Jo Ann Ferguson

Surprisingly this book ended in a way completely different from how I thought it would. I thought something was a little fishy, but the truth of Sir Mitchell Renshaw’s murder was far more insidious then I imagined.

The book itself is otherwise a fairly typical historical romance between relative strangers. Despite his indecent proposals towards Jade I don’t think Lord Bannetyne was as dissolute as his reputation warranted (rumors and otherwise) and his actions only prove his rakishness is a ruse. His and Jade’s relationship can only be described as ‘tempestuous’ and heated, passion from their attraction to each other only further igniting their own argumentative behaviors.

I was more interested in Jade’s sisters then Bannatyne’s shrill shrew of a sister and thought only better of him as he tried to make them feel at ease within his home.

In the end I enjoyed this book, but it didn’t excite me as much as I had hoped.… (mere)

Prior knowledge of the first book, Lost in Shadow, isn’t really needed for this book. Any important information regarding Jade’s adventure is relayed and doesn’t really impact this story at any rate.

I enjoyed this book much moreso then first, but not for the romance. It started out quite promising, but it seemed somewhere in the middle that China just…gave up and gave in. She went from thinking that it was entirely wrong for her to be so intimate with the Major to succumbing and agreeing to a night time meeting! Then also very little was spoken between the two about love or even what their future held. Admittedly China was laboring to keep him alive and the Major was being a pain in the butt, but I would have thought once he began to believe her something would have been said.

The mystery for this book was no less interesting then in the first and even added in some Old Magic problems that both made no sense at all and seemed almost irrelevant. An Old God had a grudge against Quintus so it terrorized a countryside in England to get to his descendants? That part left me confused and I did my best to ignore it.

Who was presenting a very real and very human problem however was up in the air for much of the book and I was pleased with the ending.

In the end while I enjoyed this book, it left me very confused on some (supposedly) important plot points.… (mere)

A Hope for Healing by Jo Ann Brown is a poignant and engaging story. I was immediately drawn into the book. I thought the story was well-written with realistic, friendly characters. I enjoyed getting to know Rosemary Mishler and Gideon Wingard. Both Rosemary and Gideon are trying to avoid the local matchmakers. Gideon knows his large, gregarious family means well. Rosemary is still grieving the loss of her husband and is not ready to marry again (if ever). When a little Englisch girl is left in Rosemary’s kitchen, Rosemary learns that her husband had secrets. I enjoyed the surprises in the story. It kept things interesting. Some of them are good and will warm your heart while others will astonish you. I like how Gideon and Rosemary kept getting thrown together. A Hope for Healing is the fourth book in Secrets of Bliss Valley series. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story. A Hope for Healing has romance, forgiveness, family, new beginnings, a touch of mystery, and faith. We also get a glimpse of everyday Amish life. A Hope for Healing is a touching Amish tale with well-meaning matchmakers, a quiet child, a startling revelation, a cryptic past, beautiful leatherwork, and a cheerful future.… (mere)