Enter to win an Amish Baking Box from Tricia Goyer and RSVP for her 6/12 Facebook Party!

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!

One "promising" winner will receive:

• Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
• Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc...)
• Sherry Gore's Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
• The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the "The Promise Box" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun - book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

Mr. Tea and the Traveling Tea Cup (Madeline Teahouse Mystery) by Leslie Matthews Stansfield

Title: Mr. Tea & the Traveling Teacup

Author: Leslie Matthews Stansfield

ISBN: 9780988194328

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Type: Trade Paperback

Synopsis: After the death of their mother, sisters Terry and Karen Sutter, turn their childhood home into a teahouse. It’s a dream come true, but the dream begins to resemble a nightmare when teacups start crashing to the floor in the middle of the night. Could the teahouse be haunted? There’s a list of possible ghostly candidates: the prior owner who is rumored to have left behind a buried treasure, two spinster neighbors who disappeared without a trace over forty years ago, or perhaps it’s Terry and Karen’s own mother trying to communicate with them. Karen, the older sister, thinks running a haunted teahouse might be fun, until the sisters come home one night to find the attic stairs covered in a trail of what appears to be blood. Is it a ghost or a warning? The teahouse’s new mascot, a psychic macaw, may provide some unexpected clues, but the sisters will encounter many more surprises before they solve this mystery.

My Review: I read this book because it sounded like a cute cozy mystery to me and we all know I love a good cozy mystery. I think it was a neat idea for the sisters to turn their childhood home into a teahouse, how cool would that be - but then when it turns out not when it turns out your house may be haunted. This was a new author for me and I am glad I chose to review it. I loved the macaw as a fun touch to this story - Mr. Tea always had something to say. This book was full of twists and turns which kept you guessing right up until the very end as whodunit which makes for a good mystery to me. The character development in this book was very good - I felt like I could know any of these people. This is going to be a fun series to continue on with. 4 stars

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ray of Light by Shelley Shepard Gray (Days of Redemption #2)

Title: Ray of Light

Author: Shelley Shepard Gray

ISBN: 9780062204424

Genre: Christian Fiction/Amish

Type: Trade Paperback

Synopsis: When two hearts connect on a beach in Florida, is it a brief romance . . . or the start of a lasting love?

After family secrets come to light, causing an uproar, Roman Keim is taking a much-needed vacation to Pinecraft, the Amish snowbird community in Florida. The warm weather is a welcome break from the bleak Ohio winter, as is a week off from all his family's drama. But Roman's own drama begins when he meets his next-door neighbors: Amanda Yoder, a beautiful young widow, and her adorable daughter, Regina.
In the two years since her husband died, Amanda has never looked at another man. She certainly doesn't intend to get married again. But she can't deny that there's something special between her and Roman. As his week in Pinecraft comes to a close, Amanda knows that, in spite of her attempt to remain distant, she's given Roman a piece of her heart. And her daughter seems to have fallen in love, too.
Is there hope for a second chance at love for Amanda? Or will duty call Roman home first, far from the two women who have captured his heart?

My Review: This is the first book I have read by this author and I am happy that I said I would review it. There were a couple of things that drew me to this book, one is that is is a book about the Amish which I love and the second is that is is set in Florida which is where I live so I enjoy reading books that take place here. I have not read the first book in the series yet but I did not have any trouble reading this book. I do want to now go back and read the first one as well. Another thing I liked about this book was how it had a romance feel to it without it being heavy. This was also a story about moving on but not forgetting the one we have lost. It is good to show how that can be done. I think is a must read book especially if you are a fan of Amish Fiction. 5 Stars

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

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The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer (Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors #2)

Title: The Promise Box

Author: Tricia Goyer

ISBN: 9780310335122

Genre: Christian Fiction (Amish)

Type: Trade Paperback

Synopsis: Every year, young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive “resident” status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides!

