The Icecutter's Daughter by Tracie Peterson

I read this book awhile ago but decided to reread it so I could blog about it since I just read the second in the series.  The story is about Merrill Krause who is the only woman in family.  Her mother has passed away and so she is left with her father and brothers.  She isn't interested so much in feminine pursuits but is practical.  Any man that has ever been interested in her is scared off by her brothers.  Rurik Jorgenson leaves behind is family to help his uncle in his carpentry business.  He is engaged to be married but calls it off before he leaves because he does not love her.  Rurik ends up helping the Krause family with their icecutting.  Rurik and Merrill are strongly attracted to each other.  However, before anything can come of this, Rurik's former fiancee, Svea, and her brother, Nils, Rurik's best friend show up.  Svea claims that they are still engaged.  There is a lot of tension between the characters.  The story definitely involves the characters showing faith and trust in each other and learning to forgive.  I enjoyed reading this story.  On a note related to the second book, I thought maybe it would be about Merrill's brothers but it wasn't.  I was kind of disappointed because I wanted to see how they would work out.  Still, I enjoyed both books so far in this series and can't wait until the third one is released in September.

The Quarryman's Bride by Tracie Peterson

This is the second book in the Land of Shining Waters series.  The stories aren't related at all.  In fact, I don't think the books contain any of the same characters.  I read the first book awhile ago and will post on it later. This story is about Emmalyne Knox and Tavin MacLachlan.  It starts out with them at the funeral of Emmalyne's sisters.  They were killed in a tornado.  Emmalyne and Tavin are engaged to be married.  All of that changes when Emmalyne's father refuses to let them marry and insists that their family is moving away.  Duty and family obligations keep Tavin and Emmalyne apart for more than ten years.  Their paths eventually cross again.

The characters in this story experience a lot of heartbreak as well as reconciliation.  They experience forgiveness and joy.  It's a story about love, forgiveness and allowing God to work through you in the lives of those around you.  I loved this story and will definitely read it again.

Tracie Peterson's Site

Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter

I picked up this book a week or so ago and decided to read it today.  It's the first in a new series by Denise Hunter.  The story is about Madison McKinley.  She has decided to sail in the town's regatta.  There is only one problem.  She doesn't know how to sail or swim.  Add in the fact that she is doing this to fulfill her deceased twin brothers dream and is being taught to sail by someone that she is drawn to (but doesn't want to be) and that makes it even more of a fun story.  Beckett O'Reilly ends up having to teach Madison to swim and sail despite the fact that he is trying to avoid her.  Both of them have secrets that they are dealing with.

I loved reading this book.  It definitely kept my attention the whole time.  It wasn't a difficult read, but there were a few plot line twists that I didn't see coming but made sense.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series as soon as it is released.

Denise Hunter's Site

A Bride's Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas by Erica Vetsch

I read this story previously but read it again as part of Great Plains Brides.  The story is set in 1878 and is about Addie Reid.  She and her uncle moved to Dodge City to open a photography studio.  Before they could open the studio, her uncle passes away.  She decides that she is going to continue on her own.  She encounters trouble at the bank when she goes to take over her uncles mortgage.    Her closest friend is Fran Seaton.  She works at the mercantile and is determined to find a man who is interesting.  Her family friend, Jonas, is interested in her but she finds him too boring.  Jonas is a sheriff's deputy and his friend, Miles, becomes one too.  They try and look out for Addie and Fran.  The story has murder and romance.  It's a fun read and I enjoyed it.

I got Great Plains Brides for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Shattered by Dani Pettrey

This is the first book I've read by Dani Pettrey.  I really enjoyed the story.  Although it's the second in the series, I didn't feel like I was missing the main points of the story but not starting with the first book.  If I had started with the first book, I probably would have understood more about Piper and Landon and their past.  However, the story is focused on solving the murder of Karli that Piper's brother, Reef, is accused of committing.  Piper and Landon end up investigating the murder on their own.  You see how their relationship is affected by the investigation.  Although the story is mainly about these two characters, you also get glimpses of Gage and Darcy, who the third book in the series is centered on.  You also get to glimpses into the killer's mind even though you don't know who he is.  I definitely wasn't expecting the ending of who was behind the killing, which made it a great story.  I'm definitely looking forward to picking up the first book in the series and the third when it is released.

Dani Pettrey's Site

A Bride's Sweet Surprise in Sauers, Indiana by Ramona K. Cecil

I picked this book up yesterday and read it last night when I got home from work.  It's about Regina who is the youngest daughter in her family.  She is the last one at home in her family.  Her two sisters have married and moved out.  Neither of her sisters married a German farmer, which is what their father wanted.  Now her father is determined to make sure Regina marries a German farmer.  Her father has arranged a marriage for her with Diedrich who is immigrating from Germany with his father.  Regina is determined to make sure this marriage does not happen.  It's a fun read to see how each character changes in the their feelings and the twists (one I didn't see coming) that happen that can have a huge impact on the story.  I enjoyed this book a lot and actually found out that it will be released in a book called Great Plains Brides with another story called A Bride's Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas by Erica Vetsch.  I have also read this story as well.  I'll have a separate post on that one.

