The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep (Daughters of the Mayflower series, Book 3)

The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep is the third book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Each of the 6 books in this series are written by different authors. I love how having different authors writing it gives the series a different perspective for each book. So find out below why you should pick up The Captured Bride the next time you're at the bookstore.

From the Back Cover:
Mercy Lytton is a lady like none other. Raised amongst the Mohawks, she straddles two cultures, yet each are united in one cause...to defeat the French. Born with a rare gift of unusually keen eyesight, she is chosen as a scout to accompany a team of men on a dangerous mission. Yet it is not only her life that is threatened. It is her heart.
Condemned as a traitor, Elias Dubois faces the gallows. At the last minute, he is offered his freedom if he consents to accompany a stolen shipment of French gold to a nearby fort--gold stolen from him in the first place. But as it turns out, the real thief is the beguiling woman, Mercy Lytton, for she steals his every waking thought.
Can love grow and survive divided loyalties in the back-country wilderness of the Colony of New York?

My Thoughts:
This book is quite an adventure. From condemned traitors, to the French and Indian War, this story has lots of action. I thought having the woman, Mercy, as a scout was an interesting twist to the story. She is quite the independent woman who can look out for herself. The history was interesting too with the French and the English both siding with different Indian groups. I enjoyed reading the interactions between Mercy and Elias. Both were so very guarded, but also overcome by unfamiliar feelings towards each other. I thought Michelle did a great job with the story line. It was definitely an interesting story, and one I read pretty quickly. The books in this series don't necessarily have to be read in order since the relatives are usually a few generations apart. You can read my review of the first two books by clicking here and here.  So, if you're looking for a good story, then pick up The Daughters of the Mayflower series and enjoy a trip back in history!


My Rating: ★★★★

***I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Storm Front by Susan May Warren (book 5, Montana Rescue series)

Susan May Warren's Montana Rescue series has released the fifth book in the series called Storm Front. This current book tells the story of Ty Remington and Brette Arnold. Can Ty and Brette have a future after knowing each other for only a few days?

From the Back Cover:

A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community and among the missing are not only a group of students but PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved--and lost--walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.
A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn't expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked--no, ran--from over a year ago. She had her reasons--good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn't the kind of man to give up--not on the missing students, or on her.
Life and love hang in the balance in Susan May Warren's breathless story of holding on to hope during a deadly summer of storms.

My Thoughts:
Susan May Warren always has a great story to tell, and this one is no different. This story weaves together intense situations with a love that is struggling to find it's home. I liked how the author continually brings in the character's faith in God. Just like these characters, we also struggle with trust in our Creator when life doesn't go as planned. We struggle with the pain of loosing those close to us in death or facing uncertain health problems. I appreciate that the author brings this topic into the story with Brette and then walks the reader through Brette's process as she deals with so much grief and pain. If you're looking for a great series to dive into, pick up the Montana Rescue series!
Make sure to watch for the 6th and final book of the series, Wait for Me releasing November 6, 2018.

My Rating: ★★★★★

***I received this complimentary book from Revell Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

God's Book of Proverbs: Biblical Wisdom Arranged by Topic

Are you looking for a great resource for your home library? The Holman Bible Staff has published a book for topical Bible study in the book of Proverbs. God's Book of Proverbs has an alphabetical table of contents with 60 different topics listed. These topics include:

Anger, Beauty Calamity, Conflict, Deception, Discernment, Discipline, Drunkenness, Excess, Faithfulness, Favor, Fear of the LORD, Fidelity, Folly, Friendship, Greed, Guidance, Happiness, The Heart, Honesty, Honor, Hope, Humility, Impulsiveness, Inexperience, Integrity, Justice, Kindness, Knowledge, Laziness, Life, Love, Lying, Marriage, Money, Motives, Neighbors, Obedience, Oppression, Patience, Peace, Pride, Prosperity, Prudence, Purity, Righteousness, Rulers, Security, Self-control, Sovereignty of God, Sowing & Reaping, Speech, Temptation, Theft, Violence, Wealth, Wickedness, Wisdom, and Wonder.

Not only is there an alphabetical table of contents, but there is also an index section in the back of the book. This section lists out even more topics that are also covered in the book of Proverbs and lists each page the topic is mentioned. This book uses the CSB (Christian Standard Bible) version.  I really like the way the Holman staff has put this book together. I think it will be a great resource for Bible study. And if you are looking for a gift idea during this graduation season, this book would make a great resource for a graduating senior.

My Rating:★★★★

You can check this book out on B&H's website by clicking here.

***I received this complimentary book from B&H Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

My Heart Belongs in Glenwood Springs, Colorado: Millie’s Resolve by Rebecca Jepson

Have you heard about the My Heart Belongs series? Barbour Books has published many books in this series, and they are all written by different authors. My Heart Belongs in Glenwood, Colorado: Millie’s Resolve is the newest book in this series and is written by Rebecca Jepson.