In The Promise Box, the second book of best-selling author Tricia Goyer’s Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series, Lydia Wyse, a book editor from Seattle who grew up Amish, returns to the small community of West Kootenai to give comfort to her father after her mother’s death. She is drawn back to the familiar Amish ways after finding her mother’s most precious possession, a Promise Box of prayers and scripture. What her publisher sees, though, is an opportunity for a sensational “tell-all” book about the Amish.
Lydia soon finds herself falling in love with Amish bachelor Gideon Hooley. She wants nothing more than to forget her past and look forward to a future as an Amish bride. But will the pain of her childhood---and her potential betrayal of her community---keep her from committing her whole heart?

My Review: I enjoyed this book just as much as the first book. Lydia is Englisch (after leaving the Amish earlier in her life) and Gideon is Amish but they still find themselves attracted to each other through their past. I like how Tricia can make each of the characters seem so real and make you fall in love with each o them. I found this to be an emotional book which is a good thing as I did not want to put the book down. Each of these books take us on a journey and they affect each of different but there is a good message in each of them that will come out as you read on.  Another thing I liked about this series is the prized possessions that also teach us something, first we had the memory jar and now the promise box, what shall we have next. I highly recommend this book to everyone. 5 Stars

Enter to win an Amish Baking Box from Tricia Goyer and RSVP for her 6/12 Facebook Party!

Click here to enter the contest to win The Promise Box

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory (The Cousins War #2)

Title: The Red Queen

Author: Philippa Gregory

ISBN: 9781416563723

Genre: Historical Fiction

Type: Hard Back

Synopsis: Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.

Married to a man twice her age, quickly widowed, and a mother at only fourteen, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She sets her heart on putting her son on the throne of England regardless of the cost to herself, to England, and even to the little boy. Disregarding rival heirs and the overwhelming power of the York dynasty, she names him Henry, like the king; sends him into exile; and pledges him in marriage to her enemy Elizabeth of York’s daughter. As the political tides constantly move and shift, Margaret charts her own way through another loveless marriage, treacherous alliances, and secret plots. She feigns loyalty to the usurper Richard III and even carries his wife’s train at her coronation.

Widowed a second time, Margaret marries the ruthless, deceitful Thomas, Lord Stanley, and her fate stands on the knife edge of his will. Gambling her life that he will support her, she then masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of the time—all the while knowing that her son has grown to manhood, recruited an army, and now waits for his opportunity to win the greatest prize.

In a novel of conspiracy, passion, and coldhearted ambition, number one bestselling author Philippa Gregory has brought to life the story of a proud and determined woman who believes that she alone is destined, by her piety and lineage, to shape the course of history.

My Review: I enjoyed reading this book but there were parts of it that moved a little slow for me. I enjoyed reading and learning about Margaret - Henry Tudor's mother. She knew from the time she was young she would do something great as she had a vision. Lady Margaret lived her whole life trying to get her son back to his rightful throne. Even through three marriages she worked tirelessly to make this vision come true. In a way I felt sorry for her as she did fall in love with the brother to her second husband but she was never able to live out her life with him as she was to intent on bringing her son to his rightful throne. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I give this book three stars. 

The Merlot Murders By Ellen Crosby - Wind Country Mystery #1

Title: The Merlot Murders - A wine country murder #1

Author: Ellen Crosby

ISBN: 9781416536048

Type: Mass Market Paperback

Synopsis: Leland Montgomery's death was deemed accidental, but when his daughter Lucie returns home from France, she finds the once-thriving family vineyard run down, collapsing under huge debt. Lucie's godfather warns her that Leland's demise may have been the result of an attempt to force the sale of the vineyard. Her extravagant brother and rebellious sister are determined to sell the estate, and there's something suspicious about the vintner her father hired right before he died. When another oenophile turns up dead, asphyxiated in a tank of Merlot, Lucie - the lone holdout preventing the vineyard's sale - realizes she's next in line for an "accident." Can she trust in the proverb in vino veritas - in wine there is truth - as she attempts to survive a very bad year for Merlot?

