Review of “With Every Memory” by Janine Rosche

This book deals with some difficult topics and the author puts a trigger warning note in the front. The trigger warnings listed are death of a child, sexual assault, adultery, and divorce. I also think emotional abuse could be listed. This book is so well written that I felt the emotions jump off the pages as I was reading it. The story is told from the perspective of two of the characters. One of the characters is the mom named Lori and the other is the daughter named Avery. Avery is a high school student so her perspective is very different from the perspective of her mom. The author did a good job of writing their perspectives so that they sounded like not only two different people but so you would realize that they are two different ages. This novel is a great representation of how life is not always easy or perfect, but messy and unpredictable. It also shows that you can persevere though difficult times. I definitely recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. The opinions in this review are my own.

Review of “The Persistent Road” by Tim Bishop

The Persistent Road by Tim Bishop tells of a sixty year old man named Doug. The reader is taken on a adventurous bicycle journey with Doug as he struggles to deal with life’s circumstances after losing his job and his wife. Doug, like many, is on a journey to find the purpose of earthly life. He encounters many people who will have a huge impact on his physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. One person that he meets, Lauren, plays s major part in the plot of the story and also in Doug’s life. Doug has a great deal of anger built up, and there are many situations in his past for which he needs to work on forgiveness. This is a very well written book and one the reader is sure to enjoy!

I received a complimentary copy from the author. The opinions in this review are my own.

Review of “In the Shadow of the River” by Ann H. Gabhart

This book says it is a historical romance but it seems to me to be more mysterious than romantic. However, the romance part of the book also does not seem like your typical romance at the beginning of the book which is the love between a couple. To me, the romance is the love between a family. Farther into the novel there does seem to be some subtle typical romance starting but still for me it takes a backseat to the mystery of the story. Even though some historical novels can read slow, for me, this one did not because of the conundrum of it all. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. The opinions in this review are my own.

Review of “He Should Have Told the Bees” by Amanda Cox

I really enjoy books by Amanda Cox so when she puts out a new one I am always wanting to read it. This novel is contemporary fiction. This author has a real gift of getting to the heart of a story and drawing you into the lives of her characters. Beckett has an issue with anxiety and this author did such a great job of dealing with this part of her personality. I feel so much grace when reading this book. There are so many aspects of humanity in this book that it is hard to describe them all. However, all of the trials people go through in this novel are dealt with by the author with compassion.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. The opinions in this review are my own.

Review of “The Secret to Happiness” by Suzanne Woods Fisher

This is the second book in the Cape Cod Creamery series. I would read this series in order to make it the most enjoyable. The main female character, Callie Dixon, in this book has lost her job because of a mistake she made. Even though this was a big deal to her, she has something else going on that has her down in the dumps. Her cousin, Dawn, decides to take it into her hands to help make her cousin cheer up and become her old perky self. This is a contemporary romance novel; however, the romance part seems secondary in nature to the life struggles that Callie is going through. This book really pulled at the heart strings. I felt very empathetic to the situation Callie found herself in. I wanted to jump into the book and be able to help her through her depressed mood. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. The opinions in this review are my own.