see how one young lady was able to survive and discover what true love and family is all about. This was the second story in the Irish Angel Series and I highly recommend you read book one, Heart of Stone first, so you will have the background for this story.

Maddie Grande was raised in a tribe of children (street urchins) in New Orleans, but recently she has moved into the bayou swamp with twin brothers, who are her "family". When the brothers kidnap a little girl off the street and bring her home for Maddie to watch until they get a reward things start to go wrong for all three (and at times this 8 year old girl they kidnapped will "steal the show"). Pinkerton agent Tom Abbott is looking for the kidnapped girl and his search brings him to Maddie. Now they both need to learn to trust each other, which neither one feels comfortable doing. Maddie longs to change her life, but just doesn't know how she is going to go about it. This story will take you on an adventure through many different places in the South and will keep you longing to see how Maddie can turn her life around. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I must admit that I liked book one's story line better than this one, but I am also anxious to read the third book in this series and see how it will all come together at the end.

HOLIDAY HAVOC by Terri Reed & Stephanie Newton

This is two short stories in one small book. Both are romantic suspense stories set around the holidays. In Yuletide Sanctuary you have Sean Matthews trying to keep Lauren Curtis safe from an attacker who is out for vengence. This one was a good short suspense story that even though you know the outcome, you aren't sure how or when it will happen.

In Christmas Target you might remember some of the characters if you have read any of the Emerald Coast series. Police officer Maria Fuentes finds herself the "prize" in a dating contest she did not enter (but her buddies on the force did as a joke). Now she finds herself spending a weekend with a weatherman, Ben Storm, who is in danger and his "date" is the only one he can trust.

Both stories were well written and I enjoyed the suspense in each one. A quick but enjoyable read!

WILDFLOWER BRIDE by Mary Connealy

A book centered around two people who are very different, yet alot alike. Where you will find enjoyable and fun episodes and then dangerous and evil men. Where love is in the air, but also hatred and anger at the ones we should love. A range of emotions going on in this story, which kept it interesting and very enjoyable. I was laughing at loud at times. Although you can read this as a stand alone and enjoy it, it would be so much better if you read the first two in this series (Montana Rose, and The Husband Tree) because there are some characters from the first two books in this story and they are fun to get to know first.

Glowing Sun (Abby) is a white woman raised by the Indians. Wade Sawyer comes to her rescue as her Indian village is being slaughtered by wicked men and taking her hostage. She knows how to handle a knife very well and while Wade watches over her, she has a tendency to get angry and pull out her knife at any and all times. Wade takes her back to his father's ranch, where he has gone to help out his father who has been injured. There is no love between father and son, there is cattle rustlers on the loose and there is Wade, determined to get Abby to love and marry him. It is an enjoyable story which I had fun reading.

THE INHERITANCE by Tamera Alexander

This is a story where you will fall in love with the two main characters, McKenna and Wyatt. Tamera Alexander did such a good job of making these people seem real. Their struggles and their joys were ones so easily identifiable in life. I felt what it was like to be in Colorado in the 1870's with the scenery, the gambling halls, the brawls, the Chinese folks and the robberies, they all seemed very true-to-life.

McKenna Ashford finds herself having to move to Copper Creek, Colorado with her younger brother, Robert. Now Robert has a chip on his shoulder as big as a tree and you will find yourself wanting to knock it off with a good swift kick many times in this story. McKenna sees their move as perhaps God's design; perhaps the inheritance she had failed to keep when they had to leave Missouri. Upon their arrival she finds her close friend and cousin dying, with her last wish that McKenna have the ranch and raise up her 5 year old daughter, Emma. Now McKenna has a brother that resents her, a new "daughter" so raise, a ranch that s about to be foreclosed on and on top of all that a U.S. Marshal named Wyatt Caradon who seems to be showing her some interest. You feel McKenna's pain in this story. She is trying so hard to love and help her brother, who rejects her constantly, trying to love little Emma, who just lost her Mom and keep everything running smoothly. Wyatt sees she needs help, but McKenna is not one who accepts help willingly.

I felt for McKenna. She loved her brother. No matter what he did, no matter if he derserved it or not. But sometimes you have to have "tough love" and how hard that is for anyone to have. The underlying message of this book, as the author stated, is brokenness. We all need to be broken and to give ourselves up to God. Letting go and letting God take charge. This was a message very well written into this story and I am so grateful that the author, Tamera Alexander finally got a chance to write this story and convey such a message of love. Well done and well worth your time to read. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. I have read other books by this author that I have really enjoyed, but I think this is one of her best!

