ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS TROUBLE - New to Me Author

One Plus One Equals Trouble Book #1 in Love That Counts Series by Sondra Kraak

GREAT NEW TO ME AUTHOR!

I purchased this eBook back in 2017 and apparently it got lost in my Kindle as I acquired new books.  I had some extra time to read on my vacation and fell in love with this story and the writing style.  It's sweet, faith-filled and makes me want to read the FIVE BOOK series!

Seeing Barrett (Bear) and Claire work together as teachers of 34 students in the one-room mountain schoolhouse of 1891 Pine Creek, Washington was a sweet adventure as they both competed to win the teaching position.  Bear particularly had a gentle way about him that drew me in.  Their banter was a winner for me as was their natural progression toward each other.

The story referenced a Baily, Banks, & Biddle coin silver teapot which I had never heard of.  A quick internet search revealed they are QUITE valuable.  Always fun to learn something new like that.

Baily, Banks & Biddle coin silver teapot
Winning Bid: $3,003 in 2019

FAITH QUOTES:

*"She hadn’t sung of God’s goodness and power, prayed for his grace and protection, and listened to the preaching of his Word to turn her back on him and entrust herself to belief in luck. Luck didn’t send her one thousand miles north. Luck didn’t bring a man like Barrett into her life to . . . what was he doing in her life? . . . to threaten her sanity and rob her of a chance to start fresh. That was God and his sovereignty. A mysterious providence."

*“Answering the call of God is not something we do after the details have been laid out. Nor is it something we do because others want us to do it. It’s something we do because we know it’s right. Because we love him.”

SWEET, TEA QUOTE: "he wanted to kiss grace into her. She smelled like the honey in her tea, and it drew him. Bears liked honey."

GoodReads Star Rating = 4 (really liked it).  I recommend this clean, historical read. I purchased an ebook from Amazon. All opinions are mine alone.

SERIES: LOVE THAT COUNTS (I did not realize the cleverness of the titles until I typed them out! -smile)

One Plus One Equals Trouble

Two Ways Home

Three Words and a Kiss

Four Dreams of You

Five Simple Gifts

© Trail House Publishers

Until Next time, Hugs and a cup of tea!

The Heart's Charge - Hanger's Horsemen 2 by Karen Witemeyer

 

*** CAPTURED MY HEART AND TOUCHED MY SOUL ***

Seriously, you can never go wrong with a Karen Witemeyer story!  I did not think I could love a series so much (particularly after her Archer family series)!

Llano County, Texas 1894

28-year-old Mark Wallace has a heart the size of Texas and it is evidenced throughout this story! "a gentleman never abandoned a woman in need. Even if she shot at him."  I loved his gentle way with the baby.  Katherine Palmer is the woman who broke his heart and now, 10 years later, that woman needs his help at Harmony House Foundling Home.  I was captivated by their reunion.

Jonah Brooks and Eliza Southerland are guarded, but drawn to each other during the harrowing situation they find themselves in.  Kiddy snatchers have invaded the area.  It was nice having a second romance in the story.  

Faith Quote: Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:3-4

Favorite Quote: "You can't control what people say, what they do, or how they think. All you can control is what you say, do and think.  Control the mind first, son, and the rest will follow.  Pain and anger narrow our vision. Take a higher perspective.  Even the vilest man is made in the image of God and loved by Him." -Jonah's father

Tea Quote: Katherine swallowed the last bit of her tea, her face scrunching at the lukewarm temperature.  Strange how something so perfect when hot left a bad taste in her mouth after the passage of time.

The kids were another interesting layer.  Some of them would be great to read about as older characters, particularly the rail-riding Rawley - leader of the young band of orphans trying to survive on their own.   While tough on the outside, he clearly has a tender-heart.

I received a complimentary book through NetGalley and the Publisher for my honest review.  All opinions are my own without further compensation or expectation. 

Karen Witemeyer is an award-winning talented author, sweet and approachable.  Check out her Posse FB page to connect with her, as well as her website.

5 STARS

SERIES: Hanger's Horsemen

    At Love's Command – June 2020

    The Heart’s Charge – June 2021

Author's Website Synopsis:

One Horseman drawn to an old flame. Another trapped by his past. Neither can ignore the mystery of missing children nor the women determined to intervene.

Mark Wallace and Jonah Brooks arrive in Llano County, Texas to deliver a horse, never expecting to deliver a baby as well. The two ex-cavalry officers carry the infant to a nearby foundling home where Mark comes face-to-face with the girl he'd nearly married a decade ago.

After rejecting the suit of the only boy she'd ever loved, Katherine Palmer dedicated her life to caring for children, teaming up with Eliza Southerland to start Harmony House.

Mulatto, illegitimate, and female, Eliza understands the pain of not fitting society's mold and longs to give children from all backgrounds a place to belong. The taciturn Jonah intrigues her with his courage and quiet kindness, but there are secrets behind his eyes.

When a handful of urchin children go missing, the Horsemen stay to investigate. Working together to find the children, will these two couples find love as well?