The Curiosity Keeper by Sarah E. Ladd

About the Book

“It is not just a ruby, as you say. It is large as a quail’s egg, still untouched and unpolished. And it is rumored to either bless or curse whoever possesses it.”

Camille Iverness can take care of herself. She’s done so since the day her mother abandoned the family and left Camille to run their shabby curiosity shop. But when a violent betrayal leaves her injured with no place to hide, Camille must allow a mysterious stranger to come to her aid.

Jonathan Gilchrist never wanted to inherit Kettering Hall. As a second son, he was content to work as the village apothecary. But when his brother’s death made him heir just as his father’s foolish decisions put the estate at risk, only the sale of a priceless possession—a ruby called the Bevoy—can save the family from ruin. But the gem has disappeared. And all trails lead to Iverness Curiosity Shop—and the beautiful shop girl who may be the answer to his many questions.

Caught at the intersection of blessings and curses, greed and deceit, these two determined souls must unite to protect what they hold dear. But when a passion that shines far brighter than any gem is ignited, they will have to decide how much they are willing to risk for their future, love, and happiness.

My Thoughts

I thoroughly loved this author's first series and was quite excited to start into this new one! This author has the beautiful ability to completely sweep her readers away to another time and place. I was totally engrossed in the story the entire time and it felt like I really was in the English countryside. She also did an amazing job with the mystery aspect and kept me guessing until the very end.

I loved both Camille and Jonathan! I admired the way Jonathan didn't let the fact that he was now his father's heir change him in any way, and how he never viewed himself as “above” others despite being of the upper class. And I was impressed with Camille's independence and the strength she displayed in face of all that she had endured. I would have enjoyed having a little more romance between them since they didn't really spend too much time together but it was enough that it was believable, I just wanted a little more.

The other characters were well-written as well whether they were good, evil, or somewhere in between! I enjoyed this whole book immensely and would definitely recommend to any fans of the regency era!

Meet the Author

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever. Facebook: SarahLaddAuthor Twitter: @SarahLaddAuthor

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Waiting on Wednesday #172: Falling Like Snowflakes

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter
Thomas Nelson-September 8, 2015

About the Book

Eden Martelli is too busy fleeing the clutches of danger to realize she’s running straight into the arms of new love.

Speeding north through rural Maine, Eden Martelli wonders how it ever came to this—on the run, with her mute five-year-old son dozing fitfully in the passenger seat. But when a breakdown leaves them stranded in Summer Harbor, Eden has no choice but to stay put through Christmas . . . even though they have no place to lay their heads.

Beau Callahan is a habitual problem-solver—for other people anyway. He left the sheriff’s department to take over the family Christmas tree farm, but he’s still haunted by the loss of his parents and struggling to handle his first Christmas season alone.

When Eden shows up looking for work just as Beau’s feisty aunt gets out of the hospital, Beau thinks he’s finally caught a break. Eden is competent and dedicated—if a little guarded—and a knockout to boot. But, as he soon finds out, she also comes with a boatload of secrets.

Eden’s been through too much to trust her heart to another man, but Beau is impossible to resist, and the feeling seems to be mutual. As Christmas Eve approaches Eden’s past catches up to her.

Beau will go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe. But who’s going to protect his heart from a woman who can’t seem to trust again?

Why I Want It

I love all of this author's books and this one sounds like it will be so good!

Top Ten Guys Who Are a Bit Too Cocky for Their Own Good

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's real topic was Characters Who Are Fellow Book Nerds but I did that topic last year for the Top Ten Characters Who X week. So I decided that I would do a random one this time! So here are my top ten guys that are a little too cocky for their own good...but are still awesome anyway!

#1. Colin McGuire from A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
#2. Ty Porter from Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade
#3. Jack Novak from A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin
#4. Blake McClare from Grace Like Rain by Julie Lessman
#5. Tony VanAllen from Beowulf by Ronie Kendig
#6. Reef McKenna from Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey
#7. Luke McGee from A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman
#8. Dylan Taylor from The Trouble With Cowboys by Denise Hunter
#9. Luca Forelli from The River of Time Series by Lisa T. Bergren
#10. Alex Sinclair from Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #183

 Hosted By: Book Journey

Here is what I finished last week:

I had a fantastic reading week! Not only did I read all of the books on my docket for this week (minus the one I started and stopped due to not liking it) but they were all fantastic to boot!

