Susan Page DavisBesprekingen

This was a re-read for me and I enjoyed it. I read another one in this series earlier in the Christmas season - Christmas Belles of Georgia - but I enjoyed this one more. This one takes place over the course of four years at the Barncastle Inn where they have themed Christmases. The first book has a medieval theme, the second one WW2, the third a pirate theme and the last one is the first Christmas when Jesus was born.
I really liked the idea of different themed Christmases and it made the books interesting. Two of the stories have very fast romances which I don't really love but I still enjoyed the overall story. The second two stories the people already know each other which I found much more believable.
Overall though I found the stories enjoyable and completely clean which is nice. The writing was pretty good for the most part.

I really enjoyed reading this book! The setting of Prince Edward Island is serene and picturesque!

The characters are fabulous! I love their personalities! Susan has a real gift for writing characters that are easy to like! Molly is my absolute favorite! She's humble, a hard worker, and lovely on the inside and out! Peter is hunkaliscious! New word that I made up! He's also humble, a true servant, and loyal.

The love story is sweet! There is a bit of a mystery, and I liked how it played out.
A definite must read!

I love historical novels and have read many set during WWII. This one was set at the onset of WWI and it was very interesting to learn about cryptography. I will say that a lot of it went over my head and I skimmed a bit because I couldn’t understand it. But the actual storyline was good and it kept me guessing with a few twists. There’s romance and it was done well, not to sickening, just enough for me.

I encourage you to read the Author’s Notes at the end and learn what events/places were real and what was not.

This is the second historical ChristFic Christmas romance novella I've read in a row. I was quite drawn to the fact that this one features a couple in their autumn years.

This was my first time trying this author, and I found Amelia and Lennox's journey to have a simplicity and down-to-earth sweetness about it. Pleasant to read about, not too corny or saccharine.

On a minor note, some of the story's details seem either a little inconsistent or repetitive in a couple of spots, and I didn't much care for Helen's character. I understand she's been deeply hurt in the past, but the level of her rude and stubborn behavior over it makes me suspect she may often be like that about other matters that upset her too.

Nevertheless, I found this to be an easy and agreeable tale overall, and I plan to read more by this author.

3.5 stars (rating shown may vary depending on whether site allows half star ratings).

This is (at the moment) the last book in the Maine Justice series (though the author did say at the end that she might add to the series in the future).

I didn't find this book as compelling as some in the series. I can't put a finger on why.

The first plot point occurs when a teenage girl approaches Harvey at a restaurant claiming he is her father. Harvey is sure he is not and suggests a DNA test, but before he can do much investigation into her claim, Harvey is pulled into the suspicious disappearance of his brother-in-law, Peter.

I liked how everyone rallied to help find Peter. Not just family, but Harvey's coworkers and even the bank manager too. I do think this series has done a good job at showing that police work is not how the hour-long TV shows depict with everything neatly wrapped up at the end of the show but rather a series of tracking down leads, gathering information, and putting the puzzle together.½

I first heard of this series when a friend (MJ) posted it on GoodReads. I have to admit I started this book thinking it would be kind of a ho-hum story. The story surprised me and earned a 4 star rating.

The title comes from a challenge issued by the mayor of Bangor to the mayor of Portland for city workers to compete in a contest over Labor Day weekend with 2 events in Bangor and 2 events in Portland. The Priority Unit received an additional challenge that weekend when a fellow police officer, who was helping to set up the challenge that the police departments would compete in, ends up murdered in the section of the building where the Priority Unit was supposed to compete in their event.

Additional challenges come after the Labor Day weekend when the homicide investigation also turns up allegations of sexual harassment within the police department and when Leanne and Eddie have relationship problems.

I am glad that Harvey's and Jennifer's faith seems to encourage so many others to seek the same. I'm glad that both are available to give advice to others (Harvey to Eddie and to Travis, Jennifer to Sarah, etc.) Harvey seems to have been a good mentor to Eddie because Eddie also gives advice to others in this book.

WARNING: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW. READ ON AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION

I was disappointed in Leanne and Eddie both though--in how they handled the bump in their relationship. Was Leanne wrong to want the conference in Hawaii? I'm not sure--but she was wrong in how she handled the issue of it overlapping with her wedding date. She flat out refused to move the wedding date to another weekend either before or after the conference--meaning going back on her word to Eddie that nothing would keep her from becoming Mrs. Thibodeau on that date. She also could have agreed to go to part of the conference but cut her stay short by a few days to keep her original wedding date.

