Pegg Thomas

A Primary Decision

A Primary Decision by Kevin Leman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The final book in “The Worthington Destiny” is a good wrap-up to the ongoing sage of siblings Will, Sean, and Sarah Worthington. This one features Sarah, the little sister, who proves she’s so much more than the family’s princess. No spoilers here, but this book wraps up the series by tying off some loose ends from the first two books, “A Perfect Ambition” and “A Powerful Secret.” Very important to read these in order, or you’ll miss all the clues that lead up to the ending of “A Primary Decision.”

I enjoyed this series, it’s well worth the time to read it. The characters are a bit larger-than-life, but you expect that in a story about the rich and powerful. The intrigue around politics in the U.S. is always interesting, and during this year’s election cycle, even more so. Some amazing similarities between truth and fiction made me smile.

The only thing I’d ding the series on, and the reason it’s 4 stars and not 5, is the overall – perhaps not intentional – biased stereotyping of Republican and Democrat politicians. At times, I found it annoying.

The Long Winter Ends

The Long Winter Ends by Newton G. Thomas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I bought this book to do some research on Cornish miners who immigrated to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to work in the copper mines. It’s a wonderful book for that research, with dialogue written in the full Cornish brogue so the reader is steeped in the sounds of the miners as well as reading about their everyday life and struggles. As a research tool, the book is excellent.

As a story, it leaves a lot to be desired. The biggest issue is, there isn’t an ending. It just stops. In an awkward place. Without wrapping up the characters’ storylines or leaving any sort of satisfaction in a story well told.

But if you’re interested in the Cornish miners of the U.P., then it’s definitely worth the time to read. Allow yourself some extra time to grow accustom to the dialect and speech patterns though, it takes a while to get into the rhythm and cadence of the brogue.

Convenient Lies

Convenient Lies by Robin Patchen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you like international intrigue with a strong romantic element, this is the book for you. It’s got danger, a handsome hero, a perplexing villain, a body count, and a heroine you’ll be cheering on throughout the book.

Reagan McAdams returns to her old home, and her old name. Fleeing Paris with her infant son, she arrives at her grandmother’s house only to learn that the dear woman passed away days ago. Her husband has lied to her, her grandmother has left her, and her high school boyfriend is trying to get too close to her. She knows the danger she’s in, she just doesn’t know how she’s going to get out of it, or if she will.

The Cautious Maiden

The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book #4 in “The Everstone Chronicles” won’t disappoint the romance readers waiting for it. Full of heart-pounding romantic tension, the story unfolds to give some closure to the bad-boy of the Everstone family, Vance. Dawn Crandall did a great job of turning this anti-hero of the first three books into a likable hero with a believable reformation.

Violet Hawthorne’s world has been turned upside down by the death of her parents and the betrayal of her brother. The support of her friends has gotten her through, but now her brother has done something awful. Something dreadfully, terribly awful. Her only hope of escaping with her reputation – and possibly her life – intact is to marry Vance Everstone, a man she knows by his reputation … none of it good.

It’s been well over a year since I’ve read the last book in this series and I wish I would have taken the time to reread it before digging into this one. Backstory is important to this series, so I highly recommend everyone read them in order.

Before the Apocalypse

Before the Apocalypse: A Young Adult Christian Suspense by Taylor Jaxon

The only reason this book is classified as YA fiction, is because of the age of the main characters. But don’t kid yourself (pun intended), this book is also a great read for adults. Lots of suspense, a bit of romance, and a solid background of Biblical prophesy.

Sam is the high school football star. He’s dating the head cheerleader. If he can keep his grades up and get the football into the end zone, he’s got a great shot at a college scholarship. Everything is going his way … until the dreams start.

Jayden is the mousy girl who attends Christian school. She either knows that answers at youth group or asks the right questions to get them. Even she knows she’s not “cool.” But when Sam asks for her help getting answers to his dreams, she decides to lend a hand.

Hud lost his spot on the football team to Sam, and then his girl decided she liked Sam better too. His parents have no time for him. His friends are lame. But when he learns about a new religion and how it’s a family, a place to belong, he’s all in.

The times are changing and these three high school kids are in the thick of it. Buckle your seat belt and hang on for the ride!

The Bucket List Dare

The Bucket List Dare by Angela Breidenbach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A collection of stories involving four friends from college who agree to check something off their bucket lists before they turn thirty. What a fun concept!

It’s hard to review collections, so I’ll do what I usually do and pick one of the stories. The final story, “Skydiving to Love” – written by Linda Yezak whose writing I LOVE! – was hands down my favorite. Spunky, feisty, and funny, JoJo Merritt blurts out that skydiving is her bucket list dare. There’s one little thing she didn’t consider about her choice. She’s never in her life flown in an airplane, much less thought of jumping out of one. When hunky and handy Mitch O’Hara offers to help, she pushes aside her misgivings and decides to accept. If you have to fall to your death from an airplane, it might as well be while strapped to a good-looking guy.

