Review of Since You've Been Gone by Tari Faris

About the Book ~

With her vision and his know-how, this thing just might work . . .

Leah Williams is back in the quaint town of Heritage, Michigan, and ready to try again to make her business a success. But blank slates are hard to come by, and a piece of her past is waiting for her there. Heir to the Heritage Fruits company, Jonathan Kensington is the guy who not only made Leah's past difficult, but he also seems determined to complicate her present as well.

In order to avoid forcing a buyout of Leah's building, Jon will have to strike a compromise. Can the two of them work together? Or will their troubled past set the tone for their future?

For more information about Tari Faris and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Since You've Been Gone by Tari Faris is the kind of book I love to curl up with, disappear in, and make into my fictional home!

The Restoring Heritage Series comes full circle in Since You've Been Gone, and I loved every minute of it! Leah returns to Heritage to battle Jon for the WIFI, but Madison also returns! And WOW! The way the author brought the story back to the beginning but also brought love and redemption to these ladies was deeply moving to me. Leah and Jon's romance was touched with some unrequited love AND some love-to-hate vibes, which made it great fun. Colby and Madison's romance brought an incredible redemption arch to Madison's character as well as making my heart happy with their music-laced romance. Additionally, the town of Heritage is just one I want to move to and call my own.

I loved the spiritual themes in Since You've Been Gone! Powerful themes like not compromising on the dreams and direction God has given to you, breaking down the walls we build around our hearts, and not letting the fear of failure hold us back while still recognizing that we will fail and love knows that and continues to love in spite of that. These themes were so beautifully woven into Jon, Leah, Colby, and Madison's stories, and I cheered for their victories until the sweet end!

Five Stars ~ Since You've Been Gone by Tari Faris is a wonderful conclusion to an equally wonderful series! Since You've Been Gone is the final book in the author's Restoring Heritage Series. While it can be read by itself, I recommend reading the series in order for the character development.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox

 

About the Book ~

Present Day. Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home, determined to finally follow her dream of running the family business alongside her mother and grandmother. So when her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that Old Depot Grocery is closing, Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a plan to save the store. But Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons--but she'll certainly never reveal the real one.

1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she's pregnant with her deceased fiancé's baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve her family's reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.

This dual-time story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of the mother-daughter relationship, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth.

For more information about Amanda Cox and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox will sweep readers into a family drama that is layered with intricate secrets!

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery will charm readers with its small, quaint town as simpler days beckon! Truly, even the steadfast Old Depot Grocery proves to be its own character in this story. Even though the characters were not at a soulmate level for me, I did appreciate how the author dug into family dynamics that often influence many, particularly siblings. While I did not connect with some of the plot points and twists, this is definitely a story that should be high on the TBR list for those who love complex family drama!

It's a good guess that the spiritual thread of The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery revolves around secrets with a title like that. However, that's only the beginning! The cost of secrets, the long-term effects of secrets, and assumptions heavily influenced by secrets are all examined very thoughtfully by the author. This thoughtful exploration paves the way for the freeing and healing power of truth to shine in the lives of the characters.

Three Stars ~ The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox is an intriguing look into family dynamics. The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is a standalone, but this is the author's second novel.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of The Lines Between Us by Amy Lynn Green

 

About the Book ~

A WWII novel of courage and conviction, based on the true experience of the men who fought fires as conscientious objectors and the women who fought prejudice to serve in the Women's Army Corps.

Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, Gordon Hooper and his buddy Jack Armitage have stuck to their values as conscientious objectors. Much to their families' and country's chagrin, they volunteer as smokejumpers rather than enlisting, parachuting into and extinguishing raging wildfires in Oregon. But the number of winter blazes they're called to seems suspiciously high, and when an accident leaves Jack badly injured, Gordon realizes the facts don't add up.

A member of the Women's Army Corps, Dorie Armitage has long been ashamed of her brother's pacifism, but she's shocked by news of his accident. Determined to find out why he was harmed, she arrives at the national forest under the guise of conducting an army report . . . and finds herself forced to work with Gordon. He believes it's wrong to lie; she's willing to do whatever it takes for justice to be done. As they search for clues, Gordon and Dorie must wrestle with their convictions about war and peace and decide what to do with the troubling secrets they discover.

For more information about Amy Lynn Green and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Love WWII fiction, but you're looking for something a little...different? If that's you, then check out The Lines Between Us by Amy Lynn Green!

The Lines Between Us was mainly set in the mountainous forests of Oregon, exploring often unknown and unexplored secrets from WWII! The setting was a lush, vibrant backdrop to the unfolding mystery. Speaking of that mystery...I loved how Dorie's personality added some humor and culture to their search for the truth. Furthermore, the mystery itself was a fascinating piece of history! 

While the spiritual themes in The Lines Between Us are more subtle, the author crafted complex characters with a vast array of emotions, pasts, and quirks. Additionally, the author explored a lot of gray areas with difficult questions and painful circumstances quite thoughtfully. Through Dorie, Gordon, Jack, and the rest of these engaging characters, we are shown that those black and white lines are not always what they seem while humanizing the people we view as our political enemies, people who are just like us. More importantly, we are given heart-tugging examples that no matter the situation, the truth will set us free.

Four Stars ~ The Lines Between Us by Amy Lynn Green is equal parts intriguing, mysterious, and thoughtful. The Lines Between Us is a standalone, and I'm interested to see what the author writes next!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!