“The Bishop’s Daughter” by Patricia Johns
I was intrigued by the characters and story line and I read this story in one day because I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen. The plot could have gone in so many directions and I was relieved (and happy) how it ended. I enjoyed the main characters Sadie, her son, and Elijah her brothers friend.

I was reminded how complicated Amish culture and relationships are while reading this book and I liked how the author showed them using scripture and prayer to figure out their future, and not just follow what had always been done. I would love to read more books with these characters and town in them. I really enjoyed reading it!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
As a bishop’s daughter and good Amish mother, widowed Sadie Hochstetler teaches her young son that God blesses those who try their best to please Him. But her brief marriage taught her that life is infinitely more complicated than that. Older, and serious, her late husband seemed a sensible choice—especially compared to Elijah Fisher, the spirited boy with whom she butted heads and hearts. Then Elijah abruptly left for the Englisher world, taking Sadie’s beloved brother along with him—a double betrayal she still strives to forgive. Especially now that Elijah has returned . . .

Elijah plans to stay in the Amish community only as long as he’s needed, helping his family and working for Sadie’s ailing father. The outside world has changed him, leading him to question rules and restrictions that others take on faith. Once, he’d been head over heels in love with the bishop’s daughter—a girl he was judged unworthy of courting. Nine years have changed so much between them. Yet something remains—a spark that, for all their differences, might light the way home again . . .

Purchase your copy here:

About the Author
Patricia Johns is the author of fifteen books published by multiple Harlequin series lines. You can learn more about her at patriciajohnsromance.com.

MY REVIEW:
This story captured my attention from the very beginning. The chapters alternate between present time with Beck, her dog and Bruno; and the past with Miss Everleigh, Rhett and Don.

Beck inherits “The Memory House” on Memory Lane when Miss Everleigh passes away. Beck doesn’t remember much of her childhood after her father is killed as a police office in NY on 9/11. She goes to stay at the house to try to heal and find answers about the past.

I loved this story about faith, healing, hope and love. I loved how the story intertwined with the characters from the past and present. Great characters, easy to read, very enjoyable!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book

Book: The Memory House

Author: Rachel Hauck

Genre: Christian Romance

Release Date: April 2, 2019

Embracing the future means remembering the past . . . When Beck Holiday lost her father in the North Tower on 9/11, she also lost her memories of him. Eighteen years later, she’s a tough New York City cop burdened with a damaging secret, suspended for misconduct, and struggling to get her life in order. Meanwhile a mysterious letter arrives informing her she’s inherited a house along Florida’s northern coast, and what she discovers there will change her life forever. Matters of the heart only become more complicated when she runs into handsome Bruno Endicott, a driven sports agent who fondly recalls the connection they shared as teenagers. But Beck doesn’t remember that, either. Decades earlier, widow Everleigh Applegate lives a steady, uneventful life with her widowed mother after a tornado ripped through Waco, Texas, and destroyed her new, young married life. When she runs into old high school friend Don Callahan, she begins to yearn for change. Yet no matter how much she longs to love again, she is hindered by a secret she can never share. Fifty years separate the women but through the power of love and miracle of faith, they each find healing in a beautiful Victorian known affectionately as The Memory House.

Click here to purchase your copy from Amazon!

About the Author

Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at RachelHauck.com; Facebook: RachelHauck; Twitter: @RachelHauck; Instagram: @rachelhauc

Excerpt from The Memory House

When Mama Applegate spoke as if Everleigh were a guest rather than a family member, she embraced it with grace. Because at the end of the day, she was Rhett’s wife. She alone shared his dreams, his heart, his life.

And at night, when she couldn’t sleep, his soft breathing was her lullaby.

“Listen, mister, I have to get back to work or I won’t make it home in time for our dinner.” She tugged at his shirt collar. “So are you going to tell me why you’re here?”

“I was going to wait until tonight, but I got so excited . . .” Rhett stepped over to the desk in front of Everleigh’s and retrieved a long white canister. “Here. Open it. I feel like a kid at Christmas.”

“Rhett, what have you done?” She pried away the cap and slipped out a set of drawings.

“Here, let me.” Rhett unrolled a rendering of a cozy house with a wraparound porch nestled between two cottonwoods. “Our house, Ev. I took those sketches you made after we were married and gave

them to the architect. What do you think?”

“Th-this is our house?” She wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning against his thick arm as she studied the drawing.

“It’s our house, darling.”

Everleigh studied the drawing. It was just like she imagined. “Are you sure?” She gazed up at her husband. “I didn’t think we’d saved enough money.”

“We’ve saved every penny of your salary, and I finally sold the stud bull to Jacob Marshall. He’s been after me for a year . . .” Rhett held her with one hand while flipping through the drawing with the other. “I bought the ten acres by the stream. You know, the one with the trees we loved. Dad wanted to give it to us, but I said no strings.

