Free e-books today only: Ekaterina and At Every Turn

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Synopsis from goodreads.com

Upon receiving an unusual package in the mail, Ekaterina "Kat" Moore boards a plane to Russia, her ancestral home, to seek some answers. What she finds leads her on a perilous journey through time as Kat must flee the Russian underground. To further complicate matters, she finds herself falling in love with FSB Captain Vadeem Spasonov, a man trying to forget the nightmares of his own past. When Kat's secrets lead to the answers Vadeem needs, the treasures they find unleash an avalanche of God's design.

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Synopsis from goodreads.com

Caught up in a whirlwind of religious enthusiasm, Alyce Benson impetuously pledges three thousand dollars to mission work in Africa. Now she just has to find a way to get the money.

Alyce harbors a secret passion for speed and automobiles, and she's spent many an afternoon driving around the rustic track in the field behind her home. When she discovers that her father's company has sponsored a racing car that will compete in several upcoming events--races in which the driver will be paid and could win as much as five thousand dollars in prize money--she conspires with her father's mechanic, Webster, to train and compete.

But when her friends cast aspersions on Webster's past, she realizes she may have trusted the wrong person with her secret. Will Alyce come up with the money in time, or will she have to choose between her hasty promise and the man who holds a piece of her heart?

Review: A Home for My Heart by Anne Mateer

My rating: 3 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

Sadie Sillsby works as the assistant to the matron at the Raystown Home for Orphan and Friendless Children and dreams of the day she'll marry her beau, Blaine. But when the matron surprises everyone by announcing her own engagement, Sadie is suddenly next in line for the job. For a young woman who was once an orphan herself, a shot at such an esteemed position is a wish come true.

But the matron of the Home cannot be married. Is Sadie willing to give up her dreams of a life with Blaine and a family of her own? Is she prepared to forgo daily involvement with the children as she instead manages the financial, legal, and logistical aspects of the orphanage? And when it's revealed that the Home is spending a lot more money than it's taking in, can Sadie turn things around before the place is forced to close forever?

My Review

I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at running an orphanage and the constant struggle to bring in donations and funding. Sadie was far from perfect, but her vulnerabilities made her easy to relate to. She took on a big job that she thought she was prepared for, but had her eyes opened to how an administrative job has different challenges. I felt that the romantic chemistry was lacking with her and Blaine. I would have liked to see more background about how their relationship developed in order to have a deeper understanding of their present behavior and choices. The author focused much more on some of Sadie's personal and work-related obstacles. Her character development by the end of the novel was gratifying and led to a sweet ending.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)