I received a copy of Great Plains Brides from Netgalley.  However, I have also purchased both of these books previously as well.

The Immigrant Brides Collection by Various Authors

This book is actually nine stories in one.  I've actually read several of them before in previous books.  I always feel like I'm getting a deal though since it's nine stories in one book.  Anyways, the stories in this book are all about immigrants (if you couldn't tell from the title).  I haven't completely finished the whole book yet, but I've enjoyed all the stories so far.

I received this book from NetGalley to read and review.

Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck

This is actually the third book in the series.  I didn't realize that until I was about half way through it.  This book has been out for awhile, but I picked it up since it looked cute and was set in the lowcountry.  It's about Joy Ballard who hosts a cooking show but can't cook.  She has kept this a secret from everyone except for her family and some of the crew on the show.  Then Luke Redmond comes onto the show as her co-host.  He's a real chef but is brought on the show because of the chemistry he and Joy have.  Her secret gets revealed and her world falls apart.  I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil the ending.  I enjoyed the book and I have Love Starts with Elle on my to read list.  I think that one is number two in the series.  I think I'm going backwards.

A Hopeful Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer

I started this book this afternoon and then the power went out when I was almost finished.  I had to search and find a flashlight.  Once I did, I managed to finish the book with my flashlight in hand.  I really enjoyed this  story.  There was one twist at the end that I didn't see coming until it was almost on me.  However, some of them were a little more predictable.  I didn't really mind as I like the story to end how I want it to end and this one did.  The story follows Tressa Neill as she goes out west to the Wyatt Herdsman School run by Hattie Wyatt.  Hattie founds the school for young women to learn ranching skills in order to find a husband.  Enter Ablel Samms who is not searching for a wife.  He does all he can to avoid the young women at Hattie's school .  This is hard for him since his ranch borders Hattie's.  {SPOILER ALERT]  Don't read this next section if you don't want to be spoiled if you haven't read the book.  I thought that maybe Tressa's aunt and uncle who had forced her to go out west would eventually show up with some kind inheritance especially after Abel's house is burned.  However, this never happened.  In fact, the aunt and uncle never were really a big part of the story at all.  [END SPOILER]  I really enjoyed this book.  I'm sure I will read it again.  G

Kim Vogel Sawyer's Site

Love Finds You In Folly Beach South Carolina by Loree Lough

I read this book in a few hours after the power came back on tonight.  If you can't tell from the title, it's set in Folly Beach South Carolina.  Since I live in the area, I was a little bit familiar with the setting.  Most of the the  setting seemed pretty accurate.  There were a few things that I wasn't 100% sure about but it didn't take away from the story.  The story is about Holly Leonard, a marine biologist, and Parker Brant, a charter boat captain.  Holly comes to Folly Beach to help Parker write a book on sea turtles.  The story focuses more on Holly and Parker and Parker's family than on the actually writing of the book.  I was expecting the story to be more about their relationship and them on the boat and incidents happening that way.  This wasn't how it was at all.  However, I enjoyed the way the story did go and a couple of twists I did not see coming.  I would definitely read this one again.  G

Loree Lough's Site

Lowcountry based books

I love living in the lowcountry.  The live oak trees are gorgeous and the houses are beautiful.  Then you have the water and the sunsets.  Well, it doesn't get much prettier.  Anyways, I love to read about books that are set in places I'm familiar with.  Beth Webb Hart is one of those writers.  I have not personally read any of her books, but I had a friend who recently read one.  When she was telling her daughter about the book, her daughter wanted to actually go see the house the characters lived in.  She actually lives here in the lowcountry.  MaryLu Tyndall is another author who has written some books with a setting in Charleston.  I have read her CharlesTowne Belles series and enjoyed it immensely.  They are three historical books so it helps put into perspective the history during that time frame.  Deeanne Gist wrote Beguiled with J. Mark Bertrand.  This book takes place in modern day Charleston so it was a fun read for me.  I often walk some of the streets mentioned in the story.  Another book set in present day is Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones.  Rachel Hauck has also written several books set in the lowcountry.  I have several on my to read list.  Denise Hildreth Jones wrote several books set in Savannah.  I enjoyed that whole series by her.  If you like reading books with a southern setting, I suggest you check out these authors.  Most of these authors books have been out for awhile but if you haven't read them, I would definitely recommend them!

Sisters of Mercy Flats by Lori Copeland

While looking over the reviews on Goodreads, I came to realize that the author wrote this book back in 1992.  Since that time, she started writing Christian fiction and so did a rewrite of the novel and re-released it.  I've always loved Lori Copeland's books and I enjoyed this one as well.  I'm not sure if this is the first in a series or not since the cover didn't say.  I could easily see where it could be though.  Some of the reviews I read stated that God was kind of an after thought and not central to the story.  I could see that in some regards, but knowing that the author probably had to rewrite to remove scenes and add scenes that might be why it seems that way.  I enjoyed the book.  It didn't really leave me guessing as to what would happen, but I would definitely read it again.

Lori Copeland's Site