Sound of Red Returning by Sue Duffy (Book 1 in Red Returning Series)

The Sound of Red Returning is a story filled with espionage.  A young musician unknowingly gets entangled in a real spy story.  After many years she thought things had settled down, but quickly realizes that her life is still in danger.  I really enjoyed this book.  The plot is exciting and quite thrilling to read.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book!  I would highly recommend this book.

**I received this book free from Kregel Publications as part of Library Thing's Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert

Bethany Quinn is a girl with a troubled past that she has tried to run away from.  A past that was full of insecurity and going nowhere fast.  Trying to make something of herself, she left her small town in Iowa for a fast-paced, successful life in Chicago as an architect.  In a sudden turn of events, Bethany is lured back to the town she'd like to forget and has to face a mother she'd rather not talk to.
When Bethany reaches her hometown, she finds everything still pretty much the same except a handsome stranger, Evan, is helping out on her grandfather's farm. While at home, Bethany makes peace with her past, restores a friendship that was lost, and is reminded of what true love really is.

I really enjoyed this story.  I thought that the author developed the plot well and had good depth to her characters.  I love how Bethany ends up using her talents as an architect back in her old stomping grounds.  Something that was quite unexpected by the character.  Each of the characters is battling some inner turmoil that they must deal with before it consumes them.  It was fun to read how each character came around to facing their struggles and moved past them.   Much like in our own lives, we have struggles we have to face instead of running from.  And once we finally face those struggles and overcome them through Christ, we are far better than we were before.

Below you can read the first chapter of the Wildflowers from Winter.
Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

You can read more about the author here at her website.  I'm looking forward to the next book due out in March 2013 called Wishing on Willows.



**I received this book free from Waterbrook Publishing Group through the Blogging for Books Program in exchange for an honest review.