The Case of the Innocent Husband by Deborah Sprinkle

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Mac & Sam Mystery, Book 1

Mackenzie Love and Samantha Masters have opened their own Private Investigation firm in Washington, Missouri. Sam’s brother Jake works for the city’s police force. Mac fights her growing feelings for Jake, unaware that he’s also interested in her.

Mac and Sam aren’t popular around town after clearing an innocent man of killing his wife, but the murderer has not been caught. They decide they must solve the case, despite warnings to leave it alone.

Once the story began, the action never stopped. Plot twists, unexpected turns, and escalating danger kept me riveted to the story. Of course, I continually tried to solve the case.

The author has woven a story that I couldn’t put down. I’ve read other cozy mysteries and suspense books by Sprinkle—I can’t turn the pages fast enough!

I will definitely read more books by this author!

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Miss Wetherham’s Wedding by Linore Rose Burkard

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Clean and Sweet Regency Romance, Brides of Mayfair, Book 3

1806, Mayfair, London

Lettie Wetherham, widow, had lost her dear Steven three years before when he traveled to Africa to search for a new vein of diamonds in their mine. Lettie struggles to pay her mounting debts by playing matchmaker for London’s society couples.

Confirmed bachelor Nicholas Dellacort’s girl has tired of waiting for him to propose. She’s now engaged to an earl who seems to bore her. Lettie should be able to help Nick get her back.

Nick pays Lettie to snatch the earl’s attention from his beautiful fiancée. What can go wrong?

It’s been quite a while since I read a regency romance novel. This author transported me back to that world with this story.

Endearing characters quickly drew me into their story. Several twists that I didn’t see coming kept me turning pages. This was an enjoyable read.

I look forward to reading another book by this author.

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A Surprise Harvest Bride by Wendy Klopfenstein

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

1901, Wyoming

Hope O’Neal travels west to take her friend’s place as a mail-order bride for Patrick Eastland. Emigrating to the United States from Ireland had led to drudgery. She prays that marrying a stranger will finally be the answer to her dreams of a happy life.

Patrick Eastland’s friend had advertised for a nanny for Patrick’s two nephews, but Hope isn’t to blame for his friend’s mistake. He marries her with the promise to annul the marriage after harvesting all the fruit from his apple orchard. That has to be his focus, or he will lose the house and land he inherited from his grandfather.

This short, satisfying story can be read in about two hours. There are hurdles on the path to paying off the hero’s mortgage. The heroine’s attitude won me over early in the story and had me pulling for her and the hero.

I look forward to reading another book by this author.

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Where Love is Planted by Dawn Kinzer

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Meriside Romance, Book 1

Beth Miller, horticultural therapist, takes on a lion’s share of the work at her family’s garden center after the deaths of her father and brother two years before. She hasn’t completed her internship for certification and has put her life on hold for her family. Her oasis is renting an apartment from Agatha, who almost feels like a grandmother to her.  

Tyler Sharp, Agatha’s nephew, moves in with his great aunt while searching for a home. His job as the new social worker at the local women’s correctional facility is temporary because he and his friend plan to minister to juveniles and children of incarcerated parents in Colorado. He can’t afford to fall in love with Beth, who lives in Washington.

The story captivated my attention from the beginning with a lovable hero and heroine. The author includes several secondary characters in difficult situations that I found myself championing. We know from the beginning that the hero doesn’t plan to stay in Washington, keeping my attention as the story unfolded with unexpected turns.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

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Cowboy’s Bookshop Bride by Clara Pines

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Trinity Falls Sweet Romance, Book 4

Trinity Falls, Pennsylvania

Sarah Robinson leaves behind her successful job to purchase a bookstore in Trinity Falls, a place she’s dreamed of returning to since her family left when she was a child. Of the many places her family lived during her childhood, Trinity Falls was the only town that felt like home. She’s thrilled to return, even after finding the bookshop hasn’t been kept up.

Brody Webb feels sorry for the city girl who bought his uncle’s shop. How long would it be before she gave up on the small-town bookstore and returned to the big city? Brody’s own wife had divorced him and left him, his farm, and their children to pursue a brilliant career. Brody can’t allow himself to fall for Sarah, no matter how much his avid-reading daughter loves her.

Sarah’s growing friendship with Brody and his children blossoms into more, but there’s no sign that the confirmed bachelor returns her feelings.

This book was a page-turner for me! The children definitely made the story more poignant for me. Neither the hero nor the heroine has a high opinion of their own appeal to the opposite sex, which adds to the story’s tension.

This well-written book is a feel-good story.

I will look for more books by this author. Recommended for readers of contemporary romances.

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A Mountain Christmas Romance by Misty Beller

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Wyoming Mountain Tales, Book 4

Mountain Bluff, Wyoming Territory, 1867

Matthias Bjork searches for his sister in the rugged Wyoming Territory. Both his Viking heritage and family are vital to him, and he hasn’t seen his sister in twenty years.

