Hearts Made Whole

After her father’s death, Caroline Taylor has grown confident running the Windmill Point Lighthouse. But in 1865 Michigan, women aren’t supposed to have such roles, so it’s only a matter of time before the lighthouse inspector appoints a new keeper–even though Caroline has nowhere else to go and no other job available to her.

Ryan Chambers is a Civil War veteran still haunted by the horrors of battle. He’s been given the post as lighthouse keeper, and the isolation where he can drown in drink and hide from his past is appealing. He’s not expecting the current keeper to be a feisty and beautiful woman who’s none-too-pleased to be giving up her position. They both quickly realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but Ryan’s unwilling to let anyone close, ravaged by memories and guilt. Caroline’s drawn to this wounded soul, but with both of them relying on that single position, can they look past their loss to a future filled with hope…and possibly love?

My thoughts: I really like that Jody puts a lot of research and detail into her stories, bringing to life the period of history she is writing about. I found this story to be an interesting and unique look at the role which light keepers played on some of the Great Lakes. It was also interesting to have one of the main characters be a Civil War veteran, showing how hard it was for him to get back to work after being injured in the war and having to deal with memories of unjust acts committed during the war. And, also for it to show the adjustment of the women who had to work during the war, to cover for the shortage of men to fill jobs. I enjoyed the historical aspect, but I didn't care for one of the characters, who was just not a kind person. Over all though, the story is an interesting one, full of depth. I enjoyed getting to know most of the characters!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Fatal Trauma

A gunman who has nothing to lose faces a doctor who could lose it all to prove his innocence.

When Dr. Mark Baker and Nurse Kelly Atkinson are held at the mercy of a dangerous gunman, the lives of every emergency room patient are at stake. At the end of the evening three men are dead. One of them is a police officer who couldn't be saved despite Mark's best efforts. The other two are members of the feared Zeta drug cartel.

Though the standoff is over, the killing is not, because when the drug cartel loses its members, revenge is not far behind. Facing an adversary whose desires are dark and efforts are ruthless, Mark finds himself under suspicion as a killer, yet still a potential victim. When he turns to his high school sweetheart, attorney Gwen Woodruff, for help, Kelly helplessly looks on, as she hides her own feelings for the good doctor.

At the height of the conflict, three questions remain: Who is the shooter? Who will the next victim be? And can Mark prove his innocence before the gun turns on him?

My thoughts: From the first page, this story pulled me in! Richard Mambry's stories are always interesting, filled with suspense and action, medical information and awesome twists. This book is not an exception! I enjoyed the plot twists, some of which delightfully surprised me.:) While not my favorite of his stories, I still really enjoyed this book!
Fast paced and interesting, this book is sure to delight readers, especially those who enjoy suspense and medical stories.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

The Time Mom Met Hitler, Frost Came to Dinner, and I Heard the Greatest Story Ever Told

He was predestined for literary greatness. If only his father hadn’t used up all the words.
As the son of the Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Richard Eberhart, Dikkon Eberhart grew up surrounded by literary giants. Dinner guests included, among others, Robert Frost, Dylan Thomas, Allen Ginsberg, W. H. Auden, and T. S. Eliot, all of whom flocked to the Eberhart house to discuss, debate, and dissect the poetry of the day. To the world, they were literary icons. To Dikkon, they were friends who read him bedtime stories, gave him advice, and, on one particularly memorable occasion, helped him with his English homework. Anxious to escape his famous father’s shadow, Dikkon struggled for decades to forge an identity of his own, first in writing and then on the stage, before inadvertently stumbling upon the answer he’d been looking for all along—in the most unlikely of places. Brimming with unforgettable stories featuring some of the most colorful characters of the Beat Generation, The Time Mom Met Hitler, Frost Came to Dinner, and I Heard the Greatest Story Ever Told is a winsome coming-of-age story about one man’s search for identity and what happens when he finally finds it.

My thoughts: What a gorgeous book! I enjoyed reading about Dikkon Eberhart growing up in the shadow of a lot of the 20th century's greatest poets, from Frost to Sylvia Plath, T.S. Eliot (one of my personal favorites) to Allen Ginsberg. Growing up in the shadow of his father, who was also a poet, isn't easy. I love how Dikkon shares openly about how lonely he felt, despite the high profile people he grew up around and the loving family wife and children he had as an adult. This book is a rare glimpse into an era gone by. Those who love literature and poetry, this one if for you!
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

My Sing Along Bible

My Sing-Along Bible is the perfect collection of easy-to-understand Bible stories and music for your wiggly, giggly toddler or preschooler! This book and music CD set includes creative retellings of favorite Bible stories. Plus, lively Bible and Scripture songs on the CD (included with the book) will inspire your child to sing and laugh while building a solid faith foundation. Includes 50 favorite Bible stories kids will love to read over and over again, 50 songs (high energy! and some for quiet time too!)—one to go along with each Bible story—plus bonus songs that make memorizing the books of the Bible easy and fun!