What I am currently reading:

Just starting the novella collection but so far so good! As for Glory Days, I'm loving it and I'm so happy to finally have another devotional book to read!

What I hope to read this week:

So unbelievably excited for these three books!!!

Blog Posts
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #182
Top Ten One Word Book Titles
A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears
Waiting on Wednesday #171: The Lost Heiress
A Bride at Last by Melissa Jagears

Friday Memes 7/24

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!

Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!

Friday Memes 7/24

Hosted by: Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

The Question:

Do you use bookmarks? If so, do you match them to the book you're reading or do you use random scraps of paper?

My Answer:

I use bookmarks! I don't match them to the book I'm reading I have a bunch but I tend to get stuck on one and use it for awhile! My current one is a Whovian one!

Hosted by: Rose City Reader

"Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name."

Closed until June 13. 
Michael Hunter stared at the hand-lettered sign on the Gull Motel office, expelled a breath, and raked his fingers through his hair. Not the welcome he'd been expecting after a mind-numbing thirty-six-hour cross-country drive to the Oregon cost.
Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon

My Thoughts
It's a good beginning! 

A Bride at Last by Melissa Jagears

About the Book
Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesey has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts.
Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she'd been deceived about her intended groom, she's now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she'll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony--until two men suddenly show up in town, claiming to be the boy's father.
Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

My Thoughts
Such a good book! I've been fighting a bit of a reading slump lately but I had this book finished in about twelve hours, it was that good!
Since I knew that Silas was going to be the hero of this book I payed extra attention to him in A Bride in Store, and while he had some changes to make I just knew that he would become a man to be proud of. And boy was I right! I loved how real the author made him, he overcame his addiction but the temptation was still there and it was inspiring to watch him fight to maintain what he'd worked so hard for. I loved how much he was willing to sacrifice for Anthony, and how hard he worked at being the best father he could be. Kate was fantastic too. I loved her selfless love and care for others, especially Anthony. Both Silas and Kate had painful pasts that made them scared about surrendering to love and it was beautiful to watch them both overcome their hurt and find healing with God and each other.
So in closing, this book (well this whole series) is amazing and I heartily recommend it!

Meet the Author
Melissa Jagears, an ESL teacher by trade and the author of A Bride for Keeps and A Bride in Store, is a stay-at-home mother on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. She's a member of ACFW and CROWN fiction marketing, and her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly. Find her online at www.melissajagears.com.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Waiting on Wednesday #171: The Lost Heiress

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M. White
Bethany House-September 8, 2015

About the Book

Brook Eden has never known where she truly belongs. Though raised in the palace of Monaco, she's British by birth and was brought to the Grimaldis under suspicious circumstances as a babe. When Brook's friend Justin uncovers the fact that Brook is likely a missing heiress from Yorkshire, Brook leaves the sun of the Mediterranean to travel to the moors of the North Sea to the estate of her supposed family.

The mystery of her mother's death haunts her, and though her father is quick to accept her, the rest of the family and the servants of Whitby Park are not. Only when Brook's life is threatened do they draw close--but their loyalty may come too late to save Brook from the same threat that led to tragedy for her mother.

As heir to a dukedom, Justin is no stranger to balancing responsibilities. When the matters of his estate force him far from Brook, the distance between them reveals that what began as friendship has grown into something much more. But how can their very different loyalties and responsibilities ever come together?

And then, for a second time, the heiress of Whitby Park is stolen away because of 

the very rare treasure in her possession--and this time only the servants of Whitby can save her.

Why I Want It

I have loved every book I've read by this author and this one sounds really good!

A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears

About the Book
Impatient to meet her intended groom and help him grow his general store, mail-order bride Eliza Cantrell sets out on her travels a week early. But her plan goes sadly awry when her train is held up by robbers who steal her dowry and Axel, her groom-to-be, isn't even in town when she finally arrives.
Axel's business partner, William Stanton, has no head for business and would much rather be a doctor. When his friend's mail-order bride arrives in town with no money and no groom in sight, he feels responsible and lets her help around the store--where she quickly proves she's much more adept at business than he ever will be.

The sparks that fly between Will and Eliza as they work together in close quarters are hard to ignore, but Eliza is meant for Axel and a future with the store, while Will is biding his time until he can afford medical school. However, their troubles are far from over when Axel finally returns, and soon both Will and Eliza must decide what they're willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams--or if God has a new dream in store for them both.

