The Regency Brides Collection by Michelle Griep, Nancy Moser, Erica Vetsch, MaryLu Tyndall, Amanda Barrett, Angela Bell, Susanne Dietze

The Regency Bride collection was sweet and enjoyable, and a great read curled up on the couch. I enjoyed all of the different novellas, and I devoured them in less than a day. The plot lines were well written and allowed me to fully appreciate the main characters and their individual dilemmas even with the shorter length of a novella. I enjoyed the variety of settings (even within the same areas of England) and story lines, but I thought the novellas still complemented one another as a collection. The authors also did a great job incorporating meaningful themes and topics that I could relate to and learn from. Overall, I would highly recommend this novella collection to anyone looking for a charming, yet inspiring read.

I received this novel from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. 

Threads of Suspicion by Dee Henderson

Threads of Suspicion by Dee Henderson is the second novel in her Evie Blackwell Cold Case series, but it can be read as a standalone novel, as far as plot line goes. However, to fully appreciate Evie as a character and to have a better understanding of her development, I would recommend reading Traces of Guilt first. Threads of Suspicion is a well crafted novel that dives into two separate cold cases related to mysterious disappearances...that might not be as separate as they first thought. I enjoyed seeing how Evie and David collaborated with one another, other members of their team, and other agencies to rebuild these cold cases and to begin to track down missing clues. I thought that the storyline flowed well, though there were times when the story dragged some, even if it did match how the characters were feeling about their cold cases. I also appreciated the character development into Evie and David as they learned more about one another and themselves as they were placed under increasing tension and stress related to both their jobs and their personal lives. Overall, I enjoyed the plot and characters of this novel, and I would highly recommend this book (and Dee Henderson's novels in general) to anyone who loves a good suspense/mystery novel that also does not shy away from full character and story development. 


I received this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Journey Toward Home (plus sequel novella) by Carol Cox

Journey Towards Home was an enjoyable novel that was both entertaining and sweet. I thought the plot moved at a good pace, and it included moments of humor, romance, and suspense. I also liked the main characters, and how they had to work together to move past their initial perceptions of one another. The follow up novel, Measure of a Man, concerning Lizzie was also enjoyable, and I liked seeing how the characters I had already become attached to had matured and changed over the years. Overall, a great summer read!

I received this novel from Netgalley in exchange for a review. 

Vibrant India by Chitra Agrawal

Lifelong vegetarian and chef Chitra Agrawal takes you on an epicurean journey to her mother’s hometown of Bangalore and back to Brooklyn, where she adapts her family’s South Indian recipes for home cooks. This particular style of Indian home cooking, often called the “yoga diet,” is light and fresh, yet satisfying and rich in bold and complex flavors. Grains, legumes, fresh produce, coconut, and yogurt—along with herbs, citrus, chiles, and spices—form the cornerstone of this delectable cuisine, rooted in vegetarian customs and honed over centuries for optimum taste and nutrition.  
 
From the classic savory crepe dosa, filled with lemony turmeric potatoes and cilantro coconut chutney, to new creations like coconut polenta topped with spring vegetables 'upma" and homemade yogurt, the recipes in Vibrant India are simple to prepare and a true celebration of color and flavor on a plate. Chitra weaves together the historical context behind the region’s cuisine and how she brought some of these age-old traditions to life thousands of miles away in Brooklyn during the city’s exciting food renaissance. 

Relying on her experience as a culinary instructor, Chitra introduces the essential Indian cooking techniques, tips, and ingredients you’ll need to prepare a full range of recipes from quick vegetable stir frys (corn, basil, and leeks flavored with butter, cumin, and black pepper), salads (citrus red cabbage and fennel slaw with black mustard seeds, curry leaves, and chile), yogurt raitas (shredded beets and coconut in yogurt), and chutneys and pickles (preserved Meyer lemon in chile brine) to hearty stews (aromatic black eyed peas, lentils, and greens), coconut curries (summer squash in an herby coconut yogurt sauce), and fragrant rice dishes (lime dill rice with pistachios). Rounding out the book is an array of addictive snacks (popcorn topped with curry leaf butter), creative desserts (banana, coconut, and cardamom ice cream), and refreshing drinks (chile watermelon juice with mint). Chitra provides numerous substitutions to accommodate produce seasonality, ingredient availability, and personal tastes. The majority of recipes are gluten-free and vegan or can be easily modified to adhere to those dietary restrictions. 

Vibrant India is a fascinating cookbook, filled with gorgeous photos and awesome recipes. My mother has always loved to cook Indian foods, particularly vegetarian Indian dishes, so many of these recipes were not only familiar but also brought back great memories. There were also many intriguing recipes that I had not tried before, and I enjoyed looking through and choosing new recipes to make. The book is separated into sections: Soups, Snacks, Sweets/Drinks, Chutneys, and From Scratch (making different powders as well as Ghee). There are also sample menus and advice on how to plan meals, where to buy ingredients, and sample grocery lists. I found this cookbook to be easy to follow and even fun to read. I enjoyed Chitra's take on different recipes, and I look forward to trying more of them in the future!

I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.  

Keturah by Lisa T Bergren

In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father's estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.

Although it flies against all conventions, they're determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, conventions are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined-and that's just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this harsh and unfamiliar world.

Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives.