Opal Boyd’s experiences with men have led her to steer clear of them. That’s why she’s so grateful to have found a job and a home with an older German couple in the Wyoming Territory. Meeting with Matthias, whom her boarding family considers an adopted son, doesn’t change her mind initially, yet the strong man soon captivates her thoughts.

Matthias is equally mesmerized by Opal, yet continues to follow all clues to his sister. Once he finds her, he vows never to live far apart from her again. That promise becomes difficult to keep.

This book was a page-turner for me. The author weaves lots of twists and turns into the story that kept me guessing to the end. Lovable characters touched my heart in this poignant story.

This isn’t the first novel I’ve read by this prolific author, nor will it be the last. Recommended for readers of historical romances.

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Forever Christmas by Cat Cahill

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

The Gilbert Girls, Book 5

Crest Stone, Colorado Territory, 1875

After the death of her husband, Elizabeth Campbell spends all her money on a train ticket to the Colorado Territory in search of her brother. Upon learning that he’s in California with his new bride, Elizabeth takes a job as a waitress at the hotel her brother built.

In dread of his next job, Landon Cooper stops at a fine hotel for the night. His waitress at the lunch counter captivates him, but he’s not worthy of a good woman—especially after he completes his new job. Still, he can’t forget her. When she enlists his help in decorating the hotel for Christmas, he extends his stay.

Elizabeth’s marriage had not been a good one. It wouldn’t be wise to marry another cowboy, yet Landon stirs her heart. But what secret is he keeping?

The story captivated my attention from the first chapter as believable characters drew me into their plight. The hero’s decision kept me wondering as the story unfolded.

Characters from earlier novels are introduced seamlessly into the story, making me want to read the whole series.

I will look for more books by this author.

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A Horseman’s Mission by Sandra Ardoin

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Hidden Veil Hometown, Book 2

The main reason Macie Newman accepts a job at a ranch in the small town of Hidden Veil is to give Alex, her nine-year-old son, a country setting to heal from witnessing his father drown. Her chef skills might be wasted on Lane Becker and his uncle, but she will do anything to help her traumatized son to heal.

Lane’s focus is on establishing his equine therapy center that will open in a few months. He soon discovers Alex’s trauma. Unfortunately, the boy’s feisty mother tends to be overprotective. Macie doesn’t take it well when he gives her his opinion. Lane’s friendship with both of them grows along with Alex’s interest in the ranch’s horses. Yet Lane can’t allow himself to dream of a relationship with Macie because of lingering guilt due to his brother’s death.

Lovable characters quickly pulled me into their plight. Both the hero and heroine have believable past emotional issues that made me care about their journey, especially as it affected the boy.

I enjoyed the North Carolina small-town setting. Townspeople whom we may see again in future books make me want to continue reading the series.

An enjoyable story.

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The Mechanics of Mistletoe by Liz Isaacson

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Glover Family Saga, Shiloh Ridge Ranch, Book 1

Bear Glover shares the ownership of a thriving Texas ranch with his cousin. The ranch is large enough to support his adult siblings and cousins. He loves his job yet he’s lonely. Sammy Benton caught his eye three years and he’s finally worked up the courage to ask her out.

Sammy runs her own shop in addition to raising her sister’s son, Lincoln. Her parents are getting older, requiring her help. Bear’s invitation thrills her. Unfortunately, their date doesn’t go well.

A tornado that wreaks havoc on their community brings them together. Sammy has been raising Lincoln on her own so long. Can she accept help without feeling weak?

This story was a page-turner. Our strong hero was so sweetly awkward about asking Sammy out that he drew me in immediately. Our heroine would do anything to keep from appearing weak.

The Texas community setting invited me in and made me want to stay a while. The families of the main characters were equally lovable, making me eager to read the next story in the series.

Recommend! I can’t wait to read the next book.

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Irish Rose Orphan’s Christmas by Susan G. Mathis

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Prequel to Irish Rose Orphans: A Thousand Islands Gilded Age Series

Brooklyn, New York, 1876

Seven orphans living at The Irish Rose Orphan Asylum for Girls are told a few weeks before Christmas that they’ll be placed in new jobs after Epiphany. None of the girls, ages varying from 16 to 13, feels ready to leave the orphanage, even though things are far from perfect there with Sister Catherine.

Annie, 14, doesn’t want to leave her twin Tayrn with this terrible rift between them, but she doesn’t know how to bridge the gap.

Fiona, the oldest at sixteen, can’t reconcile with the whispers about her mother’s shame. At fourteen, Isabel has always been protective of her younger sister Gloria, and she struggles with their upcoming parting.

Vivian tries to lighten the mood when times get tough to mask her own insecurity. Cassie loves the precision of numbers because the losses in her life have been so difficult.

Each girl invited me into her pain, her struggles, from the first page. This story is told from the viewpoint of each of the girls, allowing readers a deeper connection.  

This well-written story is a page-turner. It ended with an epilogue that gives us a glimpse of what happens in later books in the series. I’m hooked!

A great Christmas story! Highly-recommended.

I was given a free copy of the book by the author. A positive review was not required.

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