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Sycamore Circle–rebuilding a life
Sycamore Circle
by Shelley Shepard Gray
Madisonville is a prison in the novel Sycamore Circle. Lincoln was formerly incarcerated there, as were the men who work under him in the organization called T-DOT (Tomorrow Depends on Today). The group tries to rehabilitate former inmates, giving them practical skills by restoring houses and flipping them. They also learn self-discipline and how to survive in the outside world. Lincoln has earned the respect of law enforcement, probation officers, and prison officials. The program is voluntary, but the men who sign up agree to certain rules and will be kicked out of the program if they don’t abide by them.
Bo is Lincoln’s friend and his right hand man at T-DOT. He spent three years incarcerated as a felon, but has turned his life around. He is attracted to Joy, a literary tutor he met in a coffee shop, but he realizes that she is a special lady and he doesn’t know how to approach her. Joy has been divorced for 4 years from Tony, a man who constantly put her down. He had an affair and wanted to move on. Despite being a terrible and stingy ex-husband, he is a good father to their 16 year old daughter Chloe.
Joy and Bo are moving extremely slowly into a friendship when Joy starts receiving calls, texts, and letters from a stalker. Bo realizes how serious this could be and turns on his protection mode.
This story is well-written with likable characters, understandable relationship hesitations, and a lot of suspects for who the stalker might be. There is a subplot of an abused teenage boy who is trying to decide on a commitment to the Amish way. I was fortunate to read this on a day I could devote a lot of time to it as I wanted to keep reading until the end to find out who the stalker really is and what the future holds for Joy, Bo, and Chloe.
Trust is one of the themes of this series. It is a problem the former inmates and the people they come in contact with both have. Can someone who has done hard time in prison be trusted again? Even family members can have difficulty trusting their love ones, questioning if the changes are real. If they can’t be integrated into society again and find meaningful, financially sufficient employment, how can they survive without breaking the law again? Although this theme is not stated directly, it is the undercurrent of the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Mystery and Thriller, Romance
Notes: 1. #2 in the Rumors in Ross County series, but could be a standalone.
2.I found that the stalker element leaned this mystery slightly into the thriller category.
Publication: February 7, 2023—Blackstone Publishing
Memorable Lines:
…he realized that he was going to need to be real patient if he wanted a chance with Joy—and that he was going to have to bring his A game too. She was not the kind of woman to accept a date on the fly or put up with him being anything but respectful and kind. I had been noted.
But he wasn’t worried about the Lord being upset with him. He’d started talking to God on his own years ago. Though it wasn’t something that he was comfortable sharing, he was pretty sure the Lord was still going to have his back whether he was Amish or not.
She treated him to a fake smile too. The kind women gave to security guards and annoying salespeople. Like she was glad for his place in her world, but she didn’t want them to connect on a regular basis.
In Farm’s Way–the heart of the farm
In Farm’s Way
by Amanda Flower
There is a lot going on in Cherry Glen, Michigan, land of cherry orchards, snow, and ice fishing. Shiloh Bellamy left her L.A. producer job to return to Cherry Glen to save the family farm by reinventing it as an organic farm.
In the brief time since she returned to her home town, she has gained a reputation as someone who is nosy and can solve crimes. She helps her aging father as much as he will allow, but their bonds have never been strong as her father could not step up to the plate emotionally after Shiloh’s mother passed away. Along the way, they have both developed a relationship with the exuberant Hazel who loves to help on the farm. Hazel’s father Quinn, an EMT, was Shiloh’s deceased fiancé’s best friend. Complicated, right?
When Shiloh discovers a body under the ice at an ice fishing competition, and her friend Kristi’s husband is a prime suspect, Shiloh is asked to investigate. Woven into her sleuthing are topics like ice fishing, birding, beer brewing, and organic farming. Shiloh continues her search for something her beloved grandmother left for her at the “heart of the farm.” There is also a potential romance or two that mainly produces tension, but also ends the book with a cliff-hanger.
As with most mysteries you will meet some interesting characters along the way. there are two sheriffs who become a little territorial, a widow who doesn’t seem at all sad, and an organic beer brewing association with internal politics. Jesse’s Place is the cafe to go to if you want to pick up the latest local gossip, and Jesse herself is civic minded and kind hearted. Shiloh’s older cousin Stacey is fulfilling a personal dream by reviving the town theater using money she got from the sale of her half of the family farm. I mustn’t forget Shiloh’s animals. Her adorable pug is Huckleberry. He goes almost everywhere with her. She also has a Siamese cat who rules over the barn cats and Diva who rules in the hen house. Shiloh anthropomorphizes her animals and that adds humor to the story.
