I’m excited to share my review of this Southern WWII story with you today! I hadn’t read anything by Valerie Fraser Luesse before, but her newest book, Almost Home, was a great introduction to her writing.

The Basics

Title: Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse

Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From the Back Cover

With America’s entrance into the Second World War, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam’s munitions plants–and they’re bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler’s grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse.

An estranged young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war–they’re all hoping Dolly’s house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.

When tragedy strikes, Dolly’s only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.

My Thoughts

This beautiful Southern story, set in Alabama during WWII, is a story of loss, hope, belonging, friendship, and healing. It’s a different take on WWII fiction, told from the perspective of people fighting for their families and their country at home. The variety of charming characters added a beautiful richness and depth to the story. The mystery of a couple who lived in the same house 100 years earlier was an intriguing subplot, and turned out to be very important to the story in several ways. I loved the way it was told both through memories of women in the community, and through the journals of the young bride.

If you enjoy Southern or historical fiction, Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse is worth a read! You might also be interested in my review of another Southern story with a little bit of history here.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you, Revell!

If you’ve read my blog before, you know that Susan May Warren is my all-time favorite author! Knox, the first book in her new Montana Marshalls series releases tomorrow, March 12th. I was able to read a copy early, and I’m excited to share my review with you today!

The Basics

Title: Knox by Susan May Warren

Series: The Montana Marshalls (Book 1 of 5)

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Links: Amazon, christianbook.com, Goodreads

From the Back Cover

Montana rancher Knox Marshall’s danger years are behind him. A former bull-rider, he now runs the Marshall family ranch, raising champion bucking bulls for the National Professional Bullrider’s Expo (NBR-X). Wealth and success are his, but life is stable, expected, and…ordinary. He can’t help but wonder if his best years are behind him.

Kelsey Jones just wants a safe life, a family, a home. Onstage, the beautiful rising star of the Yankee Belles becomes the person she longs to be – vivacious and confident – burying the brokenness she carries from a violent assault. Becoming NBR-X’s next country act is key to outrunning her past and achieving the success and security she craves.

Knox and Kelsey’s paths collide when an explosion at an NBR-X event traps them in the rubble and leaves them reeling. Kelsey’s crippling nightmares return, but for Knox, an obsession to find the bomber is ignited.  

When Kelsey’s past threatens Knox’s family, he’ll have to choose between saving the Marshall legacy or becoming the protector he’s always longed to be.

My Review

Susan May Warren is back with a new series, and it’s off to an explosive start with Knox! This book has everything I love about her writing: a big family saga, top-notch suspense, epic adventure, compelling characters, and beautiful spiritual truths. Now I want to move to Montana and be part of the Marshall family! 🙂

Knox starts off with a bang – literally! The danger from Kelsey’s past seems to be catching up to her, and when Knox gets involved, he makes it his mission to keep her safe. Throughout the book, they each have to deal with their own fears. Kelsey is afraid of the trauma in her past coming back to haunt her, and she’s not sure she can trust God with her future. Knox wants to be the one people can count on to show up, the one who holds his father’s legacy together. He doesn’t want to let his family down, and he’s a little afraid of what might happen if he went after a new dream and left the safety of the ranch.

One thing that sets Susan May Warren’s writing apart for me is the way she writes her characters. I feel like I’m inside their hearts and minds, and like I really understand them. Their struggles, their hard questions, and their faith all ring true. I can connect with and relate to them, no matter how different their lives are from mine. That is definitely true with the characters in Knox! The characters and the plot are have just enough complexity and detail to keep you engaged in the story without getting bogged down or lost. Expertly woven sub-plots and hints of the series arc add depth to this story and build anticipation for the rest of the series.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I loved Knox! It’s a well-written, engaging story, and a must-read for anyone who enjoys suspense or romance. It’s a great start to the new series, and I can’t wait for the next four books. We won’t have to wait long, since they’re all coming out in 2019! We can catch up with the Marshall family in the second book, Tate, which releases on July 9th.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review.

You can find out more about all of Susan May Warren’s books at www.susanmaywarren.com, and follow her on Facebook , Instagram, and Goodreads!

You might also be interested in my reviews of some of her other books: Troubled Waters (Montana Rescue series #4) and Wait for Me (Montana Rescue series #6).

Happy release day to Courting Mr. Emerson by Melody Carlson!

The Basics

Title: Courting Mr. Emerson by Melody Carlson

Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction

From the Back Cover

When fun-loving artist Willow West meets buttoned-up George Emerson, it’s not exactly love at first sight. More like intriguing project at first sight. Willow makes it her mission to get the obsessive-compulsive, newly retired English teacher to loosen up and embrace life, but even she has to admit it seems like a lost cause.

A confirmed bachelor, George vacillates between irritation and attraction whenever Willow is around–which to him seems like all too often. He’s not interested in expanding his horizons or making new friends; it just hurts too much when you lose them.

But as the summer progresses, George feels his defenses crumbling. The question is, will his change of heart be too late for Willow?

My Thoughts

This was kind of a quirky story, full of eccentric characters! There were serious moments, especially when dealing with some hurts and tense relationships, and George’s process of coming to terms with all the loss he experienced and how much it influenced his life. The romance aspect didn’t really come into play until the end, and even then it felt a little forced. I didn’t think the book really needed it, though; it was a still a lovely story about unlikely friendships! Overall, I thought this was a fun, light-hearted book, perfect for spring and summer reading.

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own; I was not required to give a positive review.