I wanted to buy it so he can’t hold it over me. Not that he would, but family business can get tricky.” Everleigh leaned to see the name of the road. Memory Lane.

“Darling, the section right off Memory Lane? The spot I wanted?”

Rhett’s grandmother had named the dirt road years ago, when she imagined a large family with lots of grandkids running around.

She envisioned an Applegate community.

But her sons, Melvin and Earl, went to war. Only Earl—nicknamed Spike—returned home the fall of 1918. He inherited the ranch, married Mama Applegate, and fathered Rhett, an only child. Grandma’s two daughters married and moved away.

“Your granny would be proud, darling,” Everleigh said. “We’re beginning her dream.”

“Sh-she would.” Rhett cleared his throat, pressing his fist over his cough. “So, w-what do you think?”

…

Tell him! The timing could not have been more perfect.

“Rhett, sweetheart—”

He jerked his wrist up, checking his watch. “Oh, Ev, sorry, darling, but I promised Dad I’d pick him up from the hardware store thirty minutes ago.” He gave her a quick, passing kiss. “I’d planned to show you these tonight, but I just couldn’t wait.” He rolled up the drawings and tucked them into the canister. “What is it you wanted to say?” On reflex, he checked his watch again.

“Nothing,” she said, smiling. “I’ll see you later. We can talk then. I have work to do anyway.”

“You sure?”

Everleigh fell into him and pressed her cheek against his chest.

“You make my dreams come true, Rhett Applegate.”

He kissed her one more time, then held her at arm’s length.

“Distraction, girl, you are one beautiful distraction.”

Blog Stops

Back Porch Reads , April 22

The Avid Reader, April 22

Wishful Endings, April 22

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 23

The Power of Words, April 23

Andrea Christenson, April 23

Worthy2Read, April 23

Carla Loves to Read, April 24

Blogging With Carol, April 24

Spoken from the Heart, April 24

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, April 24

C Jane Read, April 25

Reader’s Cozy Corner, April 25

Lis Loves Reading, April 25

For Him and My Family, April 25

CAFFEINATED CHRISTIAN RAVES-N-REVIEWS, April 26

Literary Reflections Book Blog, April 26

Jeanette’s thoughts, April 26

Carpe Diem, April 26

Mary Hake, April 27

EmpowerMoms, April 27

My Devotional Thoughts, April 27

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, April 27

Bigreadersite, April 28

Inklings and notions, April 28

Pause for Tales, April 28

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, April 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 29

Rachel’s Back Talk, April 29

For The Love of Books, April 29

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, April 30

Quiet Quilter, April 30

Just the Write Escape, April 30

Reflections From My Bookshelves, May 1

Godly Book Reviews, May 1

Lights in a Dark World, May 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 1

Stories By Gina, May 2

Texas Book-aholic, May 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 2

Older & Smarter?, May 3

janicesbookreviews, May 3

Living Life Free in christ, May 3

The Becca Files, May 4

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, May 4

A Reader’s Brain, May 4

Inspired by fiction, May 5

Moments, May 5

To Everything A Season, May 5

Simple Harvest Reads, May 5 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a grand prize of a copy of The Memory House!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/e2aa/the-memory-house-celebration-tour-giveaway

A Perfect Amish Match (Indiana Amish Brides #3) by Vannetta Chapman

“A Perfect Amish Match” is book 3 in the “Indiana Amish Brides” series and part of the “Harlequin Love Inspired” April book release. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but I enjoyed reading this funny, romantic, Amish fiction story.

Olivia Mae is the town’s matchmaker and enjoys getting to know people in hopes of helping them find their “happy ever after”. Noah recently moves into town to be with his brother and is immediately put on Olivia Mae’s list of potential suitors for her girlfriends. One dating disaster after another leads Noah asking Olivia Mae for dating advice.

This story was easy to read and had great, down to earth characters! I couldn’t help but laugh at Noah’s dating disasters and the differences between women and mens dating expectations. I really enjoyed this reading this story and was able to read it in one afternoon.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
Every courting disaster has led him to her.
An Indiana Amish Brides story
After three failed relationships, Amish bachelor Noah Graber would rather disappoint his parents than try again. But when matchmaker Olivia Mae Miller agrees to provide courting lessons, Noah’s perfect match becomes clear—it’s Olivia Mae herself! With ailing grandparents at home, she hadn’t planned on love or marriage. Might a future with Noah be everything she’s been missing?

Purchase your copy here:

About the Author
Vannetta Chapman writes fiction full of grace and is the author of over 20 Amish novels. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. Vannetta is a Carol award winner and a Christy award finalist. She lives in the Texas Hill Country where she writes full time. She and her husband spend their time doting on their labrador, beagle, cats, and herd of deer. Vannetta also loves to knit, quilt, hike, camp, and travel.