To keep her family together and save the plantation that is her last chance at providing for them, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

Keturah is the first novel in Lisa T. Bergren's new series, the Sugar Baron's Daughters. This series follows the lives of these sisters as they inherit property in the West Indies and move there to take over the management of their inheritance. This first novel is about Keturah Tomlinson, and it is filled with romance, suspense, and intrigue. The plot line is well written and easy to follow, and it pulls the reader in with descriptions of the settings and characters. I found the storyline to be enjoyable and reminded me why I love reading Lisa T. Bergren's historical novels. The characters in this novel were fairly well developed, and I look forward to getting a deeper glimpse into the sisters' personalities as the series continues to unfold. I thought Keturah had a good mix of strengths and weaknesses, and it was interesting to watch her make decisions and to figure out what was best for her life. 

Overall, I enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to the next addition to the series. I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review. 

http://litfusegroup.com/author/LBergren

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the Author:

Lisa T. Bergren has published more than 40 books with more than 3 million books sold combined. She's the author of the Christy Award-winning "Waterfall," RITA®-finalist "Firestorm," bestselling "God Gave Us You," and popular historical series like Homeward, Grand Tour, and more. She's also a recipient of the RT Lifetime Achievement Award. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and three teen-and-older children.

Find out more about Lisa at http://lisatawnbergren.com.

The Melody of the Soul by Liz Tolsma

Anna has one chance for survival-and it lies in the hands of her mortal enemy.

It's 1943 and Anna Zadok, a Jewish Christian living in Prague, has lost nearly everything. Most of her family has been deported, and the Nazi occupation ended her career as a concert violinist. Now Anna is left to care for her grandmother, and she'll do anything to keep her safe-a job that gets much harder when Nazi officer Horst Engel is quartered in the flat below them.

Though musical instruments have been declared illegal, Anna defiantly continues to play the violin. But Horst, dissatisfied with German ideology, enjoys her soothing music. When Anna and her grandmother face deportation, Horst risks everything to protect them.

Anna finds herself falling in love with the handsome officer and his brave heart. But what he reveals might stop the music forever.

The Melody of the Soul by Liz Tolsma was a wonderful read that delved into the heart of WWII Prague and the individual decisions people had to make in a terrible time. I thought the plot was well written and developed at an appropriate pace. I was drawn into the time period and the city of Prague, and I could imagine the situations beautifully from the descriptions. There was a good mix of romance, suspense, danger, and betrayal, and I enjoyed seeing the story from Anna, Patricia, David, and Horst's perspectives as the story progressed. I thought the main characters were well developed, and I appreciated the conflict that both Patricia and Horst faced as they struggled to determine what was the right thing to do and then to have the courage to follow through with it. Anna and Horst were an unusual pair, and it was both convicting and interesting to watch them work through their individual and united struggles. Overall, I highly enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to reading the second book in this new series. I received this book from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review. 

Learn more and purchase a copy.

See more reviews at http://litfusegroup.com/author/LTolsma

About the Author:

Best-selling novelist Liz Tolsma is the author of several World War II novels and prairie romance novellas. She also works as a freelance editor. She lives in a semirural area of Wisconsin with her husband and two daughters. Her son serves with the US Marines. All of their chidlren came to them through international adoption. Her other passions include walking, gardening, camping, and reading.

Find out more about Liz at http://www.liztolsma.com.

Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan

In the biggest case of her career, attorney Kate Sullivan is tapped as lead counsel to take on Mason Pharmaceutical because of a corporate cover-up related to its newest drug. After a whistleblower dies, Kate knows the stakes are much higher than her other lawsuits.

Former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James is still haunted by mistakes made while serving overseas. Trying to forget the past, he is hired by Kate to look into the whistleblower's allegation and soon suspects that the company may be engaging in a dangerous game for profit. He also soon finds himself falling for this passionate and earnest young lawyer.

Determined not to make the same mistakes, he's intent on keeping Kate safe, but as the case deepens, it appears someone is willing to risk everything-even murder-to keep the case from going to trial.

Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan is a legal thriller and is the first novel in her new Atlanta Justice series. The storyline is fairly fast-paced and interesting, but somewhat predictable at times. The plot includes instances of mystery, suspense, legal drama, and some romance. The characters are somewhat cliche and lack development at times, but as a whole work well together. I had trouble getting engaged in this novel, but I liked the overall plot and idea of the story, it just lacked depth and good character development. The thoughts and feelings of the characters were too obvious at times and did not allow the reader to figure things out on their own. For those who like legal thrillers, however, it would be an interesting read.  It was just not my favorite one that I have read recently.

I received this novel from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review. 

Read more reviews at: http://litfusegroup.com/author/RDylan 

About the author:

Rachel Dylan writes Christian fiction including legal romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for over a decade and enjoys weaving together legal and suspenseful stories. In addition, Rachel writes the Danger in the Deep South including "Lethal Action" and "Devoted Defender," which appeals to fans of edge of your seat romantic suspense. Rachel also writes the Windy Ridge series including "Trial & Tribulations" and "Fatal Accusation." These legal thrillers with elements of spiritual warfare are great for fans who enjoy books by Peretti or Dekker. "Trial & Tribulations" was a Selah finalist in 2016. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and five furkids-two dogs and three cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers.

Find out more about Rachel at http://www.racheldylan.com.