The Weaver’s Daughter by Sarah Ladd

Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko

Description

Kate’s loyalties bind her to the past. Henry’s compel him to strive for a better future. In a landscape torn between tradition and vision, can two souls find the strength to overcome their preconceptions?

Loyalty has been at the heart of the Dearborne family for as long as Kate can remember, but a war is brewing in their small village, one that has the power to rip families asunder–including her own. As misguided actions are brought to light, she learns how deep her father’s pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed.

Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war seeking refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather’s plans to modernize the family’s wool mill, ignoring the grumblings from local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family’s livelihood and legacy.

Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry’s side, blurring the jagged lines between loyalty, justice, and truth. Kate ultimately finds herself with a powerful decision that will forever affect her village’s future. As unlikely adversaries, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, their village, and their souls—even if it means risking their hearts in the process.

 

My Review:

You know, any book that reminds me of North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, will pull me in. This one had the feel of the time period, even though it was a totally different story.  the characters are strong in their own right. The touches of mystery keep you reading and wanting to find the answers along with them.

The romance is light, more in undertones, but with an overall feeling of fighting the fact that there was romance included. The history of the weaving of cloth, the business behind it and child labor makes you stop and think a bit. I would say this book would be a great novel to use in history class as something to pique your interest in the industrial age.

I obtained this book from Netgalley and the publisher. The opinions contained herein are my own.

The book is on sale from your local booksellers and Amazon.

“The Weaver’s Daughter” 

Dancing in the Rain by Jennifer Slattery and Eileen Rife

Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko 

About the book:

On the verge of college graduation, Loni Parker seeks employment as a music teacher, but no one will hire her since she’s blind. Or so she thinks. To take her mind off her troubles, her roommate invites her to spring retreat at Camp Hope in the gorgeous North Carolina mountains.

Camp director Michael Ackerman recognizes Lonie instantly from his past and wants to avoid her at all costs. Yet, despite the guilt pushing him from her, a growing attraction draws him to the determined woman. She sees more with her heart than the average person does with his eyes. But her presence also dredges up a long-buried anger toward his alcoholic father that he’d just as soon keep hidden. When circumstances spin out of control, Michael is forced to face a past that may destroy his present.

My Review:

I think one of the first things that would have pulled me into this story, if I had not already been familiar with one of the authors, would have been the cover. I loved the premise of a blind main character as well. I found myself intrigued by Lonie’s struggles as I read. She struggled with self worth and value, and yet, we see her through others eyes since she cannot see herself.

It is fascinating to me to see as this story weaves itself, it tells us a tale of forgiveness and value. How do we value ourselves? Are we of value in spite of our mistakes and flaws or because of them?

I would recommend this book!

This book was obtained from the author. The opinions contained herein are my own.

The book is available for purchase through Amazon on Kindle. The release date is June 4th, 2018

“Dancing in the Rain” 

Helpful vs. Not Helpful

You know, we all have those days. You know the ones when everything irritates you.

I think of Michel on Gilmore girls saying, “People are particularly stupid today; I can’t talk to any more of them”

Those kind of days, when you just can’t even think of a way to reply, I found, that it is so important to take a deep breath and really try to listen.

Sometimes people are ignorant, but how often have you ever heard someone say, “I was really ignorant about such and such, but then some stranger on the internet or moderate acquaintance  reamed for it and I completely changed my ways.”

I bet you haven’t. Yeah, I haven’t either.

 

It made me think though, how often do we see something and want to reply sarcastically, when truly on the other side of the keyboard, there is a person in need?

Yes, they might be asking for something that is hard to find, maybe impossible.  Or perhaps it could be a post discussing  their latest read, the carseat they chose for their child, what mode of education their child is enjoying or perhaps the kind of car they drive. No matter the topic, there is always someone that will have something to say to the negative if they listen to the temptation to criticize.

A friend was looking for child care recently. He is not paying a high wage, but a decent one, and based off state standards, above normal rates. In looking for child care, someone decided to take the time to make sure he knew how stupid it was to even think that someone would be willing to work for that amount of money in taking care of his child. Since they were replying to me, instead I got to hear it.  It stung a little. Why? The person had not a shred of kindness in her replies. It was not said to be helpful, but to mock, cut down and make you feel like an idiot. You know what? Maybe my friend was needing to change the approach. However, there could have been ten dozen ways to tell me that, that could have been helpful, and the way this woman went about it was not one of them.

Another family was looking for housing and it is hard to find in the area. There are a million and one ways to reply to an inquiry, but I always hope that in the end, someone inquiring of me, even if I cannot help them, goes away feeling like maybe there is a little hope and human kindness out there.

It is hard in a world of digital words, to remember the people behind the keyboard. We tend to encourage others, “Oh, step away from the screens. Get out into the “real world” The meanness is all on the social media sites.”  You know, while that may be true, it is even worse when you hear it from the lips of a human standing before you and it is plentiful out there.

Both online and in person, let us seek to be more helpful, and not cut others with our words. They might not have asked a question you thought was very smart, or ignorance might be bubbling from their ears. In the end,  look into their eyes, think of the person behind the screen, find a kinder way to say what you need to say. Or if you can’t, skip it. There is often no use in saying anything if you can’t say something nice.

 

 

Storm Front by Susan May Warren

Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko
Description
A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community and among the missing are not only a group of students but PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved–and lost–walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.

A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn’t expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked–no, ran–from over a year ago. She had her reasons–good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn’t the kind of man to give up–not on the missing students, or on her.

Life and love hang in the balance in Susan May Warren’s breathless story of holding on to hope during a deadly summer of storms.

 

My Review:

What could be more fun? Mention of Montana? Echo Lake Cafe? Or following storm chasers in the book. Susan May Warren sure had my heart pounding a few times in this book, from feeling the bookshelves crashing in on them with flying glass and other heart pounding events.

I think my favorite part of this book was the non-typical romantic storyline. Yeah, sure, it was boy loves girl. Girl loves boy. But there are complications. That was typical. But I loved how the author took a story and put in the complications of real life pain into this book from cancer, abandonment, grief, PTSD, and other issues that the real living heroes of our everyday life face. You could totally relate to them as they faced their human weakness, and saved lives or tramped after tornados in Minnesota.

I obtained this book through NetGalley and from the publisher. The opinions contained herein are my own.

This book released today and is available for purchase from Amazon or your local booksellers. I would recommend you read the others in the series before reading this one, if you like to read things in a row.

“Storm Front”