Deception on Sable Hill
by Shelley Gray -- this is a follow-up book from the book I read last
month; It takes place during the Chicago World's Fair, and features
Eloisa Carstairs and her friendship with the Irish police officer Sean
Ryan, as Detective Ryan seeks to find out who has been preying upon
high-society women.
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
by J.D. Vance -- I saw this book listed online and put it on hold with
my library. After several weeks - months even - it was my turn to read
it. And it was an interesting read about Appalachia. I could relate to
some of it regarding people I know. It made me sad in many ways, but
grateful, too, that people like J.D. were offered hope through positive
role models. It challenged me to be a good role model for others
because that's more important than I might have thought.
The Promise of Palm Grove
by Shelley Shepard Gray -- I read this book one in the Amish Brides of
Pinecraft series, and hoped it would get better, but it never really
did. Just a very predictable, rather silly and boring account of Leona
and her friends traveling from cold, snowy Ohio to a warm winter
destination. Leona leaves behind a fiancé who doesn't take her thoughts
into account, and she meets caring, thoughtful Zack. End of story.
Bringing Jesus To The Desert
by Bradley Nassif -- another colorful, informative book in this series;
This one focused on Middle Eastern saints like Anthony of Egypt, Moses
the Ethiopian, Makarios of Egypt, Pachomius, Melania, John the Little,
and Simeon the Stylite. The author is from a Lebanese family (though he
grew up in Wichita, Kansas), and he gives examples from his own family.
I'm also glad he included a few family pictures in this small book.
A Texan's Promise
by Shelley Gray -- Book 1 of The Heart of a Hero Series; eh, it was
better than the last book I read of hers, but nothing special. Since I
had it here, I went ahead and read it before returning it to the
library.
The Secret of Pembrooke Park by
Julie Klassen -- another delightful book, and this one was a bit of a
mystery. Abigail moves to the Pembrooke manor after a solicitor
contacts her nearly bankrupt father about a distant relative wanting his
family to move there. I enjoyed reading much of this while enjoying a
lovely day or two outside.
Among the Fair Magnolias
-- four short (~80 pages) stories from Tamera Alexander (the best of
these four), Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love, and Elizabeth Musser -- not my
favorite stories by far
Bryson City Seasons: More Tales of a Doctor's Practice in the Smoky Mountains
by Walt Larimore, M.D. -- My mom read this book years ago. I remember
her telling me about these doctor stories from WNC, and I found this
book the other day while browsing. I enjoyed this because Bryson City
is a charming place and it was so interesting reading about it back in
the 1980s. Also, doctor tales are interesting to me.
The Road to Somewhere: Travels with a Young Boy Through the Old World
by James Dodson -- apparently this guy is famous in the golf-writing
world, and he does look a bit familiar, but I got this book at a book
exchange (I think), and finally got around to reading about the summer
he and his 10 year old son, Jack traveled to various European
destinations. I enjoyed the account especially to places I've been
(Ghent, Paris) and places I'd love to go (all the rest of them!) At the
time of this writing James lives in Maine, but I looked him up now and
see that he and his wife live in North Carolina presently. I wonder
what happened to Jack (who'd be about 27 now..wow.).
Softly & Tenderly by
Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck -- This is book two in a series that I
never started so some of Jade's story was reviewed in its pages. It was
fair, and a quick read.
In the Shadow of Denali
by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse -- first in the Heart of
Alaska series; Allan Brennan travels to Curry, Alaska, to get
information on why his father died six years ago on a mountain-climbing
trip. He meets the guide who took his father up Denali.
Courting Cate
by Leslie Gould -- first in the Courtships of Lancaster County series; a
very cute book about Cate and her sister Betsey, and the stranger in
town who is suddenly interested in Cate (whom no one else wants to
court). Is Pete being bribed to court her?
The Tutor's Daughter
by Julie Klassen -- Emma travels with her father to the estate of two
former students so her father - a tutor - can privately teach the
troublesome twins. Another good book with some mystery to it.
