The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright

 

The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We've all been there....summer camp. Sitting around the campfire telling ghost stories while eating smores and feeling the hairs on the back of our neck stand up. Then you hear a twig snap and you just know that someone is going to get you.

This book is the first I've read of Jaime Jo Wright but I'm definitely going to be reading more! I've been looking for a clean psychological thriller author for quite some time and I've just found a great one!! This story of two women, separated by 90 years, looking for answers to their pasts so they can move on with their future is gripping, scary, and downright exciting!!

You have it all....the camp scene, the burned down cabin, the lake, the creepy lady in the woods, the doll.....

So many things I want to say but I don't want to spoil anything for readers of this fabulous book! There is suspense, romance, sad periods of time, and moments of encouragement. It was great to read a book so thrilling but without all the improper language use!! This is my kind of book and I look forward to more like this one!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

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A Rose for the Resistance (Heroines of WWII) by Angela K. Couch

 

A Rose for the Resistance by Angela K. Couch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As I read this book, I could not help but think of the current situation going on in our world. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine!!

Rosalie and Marcel live in Ste Mere Eglise, France during the time of the occupation of the Nazi forces. This book starts off with a pretty intense fighting scene and one in which a Bible is recovered and Rosalie is allowed to escape. Little does she know that the one who handed her the Bible would come back into her life and play a pivotal role in how the war would end!!

Rosalie is super protective of her brother, Marcel, as well as her Maman. Marcel is anxious to go off with the troops and fight but Rosalie does her best to protect him. She finally decides to assist the Resistance herself. Life really starts to change when a British pilot is brought to her home. Can she keep them all safe?

I really enjoyed this page-turning book! I've always been fascinated by the stories of WWII and how it all came about and ultimately ended. I believe there is a lot that can be learned from the past stories. While I do realize that this is a work of fiction, there are historical truths within. I recommend this book to those who love a good action story with a side of romance and history!

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The Wounded Cowboy Billionaire (Billionaire Hearts Ranch Book 1) by Edith Mackenzie

 

The Wounded Cowboy Billionaire by Edith Mackenzie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You've heard it said that money can't buy (fill-in-the-blank). Well, in the case of Colt, that's definitely true. He's loaded with money...has more than he knows what to do with, but it won't stop the tragedies from occurring in his life.

I don't feel like I can give anymore details about this book other than the description provided because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. However, this is your warning: You'll need a box of tissues handy. This story is riveting and tragic, yet full of so much love!!

I don't have a super high opinion of Colt. He's very selfish and greedy. I like Evelyn but there's something about her that I can't wrap my head around. Not sure what it is but she's a very likeable person. I'm curious to know more about her background though.

This is another new-to-me author that I will reading again! I do recommend this book! It's a fairly clean, wholesome romance story.

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Love's Full Circle by Cherry Christensen

 

Love's Full Circle by Cherry Christensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Have you ever had that yearning for a long lost love? Liam has pined after Kayden for years, but he realizes that he royally screwed up in high school. Kayden was saving herself for marriage but Liam was a hormone raged teenager. When Kayden and Liam break up, they are both heartbroken but decide to move on.

Kayden is now a Marriage and Family Therapist and is doing a radio show that is heard by Liam. Next thing Kayden knows, Liam is showing up in her office. Things start falling apart right away and one would wonder if this relationship is bound to be doomed again. Can they move away from the past and see that they've both changed?

I enjoyed this story of Liam and Kayden! It's a pretty intense read at times and I found myself wanting to smack them both but the end is ultimately as it should be. I enjoyed this clean romance and a new-to-me author! I'll be looking for more of Cherry's books!

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Notebook Mysteries~Changes and Challenges by Kimberly Mullins

 

Notebook Mysteries ~ Changes and Challenges by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book that I've read by this author and in this series. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book but feel like I was missing a huge chunk of information that was given in the first two books. I wish I would have read the other two books first, but alas, I did not. I do plan to go back and catch up though for future books in this series.

Emma reminds me a lot of the Nancy Drew books that I read as a younger child. I love Emma's style of reasoning and the detective work she conducts with the Pinkertons. I like that she has a love interest but is he really? It took me until the middle of the book to really grasp the whole of what was going on and it was the last third of the book that really had me wrapped up in the story. Again, likely because I wasn't aware of the connections or who these characters were. They've been working together for awhile now and have a significant history with each other. I read this book in two sittings (only because I had to drive from one place to another!) and it was an easy read (minus the French that I know nothing of but the reader will get the gist of it!)

I look forward to reading the first two books in this series as well as those that follow!

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Juliet's Journey to Love (Great Smoky Mountain Getaways Book 1) by Elsie Davis

 

Juliet's Journey to Love by Elsie Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Juliet and her friends are on a journey together to spend more time outside and grow closer to the Lord. What they didn't anticipate was Juliet becoming ill and their travel plans being thwarted! When the grizzly man Jake arrives on his 4-wheeler, it's obvious very quickly to the group that he's only concerned with nursing Juliet back to health and nothing else.

Jake is the all-around bachelor grizzly bear. He's a loner in a cabin in the woods. However, he knows what needs to be done to take care of Juliet. However, he's severely annoyed by these travel companions and their prayer meetings.