My thoughts: My daughter and I both love music and singing together, even though she is just a toddler. So, I was thrilled to receive this book from Tyndale to review. I grew up with Steve Green's tape of Scripture verses, and a lot of those songs have stuck with me today, so I wanted to start playing music like that for my children.
This adorable book will help get your young child interested in Bible stories, with its adorable illustrations and fun CD of Bible stories and songs. We are enjoying this one! If you are wanting to get your children excited about the Bible, then this book is a must!
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Untangled

All women want to feel is valued. But problems arise when we seek confirmation that we are "enough "using the world's standards. Almost from birth, we are trained to find the approval and acceptance we crave in the eyes of family, friends, and even strangers. The result is that we cannot believe we are who God says we are--accepted, loved, beautiful, and treasured. We get tangled up in the world's assessment and our own self-judgment.
With hope-filled writing and plenty of hard-won personal advice, Carey Scott shows women how to untangle their self-esteem from the world and anchor it in Jesus. She lovingly shows readers that God was intentional in how he made them and that he is well pleased with his work. Women will learn practical strategies to escape unattainable standards and the performance-based measuring stick of the world, and find comfort in the fact that they are not alone on the journey.

My thoughts: I loved this book! Geared towards women (though I know that men have their own insecurity issues as well), this book does an excellent job of opening the reader's eyes to those tangles of insecurity in our lives. From social media to our families, friendships to how we perceive ourselves, insecurities abound. But, God has a different message for us. He wants to take those tangles of insecurity and help us to untangle them and see how much He loves us.
Filled with scripture verses, personal stories, and stories of others, this book is a wonderful resource for women to face the tangles of their insecurities and have the courage to work through them, with God's help.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Love Arrives in Pieces

For so long, Stella was known for her beauty. Now, with her heart stripped bare, she must discover who she really is.

Former pageant queen Stella Varland doesn t trust beauty anymore after her divorce. Her appearance betrayed her and led to her brokenness so instead of being beautiful, now she tries to make beautiful things, but always falls short. So she keeps her passion for her secret art to herself and focuses on her interior design work. But if she doesn t get another job soon, she ll be stuck living with her parents.

Contractor Chase Taylor is determined to live a life of no regrets after losing his fiancee in a car crash. Now he lives life at full speed, striving to see how much he can accomplish. He knows if he slows down, he ll fall apart. So he returns home to Bayou Bend to renovate the town s old theater, and is shocked to learn former flame Stella is the designer for the project.

Forced to work together, Chase and Stella battle their chemistry and their pasts as they struggle to compromise and come together on a vision for the theater. Chase doesn t understand why Stella is such a subdued version of herself, while Stella doesn't get Chase s constant need for productivity and speed. Their wills clash as they attempt to hide their brokenness and their unresolved feelings for each other until Chase breaks through Stella s walls and convinces her to enter her mosaic tile art in a contest.

A near catastrophe, a fire, and a small-town gossip mill finally force both Stella and Chase to realize that they have a choice to hold on to the shards of their pasts, or surrender their fragmented pieces to the One who makes a beautiful masterpiece from the broken

My thoughts: While I enjoyed All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes, I found myself liking Stella's story even better! This book has a lot of depth to it, as Stella struggles with the feelings that came from having loved and lost twice, once to Chase, and then again with her ex husband. When Chase stumbles back into her life, all her insecurities and feelings of brokenness come to the surface. Can she see the beauty God can create out of broken hearts?
I loved the characters in this story! It is a gorgeous story with just the right amount of heart, sass, and romance. This is a must for your summer TBR list!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Take Ten

This week's Broke and Bookish subject is top ten books I would love to see turned into films. So, here goes!
1. Captives

I loved this dystopian book and would love to see it on film!

2. One Realm Beyond

The characters in this story are so fun and quirky!

3. Table by the Window

I just adored this story and it's sequel. I can't wait to read the third book! It has been the perfect combination of romance, history, and cooking.

4. Cast of Stones

I couldn't stand the main character in this series when I first started it! Errol grew on me though, as he found himself during their quest.

5. Prophet

I enjoyed the series, but the first book was the best.

6. The Butterfly and the Violin

This book is a gorgeous, WWII story that is woven with a modern day love story. It would be a gorgeous film!

7. A Sparrow in Terezin

As much as I enjoyed the first book, I think this one was even better! Another gorgeous story set in WWII.

8. The Story Keeper

This was one of those rares books that kept me reading way past midnight just to finish it.;)

9. Paper Hearts

This is one of those sweet, but sad, chick flick type stories. Easily one of the best books I have read this year!

10. Entwined

I adored this book and can't wait to read the author's newest story!