Who I Am With You

    Jessica Mason has lost her husband and child. Still reeling from this she is preparing for the arrival of a new baby. Ridley Chesterfield is hiding out from the media after a false story leaked, tarnishing his name. Neither is looking for a relationship but they quickly become friends.

Meanwhile, Jessica finds her great-grandfather’s Bible and begins reading it. Inside he wrote notes, letting Jessica into his mind and heart. His story weaves with Jessica’s, helping her heal.

I really enjoyed this story. The multiple characters were a sweet mixture and I never got confused over who was who or what era the story was being set in. I love duo-time stories.

*I received this book free from Fiction Guild and Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review. What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any way.*

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Never Let Go

    Willow Anderson, a forensic genealogist, is taking over her grandfather’s business after his death. Her first client asks her to find the daughter who was abducted from the hospital over twenty years ago. With the hep from her ex-boyfriend Austin McKade, who is an ex-FBI Agent, they follow the clues and soon discover there is more to this abduction than just a missing person. Lives are at risk. Can they find the truth, and the child, before more harm is done?

I am, as you know, a fan of mysteries, and I am a big fan of cold cases. So, I was pretty excited about this story. I fee that it was written well, the characters each had their own personalities, the plot kept me interested. This is also my first book by Elizabeth Goddard and I was pleased with it. I will be on the lookout for her other books. This particular one is the first in a series and I want to read the rest when they come out.

 

*I received this book from from Revell in exchange for my honest review. What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any monetary way.*

Becoming Mrs. Lewis

    Joy Davidman begins writing to C.S. Lewis looking for spiritual answers. She lives with her family, a husband and children, in America. Mr. Lewis replies and soon a friendship blossoms. Not long after that she goes to visit him in England. With that, she must make other choices that will change her life forever.

This story had moments that felt lyrical and captivating. There were moments my emotions were pulled in. The story itself was interesting to me, however, it did not hold my interest. I felt it dragged on too long. There were quite a few times I either had to take a break from it or skim through scenes (and that is never a good sign). I think, personally, I would have enjoyed it more if it had been shorter.

 

*I received this book free from the Fiction Guild and Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review. What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any monetary way.*

 

My star rating- **

Freedom’s Light

    Hannah Thomas has been married only a short time when her husband is killed in battle, leaving her alone to tend the lighthouse. She already feels out of place in this town and with her husband’s family and now she must prove herself to be capable of caring for the lighthouse. The lies of those on the ships depend on it. When a shipwreck does occur and the crew is washed ashore Hannah rushes to help. The Captain has survived and she takes him in to care for him. Soon, she realizes he is keeping secrets, ones that can be deadly.

I admit I went into this story not expecting much. Why? I honestly do not know. And shame on me for that. I was most definitely proved wrong. I was immersed into the story, I wanted to know what was going to happen, to the characters and to the story itself. The details were just the right amount to bring this story together without being overwhelming.

*I received this book free from Thomas Nelson and The Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review. What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any monetary way.*

 

My star rating- 4 out of 5

Parental Guidance- PG due to shipwrecks, mentions of war battles, and adult content

Travel to Tomorrow

    Here are a few of my favorite things: 1950’s, time travel, best friends, and books. This story has all of it! It is the first in a series and I am so glad I have the entire collection because I don’t want to wait long to read more about these sock hop Fifties Chix.

In 1955 the five girls are given an assignment for History class. Instead of looking at the past they are to write about what they think the future will be like. And then they are living it. They wake up, same houses, same families, same school, but now it is the 2000’s. So much has changed, technology, fashion, words, politics. The girls need to learn how to navigate this new world while trying to figure out how to get back to 1955. After a while they begin wondering if they even want to go back in time.

This first book gives you such a great taste of the adventure that the girls are tossed into. The rich details of the 1950’s is superb, and the changes that the girls witness in the future was spectacular. We see how things have changed for African-American families, for immigrants, for children. We learn about little details we may never give second thought to- vehicles, fashion, food….

I had such a great time reading this book and it gave me a nostalgic high. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series and I will let you know how it is!

*I was given this book set as a gift from my mom and my review is entirely of my own choosing. Everything I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I have not been compensated in any monetary way.*

Formula of Deception

    Murphy Anderson’s sister was murdered and Murphy is now in the Witness Protection Program because of it. Local authorities in Alaska hire her as an artist and it puts her in danger again. On top of that, a dying man’s confession of dead bodies stirs up the past, including WW2 secrets. What happened in the Quonset hut in the 1940’s? Why is someone so determined to keep it a secret now?

I very much enjoyed the history of the Alaskan Wilderness Ms. Parks incorporated into her story. The WW2 mystery intrigued me, what happened and how it threaded into modern times. The other part of the story, the murder, did not dim the story in any way. The only thing I was not keen on was the ending. It felt…. odd.. to me. It was something I was not expecting and I am still unsure how I feel about it.

*I received this book free from Thomas Nelson and The Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review. What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any monetary way.*

Top Favorite Books of 2018

Good afternoon, everyone! I hope the first day of 2019 is going well for you. I enjoyed a nice quiet night at home last night and got to sleep in a little this morning. Last day off before work starts up again for me. But without anymore waiting, in no particular order, here are my favorite books of 2018….

