Family

Mail Order Brides Collection by Susette Williams

August 25, 2015 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

This collection of short novelettes follow the Kincaid brothers as each of them find a wife. Some exactly as you expect, others in a little more unconventional manner.

Jessie Kincaid may be the youngest, but he’s not going to wait for his other three brothers to marry before he does. Already in love with the beautiful woman he’s been writing, he’s excited to learn she’s coming to town sooner than expected but also nervous about telling his Ma about Sarah. But while Sarah hopes to marry Jessie, her pa has other plans for her. Plans that include marrying a wealthy man who will take care of the rest of her family as well as her.

After Jessie’s marriage, Montana decides he is ready to settle down with a wife of his own. He’s learned from his brother’s mistakes, though, and makes certain to inquire about Mary’s family. Mary has been honest with him about her family, but when a man her uncle wanted her to consider as a suitor doesn’t seem to understand she has chosen someone else, she arrives in House Springs, Missouri sooner than planned. What she doesn’t know is that someone has followed her there.

Unlike his brothers, Caleb Kincaid is in no hurry to get married. Now that two of his brothers were married, he had to entertain himself. When he wins a card game, he finds he has also one his opponent’s mail order bride. Naomi’s life has been gambled away two too many times—once by her father and now by her potential husband—but she is grateful she does not have to marry the older Jacob. But will Caleb Kincaid make good on the promise made to her by another man?

The eldest of the four brothers, and the only one who does not live at home, Marshall Kincaid shelters his family as best he can from his occupation. As the town Sheriff, one of his brothers has already been placed in harm’s way. There is no way he will subject a wife to the dangers of being married to a law man. When he returns from out of town business, he’s shocked to learn his mail order bride has arrived in town. A bride he’s never heard of or written to once. Lizzie is still grieving her husband who died during their passage to America from Ireland but realizes she needs a husband to care for her in order to survive. Judging from his letters, Marshall is just the man. But will he marry someone he knows nothing about?

Each of these stories was short and sweet with a pinch of humor. Caleb’s and Marshall’s stories were by far my favorite because their brides came to them in a little bit of an unconventional manner. While each of the brothers finds obstacles to overcome with their brides, their family bond is strong. Clean and family friendly, this collection is a fun, light read for anyone who enjoys peeking into the past, a little bit of humor or suspense, or anyone who is just looking for a happy romance.

Now available from Amazon

Never Said by Carol Lynch Williams

August 16, 2015 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Sixteen year old Sarah has spent her life in the shadows—the shadows in the halls of school, the shadows of her family, and mostly in the shadow of her out going and vibrant twin sister, Annie. With crippling social anxiety, Sarah panics when she has to perform in front of a group, speak with someone or any attention is placed on her. The only person she has felt like she can be herself with is her boyfriend. Then one day, Garrett breaks up with her and Sarah is left alone. And even though Annie has quit competing in beauty pageants, gained weight, chopped her hair and added piercings, she still gets all of the attention from her parents. Over the course of one week, Sarah and Annie start to do something they haven’t done in years: talk to each other. And through those conversations and time spend together, Sarah feels heartache, pain, anger, and hope with Annie by her side.

Let me just say this…Wow!! What an emotionally charged book. While this book is not overtly Christian (there is no mention of anyone in the family having a relationship with God or even going to church but there is one passing mention of Christ), it is an excellent study on strained relationships. Familial relationship, friendship, romantic relationship, and academic relationship are all included. As Sarah spends time with Annie, she begins to learn her vibrant, outspoken sister is hurting too. She finds the desire and courage to protect and defend her sister, to stand up for injustices done to her. The guilt from not knowing pressures her—shouldn’t twins feel when something is wrong? With narrative told from Sarah’s perspective and poetic diary entries from Annie, the whole story is slowly revealed to the reader, leaving them torn open and hurting with both of these sisters by the end. I highly recommend this book for anyone struggling with sibling relationships and for any teenagers struggling to find their place in the school hierarchy. I also recommend you read it with a box of tissues near.

Available for purchase Aug. 25, 2015

***Zondervan and BookLook Bloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Mind of Her Own by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

July 25, 2015 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Exhausted from her predictable, boring life being the perfect wife and mother, Louisa Copeland opts for an easy dinner using the indoor grill. When she wakes up after taking a knock on the head from said indoor grill, she wakes up not as Louisa Copeland, but as romance author Jazz Sweet with no memory of her husband or her children. Yet she can’t quite piece together her life as Jazz Sweet either. With no place else to go, she agrees to go “home” with Collin Copeland, Louisa’s husband. At least he seems to be concerned about her. As Jazz tries to figure out who she is and how this Louisa fits into her life, she realizes that Louisa was unhappy with her life. It seems her entire existence is just a shell, a pretty packaging, something that Jazz does not want to return to. But as snippets of memory return, will Jazz be forced back into Louisa’s life? And how will the family handle leaving the fun and excitement Jazz has brought into their lives with the controlling yet caring mother.

Published a couple years ago, this is the first I’ve heard of this book. I’m glad I read it. A little different spin on a story that was at times humorous and at other times painful as Collin learns what a poor husband he’d been and that Louisa had never trusted him completely. But the truth of the story is that healing and change can happen. An unhappy life can be turned into more. Second chances are real. Jazz was a fun character despite the exasperating moments when she can’t seem to make up her mind. As Collin struggles with accepting Jazz at first, he soon learns he likes this fun, exciting side of his wife, even if she is keeping him at a distance.

****Tyndale Blog Network provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.