Heart to Heart Books

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Death by the Book by Julianna Deering

Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.

Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl's tearful confession point to the victim's double life, but what does the solicitor's murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem--except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.

Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn't at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?

As the second book in the Drew Farthering Mystery series, I was not sure what to expect from Death by the Book. The mystery in the first novel, Rules of Murder, had been great, but I had not been impressed by the character development and the rushed relationship between Drew and Madeline. However, I was slightly reassured by Death by the Book. The plot line and mystery were about as good as the first one, and the person behind the murders was quite shocking. The storyline also pointed out the importance of trusting one another and not allowing un-forgiveness to turn to bitterness by ignoring it. I enjoyed learning more about Drew and Madeline in this novel as their relationship deepened and as they discovered more about one another. Madeline's Aunt Ruth was a great addition to the story because she was different than from both main characters and acted both as comic relief and a supposed foil to their relationship. Overall, I found this novel to be an exciting and entertaining mystery that I enjoyed reading.

I received this novel for free from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell

                                                       A girl with the best of intentions.
                                                          A heart set on Hollywood.
                                                              An empty pocketbook.
That's all it takes for Ellis Eton to find herself working as a telephone operator for a look-alike friend. For Ellis, this job will provide not only acting practice but the funds to get her a start in the movies. She's tired of always being a disappointment to her traditional Boston family, and though she can't deny the way he makes her head spin, she knows she's not good enough for Griffin Phillips, either. It's simple: avoid Griff's attentions, work, and get paid. But in typical Ellis fashion, her simple plan spirals out of control when she overhears a menacing phone call...with her very own Griff as the target.

Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell is a sweet and charming novel that follows the impetuous and well-intentioned Ellis Eton as she tries to understand what God's plan for her life is. The plot line is fantastic; I loved the storyline and its winding set-up that mirrors the haberdashery way in which Ellis both thinks and acts. The novel is filled with humor, romance, mystery, and problems that Ellis causes for herself when she forgets to think or to follow through. Ellis has trouble understanding the implications of her actions (or lack thereof) for others, but as the story unfolds, she begins to realize where her true heart lies and that life is not all fun and games. Set in the middle of the Prohibition, Ellis sees that foolhardy and carefree attitudes especially concerning alcohol can lead to trials and even death. However, despite the tragedy she sees, Ellis is able to help redeem the choices of one of the people she meets while trying to save Griffin from the plot she has uncovered. Griffin, though, or at least his crazy relationship with Ellis, is probably my favorite part of the novel. He spends all summer trying to tell Ellis something, and she keeps running from him because she does not want to be tied to Boston. However, despite her best intentions, their attraction to each other may run deeper than she thinks. I loved all of Griffin and Ellis's interactions with one another, especially when he has no idea what Ellis is doing and when Ellis and he begin to reveal their feelings for one another.

Overall, I highly enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to reading more of the Siri Mitchell's works, especially in the Against All Expectations series. I received this novel for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Match Made in Texas

There's a secret matchmaker at work in frontier Texas!
In the small town of Dry Gulch, Texas, a good-hearted busybody just can't keep herself from surreptitiously trying to match up women in dire straits with men of good character she hopes can help them. How is she to know she's also giving each couple a little nudge toward love?
A Cowboy Unmatched by Karen Witemeyer
Neill isn't sure who hired him to repair Clara's roof--he only knows Clara desperately needs his help. Can he convince this stubborn widow to let down her guard and take another chance on love? This was one of my favorites of the four novellas as it continues and ends the story of the Archer brothers that Karen Witemeyer's novels have followed. Neill is the youngest Archer, and he is trying to prove his worth to himself and his brothers. He ends up helping Clara fix her home, but he finds that he has more to care for than just a job. I enjoyed their relationship and how sweet Neill is to Clara despite her heritage.

An Unforeseen Match by Regina Jennings
Hoping to earn an honest wage on his way to the land rush, Clayton ends up on Grace's doorstep, lured by a classified ad. He may have signed on for more than he expected though--and he may have found the one woman who can keep him from moving on. This was probably my favorite of the novellas. Grace had a physical condition that made her blind, and Clayton had both a physical and emotional injury that made him wish to be unseen by women. Together, they learn from each others' weaknesses and how to move past old mistakes/disabilities and to start new lives.

