Green Pastures by Patricia Johns

Green Pastures is the first book I have read by Patricia Johns and it did not disappoint. Having ties to the Mennonite faith personally I can relate to the Amish on some level.

The character development in this story was great. There was a lot of characters that we see evolve throughout the book. The three sisters-Tabitha, Amanda and Rose are all in the middle of life changing experiences. I loved seeing Tabitha navigate her life after divorce and the Amish community while also trying to support herself through being a veterinarian. Amanda is trying to navigate courting Menno. Which Menno in himself goes through some amazing development battling alcoholism, abandonment, and the return of his mother. Rose going through a lot as a newlywed and navigating what it means to be a wife. There were so many layers to each character.

The setting was enjoyable. Who doesn’t love a good Amish story set on rolling farmlands in Lancaster County. The storyline was fun. It has been a while since I have read a story with so many main characters and intertwining stories.

The romance was sweet, a low spice. Just the way I appreciate it. It was a slow build and courtship style.

Patricia Johns did a great job intertwining faith throughout the book.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Dancing in the Florida Sun by Kim Griffin

Dancing in the Florida Sun is the first book I have read written by Kim Griffin and it will not be my last. I was completely blown away by this book. When I finished, I had to take a pause and mourn the loss of the characters.

The character development was great. Brooke came a long way from the beginning of the book. I loved seeing her process it all and overcome obstacles to see her worth. Jacob also came a long way. I loved the way he pursued Brooke in such a respectful way, but even the best intentions can get you in trouble when you aren’t completely honest.

The storyline was great. I loved that Brooke’s grandma was so willing to help her out and get on her feet while she was struggling with grief, figuring things out with her son and gaining her footing. I loved watching Jacob pursue Brooke, but also trying to figure things out and how to be part of her life from his life in the spot light.

The romance was good. Very closed-door, low spice, just the way I appreciate things. Only kisses, and nothing too over the top.

Kim Griffin did such a great job intertwining faith throughout the whole novel. I came away refreshed and encouraged in my faith.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

His Unforgettable Bride by Patti Stockdale

His Unforgettable Bride is the second book I have read written by Patti Stockdale. I loved the Cinderella, Prince to Paupers story vibes with a mix of amnesia mixed in. It made for a really intriguing story. I really enjoyed getting to meet up with the other characters from the bride ship stories.

The character development was great. Juliet has come a long way and worked hard to try and reform her life. When she finally lands this new job working with the sisters to get their tea house running, I was totally invested and rooting for her. Henry/Gray had a lot of things he was working through, as well as trying to gain his memories.

The storyline was great. I loved trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Trying to figure out if Henry/Gray would regain memory.

The romance was sweet and perfect. It was low spice and closed door. I loved the falling in love while trying to figure out their own lives and see if they could have a future together.

Patti did an excellent job intertwining faith throughout and pointing the reader back to God.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham

Some Like It Scot is the eighth book I have read written by Pepper Basham. Ever since reading Authentically, Izzy, Pepper Basham has become an instant read. I have absolutely loved everything I have read, and some Like It Scot was no exception. I was sucked in from the very start and could not put the book down.

The character development was good. I loved getting to know each character and learning more about each one. Katie was absolutely hilarious. I loved her clumsiness and knack for getting herself into predicaments. It made for the perfect rom-com. Graeme was the perfect grumpy character. I loved getting to see behind the façade and peel back the layers. There were a lot of side characters; at times, it was a little hard to keep them state in my imagination.

The storyline was so fun. I loved that it is set in this Edwardian Experience/B&B in Scotland. Katie being a travel writer, gets invited to experience it all. Little did they know she wasn’t the average girl. The book was very entertaining and funny.

The relationship between Katie and Graeme was sweet. One thing I know I am going to get from Pepper Basham is passionate kisses, and it was present in this book as well. Some scenes were a little on the border for me and my preference. (ie referencing imagining what’s under clothing) scenes can easily be skimmed over. Other than that, clean, low-spice, closed-door romance. I enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine relationship dynamic. It was a fun read for me.

There were faith elements intertwined throughout the novel.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Rescued Faith by Michelle Sass Aleckson

Rescued Faith is the third book I have read written by Michelle Sass Aleckson and I have been enjoying her writing so much. This past year I have really enjoyed Lisa Phillips series. So, to be able to visit Last Chance County and be introduced to new authors is such a treat. Even though this is the sixth book in the series it can be read as a stand-alone. Packed full of suspense, rekindled romance, and faith, it was better than a movie. The character development was good. I enjoyed getting to know Penny and Bryce more and seeing what made them tick. Watching them overcome their trauma and past and find their faith in Christ was such a great story. The storyline was packed full. There was a lot going on in this story. I loved seeing the innerworkings of fire rescue and law enforcement. It was a fun dynamic. It kept me on edge. The setting was great too. I have really come to love Last Chance County. The relationship between Penny and Bryce was sweet. It was a second chance romance. Which I love they got a second chance after finding Christ. Michelle Sass Aleckson did a great job intertwining faith throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the reminder that God is at the center, and God can redeem us. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Rescued Duty by Laura Conaway

