Book Review: Flirtation Walk

From the Back:

At West Point, Only True Love Should Lead You to Flirtation Walk
Lucinda Pennyworth, the daughter of a con man, is trying her best to leave her father's sordid past behind her. When he dies unexpectedly, she takes the opportunity to move to West Point to live with her aunt, ready to take on a new life and determined to marry a respectable man, a West Point cadet, to impress her relatives.
                                                                                                            
Seth Westcott, a cadet at the academy, is proud to be at the top of his senior class. But when his mother dies and his sister loses their inheritance to a swindler, Seth wants nothing more than to head west to track down the con man. But the army will only send the cadets at the bottom of the class to the frontier . . . which leaves Seth with some tough choices.

When a woman trying her best to be good meets a man determined to be anything but, can there be hope for love, or will two lonely hearts be condemned to casual flirtation?

My Reflections:

Siri Mitchell's Flirtation Walk is a charming and delightfully sweet historical romance.

I always enjoy Mitchell's tales, this one however had me worried for the first couple of chapters. The idea of the main character Lucinda Pennyworth swindling others for her own benefit did not sit well with me at all. However I was mistaken in my assessment and after understanding the character more and learning of her past and heart for change, I ended up absolutely savouring this books winding paths and learning a great deal about the military as well.

Lucinda Pennyworth receives news that her father has died, Leaving the finishing school which she has been attending Lucinda decides to seek out the only family she has left, her mother's sister.
She is not received with open arms exactly but the family soon Warms up to her. Lucinda's plans are to marry a respectable cadet from West Point Academy and live an upstanding life. This is her chance to turn her life around, or so she thinks...events crop up that upset her plans and spoil her newfound reputation. Can Lucinda start fresh or will her past and upbringing hamper her chances for a new beginning? 

Seth Westcott is on the last leg of his training at West Point Academy he is at the top of his class and has the respect of teachers and fellow cadets, his life however is anything but perfect. His mother has passed away, leaving his sister home alone. Unable to get a leave to help sell the family home and care for his sister he feels hopeless and desperate. To make matters worse he learns that his sister has been taken advantage of by a swindler, losing all their inheritance and stranding his sister in a faraway town.

Seth and his fellow classmates devise a plan to help Seth fall to the bottom of his class in order to become an "Immortal." These are the unmotivated cadets, who lack the luster to do anything else but join the cavalry. His plans make him miserable, but Seth is determined to do what it takes to fail, help his sister and catch the thief responsible.

I have to say this is one of the most interesting plots I have read in quite some time. It was so very different from what I am used to reading. I learned quite a bit about the military, terms, the academy lifestyle and also that West Point is not merely fictional and some of the events are based on actual historical events. So interesting!

If you are looking for low key, relaxed read I would certainly recommend Siri Mitchell's book Flirtation Walk!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

THE AUTHOR

1. 

   Siri Mitchell

   Siri Mitchell has written nearly a dozen novels, three of which were named Christy Award finalists. A graduate of the University of Washington with a business degree, she has worked in many levels of government and lived on three continents. She and her family...

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Book Review: The Red Door Inn, Prince Edward Island Dreams

From the Back:

"The Red Door Inn took my breath away! Highly recommended!"--Colleen Coble, author ofThe Inn at Ocean's Edge and the Hope Beach series
Marie Carrington is broke, desperate, and hoping to find sanctuary on Prince Edward Island while decorating a renovated bed-and-breakfast. Seth Sloane moved three thousand miles to help restore his uncle's Victorian B and B--and to forget about the fiancée who broke his heart. He wasn't expecting to have to babysit a woman with a taste for expensive antiques and a bewildering habit of jumping every time he brushes past her. 
The only thing Marie and Seth agree on is that getting the Red Door Inn ready to open in just two months will take everything they've got--and they have to find a way to work together. In the process, they may find something infinitely sweeter than they ever imagined on this island of dreams.

My Reflections:

I was so eager to crack the spine of this new book by Liz Johnson! 

The cover is so inviting and a welcome change from the usual genres I have been reading as of late. 

