Curl Up and Dye Mysteries by Nancy Mehl

Missing Mabel (Curl Up and Dye Mystery #1 / Hometown Mysteries)

Hilde Higgins is a freelance hairstylist to the recently departed. When she reports to a funeral for a job, she realizes the body she has been asked to work on is not the person in her reference photo. Then, the director of the funeral home accuses her of stealing a diamond ring....and finds it in Hilde's purse!

In an effort to clear her name and prove her suspicions, Hilde starts her own investigation into what happened to Mabel. She renews an old friendship with her childhood friend, Adam Sawyer, who helps her solve her case. She also befriends Gabe Bashevis, the old man across the street, who tries to keep to himself.

Hilde is a quirky, funny character and easy to love. While trying to solve the mystery of Mabel, she deals with real-life issues. Making new friends, dealing with a mom who isn't happy with her career choice and learning to fall in love. I recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a fun, easy read with Christian characters and a mystery to solve.

Blown Away (Curl Up and Dye Mystery #2)

Hilde Higgins is back in this follow up to Missing Mabel. Her boyfriend, Adam Sawyer, is being accused of murdering one of the other members of his Clowns for Christ group. Can Mabel help prove his innocence...or does all the evidence convince her Adam's guilty?

Also, someone has been asking after Gabe Bashevis, the old man that lives across the street. Will a snooping stranger cause Gabe to move away or will he risk revealing his secrets?

To make matters even worse, a tornado rolls through town, putting everyone in danger.

Nancy Mehl creates another intriguing mystery with this delightful follow-up in her Curl Up and Dye series. I love Hilde and was happy to see everything come together in the end. My only disappointment was Gabe's story. It seemed like such an intriguing mystery on its own and was wrapped up very quickly in this novel.

I received these books free from NetGalley.com. I was not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Havah: The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee

Have you ever wondered about the stories of the bible? Why did they end when they did...with so much left unsaid? Tosca Lee sought the answers to the story of the first woman in this fictional depiction of Adam and Eve.

Through beautiful prose, Lee depicts the Garden and the majesty of being in communion with God. We get to race the gazelle, rub the belly of the lion and understand the words of the animals.

This book is written as if you are listening to Havah tell her story - while reading her mind. We get to experience the words of the serpent and watch as Adam and Havah damn the world through that one fateful decision. We experience the pain of being forced to flee paradise and the confusion that results.

Adam and Havah must now figure out how to survive in a hostile world. They learn to live off of the land, build a home and bear children. They make many mistakes, but how could they not - they had no example to follow, no one to teach them.

We follow their lives as they seek to return to paradise and strive to return to their original relationship with the Lord, not understanding the separation caused by sin. They are forced to watch the world slowly decline as tempers flare, jealousy stirs and one son murders another. Has God turned His back on them?

I had a difficult time getting into this story at first. I made myself keep reading for the first few chapters, and I am so glad that I did. I wasn't sure how I would feel of a fictional depiction of a Biblical figure...but I absolutely loved this book. It is evident Tosca Lee did extensive research to support her theories and her imaginary paradise. As a result, she has created a riveting and powerful story of God's love, forgiveness and power.

Although we will only know the truth in heaven, Lee provides powerful answers to the questions of Eve's story. Why did she eat from the forbidden tree? Why did Adam? How many children did they have? Was Cain evil? What were they like as the first parents? This story had me in tears and gave me much to think about in regards to my own walk with the Lord.

I don't know what else to say other than that I strongly recommend this novel.

I received this book free from NetGalley.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Brides of Bonneterre by Kaye Dacus

From the author's website: Follow the lives and loves of a southern wedding planner and some of her fun-loving—but meddlesome—cousins in this contemporary romance series. Set in the fictional, quintessential southern city of Bonneterre, Louisiana, the Brides of Bonneterre series is filled with fun, food, family—and lots of romance! Although each volume deals with serious themes such as forgiveness and fear, the tone is lighthearted and humorous, with plenty of southern charm, wit, and wisdom mixed in.

Stand-In-Groom: Wedding planner, Anne Hawthorne, has always wanted to plan her own wedding. When she meets George Laurence, she thinks her single days may soon be behind her. George is a tall, good-looking Englishman - and a Christian. But, he turns out to be too good to be true. He is one of her clients.

With Anne planning a wedding for the man of her dreams, will she risk her heart for her own chance at happily-ever-after?

This book follows the typical plot layout of boy meets girl, boy and girl are obviously made for each other, but boy and girl have serious obstacles in their paths. However, this novel is so full of humor and romance, I just couldn't put it down. This story has a great supporting cast of characters (mainly members of Anne's huge family), leaving me anxious for the second book in the series!

Menu for Romance: Event Planner Meredith Guidry has been in love with Executive Chef Major O'Hara for the past eight years. Since they both work for Meredith's parents and Major is best friends with Meredith's older brother, the two are good friends. But nothing more.

Meredith makes a New Year's resolution to get over him and when she meets a hunky contractor on New Year's day, she takes that as a sign she's making the right decision. Will Major finally come clean with her...both about his feelings for her and about his biggest secret?

I love the characters in this series. They are so authentic and genuine. They seem to really care about each other and are easy for the readers to care about. I think Kaye Dacus writes funny, fun and romantic stories that are realistic and enjoyable. This story is no exception.