Rescued Duty is the first book I have read written by Laura Conaway, but not the first by Lisa Phillips. I was introduced to Lisa Phillips books and have come to know that anything by her is an instant-read. Even though this is the fifth book in the series, it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, though you can’t go wrong reading more. I personally am going to go back and read the other four books because I love a good back story. Some of the characters cross over from the other stories. This book was filled with suspense, romance, faith, and a glimpse into the foster care system. The character development was great. I loved getting to know Naya and Zack. Seeing how the two of them dealt with their past going through the foster care system and how they found healing. I loved watching them reconnect and fall in love. The storyline and setting were good. I enjoyed all the different elements-fire rescue, investigative journalism, foster care, and the suspense of who is contaminating the water. I loved the small-town setting. The relationship between Naya and Zack was good. I appreciate the cleanness of the romance. It was just the tiniest sprinkling, which made for the perfect clean read. Laura Conway and Lisa Phillips did a great job of intertwining faith throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the reminder that God is at the center. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl

Shattered Sanctuary was the first book I have read written by Nancy Mehl and I look forward to reading some more in the future. The story hooked me from the very beginning. The character development was good. I enjoyed getting to watch Erin struggle through her issues and learn to work through her trauma. I appreciated Kaely’s friendship (first time meeting in person) and how she was there to support Erin through this while also, working on her process to help with the case. All the characters added to the story and were fun. I look forward to the next book. Also, while looking up other books, it seems like there is a series for Kaely which I think I will have to add to my TBR list. The setting and storyline were great. As someone who loves Criminal Minds and crime shows, I loved the FBI BAU and law enforcement background aspect of this book. I loved getting to see the process behind solving these cases. I also loved the small-town element. The romance element was light, as there is a possibility of one in the future. I appreciated the no spice. The suspense element was great. I loved trying to figure out who the killer was and who else was linked to these killings. Nancy Mehl did a great job intertwining faith throughout the book. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry by Susan L. Tuttle

The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry is the second book I have read written by Susan L. Tuttle, and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed being back with the crew whisking off to solve the next puzzle that Caspar threw at them. The character development was great. I loved getting back with the group. Seeing where Everleigh and Neil had come. It was fun to get to know Natalie and Mason on a deeper level and dig into their relationship problems. It was also fun getting to know more about the others in the crew and getting to know a little bit more about the mysterious Caspar. The storyline and setting were great. I loved hunting down the book in the piles at the mansion and old bookstores. I had fun envisioning the different scenes. As before, it was fun to have the snippets of the past to really bring the story to life. The romance was perfect low spice, closed-door romance. It was a great reminder for my own relationship to keep each other and God at the center. To remember to invest in our marriage, and not just feel like we are up against each other but working as a team. Susan L. Tuttle’s intertwining of faith throughout was the perfect touch. I was really encouraged. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill

Written in Secret is the first book I have read by Crystal Caudill, and I look forward to reading more. Written in Secret was such a fun concept. I loved the historical mystery thriller. I was swept up in the story from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed this and could not put it down. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think, and best of all it brought me back to Christ. The character development was great. I loved watching Lydia navigate the outcome of a serial killer using her works to copy as an almost plea to right the wrong of justice. Just because the court systems might fail, that doesn’t mean we should take matters into our own hands. We need to leave that in the hands of the courts and our creator. What a hard lesson for Lydia to learn. The storyline and setting were fantastic. I loved getting a look into story writing in the past while trying to solve who the serial killer was. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. The blossoming romance was a slow build. I appreciated its low-spice content. Crystal Caudill did a fantastic job intertwining faith throughout the novel. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Love and Other Chances by Tracy Baack

Love and Other Chances is the second book I have read by Tracy Baack and it did not disappoint. The character development was great. I loved watching Teegan trying to figure out her next steps in her life while also trying not to rekindle things with Brooks. Brooks was a fun character. Watching him process his grief was really touching. I loved watching him pursue Teegan and treat her the right way. The setting and storyline were cute. Teegan had the coolest job. I loved getting a glimpse into the college life. The romance was good. Nothing too over the top. I loved the second-chance romance. This was a pretty clean, kisses-only romance. Tracy Baack did a great job of intertwining faith throughout the book. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

His Perfect Bride by Jody Hedlund

His Perfect Bride is the third book in the series written by Jody Hedlund. This is the sixth book I have read by her, and I feel like I have very consistently gotten the same feeling. His Perfect Bride was a great Beauty and the Beast retelling. The character development was great. I loved that we got to see Sage’s story. Seeing Sage and Willow reconnect in Canada was such a fun storyline. Seeing Jackson Lennox pull himself out of his depression and rebuild his life after everything seemed to fall apart. The setting and storyline were perfect. I loved that this series can be read as a standalone, but I am enjoying checking in with past characters and seeing how they are doing. I love that it is set in Canada. Being Canadian, and visited Vancouver Island, I can totally picture the setting. The romance was good. I know that when I read a Jody Hedlund book sometimes, I might have a few pages that make me feel a little bit uncomfortable. That is just my personal preference for spice or lack thereof of spice that I appreciate. There was nothing too over the top. There was definitely some passion described. But nothing too much. Jody Hedlund did a great job intertwining faith throughout the book. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Falling For a Devoted Cowgirl by Karen Baney