And while I understand Eddie's disappointment, he said some things in anger/frustration that were not the wisest things to say.

Sexual Harassment: It's sad that the women never seemed to confide in each other. If they had, and if they'd united to go to management, perhaps something would have been done sooner. It might have been harder for the higher ups to dismiss a number of women filing the same complaint (as they did with the one person who did) or for the perpetrator to pull the wool over the situation by creating a convincing story that made it seem like there was a reasonable explanation for what had happened.

I was a little bothered by how the liaison officer was dealt with after a resignation. Yes, it might be more comfortable for women who are being harassed to talk to another woman (as the liaison officer) but the way the story made it out, they were more concerned about women possibly being harassed than men possibly also needing a liaison officer. Perhaps the liaison officer should be checking in with every officer (not just the female ones) on a regular basis. Or perhaps they need a team of liaison officers where the officer in question could go to whichever one he/she felt most comfortable with. Don't get me wrong. I am glad the department is taking it seriously and trying to prevent it from happening again in the future. I just don't think all the focus of the liaison officer should be on that one subject.

I did not suspect the killer.

It seems the police department keeps losing officers--I wonder how they are going to replace them? They lost one to murder and two more to being arrested. That means they're down at least 3 officers. We don't hear if the female officer who quit accepted the offer to return to the department.

I first heard of this series when a friend (MJ) read it an posted it on Goodreads.

I liked the book, though, reading them one after another, they are starting to get a bit repetitive.

The house next door goes up for sale and Harvey decides to buy it, hoping that one of his wife's siblings will move in/buy it back from them. Next thing you know, a skeleton is found in the cellar.

Jennifer's and Harvey's firstborn arrives.

Eddie and Leanne settle things between them.

Peter and Abby get engaged. Greg reappears briefly. (I never realized there were 2 Pete/Peter s in the story until this book. Peter who's engaged to Abby and has 2 sons from his first marriage and Pete Bearse who used to work with Harvey until he passed the bar and left to become a lawyer. It does get a bit confusing and makes me wonder why the author or editor didn't catch that and change one of the names.

I caught on to the Jacob connection long before anyone in the book thought to consider it.

This falls between 3.5 and 4 stars for me (rating shown may vary depending on whether site allows half star ratings).

I heard of this series through a friend who listed them on GoodReads.

The back cover blurb seems a bit misleading. Yes, there is a question about Eddie's past dating life that affects his relationship with Leanne, but the viral Facebook post doesn't come until about halfway through the book, and the issue had already been brought up before then, so the Facebook post really didn't create the drama that the back cover blurb seemed to imply it did.

I appreciated learning a little more about Eddie and his family. There's also a bit of discussion about his French Catholic background and his new belief in Jesus and how they conflict.

It certainly seems like the plan is for Leanne and Eddie to eventually get engaged.

I was glad to see Abby's love triangle change. I had liked Greg's character until this book where he both issued an ultimatum-ish idea to Abby and made his decision without giving her even a few days to give him an answer to the ultimatum he'd presented to her. Perhaps it was just fear at having another potential broken engagement--the action happens off stage, so we don't get to see the actual scene or see the characters in the moment--we only get to hear Abby's account of it.

At the same time, I don't know if Peter is the one for Abby either½

I first heard of these books when a friend (MJ) posted them on GoodReads.

Unlike another book I read recently, this book does deal with art theft (as the title implies). I think the author does a good job of showing how the police build a case a piece at a time (unlike TV shows where most of the time it gets wrapped up in 60 minutes).

WARNING: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW. READ ON AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

*****

Jennifer is pregnant--I know the book says they were trying for a pregnancy because Harvey wanted kids while he was still young enough to keep up with them, but it still seems to have happened very fast. The first trimester seems accurate (based on what I know of it).

Jeff and Beth: I had thought in the first book that they were being set up to be a couple--I thought they might get their own book (or at least side plot) but their romance seems to have been accomplished through the sidelines of plots featuring Harvey and The Priority Unit/Harvey and Jennifer. They get engaged in this book.

