West Point History Comes Alive in this Warmhearted Romance

Trying to escape the shambles her con-man father has made of their reputation, Lucinda Curtis arrives in West Point, New York, determined to land a husband from the military academy. Campbell Conklin is first in his class and preparing to embark upon a storied career in the U.S. Army. Lucinda thinks Campbell will make the perfect husband . . . as long as he does not find out about her father.

Seth Westcott also has taken a liking to Lucinda. He's kind, smart . . . and working extremely hard to graduate last. Tradition states that the worst cadets are assigned to the cavalry out west. And west is where Seth must head to track the swindler who stole all of Seth's mother's money. Seth is smart enough to vie for the top spot, but life isn't fair and this is his chance to catch the man who ruined his family. It's too bad Campbell is all shine and no substance, but Lucinda will surely see through all of that, won't she?

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It's been a while since I've curled up with this style of book and I discovered that I'd really missed it. The story itself was sweet and engaging without beating you about the head with the fact that it was Christian Historical Romance. I enjoyed Lucinda, but my favorite characters had to be Phoebe for her sweetness without it being over the top and the boys at West Point for their loyalty and sense of fun. I'm actually glad that I gave up reading this style of book because it made coming back all the more sweet.




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Find Your Own Mothering Style
Trying to follow someone else's rules for mothering can take the joy out of being a parent. But "Mothering From Scratch" shows you how to develop your own style that helps you be the best mom for "your" kids.
Find Your Own Mothering Style
Trying to follow someone else's rules for mothering can take the joy out of being a parent. But "Mothering From Scratch" shows you how to develop your own style that helps you be the best mom for "your" kids.
Full of solid biblical truth, this book will help you
- explore your personality and examine your strengths and weaknesses in order to find what works for you
- tap into the resources surrounding you and get mentoring and support from other moms
- push past the fear of change or doing it wrong and allow room for grace in your mothering
Melinda Means and Kathy Helgemo provide a flexible, customizable approach to help you discover your optimal parenting style.
""Mothering From Scratch" speaks to the hearts of women from coast to coast who are desperate for practical tools that work! Kudos for a job well done!"
--Jennifer Maggio, CEO of The Life of a Single Mom Ministries and award-winning author

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When I was a much younger mom with much younger children, I was insecure in my parenting, like most new moms are. You worry that you're not doing something a certain way and that it will negatively affect your children. Luckily for me, I was thrown into the deep end and it was sink or swim time and I'm happy to report that my children are none the worse for it. However, back then, I would have welcomed a book such as this one. Filled with a transparency that made me smile, these two ladies don't claim to know it all or to be perfect parents. They share their practical insights and encourage all of us to be the best moms that we can be. I will mention that this is a Christian book and has quite a few religious insights, so if that's not your thing, you're going to want to give this one a pass. If it is your thing or you know a new mom that might enjoy this, add it to your wish list.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.

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Having grown up in a lighthouse, loneliness is all Isabelle Thornton has ever known--and all, she assumes, she ever will know. But when her lightkeeper father rescues a young man from the lake, her sheltered world is turned upside down.

Bestselling author Jody Hedlund's Out of the Storm is her first ever novella and introduces readers to Beacons of Hope, a new series set in the 1800s amid the romance, history, and danger surrounding the Great Lakes lighthouses of Michigan.





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Lighthouses? Michigan? How could this Michigan girl resist the chance to review this novella? I couldn't and while not a top 10 book for this year, it really whet my appetite for this series of books. I easily read this in one sitting and got lost in the imagery. Having grown up and lived most of my life in the Great Lakes State, I know just how bitter the weather can be and how choppy the lakes are in bad weather. Knowing that drew me right into the stories and imagining life so many years ago kept me reading right up until the last page. As a standalone piece, it's okay, but as an introduction to this new series, it's great!



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.
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"When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life: "God, if you're real, I want to know you."

 It's Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate's rescue. Nick is handsome, confident, and seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She's not planning to fall in love with one of the locals.

 Nick Sheridan is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn't expect to be swept off his feet by the car's occupant. He's made a vow: no dating for a year. And it's a vow he intends to keep in spite of his attraction to Kate Darby."

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This book came and I dove right into it. The characters and their struggles kept me reading. I'm pretty sure that my heart was in my throat when Kate was dangling off that cliff in her car. Merciful heavens, that felt all too real. Nick was the kind of guy that any woman would want to have nearby. He was funny, smart and had just enough rough edges to catch yourself on. While this was a great read, I appreciated that it wasn't the cliffhanger type that kept you turning page after page. As someone who has been getting up earlier, staying up later really isn't an option for me right now, so this book came along at just the right time. I could read a few chapters, snuggle up under the covers and get right to sleep and then rinse and repeat over a few days until I closed the back cover with a smile. The story had come full circle and I had still gotten some good nights' sleep!



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.

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