Falling For a Devoted Cowgirl was the first book I have read written by Karen Baney. I look forward to reading some more. I was sucked in from the very beginning. This is part of a series and can be read as a stand-alone. However, I think you might get more out of the other characters if you read the rest of the series. The character development was good. I loved getting to see Adan and how he processed becoming a father to a twelve-year-old son and the secret behind that. Also is willingness to take on this larger role, even when things come to light. It was also interesting to pull back the layers of Solana and see her heart. She was so sweet. The setting and storyline were good. I loved the ranch, cowboy life. It was fun to be in that element. This was my first large age-gap romance, and it was an interesting dynamic. My parents have a larger age gap, so it was interesting to see that in a story. The romance was good. I appreciated the closed-door aspect. Karen Baney did a fantastic job intertwining faith throughout and pointing the reader to God. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Welcome to Honey B&B by Melody Carlson

Welcome to Honey B&B is written by a long-time favorite Melody Carlson. She was one of the Christian YA authors that I fell in love with in junior high and have been reading on and off for years. When I see a book is by Melody Carlson, I instantly know it is going to be a good book. And this was no exception. I was swept into the story from the very start. The character development was amazing. Seeing the decline of CT was so hear breaking. But getting to see how each character interacts with him was so telling of who they were. I loved seeing Honey’s love for her husband, but also being torn by her hopes and dreams. I loved getting to know Jewel seeing her interact with her father’s decline and navigating two different love interests. I also loved seeing Cooper step up to help her mom and grandma with her grandpa, while also moving to a new state and trying to make new friends. The setting and storyline were perfect. I loved being on a little bee farm in the country. Helping Jewel turn the farmhouse into a little B&B was a cute hallmark storyline and setting. The romance element was cute. Very closed door and low spice, which I appreciate. It was fun that she had two men interested in her and Jewel had to decide between the two. Melody Carlson did a great job intertwining faith throughout the novel. It was really encouraging. I also appreciated the personal touch to this story. Make sure to read the authors notes on this story. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon

An Overdue Match is the first book I have read written by Sarah Monzon and I look forward to reading more. This book was so fun with its witty banter, book references, and opposites attract. The character development was great. I loved getting to see a main character struggling with Alopecia, personally struggling with hair thinning, I could relate on a small level. And I loved seeing how Evangeline dealt with it and all the things she had to overcome to learn to love herself. I also liked getting to know Tai. There were many layers to the characters. The setting and storyline were perfect. I loved the small-town feel. The librarian and tattoo artist characters kind of made me think of Rory and Jess from Gilmore Girls. All in all, it was fun. There was a lot to unpack in this book. I appreciated Evangeline’s scheming to try to play matchmaker. It was very comical. The romance element was fun. I loved watching Evangeline fall in love after everything she has gone through. There were a few scenes that were a little much for my no/low spice preference. Just wanted to point out, for those that prefer a clean read. There was a little bit of passionate kisses. Sarah Monzon did a great job intertwining faith throughout the book. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

The Tiny Crown by Susan Barnett Braun

The Tiny Crown is the first book I have read written by Susan Barnett Braun and it was such a joy. It was a quick read, and I could not put it down. I look forward to reading some more books. The character development was good. I enjoyed getting to see Lucinda learn to be content with her life as a 16-year-old girl. This would be the perfect book for a YA. The setting was great. I loved getting to peek into London and some historical elements as well. The storyline was a fun concept. Wishing to be somewhere else and to find a prince. Lo and behold that is where Lucinda finds herself. However, when she wakes up, she finds she is back home, and nothing has happened. I loved the fairytale element. Though not overtly Christian, it has some Christian faith elements throughout. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Heart of Beauty by Danielle Grandinetti

Heart of Beauty is the second book I have read written by Danielle Grandinetti, and it will not be the last. This retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a Western spin on it was perfection. I look forward to the next book Danielle writes. The character development was great. I loved getting to know Caleb and Sallie. They brought so much to the Belle and the Beast-inspired characters. The setting and storyline were perfect. This was a shorter book, which made for a quick read but was not lacking in detail. I loved the Western frontier as the setting. It gave a fun spin on the tale. The storyline was great and easy to follow along. It was easy to see the parallels to the Beauty and the Beast. I also loved that they were working with horses. The romance element was sweet. There was nothing over the top, just kisses only. I loved the slow falling-in-love element. Though Sallie is only there out of convenience, it makes for a fun romance. Danielle Grandinetti did a great job intertwining faith throughout the whole book. *I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.