I have read most of Amanda Flower’s cozy mystery series and have enjoyed all of them. Her characters are interesting, and the plots are well conceived with lots of threads. In Farm’s Way continues her stellar reputation for good cozy mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. #3 in the Farm to Table Mystery Series, but can be read as a standalone. Amanda Flower excels at providing background information as needed for the reader, so don’t be afraid to jump in with In Farm’s Way.
2. Includes tips and a recipe for suet for feeding birds in the winter.
Publication: February 21, 2023—Poisoned Pen Press (Source Books)
Memorable Lines:
I wasn’t one for the crowds, at least not crowds in Cherry Glen. I hadn’t really minded them in LA because they had anonymity. However, in my hometown, everyone knew who I was, what I was a doing. Gossip was a town pastime.
The Siamese looked over her shoulder at me and gave a very slow blink. I had read that a slow blink from a cat meant she was saying, “I love you.” However, when it came to Esmeralda, I was certain it meant, “I am your queen. Sit down, peasant.”
Huckleberry looked at me with wide pug eyes in alarm. To be honest, pugs looked alarmed the majority of the time. When they didn’t, they were asleep.
The Rose and the Thistle–laird of the manor
The Rose and the Thistle
by Laura Frantz
How many times have there been royal overthrows in England and other parts of the British Isles? More than I can keep straight. Therefore, the first part of The Rose and the Thistle was a little confusing to me as I took the author’s brief historical note and tried to integrate the facts into the story she told. The historical backdrop is the Rising or rebellion in 1715 when the Jacobites, supporters of the now exiled Stuart dynasty, tried to reclaim the throne from the German George I. Add in to that strife a generous serving of discord of a religious nature (Catholic Scots vs. Protestant English), and you have quite a mess.
Lady Blythe Hedley of Northumbria has been living in the French courts during some of this conflict. When events turn more dangerous, her father, the Duke of Northumbria, sends her to take refuge at her godfather’s house. He is the laird of Wedderburn Castle and father of many sons. The Hedleys are Jacobites so Lady Blythe’s presence must be kept secret to protect her and them.
Marriage is a critical issue for women to ensure their safety and position in society and to men to safeguard their family wealth, maintaining it and hopefully increasing it. Thus, courting, relationships, and marriage are critical social, political, and financial concerns.
A few chapters into the book, I began really enjoying the characters and plot. My lack of familiarity with the political intrigue worked itself out as the historical context found its place as a backdrop to several romances in the novel. The protagonists are Lady Blythe, a Countess; and Everard, Lord Fast, who inherits all of his father’s assets on becoming the Earl of Wedderburn. There are many reasons for the pair to have conflicts and watching how they are resolved is fascinating. They are both characters of faith who find more commonalities than differences in their faiths.
Orin is a favorite character, an eight year old who is much loved by his family but has grown up motherless. He is very intelligent and yet whimsical. Once Lady Blythe is given the freedom to roam the castle and grounds, she and Orin take to each other immediately. Blythe and Everard’s mutual love for Orin is a factor in their growing admiration for each other.
The plot is full of romance and social jousting. Royal court and military politics play an important role. The book also includes servants in the household, positions taken by women who find themselves unmarried and without any family wealth, and the tenants who work the estate’s coal mines.
Hawking, horseback riding, inns, and traveling in the early 1700’s are part of the story as is imprisonment in the tower, owning family jewels, and having staffed, but little used, residences scattered around the country. I enjoyed The Rose and the Thistle and recommend it for those who like clean historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian, Religion,
Notes: 1. A clean historical fiction; a romance that is a standalone.
2. Includes a Glossary of Scottish words.
Publication: January 3, 2023—Revell
Memorable Lines:
“What news have you of the king o’er the water?” Everard could not keep his mockery at bay. “That the French court is in a chaos similar to that in Genesis before the creation of the world.”
Nay, when all was said and done, Blythe would never forget the way the new laird tenderly bent down and lifted his little brother, whose tears streaked his pale face, into his strong arms and carried him all the way home.
She waved her fan about again with practiced ease. Women and fans were not unlike men with swords, he decided. Hers seemed a blatant tool for coquetry.
Spurred to Justice–creepy “Grave Digger”
Spurred to Justice
by Delores Fossen
There were a lot of “firsts” in this read for me. I had never read any books in The Law in Lubbock County series, books by Delores Fossen, or books published under the Harlequin Intrigue imprint. I am sharing my reflections on each topic:
The Series: I could tell that there was a personal relationship backstory between the protagonists Adalyn and Nolan but that gap did not affect my understanding of the plot in Spurred to Justice.
