Montana Rose by Mary Connealy

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for a review. I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by Mary Connealy. This book is no exception! It is a definite must read for anybody who loves Inspirational romance, the West, and humorous situations. God can fill that emptiness. This is the message in Mary Connealy’s book Montana Rose. Griff had taken everything out of Cass. All that was left was a shell of a person when he died and Red Dawson marries her. She doesn’t even know who she is. Griff had been so controlling and beat her to get the perfect wife. Red is patient, loving, and kind toward Cass trying to teach her what she needs to know. Griff had called her stupid; Red says she just hadn’t been trained. She had no faith in God and no courage. Red is also the town minister and teaches Cass about God. Wade Sawyer is mad because he wanted to be the one to marry Cass. She threatens to kidnap her and give her everything she wants. He doesn’t understand everything Cass wants is right there with Red. Wade doesn’t see that he is empty and needs to be filled with God’s love. He comes to take Cass away and she says whom shall I fear? She and Red invite him into their home and tell him about God’s love. Belle and Anthony are married. She has been married many times to no-account husbands. Once this one dies, she is going to move on. She doesn’t understand why she keeps attracting the same type of men. Why can’t she find one like Red? I was drawn into her story. Her situation seems hopeless, but with God all things are possible. Will Wade listen and be filled with God’s love? Is Cass ready to forget about Griff and live her life with Red? How will Belle deal with her lazy husband? God can take any situation and turn it to His good. Enjoy this book and read the other books in the series!

A Gentleman for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad

This is the second book in the Dry Creek series. You do not need to read these in order to figure out what is going on or who is who, but I thought it would be fun to review them in order. At the end of An Angel for Dry Creek, we meet Garth Elkton and Sylvia Bannister. She comes to Dry Creek and ends up in a ditch. Garth rescues her. At the end, she goes back to Seattle. A Gentleman for Dry Creek picks up Garth’s and Sylvia’s stories. Sylvia works with troubled teens in her church-sponsored youth center. A sponsor, Mrs. Buckwalter, steps forward to provide a summer camp for the teens to get them out of the city and teach them manners. Garth has a ranch that they can use. Mrs. Buckwalter, Sylvia, and the teens move to Garth’s ranch for the summer. Garth has doubts and fears that he needs to turn over to God. Can he learn to do that? He was brought up that anything he received had to be earned. He believes salvation works the same way. Since he’d learned early in life that nothing came free, mercy couldn’t be free either. Garth says that he doubts God would even want to look on his own scars, let alone heal them. He is told it was no good patching up his own life. Only God could do it. Little does he know, that is exactly what God wants to do, if Garth would just give Him a chance! How many times do we try to do God’s work for Him? Sylvia is dealing with her own trust issues. In a previous relationship, she had been beaten. Can Garth find a way into her heart and teach her to trust again? Can Sylvia help Garth find the way to salvation and peace? Will the teens learn there is more than gangs and violence? Follow their stories and be encouraged in your own walk. Janet Tronstad uses suspense, humor, and truthfulness to bring about this story. From page one you will be drawn into these characters’ lives and you won’t be able to put the book down until everything is resolved. Happy reading!

An Angel for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad

This is the first book in the Dry Creek series by Janet Tronstad. I have read these books before, but I am reading them again and posting reviews in anticipation of her two new books coming out this year. Lilac Wedding in Dry Creek came out in March 2012 and Wildflower Bride in Dry Creek comes out in July of this year. An Angel for Dry Creek is a great book to start off the series. You really get to know the characters that will be reappearing in future novels. Janet Tronstad has a way of describing characters and letting you in their heads so you feel a connection with them that makes you want to finish the book to see what happens. The setting in Dry Creek is perfect. I want to move there! The author is from Montana and even though Dry Creek is a fictitious place, its description is drawn from other places in Montana to give it a real place feel. Glory Beckett is a girl on the run. When she is too tired to continue on and needs gas and food, she ends up in Dry Creek. She goes to the parsonage to get help when she stumbles onto Matthew Curtis who has stumbled down the steps and hurt himself. His twin boys were getting ready to go out and get help when she came to the door. They immediately think she is an angel. The whole town takes her under their wings. Matthew needs someone to help care for his boys while he’s recuperating, and since he can’t go up and down stairs, it is decided Glory will stay in his room. Matthew’s wife had died from cancer and he feels it was his fault for not keeping her safe. He blames God for taking her away and not answering his prayer. He used to be a minister but stopped when she died. He teaches his boys to pray and talk to God, but he doesn’t participate anymore. Can Glory trust Matthew and the people in the town? Will they turn her in once they find out what is going on? How will Glory help Matthew to see that God didn’t desert him when his wife died? Find out how Glory lives up to her name, Angel, and even becomes one in the Christmas pageant. We all have times when we wonder if God is really there looking out for us, or if it is just us alone. Follow Matthew’s journey as he realizes God is there and does care and loves each of us so much. I highly recommend this book An Angel for Dry Creek. It brings out everyday problems that we face and can relate to mingled in with humor and faith building experiences. You will not want to miss this book by Janet Tronstad.