Eddie: Eddie's matured since book 1. I wonder how much of that is from him accepting Christ. I'd gone back and forth over which of Jennifer's sisters he'd end up with--it looks like he's picked between them by the end of this book.

Abby: Surprisingly, she's the one who seems the least settled romantically. I had thought she'd end up being Eddie's girl, but it seems they've decided to be friends only. A few guys from the singles class are mentioned but it appears Abby will be choosing between Greg (an airline navigator) and Peter (a widower with 2 boys). I'm not sure if Abby really likes Peter or more likes or feels sorry for his sons. There's talk of Harvey and Jennifer watching the sons to allow Abby and Peter to go on a one-on-one date, but that doesn't happen in this book. The pluses of that would be that Abby would probably stay in the geographic area. Greg's job bases him more south of Portland--but it's possible he could get his route switched to one that includes Portland. But still, he probably wouldn't be home every night if he keeps his current job. Given how the author has stressed finding the right person for you in this series, I'm sure eventually it will be apparent as to which man will be the best one for Abby.

The Priority Unit: Lots of changes going on. In previous books, the head of the unit Mike first planned to retire but then got moved to Police Chief after his predecessor got hurt and the deputy chief had already accepted a chief's job somewhere else. Harvey took over the Priority Unit and brought in Carl to replace Pete who passed the bar and left to practice law and Nate to partner with Eddie. Arnie's retiring in about 3 months. In this book, Carl's out of commission by the end of the book. So once again, new men will be coming in to the Priority Unit (Jimmy and Tony). (The author has mentioned several times that women should be considered, but so far, it doesn't seem like they've considered any women to fill open positions in the unit.) On a related note, the police department is seeing changes too--Terry (one of the supervisors) who was being considered for both computer training and appointment to the unit, ends up leaving to take a police chief job in a small town. That allows Cheryl Yeaton, who took the computer training, to be appointed to a supervisor position as others move up. Sarah, another female police officer who featured heavily in book 1, is apparently still around but hasn't been focused on in the last couple books.

I would place this between 3.5 and 4 stars (rating shown may vary depending on whether site allows half star ratings).

I am enjoying another series by Susan Page Davis (the Maine Justice series) and didn't realize she wrote also for Annie's Fiction until this book. A friend (CC) sent me several books from a different Annie's Fiction series (Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library) and as I finished those, I went to my local Half Price Books to see if they had others. I did not find any from that series but I did find several from this series.

Given that the series is named Creative Woman I thought several crafts might be represented, but it seems to be mostly knitting, beading, and a bit of jewelry making. Though Shannon does rent lofts to at least 2 painters--one of them being Fredo Benson.

Based on the title, I expected there to be some discovery about a painting/picture. I wasn't sure if it would be that one thought to be a reproduction or worthless would turn out to be an original and be valuable OR if it would be that one assumed to be an original would turn out to be a forgery or a reproduction or not to have been done by the artist people thought it had been done by. Another option would have been to have a picture be a key point in solving the mystery.

There were several pictures in the story:
*Fredo had sketches and a painting of the inside of Shannon's house
*Lana's art textbook had a picture of Mrs. Reid's relative with the beaded bag that Shannon is restoring that was done by Milford--an apparently famous Art Deco painter of portraits for the upper class.

Shannon is not as hands on with the mystery through parts of this book. So at least we are escaping the trope of "the police are incompetent and I must help them solve this mystery or it will never be solved" that sometimes plagues the genre.

I kind of wish the series would resolve the Michael/Shannon will they or won't they romance angle. Either have one or the other ask the other on a date or have them both decide to be friends--but quit harping on the will they just be friends or do they want something more angle. 4 books in and it's already a bit annoying.½

I would actually place this book between 3.5 and 4 stars. I liked the first book in the series more than I did this one--though this one is good too--it's just more suspense with less emphasis on the Christian aspects of the characters than there was in the first book.

I first heard of this series through a friend (MJ) who posted them on GoodReads.

In this book, Jennifer and Harvey are planning their wedding. There are Christian aspects to the book:
*They get premarital counseling from the pastor of their church
*They take care to not let their relationship go too far physically while they're only engaged
*Jennifer's brother Jeff shows interest in Christianity
*Eddie makes strides in his faith walk

But the prayers and thoughts of the two main characters that I liked so much in the first book are absent in this one.

