A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano

Delicious mystery!

There's a hidden fortune belonging to an heiress desperately in need of it, with several relatives and so called friends also in pursuit. Her father hired someone to manage the vineyards, and watch over her. A God filled and guided man. Intricate suspense and romance, in a journey of faith. Christian historical set in England. And there's a castle! Excellent quotes from Vinters that relate to the story. Joanna is an author new to me, and goes to the top as one of my favorites. There is a richness and depth to her stories that is equaled by few.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Author and Revell/Baker Publishing Group - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Description from Publisher:
Tressa Harlowe's father did not trust banks, but neither did he trust his greedy extended family. He kept his vast fortune hidden somewhere on his estate in the south of England and died suddenly, without telling anyone where he had concealed it. Tressa and her ailing mother are left with a mansion and an immense vineyard and no money to run it. It doesn't take long for a bevy of opportunists to flock to the estate under the guise of offering condolences. Tressa knows what they're really up to. She'll have to work with the rough and rusticated vineyard manager to keep the laborers content without pay and discover the key to finding her father's fortune--before someone else finds it first.
Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano welcomes readers to Trevelyan Castle, home of the poorest heiress in Victorian England, for a treasure hunt they'll not soon forget. 

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The Lady of Tarpon Springs by Judith Miller

Independent women and Greek sponge divers

Interesting story about sponge harvesting in the early 1900s. A diving crew and boats were brought over from Greece. Aman had invested in them and then died without mentioning it to his daughter - who had inherited the business but didn't want to be involved. She's a female doctor in the small town which is just off the gulf coast in Florida. Her friend is a female lawyer who happens to be Greek so she offers to handle it for her. But neither really knows what they're getting into. However the lives of 51 Greek men depend on this to be a success and diving is dangerous. I found this a little frustrating at first with all of the bantering back and forth between the characters, but quickly became enthralled with the story and found it hard to put down.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Description from the Publisher:
Much to the dismay of her Greek family, Zanna Krykos makes a living as a lawyer in Tarpon Springs, Florida. When her friend Lucy needs legal advice about the business she inherited upon her father's passing, she ends up asking Zanna to run the business instead so she can focus on her medical career.
Nico Kalos is a Greek diver who has worked on sponging boats in the Aegean Sea since the age of 14, giving him a vast knowledge of the trade. When he hears of an opportunity to lead a group of spongers to the United States, he seizes it. But his excitement is quickly quelled when he arrives only to discover that a young woman with no experience in the business will be in charge of the new crews.
But as Zanna and Nico face even more complications than they could have imagined, they must learn to work together or risk everything they've worked so hard for.

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River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart

Another fabulous novel so well written that you get close to the characters right away. A cholera outbreak severely affects a town and the residents in it. The story is written around a true story of what took place at the time. There are places in the story that you wish would last longer and places where you can't read fast enough. You don't want to miss a word, but you just have to know how it turns out. It does turn out in some ways unexpected, but refreshing, and with wonderful illustrations of God's work in our lives.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Author and Revell/Baker Publishing Group - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Description from the Publisher:
Orphaned in the cholera epidemic of 1833, Adria Starr was cared for by a slave named Louis, a man who stayed in Springfield, Kentucky, when anyone with means had fled. A man who passed up the opportunity to escape his bondage and instead tended to the sick and buried the dead. A man who, twelve years later, is being sold by his owners despite his heroic actions. Now nineteen, Adria has never forgotten what Louis did for her. She's determined to find a way to buy Louis's freedom. But in 1840s Kentucky, she'll face an uphill battle.
Based partly on a true story, Ann H. Gabhart's latest historical novel is a tour de force. The vividly rendered town of Springfield and its citizens immerse readers in a story of courage, betrayal, and honor that will stick with them long after they turn the last page.