Accused By: Janice Cantore I loved this book! Janice Cantore does a great job of pulling you into the story and not letting you go. Detective Carly Edwards is a patrol cop. She is part of an officer-involved shooting and is reassigned to a desk job in juvenile. She doesn’t understand why God would do this to her. She loses her patrol job, goes through a divorce, and is left wondering where God is in her life. Nick, her ex-husband, is also a cop and has become a Christian since their divorce. He has been spending time with Carly’s mother and she has introduced him to a personal relationship with God. Carly has to figure out who she can trust and who is out to kill her. When the mayor is killed, Carly must find out who is part of the conspiracy. Carly wants to do everything herself; it’s safer that way. However, she must learn to trust God and learn to forgive. You will not want to put this book down once you start! By the time you finish this book your faith will be strengthened and renewed. Follow Carly as she questions God and see if she surrenders to God, or stays on the same path resisting God. If you love a good mystery, this book is for you. The suspense and intrigue will keep you on the edge of your seat to the very last page. Nick is there with her every step of the way, but is he part of the conspiracy? Pick up this book today and be ready to be swept away! Janice Cantore is a retired Long Beach police office and brings her background into her novel. The scenes are depicted realistically and the characters are believable and lifelike. I can’t wait to read another novel by Janice Cantore.

A Soldier’s Devotion By: Cheryl Wyatt This is another great book by Cheryl Wyatt! A Soldier’s Devotion is about a pararescue jumper, Vince Reardon, and his journey to faith. Have you had something happen in your past that you didn’t understand, or thought God had deserted you? You will have your faith restored by reading this book! As Vince learns, God doesn’t desert you. He has plans for you, and loves you. Things will happen that we don’t understand, but with our faith in God, we can overcome and be comforted. Valentina Russo literally runs into Vince and turns his world upside down. She causes him to rethink some of his beliefs, especially about him thinking God has turned His back on him. Vince has a thing about lawyers, and guess what Val’s occupation is? That’s right; a lawyer! She’s a perfect match for Vince, but can she convince him to look past her job? Cheryl does an awesome job of pulling you into the story. The characters become your best friends and you can’t wait to see how their story will end. A Soldier’s Devotion is faith-inspiring, has romance, and lots of humor. You will find you have a better perspective of God’s love and faithfulness once you read this book. And you will have laughed at the antics of the two main characters. Cheryl Wyatt is a very talented writer. I look forward to reading many more of her books and I highly recommend this one!

After the Cross By: Mike Lynch This book is a definite must read! An 800 year old letter is discovered at an archeological site. It tells the whereabouts of Jesus’ cross. Mallory and Colton are two leading archeologists who follow the letter to see if they can find the Cross. They must figure out who the bad guys and good guys are and whose motives are sincere. After the Cross follows Mallory and Colton’s journey as they search for the Cross in a town in Israel. What would happen if it came to light that Jesus’ Cross wasn’t destroyed but was in fact hidden? Once you start this novel, you won’t be able to put it down. The suspense, intrigue, and just a touch of romance, draw you into the story and won’t let you go till you get to the end. Mallory must learn to trust and Colton needs to have his confidence restored. He had made some bad decisions a few years before and now people don’t believe in him. Mallory has been burned and doesn’t trust anyone. This letter and finding the Cross will put both of them in the spotlight. Will they listen to their hearts or chase after fame and fortune? You’ll have to read the story to find out. The writing style is very engaging and the characters are well-developed. The mercenaries are very believable as they chase down Mallory and Colton. Priests and townspeople who come in contact with Mallory and Colton give an authenticity to the novel, and the descriptions of the countryside make you feel like you are right there with them as they track down the Cross’ hiding spot. You won’t know until you read the last page what is going to happen. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense, intrigue, and finding out what might have happened to the Cross after Jesus was crucified. Mike Lynch gives a very plausible explanation that also encourages your faith. As the priest says, “The need to see and touch substitutes the faith required to truly believe.” Will Mallory and Colton find the cross? Will their faith in God and each other be restored? You will enjoy reading the book to find out!