The Author: Delores Fossen is a good writer creating likable characters. Her plot has misdirection for the reader and for FBI Special Agent Nolan and ex-cop, current security officer Adalyn. She adds significant plot twists to keep suspense at the forefront.
The Imprint: I like Harlequin Heartwarming books so I thought I might like a novel from the same publisher but with a small amount of suspense. Spurred to Justice had only a little of things that I prefer not to have in books I read: foul language, open bedroom doors, and creepy murders. The inappropriate language is mainly handled by describing someone cursing with the actual words appearing only a few times. The sex scenes do not go all the way to culmination because the pair is always interrupted by phone calls or texts. The creepy factor is the Grave Digger whose taunting and method of murder gives those trying to stop him literal nightmares, but more of the book delves into his identity rather than how he commits the murders.
Reading Spurred to Justice was an experiment for me. My conclusion is that although I did not dislike this book, I won’t be pursuing any similar novels in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery and Thriller, Romance
Notes: #4 in The Law in Lubbock County series, but could be read as a standalone
Publication: January 24, 2023—Harlequin Intrigue
Memorable Lines:
But her body had to be firing off all kinds of signals that this was a primal sort of showdown with the person who’d tried to murder her and would almost certainly try again if he got the chance.
Nolan kept his tone as dry as the West Texas dust.
The Grave Digger would have known this shock would cloud their minds and maybe cause them to lose focus.
The Courtship Plan–first love
The Courtship Plan
by Kathleen Fuller
Things aren’t going well for Charity Raber as she looks for a job and a husband in Birch Creek. She was one of many young ladies responding to an ad that said there were a lot of young Amish men in Birch Creek looking for wives. Charity is thin with bright red hair and more freckles than can be counted. Because of a difficult family background, she comes across as…odd. She is too eager, her speech is unfiltered, and she just doesn’t know how to act around her peers. She was even set up with a date as a prank by one brother fooling another. She escapes more embarrassment by moving to Marigold where she is hired as a caregiver to Shirley, a kind English woman. To her dismay, just as she is adjusting well, one of the brothers moves in next door.
Charity wants love and sets out to get a husband with the aid of library books that hold some pretty bad advice and lead Charity into some situations that are very funny. The interactions between Shirley and Charity with their neighbor Jesse are the basis of a good story that is mostly not a fairy tale romance. A fun addition is Shirley’s escape artist dog Monroe. A serious complication is Charity’s relationship with her father and stepmother.
Love and forgiveness are strong themes that move forward an interesting story. Charity is a complicated character with a complicated background. She is the underdog protagonist that you will root for, but a happy ending seems difficult to achieve.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Romance
Notes: #1 in the Amish of Marigold Series. This book references a prank that I had also read about in the last book of the Amish Mail-Order Bride Series, but they are really independent series. The reader will get all the information needed right in The Courtship Plan.
Publication: January 17, 2023—Zondervan
Memorable Lines:
He’d called her weird and a pest. He wasn’t the first one to throw those awful adjectives at her. That honor was reserved for her mother.
When he’d told her Shirley cared, her heart leapt. Someone cared about her. She soaked that in like a dried-up sponge sitting in a saucer of fresh water.
She replaced her kapp with a kerchief and tried to bolster her own spirits, like she always had. but she failed. She was tired, so tired of being her own cheerleader.
Love in Harmony Valley Binge Wrap Up
In A Small Town Romance, Melinda Curtis paints a lovely picture of Harmony Valley, the setting of her Love in Harmony Valley series:
“Harmony Valley could have served as a backdrop for a Norman Rockwell painting. Old fashioned lamps lined Main Street. The buildings had brick fronts and canvas awnings. The wind blew brown and orange leaves down the road listlessly, as if even the elements knew the pace here was slow. The jury was out on whether it was off-the-grid, enjoy-your-time-off slow or bore me to tears slow.”
While A Small Town Romance is the last book I will read during this binge of the Love in Harmony Valley series which I have enjoyed, Melinda Curtis continues to rewrite and re-edit the books in this series. She is publishing one book per month. It appears the original series had 17 books including one novella.
Currently the ones shown on Amazon and Goodreads are:
#8 Finding Family in the Small Town—August 22, 2023
#9 A Small Town Girl with a Big City Secret—September 19, 2023
Thanks to my readers for sticking with me during my unusual binge. It’s probably a lot more fun to read the books than the reviews so your interest and loyalty are appreciated. Now we return to a variety of books just waiting to be read—ARC’s, Book Club reads, and personal choices.
If you missed any of the reviews, you can click on the book cover below for a quick link.
