Review: Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund

October 28, 2021

Title: Come Back to Me
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Revell
Pages: 384
Length: 11 hrs, 5 mins
ISBN: 9780800738433
Publication Date: June 1st, 2021

About the Book:
The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? Crazy.

That's exactly what research scientist Marian Creighton has always believed about her father's quest, even if it does stem from a desire to save her sister from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them. But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life, Marian must question all of her assumptions. He's left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he's crossed back in time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories and finds herself in the Middle Ages during a dangerous peasant uprising.

William Durham, a valiant knight, comes to Marian's rescue and offers her protection . . . as his wife. The longer Marian stays in the past, the more she cares about William. Can she ever find her father and make it back to the present to heal her sister? And when the time comes to leave, will she want to?

Bestselling author Jody Hedlund is your guide down the twisting waters of time to a volatile era of superstition, revolts, and chivalry in this suspenseful story.
My Thoughts:
Jody Hedlund is one of my favorite romantic authors. Her leading men are completely swoon worthy, her heroines are strong but not overbearing, and the settings transport you through time.

Come Back to Me had all of these fabulous traits, but we got a split time book with an amazing idea of time travel thrown in. 

Marian is a woman who is very science based and minded. She grew up in church, has had faith, but it has fallen back on her priority list. Her main desire is to find a way to help her sick sister. Her sister is battling an illness that their mother died from and she has lost her father to his science researching in finding the cure. With all of this, Marian is a woman who feels alone, but whole in her job. However, he world is thrown upside down with one phone call and she rushes off to England to try to save her dad, who is now in a coma with no known causes for an illness. 

Marian is thrown in to whirlwind trying to help her dad, trying to keep her sister from stress, and battling a strange man who is following her and determined to steal any and all information she may have on her dad's research. As she researches more, she sees what her father has been working on and realizes he has stumbled on something bigger then she could have ever imagined. Being the scientist she is, reading is never enough for her, so she has to try out her dad's research.

It is during this, we are fully introduced to William. He is a knight, ready to battle, make sure his family is safe, and his lands are looked after, but he is also haunted over his past and his brother. Trying to find peace and happiness is hard. Protection of those he loves is the most important. When Marian is introduced into his life, he is taken a back by her beauty and also his desire to protect her. His desire to protect her makes his go a long away and he marries her, but he still doesn't know much about this woman, just that he knows her personality is demeanor is completely different to that of any other woman in his time.

Following William and Marian along this story is captivating. Not knowing where the story will take you or how it will play out. It left me wondering what was going to happen next. 

Not to spoil anything, but the ending had me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait for book 2!

I read this book as an audio book and I will say it took me a little bit to get adjusted to the narrator, but as the story progressed, I honestly couldn't have thought of a better narrator for this book. Her tone and style never distracted from the story. The pace was well done.

This was a fabulous book!

5 out of 5


About the Author:
Jody Hedlund (www.jodyhedlund.com) is the bestselling author of more than thirty historical novels for both adults and teens, including Come Back to Me, and is the winner of numerous awards, including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Awards. Jody lives in Michigan with her husband, busy family, and five spoiled cats. She loves to imagine that she really can visit the past, although she's yet to accomplish the feat, except via the many books she reads.





Thank you to the publisher, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Reads

October 26, 2021

                              
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Read Girl.
Each week features a book related topic to spotlight your Top Ten.

Topic:

Halloween Reads


I will admit it....I don't read horror style books, I don't watch horror movies either. Hocus Pocus is right up my alley for Halloween Movies. My husband wishes otherwise, but oh well. 
Now, I love a good mystery that make you jump and be surprised, but I just can't do crazy creepy. However, if it is a good criminal thriller, I'm your girl. 

Here are some books I think are perfect for this time of year. 



by Tracy L. Higley
It's a dark setting, very mysterious based on one of the wonders of the world. 
by Jessica Dotta
This is a gothic style series. So much suspense and unknown. 
by J.K. Rowling
Just fun in general and Halloween is featured.


by Ted Dekker
It's a very dark and grisly series of sorts, but is so well told.
by Abigail Wilson
Gothic style stories. Written with mystery and similar to Jane Eyre.



by Jaime Jo Wright
All written in split time and offers mysteries and a a spooky feel.


by Jaime Jo Wright
All written in split time and offers mysteries and a a spooky feel.
by Mesu Andrews
Historically accurate and a bit of a darker story. Very gripping.


What books do you like to read this time of year?



Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano

October 25, 2021


Title: Storing Up Trouble
Author: Jen Turano
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 359
Length: 11 hrs, 10 mins
ISBN: 9780764231698
Publication Date: May 5th, 2020


About the Book:
After Miss Beatrix Waterbury suffers multiple mishaps due to her involvement with the suffrage movement, her mother decides a change of scenery is in order for her incorrigible daughter. Banished from New York, Beatrix is sent off for an extended stay with her Aunt Gladys in Chicago.

Mr. Norman Nesbit, a gentleman and a brilliant man of science devoted to his work, doesn't have time to be distracted with members of the feminine set. When robbers descend on the train, intent on divesting him from his important research papers, Norman is thrust into Beatrix's company when she has the audacity to interfere—leaving him no choice but to try to save her from herself.

When Beatrix's life is put at stake after she takes employment as a salesgirl, she and Norman find themselves propelled into each other's company again and again. With danger and intrigue dogging their every step, they become surprisingly drawn to each other—until information comes to light that threatens this relationship that's barely had a chance to blossom. 
My Thoughts:
Jen Turano is one of my favorite authors. If I'm ever in need of smile or a laugh, picking up one of her books is sure to bring it. Her skill of intertwining a sweet romance, historical details, and humor is super impressive! You can always count on her characters to have the best names ever, with the spunkiness personalities to match. Her heroines are strong and capable. Her heroes are dignified, helpful, and and match to handle the women. 

Storing Up Trouble is another fabulous tale that has met all the expectations of her stories. Beatrix has already proven in the stories before this as a friend to the heroine, she isn't one t back down from a fight. She has strong beliefs and is ready to speak of them. Her parents view her a little hard head and in need of some guidance, as she has faked a relationship with a good friend to keep out of a real relationship. Her parents believe it's time for her to have a new guide to help her straighten out her path, so they ship her off to Chicago to be with her aunt, who in turn, proves to be a older version of Beatrix and the fun escalates. 

Norman, oh my, Norman. I have to say he was one of my most favorite heroes yet of these books. He is book smart, a little awkward, set in his own mindset because he read up on it, so it must be true. He is also one who had the biggest growth in a story arc I've seen. Following along with him on his growth was so much fun as the light bulb went off. He was super smart from studying, but as he lived life finally and seeing how life really was, different then he thought and he dove on into it, his character just popped off of the pages. 

Beatrix and Norman were a great pair that were able to balance each other out, but also help build up do bigger and better.

This was such a good story!

Me and my daughter listened to this book on audio in the commutes, she would be cracking up in the back seat at the shenanigans that ensued. The narrator through this whole series has been great. She helped carry the story and really make the characters shine. 

I'm ready to dive in to Jen Turanos most recent series now. 

4 out of 5

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