 

1. Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter

Oh my word, the feels in this one! Josephine and Noah find out their divorce was never finalized and both want to take care of it asap. Only, getting stuck together in Noah’s cabin during a snowstorm forces them to face things they have worked hard to bury. This story is gritty, raw, real. It touched me on a personal level.

https://kymberlibriggs.wordpress.com/2018/12/28/sweetbriar-cottage/

 

2. Beneath Copper Falls by Colleen Coble

Suspenseful, heart-pounding, non-stop action and mystery. Got you hooked yet? A woman standing up for herself, leaving her abusive fiance. Going back to her hometown that is not as sweet as she imagined it was. Secrets hidden everywhere, and there are people willing to kill to keep them buried. My attention was hooked until the final scene.

https://kymberlibriggs.wordpress.com/2018/12/28/beneath-copper-falls/

 

3. Perennials by Julie Cantrell

Two sisters reunite for their parents 50th wedding anniversary but also must finally face the past and choices that were made, ones that ultimately changed their lives forever. This story pushed its way into my heart and left its mark. Family issues that felt so real, the determination to not give up but knowing when to step back.

 

4. The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron

This story weaves the past and present so beautifully. We are taken to The French Revolution to World War Two to the present, all within the walls of a French castle. Family secrets, lost loves, this story has it all. Be prepared to be swept away.

https://kymberlibriggs.wordpress.com/2018/12/16/the-lost-castle/

 

5. Bob by Wendy Maas and Rebecca Stead

Did I cry? Yes. Yes, I did. That is my fair warning to you. But you should definitely, definitely read it! This story is a rich heart-tugging, joyful story. Sure, it is categorized as a youth story but please do not let that hold you back. Imaginary friends, family, determination to stay true to ourselves. And my favorite thing about this is, my imaginary friend’s name was Bob. It made the story that much more heartwarming. Seriously, check this book out. I recommend it for everyone!

 

6. A Cry in the Night by Mary Higgins Clark

A widow raising two children, a man who sweeps her off her feet. A new husband, a new home, a new life. Everything seems so perfect. And then things begin going missing, the children claim their mother doing things she does not remember doing. Is she going crazy or is there a more sinister plot behind the madness? This story kept me up at night, kept me coming back any minute I could grab. I HAD to find out what was going to happen next. I read the last 130 pages in one fell swoop because I could not put it down.

 

7. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Have tissues on hand for this one. Dual timeline, present and 1930’s Tennessee, about a family that discovers secrets that could tear them apart. Rill and her siblings are kidnapped from their home and taken to an orphanage run by a woman who basically has a baby black market. Check out Georgia Tann and her childrens home scandal. This story tore into my heart and ripped it. It was heartbreaking and so so sad. Does that mean it is worth reading? Absolutely!! It opened my eyes to a time in American history I knew nothing about and it made me do further research on Ms. Tann’s workings.

 

There you have it, my top list. What books from 2018 were your favorite(s)? I would love to hear about them.

 

Peace,

Kymberli

The House on Saltwater Point

    Ellie Blackmore is doing exactly what she loves- house flipping. Her life, however, gets turned upside down when her sister disappears and everything points to a stolen cocaine shipment and an international plot. When the Coast Guard gets involved everyone wants the truth. The truth, however, may not be what everyone wants to hear.

This was a pretty good story, the characters were easy to connect with and the plot flowed nicely. I always like learning new things and this time it was about boats. I love how novels can be filled with information without sounding like a teaching lesson.

 

*I received this book free from Thomas Nelson and The Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review. What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. Also, I was not compensated in any monetary way.*

Sons of Blackbird Mountain

    Three brothers, one widow, and the healing power of family.

Aven Norgaard has lost her husband and now has to move from her home in Norway to the rugged hills of Appalachia. Learning her way in a new home among a family she has never met until now, working in a business she previously knew nothing about, is more than a widow should have on her shoulders. However, Aven handles it all with care and grace. The tension among the brothers, though, is thick and it is only a matter of time before it rips them apart.

This story is one of those that you feel like you are living with the family. I felt involved in the happenings. I was cheering for the brothers and Aven, hoping for reconciliation. It is a story I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.

 

*I received this book free from Thomas Nelson and The Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review. What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any monetary way.*

Honeysuckle Dreams

    Brady Collins has already gone through enough. His ex-wife has passed away, leaving Brady with Sam, his baby son, and a business to juggle. His friend, Hope, helps out when she can. Brady loves his son and cannot imagine his life without him. And then he receives news that is devastating.

Sam’s maternal grandparents are filing for custody and as things stand, they have a better chance of custody than Brady does. The biggest tip the attorney offers- get married. Show the judge he is hard working, he is a family man, he is serious about being a father. Hope is willing to step up to the plate, but can their shared love for Sam be enough?

Welcome back in the world of Denise Hunter. Beautiful descriptions of scenery, the amazing personalities of the characters, the displays of selfless love. It was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to more from Ms. Hunter.

 

*I received this book free from Thomas Nelson and The Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review. What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts and I was not compensated in any way.*