Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund

1865 Michigan
"Cast your cares on Him, honey."
The Civil War has ended but the suffering for everyone in America hasn't stopped. Shortages of food and medicine, men coming home wounded in mind and body. Also a time of healing in many ways. Caroline's father tended a lighthouse and their family lived there. Caroline did the work of taking care of the lighthouse when her father couldn't do it, but people wouldn't approve. After her father drowned she tried to continue but they wouldn't let her, sending Ryan to take over. But he's not in good enough shape to do it either. Excellent story as these people come together for healing and support. Second book in the series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and 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.”

Freedom's Light by Colleen Coble

Hannah thought she was safe moving to Massachusetts and marrying an older man. But when he dies, it's frowned upon for her, a woman, to be tending a lighthouse. Let alone two. Her own husband's family even disapproves of her. But she needs to support herself to keep her independence.

When Hannah's sister comes to help she thinks that her problems are solved, but more issues open up. When a handsome man washes to shore, she gets to know him but has suspicions about him.

Through the eyes and hearts of these characters you can see how people can sometimes do unthinkable things. It's a time of war, when our country was working for its freedom from England. But each person here was also looking for their own freedom. Well told story of a difficult time in our country's history.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and 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.”
#FreedomsLight #NetGalley #ColleenCoble #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
Goodreads
Powells
BookFun
Amazon
ChristianBook

A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden

It was nice to catch back up again with Nick Drake and his sister Lucy. They come from a (not always so nice) family who invents a valve used to pump water up multiple floors in buildings. (Something that we take so much for granted.) Nick is widowed with a little daughter. He is the main heir and has become a millionaire.

If you read the last book, you know that Nick is as nice as a guy can be, good as gold. He and Lucy are very caring and just want their invention to help the common man. Now Nick has become involved with city planning and a filtration plan for bringing in more potable water to meet demand, a project that was going to be second only to the Panama Canal in terms of size and scope.

Then we meet Rosalind, who was raised in Germany. She is a rare woman who has a doctorate in biochemistry and has been working with another doctor on chlorinating the water system to kill things like cholera. She and Nick are both motivated by their past. Not impressed with the available females in his circle, he is amazed that a woman can be interesting, let alone understand plumbing. But when Rosalind’s coworker makes a decision that goes against Nick’s belief and she’s drawn into it, it’s a shock to him and the community as well. A well woven story with dark secrets, mystery, danger, interesting historical facts, faith, trust and forgiveness. This is a series well worth having in your library.

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.”
#ADaringVenture #NetGalley #ElizabethCamden #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
Amazon
Bookfun
Goodreads
Powells
ChristianBooks

Legacy of Mercy by Lynn Austin

Takes place in 1897 Holland, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. Anna is from a wealthy family, her parents adopted her after he saved her from a shipwreck where she lost her real mother. As told in the previous book, she learns who her biological grandmother is when she stays at a resort in Holland. The previous is a very involved book, recommended but not necessary to read this one. Anna also meets Dirk, quite by accident, yet has also recently reconciled with her wealthy fiancé, believing she must marry for money to save her adopted family. In this book Anna is trying to live in wealthy society and cope with marrying a man who does not share her newfound faith, while dealing with a jealous society girl. She's searching for information on her real mother now that she knows who she is, and trying to learn who her real father is. This information opens up a whole new set of problems.

It's also about Anna's real Grandmother Geesje, a Dutch immigrant, not of society. A young girl and her grandfather come to stay with her and her neighbor after moving from the Netherlands - a whole new story there that unfolds. Not everyone's lives are perfect and following a set line. This is about people who become endeared to you, lives who are battered and shredded, then mended and put right in faith as God can best do. Each person learning and becoming stronger by living through it. A lesson taught in no other way. Such a beautiful cover, don't you think?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and 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.”
#LegacyOfMercy #NetGalley #LynnAustin #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
Amazon
BookFun
Goodreads
Powells
ChristianBook

The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo

As expected from the title this story is centered on the disastrous battle at the Alamo, although (thankfully for them) at a distance. It's more a story of people who lived in the surrounding areas. These people are the descendants of pirates, a continuation in a series that would benefit the reader to read first, but isn't necessary to enjoy this story. Clay goes to Texas undercover as a soldier to aide the Texians financially. Because of all the influx of factions for control, the area is filled with people hiding what side they are on. He is waylaid, shot, and ends up at Ellis' family farm. She is a healer, using local herbs and knowledge that has been handed down to her. Clay survives due to her healing and tenacity, traits they both share. He and Ellis' family join together to fight for what is right. An interesting tale of this area and people surrounding this embattled area, plus the people from without who nevertheless want a piece of the action - for various reasons. No such struggle for control operates in a vacuum. An excellent story to be entertained and learn from history.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and 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.”
#TheAlamoBride #KathleenYBarbo #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
Goodreads
Powells
BookFun
Amazon
ChristianBook

Daughters of Northern Shores by Joanne Bischof

". . . a washing that only grief could do. One that cleansed away a fragile sort of rest so that what remained was the courage to seek joy and peace in the arms of the Lord amid a storm."

1894-95 Virginia.  The second book of the series. You can enjoy this story without reading the first book, but you won't get the true depth of the feelings and really understand the why of it all. The men's heritage is Norway, and they're proud of Norse bloodlines. The girls come from different areas (Aven is from Ireland). Haakan, one of the brothers, has been away after the explosive exit he made in the previous book. He is tortured by what had happened, and looks for relief in different outlets. Addiction runs in some members of this family. He has been a sailor, sailing to many different countries, but loving the land of their heritage the most. He decides to go back home to Virginia and try to make things right with his family, only to learn that his brother Thor is seriously ill. The struggle to rid themselves of the feuding neighbors, fighting for their very lives, combined with the stress of the previous happenings is told with such a great depth. The author describes what it is like for a deaf person and addiction so thoroughly, in such detail, that it tears you apart. But lessons in faith and how God uses even the dark places in our lives for good weave throughout this book. I love this series. It will make a wonderful addition to any library!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and 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.”
#DaughtersofNorthernShores #JoanneBischof #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
Goodreads
Powells
BookFun
Amazon

A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz

Set in the 1700s, first in Scotland along the sea, then America. Lark is descended from a fierce warrior clan whose laird was killed and their castle destroyed. She and her Granny lived and worked at the castle nearby, in the stillroom. Which means they gathered plants and tended bees, for medicinal and other uses, preparing medicines for the Laird and his people. She grew up with Magnus, the current Laird, learned with him. He is a good and handsome man, but forced by his father married another woman - and it didn't go well.  Rich, deep Christian historical fiction. I want to spend more time with these people.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and 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.”

#ABoundHeart #LauraFrantz #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
ChristianBook
Goodreads
BookFun
Powells
Amazon