The Secrets of Wishtide
by Kate Saunders -- This is a Laetitia Rodd Mystery which my mom passed
along to me after she finished reading this library book. The lady
reminded me of the Murder She Wrote lady - or I kept picturing her
anyway - during this story. A pretty good story.
Courting Trouble
by Deeanne Gist - this is actually a book that comes before the other
book I read about Texas spinster Essie Spreckelmeyer. Now I know the
story of how book two came to be. She's a pretty funny, likeable
character!
A Study in Scarlet Women by
Sherry Thomas -- I saw this book on my library's website and put it on
hold. It's a new book in a new Lady of Sherlock series. Charlotte
Holmes' deliberate fall from grace means she has to support herself.
She becomes the female Sherlock, and solves mysteries. Pretty
interesting book!
Bride in the Bargain by
Deeanne Gist -- sometime after the American Civil War, women were
brought to the PNW as brides for men. However, some of those "brides"
didn't know they were going over to marry. They had contracts to be
domestic helpers, nannies and so forth. This book explores one such
situation in a rather humorous way. Anna believes she is going to be a
cook for a lumberjack, Joe, and his crew. But Joe needs a wife in order
to keep the 640 acres of land he's been working the last decade.
Lydia's Charm
by Wanda E. Brunstetter -- an Amish book about a young widow and her
son, Josh, who move to Charm, Ohio, to live with Lydia's mom and ailing
grandfather
A Haven on Orchard Lane by
Lawana Blackwell -- When an aging London actress tries to come back to
the stage, she falls apart and her estranged daughter checks her out of
the hospital where she's recovering, and they live for a time in a small
English village. Thus is the setting for Charlotte and Rosalind's tale
in this book. I rather liked it!
The Amish Midwife
by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould -- Part of The Women of
Lancaster County series; this book is about Lexie, a nurse-midwife, who
travels from her home in Oregon to Pennsylvania to get answers about her
adoption. She works with a Mennonite midwife who delivers babies for
Amish women, among others.
The Dancing Master
by Julie Klassen -- Unlike most of her books, this one seemed to
equally focus on a male character, dancing and fencing master Alec
Valcourt, recently of London, but now in a small village after something
scandalous happens in his family. In this village, he meets Julia
Midwinter who seeks to leave this boring, small place where her mother
keeps a way-too-watchful eye.
Hidden Affections by
Delia Parr -- Harrison and Annabelle were forced to marry after their
stage coach was robbed and they were handcuffed together. Yeah, a likely
scenario, but whatever. As Harrison seeks an annulment, they have to
put on appearances of being a young couple in love.
How Sweet It Is
by Alice J. Wisler -- After recovering from a bad accident, Deena moves
from Atlanta to Bryson City, North Carolina, where her grandpa left her
his cabin - if she promises to teach a cooking class to children in a
community center for six months.
The Trouble With Tulip
by Mindy Starns Clark -- Jo Tulip writes a newspaper column offering
household tips. In this book, she and her best friend Danny are caught
up in solving a mystery about their elderly neighbor's sudden death. Was
it just an accident or was Edna Pratt murdered?
The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth -- Three generations of midwives, Floss, Grace, and Neva tell parts of their stories and reveal secrets.
All the News Unfit to Print
by Eric Burns -- I found this at a book exchange or perhaps I bought it
at the 25 cent sale, but I've had it way longer than Donald Trump has
been President. Yet, I felt it was something he would like to read
because it talks about journalists and stories that have been made up or
omitted or sensationalized or changed from centuries ago to not so long
ago (copyright is 2009). Some rather interesting stories. It had me
googling certain people since I often like putting names and faces
together.
Fatal Judgment by Irene Hannon
-- book 1 in the Guardians of Justice series; U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor
is assigned to protect a federal judge, Liz Michaels.
Blind Dates Can Be Murder by
Mindy Starns Clark -- book two in the series about Jo Tulip; another
mysterious death leads Jo and Danny on another adventure: this one
involving some tough mafia-type guys and missing, stained money.