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Caught by Surprise by Jen Turano

Chuckle, then roll on the floor and laugh. And then it's melt-your-heart tender - you really know where this character is coming from. You want to pray, give them a shoulder and cheer them on - both the girls and the guys. All are both strong and soft at the same time, on a faith filled journey. Hold your  breath from laughter and hold your breath from danger. Oh and throw in a lot of romance. Wow another hit from Jen Turano! A fabulous continuation of the series and return to people you love. Hold your sides and get some oxygen.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Description from the Publisher:
Miss Temperance Flowerdew is on her way to work when a stranger suddenly grabs her off the street and sends her on a Chicago-bound train before she can figure out what happened.
When Mr. Gilbert Cavendish is called upon to rescue a missing woman, he follows the trail to Chicago only to discover that the woman is his good friend Temperance. Before they can discover who was behind the abduction, they're seen alone together by a New York society matron, putting their reputations at risk.
Gilbert is willing to propose marriage--except Temperance will have none of it. She's finally stepped out of the shadow of her relations and won't give up her independence. But when it becomes clear the misunderstanding in Chicago has escalated into a threat on her life and followed her to New York, accepting Gilbert's help in solving the mystery may lead to more than she ever could have dreamed.

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A Most Noble Heir by Susan Anne Mason

Nolan goes from stable boy to aristocracy, and is determined to marry his sweetheart who is also a servant. This Christian Historical romance has twists and turns, frustration and danger. As you'd expect things are not at all smooth for them.  Very entertaining with bouts of tension, lessons in love and forgiveness. Love that cover!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Description from the Publisher:

When stable hand Nolan Price learns from his dying mother that he is actually the son of the Earl of Stainsby, his plans for a future with kitchen maid Hannah Burnham are shattered. Once he is officially acknowledged as the earl's heir, Nolan will be forbidden to marry beneath his station.
Unwilling to give up the girl he loves, he devises a plan to elope--believing that once their marriage is sanctioned by God, Lord Stainsby will be forced to accept their union. However, as Nolan struggles to learn the ways of the aristocracy, he finds himself caught between pleasing Hannah and living up to his father's demanding expectations.

At every turn, forces work to keep the couple apart, and a solution to remain together seems further and further away. With Nolan's new life pulling him irrevocably away from the woman he loves, it seems only a miracle will bring them back together.

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Beyond Soap by Sandy Skotnicki; Christopher Shulgan

The Real Truth About What You Are Doing to Your Skin and How to Fix It for a Beautiful, Healthy Glow

What you don’t know CAN hurt you. I have an autoimmune disease, and I am very sensitive to a lot of things. More and more of us are. Especially chemicals. I had not thought about how many chemicals are in our soap, lotions, shampoo, conditioners, deodorants and other products that we use daily. Something else to think about, those in gels, shampoos and conditioners flow over our entire body when we take a shower – and may irritate. They're finding that many bacteria are not only safe, but necessary, and we're killing them with these products.

Sandy is a practicing dermatologist and has run into many cases where chemicals have caused terrible problems for people. She has written a detailed explanation as to what products – including those listed as NATURAL – can be harmful, right down to what to watch out for. I learned a lot from this book and have been putting her advice into practice. I’ve purchased some of the products on her recommended list, and have seen great improvement. This book is an investment in your health and wellbeing! I highly recommend it.

#BeyondSoap #NetGalley
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Netgalley bloggers book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.

From the Publisher:

In this surprising and remarkably practical book, one of North America's leading dermatologists reveals the harmful effects of modern skincare habits and provides a step-by-step guide to preserve the microbiome, fight aging, and develop beautiful, problem-free skin.

Women and men are having more skin problems today than ever before. Sensitive skin prevalence is growing and the number of people reacting to cosmetics is climbing. Why? Dermatologist Sandy Skotnicki argues that the cause is a key element of our contemporary lifestyle: the grooming and beauty habits that the advertising and personal-care product industries have encouraged us to pursue. Those miraculous cleansers, creams and balms we're buying to protect our outer layer may actually end up harming the body's largest organ.
     In Beyond Soap, Dr. Skotnicki argues that the best state for normal skin is the natural state--the one that avoids disturbing the bacteria that accompanied the body throughout its evolution. A combination of diagnosis and prescription, Dr. Skotnicki explains the problem with society's current cleansing and beauty habits, then provides a practical guide on how to fix things with a 3-step product-elimination diet that will help you remove unnecessary and potentially harmful ingredients from your beauty and skincare regime, returning the skin to the condition nature intended. Beyond Soap also includes indispensable advice on how to wash and care for the skin, followed by a common-sense beauty regimen intended to stave off aging, reduce skin problems and return the face and body to its natural glow.

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