A Small Town Romance–writer of hurtful satire
A Small Town Romance
by Melinda Curtis
As the Love in Harmony Valley series continues, I have been looking forward to hearing more of Tracy’s story. We met her in the first book of the series, Dandelion Wishes. She had been Emma’s best friend and is Will’s sister. She has expressive (speech) aphasia as the result of an accident where Emma was driving. Her speech difficulty is hard enough in daily life, but imagine what it does to a marketing executive. She is currently working as a barista in the local coffee shop.
When Chad is fired from his position as a travel writer and head of company at the Bostwick Lampoon, he heads out to write his own caustic satire on the web starting with little Harmony Valley. The elderly residents are delighted that he is going to draw attention to their town bringing in tourists and new residents but are unaware of his satirical motives.
Tracy is attracted to the real Chad hidden inside the charming but deceptive exterior. He does have a kind heart and helps her with her speech. Unfortunately for their relationship, Tracy has done her research and is aware of the devastation he can bring to the little town and the people she loves in Harmony Valley.
A Small Town Romance provides a great look at these two characters. It shows the importance of self-confidence and helping others, putting their needs above your own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: 1. #7 in the Love in Harmony Valley Series. It could be a standalone but so many of the previously introduced citizens of Harmony Valley show up in this book that I think the enjoyment is enhanced by reading other books in the series.
2. This book is Tracy and Chad’s story.
Publication: July 18, 2023—Franny Beth Books
Memorable Lines:
Tracy used to love to flirt. She used to be the Queen of the One-Liners, the Princess of Comebacks, the Junior Miss of Verbal Jousting.
“It’s quite round.” Chad swirled the glass again and watched the wine drip slowly down the side. “And it has good legs.” Now he was speaking French. Liquid, people. It’s just liquid.
Mildred was no longer going to seize the day. She was going to walk in Martin’s and survive the day. Because that’s what one did after embarrassment in a small town. You held your head up and carried on.
A Small Town Memory–looking for a past and a future
A Small Town Memory
by Melinda Curtis
Jess shows up in Harmony Valley looking for her past. Specifically her husband or boyfriend. She is pregnant and had been in a car accident and lost her memory—retrograde amnesia. Seeing a newspaper clipping of the staff at the winery in Harmony Valley stirs her memory when she sees a familiar looking man. She meets him and discovers that he is not the baby’s father, Greg, but is his twin, Duffy.
Jess spent her childhood in a variety of homeless situations before her mother abandoned her to foster care, a loveless situation that left Jess longing for family and averse to anything that smacked of charity.
Harmony Valley could use a good bakery and coffee shop and Jess is a talented baker. Quitting her job and relocating to a new town when she is seven months pregnant, however, is a huge step to even consider.
I don’t want to include the many complications to the story that would be spoilers. Author Melinda Curtis does a great job of creating the scenarios and characters in A Small Town Memory. Duffy has good reasons for not wanting to have anything to do with Jess as do his parents. The elderly residents of Harmony Valley range from a curmudgeon with a shotgun to some sweet, nosy women who don’t mind encouraging romance while trying to save their town.
There are valuable lessons about giving and receiving kindness, forgiveness, and strength of character. Trust and family are also prominent themes. The protagonists, Jess and Duffy, are likable characters with hurts in their pasts. Goldie is a cute, spunky little dog that Duffy fosters. She teaches him that there are positives to responsibilities. The ever present silent character is “Baby,” as Jess refers to her unborn little one, saying things like “Baby doesn’t like spicy food.” The author describes the little one’s movements: “Baby bounced eagerly in her belly, ready for a sugar fix.” Duffy even learns to accept his neighbor Eunice with her gifts of odd foods and nosiness.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: 1. #6 in the Love in Harmony Valley Series. It could be a standalone because the focus is on the new characters introduced in the series with previous characters just forming a background
2. This book is Jess and Duffy’s story.
Publication: June 20, 2023—Franny Beth Books
Memorable Lines:
Jessica’s heart wrenched. She would have loved to have been a part of a large family with a business like this one. She longed for such history. For family traditions and favorite recipes. For the simple state of belonging.
They drove to the vet’s office. Goldie rode on the truck’s center console as if she’d been riding in trucks all her life. For such a froufrou-looking dog, she had chutzpah.
Rose had rejection in her tone before the rejection ever came. “We’re so old, we don’t even buy green bananas. Taking in a pet at this point in our lives wouldn’t be wise.”
