The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas

From the publisher:

Judd Markley is a hardworking coal miner who rarely thinks much past tomorrow until he loses his brother--and nearly his own life--in a mine cave-in. Vowing never to enter the darkness of a mine again, he leaves all he knows in West Virginia to escape to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It's 1954, the seaside community is thriving, and Judd soon hires on with a timber company.

Larkin Heyward's life in Myrtle Beach is uncomplicated, mostly doing volunteer work and dancing at the Pavilion. But she dreams of one day doing more--maybe moving to the hollers of Kentucky to help the poor children of Appalachia. But she's never even met someone who's lived there--until she encounters Judd, the newest employee at her father's timber company.

Drawn together in the wake of a devastating hurricane, Judd and Larkin each seek answers to what tomorrow will bring. As opposition rises against following their divergent dreams, they realize that it may take a miracle for them to be together.


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I liked the settings of this story a lot. I felt that Sarah Loudin Thomas really made you feel both South Caroline and West Virginia. And not just the physical settings but the way the people were and how they related to others. 

I really enjoyed the back story of the Heyward family and how it all came to play with the ties between West Virginia and South Carolina and Judd and Larkin.  The story flowed easily but at near the end I felt it was dragging a bit and it made it harder for me to want to read through to the end.

The story has a temperate feeling to it. It isn't over the top in any way and instead you feel like you are sitting on a porch just relaxing and listening to a story. Yes, there is tension but not overly so. 

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are  my own.

Picturing Heaven by Randy Alcorn

This is a fun way to have a coloring book.  Not only are there beautiful pictures ready for someone to relax and color but each coloring page is corresponding to a devotional about heaven.  As you read the short devotional on heaven you will then get to color the picture.  I believe it is the authors desire for you to really begin to picture heaven, to make it a real place in your mind and heart.

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Blue Ridge Sunrise by Denise Hunter

From the publisher:

When Zoe returns home with her daughter and boyfriend Kyle, she finds that she's the only person in town who doesn't expect her to give up the life she's established far away from Copper Creek. Everyone believes she was born to run the orchard, but how can she make it her home after so many years?
Cruz Huntley never quite got over his first love, Zoe Collins, the little sister of his best friend Brady. Not when she cheated on him during their "break," not when she took off to parts unknown with good-for-nothing Kyle Jenkins, and not even now--five years later.
As life-changing decisions and a history with Cruz hang over Zoe's head, tensions rise between her and Kyle. Even as she comes to terms with the shifting relationships in her life, Zoe still isn't sure if she can remain in Copper Creek with her new responsibilities . . . and her first love.


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I really enjoyed the story of Zoe and Kyle.  I liked how Denise allowed part of the story to go back in time so that we could better understand their relationship in the past and how it affected the present storyline.

A story about challenging your original ideas and finding out what matters most. I think readers will be able to relate to the theme of the story, even if they have not been in a similar position as the characters in the story.

I like the secondary characters as well, it added a nice dimension, as well as introduce you to characters in future books. 

I look forward to the rest of the series.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Across the Blue by Carrie Turansky

From the publisher:

Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don't approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson's new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to be the first to fly across the Channel and win the prize Mr. Grayson's newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella's heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella's faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down?

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Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don't approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson's new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to be the first to fly across the Channel and win the prize Mr. Grayson's newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella's heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella's faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down?