#bookreviews- North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan, A Father for Bella @JillWeatherholt, Now That You Mention It @Kristan_Higgins, A Girl Called Samson @AHarmon_author #reading

More volatile than the incoming blizzard, more dangerous than the family they ran from or the natural predators they could encounter. Who finds them first could determine if they live or die. . .

This is a fast-paced action-adventure novel with two teens at the center of a cross-country chase.

Kristen and her deaf brother, Ryan, are grateful to the man they’ve called Dad for the last five years, Tony. He rescued them from an untenable life as the children of crime boss Boyd McIntyre and kept them safe from discovery.

Until now.

Somehow, their father and his men have tracked them to a ranch in the Montana wilderness. During a daring escape, one of Boyd’s men shoots down the twin-engine plane Tony and the kids have stolen, and it crashes into a lake just as a blizzard hits the area. Though Kristen tries, Tony is mortally wounded and urges the children to follow his plan to get them to safety. A plan that will see them traveling miles through dense forests in sub-zero temperatures with the threat of capture around every bend in the trail.

This novel started out good for me, but I was upset when a main character I had empathy for died after the emphasis on his love for the children and his own personal growth. He deserved to triumph over his nemesis, in my opinion. It, and far too many inner thoughts from a raging lunatic done all in italics (which is hard to read!), took away from what could have been a great story.

This was my first Allison Brennan, I’m not sure I would try her again.

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

When single mom Faith Brennan discovers the Virginia inn she grew up in is for sale, she’s determined to make a bid. Even if that means going head-to-head with handsome real estate broker Joshua Carlson. 

When real estate broker Joshua Carlson arrives at the quaint old inn his father plans to auction off, it’s with mixed feelings. His mom loved the building, and he wants to honor her wishes with a large-scale renovation, but his dad is determined to sell it out of the family portfolio- so, he’ll just have to do it without him knowing.

Faith Brennan has a long history with the Black Bear Inn; she grew up in the house and is now the single mom is the inn’s manager. She’s determined to save her heritage for her young daughter, Bella, and if that means going up against the handsome Joshua to win… well, game on.

I love Bella, she’s a scene stealer, lol.

This is a sweet romance between two damaged souls and the little angel who brings them together. A wonderful read!

With a tough islander mother who’s always been distant, a wild-child sister in jail, and a withdrawn teenage niece as eager to ditch the island as Nora once was, Nora has her work cut out for her if she’s going to take what might be her last chance to mend the family.

Nora Stuart has it all, a handsome boyfriend, exciting career (okay, maybe not exciting, but it is rewarding), a lovely apartment, and plenty of friends.

So why is she waiting for the other shoe to drop?

When Nora is hit by a passing motorist and then awakens to her beloved flirting with a nurse over her seriously injured body, she is understandably upset.

Needing space to think, Nora hops a ferry back to Cupper Island and the not so warm arms of her family. It’s also the scene of her happiest and most heartbreaking moments in life.

As she tries to find her feet, readers are guided through a sentimental, emotional journey of her youth blended with the present day as she grapples with family connections and a new love interest.

This story is done in classic Kristan Higgans style; plenty of snarky humor, and characters who leap off the page and into your heart.

I loved every second of this book and will definitely be saving it to my keeper shelf!

From New York Times bestselling author Amy Harmon comes the saga of a young woman who dares to chart her own destiny in life and love during the American Revolutionary War.

Based on a true story, this is the heart-wrenching tale of a young woman who dreams of a better life and becomes the first female soldier in the United States.

Deborah Samson is indentured as a young girl after her father deserts his family and her mother is unable to support them. Pride in her Mayflower roots and the ability to read and write gives Deborah a restless yearning to be more than a servant her whole life. She spends the first few years at the disposal to an elderly woman, then moves to a farm where a family with ten children needs her help.

To practice her writing, Deborah asks the minister for help, and he sets up a communication between her and his married niece. Deborah treasures these letters and fills the pages with so many questions the young woman asks her lawyer husband to write as well. When John is called to mediate the growing dissent in the country, the women become ever closer.

As the boys grow, so does Deborah. She is seventeen, war is breaking out, and men are heading out to fight in the Continental army. Frustrated that she can’t participate in the cause, Deborah takes the extraordinary measure of cutting her hair, binding her breasts, and donning breeches to enlist. Her years of wrangling the boys under her care and watching them practice their drills, as well as her innate stubborness keeps her going through long marches, deplorable circumstances, and the challenge of blending into the male world she’s been thrust into.

When she finally arrives at West Point, Deborah is stunned to learn John, the lawyer husband of her best friend, is there and he is the commanding general for the entire base. Several times in the following months, Deborah (Bonnie Robert Shurtliff, as she’s known by her teammates) proves her mettle by jumping into the fray and catches the general’s attention. What follows is the beginning of an epic love story worthy of the silver screen!

Unforgettable characters, profound dialogue, heart-wrenching scenes- this is a must-read!