The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund

Bethany House provided me a free copy of The Doctor's Lady to review. Set in 1836, the story begins with Priscilla White feeling the call to be a missionary to India. She has grown up with all the comforts of a wealthy family, yet has been diagnosed with infertility and feels no one wants her. A young doctor Eli Ernest comes to their church with plans to go to Oregon Territory as a missionary. He is headstrong and only wants to get to the mission field. He feels a wife would only slow him down, and the trip would be too hard for a woman. However, the mission board will only allow married couples to go to the mission field. So they agree that a business arrangement will allow them to still fulfill their mission to God, so they hastily marry and head on their journey West. Eli plans an annulment for Priscilla as soon as they arrive. This is a true story of the first white woman to cross the Continental Divide and start a mission to the Nez Perce natives. Author Jody Hedlund does a terrific job making you feel like you are on the trip west with Eli and Priscilla. I couldn't put the book down! I loved the history and adventure in the story, and a map in the front of the book to show their stops along the way really added to the story! This is the first novel I've read from Hedlund, and I will certainly read another.

The Wonder of Your Love by Beth Wiseman

I received a free copy of Beth Wiseman's new novel, The Wonder of Your Love. It is book 2 in her Land of Canaan series, which takes place in Colorado. Katie Ann Stoltzfus finds her herself widowed at age 40 and raising a newborn. Eli Detweiler has been a widower for 17 years, and during that time raised 6 children on his own. Now he has plans to travel the country and enjoy his freedom. When he travels to Colorado for a wedding, he can't help but feel attracted to Katie Ann. He loves to help others and knows just what to do for a colicky newborn. Katie Ann has never met another man like him, yet she can't trust her heart. Her first husband was unfaithful and she is still trying to pick up the pieces. As they seek God for answers, they realize that God's ultimate plan may be different from their own. I enjoyed reading the continuing story of characters from the first book in the series. It picks up right where the last one left off. The Amish is this book sometimes don't seem like other Amish. They are more outspoken and are allowed more freedoms, so it didn't seem like real life. It was a quick read for me. If you like Amish, this is a typical book in a modern day Amish community.

Out Of Control by Mary Connealy

In exchange for a review, Bethany House Publishers sent me a free copy of this book. It is Book 1 of the Kincaid Brides Series. Rafe Kincaid is the eldest of 3 brothers. He is used to being in control and giving the orders. When he finds Julia Gilliland trapped in a cavern near his ranch, his life changes. She is fiesty and independent, and enjoys exploring caves for fossils while her father runs a saloon in town. When her father dies, and the Kincaid brothers realize there is someone after Julia, Rafe aims to keep her safe and catch the tracker. He has always been in control of his feelings, but around Julia he can't think straight. There was alot of adventure in this book and I liked the time period of the mid-to-late 1800's. For someone interested in the exploration of caves this has many descriptions of the inside of caves. The men and women alike are strong and hard-working characters. There wasn't really any mention of having a personal relationship with God. They talk about a curcuit riding preacher, but other than that, nothing about the importance of God in your life. It was one of those so-so books that I may read the other books to come in the series, but if I don't, it's okay too.

Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

I received a free copy of Cherished by Kim Cash Tate from Thomas Nelson. It was a Women of Faith novel that continues with characters from the setting of St. Louis, MO. This time the story centers on Kelli London, younger sister of Cedric and Lindell who were in Tate's novel Faithful. Kelli has grown away from the Lord while living in TX. Song lyrics used to come to her in the past, and she shared a special relationship with Brian Howard. Now Brian is a Christian rapper, and while attending a songwriter's conference she came face-to-face with Brian again, and all her hurt feelings when their relationship ended come flooding back. Brian never dreamed of having a future in Christian music like Kelli did. He was interested in pursing science to the highest academic level. Yet, he feels God has called him into the ministry for a special purpose. They learn the importance of forgiveness and how to use their spiritual gifts to help others. A subplot in this novel includes the continuation of Heather Anderson's story. In Faithful, Heather had an affair with a married man from church, and she is on a downward spiral, farther away from God. While at the songwriter's conference she has a one-night stand with a drummer from a Christian rock band. Cedric's wife Cyd begins a Bible study together with Heather and Kelli to help them see that God loves and cherishes them, and has made them a new person when they committed their life to him and turned from their sin. I absolutely loved this book! I loved that it continued with characters from Kim's first novel. And it is about real modern day life! So many people can see themselves in Kim's characters, and how she shows that God cherishes each one of us and reaffirms that nothing can separate us from His love is amazing! I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone!

Treasuring Emma by Kathleen Fuller

I recently received a free copy of Treasuring Emma by Kathleen Fuller from Thomas Nelson. The setting is in Middlefield, OH similar to her other novels that I've read. It tells the story of Adam who has been living in the English world in Michigan, who comes home when his best friend and first love Emma loses her mother. He never liked living under his father's rules or those of the Amish community. Yet after he is home, he feels at peace and tries to begin a relationship with Emma again. Emma's brother-in-law has a cousin that arrives in town and shows an interest in her that she has never experienced before. Emma has a hard time putting the past behind her, and is pushed by her sister to face the future when money becomes scarce. She is afraid of trusting Adam again, b/c she knows he won't stay there forever. I found this novel to be slow. I have read books by Kathleen Fuller before, but this one seemed to be lacking something. I would have a hard time recommending it.

Hidden Affections by Delia Parr

I recently received this free copy of Hidden Affections from Bethany House Publishers. I had never read anything by Delia Parr, but found that I liked her writing style. The setting takes place around Philadelphia in 1831. Annabelle and Harrison find themselves forced into marriage after being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Harrison is an elusive bachelor who does not want to go through the pain of loving and losing, since he has experienced this first hand in his own family. He feels that God has forsaken him and has become self-centered and cynical as well as very wealthy. On the other hand, Annabelle looks for God's blessings everyday and for ways to help the unfortunate, even though she has nothing after being cheated out of her small inheritance. As they go to live in Harrison's mansion, she makes friends with the servants and has a way about her that changes Harrison. He looks for ways to please her, yet is still determined to not love anyone because of fear of being hurt. The storyline flows smoothly and kept my interest. The characters seemed to come alive and made me wish I had lived in this time period with them. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical Christian fiction!

Spring For Susannah by Catherine Richmond

I received a free copy of this new book from Thomas Nelson. Set in the Dakota Territory after the Civil War, Susannah is to be a mail-order bride to her pastor's brother Jesse. Jesse is a strong Christian who tries to show Susannah how to have confidence in herself and trust God's perfect plan. Susannah has always been shy and has never been allowed to share her opinion with others. Their getting to know each other has some funny dialogue. She discovers that she is a survivor of the wild frontier and that God has been in charge all along, when Jesse sets off to find work and she is left to fend for herself. The book is true to the time period and I liked how Catherine Richmond tells the story of life in the wilderness and the immigrants that are there. There were some slow parts in the middle, and sometimes the scenes would jump from one place to another and I wasn't sure whose thoughts I was reading. Yet, I liked the transformation in the confidence of Susannah. If you like the historical Christian fiction from this time period, you will for sure like this one!