Tattler's Branch, by Jan Watson

I found this book free on Amazon for a promotion and it looked interesting. I'm really glad I tried it. Other reviewers mentioned that there is a first book in the series called Skip Rock Shallows that is more of a Christian Historical Romance. I think a lot of readers were hoping for more of that style. I really enjoyed this book as is. It fell more into the category of Christian Historical Mystery. The book opens with Armina witnessing a murder and then falling ill before she can tell anyone about it. Everything else works around this important opening event. The book then focuses mainly on Lilly, the town doctor, who finds out she is pregnant while her husband is away working on a coal mine incident. It wasn't as suspenseful as a true mystery, but highly satisfying and entertaining throughout. 9.99 on Kindle

Robin: Lady of Legend by R.M. ArceJaeger

I enjoyed the way the author played with the classic Robin Hood tale. In this version, Robin is actually Robin of Locksley, an 18-year-old girl who finds herself suddenly betrothed to the horrible Sheriff of Nottingham. She runs off disguised as a man, and the rest is history. The book held my attention throughout, but I thought that sometimes Robin got away with making really rash decisions with little consequence. 2.99 for Kindle or Free to borrow. Recommended.

My Double Life, by Janette Rallison

It's hard to be disappointed with a Janette Rallison novel. They're always entertaining, with super strong female protagonists and funny moments. This one, about a teenage girl who becomes the double for a celebrity was actually a little more serious than Rallison's other novels. There was a lot of confused feelings about being poor, not growing up with a dad, fickle boys and topics like compulsive gambling and trust issues. I loved that Alexia made the connection early on about who her Dad was. I have trust issues with authors who make ditzy main characters. Making rash choices okay, being clueless long past when the reader figures things out, not okay. $2.99 for Amazon Kindle. A recommended read.

Loved Like That, by Julie Wright

This was my January free borrow for Amazon Prime. It is normally 2.99. I really liked this book - I read it quickly, and while predictable, it kept my attention. The interaction between the main characters was fun and the beginning was really original. However, the glaring grammatical errors need to be fixed. Also, I had an a-ha moment after learning that the religious references were stripped out of it to make a more universal version for the e-book. I caught all the leftover religious and cultural references, but they felt out of place. It still feels like its riding the fence between an LDS novel and a clean contemporary romance. Recommended as a quick clean romance read.

By Heart and Compass, By Danielle Thorne

By Heart and Compass is a sweet romantic adventure. Lacy (sometimes referred to as Goober - a name she detests) is a genealogist with a secret love for pirate history. She discovers a diary that may lead her to a great treasure, if she can work with the distrustful Max Bertrand, a beach bum with a famous family history. Like other reviewers mentioned, it starts out a little slow, but picks up as Lacy jets back and forth between Newton, Georgia and the Caribbean. The book had a great sense of setting and plot, but I did not love the romance so much. I thought Max was dismissive at best, and Lacy invested in him too early. Overall, a fun read, and different than anything I'd read before. $2.99 for the Kindle version. I was given a copy in return for an honest review.

Searching for Tomorrow, by Kathryn McNeill Crane

Searching for Tomorrow is about Wrynn, a grieving widow trying to focus on her three girls instead of her longing for her husband. It's fiction but reads like memoir, with lots of everyday details about her life. The book alternates between past and present, which is effective, but can make it drag in places where it would otherwise take off. I really enjoyed reading it, with parts making you laugh and others making you want to cry. Searching for Tomorrow is on sale for 1.99 through Thanksgiving, so go check it out.

Her Grace in Disgrace, by Claudia Harbaugh

Her Grace in Disgrace has an intriguing opening plot line, with a newly widowed Duchess learning at the reading of her husband's will, that their marriage was a sham. He was already married with an heir, leaving her a small pittance and no title. As you would expect, scandal and bad feelings follow. The romantic interest was a complete foil, being in the opposite situation. He was a humble vicar, but had just inherited fortune and title after the death of his brother. I've been reading a lot of regency lately and I expected from the title for this to be more along the lines of a light regency caper. This was much more complex, with a large cast of characters and Christian themes of forgiveness and redemption. The romance took a backseat to the main characters coming to terms with what they had done in the past and what they were going to do with the rest of their lives. The point of view jumped around at will, and it could have been edited down a hair, but overall a recommended read. The book is the first in a series, having set up a cast of characters to be explored in further novels. I'm interested to see what else the author comes out with. The novel was clean, but with adult regency themes, such as handsy suitors, mistresses, and passionate kisses. 2.99 or free to borrow for Amazon Prime members.

I received a free copy in return for an honest review.