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