The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas

 

The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas
5 Stars

Secular Historical Fiction

Standalone Book

Wow. Honestly y'all. This book blew me away. I have never read a Sandra Dallas book until now and while this had some heavier topics, I was completely immersed in the storytelling, the characters and the setting. (*See trigger warnings at the end if needed.)

Set in 1937 Colorado during the Dust Bowl period, lots of dust storms are brewing, food is scarce, times are hard, work is few and far between....We follow Martha Hellen, the POV throughout the story. She is I believe either 15 or 16. A young man by the name of Otis helps a young boy out of a dust cloud/storm and Martha Hellen's Mama wants to help him by letting him stay in exchange for work on their property. He is considered a "vagrant", an out of towner...not welcome by most of the community. However, they believe in helping the less fortunate....this leads to a story of heartache, loss, unknowns....

Like I said, I was completely immersed in this book. I listened to the audiobook for the first 50% (amazing narrator) and then there was soooo much going on, I had to stop and grab my e-book ARC because I NEEDED TO KNOW! 

I think what stands out for me on this is the ending with the twist - it TOOK ME OUT. I never saw it coming. 

Martha Hellen and her family - I loved them. Such good examples of parents during that time - good, hardworking people who had been through so much hardship but never gave up. Martha Hellen was a good friend, also someone who never gave up. 

What else can I say....I think the ending was brilliant honestly because it was so unexpected. I had to go back and re-read it like 4 times to make sure I was reading it right! That's how blown my mind was with it. 

I definitely want to read more of Sandra's books. She sure does tell a WILD and good story!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the complimentary ebook and audiobook to honestly read for review. All thoughts are my own.

*Trigger/Content Warnings: Death, Poverty, Language - 2 to 3 GDs, few other smaller words, situational language I guess you would say....I didn't care for the language personally. Sexual assault, murder, bullying, sexism - may be other things I missed but there is no romance really in this, it's a historical fiction story showing the realities of the hard things that happened during that time. It won't be for everyone but I really liked the story overall.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8421617259
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4sbNnCW
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links,

Shadowed by Dani Pettrey (Novella)

 

Shadowed - Novella Prequel to the Alaskan Courage Series by Dani Pettrey 
(Novella is on Amazon as an E-Book or you can get it as part of a Novella Collection in Sins of the Past - A Romantic Suspense Novella Collection with 2 other novellas by Lynette Eason and Dee Henderson)
5 Stars

Once again, love this series. This prequel introduces Ben and Libby, that you see in the Alaskan Courage Series as the parents to the McKennas. Loved getting to see them  together and how they got together. Also nice that it was set in 1979 Alaska and not a  modern time.

Ben is a young Alaskan fisherman who nets the body of a Russian open water swimming competitor. Libby is another swimmer who knew the woman and is pulled into trying to figure this case out with Ben. 

I think it's best to have gotten acquainted with Ben and Libby from the books 1+ and then going back to this novella, it made me appreciate their back story more.

It was fast paced, quick romance. Always enjoy the faith elements in these books. While I don't have a ton to say, it was a good, edge of your seat prequel to the series. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8418668656
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rnUuGZ
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

DNF Review - All Booked Up by Melody Carlson

All Booked Up by Melody Carlson - DNF

Did Not Finish after roughly one third of the book. 

The premise is a recent widow opening her home to renters and the promise of found family and second chances is warm and appealing, but the execution left me disengaged and unwilling to continue.

What I liked:

- The setup feels like we could have some good bookish elements with the books and depth from grief of loss. The library and bookish elements add charm to it for any book lover. The characters are kind of like golden girls style ladies if you will so that's fun in general. I love a good friendship story, especially with older characters, so I really wanted to love this but it just wasn't working... see below.

Why I DNF’d:

Honestly, for me, the characters just felt too surface level. I felt like I wasn't getting to know them well enough to care. I could never really "connect" to them I guess. Too much gossip and petty conflicts for my taste. That is pretty true to the Golden Girls I guess, but I still couldn't come to care for them. The romance was awkward, just didn't connect because this guy is the center of everyone's interest.

I do like some of Melody's books, but this one just wasn't for me. I saw a review mention this would probably be great as a series for each character and I fully agree.

Content/Trigger Warning: Clean romance, no language, grief from spouse loss

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own. 

Prayer by Courtney Reissig

Book Review: Prayer by Courtney Reissig

4.5 Stars

What a beautiful devotional book. Jam packed in under 55 pages, Courtney brings us so many beautiful reminders of prayer. I am in a hard season right now and this brought me comfort in the hardship. She reminds us that "prayer is the avenue to bring our many burdens before the only one who can provide true relief" and that "peace is waiting for us on the other side" of it. So many times I don't know what to even say to God. So many times I think I have to have it all together before I come to Him. But I don't. He sees me in the EXACT moment I need Him. He's always wanting that relationship. He wants us to give Him our burdens. He wants to give us REST in Him. Courtney's book says "When we turn to God in our need, we see outside our own circumstances to a God who holds all things together (Heb 1:3)." May I never forget just how good He is. May I always shift my focus to His faithfulness on the hard days. May I not focus on my circumstances but focus on His goodness and His glory. May I never think of God as a genie in a bottle granting requests....but as perfect, in infinite wisdom, knowing what's best for me in His will for my life. May I grow in patience and perseverance in any season of waiting, because He loves me and has a plan and purpose so good for my life.

