THE SLEEPWALKERS

I received a copy of THE SLEEPWALKERS by Paul Grossman from GoodReads and St. Martin’s Press. The novel takes place in Berlin, in the year 1932. Willi, a Jewish detective, is on the case of a dead woman who had her legs mutilated. I love historical mysteries, and this one did not fail to bring edge of the seat action. Since this is a mystery, I will not say more. I do not want to spoil the story for anyone.

A RUSH OF WINGS

I received a copy of A RUSH OF WINGS by Kristen Heitzmann from Bethany House. The cover deeply intrigued me. It displays birds flying across a red-gold sky above luscious mountains with a girl’s pensive face above – the perfect way to describe the novel. The setting involves those glorious Rocky Mountains in Colorado where the girl, Noelle, flees. Noelle seeks to leave behind her ex-fiancé, Michael, in New York City, subsequently abandoning her father in the process. Taking cash so as not to use her credit cards and be followed, Noelle ends up on a horse ranch in the mountains. The owner, Rick Spencer, allows her to help with the horses, and his brother, Morgan, tries to woo her. She finds friendship with both, as well as inspiration in her surroundings to watercolor. She sells the painting in the town and is thrilled to be able to make money for herself. Around the ranch, she also learns how to cook in the kitchen, taught by Marta, a kind woman who is also a little prickly around the edges at times. After an accident, Rick and Noelle grow closer. At Christmastime, he asks her to marry him, and she accepts despite the memories she has of Michael’s cruelness. Through Rick, she learns how to trust God and deal with her tumultuous past. Noelle finds romance, freedom, and a love for God.

HATTERAS GIRL

I received a copy of HATTERAS GIRL by Alice J. Wisler from Bethany House. I was slightly put off by the cover – a large pair of sand-encrusted feet is not my idea of a good time, but maybe it is for someone who loves the beach. The book, however, was entertaining. I read it in one day while listening to the rain drum against the roof. The story involves Jackie Donovan and her dream of owning a bed and breakfast. Growing up, she and her best friend Minnie visited the Bailey House in their hometown often. Both always wanted to run it. Now, Jackie works for a magazine and widowed Minnie has two jobs in order to support her son. During an interview for the magazine, Jackie meets the current owner of the Bailey House, who happens to be the grandson of the original owners. He agrees to rent it to her and Jackie begins to hold romantic feelings for him. Things go downhill when Jackie realizes he has not kept the house up to safe standards, and that he has another girlfriend. A man she has known her entire life as one of her brother’s friends agrees to help her restore the house and, at the end of the book, asks her to become romantically involved with him. The novel contained love and excitement, but many moments dragged. The author provided too much information about minor characters that rarely held a place in the book, other than to prod the main characters along. There were also touching moments, such as when Minnie’s mother died and she remembered her husband’s tragic boating death. The families in the story were very strong and inspirational.

DON'T SING AT THE TABLE

DON’T SING AT THE TABLE: LIFE LESSONS FROM MY GRANDMOTHERS by Adriana Trigiani is the perfect book to curl up with beside a roaring fire. I was thrilled to win a copy from HarperCollins and Goodreads. I am very close to my grandmother and love hearing her childhood tales while looking through her old photographs. This story lent me the same cozy feeling. Each page involves a different story about the author’s grandmothers, including black and white photographs. The two women, Lucy and Viola, are strong individuals, perfect role models for any woman.

WITHIN MY HEART

From Bethany House, I received a copy of WITHIN MY HEART, a novel based in 1877. Rachel Boyd had never recovered from the loss of her husband. Her youngest son, Kurt, is a delinquent at school, causing her endless amounts of pain. Her good friend Ben, the shopkeeper, has fallen ill with heart troubles. He has very little time left in world, despite the efforts administered to him by Rand, the town’s only physician. Rachel knows medicine from her father, who was a doctor for whom she felt little love, and assists Rand with his medical practices. At first, she is wary, expecting Rand to be just like her father. In the end, she recognizes him for the caring individual he really is, and welcomes him into her life. He offers a strong, manly figure for her and her two sons. She offers him the chance to feel complete. Ben remains strong throughout the medical procedures and offers a bravery that touches all those who love him, including his beloved wife, Lyda. Although Rachel never forgets her husband, Thomas, she finds a new place in her life for Rand. The book is touching, a tear-jerker, and a page-turner. I never wanted to put it down, nor did I want it to end.

THE WAY HOME

From Thomas Nelson, I received a copy of THE WAY HOME, a movie based on an inspirational true story. Five minutes into the movie, it easily became the best movie my family and I have seen in months. My dad rated it a 9.75. The story centers on Randy Simpkins, a man who concentrates too much on work. His wife is upset with him for not caring enough about his family, and insists they take a vacation. While packing the van, Randy goes into the house to check his work emails and leaves his two-year-old son, Joe, playing in the driveway. When he comes back outside, Joe is gone. What ensues is a desperate search by the whole neighborhood. Many people pray with Randy and his wife, others start prayer circles in towns across Georgia, and the rest of the community heads off to search with rescue teams. An older man named Ed Walker joins the search, although he has heart trouble, with his son. They break away from their team and travel to a spot known as the “four-corners,” an area of the woods where four one-hundred acre farms meet. Ed played there often as a child, and feels compelled to search for Joe in the area. As night falls, Ed spots Joe’s dog, Cleo…and there nearby is Joe. The movie brings to life how quick a tragedy can happen, and how relying on God can help everything to work out well in the end. Dean Cain, who plays Randy, brings across great emotion. The woman who played his wife, however, could have seemed more upset.

MASQUERADE

From Bethany House, I received a copy of MASQUERADE by Nancy Moser. By page twp, I was enchanted by the characters and storyline. It is one of those books that are impossible to put down. The plot involves Charlotte Gleason, who discovers on her birthday that her family is being shunned. They have lost a great deal of wealth and her father is mentioned in a divorce suit in regards to his “secret” mistress. Stricken with disgrace and poverty, Charlotte – Lottie – is being sent to America to marry a young man of means. Not only is Lottie devastated by leaving home and her family, she fears the new world. When her mother becomes too ill to travel with her, Lottie receives her Lady’s Maid, Dora, as a companion. She dresses Dora in her clothes and teaches her how to act like a Lady. Upon arrival in New York City, the girls decide to switch places. Dora will receive a wealthy heir and a marvelous life. On the other hand, Lottie will have freedom. The book was enchanting with memorable characters, painting a beautiful picture of historic America, as well as a bit of England, and included factual notes at the end. The whole story felt more like a young adult novel than an adult novel.