books and ladybugs

Once again, Cynthia Ruchti has reached deep into my soul and wrenched out the tears. Her books are always an emotional journey, but the God lessons she shares are inspirational and full of heartwarming reflections.

There are wonderful characters, husband, wife, and a quirky teenager who has been abandoned by his mother. The miles they travel together, the adventures they have, the people they meet, and the way God speaks to each of them in different ways takes you on a hope-filled expedition. Judah was a treat and I chuckled often at the words that came out of his mouth.

Pay attention to the waterfalls and their restorative powers. The author takes the most basic things…nature, humans, health, jobs…and uses them to teach us a spiritual lesson.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait for the next adventure with Cynthia Ruchti.

This was another fun mystery in the Bailey Ruth series. Once again you find yourself in the middle of a mystery and adventure with Bailey Ruth. Her antics will have you chuckling and her efforts to help those she has been sent to assist and to solve the murder will keep you engaged.

I am looking forward to the next episode in this series.

I’ve read two of the books in this series, both in random order, and I love the stories. In fact, I went back and bought all of the books in the series that I hadn’t read!

The mystery keeps your attention and will grab you from the beginning. I love Lucy and Conner and some of the secondary characters. And, of course, as with any community, there are people who will get on your last nerve.

Between the murder mystery and the intrigue of the map and diary found buried in the ground next to the lighthouse, you will be flipping the pages quickly.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books and any future ones in this series.

My mother handed me this book and said it was wonderful. I kept it on the table next to my recliner until she guilted me into reading it. The only regret I have is that I put off reading the book so long!

Once I opened it to the first page, I could not put it down! And I love it when I’m immersed in a book and literally gasp out loud at the twists. And that happened a couple of times. I had convinced myself who hadn’t committed the murder (more than who had) and was seriously considering who I thought was guilty. I won’t let you know if I figured it out, but the ride through the pages was exciting and keeps your attention.

I have now started purchasing every book by Allen Eskens. I can’t wait to read another wonderful story by him!

Funny, honest, emotional story of mother-daughter relationships. I especially enjoy the audiobook editions of Lisa and Francesca’s books. Hearing then verbally express their thoughts makes the book even better.

You will chuckle as you discover what happens in the lives of these entertaining women and how they respond to situations.

I have been amazed at the rave reviews for this book. To be honest, it was just average to me. It was hard for me to stay focused on the story. There were some moments, however, that were entertaining.

An amazing and engaging story that exposes the reader to a different aspect of the Nazi invasion during WWII. The book goes back and forth through time pulling you into the lives of the characters. As the reader gets to know the ladies, you will experience mixed emotions … admiring some of them and having no respect for others.

How much can a person influence another’s integrity? It was uplifting to discover how these amazing ladies were willing to do everything possible to make a difference and take a stand against the atrocities Hitler’s regime inflicted on so many innocent people.

This was an emotional read and I found myself sobbing out loud. But the story is one that is worth reading as you observe the growth of the characters and the relationships that develop and strength as you turn the pages and get engrossed in the story.

I had read Trick or Treat Murder, the first mystery in this book, about 12 years ago. Of course, this takes you back to a different time in Lucy’s life with younger children, and then the second mystery, Wicked Witch Murder, takes place after Lucy’s children are older.

The mystery was still entertaining and had me guessing until the very end. There were the typical disagreements among the people in Tinker’s Cove, but for the most part there is a sense of community in the end.

I though the author did a great job of showing how people make judgments about individuals and get others drawn into their drama, but there is hope, because some people are not influenced by preconceived notions and can make their own judgments.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great audiobook. The story will grab you from the beginning and the mystery kept my attention to the end. And to be honest, I did not guess who was guilty of committing murder until the end.

I appreciated the Christian views expressed. The author does a great job of character development and making you invested in their lives.

I’ve listened to several of the Bailey Ruth books and did not enjoy this one as much as the others. However, the mystery held you until the very end. I think one aspect of the book that did not appeal to me was the myriad of characters. It made it difficult to keep up with everyone and the relationships…especially via the audiobook.

Bailey Ruth will have you chuckling at times with her antics.