My Review: I know I have said this about cozies before, but I loved this book. I enjoy all cozies that I read but this even more than others. One thing I like is that there was a little history involved in the story telling. Lucie is a person that I liked from page one, I even felt sorry for her at times even though she I think she can be a strong person. Greg made me want to reach in the book and slap him silly as well as Eli. I did not like either of them. Quinn is a person that one minute I liked and the next I did not. I still think there is some sort of mystery behind him that I hope to find out more about in future books. This is a series that I plan on continuing. There are many people that this book can appeal to, wine lovers, history lovers and mystery lovers. The history of wine and merlot in particular was very interesting to me. I recommend this book to all. I give is five stars. 

Top Ten Tuesday - May 21st

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's subject is Top Ten Favorite Books Covers I have read (in no particular order):

1. Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander (Lady Emily #5)

2. Midwife of the Blue Ridge by Christine Blevins

3. Lake in the Clouds by Sara Donati (Wilderness #3)

4. Marley and Me by John Grogan

5. Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

6. Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts (Bride Quartet #4)

7. The Next Always by Nora Roberts (Inn Boonsboro #1)

8. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

9. From Sea to Shining Sea by James Alexander Thom

10. The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall

Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop

Link to all the other great giveaways

This Giveaway is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer

I am giving away two books. So we will have two winners. 

Heart's Heritage by Ramona Cecil 

and 

Short Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck and thanks for stopping by. 

Top Ten Tuesday -- May 7th

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. 

This week's subject is Top Ten books to read when you need something light and fun.

1. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella - (Shopaholic Series) This whole series is a fun series to read. It is funny to read about Becky and her spending and how she tries to avoid the collectors. 

2. The Next Always by Nora Roberts - (Inn BoonsBoro Series) This series is one of my favorites. I fell in love with the characters and felt like I was a part of the town. 

3. Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay - (Cupcake Mystery Series) What can be more fun than cupcakes and murder all rolled into one book. This is a fun fast series to read. 

4. Virgin River by Robyn Carr - (Virgin River Series) I wish I lived in Virgin River or could visit at the least. After you read this book you will be hooked on the whole series. 

5. Keepsake Crimes by Laura Childs - (Scrapbooking Mystery Series) I like to scrapbook so I started this series and love the whole thing, cozies are such fun light reads. 

6. Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas - (Travises Series) This was a good romance that moved right along and you will want to read the rest of the series to find out what happens next. 

7. The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber - (Blossom Street Series) Not only is this a fun series that is quick to read but it pulls at your heartstrings. You will not be disappointed.

8. Deep in the Valley by Robyn Carr -(Grace Valley Series) Another great series by Robyn, this series is also a quick read. Do these towns really exist?

9. Vision in White by Nora Roberts - (Bride Quartet) I can't say enough about this series. I think everyone should read it. It is a fast fun read that I could not put down. I would love to be friends with these girls and be a part of their business.

10. Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham - Don't be turned away by the size of the two books in this series. The books are written as emails and I read them each in a day and a half. Very fun 

Do you have any books that are light and fun that you want to share?

The Queen's Secret by Victoria Lamb

Title: The Queen's Secret

Author: Victoria Lamb

Genre: Historical Fiction

Type: Trade Paperback

ISBN: 9780593067994

Synopsis: July 1575

Elizabeth I, Queen of England, arrives at Kenilworth Castle amid pomp, fanfare and a wealth of lavish festivities, laid on by the Earl of Leicester. The hopeful Earl knows this is his very last chance to persuade the Queen to marry him.
But despite his attachment to the Queen and his driving ambition to be her King, Leicester is unable to resist the seductive wiles of Lettice, wife of the Earl of Essex. And soon whispers of their relationship start spreading through the court.
Enraged by the adulterous lovers growing intimacy, Elizabeth employs Lucy Morgan, a young black singer and court entertainer, to spy on the couple. But Lucy, who was raised by a spy in London, uncovers far more than she bargains for.
For someone at Kenilworth that summer is plotting to kill the queen. No longer able to tell friend from foe, it is soon not only the queen who is in mortal danger - but Lucy herself

My Review: I enjoyed this book as I am a fan of historical fiction especially the Tudor time period. I like how it picks a new character in history that I have never read about: Lucy Morgan. The queen picks Lucy to be a spy for her but she gets more than she bargains for. The author did a good job of bringing the characters alive and holding your interest throughout the whole book. Another thing I liked is how the author was very accurate in her use of history, to me this is an important thing in a historical fiction book and it makes it that much more interesting to me.  The attention to detail was very good, I felt as if I was right there in the queens court alongside Lucy. I can't imagine living in that time period, I think it must have been very hard. One thing that I think made this book move fast for me is that it is told from three different characters points of view. This is the first book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more. I recommend this to all Tudor fans. I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.  I give this book 5 stars. 

