THE SISTERS OF CORINTH by ANGELA HUNT

Publication date 21/5/24

THE SISTERS OF CORINTH is the second novel in the Emissaries series by ANGELA HUNT and it is a fitting sequel to A Woman from Lydia. 

 The author has written a beautiful love story that takes place in Corinth in AD 60 between a follower of Yeshua and an idol worshipper.

When Marianna, the stepdaughter of the chief magistrate,  is chosen by Marcus, the son of  Servius Memius Lupis, the  new governor of Achaia, to be his wife, she is not sure what to do. She seeks wisdom in the letters of Paulos (Paul) as she is afraid of displeasing Adonai by marrying an unbeliever, although she is attracted by the kind and gentle young man.  She says, “I would rather die than allow love for a man to  overshadow my love for Yeshua.” and then when they are married she prays,  “Adonai, let me be a servant to this man, and may I lead him to the truth.”

We see the hatred and treachery of her stepsister who does all she can, even invoking  the power of Aphrodite, rto bring trouble into the marriage and claim Marcus for herself.  Although Marcus has said to Marianna, “I have met a hundred women like your stepsister,  but I have never met anyone like you,” will he be forced to give in to Prima’s demands? …….

I love the way the author uses scriptures, especially from Paul’s letters and stories from the Old Testament, as a basis for her book, and also how she shows us what life was like for early believers in Yeshua.

I am not going to tell you any more as I do not want to spoil things for you.

I cannot recommend The Sisters of Corinth strongly enough and am looking forward to the next novel in the series.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

FINDING YOU by ROBIN PATCHEN

FINDING YOU is the third novel in the Wright Heroes of Maine series by ROBIN PATCHEN, but although I like reading the series in sequence,  it can easily  stand alone.

The story is exciting, the characters unforgettable and the Christian message strong. I guarantee you will not be able to put the book down.

The story starts with Muslim terrorist Hasan Mahmoud breaking into Sophia Chapman’s apartment in Munich to look for clues to the whereabouts of a stash of weapons that Saddam Hussein had hidden in Germany. There is an exhibition of Babylonian artifacts about to take place at the Munchen Meisterwerke Galerie where Sophie works designing art exhibits, and one of the exhibits is thought to contain a clue to show where the weapons have been hidden. Sophie also works at a mission where Muslim refugees are led to Christ and families are helped with food and clothing, which is another reason for Hasan to hate her…..

Bryan Wright meets Sophie in Shadow Cove where she is visiting her best friend Leila, Bryan’s brother Michael’s fiancee. Michael, the undercover CIA agent, has heard of something going down at the exhibition and asks Bryan, the antiquities professor, in absolute secrecy, to go back to Munich with Sophie and look through the exhibits for anything suspicious, not realising the danger he is putting them in…..

I like the way both Bryan’s and Sophie’s characters are developed throughout the story and how they bring out the best in each other.

I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.

I cannot recommend Finding You strongly enough and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

WHEN HOPE SANK by DENISE WEIMER

Publication date.

WHEN HOPE SANK by DENISE WEIMER is one  of the novels that feature American disasters that have affected the country and human life. It is a beautifully and sensitvely written account of the explosion and sinking of the river boat Sultana that was carrying freed prisoners from the Andersonville P.O.W. camp on April 27th 1825, shortly after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Feelings are high in Arkansaw after the Confederate defeat and the arrival of Union soldiers at River Rest, the establishment belonging  to Lily Livingston’s uncle Thad, brings out hatred amongst the Southern sympathiers.

Uncle Thad, Lily and Lily’s young brother Jacob save the badly burned Lieutenant Cade Palmer, who is a qualified surgeon, and his friend James. Lily takes it upon herself to nurse Cade and to start  with he is worried that Lily is his enemy….

I like to see how Cade and Lily, whose walk with God is sadly lacking due to the horrors they have each been through, grows as they pray for one another and for  others……

It is a story about courage, unselfishness, understanding, compassion, forgivenes, hope and renewed trust in God, against a backdrop of evil, jealousy, hatred and fear.

I cannot recommend When Hope Sank highly enough. I found the book exciting and inspirational, giving one a great deal of food for thought.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGally from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

THE ROADS WE FOLLOW by NICOLE DEESE

Publication date 30/4/24

In THE ROADS WE FOLLOW, NICOLE DEESE gives us an in depth study of family relationships. The novel is beautifully written, with unforgettable characters and a strong Christian message of forgiveness, redemption and following God’s lead rather than doing things in one’s own strength.

