We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels

From the publisher:
When Detroit Free Press reporter Elizabeth Balsam meets James Rich, his strange request--that she look up a relative she didn't know she had in order to deliver an old camera and a box of photos--seems like it isn't worth her time. But when she loses her job after a botched investigation, she suddenly finds herself with nothing but time.

At her great-aunt's 150-year-old farmhouse, Elizabeth uncovers a series of mysterious items, locked doors, and hidden graves. As she searches for answers to the riddles around her, the remarkable stories of two women who lived in this very house emerge as testaments to love, resilience, and courage in the face of war, racism, and misunderstanding. And as Elizabeth soon discovers, the past is never as past as we might like to think.
___________________________________

This book is well written.  It is a book that is hard to put down because of the story.  Erin Bartels does well in this as a debute novelist. 

This story covers three different time periods, all connected: current, Underground Railroad, and the Civil War.  Readers may or may not enjoy this. But it does allow for there to be a broader picture of racism, war, and love. 

This is not a book that is going to guarantee you a happy ending.  Not every story is tied up, and not every story ends the way you want it to.  But what I can appreciate about that is that Bartels was giving the readers a realistic picture of what life could have been like.

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

Wait for Me by Susan May Warren

From the publisher:
Pete Brooks can't believe he's waited an entire year for Jess Tagg to return to Montana, only to have her break his heart by getting engaged to her ex-fiancé. Worse, a series of mistakes on the job have cost lives, and Pete isn't sure he wants to continue to work in Search and Rescue. Maybe if he can just get over Jess, he can figure out how to move forward. 

EMT Jess Tagg has returned to Montana to finally give her heart to Pete, but it seems he's no longer interested. When a terrible fight between them sparks an impulsive decision, she finds herself crashed on the side of a highway along with Esme Shaw. And just when she thinks things couldn't get any worse, she and Esme are taken captive and into the untamed Montana wilderness--with murderous intent. 

Now Pete and the other PEAK Rescue Team members are in a race against time, the elements, and the actions of a vengeful man. Pete will have to use everything he's learned to find Jess and Esme--and pray that his past mistakes don't cost him the life of the woman he can't stop loving.
_______________________________

Another exciting and well paced novel by Susan May Warren. The Montana Rescue series is one that I have been enjoying each time another book comes out.  You definitely would benefit by reading the books prior to this one. 

This book is filled with adventure and risk.  Not just with the hearts of the characters but with the lives.  You won't want to put it down until you reach the very end.  Warren writes in such a way that you become invested in the characters and their lives.  The book has more than just Jess and Pete and you will find that each story is riveting in its own way.

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