Romance Archives - Cardinal Bluff

Emalyn’s Treasure, Joy Ross Davis, author

May 7, 2017 by JudyAnn Lorenz Leave a Comment

Joy Ross Davis brings more angelic storytelling to her readers and the Angel Pack! Set in Ireland, 1938, Emalyn’s Treasure tells us of a young woman with a heightened spiritual experience which contributes to the ‘treasure’ that she has kept close by, yet hidden from all, since she was a 6 year old child. Her encounter with lightning and a protective angel lies at the foundation for the treasure story.

Emalyn has led a privileged life during a tumultuous period in Irish history that we seldom hear about. Civic improvements for water and electricity were becoming accepted and expected, although resisted by some people. Assessment costs and resistance to change sparked civil disorder. I especially enjoy a story where I can learn — a factoid here; a skill there! Our Author’s research is extremely active for this book; the descriptions of politics, available appliances, clothing, decor, architecture, and hospitably take you right into 1938!

Our Emalyn is still a young spirit, becoming more mature and generous by the day. How blessed the man and woman who find their matching ‘swan’ to become a life’s companion as Emalyn and husband Owen have done. Joy Ross Davis brings her gentle story-telling to Emalyn’s Treasure as we would expect, with some twists and turns that keep it from being at all saccharin sweet! Indeed, tragedy marks high points in the story and leads to the finale.

Emalyn’s Treasure has no ghosts. Angels are present to take on earthly appearances, protecting and guiding the characters through their activities. Lives are transformed subtly. Supportive characters Fiona and Percy become more mature. I perceive the potential for follow-up stories, but as a skilled author, Joy Ross Davis brings this story to a sensible end without a cliff hanger ending that seems to just drop off that cliff.

Trust me — Emalyn’s Treasure is going to be a favorite. I recommend the book for a book club discussion because of the socio-political topic potential. Emalyn’s Treasure is a pre-cursor to the story in The Beggar’s Miracle.

Daddy’s Girl — Lin Stepp, author

April 2, 2017 by JudyAnn Lorenz 2 Comments

Lin Stepp pleasantly takes a few different turns in the new novel Daddy’s Girl.
Sometimes the more things seem to change the more they seem the same!!

Olivia is my “main character” — she loves her home town, her home with the beautifully styled gardens — just like the formal gardens of English castles! I loved the descriptions of the gardens.

As Olivia’s high school graduation class plans a 10 year reunion, they each have to face their level of maturity. Some of that immaturity or maturity is connected and reflected by choices each made after graduation. The ‘hot clique’ cold issues still bubbled under the surface for all of them. Olivia had been a passive person, sometimes walking with both sides, but not defending ‘luzers’ in the face of ‘hot’ insults. When her true love from childhood returns, a ‘luzer/misfit/geek’ in high school who has become a successful young adult author, the chemistry and true friendship rekindles. The relationship doesn’t flame smoothly without struggle as each has to come to the fuller maturity they’ve been dodging for 10 years.

Olivia’s flaws along with those of the others make the story move along. With a Christian base, the book is not doctrinal, but follows life and life learning. We all show up in the faces of the characters, more in some than in others. This is the pleasant pattern that I’ve come to enjoy in Lin Stepp’s books. Inspiring and refreshing.

I received a copy of Daddy’s Girl as a gift from the author. I am not obligated to 1leave a review. The book showed up in my mailbox at the end of a stressful working week. Daddy’s Girl gave me a restful, recovery reading time! I told my husband this is one of the things that make me look forward to Lin Stepp’s books. With eloquent writing, she spins a moving story that make reviving pleasure reading for me. Incidentally, these are not ‘chick books’, the descriptions and dialog are frequently enjoyed by men!

All done with quality description of beautiful country, towns and buildings AND without violence, erotica or vulgarity! That deserves another 5 stars <br />

When the Snow Comes — B.J. Robinson, author

January 26, 2017 by JudyAnn Lorenz Leave a Comment

Readers will find other reviews for books from B.J. Robinson’s pens at Cardinal Bluff.

