Pegg Thomas

Rumors and Promises

Rumors and Promises by Kathleen Rouser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sophie Biddle has few expectations when she arrives in Stone Creek. She and 2-year-old Caira need a place to live and an income. Taking the job at a boarding house will fit both needs. Shelter, food, and enough money to purchase material to replace their worn-out clothing is the best she can hope for. Meeting handsome Ian McCormick isn’t in her plans. With the secret she must protect, there is no place in her life for a man. Especially not a man of the cloth.

Charming story set in turn-of-the-20th century Michigan, my home state. Sophie’s tragic circumstances will tug at your heart. There’s an encouraging message of forgiveness, both human and divine. The element of adult content (which all happens “off camera” as they say and very delicately handled) makes this a better choice for readers age 15 and above.

The Magnolia Duchess

The Magnolia Duchess by Beth White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The long-awaited third book in the “Gulf Coast Chronicles” does not disappoint. Beth White takes us back to the bayous during the end of the war of 1812. Lots of really good history in this one.

Fiona Lanier lives with her uncle, brother, and cousin in the backwater coastal area known as Navy Cove. She tends the horses she loves and cares for the men in her family. Her life is simple, uncomplicated. Until a body washes up on her beach.

Charlie Kincaid regains consciousness in the arms of a beautiful woman. He has no memory of how he became beached on this shore, in fact, he has precious few memories at all. The wound to his head makes even thinking painful.

Fiona remembers. She remembers the charming boy she met in Scotland years ago, a man with the same eyes and the same smile as the one she finds on the beach.

The Lanier clan are patriots who fought for their country’s independence. Now the British are back, and they will fight again. But the enemy might be a lot closer than they think.

These books have come out one per year. It’s hard to keep all the characters – how they are related or not – straight at the beginning of this one. I’d recommend, if you have time, rereading “The Pelican Bride” and “The Creole Princess.” They are worth another read-through anyway!

The Lost Heiress

The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M. White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An epic novel filled with marvelous characters and layers of story that keep you turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I’d read the second book in the series, “The Reluctant Duchess“, first. Loved that one too, but I wish I would have read them in order. I think I’d have enjoyed “The Reluctant Duchess” even more.

Brook Eden knew she wasn’t the daughter of Prince Louis, even if Prince Albert claimed her as his granddaughter. Her search for the truth of her birth leads her to the cold countryside of Yorkshire, England, and her father, the Earl of Whitby.

Justin Wildon has been Brook’s dearest friend since childhood when his father took up residence in Monaco. He’s also his father’s heir and the future Duke of Stafford. His world is turned upside down when his best friend rises to the level of English peerage and his father dies, thrusting him into the midst of it as well.

Things may have gone smoothly into a new relationship between them, something far closer than dearest friends, if not for the mystery that plagued Brook’s abduction as a babe. The more the dig into that mystery, the more obstacles litter their paths.

Get it. Read it. It’s that good.

The Singing Quilt

The Singing Quilt by Kathi Macias
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jolissa Montoya lives an isolated life with an uncle who is verbally abusive and a stammer than makes talking almost impossible. When her job is cut from full-time to part-time, she wanders into a local church for the first time and meets Eva Pedrosa. Eva, full of the spirit, recognizes God’s hand in bringing them together. She takes Jolissa under her wing and shares with her the story of hymn writer Fanny Crosby with the aid of a quilt made in honor of that famous woman. Their friendship blooms and Eva becomes Jolissa’s adopted grandmother.

There are no unexpected twists or turns in this story. It’s very straightforward if a little too predictable. The gospel message is loud and clear. These types of stories – I think – are well suited to a church book club. Lots of opportunities for discussion with the topics it illustrates.

Three stars only for its predictability and its too-easy answers to all the problems at the end. Not a bad book, but not gripping either. A good read for when you don’t want to think too hard about a story.

The Reluctant Duchess

The Reluctant Duchess by Roseanna M. White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thought I had read book one of this series, “The Lost Heiress.” In fact, I could have sworn I did! Nope. But it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of “The Reluctant Duchess” at all. This read just fine as a stand-alone novel. That said, I am planning to purchase “The Lost Heiress” next time I’m in town! (Because I support my local Christian bookstore.)

Lady Rowena Kinnaird is her father’s heir, but has never lived up to his expectations. Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has been the most eligible bachelor in London for years. Trapped into marriage by her father’s conniving to cover the sins of another, Rowena and the Duke couldn’t be more poorly matched. Yet her utter lack of self confidence is offset by the Duke’s complete trust in the Lord. Yet he’s hiding a secret almost as shattering as hers. Can they wade through the murky waters to find a commonality to build a future upon?

