Recent Fantastic Reads

I've been reading a ton of books lately, so I decided once again to share my favs with anyone who is interested. My reading tastes vary quite a bit as you can see.

Blurb: My name is Amelia Gray. I'm a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I've always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe. 

It started with the discovery of a young woman's brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I've been hired to restore. The clues to the killer--and to his other victims--lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I've vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next. 

Verdict: What an awesome read! This book totally engrossed me. It's the first in a series and as you can read from the blurb it's pretty unique and dark. 

Blurb: Grace Livingston Hill weaves an enchanting love triangle and introduces one of her most delightful characters in part one of the Miranda trilogy. Two sisters are as different as night and day--and inexplicably linked by the man they both desire. Kate Schuyler lives only for what pleases her in the moment, while Marcia Schuyler sacrifices her youth to marry her older sister's jilted fiance. Can Marcia endure living in borrowed clothes and a borrowed home with a borrowed husband? Is there hope to win her husband's love when Kate returns, spinning a web of deceit?

Verdict: This was a great romance in the purest sense of the word. It isn't hot or steamy, but the love is genuine between the hero and heroine. It's funny to think of this one as an historical since it was written about a 100 years ago as a contemporary for the time. If you're looking for an wholesome read with some pretty interesting characters and angst, try this one!

Blurb: A Fresh Start

Lily Farnsworth can thank a mysterious benefactor for the chance to open her own flower shop in Bygones, Kansas. But Tate Bronson is the biggest challenge the relocated Boston attorney has ever faced. Forget about tossing out the welcome mat—the handsome widowed rancher seems determined to keep Lily at arm's length. As everyone buzzes over the identity of the anonymous donor, Lily's doing her part to revitalize the struggling town. With the help of Tate's little girl-turned-matchmaker, can she create a garden of community and love deep in the heart of Kansas…and one special man?

Verdict: I like reading Harlquin's line of Christian romances. It's isn't really because of the religious element in them, but I find them easy reads that focus on the romance between the characters more so than anything else.

This book was a nice, easy read. Tate was a wonderful man, and I can see why Lily fell for him so easily. The blurb pretty much tells the jest of the story. This is also a series. I can't wait to read the next book. If small town romances are your thing, try this sweet read.

Blurb: A family struggles to survive bereavement, bombing and bitter rivalry... Patsy Rushton's brother Barney doesn't know the meaning of hard work, so when their father tragically dies, Patsy has no choice but to save the family's business. Meanwhile, Barney has got his girlfriend pregnant and, feeling trapped, he abandons her and leaves Merseyside altogether. But trouble follows Barney wherever he goes and when he learns of his sister's growing success, he can't help feeling resentful. Why is their mother, Beatrice, so quick to forgive him? Surely, she can't be blind to his faults? As Patsy is to discover, there's something else about Barney that is frightening her mother so much she has never dared to speak of it before.

Verdict: Anne Baker is one of my favorite authors. I adore her books and I don't think she's written a bad one. Love is Blind is a sweeping family saga set during the World War II. I got really enveloped in this story. Nancy was such a strong woman. If you're looking for an enticing read set during an interesting time, this book is the perfect read.

XD