This book reminded me of those things and I highly recommend it. I purchased the many other books in this - the Disciplines of Devotion series - and I can't wait to dive in to them.

Thank you Crossway for providing a gifted complimentary copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8412827077
Crossway's Site: https://www.crossway.org/books/prayer-tpb/ (I recommend getting directly from them because Crossway+ Members get a discount. Here is more info about the free Crossway+ Membership: https://www.crossway.org/plus

If you prefer Amazon, here is that link: https://amzn.to/3Nci5wl

*Amazon links are affiliate link and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Silenced by Dani Pettrey

Silenced by Dani Pettrey

Book 4 in The Alaskan Courage Series
5 Stars

I just love this series! This follow Kayden and Jake's romance. Rock climbing takes a turn when Kayden's route leads her to a dead climber. Is there more to their death than meets the eye? Jake has a hard past after the loss of his wife and unborn child and he uses that hardship to help the sheriff to work in an investigation again. Jake comes back to work for this case and they soon realize this was no accident. And worse...it seems the killer is on to them. Strange things happen and Jake is worried again, that someone he love is in danger.

While I don't have a ton to say, I really enjoyed the romance, suspense and it kept me engaged. I need to finish the series soon! I would say this also has a really good narrator too for the audiobook! I listened to the book in 1 DAY! I highly recommend the series as a whole. It's a good, Christian romantic suspense that has good characters, suspense, romance, great family dynamic, it just keeps you interested. It's hard to find one like this that has been this good for me in a while. 

*Content/Trigger Warnings: Grief shown from loss of main MMCs wife and unborn child killed in a car accident, murders, adultery mentioned, parental loss grief, that's what I remember right off. It was done in an appropriate way but just be aware of that if needed.

Amazon Series Link: https://amzn.to/4cnJTbr
Baker: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780764211959_silenced
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Every Hour I Need You by Katie Faris

 

Every Hour I Need You by Katie Faris 
4 Stars

This was very relatable for me as a mom. As Moms we are always stretched too thin and trying to do everything with little energy left at the end of the day. Katie writes with the kind of understanding that she KNOWS just how it feels as a Mother herself, long days...long nights...yet even in the chaos we can connect with the Lord in the every day. 

I feel like this was a good devotional that really meets Moms where we are in the messy every day life, and encourages us to remember the attributes of God. His sovereignty, patience, love, faithfulness...and how we can remember those attributes in our every day lives. 

Each chapter was easy to read each day and made for a good quick devotional. I really liked her personal stories as that added a layer of relatability for me. She has 5 children so she had plenty of stories should could tell. They were real and honest.

I think this would be a good devotional to give as a gift to any Mom. No matter what season we are in, it reminds us of just how much we need the Lord and just how we can experience His goodness in the hardest seasons. I know it helped me as a special needs Mama specifically. 

Thank you to Crossway for sending me a gifted copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8384803611
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4l376C1
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Everybody's Favorite Guy by Katherine Center

 

A Short Story, 50 Pages - 1 Hour Audiobook ARC From NetGalley
Everybody's Favorite Guy - Katherine Center 
3 Stars 

Quick audiobook I got from NetGalley, will be on KU for a quick secular romance read on March 17th. Short story. Requested just to see how it was, since the last couple of Katherine Center romance books just have not worked for me, I was curious how this was with it being just a short story....

7 years after Walker's rejection, Lily and their families have conspired to bring them back together at a cabin in the Rockies when a snowstorm traps them overnight with no power. They confront their unresolved feelings.

The romance was more lustful than I prefer, but it was a quick, easy listen when I just wanted something light and not too heavy. 

However, the ending reason for why he pushed her away so long ago was honorable and had some depth - I liked that part pretty well because it reminded me of the past Katherine Center books I liked. 

Their Mom's bringing each of their Dad's ashes for each of them to scatter and joking about it was kind of weird though. I guess she was trying to be funny but geez. Didn't like the language but it was alright for a secular, short story. Don't know that I would really "recommend" it but its nice it was just a "make out" only book.

Tropes:

- Childhood Crush / Second Chance
- Opposites Attract

- Friends to Lovers

- Grief Thread from Parental Loss
- Snowed In Together 

- Matchmaking Mothers

- Forced Proximity 
- Banter 

Content/Triggers: Language - 2 H Word, 4 D Words, 1 AH Word, 2 S Words, 1 F word Parental Death in the Past, Mention of Cancer, Scattering Ashes of a Parent, Romance had 1 make out, a but lustful but nothing crazy in my opinion

Thanks to the publisher for an audio copy to listen to for review. All thoughts are my own.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rCOBGY

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.