Time comes for the group to get back on to their hike once Juliet heals up, but then Jake falls ill. Good thing Juliet is a nurse and knows what to do. Besides, she owes him for treating her while she was ill! She parts from the group and nurses Jake back to health. Then she learns of a job opening at a local clinic. Can she leave her secure job and family to live out her dreams?

This book is the first I've read by this author but I'm already looking into other books by this author and in this series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it!! It included adventure and romance, plus has a medical slant, which I love!

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Bella: An Appalachian Love Story & Jagged Dawn: Logan’s Beginnings by Valerie Davisson

 

Bella-An Appalachian Love Story & Jagged Dawn-Logan's Beginnings by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Both of these stories included in this book are prequels to the life of Logan. In Bella-An Appalachian Love Story we read the background of Logan's great grandmother, Norah and the struggles and hardships she faced in the Appalachian country. We also meet Giovanni, an Italian immigrant and his gift for creating beautiful violins. Reading the back history was helpful as we moved into Jagged Dawn, the story of Logan's beginnings.

Logan finds out some of her family history and is gifted a beautiful violin. She rarely has time to play anymore with all the demands of work and married life. She's asked to take over the training for a specific company and questions the request since her husband did the vast majority of the family training. On the way home, tragedy strikes this family. Will Logan ever be the same again? Will she ever make beautiful music on her family heirloom again?

I enjoyed both of these stories. I was attracted to this story because of the cover as well as my love for music. I'll be checking out more of this author's work as I'd like to read even more of Logan's story!

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Doctor in the Outback (Welcome to Bunya Junction #3) by Nicole Flockton

 

Doctor in the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm already anxiously awaiting the next book in this series! I have read the first three so far and all of them could be read as stand-alone books. However, I really enjoy having the full family history! I feel like I've been able to get to know this family pretty well and we'd all get along just great.

Dr. Scott Caruthers is busy running his hospital as well as setting up his new foundation. He's finding he needs more help and that's where Dr. Franceen Lewis comes in. She's the OB for the hospital and it's a good thing because Scott's twin sister, Sindy, is pregnant. Scott wants to focus on being the best uncle and not having to worry about being a doctor to his sister.

Sparks start flying immediately between Dr. Scott and Dr. Franceen. They keep running into each other and now he's concerned about Dr. Franceen's reactions after delivery Sindy's babies. What's going on with her? He's hoping he doesn't have to fire his new staff so soon but if she can't get it together, they will have to look into options.

Like his other siblings, Scott works way too hard and doesn't take a lot of time for himself. It's starting to show and he's afraid that his foundation may suffer for it as well. Could Dr. Franceen be the motivation he needs to get away more?

I fall more in love with this family with each passing story! Highly recommended!

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Runaway to the Outback (Welcome to Bunya Junction #2) by Nicole Flockton

 

Runaway to the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whatever in the world is a new bride doing in my pub??? Can you imagine what Jonas thought when he saw this beautiful, yet apparently heartbroken woman, rush into his business?

This story is my favorite of the three books in this series so far. This book can be read as a stand-alone but you'll get more of Jonas's family background by reading book 1.

Jonas is a pub owner who is dedicated to his work. He rarely takes any time off and keeps the pub open 7 days a week. Out of the blue, Pandora shows up in a wedding dress looking lost. Why is she here? Come to find out, she's not an actual bride but Jonas, having just met her, loves what he sees. Can he open this pandora box that Pandora is showcasing? Hopefully together they can find some resolutions to the time they spend working!



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Home to the Outback (Bunya Junction #1) by Nicole Flockton

 

Home to the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just found a new favorite author!!

Sindy Carruthers is a busy nurse working for Dr. Colin McCarthy when he faces an untimely death. Unsure of how to go about running the practice, Sindy is a world of hurt. She's lost her confidant and her boss. She made a call to Dr. Ryan Flanigan to let him know about Dr. Colin's accident and asked him to be there. Dr. Ryan was able to say his goodbyes to Dr. Colin. Then came the kicker....when the will was read, Dr. Ryan had a huge decision to make. Should he leave his life behind in the city to take over the practice of his mentor? He was a well-known plastic surgeon after all. What did he know about general medicine?

It doesn't take long for sparks to fly between Dr. Ryan and nurse Sindy, but are they the right kind of sparks? Did Dr. Colin know what he was actually doing when he willed that they should run the practice together? I'd like to think that he did!

I really enjoyed this story for several reasons. It was set in Australia (I hope to visit one day), involved a doctor and a nurse, as well as a love connection. I recommend this book as well as the others in this series! I will be looking for more books by this new-to-me author to read!

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Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young

 

Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a one-of-a-kind book when it comes to uniqueness and with this being the debut novel by Sandra Young, I'm sure there is more greatness to come!

I really loved how the story of Tess and Trey in modern time became entangled with the lives of Edward and Phoebe from family history. Tess's love of vintage clothing got her an invitation to model in a show with the ever hunky architect, Trey. While Trey isn't as impressed with vintage clothing, he quickly finds himself falling in love with Tess....or is it Phoebe?

There are several twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat during this sweet love story of time gone by. I look forward to more books from this new author!

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