Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Love Finds Your in Lonesome Prairie Montana by Tracy Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss

I so enjoy the Love Finds You books... and this one is set in the west and during the pioneer days... my favorite setting for a Historic Romance!

Julia Cavanaugh loves her life taking care of the orphan girls in New York. So when her dear headmistress announces that the orphanage is closing, Julia is stunned and worried.  She learns that the girls are going to homes out west via the Orphan Train and Julia is going to accompany them. What an adventure!  Julia looks forward to seeing the west and then returning home to New York to work. What she doesn't expect is a surprise... in the form of a gentleman who has purchased her as a mail order bride.

Stuck with no money in Lonesome Prairie, Julia is rescued by a local family and given a place to stay until the next train comes through.... whenever that may be.  Julia spends her time getting to know the west, the families there and avoiding her "husband."  As her heart tenders toward this harsh land and the people there, Julia begins to wonder if God has a plan for her in Lonesome Prairie and a husband too.

Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber

Like most who have read a Debbie Macomber book, she is a favorite author of mine. While I do prefer Christian Fiction, her works are clean and decent and so much fun to read! Hannah's List is such a unique idea and not as far fetched as one might think. I actually have a friend who did something similar when she was dying.

Hannah has been gone for 1 year.... loosing her battle with cancer.  Her husband, Michael, has created a life for himself with out Hannah. One he feels is fine as it is. Others, of course, know better... and so did Hannah. On the one year anniversary of her death, Michael receives a letter.. written by Hannah. She knew how he would spend that first year... how he would feel... and she shares all that with him and then tells him what every one else has been trying to say... he has to get on with his life.  And she wants him to marry again.... to love again... to have children... so much so that she has picked 3 candidates. She does not require him to marry one of the women, but to at least meet each one and go out on a date.

Michael is shocked... angry... overwhelmed...  but over time he honors Hannah's wish and then wonders what she was thinking!  These 3 women are as different as night and day.  But Michael learns that Hannah really did know him best.

This is a story about love... different kinds of love... that young fresh first love... friendship love.... the memory of love... and a new tender surprising love found after a loss.

As always, the characters are rich and real and people I would love to meet in person.

Hannah's List is a must read for any Macomber fan and a great intro to her writing if you've never experienced it before.

NOTE: I have included Blossom Street in my tags. Blossom Street is a series by Macomber and while this is not part of the series, it is a companion book.  Several of the Blossom Street characters are here.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Nosy in Nebraska by Mary Connealy

Nosy in Nebraska is part of a series called America loves a Mystery. In each of these, the reader finds 3 novels set in the same state... often the same town and with overlapping characters and plot lines.  These are cozy mysteries with a bit of romance stirred in for good behavior.

The three novels in Nosy are Of Mice and Murder, Pride and Pestilence, and The Mice Man Cometh.  Now I have to tell you I was skeptical. These stories all center around a town in Nebraska whose mascot is a field mouse! Yuck!  I do not like mice at all!  I am one of those women who squeal and jump on the nearest piece of furniture at the slightest sight of a mouse.

Truthfully, it was a issue as I read the first book. Of Mice and Murder is good and definitely necessary to set up the other 2 books, but the mice focus was just a bit much for me. However, I am thrilled I pressed on and faced my fear. LOL!  All three stories were fun and quirky (to say the least!)

This is a great summer read... or really whenever you want to be entertained without having to strain your brain!