The rest of the Seasons of the Heart series... (Charlotte Hubbard)

Autumn Winds
Winter of Wishes
Breath of Spring
Harvest of Blessings
The Christmas Cradle

Why I have these books: I borrowed most of them from the e-book library. I'm glad I discovered that they had them before I bought any more of them. (I think I bought one more than the two I already had.)

I gave them all 3 stars on Goodreads. I probably would have gone with 2.5 - 2.7 stars if I could have, but since you have to round to a whole number, I went with 3. I mean, I can't really justify reading the whole series if they were only 2 stars.

The "bad guy" in the series is super annoying and not really believable. I'll also say if the Amish world really was as amazing as depicted in this series, we'd all be converting fast and moving to Willow Ridge. How perfectly everything worked out for everyone (Amish or not) wasn't believable, either. Still, it was a mindless read (and listen), and sometimes that's just what I need.

I actually ended up listening to the audio version of the last two or maybe even three. It's perfect for when I'm cross-stitching and can't read at the same time. Haha.

I sound like an old granny with my Amish books and cross stitch projects. Oh, well. I was actually babysitting my grandson this weekend while cross stitching and listening to my Amish books during his naps, so if the shoe fits...

One thing I didn't like is that there were a couple of books in between the main books — little novellas within a compilation with other authors — that told more of the story. I'd start the next book and know I've missed something somewhere, but I'm not going to buy them just to find out what I missed. (They aren't available to borrow.) The author also has other series that tie into this one, but I'm not going to buy them, either. If they come up to borrow, I'd read them, though. I don't mind living in this perfect Amish fantasy world once in a while. :)

These books are clean, although there definitely are some red-blooded Amish males in this series. One character (Luke) crossed the line for me with his stupid comments, but whatever.

Not My Type (Melanie Jacobson)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from DBS+.

I borrowed it because listening to audio books (which this was) is so nice while working on projects. And yes, I know I swore off fiction audio books, but I'm starting to get used to them. Maybe it just depends on the reader.

I've enjoyed books by this author before. They have a very Rom-Com vibe to them. Light reading, a bit predictable, witty characters. The protagonist in this one was a little long-winded in her thoughts for me (always thinking, thinking, thinking, explaining, explaining, explaining her thoughts to the reader in the middle of conversations she's having with another character). That got a little on my nerves after a time.

It was a cute story. I am starting to feel like I need to dive into something a little deeper now, though, after all these light reads lately.

Clean.

Summer of Secrets (Charlotte Hubbard)

Why I have this book: I think I got it cheap on Kindle, and you know that I always seem to make my way back to Amish romances, no matter how many times I swear them off.

I gave this one 3 stars on Goodreads. It was enjoyable enough, although I'm a little confused as to why they talk like country bumpkins with a German word thrown in once in a while. I've never read another Amish book where they talk like that.

I liked it enough to buy the second book in the series, which I'm in the middle of right now. I'm glad it was cheap, too, because it's not as good as the first. In all honesty, they both have some definite unrealistic parts, so I feel pretty generous with the three stars. Haha...

Clean.

The Candy Cane Caper (Josi S. Kilpack)

Why I have this book: I pre-ordered it, of course. I love Josi's culinary mystery series... and I was really happy that she brought Sadie back for a bonus book!

This book was delivered to my Kindle while I slept the night of September 30. I had it finished before the first day of October was over. I loved it! I gave it four stars on Goodreads. (I try to reserve five stars for books that make an impact on my soul, but I would have given this 4.5 if I could. I love this series so much!)

It was so nice to lose myself in a book all day, especially when I feel like I'm spending time with a good friend as I sink into the story. Ahhhhhh... it was wonderful!

Clean and happy and sad (and happy).

Whisper Hollow (Carol Warburton)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from DBS+.

I liked this book quite a bit. I gave it four stars on Goodreads.

I did think the "bad guys" were a little too obvious in the way they behaved (especially when the protagonist and her mother were hiding from them), but I thought it was well-written overall, and I found myself reading throughout the day more than usual because I was invested in the story.

Clean, although there is some violence (and talk of violence against women). It's implied that one woman was sexually assaulted, but it's so subtle that I'm not even sure that was the intent.

Two books by Gerald N. Lund

A Generation Rising
The Storm Descends

Why I have these books: I borrowed them from the ebook library.

These are the first two books in the Fire and Steel series, which is set around the time of WWI.

I gave them each three stars on Goodreads. I did like them, especially learning more about Germany during and after WWI. I'm not sure how I felt about the way they reminded me of The Work and the Glory or the Children of the Promise series. The writing had the same feel (which makes sense since Gerald Lund wrote The Work and the Glory series) when the story was focused on any character who was a member of the Church. This was especially true when we "met" the American family in the second book. I don't know... it just seems a little stereotypical or something in the way they talk. I didn't love that so much.

All in all, I liked the books, but I didn't like them enough to jump right into the next book in the series. It's kind of too bad, because I do like learning about the historical events associated with this time period.

Clean.

(I'm playing catch up again on books I've been reading, so I just am picking dates that are close to when I remember reading these books.)

Storm Clouds Rolling In: 1860-1861 (Virginia Gaffney)

Why I have this book: My aunt recommended it on Goodreads, and since it was available to borrow from Amazon Prime, I did. Or at least, I thought she recommended it... now I can't tell if the review was hers or came with the book (on Goodreads). I'd like to ask her, but she actually passed away just about the time I began reading the book. I had to keep reminding myself that she wasn't there when I thought to talk to her about what I was reading.

I liked this book quite a bit, and from what I understand, it's the first of at least fourteen books in the series. I don't know that ALL the books can be about the Civil War (it seems like a lot of books for five years of historical fiction), but I don't know.

The rest of the books in the series aren't free, and although I liked this one quite a bit, I won't be buying them. I'd read them if they were free or cheap.

A notable quote from the book: "Her mama had always told her it didn't do any good to put things in God's hands if you were going to stand in front of him and keep snatching them back."

Clean other than some descriptions of slavery and all the horrible treatment associated with it. There is also copious uses of the N-word.