A Killing in the Hills

A Killing in the Hills by Julia Keller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When county prosecutor Bell Elkin's daughter, Carla, witnesses a triple murder at the Salty Dawg in their hometown of Ackers Gaps, WV, Bell is determined to protect Carla and find the killer. Unfortunately even though the diner was full of people, no one has description of the suspect. As days go by and Carla relives the horrifying event the face with the gun looks like a young man she seen at a recent party - where drugs were flowing easy. How can Carla give the information to her mom but not be grounded for life? In her quest to find the perp and dig deeper into the drug ring surrounding their county, Bell's own life is put in danger as is Carla's.

Full of suspense, A Killing in the Hills contains more than one mystery and readers will find Bell's own life story as the chapters unfurl. Bitter River is the next great read in the Bell Elkins mysteries.

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A Shining Light

A Shining Light by Judith Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Andrea Wilson only feels relief when the news arrives that her sailing husband has died at sea. Even though she is left a widow without any financial means, Andrea know that she and her son are better off without the severe cruelty he inflicted upon them. She heads home to the family farm in Iowa, only to find that her father has perished in a terrible fire that consumed their home but left the barn. The good people from the nearby Amana Colony take her and little Lukas in and provide for their needs until arrangements can be made for their future. Just when things are looking up more shocking news enters Andrea's life.

Although a work of fiction, this gentle read of faith is woven throughout with historical tidbits.

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A Sensible Arrangement

A Sensible Arrangement by Tracie Peterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When an ex-Texas rancher, now wealthy Denver, Colorado banker, Jake Wythe advertises for a Lone Star bride, widower and sharpshooter Marty Dandridge takes up the challenge to put behind her a million memories of her rancher husband being gored to death by a bull. Marty knows the arrangement is a marriage of convenience and is fine with that as she can't imagine loving another man. Marty can no longer make sense of a loving God and turns from her faith. The banking industry will soon be dealt a blow as the economy collapses and silver prices fall. The Wythe's may soon lose their fancy home, "fancy" friends, and servants. Even worse, the many city's orphanages could possibly turn the children out into the streets if things became worse.

A nice easy, inspirational read with historical details thrown in...

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All Things Hidden

All Things Hidden by Tracie Peterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gwyn and her strong, steadfast father, a doctor, are the only medical personnel in their small, remote Alaskan valley and beyond. They were summoned to help with the colonization of 200 families in the Matanuska Valley which would bring relief to the American people and settlement to Alaska. The decision had been made by President Roosevelt on January 15 and the families would arrive by May. Gwyn feared change, due to her mother walking out on the family while she was still small, and had trouble trusting that God would meet her every need because of this. Her misgivings had a ring of truth to it - how could 200 families be sent to Alaska and enough food and shelter be in place within several months - before the long, grueling Alaskan winters hit?

Although many of the characters and happenings in the novel are fiction there are facts and historical details included. A wonderful book about trust, faith, loss, and the strength of pioneering families.

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The House at Riverton

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At 14 Grace was fortunate to start service, as her mother did many years before, at Riverton, where the wealthy Hartford family lived. She watched the three golden haired, blue-eyed Hartford grandchildren, all near her own age, grow up and totally fell under their spell - David, Hannah, and Emmaline. Over the years, Grace took on the role of a lady's maid, helped dress the young women, and was privy to their conversations and secrets. Enter World War I, the Lord of the manor and his son, the Major, both fall in France, and Riverton and the world are changed forever. Hannah marries to escape, taking Grace with her, only to find that there is no escape, only boredom, but does find kinship and romance with her brother's best friend, Robbie - now a poet but Emmaline's love interest as well. The story ends with a scandalous event that no one knew Grace was privy to. Now 98 and failing, Grace is determined that her only grandson will know the truth.

The Great War changed so much, as all wars do, and social classes lost a foothold..the story is haunting as in how secrets were handled in that era, women were handled with kid gloves and not accepted into exclusive male conversations. ...for lovers of Upstairs/Downstairs and viewers of Downton Abbey..

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