Review: Tempest's Course by Lynette Sowell

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Kelly Frost, a textiles conservator, is invited to the Massachusetts coastal city of New Bedford to restore a more than 150-year-old Mariner's Compass quilt. But there is one stipulation: she must live and work in Gray House, a former whaling captain's home, where the quilt is stored. There she meets Tom Silva, the caretaker of Gray House, whose heart seems as hard as the rocky Massachusetts coastline. Over the long-lit months as Kelly works to restore the quilt, she is drawn out of her self-imposed shell and embraces the family God has given her after her own family failed her. As Kelly reads stories in a journal penned by Mary Gray, she learns there is no transgression beyond God's forgiveness, but the real obstacle is forgiving herself. During her and Tom's journey to grace and love, an unknown force works to keep both of them from discovering a long-buried truth that will change their lives forever.

My Review

This was a nice story, but the pacing was s.l.o.w. The main characters were easy to like, and easy for them to like each other. The setting of the old Gray mansion was intriguing, and well-described. The information about restoring old textiles was interesting, but vague. In fact, much of the book was vague instead of detailed, from the relationship between Kelly and Tom to the mystery of the house and its history. There are journal entries from an old diary which added an extra dimension to the story, but Kelly's thoughts about the things she read there became judgmental. Towards the end there is more action, and things are all wrapped up neatly... but still vaguely.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

Free e-book: Thorns in Eden and The Everlasting Mountains by Rita Gerlach

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Synopsis from goodreads.com

John Nash, has built a new life in the Maryland frontier, and journeys back to England to see his father before the first shots of the Revolution are fired. Rebecah, a young woman who has known little more than the solitude of an isolated manor has lost her father and is now under the control of a domineering patriarch. As their romance unfolds, they become trapped in the schemes of her uncle and immersed in one of the most infamous Indian wars in Colonial history.

As the firebrands of Revolution grow hot, they marry and work together to build their estate, Laurel Hill. Facing a strange new world, Rebecah experiences the prejudice of being English, but finds friendship and acceptance in the wilds of the Maryland frontier. Joy reins at Laurel Hill when she announces she is carrying a child. Nash, known as Jack, is captain of a band of rangers who protect the frontier families from Indian attack. His friendship with Chief Logan has not prevented the Indian War from reaching their peaceful home along the lush hills of the last outpost.

Can he protect his wife from warring Indians and from a man who has no allegiance to any nation, tribe, or creed, wanted for robbery and murder, who has vowed vengeance? In Thorns in Eden and The Everlasting Mountains, love and faith are the sustaining forces that cannot be overtaken by the vines of adversity.

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Review: Seasons of Tomorrow by Cindy Woodsmall

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis from goodreads.com

As love restores Rhoda, a sudden tragedy is the test of faith she never saw coming...
More settled in her heart than ever before, Rhoda Byler feels a newfound confidence living in the Old Order Amish settlement she helped establish in Orchard Bend, Maine. Though it has been almost a year since one brother left, Rhoda is happy to be working alongside the other brother as they tend and nurture the settlement's orchard. Time has helped to heal Rhoda's wounds, and she finds that even her unusual gift of profound intuition is less of a burden as she continues to seek God's wisdom and purpose for her life.
But when an Englischer friend's grandchild is taken deeper into hiding from her grandmother, can Rhoda's gift make a difference or will it simply be a catalyst to another season of doubt and misunderstanding? As she resolves to stay on course, suddenly a shocking tragedy challenges the young settlement like never before, threatening to uproot Rhoda's peace and the future of everything she holds dear.

My Review

This is the fourth and final book in the Amish Vines and Orchards series. The first three are on my to-read list, but since I had the opportunity to read and review this one, I just started with it. At the beginning there is a synopsis of each of the previous books with pertinent information to help readers understand the relationships and events in this book, which I definitely appreciated... but it also contains spoilers, so if you plan on reading all the books, I'd recommend reading them in order.

The novel is told from several characters' points of view, so there are many themes and story lines to follow. The author weaves them in and around each other seamlessly, and they complement and tie together wonderfully. There is such richness and fullness to her writing- the characters are thoughtful and contemplative with their hopes and struggles, and there is also enough drama and change going on to keep the pace moving forward. While I missed seeing Rhoda and Samuel fall in love (which happens in book three I believe), it was just as sweet to experience their courtship. Jacob's story was probably my favorite, since he was working on overcoming anger, accepting, and forgiving. The friendship he develops with Esther is unique and special, and their banter is enjoyable. Seasons of Tomorrow is a fabulously well-written book, but I would recommend reading the whole series to get the fullest satisfaction of this saga.

(ARC provided via Blogging for Books for unbiased review)