Julie's Book Blog

This is the first book by Chloe Carley that I have read and it didn't disappoint. It was definitely a page-turner with lots of action and suspense. The author's writing style and vivid descriptions made the story come alive for me. The characters were well-developed and my favorite was Esmeralda.

She was a young, nieve girl who was at the mercy of an aunt who had a horrid past. I found myself sympathizing with her and also the young man, Will, who decided he had feelings for her even though they had a language barrier.

Within the storyline, there was a presence of God which made the story have more meaning for me. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened in the end.

I'm looking forward to reading more of her work and highly recommend this book.

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What She Saw in Room 223 reminded me of reading an Agatha Christie book. Lorelei is sent by her work at a hotel to gain information on running a Murder Mystery Weekend at theirs. Little does she know that she will be placed in danger and have to come to grips with her past. 

Wonderful plot. A real murder with an imaginary Murder Mystery weekend at the Lodge at Confluence. The characters came to life for me as the plot unfolded. I loved Lorelei's curiosity for sleuthing and her trust in God. Her acquaintance, Max, was also a strong character whom I grew to admire for his bravery and strength.

There were some surprises in the end and everything wrapped up nicely. A mystery with a twist and a sweet romance.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

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My Review

Leighanne & Jamison were once engaged but it ended badly. Jamison lives in England and Leighanne in the U.S. in New York and is an actress on Broadway. Leighanne visits her sister in England and finds herself confronted with having to see Jamison again when she finds herself part of the play that Jamison is directing.

Love Found in Sherwood Forest is a fascinating romp into a Shakespearian play put on by Leighanne's sister & directed by Jamison. The author's descriptions of the cast and countryside brought the story to life for me. The characters were sometimes humorous and at other times was deserving of my sympathy. I could relate to Leighanne's confusion wondering what path God wanted her to take. I've pondered some of those same questions myself.

It was a very enjoyable read with strong Christian elements woven into the story. I look forward to reading more from this author. I was provided with a copy of the book by Celebrate Lit and voluntarily chose to review it.

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The Mystery Healer of Smoky Mountain is a tale set in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennesee. The main character, Marni, is a young woman plagued by insecurity due to an accident that burned one side of her face. She feels she will never find true love.

Daniel, a doctor ahead of his time, struggles to help others with needed reconstructive surgery while having to keep his work a secret from the world. Daniel's character is loving, strong, and with a will to help others.

It's a romantic story, but not without its own troubles. Can Daniel & Marni find love together? A very inspirational and uplifting romance set in 1885. I enjoyed learning about some of the histories of the town. The descriptions of the area made me feel like I was there with the characters.

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The story started a little slow but was worth the wait. A well written fictional story but with very real aspects-Spiritual Warfare. We all fight spiritual battles every day and need to be informed and know how to win them. Joshua and Ruth had the protection of God and with his strength, they were up to the task. 

I loved the storyline and plot. The characters were well-developed and brought the story to life for me. The love story part of the story was a sweet one. Joshua and Ruth were blessed by God and his love was evident within the story. The novel reminded me of The Well Spring series by James Rubart. Can't wait to read the next one.

I was provided with a copy of the book and voluntarily chose to review it.

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This Wilderness Journey is Joseph's story. I really enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the mountainside and Indian life. The characters were well-developed and the addition of Monti and Priest Antione made for an interesting story. Monti's relocation from Montreal to the wilderness and her willingness to adapt was inspiring.

I loved the spiritual references and the story was laced with hope, trust in God, and the fact that God's plan is always better than anything we can dream of. I thoroughly enjoyed the romantic story set in the Colorado Mountains in the 1800's. Can't wait to read the next one. Highly recommended.

Another great read in the Rubart fashion. HIs books always leave me thinking and reassessing my own life. I loved the characters, all but Letto. Letto was dark, evil and a side that exists in most of us. Through Christ the Letto's of our lives can be banished forever and only then can we become the awesome person that God intended us to be.

We all continue to fight the darkness daily, but through Christ, we can truly be victorious. The Man He Never Was was an enlightening and magical story seeped with insight, awakening, and the journey to our true Christian self. Loved it!

Rag Doll was a romance story but laced with hardships, let downs, and a will by the male character, Ben, to win. He felt God was on his side. The female character, Ramona, was from a different background and didn't grow up with wealth and therefore had an issue with feeling worthy.

The author handled the issues that this kind of relationship brings with it very well. I was surprised with some things that happened and the ending wrapped up nicely. It's well worth the read and some of the scenes gripped my heart and some tears welled up in my eyes. The characters were very believable and overall a very inspiring story.

Another well-written novel by Tamera Lynn Kraft. Her books never disappoint, with her vivid descriptions and in-depth characters. Resurrection of Hope was a moving story of two flawed people who try to make a go of marriage. Vivian and Henry both are dealing with past ghosts that they bring into their new relationship.

It is a story of heartbreak and struggles but also one of renewed hope. I found myself sympathizing with both Vivian and Henry. For me, it was a very inspirational story of how God heals broken lives and brings people together to find love again. Can they overcome the obstacles?

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Rose places an ad as a mail-order bride and finds herself on the train from New York to Iowa. A mistake in the ad brings her to Joshua, not as a bride but something much different. Earl, a bachelor that she meets at the train station, takes her to Joshua's ranch and they start a friendship.

 

Earl considers himself ugly and Rose considers herself plain but does God have a plan?

 

The story was well-written and I enjoyed the characters. I loved Rose's ability to trust the Lord and make the best of an uncomfortable situation. Earl, was a very sweet and caring man with self-worth issues. The ending wrapped everything up nicely.

 

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