Forever Family in a Small Town–conquering addiction and the past
Forever Family in a Small Town
by Melinda Curtis
Melinda Curtis takes a lot of hurt and family dysfunction and weaves a story of trauma and secrets that will keep you turning pages. There are good reasons to root for Kathy, an alcoholic mother and Dylan, a horse and people whisper, not to mention Truman, Kathy’s son, and Zach, Dylan’s son. Both Kathy and Dylan are animal lovers, but that is not what pulls them together. As an alcoholic, Kathy is determined to stay sober for her son. Dylan has fallen behind in his child support payments by an injury incurred in a horse accident. When his ex-wife’s new husband sues for complete custody, Dylan has to work through his priorities.
With every book you read in this series, you become more involved in the lives of the people of Harmony Valley. Reading each book makes you feel like you know all of the characters better, not just the ones the focus is on. This is a dynamic series with depth and characters that will find a place in your heart.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: 1. #5 in the Love in Harmony Valley Series. It could be a standalone, but would be enjoyed better if read in sequence.
2 This book is Dylan and Kathy’s story.
3. Wondering how Kathy came to be a part of the Harmony Valley series? Kathy is Flynn’s younger stepsister and was dropped off to live with their grandfather by an alcoholic mother just as Flynn had been.
Publication: May 23, 2023—Franny Beth Books
Memorable Lines:
Zach, with his ready smile and buoyant attitude, was the balm to Dylan’’s spirits. With his son in his life, Dylan could bear any burden and ride out any storm.
Dylan’s hug was like being wrapped in a warm tortilla, surrounded by hearty fillings and double-wrapped in aluminum foil to preserve the heat. His was a hug that wasn’t an obligation, like the one Truman gave her every night. It was accepting. It was endearing. It was safe.
How did Kathy know it was love? Because she felt both calm and discombobulated when he was near. Because he made her feel normal and special all at the same time.
A Small Town Summer–horse whispering vet
A Small Town Summer
by Melinda Curtis
The first three books in the Love in Harmony Valley series focused individually on three young men who are business partners, Will, Flynn, and Slade and their romantic interests. The backbone of the series, the revitalization of the little town of Harmony Valley, continues in the fourth book A Small Town Summer. Work on the winery carries on with the discovery that a wine “cave’ will be needed for storage. The new hire is Shelby who will be the cellar master in charge of aging the wine. She is a former resident of Harmony Valley and is staying with her grandfather, Doc, a retired veterinarian.
A call is put out for the Harmony Valley descendants to come back to harvest the grapes. The winery needs help with picking the grapes, and the aging town residents hope some can be encouraged to settle in Harmony Valley. One of the “helpers” is Gage, a former best friend of Shelby and her deceased husband Nick. Gage is a vet who is known as a horse whisperer of birthing mares, the kind who may produce the next Secretariat.
One of the puzzles in this book is why Gage has not communicated with Shelby since Nick’s funeral. They were such good friends, and she is very hurt by his abandonment. He temporarily commits to work as a vet in Harmony Valley for two months before he moves to Kentucky to continue his specialized equine work.
In addition to the protagonists, the local elderly residents continue to play a role, frequently offering timely advice. Shelby befriends Mae who owns Dream Day Bridal where all the ladies used to buy their prom, bridal, and special occasion dresses. Married six times with three spousal deaths and three divorces, Mae knows a few things about love.
This book also includes a rescued St. Bernard and a number of other animals. Can Shelby be satisfied with taking in animals who need love? Can Gage find happiness across the country doing what he loves without a special someone in his life?
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: 1. #4 in the Love in Harmony Valley Series. It is probably not best as a standalone.Although the backstory is explained well, a lot of characters are mentioned that enrich the the story for readers of previous books but would probably just confuse those new to the series.
2. Melinda Curtis, as shown in other series she has written, has a knack for creating a background that unites her characters as they are gradually introduced in each book. This book is Shelby and Gage’s story.
Publication: April 18, 2023—Franny Beth Books
Memorable Lines:
The problem with being a relatively new widow were all the “firsts.”…Firsts were gut-clenching, cold moments. They closed her throat, flooded her eyes, and cut off her breath. It took time to process them. To acknowledge the innocence, to accept things would never be the same again, and to release the melancholy.
The weight of their scrutiny finally broke her. “Sure. Of course. I’ll consider it.” Shelby blurted, feeling as fake as a two-dollar wine paired with a filet mignon.
Mae’s living room walls were a cheerful purple, as were her carpet, couch, and a recliner. She wore a short purple cotton robe, displaying a set of mottled, knobby knees leading down to purple fluffy mules….Mae’s house was purple everywhere. She loved the color. It was powerful and passionate. “I’m a single woman. I can do as I please.”
education pathways 