Johnson has made the setting of Prince Edward Island so enticing I just want to book a trip. How enchanting and quirky the locals are, not to mention the breathtakingly beautiful scenery. I know because halfway through the book I had to google search this Picturesque Island.

I absolutely loved the character Marie Carrington. She is vulnerable and hurting and her life has crumbled around her. Down to her last bit of cash she happens upon a kind gentleman named Jack. 

Jack is a kind and tender man, when he sees Marie hurting and alone he offers to buy her a ticket for the ferry. This one selfless act will prove to change Marie's life forever. 

The Red door Inn is intended to be a place of healing and a refuge for those who are hurting, but before the renovations are even started the healing of individuals has already begun.

Who wouldn't want to read about the restoration of a beautiful old building. The colour choices, the placement of furniture, oh so my element! I enjoyed this aspect of the book immensely! 

Jack and his Nephew Seth work together to restore the old building but the restoration must first start in Seth's heart. Trying to build his life back up after his fiance left him, he throws himself into the tasks at hand. I have to say Seth's attitudes and views made me dislike him at first, but as the novel progressed I understood more about his motives and the reasons for his behaviour.

I am thrilled that there will be a sequel to this book coming out in the Fall of 2016. This story will focus on Caden, which is super intriguing!

 I would highly recommend Liz Johnson's book The Red Door Inn, and will certainly be reading more of this author's works. 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

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THE AUTHOR

1. 

   Liz Johnson

   Liz Johnson is a full-time marketing specialist for a Nashville-based publisher. She has been a freelance writer and editor for several publications, including CBA Retailers+Resources,Christian Fiction Online magazine, and Storytellers...

   
   

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Book Review: Annabel Lee

From The Back:

Fourteen miles east of Peachtree, Alabama, a secret is hidden.
The secret's name is Annabel Lee.
She doesn't know why her enigmatic uncle has stowed her deep underground in a military-style bunker. He's left her with a few German words, a barely controlled guard dog, and a single command: "Don't open that door for anybody, you got it? Not even me."

Miles away in Atlanta, private investigator Trudi Coffey is visited by a mysterious older man calling himself Dr. Smith. He's been trailing a man for a decade--a man she met through her ex-partner Samuel Hill--and the trail has led him to her office. The last thing Trudi wants to do is to contact Samuel. But it will take both of them to unravel this mystery--before it's too late.

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My Reflections:

From the cover of this book to the last page you will be captured by the fast paced mystery and pulse throbbing thriller. For a few weeks I had to just let this book rest under a pile of papers, because the sheer creepiness of the cover kind of scared me.

Once I got the courage to crack the cover however I was immediately hooked.
The author has a masterful grasp on giving the reader a vivid and true to life depiction of her characters, the reader truly feels a part of the plot. One of my favorite aspects of reading is to sink into a story so immensely that the world around me falls away. I must say I was impressed with this author. On a side note it was interesting to learn that the author Mike Nappa's main writing style is for nonfiction and inspirational writings. He also published other books under a female name. I am so glad that he is now writing under his own name because he is one author I will certainly be watching for.

Annabel is a character that I immediately fell for. She is one intelligent 11 year old!
Instinctively I wanted to save her from the start.
She lived with Leonard Truckson, but called him Uncle Truck. This farm was situated on the outskirts of Peachtree Alabama. Annabel's mother is dead and Uncle Truck is her sole provider, their relationship is one of trust, even though she doesn't understand everything that is happening in her young life.

Trudi Sara Coffey is a private detective with gumption, not to mention stunningly beautiful. divorced and dedicated she works hard in her firm, Coffey and Hill which is located in Atlanta. Determined to get over her past hurts she pushes forward to help other hurting people.

Samuel Hill is not proud of his past, and wants to show Trudi that he is willing to change. The spark still sheds a little light with these two characters but hurt and time have served their purposes. These two along with the help of a mute man must put their past behind them and work together to find out what happened to an 11 year old girl.