It looks like I guessed correctly about some of the potential couples. Time will tell on some of the others. Sarah did not play as big a role in this book as she did in book 1.

The tedious nature of police building the case seems well done. The author balances it well, making it so we realize that the answers don't just materialize and it's working aspects of the cases that brings new clues to further the investigation all while not making it too slow, tedious, and plodding that we're bored by it as readers.½

Hmm . . . I thought I "heard" about this series because my friend Melissa had read it and posted it on GoodReads--but Goodreads says none of my friends have read it . . .

The Priority Unit is a unit of the Portland Police Department that gets cases that need immediate attention. Harvey Larsen is a detective in the Priority Unit. The book starts with a missing computer programmer. Jennifer Wainthrop is one of the missing man's coworkers.

At first, I wasn't sure I'd like the book. That may have been because with this being book 1 in the series, some background information needed to be put out there. I liked that the author didn't hint around at Harvey's past overly long, but just got the information about Carrie out there fairly quickly.

I also liked that both Harvey and Jennifer began seeking the answer to their question(s) about God. They both are correct that the belief needs to come from yourself and not because you want to believe because the person you love believes. In one sense, a Christian is always a seeker--there are always things we don't understand--some we don't understand yet and some we won't understand until God reveals them at a time of his choosing--and we should keep seeking new information and new understanding about the Bible.

There's a set up for other characters to be seekers too: Eddie and Mike. Perhaps Sarah eventually. I liked the Sarah character, but I also wondered if Eddie might eventually end up with Beth. I like both women, but I'd hate to see Sarah get hurt because Eddie chose Beth over her. Then again, maybe Beth will end up with Jennifer's brother if he ends up in Portland.

The book did get better for me as it went on and I do plan to read others in the series.

We ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary - Thomas Paine

Jack Miller is the adopted son of the Miller family, well loved and appreciated by his folks and many siblings. Trained as a telegraph officer, his tenure as an army Corporal is cut short. It appears his country needs him for a more important job.

The Civil War brought about a great deal of loss and strained relationships, especially when a long lost relative arrives at the family plantation in Georgia from Pennsylvania. Uncomfortable with slavery, Marilla does not find herself at home in the situation. 1863 brings the Emancipation Proclamation to everyone except Marilla. Can the underground railway save her as well?

This second book in the Homeward Trails series has several subplots which keep the reader on the edge of their seat, hoping and praying that these well developed characters will survive. This ebook was received through Scrivenings Press. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

What a lovely story of hope, loss and redemption following several distinct yet related story lines. Grandmother Edith Rose wants nothing more than to once again give her three grandchildren hugs, but will she live long enough for them to be found?

Rachel Maxwell, having finished her education in the east, has returned to the ranch where her father is waiting. Tragedy changes everything! Can the ranch continue on in spite of everything or will it be a total loss?

Start with lots of excitement, add some mystery and a little romance and you have a book you will not set aside until you have reached the conclusion. This first book in the Homeward Trails series was received through Scrivenings Press. These impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

A Trusting Heart - 3 stars
The Prodigal Groom - 3.5 stars
Hidden Hearts - 2.5 stars
Mrs. Mayberry Meets Her Match - 3.5 stars

Liked how all 4 stories took place in the same Texas town, just one year apart.

In "The Marshal Next Door" you have next next door neighbor Marta, helping Marshal Yates with his teenage sisters. And in the process love will blossom.
In "The Spinsters Next Door" you have Rachel Jones and her two elderly aunts all living together and opening up a small bungalow to the town's schoolmaster. He will help Rachel and the aunts discover the secret of a locked box left to Rachel when her father died.
In "The Outlaw Next Door" there is reformed outlaw and now business owner Dan McDermott finding the woman of his dreams, the preacher's daughter, but knowing the secrets of his past will never allow him to voice his feelings to the woman he has fallen in love with. (This was my favorite story.)
In "The Gunslinger Next Door" there is Alice Singer enlisting the help of the town postmaster to figure out the strange older man who has moved in next door.
All 4 stories have a little bit of mystery to them and a lot of romance. I enjoyed my time in Wiseman, Texas in the late 1880s.½

3.5-4.0 stars (rating shown may vary depending on whether the site allows half star ratings)

The suspense is compelling though the plot point of having someone witness a murder and then there not being evidence when the police arrive and the police then don't believe there was a murder has been used in other books, and the romance between the two main characters is believable, though the fact that Petra is ready for marriage at the end was not--at least not to me.