This book grabbed me from the git-go. In fact, Roseanna White owes me for hours of lost sleep when I couldn’t put it down until my eyelids refused to stay open another minute. I’m looking forward to reading “The Lost Heiress” and looking forward to the next “Ladies of the Manor” novel.

What Happened on Beale Street

What Happened on Beale Street by Mary Ellis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the “Secrets of the South Mysteries” series. There are actually two mysteries to be solved in this one. Private investigator Nicki Price and her cousin/boss Nate Price are back on the job. When an old friend from high school calls for help, the cousins head to Memphis. They arrive too late to help Danny. They stay to help his sister, the same Isabelle Andre who had scorned the high school aged Nate Price so long ago. While living in the lap of luxury at the Carlton Hotel, the cousins work to find Danny’s killer and Nicki gets swept up into a fifty-year-old mystery at the hotel. Meanwhile, a crazy man is stalking Isabelle and Nate finds he cares too much for his new client. Wrapping up all the loose ends with take team effort and some old-fashioned PI sleuthing.

Lots of stuff going on in this book and lots of characters. Some we remember from “Midnight on the Mississippi” while others are natives of Memphis. While it would be nice to read the first book in the series, it’s not necessary. Mary Ellis does a good job of making this story stand on its own.

A Powerful Secret

A Powerful Secret by Kevin Leman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wonderful middle story of this trilogy! I liked it even better than the first book, “A Perfect Ambition,” BUT you need to read them in order. And I’m already looking forward to book 3 coming out in the fall.

Sean is the middle child of the three Worthington siblings. He’s never measured up to his big brother and can’t hold a candle to the charm of his little sister. But in his own way, he’s every bit as successful … if only his father would acknowledge that. And then Sean’s world is rocked by a powerful secret, something big enough to derail his brother’s Senate campaign and change forever the dynamic of their family.

Lots of suspense in this book, the authors kept me guessing for quite a while about who the “mystery” man was. I did figure it out, but I was at least 3/4 of the way into the story before I was sure. Love a story that can keep me guessing!

A Perfect Ambition

A Perfect Ambition by Kevin Leman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I picked “A Powerful Secret” to review, I didn’t realize it was book two of a series. I read the opening chapters and knew I had to back up and read book one. “A Perfect Ambition” is book one.

Will Worthington was born to be a leader, groomed to be a leader, and had the wealth to be a leader. But the leader of what? He’d assumed for years that he’d become the CEO of the largest oil company on earth. An oil spill, a terrorist bomber, and a family secret shattered any plans Will had.

Sean Worthington could never live up to his big brother’s example, so he didn’t try. He charted his own course and fought his own battles.

Sarah Worthington didn’t need to do anything if she didn’t want, but she studied law and found she was good at it. Good enough to rise in the ranking of the DOJ.

The siblings aren’t afraid to face anything in life. Or so they think. But life is about to throw them all to the curb. And it’s going to get nasty.

Lots of good stuff in this first book. There are a few places where it gets a little redundant on the familial relationships, but persevere because it’s worth it. It ends with a bang. You’ll want book number two, “A Powerful Secret,” on hand to pick up and keep reading!

A Treasure Concealed

A Treasure Concealed by Tracie Peterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Emily Carver wants what most young women in 1895 want, a husband and a home of her own. She’s disenchanted with the life she’s grown up in, following her father from mining camp to mining camp in search for a treasure of gold that never materializes. They barely survive in whatever shack or shanty they move into next.

Caeden Thibault wants to see the west and live off the land. He’s disgusted with his father’s money-grubbing ways. He’s left New York behind and doesn’t plan to go back. He has no intentions of marriage or home and no faith in a happily-ever-after.

Thrown together by circumstance, Emily and Caeden discover a lot about themselves and each other that they didn’t expect. When claim jumpers show up, it’ll take all their strength of wills to overcome the obstacles in their paths.

Not a bad story, but not one of Tracie Peterson’s best. The problem with writing so many good books is that readers want all of them to be that good! This one gets a little too preachy for my tastes, but the message is solid and the gospel is true.

The Red Door Inn

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I couldn’t put it down. The story was a roller coaster of emotions. Three hurting people brought together by their individual losses to build a dream.

Marie Carrington is hurting and lost when Jack Sloane meets her at the ferry landing. He understands that feeling. What he doesn’t expect is that she’s the answer to his problems. But his nephew, Seth Sloane, is not happy to add her to the team that is remodeling their bed and breakfast on Prince Edward Island. While the young people clash under his roof, Jack does his best to create The Red Door Inn in memory of his deceased wife. He’s in over his head. It’ll take Seth and Marie working together along with a couple of the local people to make it happen. Will they be able to work through their emotional and spiritual wounds to get it done?

There’s nothing like a well-told story to pull you in and let you enter its world. Well done, Ms. Johnson!