Book Review: Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden

Molly Knox wakes up every morning looking forward to her predictable, orderly life. She loves making watches and as the owner of the 57th Illinois Watch Company, she is proud to carry on her father's work. But when the Great Chicago Fire strikes and takes everything away from her, Molly will have to keep her wits about her to survive.
Zach Kazmerak is a powerful attorney working for one the largest department stores in Chicago. He is a loyal employee and works hard to earn his reputation for getting things done. Now he must go up against Molly Knox, which is a problem, since he has admired her since he first set eyes on her.
As Molly and Zach work to get through the time of terrible disaster, they must learn to trust each other despite their opposite personalities.

This is the third book I have read by Elizabeth Camden and I have really enjoyed all of them. She really can bring history alive and make you feel like you are immersed right in the culture of the time. Her descriptions of the Chicago fire were amazing and I enjoyed also the look into the advances of machinery and technology at the time. Loved it!

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for a free copy of this book to review.

Book Review: The Letters by Suzanne Woods FIsher

Rose Schrock's life has been turned upside-down since her husband's death. Living with her ailing and disapproving mother-in-law while trying to take care of her family is hard enough. Trying to also come up with a way to support them financially while also dealing with the troubles her husband left behind is just enough to make her feel like giving up.
But hope comes in some strange forms for Rose. One, being her kind but quiet neighbor Galen. The other being a strange idea to open her home as a bed and breakfast.
What Rose could not have imagined is how much opening her home up would bring healing both to herself and her guests.

I always look forward to reading Suzanne Woods Fisher's stories. I don't always stop to think about how the amish community mixes with the modern day world and what that looks like on a daily basis. I love that she combines the two in a realistic way. Her characters are far from perfect and face realistic challenges and I think it makes her stories come to life. I also love that Jimmy Fisher from a previous series makes an appearance again :-)

Thank you to Revell Publishers for a free copy of this book to review.

Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: Dolled Up to Die by Lorena McCourtney

Cate Kincaid is settling in to her job as assistant private eye quite nicely. She basically runs the office for her uncle these days and handles all the small day to day things. But when she receives a call about not just one, but three murders, she knows this is way over her head. Finding it strange that the police did not rush to help, and while knowing that it was against policy to get involved with murder cases, Kate couldn't just  leave the poor victim without any help!
Arriving at the scene of the crime, Kate discovers the reason for the police slow response. The victims are dolls! But still, it is a crime and a creepy one that gets even creepier when Kate discovers a real human victim. While trying not to investigate the murder, Kate focuses on the doll case, but it's hard to keep the two apart!

This is the second book in the Cate Kincaid files and it was just as fun as the first. It would probably be helpful to read the first book to get to know the characters better before you jump in to the second but it would probably be ok as a stand alone too. A fast paced, good action filled mystery!

Thank you to Revell Publishers for a free copy of this book to review.

Available July 15, 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Book Review: Small Town Girl by Ann H. Gabhart

On a hot summer day, Kare Merritt watches the man of her dreams get married...to his sister. Although she is trying so hard to be happy for her sister, her heart is aching. What's more annoying is the best man, who seems intent on flirting with her. Can't he just let her suffer privately. Still, when Jay Tanner decides to stick around in Rosey Corner for a while, Kate can't help but warm up to his charming smile. But she may have warmed up too late.
When news strikes that Pearl Harbor has been attacked, men are signing up to serve their country. Kate must decides if she is willing to risk her heart before Jay has to risk his life.

This book is a follow up book to the novel Angel Sister and though it stands alone pretty well, I think I would have enjoyed it better if I had read the other novel first. It really is mostly just a love story, and I generally prefer another story line with romance in it rather than the romance being the main story line itself. Still it was not a bad read, though it wasn't really a page turner.

Thank you to Revell Publishers for a free copy of this book to review.

Available July 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate by Dianna Wallis Taylor

Claudia has lived a very sheltered life all her childhood until one day when her world is completely turned upside down and she is taken to live in the Roman palace with the emperor.  Her whole life has been dictated to her by the rulers of Rome and she must either comply happily or face the harsh consequences. It seems as though finally something good is coming her way, when she is ordered to marry the handsome Lucius Pontius Pilate.
When he is ordered to govern in the territory of Judea, Claudia stands by and encourages her husband through some hard times trying to deal with the Jews and their strange laws. But when this new Rabbai comes into the picture, Claudia has to choose what to do about this mysterious man that haunts her dreams...

I really enjoyed this look into the history behind Pilate and his rule in Judea at the time of Christ. It was so interesting to see Christ and the crucifixion from a new perspective. The book really makes Bible times come alive. Although much of the story is speculation and obviously some fiction, it makes you think about what it was like at that time and I loved it!

Thank you to Revell Publishers for a free copy of this book to review.

Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.