One Glorious Ambition by Jane Kirkpatrick

Title: One Glorious Ambition

Author: Jane Kirkpatrick

Genre: Biography

ISBN: 9781400074310

Type: Trade Paperback

Synopsis: One dedicated woman...giving voice to the suffering of many

Born to an unavailable mother and an abusive father, Dorothea Dix longs simply to protect and care for her younger brothers, Charles and Joseph. But at just fourteen, she is separated from them and sent to live with relatives to be raised properly. Lonely and uncertain, Dorothea discovers that she does not possess the ability to accept the social expectations imposed on her gender and she desires to accomplish something more than finding a suitable mate. 

Yearning to fulfill her God-given purpose, Dorothea finds she has a gift for teaching and writing. Her pupils become a kind of family, hearts to nurture, but long bouts of illness end her teaching and Dorothea is adrift again. It’s an unexpected visit to a prison housing the mentally ill that ignites an unending fire in Dorothea’s heart—and sets her on a journey that will take her across the nation, into the halls of the Capitol, befriending presidents and lawmakers, always fighting to relieve the suffering of what Scripture deems, the least of these. 

In bringing nineteenth-century, historical reformer Dorothea Dix to life, author Jane Kirkpatrick combines historical accuracy with the gripping narrative of a woman who recognized suffering when others turned away, and the call she heeded to change the world

My Review: Dorothea's life started out kind of rough with a mom who was not there an a father who was abusive. All she wanted was to take care of her brothers but instead she got sent away to live with relatives who would raise her properly. Dorothea found she did not care about courting and such but she wanted to be a teacher but yet again life throws her a curve when she becomes ill and has to quit teaching. Now after a visit to a prison that houses mentally ill people Dorothea decides it is her goal in life to make things better for them. We now begin to follow her life long journey on this quest to make things right for those less fortunate. As with other books I have read by Jane I was drawn in from page one. I had not heard about Dorothea before seeing this book. I read what this book was about and had to have it. Jane does an excellent job in making you feel for the people she writes about and you fall in love with them from the get go. I love anything to do with this time period in history so it made me like it that much better and I flew through the book. This book is so well written that you do not even realize you are reading a biography instead of a historical fiction book. I found myself wanting to go back in time and help Dorothea and just give her a big hug.I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.. A big 5 stars on this one.  

Jane Kirkpatrick is a best-selling, award-winning author whose previous historical novels include All Together in One Place and Christy Award finalist A Tendering in the Storm. An international keynote speaker, she has earned regional and national recognition for her stories based on the lives of actual people, including the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Hall of Fame. Jane is a Wisconsin native who since 1974 has lived in Eastern Oregon, where she and her husband, Jerry, ranch 160 rugged acres. To visit her website click here

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by The Countess of Carnarvon

Title: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle

Author: The Countess of Carnarvon

Type: Trade Paperback

ISBN: 9780770435622

Genre: History

Synopsis: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration and setting for Julian Fellowe's Emmy Award-winning PBS show, Downton Abbey, and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. Drawing on a rich store of materials from the archives of Highclere Castle, including diaries, letters, and photographs, the current Lady Carnarvon has written a transporting story of this fabled home on the brin of war. 

Much like her Masterpiece Classic counterpart, Lady Cora Crawley, Lady Almina was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Alfred de Rothschild who married his daughter off at a young age, her dowry serving as the crucial link in the effort to preserve the Earl of Carnarvon's ancestral home. Throwing open the doors of Highclere Castle to tend to the wounded of World War I, Lady Almina distinguished herself as a rave and remarkable woman. 