I enjoyed this thriller and was kept on the edge of my seat for most of the book. I certainly hope to revisit these characters in subsequent books and get some of the loose ends tied up.
A must read if you are looking for a creepy kind of story with many winding paths.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

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THE AUTHOR

1. 

   Mike Nappa

   Mike Nappa is an entertainment journalist at FamilyFans.com, as well as a bestselling and award-winning author with more than one million books sold worldwide. When he was a kid, the stories of Edgar Allan Poe scared him silly. Today he owns everything Poe...

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Book Review: A Dolphin Wish

From the Back:

Join twins Mia and Maddie and their sidekick little sister, LuLu, as they embark on adventure and a little bit of mystery solving while visiting Watery World in sunny California.

My Reflections:

When I saw this book to review I know instantly that it would be the perfect fit for my 8 year old girl who takes after her momma and loves to read. 

This is the second book in the Glimmer Girls series, and although we have not read the first book "London Art Chase" this second book provides enough detail and background information to be a stand alone read.

This family is quite unique the mother, Gloria Glimmer is a famous Christian singer who performs all over the country to eager audiences. The children Maddie, Mia and Lulu are such fun and outrageously "normal" characters that you are instantly drawn to their crazy antics and fun personalities. 

The story has the perfect blend of mystery, adventure and family values. The latter characteristic was the selling point for me. As the age range for this novel is ages 8-12 these are the impressionable years, hence I want my children to be reading nourishing material not junk and fluff. 

I was happy to see that this novel did show christian morals in it, it also reinforced prayer and looking to God for our daily needs. I quite liked that the book touched on issues such as the difference between a wish and a prayer also that breaking the rules is not Ok even when it seems like the right thing to do at the time. These are the tricky situations kids will experience in life,  I am over the moon to be able to give my children literary role models who display our family values. 

All in all I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to families with children 8-12. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Book Review: A Treasure Concealed

From the Back:

There is more than gold to be found in these hills.
Emily Carver longs to have a home of her own, but instead she endures a transient existence in the gold mining camps of Montana, where her father's hopes for riches lie endlessly buried. Promises of wealth from this wild land have brought only hardship and disappointment, causing Emily to wonder if her own modest dreams will ever see the light of day.

Caeden Thibault, a young geologist working for the government, is a man trying to escape the pain of his past, and the idyllic mountains of Montana serve his purposes well. In the course of his work, he has seen more than his share of starry-eyed gold seekers. So when Emily Carver catches his attention, he is intrigued by the fact that she isn't pinning her hopes on striking it rich.

Will an unexpected discovery come between them or draw them together?

My Reflections:

You surely will not be disappointed with Tracie Peterson's newest novel,  A Treasure Concealed.

As you are probably aware if you follow my Blog that I read every novel penned by this author, without exception. This one travelled everywhere with me, and I was able to devour it in record time.

Emily Carver is an only child to a mining family. Travelling through camp after camp has worn thin years ago. Her father has gold fever and expects the mother Lode around every corner, although now that her mother is not expected to make it through the winter they may settle in one place for a little longer than usual.

 I loved Emily's grit and determination, she was in a very hard situation but always seemed to keep going and keep a good attitude. Emily's character inspired me. I found myself comparing my attitudes to hers and have thought long and hard about how I can better my attitude no matter the situations I face. Funny how Peterson's books always make me dig deep, even though I am only reading about fictional characters!

Caden Thibault is such a sweet character! He is down to earth, thoughtful and not afraid to get his hands dirty. Pretty amazing since he is independently wealthy! You won't find a snooty attitude with him. I simply loved watching this story unfold.

Running from a troubled past, Caden does the opposite of his late father; he wants nothing to do with marriage a family or settling down. That is until he meets a damsel in distress... slowly Caden determines what really matters to him, discovering where he stands with God and a certain Emily Carver seem to take precedence!

Overall a simply fabulous read, this book is just too good to keep on my shelves of keepers, it must be shared with the Church library, so everyone can enjoy it!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc

THE AUTHOR

1. 

   ©Lissa Barber Photography

   Tracie Peterson

   Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana. Learn...

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