My Thoughts
I read this author's debut and absolutely loved it, so I could not wait to get my hands on book two! I was ecstatic when I discovered that I had won a copy and I made plans to read it as soon as I could. But then review books came that I needed to read first and life got busy and this book sadly sat on my shelf begging me to read it. Then book number three's release date approached and I got the chance to be an influencer for it so since I am a stickler for reading books in order I had the excuse I needed to finally blow the dust off of this book and dive into it's beautiful story! Thankfully the wait just made the reading that much sweeter!
Will's character in A Bride for Keeps was one of my favorites and so I was quite happy that he was going to be the hero of this book! And what a hero he was! I loved his selfless care and love for anyone and everyone he came in contact with. He truly challenged me to think less about my own needs and to help people regardless of the personal cost! I felt so bad for him as he struggled with the guilt he heaped upon himself for the people he was unable to help or save, and it was lovely to watch as he realized that their lives were in God's hands and not his.
Eliza was a fun heroine. She berated herself for being selfish but she really had a heart to love others. I loved they way she accepted Mrs. Lightfoot and never treated her differently because of how she looked.

The author did a fabulous job of making you wonder until the very end if Will and Eliza would be able to overcome the obstacles keeping them apart in order to be together! In short I loved everything about this story and I am so excited for A Bride at Last!

Meet the Author

Melissa Jagears, an ESL teacher by trade, is a stay-at-home mother on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. She's a member of ACFW and CROWN fiction marketing, and her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly.

Top Ten One Word Book Titles

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I couldn't come up with any books for this week's actual topic so I decided to do one of my own. I think one word titles can be pretty cool and it also must be hard to condense an entire book down to just a single word! Here are my top ten!

#1. Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren

#2. Interrupted by Rachel Coker

#3. Dauntless by Dina Sleiman

#4. Anomaly by Krista McGee

#5. Shattered by Dani Pettrey

#6. Serendipity by Cathy Marie Hake

#7. Thunder by Bonnie S. Calhoun

#8. Heiress by Susan May Warren

#9. Rebels by Jill Williamson

#10. Vanished by Irene Hannon

Bonus: Chivalrous by Dina L. Sleiman
(This book isn't released yet so I didn't count it but I love the title so much I couldn't resist sharing it!)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #182

 Hosted By: Book Journey

Here is what I finished last week:

I actually had a decent reading week (review deadlines helped)! I enjoyed all three of these books!

What I am currently reading:

Just starting this one!

What I hope to read this week:

My next three review books!

Blog Posts
It's (Not) Monday! What Are You Reading? #181
Last Ten Books That Came Into My Possession
Waiting on Wednesday #170: Not By Sight
Gone Without a Trace by Patricia Bradley
Beyond the Ashes by Karen Barnett
Monthly Reflections #41: June 2015

Friday Memes 7/17

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!

Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!

Friday Memes 7/17

Hosted by: Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

The Question:

Do you listen to audio books?

My Answer:

Nope! I hate being read to and I can read a book much faster than it takes to listen to an audio book!

Hosted by: Rose City Reader

"Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name."

"I refuse to attend another wedding. I'm through." Ruby King Marshall juggled two glasses of punch in her gloved hand as she shepherded her blind cousin through the overcrowded ballroom.
Beyond the Ashes by Karen Barnett

My Thoughts
So I've actually just finished this book but I did enjoy this beginning so I thought I'd share! I'm starting to feel the same as Ruby, there are just too many weddings happening!

Monthly Reflections #41: June 2015

Hosted by: Christian Bookshelf Reviews

So this post is going up super late in the month but I was on vacation when June ended and I've been rather busy ever since! June was a bit crazy and I only managed to read 5 books and 2 novellas and post 4 reviews but it was a good month nonetheless!

Books I Read

Hearts Made Whole and A Worthy Pursuit tied for best book!

Reviews I Wrote:

Love's Rescue by Christine Johnson

Once Upon a Summertime by Melody Carlson

Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund

Fatal Trauma by Richard L. Mabry, M.D.

In July I Hope To:

Read at least 8 books
Post at least 5 reviews

Beyond the Ashes by Karen Barnett

About the Book
Where better to rebuild and face one’s fears than in 1906 San Francisco, a city rising from the ashes? Ruby Marshall, a young widow, is certain she’ll discover new purpose assisting her brother Robert with his cancer research, but she doesn’t anticipate finding new love. Dr. Gerald Larkspur dreams of filling his empty home with family, but he’d always hoped it would be a wife and children. In the aftermath of the great earthquake, the rooms are overflowing with extended family and friends left homeless by the disaster. When Robert’s widowed sister arrives, the close quarters seem close indeed. Ruby and Gerald’s fledgling romance is put at risk when Gerald develops symptoms of the very disease they’re striving to cure. Together they must ask—is it worth a second chance at love when time might be short?