This rich tale contrasts the splendor of Edwardian life in a great house against the backdrop of the First World War and offers an inspiring and revealing picture of the woman at the center of the history of Highclere Castle. 

My Review: With being a fan of Downton Abbey I must say I loved this book. Not only did I read things that I have seen in the tv show but I also learned a little more about the real family from Highclere. I am glad that this was written by someone who is a part of the family. I think she did a great job telling the family's history. The writing was done so well that you felt more like you were reading a novel rather than a non-fiction book. When reading this book you can feel the love that Almina has for her husband the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. Lady Almina was at her best when she was nurturing people. It was very neat to learn that the Earl found King Tut's tomb, I did not know that he did that.  I felt saddened for Almina when the Earl passed away but she was able to keep going by nurturing once again. It was nice to hear that the real Highclere castle is run like a big family. I highly recommend this book to all lovers of Downton Abbey. 5 Stars

Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren

Title: Take a Chance on Me

Author: Susan May Warren

ISBN: 9781414378411

Synopsis: Darek Christiansen is almost a dream bachelor—oldest son in the large Christiansen clan, heir to their historic Evergreen Lake Resort, and doting father. But he’s also wounded and angry since the tragic death of his wife, Felicity. No woman in Deep Haven dares come near. 

New assistant county attorney Ivy Madison simply doesn’t know any better when she bids on Darek at the charity auction. Nor does she know that when she crafted a plea bargain three years ago to keep Jensen Atwood out of jail and in Deep Haven fulfilling community service, she was releasing the man responsible for Felicity’s death. All Ivy knows is that the Christiansens feel like the family she’s always longed for. And once she gets past Darek’s tough exterior, she finds a man she could spend the rest of her life with. Which scares her almost as much as Darek learning of her involvement in his wife’s case. 

Caught between new love and old grudges, Darek must decide if he can set aside the past for a future with Ivy—a future more and more at risk as an approaching wildfire threatens to wipe out the Christiansen resort and Deep Haven itself

My Review: What a book this was, I have to say I could not put it down. Darek is still very angry about his wife's death and Ivy is looking for a man she can fall in love with. Ivy feels she has found that man in Darek unless he finds out about the part she played in keeping the man free who caused his wife's death. Then a wildfire threatens to wipe out everything and the two become close. This is a story of forgiveness and how much of an important part of our lives it is. I think Susan did a good job in making the reader feel like they are a part of the book. I give this book 5 stars. 

The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers #1)

Title: The Memory Jar

Author: Tricia Goyer

ISBN: 9780310335108

Synopsis: Every year, 30--40 young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive 'resident' status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides. Sarah Shelter has lived in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love.and be married. Since the tragic death of her best friend, she carries her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she's also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Now she's met a kind and gentle man who may be able to break down the wall. But can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?

My Review: Just like with Tricia's other books that I have read she pulls you in from page one. Tricia has a way of making you feel as if you are a part of the story.  The whole idea of a memory jar is a nice thing and I think everyone should have one. I think this was a good way for Sarah to keep her friend's memories with her. I enjoyed watching Sarah and Jathan becoming friends and making plans for a bakery. It was kind of interesting to read about how all the young men come to Montana as a bachelor and go home with a bride.  I also think this book has many lessons in it. I am definately looking forward to the Promise Box. I give this book five stars. 

The Last Lord of Paradise by Vivian LeMay

Title: The Last Lord of Paradise

Author: VIvian LeMay

ISBN:  ebook

Synopsis: Secrets

of the past--Love stories both wonderful and sad, span six generations in
this Kindle series.

"Intriguing Family Saga..."  Melanie Johnston
"Compelling Eeriness and Fantastic Characterization..." Naomi D. Musch
"Intriguing historical fiction..." WiLoveBooks

. . . . . .

I remembered that autumn day when a party from the Compagnie Franche de la Marine visited our village. They came to recruit men for the war in New France and Papa allowed them into our orchard. I was only sixteen, enchanted by the handsome young marines in their blue uniforms...