Paperback: 374 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Original edition (March 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1595546324
ISBN-13: 978-1595546326

WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS by Lynette Eason

This was an intense story with alot of mystery, intrigue, suspense and some romance. It was a story I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen next. And it isn't often that you don't know "who did it", but this story really keeps you guessing! I liked it alot!! My only regret is that book two in the series isn't out yet, so I can pick up where this story left off.

There are 3 girls who are graduating from high school and who have been friends forever. On the night of graduation one of them sees something she shouldn't and flees in the night, not telling her friends where she is going or what she saw. Fast forward 10 years and you find one of the girls as a "smokejumper" who after a near death experience with a fire, finds herself taking time off for an incident that is under investigation. She goes back home after 10 years for a reunion and things really start to happen. You have a mother Alexia needs to learn to love, a murder she needs to prove she didn't do, and a handsome detective she needs to try not to fall for. There is trouble following her wherever she goes. You have murder, arson, forgiveness and love all rolled up into one week in the life of Alexia. Yes, just one week, but my oh my what a week you will live through as you read this book.

I loved the day and time sequences in this story. I also loved the spiritual message woven throughout its pages and the verses that tied it all together for me were, "When I am afrraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I Trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" (Psalm 56) Detective Hunter said it well, "bad stuff happens. It's a fallen world. . . God's not picking on you (Alexia) . . . But he wants to be there for you to get you through it." The author did a fantastic job on this story and left the door wide open for its sequel. I can only say, "get busy Lynette Eason! I am anxious to read the next story in this series!". I knew I was going to like her book when I read her dedication page and her beginning verse before her story started. Give yourself some time when you start this book, because you will have a hard time putting it down until you finish.
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell (February 1, 2012)
ISBN-10: 0800720075
ISBN-13: 978-0800720070

BLUE MOON PROMISE by Colleen Coble

This book was a real winner! I liked everything about it. It had a little suspense and intrigue, (and an ending I wasn't really expecting), and alot of romance just waiting to happen; loveable kids, a tiny little lady who had lots of spunk, and a cowboy who needed a lady's tender touch. Colleen Coble has written an endearing story and as the author said in the beginning of this book, only God knows the best journey for us. We need to let go and trust Him. He is the one who is ultimately in charge, although we all at times try to take charge of things ourselves.

Lucy Marsh was one of those ladies who had to take charge she thought. She finds herself taking care of her little brother and sister after her father is killed and her step-mother abandons them. She is now without a job and soon to be kicked out of their home, when a man who knew her father visits them and offers her a home for her family in Texas if she will marry by proxy his son and travel back to Texas with him. Lucy finds herself excepting the offer and taking her family to Texas. Needles to say Nate Stanton is NOT pleased to find his father has brought home a wife for him. He takes one look at the petite young Lucy and knows she could never make it on their cattle ranch and survive. Lucy though is out to prove she can be the wife Nate needs. It is fun and endearing to watch both Lucy and Nate change and to watch them dance around their feelings for each other. I loved Lucy and her determination. They were both honest and outspoken at times and it was always interesting to see the situations Lucy kept finding herself in and Nate having to help her out of them.

Lucy was someone we can all relate to. We say we trust God and what he has for us, but then hard times come and we start relying on ourselves instead of God. I liked the advice given to Lucy in the book, "Life happens, Lucy. Good and bad, they come to all of us sooner or later. We can't will away the bad things. They are part of what shapes us into the people we become." Lucy must learn she can't earn love by being what she thinks people want her to be, but people love her for who she really is. Alot of good lessons to learn in a delightfully entertaining way. Looking forward to more stories in this series. I also want to thank Thomas Nelson Publishing for sending me this story to review via NetGalley.
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 14, 2012)
ISBN-10: 1595549153
ISBN-13: 978-1595549150

LOOKING FOR MIRACLES by Lynn Bulock

A story you will feel good about after having read it. A quick read where you know how it is going to end, but in this story there is a really nice surprise at the end I wasn't expecting.

Lori Harper is a recently widowed young lady with a young son and another child on the way. In spite of all this she is always "looking for little miracles" that God sends to her along the way. She finds herself in an isolated run down trailer about to give birth and hoping for one of those miracles. Along comes two people on Christmas Eve from the fire department bearing gifts for her and her son when they find themselves with a lady close to delivery. Mike Martin, is one of those volunteers at the fire department and finds himself "outside his comfort zone" helping Lori get to the hospital. This of course is the beginning of him helping her and her two little ones. What he can't get over is her positive attitude towards God in the midst of her trying circumstances. A story of hope and believing in a God who cares for and loves you and who shows himself in all the little things he brings your way.