If you’re looking for something light and lively to read this weekend, this is a great choice.

Other great books by Linda Yezak include:
The Cat Lady’s Secret
Give the Lady a Ride
The Simulacrum
Writing in Obedience

Where Two Hearts Meet

Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second in the “Prince Edward Island Dreams” series. The first is “The Red Door Inn.” It’s not essential to read them in order, both serve well as stand-along books, but it never hurts to know more of the backstory that you get by reading them in order.

I’ve never been to Prince Edward Island, but Liz Johnson does a good job of bringing it to life in these books. The smells, the sounds, the rhythm of life all come through her writing.

Caden Holt is a pretty good cook, a pretty good friend, and pretty sure that’s all she’ll ever be. Still, her confidence in herself was growing steadily in her job at The Red Door Inn. The the inn’s most handsome guest, Adam Jacobs, starts hanging around her kitchen and invading her space. She’s almost comfortable with that when Bethany, Caden’s high school nemesis, returns to town. Between all the personal drama, The Red Door Inn is facing financial worries. Caden hangs her hopes of winning the yearly lobster cooking contest as a way to bring more guests to the inn. Pressure rises as she learns more about Adam and why he’s come to Prince Edward Island.

The best part about this story is the characters. Caden, Adam, and the rest of the crew are all interesting, intriguing, and true-to-life characters the reader can relate to, sympathize with, and root for. Well worth reading.

Waves of Mercy

Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Could not put it down. This story – although it’s actually two stories told alongside each other – gripped me from page one and had me wishing it didn’t end at page 376. I think Lynn Austin left the door open for a sequel here, and if she did I’ll be pre-ordering that one.

Anna Nicholson has been haunted by nightmares since she was a little girl. The dream is always the same and leaves her shaking in fear. It isn’t until she travels from her home in Chicago to a resort in Michigan that the dreams start to make sense. There is more to her story than her adoptive parents have told her.

Geesje de Jonge came to America with her parents to settle in what became Holland, Michigan. Times were hard, the land was wild, and nothing turned out the way she’d hoped. Disappoints followed by tragedies marred her life, but Geesje learned God was still in control. Even in the aftermath of the worst a mother could face, she stayed true to her beliefs.

True history wrapped within the story is always a treasure to find. Set in my home state, I already knew some of it. Learning more was just a bonus.

Following the lives of these two women as the author expertly weaves between the two keeps the reader turning the pages (and up half the night). Timeless themes and questions without answers link the two women in a way neither suspects. Touching and humbling, it will leave the reader in awe of the working of God in our lives.

Tangled Webs

Tangled Webs by Irene Hannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The last in the “Men of Honor” trilogy, “Tangled Webs” is a nice wrap-up of the McGregors brothers series. Plenty of drama, tension, and personal struggles to keep the reader turning each page. A little bit predictable, but worth reading for the insight into the relationships and how hurting people react to the world around them. Some will rise above, and some will succumb to the pressures.

The youngest McGregor brother, Finn secludes himself in a cabin in the woods to rest, recuperate, and remove himself from his overbearing – if well meaning – family. The plan works well for the first two days, and then Finn has second thoughts about a month spent all alone. Until a shriek in the distance sends him charging through the forest in the night. What – who – he finds will change his life forever.

Dana Lewis hopes that her grandparents’ cabin will bring the peace she hasn’t been able to find since that day in New York City. Hurt both mentally and physically, she buries herself in the woods by the lake without even cell service. But that doesn’t stop the nightmares. And then one night a stranger comes crashing through her window.

While the books stand well alone, reading them in order adds more layers to this final story. See my review of book #2, “Thin Ice.”

Mattie’s Pledge

Mattie’s Pledge by Jan Drexler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ll admit I’m growing a bit weary of Amish books in general, but Jan Drexler has gone back in time and gives us an account of the Amish in the mid-1800s. “Mattie’s Pledge” continues the story started in “Hannah’s Choice.” There are a lot of characters, so I recommend reading these in order.

Mattie Schrock is thrilled to be moving west. She dreams of the open prairie with its long, low hills and miles of sky. When her childhood sweetheart, Jacob Yoder, meets up with them for the journey, she discovers the emotions behind her young heart have only grown stronger in the years since they’d parted. But Jacob’s desire is to homestead in Indiana while Mattie yearns for the wide open spaces of Iowa, or even seeing the ocean off Oregon. When a dark-eyed stranger offers her the chance to follow her dream, she’s torn between family and adventure.

The rigors of travel in this era are well represented. The reader journeys along with the characters feeling every mosquito bite and looking over their shoulder for possible horse thieves. Well worth the read. Looking forward to book three.