No Match for Love by Carol Cox
Andrew can't fathom how refined Lucy ended up as the caretaker to his dotty aunt, and somehow her arrival has prompted even more bizarre occurrences around the ranch. When they join forces to unearth the truth, will the attraction between Andrew and Lucy develop into more? I thought that this novella was too rushed, even for a novella, and that the romance was too forced. The crazy actions around the farm were funny, and I really liked the aunt, but I did not like the romance between Andrew and Lucy as it evolved.

Meeting Her Match by Mary Connealy
When the tables are turned and a tenderhearted meddler becomes the beneficiary of a matchmaking scheme, her world is turned upside down. As her entire life changes, will she finally be able to tell the banker's son how much she cares for him? This novella was a great ending to the book. Not only did the other novellas tie into this one, but this novella was both sad as well as humorous. I loved Marcus because he was so clueless on how to interact with the woman he loved. I did not like the woman's father, and I thought that he detracted from the story because his character seemed very odd at times.

Overall, I really enjoyed this set of novellas. I thought they connected together well, and they were very enjoyable, quick reads. I received this eBook from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman

After her father’s death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father’s farm, the only home she’s ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father’s rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Frederick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.

With the ranch now under Slade’s careful eye, he unearths more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal, and murder threatens the well-being of the ranch, endangering those who hold it dear. As the days dwindle until the rest of the Donovan clan arrives at the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed changes their futures forever.

Claiming Mariah was an interesting Western novel that was brimming with suspense and romance. The plot line was well developed and contained unexpected twists, moments of danger, romance, and tragedy. In addition, the themes of this movie were well written and included topics such as the importance of forgiveness, leaving revenge for God, trusting God and others, and being honest. There were moments where I was surprised by what happened in the story, but at other points I highly enjoyed what unfolded, such as the blossoming relationship between Slade and Mariah. I like that the relationship began slowly and did not appear to be forced into the storyline. Slade and Mariah were both interesting and realistic characters who each had their own distinct flaws and strengths that I could identify with. At the same time, learned more about themselves, each other, and about God as they learned from their mistakes and learned to trust both God and one another. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to reading more of Pam Hillman's works.

I received this novel for free from Tyndale House Press in exchange for an honest review.

A Table by The Window by Hillary Manton Lodge

Read excerpt here

Inspired by her grandmother’s evolving story, Juliette resolves to explore the world of online dating. To her surprise, she finds a kindred spirit in Neil McLaren, a handsome immunologist based in Memphis, Tennessee. With a long-distance relationship simmering, Juliette faces life-shifting decisions. How can she possibly choose between a promising culinary life and Neil, a man a world away in more ways than one? And is it possible her Grandmother’s story can help show the way?

A Table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge was a sweet and enjoyable novel that left me hungering for more. Literally. Scattered throughout the novel were classic Italian and French recipes that left my stomach growling in anticipation. The plot line was well written and includes topics like family secrets and love, mystery, and romance. The foods being made and the settings in the novel were well described and allowed me to envision what was going on. The themes of the novel were interesting, convicting, and included topics like forgiveness, importance of family, and moving past mistakes instead of allowing them to hold you back. The narration of the novel was third person but was still told from Juliette's perspectives, which allowed the reader to understand what was going on in her life and in her family circle.

The characters in this novel were probably my favorite aspect of this novel. I liked how realistic Juliette and her friends and family were and how open and nosy Juliette's family was. Everyone meddled in each others' business, but when there was a tragedy, they all banded together despite their differences. I enjoyed how different Juliette's brothers were and how they played off one another, but I also really liked how Neil did not fit in at all. However, despite that, he had an excellent personality and character that fit Juliette's strengths and weaknesses. I enjoyed watching Juliette and Neil grow as characters as they interacted and learned to trust God more, and I also was glad that Nico finally "grew up" and took responsibility for past mistakes and attitudes. I also really liked (and hated at the same time) how the novel ended on a cliffhanger about what was going to happen to Juliette as well as the mysterious man in the photo. It left me eager to read the next novel in this series.

Overall, I highly enjoyed this novel, and I would definitely recommend it to any reader looking for a novel that can make you smile one minute, cry another, and laugh a chapter later, as well as entertain you with delicious recipes.
I received this novel for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Press in exchange for an honest review.