A Case For Love: Being the oldest in a large family had made Forbes Guidry feel responsible for his seven younger brothers and sisters. He is known as a control freak and can't help feeling as though he needs to solve all his family's problems.

But when the beautiful Alaine Delacroix accuses Forbes' parents of putting her parents’ garden center out of business and endangering other local-business owners, Forbes will have to decide if he can let God take control of his own life.

And, can the two fall in love even if they are pitted against each other?

This book was probably my favorite in the series. We got to hear more about the couples in the first two books of the series as well as learn about Forbes, who plays a role in all of the books. Kaye Dacus is not afraid to have her characters go through hard times and to have them learn to lean on God through trials and tribulations...just like real life. I would definitely recommend this book as a great Christian romance!

The series: Overall, I really enjoyed this series. I found it to be a lighthearted, easy read full of humor and love. Kaye Dacus seems to write books on a segment of the population often missing from romance stories - single women in their 30s who have never been married. I found her characters to be well developed and their chosen professions to be well researched. The characters were realistic and dealt with real-life issues.

Each book presents the point of view of two separate character and shows how they grow in life, love and faith to reach a point where each is ready for the other at the same time.

I recommend these books and only wish there were more stories in the series!

Love Remains (The Matchmakers #1) by Kaye Dacus

Fourteen years ago, Zarah Mitchell and Bobby Patterson were deeply in love. Unfortunately, Zarah's father found out and forced them apart with lies. When Zarah literally runs into Bobby at a mutual friend's house, they are both shocked to see that God has crossed their paths once again.

Can a group of five grandmothers prove themselves the matchmakers they hope to be? Or will secrets tear Zarah and Bobby apart once and for all? Zarah doesn't know it, but she's the number one suspect in a criminal investigation - and Bobby is the special agent in charge. Can they move past the secrets to discover if love remains?

I really enjoyed this book. Kaye Dacus does a phenomenal job of creating realistic characters - with interactions that feel natural. Her characters have depth and faults and you can't help but root for. I definitely recommend this book and can't wait to read book two!

I received this book free from NetGalley.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado

What if you could change the world? What if you could make a lasting impact – an impact for God’s kingdom?

In the book, Out Live Your Life, Max Lucado urges that although we may consider ourselves to be average, we were created to make a difference. By following Jesus’ example, we can impact the world one person at a time.

Grounded in biblical principles, Lucado follows the book of Acts and uses inspirational real-life stories to motivate readers to make their lives matter. From the first page, I was in tears over the numerous examples of people serving others in the name of the Lord.

I love Max Lucado’s books and this one was no different. Although a very convicting book, it is a very easy read – and very addicting. I feel motivated and on fire for the Lord. I feel challenged to act and “to live in such a way that the world will be glad I did.” Lucado says we can do this by helping others – for “I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was stranger, and you invited me into your home” (Matt. 25:34-36).

As Max says, “None of us can help everyone. But all of us can help someone. And when we help them, we serve Jesus. Who would want to miss a chance to do that?”

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Red Siren (Charles Towne Belle Series #1) by M.L. Tyndall

After falling in love with M.L. Tyndall's story, Surrender the Heart, I decided to read some of her earlier works.

I started with The Red Siren, the first in the Charles Towne Belles series. After her oldest sister is forced to wed an unfaithful and cruel man, Faith Westcott pledges to protect her two other sisters from a similar fate by becoming a part-time pirate (a secret to everyone except her crew). She becomes especially determined to raise a fortune when she discovers her father wants her to marry a conceited, self-absorbed man.

Dajon Waite, who is in the British Royal Navy with the girls' father, is forced to become their temporary guardian since their father is leaving on assignment. This becomes a problem for Faith - who stole Dajon's father's boat 5 years prior. Even worse, Dajon now hunts pirates...especially the Red Siren, the pirate who now uses his father's ship as her own.

Unfortunately, I had a very difficult time getting into this story. I never came to like Faith or Dajon or find them to be very sympathetic characters. At first meeting, Faith steals Dajon's ship as he tries to help what appears to be a damsel in distress. Faith is a manipulator and Dajon is easily manipulated.

However, M.L. Tyndall writes beautiful, descriptive scenes and has characters that develop spiritually in a smooth, realistic manner without being overly preachy. She also isn't afraid to have the lead characters display passion towards each other as they fall in love, creating sincere, sweet romances.

Although I am not sure if I will continue with this series, I will definitely read other novels by MaryLu Tyndall.

This book was provided for review by NetGalley.

Experience God as Your Provider by Brian Kluth

In this inspiring book, Brian Kluth explores the road to financial stability – but not through investment strategies; instead, he explains that depending on God as your provider is the true path toward financial security.

The book is broken into the following three parts:
1. Recognize God’s Provisions
2. Receive God’s Principles
3. Respond to God’s Plan

Kluth uses many biblical references throughout the book, grounding his advice in Godly principles. He also uses many personal anecdotes as examples and as evidence of God following through on His word.

I found this book to be incredibly motivational. It really pushed me to rethink how I spend my money – am I really being as generous as God has called me to be? Even more so, am I being generous with the other things God has given me? Such as with my time, talents or with the items I own. This book also challenged me to really depend on God for all my needs and to keep my eyes open to all the ways He provides for me on a daily basis.

More than a book on finances, this book will dare, encourage and teach you to experience God as your provider. I really recommend this book - especially for Christians as the author tends to write with a Christian audience in mind.

This book was reviewed as part of the NetGalley review program.