A Time to Heal by Barbara Cameron

A Time to Heal by Barbara Cameron

Published: 2011

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Series:Quilts of Lancaster County(Book 2)

Goodreads Summery:

Christopher Marshall is a weary and wounded ex-soldier who just wants some peace in his life.  He met Jenny in the hospital and later corresponds with her.  When he visits her and Matthew, he envies them their happiness.  Then he meets Matthew's sister, Hannah Bontrager, and there's a clash of cultures and values between the former career military man and the gentle, pacifist Amish woman.  Yet there also is a deep attraction between them, and they fall in love.
Born and raised on a Kansas farm, Christopher finally finds peace in this simple community helping Matthew with the crops. Christopher expects resistance to his presence from the Amish but is appalled when he and Hannah experience threats. He has no fear for himself.  But to protect Hannah, he resolves to leave everyone and everything he has come to love in this place he calls "God's country."  When he discovers who his enemy is, he realizes he must stay and reveal a secret that has sent him into a different world than he has ever known.

This book tells the story of Hannah, Matthew’s sister. She is now living with Jennie’s grandma. She really wants to find the right guy and settle down and have a family but the right man has just now shown up. She tries to be patience but she struggles with waiting on God’s timing. Then one day she finds a Englishman in the barn and she finds herself attracted to him. Could this be God’s plan for her or will she just have to keep waiting?

Christopher has come to talk to Jennie. After meeting her in the hospital many months ago he wants to ask her some questions that might help him heal from his past. He did not expect to meet a spirited Amish women who starts to steal his heart.

This was a good book I think I enjoyed the story line from this book a little better then the first in the series. I really liked Hannah and how she speakers her mind and does not back down from a argument. She definitely goes against the grain of what one would expect an Amish lady to behave.

Christopher is also very likeable. He feels a connection with the area and the people and seems to find a peace as the book goes on. This book is also dropping some hints to the 3rd book due out later this year.

My problem with this book is again same idea of the first book an Amish falls for an English person and everyone just seems fine with that. As much as I wanted to love this book because I so love the characters I just can’t get past the fairytale of it being so easy to become and Amish. I almost wish the subject had been different with this book having both books deal with the same basic story line was a little boring.

I love the writers style and am looking forward to the 3rd book which looks to deal with some other issues. A great series so far though and I am enjoying this author a lot!

Book Rating

Steamy Rating

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Cowboy's Touch by Denise Hunter

A Cowboy's Touch by Denise Hunter

Published: 2011

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Series: A Big Sky Romance(Book 1)

Goodreads Summery: Four years ago, rodeo celebrity Wade Ryan gave up his identity to protect his daughter. Now, settled on a ranch in Big Sky Country, he lives in obscurity, his heart guarded by a high, thick fence. Abigail Jones isn't sure how she went from big-city columnist to small-town nanny, but her new charge is growing on her, to say nothing of her ruggedly handsome boss. Love blossoms between Abigail and Wade--despite her better judgment. Will the secrets she brought with her to Moose Creek, Montana separate her from the cowboy who finally captured her heart?

Abigail is an investigating reporter and works for her moms magazine in Chicago. She is suffering from hypertension(high blood pressure) and so her mom sends her to Montana to visit her aunt for 3 months so she can rest and heal. She soon befriends a little girl named Maddy. Who she also finds out needs a nanny for the summer. With little to do she takes the job.

Wade was once a famous rodeo cowboy but after his wife’s death he left the spot light and moved to Montana with his daughter to run his ranch and raise his daughter. So far his past has not found him but will the new nanny expose his past or will he find love once again?

This was a sweet little romance story. I enjoyed reading it. I did find the story line to be a bit predictable though. The daughter Maddy was probably my favorite character. She was just such a sweet little girl and she brightened all the pages she was on. Wade was your typical cowboy with a past. He was still feeling some guilt about his late wife and so he planned to never marry again.

Abigail being the reporter she is soon figures out who Wade is and plans to write a story to save her moms magazine but starts to feel guilty about it as she falls for Wade.

This is a fun romance but for me it was very predictable which made it a little boring at times. This is a great book if you just want a light Christian romance. The book was well written and I look forward to reading the next book due out next year.

Book Rating

Steamy Rating

 

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Love Remains by Kaye Dacus

Love Remains by Kaye Dacus

Published: 2010

Publisher: Barbour Books

Series: Matchmakers(Book 1)

Goodreads Summery: Every grandmother wants to see her grandchildren happy, especially when it comes to their love lives. Join five active senior ladies—and one gentleman—who take a great interest in the lives and loves of their single grandchildren and become The Matchmakers. Zarah Mitchell and Bobby Patterson become the first focus of meddling grandmothers when he moves back to Nashville to work for the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit. Will Zarah be able to forgive the man who years ago chose a military career over her—especially when she learns he is investigating the historic preservation agency for which she works?

This is the first in a series that deal with 4 grandparents(Grandma’s) who want to see their grandchildren married. This story is about Zarah and Bobby. These two had a relationship 14 years ago that ended badly. Now Bobby has moved back home to Nashville and soon runs face to face into Zarah. It does not take long to figure out that the reason for the break up all those years ago are seen differently from both sides.

Zarah likes to blend into a crowd and see’s herself as a helper. Her father never treated her very well so her self esteem is low. Seeing Bobby again also brings back a lot of memories about her father.

Bobby has never forgotten Zarah or forgiven her for how she left him. He is also working on a case that requires him to do some investigating into Zarah’s life which soon revels things that make him question how the break up happened and also how Zarah is reacting to him now. Will these two find a happy ending or will the past be to much to over come?

I enjoyed this book. I always enjoy a romance when there is tension between the couple or when there has been a past relationship. This book deals with some issues such as self esteem and parental rejection. I really felt for Zarah because her father treated her so poorly. I wish the outcome on that front has ended a little better but it was a realistic story line and pulled at the heart strings. Zarah deals with a low self esteem due to her father. As her character grows in the book you start to see her become more sure of her self which I enjoyed. I like when a character grows in a book like that.

As Bobby gets to know Zarah again he becomes aware of her self esteem issues and pushes her to over come. He really did not have any thing himself to over come other then the break up from the past. I liked him but did not feel as connected to him as I did Zarah. I also enjoyed Zarah’s friends and look forward to the books about them.

Over all a good book and I am looking forward to the rest in the series. The story line did not grab me as much as I had hoped and there where times where I kept thinking it was taking to long for Bobby and Zarah to actually talk about the past. The mystery part of the story was good and well written along with the romance. A lot of books either focus on the romance or the mystery and I felt this book did a good job of balancing the two.

Book Rating

Steamy Rating

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.