Her Alaskan Return (Serenity Peak, #1) by Belle Calhoune

ABOUT THE BOOK

To truly come home, she must face the reason she left…

Moving back to her Alaskan hometown was an easy decision for soon-to-be-single mom Autumn Hines. It’s the perfect place to raise her baby. When her path crosses that of her old flame, widowed fisherman Judah Campbell, new sparks are ignited. There’s just one thing standing in their way: Autumn has a secret. Revealing it could set them free, but can she find the courage to speak the truth?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness, and hope.

AMAZON     WALMART

MY THOUGHTS.....

Serenity Peak. Just saying it out loud suggests that this is a place of peace and contentment but will this be the case when Judah Campbell finds out that Autumn Hines is back in town? Autumn, the girl who left him hurt, bewildered, and heartbroken has returned after leaving town so many years ago, and Judah experiences feelings that he thought were long dead!

A beautiful setting, great characters, and an intriguing plot make Her Alaskan Return another winning effort by Belle Calhoune! Autumn and Judah have both loved others and they've both faced loss, but God's plans are often surprising, aren't they? They are also best if we just trust and believe!

Her Alaskan Return is a lovely story of secrets, second chances, forgiveness, and acceptance. Calhoune certainly knows how to pull our heartstrings and she's made me eager to return to Serenity Peak, Alaska! I recommend this book to all who enjoy romantic Christian fiction.

I received a complimentary copy from the author. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Belle Calhoune writes heartwarming, inspirational romance novels set in small, cozy towns. Married to her college sweetheart and living in southern Connecticut, she is the mother of two girls. Born and raised in Massachusetts, she is one of five children. Growing up across the street from a public library allowed her to become an avid reader who aspired to be a romance writer. When she isn't writing, she enjoys reading, spending time in Cape Cod, traveling and enjoying time with friends and family.

Belle hopes her books will provide readers with inspiration, entertainment, and an escape from day-to-day life.

Learn more about Belle at  her Website  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Pinterest  

View all my reviews

A Brighter Dawn (Amish Memories #1) by Gould

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ivy Zimmerman is successfully navigating her life as a young Mennonite woman, one generation removed from her parents' Old Order Amish upbringing. But when her parents are killed in a tragic accident, Ivy's way of life is upended. As she deals with her grief, her younger sisters' needs, the relationship with her boyfriend, and her Dawdi and Mammi's strict rules, Ivy finds solace in both an upcoming trip to Germany for an international Mennonite youth gathering and in her great-great-aunt's story about Clare Simons, another young woman who visited Germany in the late 1930s.

As Ivy grows suspicious that her parents' deaths weren't, in fact, an accident, she gains courage from what she learns of Clare's time in pre-World War II Germany. With the encouragement and inspiration of the women who have gone before her, Ivy seeks justice for her parents, her sisters, and herself.

"Incredibly well-researched, thoroughly enjoyable, and singularly original." --SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

"A beautiful story of love, loss, and the bonds that connect a family to its faith." --SUZANNE WOODS FISHER, bestselling author of A Season on the Wind

MY THOUGHTS.....

I absolutely loved this dual-time plot that alternates between 1937 and 2014! The two stories revolve around members of an Amish/Mennonite family, with one primarily set in Germany and the other in Pennsylvania and Oregon. The contemporary story relates Ivy Zimmerman's efforts to accept the car accident that took her parents' lives. Her younger sister was driving the car and many believe that Brenna's lack of driving experience was the cause. Is this the case or are there more sinister circumstances involved?

As Ivy works through her questions and grief, she learns of the struggles of her ancestor, Clare Simons. Clare's visit to Germany in 1937 began an inspiring journey of danger, faith, and perseverance as she worked to protect two children from the evil that was present during the days leading up to WWII. Author Leslie Gould gives readers a powerful history lesson about the persecution of the Anabaptists during the 1930s/1940s. I was both surprised and horrified by some of the true facts that are woven into Clare's story!

I love history so I was totally absorbed in Clare's story but I also enjoyed the mystery surrounding Ivy's search for truth. I highly recommend A Brighter Dawn to fans of dual-time stories and Amish fiction! It's a book to read, savor, and read again!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leslie Gould is the best-selling and award-winning author of over forty novels. She loves research, traveling, and church history. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, and have four grown children and one grandchild. http://www.lesliegould.com,

Learn more by visiting Leslie's  Website     Facebook    Twitter    Instagram

View all my reviews