My Thoughts
After hearing nothing but good things about this author's debut I jumped at the chance to review her next book. I loved it and I've been quite anxious to read this one! Thankfully it lived up to my expectations!
I loved all of the rich historical details about the rebuilding of San Francisco after the quake and about the early research into curing cancer. I haven't read much about either so it was quite fascinating!
Gerald and Ruby were both amazing characters and it was sweet to watch them fall in love! I loved Gerald's generosity and his care for those around him, and Ruby's courage to face and overcome her fears.

It was also great to see more of Robert and Abby's story! All in all this was a fantastic book that I highly recommend!

Meet the Author
Karen Barnett is the author of Beyond the Ashes, Out of the Ruins, and Mistaken. Named the 2013 Writer of Promise by Oregon Christian Writers, Karen lives in Albany, Oregon, with her husband and two kids. When she’s not writing novels, she loves speaking at women’s events, libraries, and book clubs. You can learn more at KarenBarnettBooks.com.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Gone Without a Trace by Patricia Bradley

About the Book
It's been more than two years since homicide detective Livy Reynolds's cousin disappeared from Logan Point. Unlike most people in her hometown, Livy has never believed that Robyn left voluntarily. When Dallas private investigator Alex Jennings contacts Livy concerning a missing senator's daughter who was last seen in Logan Point, she notices eerie similarities between the two disappearances. But with self-doubt plaguing her and an almost instant dislike of Jennings, Livy is finding this investigation an uphill battle. With her future in law enforcement on the line, can she find a way to work with a man who is her polar opposite?

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they anticipate the outcome of the case--and the relationship between Livy and Alex--which is anything but certain.

My Thoughts
After enjoying this author's previous two novels I was happy to have the chance to read this one. Especially since I'd liked Livy's character in the other books and because the long-standing mystery of Robyn's disappearance was going to be solved!
I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery of this story and the author did a fantastic job of keeping you guessing until the very end. There were several suspects and anytime I thought I had a guess on who it was, something else would happen to make me think it was a someone different! There were a couple instances where the characters would explain why doing something a certain way wouldn't work and they'd make a second plan, but then they would turn around and do it the first way, which annoyed me a bit but other than that the plot was well done! I really liked all of the characters and had fun catching up with the ones from the first two books! I also liked how we got not only Alex and Livy's romance but also got some of Chase and Robyn's story. There were some corny moments at the end but all in all in was a good read!

Meet the Author
Patricia Bradley's manuscript for Shadows of the Past was a finalist for the 2012 Genesis Award, winner of a 2012 Daphne du Maurier award (1st place, Inspirational), and winner of a 2012 Touched by Love award (1st place, Contemporary). Also the author of A Promise to Protect, Bradley is a published short story writer and is cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America and makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Waiting on Wednesday #170: Not By Sight

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Not by Sight by Kate Breslin
Bethany House-August 4, 2015

About the Book

With Britain caught up in WWI, Jack Benningham, heir to the Earl of Stonebrooke, has declared himself a conscientious objector. Instead, he secretly works for the Crown by tracking down German spies on British soil, his wild reputation and society status serving as a foolproof cover.

Blinded by patriotism and concern for her brother on the front lines, wealthy suffragette Grace Mabry will do whatever it takes to assist her country's cause. When she sneaks into a posh London masquerade ball to hand out white feathers of cowardice, she never imagines the chain of events she'll set off when she hands a feather to Jack. 

And neither of them could anticipate the extent of the danger and betrayal that follows them--or the faith they'll need to maintain hope.

Why I Want It

This author's debut was beyond amazing and I can't wait to see what else she has!

Last Ten Books That Came Into My Possesion

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

#1. Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin

#2. In Good Company by Jen Turano

#3. Among the Fair Magnolias Novella Collection

#4. Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon

#5. The Curiosity Keeper by Sarah E. Ladd

#6. Beyond the Ashes by Karen Barnett

#7. Gone Without a Trace by Patricia Bradley

#8. A Bride at Last by Melissa Jagears

#9. Love Arrives in Pieces by Betsy St. Amant

#10. Taken by Dee Henderson