Must-Haves for May

                Happy last day of April!!! Here are a few of the books releasing in the upcoming month that I am looking forward to, and that I believe you should definitely check out.

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

                A beautiful maiden who poaches to feed the poor. A handsome forester on a mission to catch her. Danger and love are about to unite in Thornbeck Forest.

                The margrave owns the finest hunting grounds for miles around—and Odette Menkels spends her nights poaching his deer to feed the hungry orphans of Thornbeck. By day, Odette is a simple maiden who teaches children to read, but by night this young beauty has become the secret lifeline to the poorest of the poor.

                For Jorgen Hartman, the margrave’s forester, tracking down a poacher is a duty he is all too willing to perform. Jorgen inherited his post from the man who raised him…a man who was murdered at the hands of a poacher.

                When Jorgen and Odette meet at the Midsummer festival and share a connection during a dance, neither has any idea that they are already adversaries.

                The one man she wants is bound by duty to capture her; the one woman he loves is his cunning target… What becomes of a forester who protects a notorious poacher? What becomes of a poacher when she is finally discovered?

                Melanie Dickerson is one of my all-time favorite authors, and for good reason. She writes AMAZING fairy tale retellings, all set in medieval times. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is a retelling of Robin Hood, only this time, Robin Hood is a girl. This book comes out TOMORROW (!!!!!!!) so now would be a great time to pick it up since it’s still on sale if you pre-order!

Want a copy? Pick one up here.

Tiffany Girl

                As preparations for the 1893 World’s Fair set Chicago and the nation on fire, Louis Tiffany—heir to the exclusive Fifth Avenue jewelry empire—seizes the opportunity to unveil his state-of-the-art, stained glass, mosaic chapel, the likes of which the world has never seen.

                But when Louis’s dream is threatened by a glassworkers’ strike months before the Fair opens, he turns to an unforeseen source for help: the female students at the Art Students League of New York. Eager for adventure, the young women pick up their skirts, move to boarding houses, take up steel cutters, and assume new identities as the “Tiffany Girls”.

                Tiffany Girl is the heartwarming story of the impetuous Flossie Jane, a beautiful, budding artist who is handpicked by Louis to help complete the Tiffany chapel. Though exited to live in a boarding house when most women stayed home, she quickly finds the world is less welcoming than anticipated. From a Casanova male, to an unconventional married couple, and a condescending singing master, she takes on a colorful cast of characters to transform the boarding house into a home while racing to complete the Tiffany chapel and make a name for herself in the art world.

                As challenges mount, her ambitions become threatened from an unexpected quarter: her own heart. Who will claim victory? Her dreams or the captivating boarder next door?

                Tiffany Girl is another book I absolutely cannot wait to pick up. Deeanne Gist never fails to amaze me with her novels, and I am positive this one will be no exception. Plus, who doesn't love a book set in the 1890's?

Want to take a trip to the 1890's? Pick up this book here!

A Simple Prayer

                Linda is no stranger to hardship. Now she dares to hope for a chance at love and a new beginning.

                As the sole survivor of a buggy accident that left her orphaned at age four, Linda Zook was reluctantly raised by her Uncle Reuben. She longs to be worthy of someone, but the lasting trauma of her injuries and embittered upbringing have destroyed her self-worth. When Hannah Peterson asks her to work at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast, she’s finally able to realize some confidence.

                Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community seventeen years ago when he could no longer bear the restrictions or the constant tension with his father. Despite years of unanswered letters to his parents, and the roots he’s put down in Missouri, Aaron rushes back to the Amish community of Paradise, Pennsylvania after receiving word of his mother’s stroke. Hesitant to get too close to the family he was once a part of, he decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast. Talking with Linda allows him to explore his feelings about his family and his position in the Amish community.

                As Linda and Aaron open up to each other, their feelings for one another turn into more than friendship, and Aaron must make a decision about his future as an Amish man.

                Can Linda and Aaron forgive the family members who have deceived and forsaken them? And will Aaron be able to convince Linda that she is worthy of his love?

                I just love stories about the Amish communities, and Amy Clipston always does a wonderful job of bringing them to life. A Simple Prayer is another novel I just cannot wait to get my hands on!

As Love Blooms

                Tessa Gregory is nothing if not tenacious. Denied a position as a horticulturalist at the prestigious Como Park in Saint Paul, she is not above a little benevolent deception in order to get the park superintendent to change his mind and hire her. She plans to infiltrate the world of wealthy and influential people in hopes of drumming up financial support for a world-class conservatory. But before she can put those plans into action, she meets Reese King, a handsome gardener at Como Park—and a major distraction. Still, Reese might be the key to achieving her dream. But is his goal to help her…or capture her heart?

                As you know, I have been reading the Gregory Sisters trilogy this week—the two that have already released that is—and they are already some of my favorite books. I seriously cannot wait until As Love Blooms comes out, because I am so excited to see what happens to the youngest—and most stubborn—of the Gregory girls.

                Also, you can find my reviews of the first two books in the series—When Love Calls and While Love Stirs—by clicking their titles.

You can pick up any of the Gregory Sisters' novels here.

A Worthy Pursuit

                A teacher on the run. A bounty hunter in pursuit. Can two enemies learn to trust each other before they both lose that they hold most dear?

                Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts.

                Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan’s Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the orphaned girl entrusted to her care. Charlotte promised Lily’s mother she’d keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them.

                When Miss Atherton produces documentation that shows her to be Lily’s legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he’s been led to believe. Is she villain of victim?

                Then a new danger forces Charlotte to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone vows to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he’s ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte’s heart.

                I have read quite a few of Karen Witemeyer’s other novels, and I have to say, she is another one of my favorite authors (I say that far too much but it’s always true). I cannot wait to read her newest work, especially since the synopsis makes it sound so intriguing!

Grab a copy of this book here.

                So, those are my must-have books for May! Doesn’t reading about them make you want to curl up in a chair with a good book and a cup of tea? I know that’s all I want to do, and hopefully, someday soon I can curl up with one of these!

                Happy reading!

All credit for the italicized synopses go to the authors and publishers: the credit for the picture of A Worthy Pursuit goes to Amazon, hence the 'kindle edition' caption on the bottom.