RUNNING TO YOU by ROBIN PATCHEN

RUNNING TO YOU is the first novel in the Wright Heroes of Maine series by ROBIN PATCHEN, and although it follows on from A Mountain Too Steep, it can easily stand alone. I guarantee you will not be able to put the book down - it is a real page turner with mystery,  murder, and danger. Opposed to this is the strength of unconditional love and trust in the Lord.

The story takes place in Shadow Cove where Sam Wright, who has become wealthy from concentrating on his business, lives very comfortably in a huge house. His brother Daniel, who is a doctor, and his wife Camilla,  are staying with him while they look for a house in the area. Sam feels he is a failure, especially since his girlfriend, Eliza Pelletier, disappeared without a trace five years ago. He hardly socializes any more and  keeps away from his parents and brothers as well.

Imagine his surprise when a very bedraggled and beaten up Eliza arrives on his doorstep, suffering from amnesia!.….

Sam is now a Christian and is not sure how to respond to his ex for whom he still has feelings. Where has she been and how did she find him? And why did she run away in the first place? With her nightmares it is obvious that something has triggered her fear, and as her memory gradually comes back a horrific story is uncovered……

They are being followed, Eliza has a secret and her loved ones are in danger. Will Sam get over his jealousy in time to step in with his brothers and save the woman he loves?……

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

I cannot recommend Running to You highly enough for the exciting story, courageous and interesting characters and strong Christian message.  I cannot wait for the nest book in the series.

KNOWING YOU by TRACIE PETERSON

Publication date 7/11/23

KNOWING YOU is the third novel in the Pictures of the Heart series by TRACIE PETERSON, but it can easily stand alone. It is an interesting book with great characters, a well thought out,plot and a strong Christian message. The author has obviously done a great deal of research on Japanese history and customs.

The story takes place in 1909 in Seattle at the Alaska-Yukom-Pacific Exposition, where there is a special Japanese exhibit. May Parker, who works as a camera girl for Fisher Photography, is particularly interested in all things Japanese, having a Japanese mother, and is delighted when she is offered 100 dollars to do a detailed painting of a rare suit of samurai armour for a couple who claim it has ties to their family.

Lee Munro, who May has not seen since they lived next door to one another ten years ago, is a police detective who is working at the expo, and the two friends are delighted to meet up again…….

It is a time when there is little tolerance for the Japanese and Chinese, and we see this prejudice when the Munros sell their house and move away because they do not want to live next door to the Parkers, thus separating the two young friends.

I like to see how Lee and May, as strong Christians, deal with the animosity they receive from Lee’s family…….

The story is exciting, with Lee chasing a well known forger who has been eluding capture for some time, and who seems to have his eye on the valuable samurai armour……

I like the camaraderie amongst the Camera Girls who watch out for and pray for one another…

This is a most enjoyable book and one I highly recommend to anyone wh enjoys this genre.

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

KINGDOM OF LOVE by TRACIE PETERSON

Publication date 1/11/23

KINGDOM OF LOVE by TRACIE PETERSON is a collection of three medieval romances with interesting characters and a real feel for what life was like in the fourteenth century, with the dogmatism of the church and the superstition of the people, as opposed to the true message of Christianity which comes out so beautifully in each of the heroes’ lives. The author has obviously done a great deal of research into life at the time which I found really fascinating.

The first two books run into one another as we meet the first two courageous women, Arianne and then Helena who each end up at Gavenshire Castle after escaping abuse at the hands of family members. The third courageous woman is Mary Beckett, the daughter of physician Guy Beckett, who was murdered for his desire to find out more about the human body, in order to be able to heal those who were dying of the plague. …….

The stories are exciting and well told with the Christian message of salvation, redemption and Christ’s love and forgiveness shining brightly against the backdrop of such a dark period of history. I love the three romances and the theme of sacrificial love flowing through the book.

I found the book most enjoyable and inspirational and cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone who enjoys this genre.

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

CAPTURING HOPE by ANGELA K COUCH

Publication date 1/11/23

CAPTURING HOPE is another beautifully written WW11 novel by ANGELA K COUCH  in which, whilst we see the horrors inflicted on the Polish people and the Jews and the destruction of Poland by the Germans, we also see unconditional love and bravery which is heartwarming in such horrific circumstances.

Lady Nadezhka Roenne, or Nadia as she is called, is not impressed when she meets her father’s latest protege, American photographer David Reid, who arrives at a formal occasion at their baronial hall in a brown tweed jacket. She is very aware of her family’s nobility and looks down on him. 

It is the 31st August, the day before Germany’s invasion of Poland. The place is attacked, Baron Roenne is shot and his dying wish is for David to see to it that his wife and daughter reach London safely. This leads to an adventure that will grip you from start to finish…….

David is full of guilt for something that happened to his cousin that his family still blames him for and is terrified of failing to keep Nadia safe. Nadia proves difficult to persuade and does not want to leave her dead father, the parent that she has always wanted to impress. Nadia wishes that she came from a loving family and her only idea of love and normal families is what she reads aboutin novels. 

I like to see how how hope builds up in Nadia, whose name means hope, as she is influenced by David’s desperate prayers and his return to trust in God, and as they both learn to put others before themselves.

There is so much more to the story but I do not want to spoil things for you and will not tell you any more.

I cannot recommend this lovely and truly inspirational book highly enough.

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

JULIA MONROE BEGINS AGAIN by REBEKAH MIlLLET

Publication date 24/10/23

JULIA MONROE BEGINS AGAIN by REBEKAH MIlLLET is a most enjoyable novel with hilarious moments as we follow Julia Monroe’s thoughts, emotions and conversations, even those she has with God, as she tries to understand why her philandering ex, Green Beret Samuel Reed, has shown up in her life after so many years. Underneath all this humour, the author shows us the depth of their emotional turmoil, beautifully balanced with a strong sense of God at work in their lives. Add to this Julia’s cantankerous, chain smoking mother, her equally cantankerous dog, Chewy, and Samuel’s rigid army veteran father, Teddy, to name a few! When her best friend Kate and her college going sons start pushing Julia in a direction that frightens her, we wonder how things are going to turn out between her and the devastatingly handsome and apologetic Samuel……

I absolutely loved this book and cannot recommend it highly enough. It is both an entertaining and inspirational read.

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