Dead Ringer: (Truth Seekers Book 1) by Susan Sleeman

Wow! This story was amazing! I couldn’t wait to read this first book in the new “Truth Seekers” series and it was everything and more! I can’t wait to read more books in this new series! I love that previous characters from her other series “Cold Harbor” are mentioned throughout the book.

This story primarily focuses on Blake and Emory as they race against the clock to find a missing woman… who looks strangely identical to Emory. This story was packed with action, suspense and had some clean romance. I liked the Christian element of faith and prayer throughout the story as well. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop…I loved the characters and fast, thrilling story line. Highly recommend! Absolutely LOVED it!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
She was hiding from her past…
When a local woman goes missing and Sheriff Blake Jenkins delivers her blood sample to DNA expert Emory Steele for analysis, Blake discovers Emory is a dead ringer for the missing woman. Blake’s gut says the woman is related to Emory. But Emory rejects the notion, requiring a DNA test before she’ll concede that she does indeed have a twin sister she never knew about.

Now she’ll do anything to see it come to light.
Emory joins Blake in a search for her missing sister, but when an attempt is made to abduct Emory as well, they begin to think the abduction is related to Emory’s birth parents. Blake vows to keep her under his watchful eye until they discover what this maniac is looking for and bring him to justice. But Emory balks at his constant surveillance as she’s struggling to come to grips with a former brutal attack, and she wants nothing to do with a man who might want to get close to her. When it becomes clear that Blake is the only one who can keep her safe, will she let him get close enough to do so?

Purchase your copy here:

MY REVIEW:
I really enjoyed this story, but I feel like they definitely need to be read in order!

“Beauty in Hiding” is book 2 and it briefly recaps some things that happened in book 1, which is good because I haven’t read it yet so I didn’t stay confused for long. This story abruptly ends leaving me with so many questions that I can’t wait to read book 3.

Good steady pace, great characters-I especially liked Red the Grampa and his relationship with Harper and later with Jack. This christian fiction book has some romance and drama which kept me intrigued through out the entire book. I can’t wait to read book 3 to find out what happens next!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book

Book: Beauty in Hiding

Author: Robin Patchen

Genre: Christian romantic suspense

Release Date: March 12, 2019

Book 2 in the Beauty in Flight series:

Harper’s second chance at life will become a second stint in prison if anyone connects those two dead men to her.

Nutfield, New Hampshire, is as good a place as any to hide from the murderer Harper left behind in Maryland. All she has to do is lie low and make enough money to keep herself and Red alive until she can figure out who her enemies are.

Jack Rossi isn’t sure what to make of his beautiful new tenant and her confused grandfather. Something’s not right, but the love he sees between them and the care she takes of the old man convinces Jack they’re trustworthy. As drawn as he is to Harper, she’s his tenant, so she’s off limits.

Derrick, Harper’s ex-boyfriend and Red’s grandson, needs to find his grandfather and get his hands on the old man’s money before Derrick ends up with a bullet in the skull. And when he gets his hands on Harper, she’ll be sorry for what she’s put him through.

Harper and Jack grow closer, but so do her enemies. If Harper can’t trust Jack with the truth, she may lose more than just this glimpse of true love. She may lose her freedom—or her life.

Click HERE to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Aside from her family and her Savior, Robin Patchen has two loves—writing and traveling. If she could combine them, she’d spend a lot of time sitting in front of her laptop at sidewalk cafes and ski lodges and beachside burger joints. She’d visit every place in the entire world—twice, if possible—and craft stories and tell people about her Savior. Alas, time is too short and money is too scarce for Robin to traipse all over the globe, even if her husband and kids wanted to go with her. So she stays in Oklahoma, shares the Good News when she can, and writes to illustrate the unending grace of God through the power and magic of story.

More from Robin

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 13

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 13

amandainpa , April 13

Through the Fire Blogs, April 14

Blogging With Carol, April 14

Ashley’s Bookshelf, April 14

Genesis 5020, April 15

Spoken from the Heart, April 15

Lights in a Dark World, April 15

Through the Lens of Scripture, April 16

Among the Reads, April 16

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 16

Godly Book Reviews, April 17

Living Life Free In christ, April 17

Remembrancy, April 18

Just One More, April 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 18

Emily Yager, April 19

Reader’s Cozy Corner, April 19

Texas Book-aholic, April 19

Daysong Reflections, April 20

Carla Loves To Read, April 20

janicesbookreviews, April 20

Just the Write Escape, April 21

For Him and My Family, April 21

EmpowerMoms, April 22

Simple Harvest Reads, April 22 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)

Maureen’s Musings, April 23

Bigreadersite, April 23

A Reader’s Brain, April 23

Real World Bible Study, April 24

The Lit Addict, April 24

Older & Smarter?, April 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 25

Inklings and notions, April 25

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, April 26

Pause for Tales, April 26

The Becca Files, April 26

Giveaway