Blog Tour: My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson

MY FATHER’S HOUSE BY ROSE CHANDLER JOHNSON

Author: Rose Chandler Johnson

When all illusions of happily-ever-after shatter, Lily must choose to abandon her husband or risk losing much more than her marriage in Rose Chandler Johnson’s debut novel, My Father’s House. She flees their home in Detroit and sets out on a fearful journey to a house in Georgia that her husband knows nothing about. This is one woman’s compelling tale of love and survival as she finds her way back home to who she’s meant to be . . . in her father’s house.

Book Review: Saving Abby

Saving Abby

About the Book:

All children’s book illustrator Claire Turner ever wanted was to be a mother. After six years of trying to conceive, she and her husband, Josh, have finally accepted that she will never be pregnant with a child of their own.

Review: The Memory of Us

The Memory of Us

About the Book:

Julianne Westcott was living the kind of life that other Protestant girls in prewar Liverpool could only dream about: old money, silk ball gowns, and prominent young men lining up to escort her. But when she learns of a blind-and-deaf brother, institutionalized since birth, the illusion of her perfect life and family shatters around her.

While visiting her brother in secret, Julianne meets and befriends Kyle McCarthy, an Irish Catholic groundskeeper studying to become a priest. Caught between her family’s expectations, Kyle’s devotion to the Church, and the intense new feelings that the forbidden courtship has awakened in her, Julianne must make a choice: uphold the life she’s always known or follow the difficult path toward love.

But as war ripples through the world and the Blitz decimates England, a tragic accident forces Julianne to leave everything behind and forge a new life built on lies she’s told to protect the ones she loves. Now, after twenty years of hiding from her past, the truth finds her—will she be brave enough to face it?

My Comments:

I found this book to be a fascinating read.  I really liked the way Camille DiMaio dealt with Catholicsm, priestly celibacy and the theme of vocation.  I enjoyed the two separate timelines and how they came together.  At the beginning of the book I liked Julianne and admired her drive, spunk, and compassion.  I loved Kyle; the only problem I might have with him is that he was too perfect.  However, something happened in the middle of the book that changed Julianne, and I found her behavior after that point untrue to who she was.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and would definitely read another by DiMaio.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B. 

Riverbend Road: My Review

Riverbend Road

About the Book:

Protecting the streets of Haven Point isn't just a job for police officer Wyn Bailey, it's a family tradition. But lately she's found herself wanting more, especially from her boss—and overprotective brother's best friend—sexy chief of police, Cade Emmett. The only problem is getting Cade to view her as more than just a little sister. 

Cade's hands-off approach with Wyn isn't from lack of attraction. But his complicated past has forced him to conceal his desire. When Wyn is harmed in the line of duty, Cade realizes the depth of his feelings, but can he let his guard down long enough to embrace the love he secretly craves?

My Comments:

I enjoyed taking another trip to Haven Point and getting to know Wyn, Cade and their friends.  Like the other Haven Point novels, it not only the relationship between the main couple but also the relationships with others in the town.  The main secondary character in this book is Andrea, a new widow who seems scared of everything--and we find that she had a good reason to be scared.  The climax scene in the book involves her and honestly, it just didn't ring true to me.  Still, the strength of Thayne's writing is her characters, not her plots.  Except for the subplot about Andrea, this is a pretty basic romance that has the expected ending.  Like Thayne's other books, there were no bedroom scenes.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  I was not obligated to write a positive review.  Grade:  B.