Counting Stars (Michele Paige Holmes)

Jane was hoping for a second date — maybe even a boyfriend. What she wasn't expecting was Paul Bryant's completely original and sincere pick-up line: 'Hi. I'm Paul. I have terminal cancer. My wife was killed in a car accident, and I'm looking for a woman to raise my children.'
It was never Jane's plan to fall in love with a dying man and his two infants. But her seemingly simple decision to date someone outside her faith leads to one complication after another, and the choices she makes soon have far higher stakes than she could have foreseen. In choosing to help Paul, is she choosing to be alone forever? And how can something that seems so unbelievably messed up feel so completely right?
Sometimes love is found in the least likely places and the greatest blessings are discovered while counting stars.

I completely enjoyed this love story. I couldn't put it down and ended up having a completely lazy saturday, so that I could read the book in one day. Make sure you have the tissues nearby.

The Hidden Branch (GG Vandagriff)

Paul Mardian is a shining example of the American dream. The grandson of an Armenian immigrant who fled to the United States during the genocide of 1915, Paul is a self- made industrial tycoon and one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. But the dream is shattered when Paul turns up dead and his valuable collection of ancient Armenian artificats goes missing. Hired to find the murdered man’s heirs, professional genealogist Alexandra Campbell and her sidekick, Briggie, are brought to the swanky beaches of Southern California and a community of Armenian relatives who all seem to be hiding a secret. When another family member is suddenly murdered, Alex discovers there is more at stake than an unclaimed fortune or missing antiques, but piecing together Paul’s complicated family tree may be more dangerous than she ever anticipated. Author G. G. Vandagriff combines mystery, suspense, and romance in this page- turning thriller!

This is book 5 of this mystery series. I am trully enjoying the adventures that Alex and Briggie have been taking us on. Curious to see if the author adds any more adventures to this series.

The Subtle Knife (Philip Pullman)

The intrepid young Lyra has passed through a shimmering portal in the sky and finds herself in a beautiful, haunted otherworld -- cittagazze, where soul-eating Specters stalk the streets and wingbeats of distant angels sound against the sky. But she is not without allies: twelve-year-old Will Parry, fleeing for his life after taking another's, has also stumbled into this strange new realm.

On a perilous jouney from world to world, Lyra and Will uncover a deadly secret: an object of extraordinary and devastating power. With every step, they move closer to an even greater threat -- and the shattering truth of their own destiny.

This is book 2 of the His Dark Materials series. I found it quite dull and had to keep talking myself into reading it which is a very rare thing for me.

Gables of Legacy : Full Circle (Anita Stansfield)

For Emily Hamilton, losing her beloved husband Michael to death was one of the hardest things she had ever faced. But having to live without him—year after year—is proving to be even more difficult. Even though Emily’s family surrounds her with love and support, the loneliness and lack of close companionship brings about a desire to move on with her life. Compelled to pursue new social opportunities and break out of the deep rut she finds herself in, Emily meets a man who could turn everything in her carefully cultivated life upside down. Samuel Reid is a very different man from Michael Hamilton—a man who is desperately searching for answers that Emily can lovingly provide. While Samuel seems to be honest and sensitive, Emily’s family is wary of his intentions. Can Emily survive yet another crisis in her life, or will Samuel end up being one of the best things that ever happened to her—and to her children? Anita Stansfield, the #1 best-selling LDS romance author, delivers one of her finest novels to date, a tender conclusion to the stirring Gables of Legacy series, and a heartwarming story of eternal love that transcends the thin veil between life and death.

The Golden Compass (Philip Pullman)

Lyra Belacqua is content to run wild among the scholars in Jordan College, her daemon familiar always by her side. But the moment she hears hushed talk of Dust, an extraordinary particle, she's drawn to the heart of a terrible struggle - a struggle born of Gobblers and stolen children, witch clans and armored bears. And as she hurtles toward danger in the cold, far North, young Lyra never suspects the shocking truth: her destiny must be fulfilled not in this world, but far beyond.

This is the first book in the His Dark Materials series. It is an interesting story. I dont know if I can outright say that I like it but it has me interested enough to want to read the next one.

Gables of Legacy : The Miracle (Anita Stansfield)

Scott Ivie is finally learning what it means to be part of a family. In fact, he has merged so perfectly into the Hamilton family that he almost feels he was destined to be living and working with them in Australia. After all, it was Jess Hamilton who first introduced Scott to the gospel. But when Jess's younger sister Emma returns from her mission early because of a health problem, she is less than pleased to see the good-looking stranger sitting at the family dinner table.
Facing a life-threatening crisis, Emma has far more important things to worry about than a gold-digging American--even if she is attracted to him. Could there be more to Scott than Emma can possibly see right now?
Best-selling author Anita Stansfield once again delivers a compelling story of family unity, faith, and the miracles that can come through the power of the gospel.
See also The Guardian, Guiding Star, The Silver Linings, An Eternal Bond, and Full Circle. This is volume 5 in the Gables series.

The Hourglass Door (Lisa Mangum)

His past. Her future. Can love bring them together in time?
Abby’s senior year of high school is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriend, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He’s mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she’s ever met before. Abby can’t deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves.

I loved this book. The author is very descriptive and fast paced, her writing keeps the plot moving and exciting. This is the 1st in a trilogy, I am looking forward to the following books. Great book for being the first from this author.