Between the Sound and Sea // Book Review

 

About the Book:

Every family has its secrets. Josephina Harris wouldn't mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she jumps at the chance to escape her small town to oversee its restoration.

As the work begins, "Joey" discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the old stone walls--pages torn from a lighthouse keeper's log signed by someone named Mae who recounts harrowing rescues at sea. Fascinated by a woman lighthouse keeper, Joey digs into the past only to discover there's never been a record of a lighthouse keeper by that name.

When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II. As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, what emerges is a love story--one that's not over yet.

My Review:

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Between the Sound and Sea. When I first heard about this book the title made me want to read it because to be between the sound and sea is really a lovely place to be. I was hoping it would be set in the Outer Banks and it was! A good chunk of the story is set on Ocracoke Island and there’s also a fictional island and lighthouse that plays a big role in the story. Even though Bleakpoint Island and lighthouse are fictional, Amanda Cox did a great job of bringing it to life and I could easily imagine it was real.

The main character Joey was great. She was likable and I loved seeing her grow as a person. Finn took a little bit to grow on me but once he did I enjoyed reading more about him. 

I enjoyed seeing the love story unfold!

Walt was a great character too! He was a sweet guy.

The story has a bit of a mystery to it and while I didn’t know that going into the story it was most definitely a pleasant surprise. 

I’m so glad I read this book! (Although now I desperately want a beach vacation, more so than I already did.😉)

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review

Into the Starlight // Book Review

 

About the Book:

After more than a year in Europe, Joanna Vaughn returns to Sweetwater Crossing, her dreams of becoming a concert pianist shattered. As if that weren't enough, her husband, whom she married after a whirlwind courtship, has died. The only thing sustaining her on the journey back to Texas was the thought of her childhood home. But to Joanna's dismay, she's changed so much that the place she once loved no longer feels like home.

 

After his fiancée married his partner and both blamed him for a patient's death, Dr. Burke Finley believes it's time for a change. A quick trip with his almost-aunt Della Samuels to Sweetwater Crossing turns into an extended stay to discover what happened to his uncle and her would-be husband. But the beautiful and musical Joanna makes it more than bearable.

 

As the two join forces to help Della, there is no denying the attraction felt on both sides. But ghosts from the past are coming to call--and threatening to destroy any chance at happily-ever-after.

 

My Review:

Into the Starlight is the last book in the Sweetwater Crossing series by Amanda Cabot. Joanna and Burke were both good characters. It was nice getting to meet them and see characters from the previous books in the series. I would have to say though that this book is my least favorite of the Sweetwater Crossing series. I had a harder time getting into it. I did not like some stuff that happened towards the end of the book. This book had a bit of a mystery to it like the others in the series. Overall it was pretty good just not a favorite.

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review

The Song of Sourwood Mountain // Book Review

 

About the Book:

While the century began with such promise, it is 1910 when Mira Dean's hopes of being a wife and mother are dashed to pieces. Her fiancé dead from tuberculosis, Mira resigns herself to being a spinster schoolteacher--until Gordon Covington shows up.

No longer the boy she knew from school, Gordon is now a preacher who is full of surprises. First, he asks Mira to come to Sourwood in eastern Kentucky to teach at his mission school. Second, he asks her to marry him. Just like that. And all at once the doors that had seemed firmly shut begin to open, just a crack.

With much trepidation, Mira steps out in faith into a life she never imagined, in a place filled with its own special challenges, to serve a people who will end up becoming the family she always dreamed of.

My Review:

I unfortunately did not like The Song of Sourwood Mountain as much as I had hoped to. I could not stand Gordon at all in the beginning. He grew on me a bit but I still wasn’t a fan of him by the end of the book. I felt like Mira was pressured into stuff, but eventually I was able to enjoy her story more. Pretty much everything that happened or what people felt they should do was “the Lord’s prompting”. God most definitely can prompt us to do stuff but this phrase was over used in my opinion.

I did enjoy the setting of the Kentucky mountains and seeing Mira settle into a new place. Ada June was a cute kid and it was nice seeing her point of view throughout the book as well. 

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple // Book Review

 

About the Book:

Peter Driscoll, an underground investigator to the wealthy, has never met anyone like Lily Temple. The beautiful silent-film actress spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera, but beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit--and a murky past.

Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story--and the sapphire--Peter employs Lily's help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him.

Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano whisks you away to Edwardian England in 1903 for a whimsical and layered tale that treads the crooked line between real and make-believe.

My Review:

I have such mixed feelings on this book. The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple was definitely an anticipated book for me seeing as I have enjoyed most of this author’s other books. This particular book was a bit hard for me to follow for quite a bit in the beginning. After a somewhat long while the story started making more sense to me and I was interested in the story but then would loose interest for a bit then get invested again. So it was just a harder book for me to read. 

I did find it really cool how Lily Temple was a silent film actress and I liked her character. I also liked Peter Driscoll and his and Lily’s relationship. 

So overall it wasn’t bad but sadly it definitely wasn’t a new favorite either. 

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review

Just for the Summer // Book Review

 About the Book:

Ginny Masters manages a popular boutique hotel in Seattle and manages it with aplomb. But the daily challenges and irritations of a fast-paced job and a demanding boss are starting to get to her. Jacqueline Potter manages her grandfather's fishing lodge in Idaho because it was the only job she could find after graduating with her hospitality degree. She's grateful for the work but longs for a more sophisticated and cosmopolitan life she's just not going to find in this backwoods town.

The solution to both their problems seems obvious. Just for the summer, they'll swap jobs and lifestyles. But they never anticipated swapping love interests . . .

In this fabulous new twist on an age-old fable, award-winning and bestselling author Melody Carlson introduces you to two career-focused women who are about to discover that there's more to finding happiness than just switching up the scenery.

My Review:

Just for the Summer was a quick read. I did have fun reading but towards the end I was ready for it to wrap up.

The story follows two women, Ginny and Jacqueline, who end up switching jobs temporarily. Ginny works as a hotel manager in Washington and Jacqueline works at her grandfather’s fishing lodge in Idaho. The two get the opportunity to swap jobs for 60 days. 

I liked Ginny and her storyline for the most part but was not a fan of Jacqueline and her story. Jacqueline was very annoying and manipulative. 

I wasn’t a fan though how Ginny let people bully her into doing something she didn’t want to do. I can’t say too much because I don’t want to give spoilers.

For the most part it wasn’t too bad but definitely not a favorite.

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review

Embers in the London Sky // Book Review

 About the Book:

As the German army invades the Netherlands in 1940, Aleida van der Zee Martens escapes to London to wait out the Occupation. Separated from her three-year-old son, Theo, in the process, the young widow desperately searches for her little boy even as she works for an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside.

When German bombs set London ablaze, BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood reports on the Blitz, eager to boost morale while walking the fine line between truth and censorship. But the Germans are not the only ones Londoners have to fear as a series of murders flame up amid the ashes.

The deaths hit close to home for Hugh, and Aleida needs his help to locate her missing son. As they work together, they grow closer and closer, both to each other and the answers they seek. But with bombs falling and continued killings, they may be running out of time.

My Review:

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about Embers in the London Sky…I was interested in the story in the beginning but after a bit I had a hard time staying interested. A little over halfway through the book I got reinvested and was curious where the story would go and what would happen involving the more mystery aspect of the storyline.

Aleida made me so frustrated at times though, especially at one point towards the end. I can’t say much due to spoilers but I did like Aleida’s character better in the first half of the book.

So overall I liked the book but it definitely was not a favorite.

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review

The Seamstress of Acadie // Book Review

 

About the Book:

As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada's Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family--French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral--are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. Amid preparations for the celebration of Noël, the talk is of unrest, coming war, and William Blackburn, the British Army Ranger raising havoc across North America's borderlands.

As summer takes hold in 1755 and British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William's, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

My Review:

I honestly wasn’t sure how much I would like The Seamstress of Acadie. I ended up enjoying it so much more than I anticipated I would! 

Sylvie was a great character and I really enjoyed reading about her. Will was a great character too and I really liked him. Bleu is also a character I really liked. Honestly all of the characters were so well written. 

At around 30% into the story it took a depressing turn and I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it anymore. I did end up getting back into the story and found it less sad as I went. I felt like the author did a good job portraying light in the midst of darkness. Because while the story definitely dealt with some hard and sad stuff it also focused on hope too. 

I’m so glad I ended up reading this one!

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review