Review: The Forgotten Recipe by Amy Clipston

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Veronica Fisher knows how lucky she is to be marrying her best friend. Seth Lapp is kind, hardworking, and handsome—but most importantly, he loves Veronica.

When an accident on the job steals Seth away from her, a heartbroken Veronica is certain she will never love—or be loved—again. Yet when she discovers a batch of forgotten recipes and opens a bake stand to sell her Mammi’s raspberry pies, Veronica picks up a regular customer  who gives her heart pause.

Jason Huyard was with Seth when he lost his life—a memory that haunts him still. So when he seeks out the grieving fiancée to convey his condolences, the last thing he expects—or wants—is to fall in love. Nonetheless, Jason soon finds himself visiting Veronica’s bake stand every week . . . and it’s for more than the raspberry pies.

Now, as Veronica’s heart thaws, Jason can’t bring himself to tell her he was there when Seth died. Can he ever reveal where he was on the day her life derailed? Or will his secret rob them of the second chance at love they both want?

My Review

I recently had an unexpected opportunity to visit Lancaster county in Pennsylvania and knew that I had to read this book while the vibe of the Amish community was still fresh in my mind. It completely enhanced my reading experience being able to acutely picture the setting. What really made the book stand out to me though was the high level of emotion in the characters and the author's skillful way of enabling me to connect with their feelings during the story. Victoria's grief was palpable and her realistic process of dealing with it. I loved the support of her parents and sisters, it gave the book a heartwarming foundation even though there is plenty of angst as Victoria and Jason navigate their way through the highs and lows of new love. The recipe for raspberry pie that Victoria unearths from a forgotten hope chest brings purpose to her days and happiness as she reconnects with the community. The wisdom she finds in an old letter her grandmother had written helps her find peace and understanding in a time of confusion. It was interesting to see Jason reach out to various family and friends in his trials, it showed how truly humble he was to seek the advice of those who could help. There is definitely a strong sense of family and community in this series.

(Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: Spring Thaw by Tammy Fish

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

When an unforeseen accident tramples her dreams, Selena trudges through a desert of loneliness caring for an invalid husband. Finding herself a widow at twenty-eight, she grasps at the chance to experience a new life. Answering an advertisement for a marriage of convenience, she agrees to the platonic arrangement in order to care for the man’s young son. Leaving her home in Illinois, she travels by train to Oregon to discover a very different world from the one she left behind. Mesmerized by the beauty of this new land, she finds faith and fulfillment, but she never expects to find love.

Dirk lost his wife long before his son’s birth. Bitterness and pain solidified his emotions like the snowpack on Mt. Hood. He needs a mother for his son, but nothing more, so he places his request: No pictures necessary, references only. Selena agrees to the arrangement, but her heart interferes. Will Selena’s patient endurance be enough to melt her husband’s frozen heart?

My Review

I'm always a sucker for a good mail-order bride story! I felt like this one really touched on the difficulties of life and the situations that would lead people to make the choice of both requesting a bride through mail and becoming one. Selena is desperate for some hope in her life for a change as well as a new purpose, and is blessed not only by Dirk's protection, but most especially by her new relationship with his young son. The joy of motherhood is sweet and treasured by Selena since she lost hope of it long ago. The friendship and partnership between she and Dirk develops naturally over time. While Selena welcomes love, Dirk is conflicted over feeling more for Selena than he is prepared to and his stubbornness in avoiding a deeper relationship was frustrating. It takes as long as the spring thaw for Dirk's frozen heart to melt and reward Selena's patience. The author wonderfully describes the landscape of the Pacific Northwest, and I was fortunate to be on a road trip through the area as I read the book so it was easy to visualize the setting. The secondary cast of friends and neighbors are delightful and make the story well-rounded. I look forward to reading more by the author in the future.

(Thank you to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: Chemistry Lessons by Rebecca H. Jamison

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

 Synopsis

Everyone in Lone Spur knows Rosie will accept even the most unlovable animal into her life. Men, though, are a different story.
Take Destry, the guy who bought the ranch next door. Sure, he’s handsome and wealthy, but he wears flip-flops to work his fields. Not that Rosie should worry about him getting hurt.
Her biggest concern is that she needs to buy her grandfather’s ranch before her uncle sells it out from under her. The problem is that on her teacher’s salary, she doesn’t qualify for a loan. Her long-time boyfriend, Tanner, proposes a solution—they can get married and qualify for a loan together, only Rosie isn’t sure if her heart is with her faithful fiancé, her ranch, or her swoon-worthy neighbor.

My Review

I enjoyed this book for the most part. The characters are strong and are doing their best to succeed in the midst of their trials. I was impressed by Rosie's tough work ethic and her determination to save her grandfather's ranch. Destry is a nice counterpoint to her often uptight demeanor with his more laid-back and charming personality. He is also a hard worker but takes things in stride. The story was interesting and engaging, but I had a hard time that even though there is attraction from the beginning, Rosie and Destry spend practically the whole book in other relationships, for reasons of convenience. There is fear on Rosie's part to put her trust in someone new, and Destry puts his heart on the line but rather quickly turns to another woman. Most of the angst is from the characters' own flaws, yet they handle their real world problems much better than their relationships. The ending wraps up the happily ever after nicely, but I would have liked to spend more time with Destry and Rosie while they were in a relationship together.

(Thank you to Ebooks for Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: Four Chambers by Julie Wright

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

From the Power of the Matchmaker series:
Every time Andra Stone crosses paths with Everett Covington, trouble follows. First she loses her scholarship. Then she loses the apartment she’d wanted more than anything. But tragedy hits hardest when she loses her grandmother—the best friend Andra has ever known. She determines that Everett is a talisman of ill fortune. When Everett comes to work in her hospital and is applying for the same position she’d been working toward since residency, Andra believes him to be her personal poltergeist.

The human heart has four chambers—four chances to get it right. Andra has only one chance left.

My Review

Poor Andra and Everett! They are so good together and good for each other, but fears and time consistently interfere in their budding relationship. I loved their college years together and that thrill of new love. Several years span the time between each reunion, and those later attempts are rife with angst. I appreciated that their confidence grew as they progressed in their respective medical careers, yet uncertainty in their personal lives keeps the tension building. Andra is so driven in her desire to be a top surgeon- I didn't relate to her priorities at all but it made her a fascinating character to read about! Everett is more balanced, but no less driven. The long time frame of their story slowed the pace for me overall but I was still invested in their romance and wishing for the happy ending they deserved.

(Thank you to Ebooks for Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)