The roses at the end--for some reason, I always thought yellow roses meant friendship, but I believe Joe says to pick a white rose for friendship.½

Good, clean novel. Mystery keeps you guessing. Enjoyable.

Knowing that with four authors I was being offered novellas, and I can take a break for a while and consume one, which I love, well, let me warn you, once you finish one you will begin cheating and before you know it you engaged in the next.
I love how these author’s minds worked and these all seem to have a different twist to them, and meant page-turning for answers and sure to get your attention.
A don’t miss sweet read!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

This description taken from Amazon review (I thought it was right on): "Sioux Indians captured Rachel Haynes two years ago, then traded her to the peaceful Arapaho tribe. Rachel hasn't seen another white person in all that time, so when the Barkleys show up to trade with the Arapaho, she is drawn to them and longs to rejoin her people. But will the young warrior to whom she has been promised see reason in handing her over to a white man? Matthew Barkley knows the Lord has something planned for his future. He wants to protect Rachel and help her leave her life as a captive. Will being robbed by an irate warrior and attacked at his brother's ranch cause his devotion to waver? Can Rachel and Matthew trust the Lord to preserve their love through the trials that lie ahead?"

I enjoyed this series of stories. They were all quick reads, but I felt they were complete stories.

Book two in this series and this story is about Corporal Mike Brown, who you would have met and gotten to know by reading book one in this series. Mike has been assigned by the U.S. military to escort wagon trains safely through the frontier on their way to Oregon. On this wagon train he will meet Lydia Jackson, who is headed West to fulfill a teaching position. Along the way these two will come to appreciate each other and fall in love. The road is a little rocky for them at first, but after surviving a harrowing experience at the hands of renegade Indians, they learn just how deep their feelings are for each other. It was a quick read, but held my attention all the way through.½

A quick read (read in one evening), but full of action and adventure and danger. When Fort Bridger is about to be attacked by a strong force of Indians, Commander Travis requests the help of one of his best scouts, Tom Barkley, to get his daughter, Amy to Fort Laramie (which is a hard 4 day ride), and hopefully get more soldiers to come and help him against the attack. Although Barkley and Amy don't know each other that well, they learn quickly the strengths they each possess. But their danger will not come from Indians, but from 3 unknown riders, out to kidnap Amy. Barkley will do all he can to save her and get her to Fort Laramie.

There was never a dull moment in this book and I liked the camaraderie these two people had with each other and the way they worked so well together. There are 3 books in this series and I look forward to reading book two next, "The Oregon Escort'.½

Wow, that was intense!

After reading the first book in the series, I adored Pierre. So a book about Pierre and his wife? Sign me up! I instantly loved Marie. She's such a realistic character and I found myself relating to her a lot. Pierre, of course, was fabulous. He's just so sweet, and protective, and caring, and he's French! What's not to like? I also loved hearing more from George. Him and Pierre are a dynamic duo.
I also liked Andre and Lisa's storyline. I almost wished they had their own book.

The plot was fast paced, and kept you hopping, for the most part. There were a few parts were things seemed to get a little redundant, but for the most part it kept my interest. Lots of unexpected twists and turns!

All in all, I really enjoyed this!

CONTENT NOTE: Recommended for ages 16 for mature themes. Marie is kidnapped several times, a character is murdered - not described in detail. Also some clean romance.

I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this!

The characters are really intriguing, particularly George, even if he did drive me crazy for parts of the book. But Pierre was what made this story for me! He was just such an awesome character! I love his and Rachel's relationship. Yay for platonic relationships!
The storyline kept me glued to my seat, especially towards the end. I loved how it was part survival story, part suspense novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed it!

CONTENT NOTE: Recommended for ages 16 for romance and thematic material. The MC was sexually assaulted, and while the scene is not described in detail, it was still mentioned. Also there is some attraction between the characters and some light romance. Also some violence and gun fights.

I loved this book. It covered some serious issues a small ex-mining town could experience. The characters were believable and for the most part very likeable. The novel contains a few bad guys, like any good story. It contains a little bit of everything. It has it's funny parts as well some sad ones. I enjoyed Susan's writing. I think she did a great job. I didn't want to put it down.