New assistant county attorney Ivy Madison simply doesn’t know any better when she bids on Darek at the charity auction. Nor does she know that when she crafted a plea bargain three years ago to keep Jensen Atwood out of jail and in Deep Haven fulfilling community service, she was releasing the man responsible for Felicity’s death. All Ivy knows is that the Christiansens feel like the family she’s always longed for. And once she gets past Darek’s tough exterior, she finds a man she could spend the rest of her life with. Which scares her almost as much as Darek learning of her involvement in his wife’s case. 

Caught between new love and old grudges, Darek must decide if he can set aside the past for a future with Ivy—a future more and more at risk as an approaching wildfire threatens to wipe out the Christiansen resort and Deep Haven itself.

Author:  Ginny L. Yttrup                  
Publisher: B&H Books
Pages:  352
Genre:  Fiction
Source:  Handlebar

Goodreads:   Ellyn DeMoss — chef, café owner, and lover of butter — is hiding behind her extra weight. But what is she hiding? While Ellyn sees the good in others, she has only condemnation for herself. So when a handsome widower claims he’s attracted to Ellyn, she’s certain there’s something wrong with him. Sabina Jackson — tall, slender, and exotic — left her husband, young adult daughters, and a thriving counseling practice to spend a year in Northern California where she says she’s come to heal. But it seems to Ellyn that Sabina’s doing more hiding than healing. What’s she hiding from? Is it God? Twila Boaz has come out of hiding and is working to gain back the pounds she lost when her only goal was to disappear. When her eating disorder is triggered again, though she longs to hide, she instead follows God and fights for her own survival. But will she succeed? As these women’s lives intertwine, their eyes open to the glory within each of them as they begin to recognize themselves as being created in God’s image.


Ope’s Opinon:  Some christian books are written to reach people who don’t know God.  Other christian books are written to encourage those who already have God in their lives.  This story in my opinion was written for those of us who already know God and need to see him at work in other peoples lives.

                                    Each character in this book has a specific voice.  It is easy to relate to at least one of these characters.  They each have their own difficulties to deal with.  I really liked the way Ginny Yttrup showed how God sees us – not how we see ourselves.  She did it by showing how other people saw each character – which was very different from how they saw themselves.

                                     There are many lessons to be learned in this story without being preached at  or pushy.  Ginny Yttrup let you see the lessons for each character.  You can take away from this book whatever you need.

                                    Although it was a happy ending – it was also realistic.  Everything wasn’t wrapped up in a perfectly peachy end, but you saw healing starting to happen for each person.  I highly recommend this book.


Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Author:  Robyn Carr

Publisher:  Harlequin                                                                
Pages:  384
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Source:  Little Bird Publicity

Goodreads:  From Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Virgin River novels, comes Thunder Point-the highly anticipated new series that will make you laugh, make you sigh, and make you fall in love with a small town filled with people you’ll never forget. Nestled on the Oregon coast is a small town of rocky beaches and rugged charm. Locals love the land’s unspoiled beauty. Developers see it as a potential gold mine. When newcomer Hank Cooper learns he’s been left an old friend’s entire beachfront property, he finds himself with a community’s destiny in his hands. 

Cooper has never been a man to settle in one place, and Thunder Point was supposed to be just another quick stop. But Cooper finds himself getting involved with the town. And with Sarah Dupre, a woman as complicated as she is beautiful. 

With the whole town watching for his next move, Cooper has to choose between his old life and a place full of new possibilities. A place that just might be home.