Serendipity ~ Cathy Marie Hake

Serendipity is an okay book. But not one I would pay full price for. This is a borrow from a friend or library book. It took me too long to read this book. Generally if I take more than 2 weeks to read a book with less than 500 pages then the book drags or is hard to get through. This was one of these books. If you are a skim reader then you might enjoy this book more.


Margaret (Magpie, Maggie) is a collector of treasures and like to barter and trade for her goods. She makes jams and jelly's, lotions and perfumes from her rose garden all for her trading. She is a lonely woman living with her uncle and cousins. She has no women around her to socialize. As Todd Valmer comes to town looking for a Dr, and is brought to Maggie's house, their lives change forever. Todd's mom has suffered a stroke and can only use the left side of her body. Maggie takes care of her and finds herself liking Todd in return. She marries Todd on the promise of love and to help him with his farm and mother. As the story unfolds, Todd's mom belittles Maggie and makes it hard for her on the farm. I got very mad through this part at the way Maggie was treated and how Todd was "being a guy" and not noticing how he was hurting his wife. The story gets better and Todd and Maggie work out their problems and fall in love. But it is a painful trip to love for both Todd and Maggie as well as the reader.
Not to totally dog this book, there were some funny and loving parts as well as Scripture based stories and biblical guidelines. For me the book just was a little to long with not much adventure.

When looking for some other books by Cathy Marie Hake, check out Fancy Pants, Forevermore, Bittersweet and Letter Perfect. All are great books by Hake.

Undercover Pursuit ~ Susan May Warren

This book is the third in the Mission series. These are smaller books for a faster read but they are not small stories. Warren packs a lot of story, love, adventure into the books. This one was my favorite of the three in the series.
Scarlett Hanson is flying to paradise for her sisters wedding. After landing, she is rushing around the airport trying to find her sisters wedding dress, frustrated and mad at herself for not carrying the dress on the plane she jumps in the cab for the hotel. Luke Dekker is waiting on his (spy) partner for his current undercover job as a groomsman for a drug cartel's nephews wedding, when Scarlett jumps in his car. In all the excitement, Luke mistakes the flighty Scarlett for his partner. As the story unfolds and the multiple weddings take place, spys are added, jealous fiancées, dead shark, guns, crazy brides, and more to hold your interest through this heart-pounding story. You will be on the edge of your set with excitement and laughter at the turn of every page. Enjoy this buy the pool or in your cozy chair this weekend!

My Foolish Heart ~ Susan May Warren

Back in early 2000's, Warren started a series called Deep Haven. There were 3 books written over a few years and this is the series that introduced me to this author. I have read every book since. She just published this new book in the series. Isadora Presley is the radio persona for Miss Foolish Heart. A lady who is an expert at dating and waiting for the right man that God has planned for you to marry. Issy has her own issues with love and life. Her mother was killed and her father paralyzed in a car accident when she was is collage and the fear and phobia from that night have crippled Issy to never leave her house. As God introduces Caleb, the next-door neighbor, into Issy's life she starts to trust God more for her fears and learn to move on with her life. This is a great book about love and trust in our Savior and how He does not want us to live in fear but embrace life and our trust in Him. There is added humor to the book with the playful dog Roger/Duncan that runs a muck through the town. This book also brings back characters like Dan and Ellie Matthews and Annie Lundstrom from the previous Deep Haven books. I hope you enjoy this book and want to read the first 3 in this series. 

The Blacksmith's Bravery ~ Susan Page Davis

I finished this book a couple of weeks ago and it was very good. This is the third in the Lady's Shooting Club series. This book is about a saloon girl, Vashti, who has received salvation and started waiting tables in a respectable diner in town. She also loves horses and wants to learn how to drive the stage with 6 horses. Griffin Bane is the stithy, and stage coach manager. He does not want a woman driving his stage or working for him. As things get tighter and harder to manager Griffin gives in and starts to let Vashti work for him. I learned a lot about horses and how to handle a stage in this book. The author gave just enough info about driving to be interesting but not so much that it became a technical story. As the stage coach gets robbed and friends are killed, the stage routes are more dangerous for everyone especially a girl driver. I loved reading this and watching Griffin and Vashti learn to work together and fall in love. This is a great book to get and read poolside!