It was the sparkle of energy in his blue eyes that caught me, and I smiled. His gaze was so intense I thought he'd pierced my soul and as he bowed to kiss my hand, his very presence dominated me. Anton had that affect on everyone he met.

We wed quickly and weeks later Anton was called to war. It was now nine years since I saw my husband. There were a few letters from him during the war, before France surrendered her lands in North America to the British--after the surrender, nothing. Our troops came home, but not Anton. I fought off the bitterness, and tried to hope, but there had been no word at all for the last five years.

Then last winter Monsieur Lavelle arrived at our chateau with a letter from Anton. His letter invited me to join him in the wilderness of Canada at his own secret settlement called Paradis. Anton sent Monsieur Lavelle for me, because he was clearing land, planting crops and building a home for me. It said nothing about where Anton was for all those years, but my husband was alive. He still loved me and wanted me with him. I thought only of Anton and the future as I packed my trunk that very day.

The Marquise Jeanne Reneau, 1766 on the shore of the Detroit River 

My Review: This was an interesting book for me to read. I must admit I don't read many books on my kindle but I thought I would give this one a try. This is the story of a woman who marries a man and then does not see him for nine years as he is sent off to war in France. The next thing we know is she gets a letter asking her to come live with him in Canada. When she gets there she is amazed by what she finds. The author did a very good job with descriptions in this book, I felt as if I could see everything that her husband had accomplished as well the beautiful landscapes. The way the characters were developed in this story was also done in a very good manner, you could easily imagine them as real people. Even though this was a short story it packed quite the punch. I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I give this book three stars. 

Seaside Harmony and Sunflower Summer by Evangeline Kelly

Title: Seaside Harmony

Author: Evangeline Kelley

Type: Trade paperback

ISBN: 9780824932466

Synopsis: The first book in a charming new series that is a perfect escape for the summer. 

When Caroline Marris joins her sisters Gracie Gold and Sam Carter for a Nantucket Island getaway, she has no idea how it will change her life. The sisters stumble upon Misty Harbor Inn, the place their late mother loved so much, and Caroline talks her sisters into buying the beautiful but dilapidated inn. But can free-spirited Caroline stay focused enough to make opening the inn a reality? Hand-drawn old postcards draw the sisters into the mystery of Hannah Montague, the young widow of the original owner. Can the sisters uncover the fate of this woman who disappeared in 1880? As Caroline and her sisters work together to make their mom’s dream a reality, they bond in ways they never expected

My review: This is the story of three sisters who return to Nantucket to enjoy the memories of their mother. Their mom's dream has always been to wn Misty Harbor Inn so now the sisters decide to put their money together and open it in her honor. Grace has a few misgivings about opening the inn as she does not want to leave her husband's memories. There is some mystery thrown in with the overall story  of this book but not so much as it is the main part of the story. This book is a good wholesome read that will make you want to take a trip to a seaside inn and enjoy the surrounding. I think the author did a good job with both the characters and setting of the book to make you feel very much a part of the whole scene. I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for a fair and honest review. I give it three stars. 

Title: Sunflower Summer

Author: Evangeline Kelly

Type: Trade Paperback

ISBN: 9780824932473

Synopsis: Misty Harbor Inn officially opens, and Gracie Gold, the middle Marris sister, wrestles with an overwhelming decision. As the sisters learn the day-to-day workings of running an inn, Gracie counsels its first guests, newlyweds whose honeymoon seems to be ending before it begins. Meanwhile, Sam's discovery of a clue in a secret room sheds unflattering light on Hannah Montague, who vanished from the house more than one hundred years ago. And as Gracie and Caroline welcome guests to the inn, they are delighted to see how God uses it --- and them --- to deepen relationships and transform lives.

My Review: This is the second installment of the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series. In this book we find that the in is now open to visitors. We get to follow along as the sister get used to the daily life of running the inn. Grace has settled in and is helping a newlywed couple with their troubles while Sam is trying to solve the mystery behind Hannah who disappeared from the inn over 100 ears ago. This time we get to learn a little more about the sisters and their lives and feelings. I enjoyed the continuation of this story and a glad I continued on with the series. I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for a fair and honest review. I give it three stars.