Micah Davenport is a therapist who feels betrayed when a DNA test shows he is not  Frank Davenport’s son. When the opportunity arises to drive the famous singer Luella Farrow and her three daughters on a two week road trip to some of the places she and his recently deceased mother, Lynn, visited when they were inseparable, he takes it in both hands, wanting to find out if Luella knows who his biological father could be.

Reagan is the youngest Farrow daughter and is tired of being at Adele’s beck and call, always putting Farrow Music Productions, that is close to financial ruin largely due to the underhanded actions of her middle sister Hattie’s ex husband Peter. Reagan is a brilliant writer, having written a novel called The Sisters of Birch Grove, which she is afraid to publish under her own name. Adele sees Reagan’s writing as no more than a hobby…..

Micah shares his mother’s journals with Reagan and they become close, understanding and helping one another. Their mothers shared a history, going from best friends, writing music together and performing together, to not seeing one another for thirty years. The song Crossing Bridges that they wrote together  is going viral which is helping Farrow Music. Will this road trip help to heal the fractured Farrow family?……

The characters’ stories are beautifully knit together and the rawness of their emotions, together with their faith in God is very well portrayed.

I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.

I cannot recommend this most enjoyable and inspirational book highly enough.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

A RUN AT LOVE by TONI SHILOH

Publication date 7/5/24

A RUN AT LOVE is the second novel in the Love in the Spotlight series by TONI SHILOH, but it can easily stand alone. What a lovely book - what more could you want than a sweet romance, lots of horses, and a strong Christian message.?! I cannot recommend the read strongly enough. There is also tension with family relationships  being threatened with collapse due to uncovered scandal, all of which takes place in the horse racing and training world. It is a story about inter racial adoption, rejection, uncondicional love, new beginnings, forgiveness, justice and repentance.

Piper McKinney is not sure where she belongs, being a black girl adopted by wealthy white parents. Her parents own the prestigious horse farm, Bolt Brook, where Piper’s best friend Tucker Hale works as a trainer. Piper, with her love for horses, feels she has inherited her adoptive parents’  DNA! At twenty-eight, desperate to make her own way in the world, she buys her own farm and a beautiful colt, Dream, who she employs Tucker to train. Although she is close to her parents, Tucker is the one person who really understands her……

Although Tucker is a man of faith he tends to make extensive plans instead of trusting God .……..

I am not going to tell  you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

LOWCOUNTRY LOST by T I LOWE

Publication date 3/9/24

I enjoyed LOWCOUNTRY LOST by T I LOWE so much that I did not want the book to finish! It is the story of unforgettable characters working together to bring life to a dead town and of making something beautiful out of what has been discarded. We see treasure being found in the strangest places and the restoration of people and relationships as well as the buildings. “This ghost town keeps on offering up secrets, “ …”tearing something up in order to put it back together.”

As their loneliness, grief and raw emotions are uncovered and they face their loss together, we wonder if Avalee and Rowan will ever get back together. and if Avalee will be able to accept life once more without running away. Will they be able to make a new start as “ staying put in the past had become a terrible burden”. 

This revitalization project is revitalizing more than the town of Somewhere and there is a subtle Christian message of restoration of families, love and never giving up on a person, running through the novel. I really enjoy the author’s writing style.

I cannot recommend Lowcountry Lost strongly enough.

I was given an ARC of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are comletely my own.

A CHOICE CONSIDERED by TRACIE PETERSON

Publication date 2/7/24

A CHOICE CONSIDERED is rhe second novel in The Heart of Cheyenne series by TRACIE PETERSON, but it can easily stand alone. It is a beautifully written historical romance in which the author, in her special way, takes us through her characters’  joys, sorrows and struggles. There is also a strong Christian message of hope and restoration.  

The story takes place in Cheyenne Wyoming in 1868 with many of the unforgettable characters from the first book. With the exodus of many of the roughnecks, yand some of the saloons and houses of ill repute having moved out of the area, the town is much safer than it used to be.

Melody Doyle lives with her railway worker father, Clancy, in a tent. Father and daughter are very close and when Melody decides she would like to remain in Cheyenne when her father is well enough to return to work, her father refuses to leave her until she has a husband to look after her. Clancy Doyle, who has a strong gift of discernment, chooses several men from the district to court Melody……

Charlie  Dekker .is the new manager of his father’s bank in Cheyenne but, although he takes his position seriously, his real passion is teaching……

The strory is exciting and the romance is sweet. I cannot recommend this delightful and thought provoking novel with its stron emphasis on unconditiinal love, friendship and strong family bonds, highly enough.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.