From the Back Cover:
Millie Cooper, fisherman’s-daughter-turned-nurse, flees a painful entanglement with the wealthy Drexel family who summered near her childhood home in Nantucket, only to encounter them again six years later in Glenwood Spring.  The serenity of her mountain hideaway in a town with healing springs is disrupted when she faces caring for the elderly mother and the expectant wife of Stephan Drexel, the man she’d once loved—at the request of his brother, John, the man who’d kept them apart. Will Millie forgive the wrongs she feels were done to her, or will she come to see them as a blessing in disguise that leads her to greater joy?
Journey now to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, of 1888 and meet a woman on the precipice of unexpected love.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Millie’s story. The storyline was engaging, and I thought the author did a great job with keeping the story moving at a good pace throughout the book. Millie definitely has a past history of hurts. Her character has a lot to work though not only reguarding love relationships, but also societal relationships. The author also included some surprises especially at the end of the story that you might not be expecting. If you’re looking for a fun read for a weekend, pick up this new book by Rebecca Jepson.

My Rating: ★★★

***I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

In Places Hidden by Tracie Peterson (Golden Gate Secrets series, Book 1)

Is historical fiction your go to genre for reading? Tracie Peterson has started a new historical series called Golden Gate Secrets and her first book, In Places Hidden, has just released! Obviously, from the name of the series, this historical fiction series takes place in the major city of San Francisco, and brings to light all of the struggles that this city had in the early 1900's.

From the Back Cover:
Camrianne Coulter's brother Caleb is a successful San Francisco attorney. But when three months go by without a word form the usually communicative Caleb, Camri boards a train to the booming West Coast city to find out for herself why he hasn't written. when she arrives at his home, nobody seems to know where he is, or what has become of him.
Camri's search for her brother leads her deep into the political corruption of the city--and into the acquaintance of Patrick Murdock, who Caleb successfully defended from a false murder charge. Getting to know this handsome Irish contractor challenges all of Camri's privileged beliefs, but Patrick is unshakably loyal to her brother, and he seems to know more about what happened to Caleb than anyone else.
As the two edge closer to the truth behind Caleb's disappearance, they risk angering the powerful forces that control the city. Can Camri trust Patrick to protect her from the dangers that lie hidden in San Francisco's backstreets?

My Thoughts:
Historical fiction is always a fun read for me since I feel as though I get to live the history in my mind instead of just learning the facts. I've read previous stories about San Francisco's history, but I think this book brings many of the hardships of the poor and struggle with corruption to light. The story line was interesting, and I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery of Caleb's disappearance. The author does include some surprises that the reader is not expecting. I appreciated the way the author talked about God and how the characters looked to Him to solve the issues they were facing. Overall, it was a good read, but one I probably would suggest you just pick up from your local library.

My Rating: ★★★

***I received this complimentary book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

936 Pennies Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting by Eryn Lynum

There is a new parenting book out by Eryn Lynum called 936 Pennies Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting. This book is such a great resource to add to your library or give to a friend.

From the Back Cover:
When Eryn Lynum was given a jar of 936 pennies (one penny for each week of her son's life from birth to age 18), it was a tangible reminder of how fast kids grow up. We only have so much time to teach them, to make memories, and to love them while they are at home. Through very personal stories and hard-earned wisdom, Eryn shows us that while we can't control time, we can slow it down by living each day intentionally.
As you remove one penny from the jar every week, you'll discover how to prioritize what really matters--things like making your home richer in laughter, teaching family values in everyday moments, and showing God's love and grace with every opportunity. Your kids will see how simple choices, like putting the cell phone down and going on a family hike, will make all the difference. Together, you will stretch time to its fullest potential.

My Thoughts:
I was greatly encouraged by Eryn's book. She has a lot of really great thoughts and challenges to think through concerning parenting these precious gifts we have been given. I had not heard of the 936 pennies in the jar before to count the weeks from birth to age 18 yrs. I think it's a great way to remind myself every day of the short time I have these 3 children in my house. And like Eryn addresses, we aren't even guaranteed to have those 18 years.  No matter how much time God gives us with these kids, we must remember to count our days being mindful of the great task He has given us. This task can seem overwhelming especially on the days that our kids are pressing every button possible. One of my children was doing just that yesterday, and I lost the battle with my anger. I appreciate this thought from Eryn, "Perhaps that is the greatest lesson that counting these pennies teaches us: Jesus is enough when we are not." (pg. 21) I appreciate Eryn's call to live in the moment and slow down life. "If we are rushing around to get everything done, then we are bound to miss something. And most likely it will be our kids." (pg. 64) If you're looking for a book to encourage you (and maybe make your eyes mist up as you think of the remaining time left with your kids still at home...), then pick up this book. It'll help you think through your role at home with your kids, and re-evaluate how you are spending the pennies you have been given.

My Rating: ★★★★★

Check out Eryn's website by clicking here.  And check out her blog by clicking here.


***I received this complimentary book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.