Heirloom recipes, family secrets…and a chance for love

The youngest heir to a French-Italian restaurant dynasty, food writer Juliette D’Alisa has spent her life negotiating her skill with words and her restaurant aspirations. When her brother Nico offers her a chance to open a restaurant together, she feels torn—does she really have what it takes? Should she risk leaving her journalism career?

After the death of her grandmother, Juliette discovers an antique photograph of a man who looks strikingly like her brother. As the truth behind the picture reveals romance and dark secrets, Juliette struggles to keep the mystery away from her nosy family until she can uncover the whole story.

Inspired by her grandmother’s evolving story, Juliette resolves to explore the world of online dating. To her surprise, she finds a kindred spirit in Neil McLaren, a handsome immunologist based in Memphis, Tennessee. With a long-distance relationship simmering, Juliette faces life-shifting decisions. How can she possibly choose between a promising culinary life and Neil, a man a world away in more ways than one? And is it possible her Grandmother’s story can help show the way? - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=223982#sthash.OdJBd97B.dpuf

The Future Door by Jason Lethcoe

When Sherlock Holmes moves out of Baker Street, a new tenant moves in—a mysterious woman named Elizabeth who has long been a fan of Holmes. When she discovers that Griffin and his uncle are also detectives, she becomes very friendly. So when Elizabeth goes missing along with a special invention, Griffin sets out to rescue her. But finding Elizabeth will take them on a race against the clock that bends time itself!

I really like this book, but I am not really into books. I think this book is the best all around book. I encourage you to read this book. The reason I think this book is so good because it is an mystery book that is very exciting book. This book is about a boy who is about 12 years old, and he is going to see his uncle who is on a ship. The captain of the ship lost a special object, and Griffin Sharp has to find the object, which he does. The rest of the book is about him and his uncle trying to be the best detectives in the world, even trying to outdo Sherlock Holmes. They end up doing it by using Griffin's amazing sight and his uncle's great inventions. This is a great book, an easy and fast read, and it only has 194 pages.

Hello, my name is Travis, and I am a guest blogger for Renn's blog today.

Distortion by Terri Blackstock

Juliet Cole’s life has been dismantled by the murder of her husband. She doesn’t know who—or what—to trust when everything she has believed to be true about her marriage has been a lie. When Juliet Cole’s husband of fifteen years is gunned down in a dark parking lot before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning. When she’s finally allowed to return home to break the news to her boys, she hears a voicemail that takes the situation from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack. "Mrs. Cole, we know you have access to the supply and the money. If you don't turn fifty million over to us and give us the codes, then you'll be burying more family members."
Suddenly, Juliet realizes that she and her children could be in danger. She teams up with her sisters and PI Michael Hogan to dig into the sham Bob has been living for years. The more she learns, the worse the betrayal. A drug trafficking history, a fortune in cash, and a secret family all emerge to turn Juliet’s belief system on its head, and threaten the things she loves. Are she and her sisters skilled enough as sleuths to get to the truth?

Distortion was an interesting novel, but as the second novel in the Moonlighter series, it is hard to read as a stand-alone novel. I did not read the first novel, so I felt disconnected from the characters as much of their characteristics and the events that had defined their lives had been developed or had happened in the first novel. As a result, even though the mystery in this novel was suspenseful and well-written, I had trouble connecting to the storyline and the characters. I would definitely recommend reading the first novel, Truth Stained Lies, first.

However, despite the disconnect I felt, I thought the plot was well developed and contained plenty of unexpected twists and revelations. The themes of the novel were also well written and heartfelt and included topics such as the importance of forgiveness, trusting in the Lord, and being honest to others and to yourself. While I did have troubled connecting with the characters in this novel, I did find Juliet to be an honest and realistic character that I sympathized with as she discovered the truth about her husband. Despite his problems, she still remained faithful to God and made honorable choices that were glorifying to Him. Overall, I think that Distortion was an enjoyable novel, and I look forward to reading Truth Stained Lies so that I have a better idea of what was going on in Distortion and can connect more easily with the characters.

I received this novel for free from BookLook Bloggers and Zondervan Press in exchange for an honest review.