When the Snow Comes is one of the best books I’ve seen from this author. If you are looking for a gentle pleasure read during a busy time, this story would be a good fit.

The author’s style lets readers put the book down to finish holiday tasks, stir the soup and start a load of laundry while making plans for company or school activities! Sometimes there isn’t an opportunity to crawl off for an afternoon and just READ!

Waiting for the first snows of winter, a seemingly star-crossed couple take their time to become re-acquainted without high drama. Amber and Adam build romantic foundations for their future in the midst of intricate descriptions of the scenery, wildlife, Victorian homes, farm homes and creative art work. Readers will learn of painting, fine furniture and good cooking as they enjoy being a part of Amber and Adam’s plans. These readers will be introduced to local events and tourism in the Winter mountains…waiting for the first snow. Adam’s family is particularly creative. Both Adam and his mother have found their artistic lives fulfilling and profitable. These abilities contributed to misunderstandings between Amber and Adam when he had difficulty understanding that she needed to leave the community to pursue her dreams of becoming a nurse. He didn’t anticipate that their faith could be rewarded by employment for her right back in the community.

A special family recipe for Louisiana Cornbread Dressing for the author’s family is included. You’re permitted to skip to the end for this, so you can treat your family to some good Southern eating right away!

When the Snow Comes has a strong fundamental Christian focus, but spares readers tiresome dogma. There is no profanity or violence.

Everlasting Light — Andrea Boeshaar

December 22, 2016 by JudyAnn Lorenz Leave a Comment

Everlasting Lights, a Civil War novella is fast moving and surprising. The characters find themselves in the throes of war recovery…all of the soldiers in the family accounted for.. Some dead, some wounded and one missing, premed dead. This man is the one for home an everlasting light burns. Families and friends do not survive the destruction of war.

Is this man, Braeden McKenna, really dead as it seems? His wife, Alaina, cannot accept that. She is mildly supported by his parents and one faithful Negro. She is ‘assailed’ by his best friend who also has always admired her and encourages her to move on and marry HIM. There are shades of domestic problems in scenes before Alaina and Braeden are married…as one other reviewer put it, the second man is probably more mature and responsible. That isn’t how fate works…Alaina loves Braeden, the man had a jealous snit when she danced with his best friend before the war and who survived but assumed she died in an epidemic, so didn’t bust himself to be certain. He does come home finally, after the friend has left to ‘go West’ in his economically broken situation. Almost everyone else in the book died during the War, either from battle wounds or small pox, which contribute to Braden’s assumption that they all died. War is terrible as the various scenes included make plain. Death and destruction along with political confusion made for horrific conditions.

It seems as if there is a lot of emotion and history sort of ‘crammed’ together to get a complicated story run through in the novella length. That is an engineering condition often suffered by a shorter story…not wrong or bad, but there. The book has definite Christian points presented, no profanity, no smut and makes a wholesome pleasure read for a long winter afternoon. Andrea Boeshaar has a long list of books for readers to enjoy.

Cassia – Susan F. Craft

December 22, 2016 by JudyAnn Lorenz Leave a Comment

Solid historical fiction. Cassia is part of a series which began in the midst of the American Revolutionary War. Lilyan and her family encounter slave ships, pirates, new friends and new love for daughter Laurel.

Susan F. Craft spins a fast-moving tale that is a great pleasure read. I especially like the vocabulary explanations that she has at the end. Readers might like to look at it during reading or before so that any unfamiliar terms enrich the story. While I enjoy the writing, I try to read other things between her books so that I don’t begin second guessing her too much! The style could be called predictable. The style is definitely Christian without being denominational.

While there is some violence, readers must remember the situation involves resisting evil and wrong. There is no profanity or erotica. There are children in the book and you could let your children read the book. Or let your mother find it on your Kindle! I highly recommend this book for pleasure, enrichment and blessing.

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