Linda Goodnight

Author Linda Goodnight's "The Memory House" is a compelling tale of grief, loss and redemption, and the ultimate power of love and faith. A dual storyline of contemporary and Civil War Era Tennessee weaves together the past, present, and future to offer a richly atmospheric tapestry for the reader's imagination. In present day, Julia Presley devotes herself to operating the Peach Orchard Inn. Caring for her guests and providing for their comforts keeps her busy and helps her to survive. The show more unsolved abduction of her son six years ago and the subsequent dissolution of her marriage had left Julia bereft. The daily matters of management of the inn had given her purpose--a reason to get up each day and keep moving forward. Eli Donovan, a man at a crossroads of conscience, had given up a life of privilege for the prison life. After seven years, he is free, but unsure of what "freedom" really means for him. Unexpected news that he is the father of a son whose mother has passed away is a jolt to his already jangled sense of place. Fate will bring Julia and Eli together, and time will lead them to healing, friendship, and more. However, time also has other plans for the two of them, and the discovery of haunting love letters from the past will propel them into an unexpected journey which will forever change their lives. Settle down into your favorite reading spot, sip some of the peach tea like Julia serves her guests, and enjoy this lovely and involving romantic story.

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I am a sucker for a good frontier story. I blame Little House on the Prairie for a portion of that devotion, but I think it’s more about the grit and determination it must’ve taken to live during such primitive times, and Claiming Her Legacy shows a side that is hard to imagine.

Willa Malone is not only mourning the death of her father, who was killed in a senseless robbery while mining for gold, but is also tasked with caring for her two younger sisters, working their flailing homestead, show more and trying to repay the many debts that were left by her father. The desperation this poor woman feels is palpable, and my heart went out to her, almost feeling the weight mount on my own shoulders. She didn't ask for this lot in life, but she is fighting with everything she has, as this is truly her last shot. Talk about strength! I can only imagine that desperation!

Gideon Hartley, the washed up bounty hunter that Willa pesters like a gnat to help her find her father’s killer, is a character we all can identify with. He has quit the tracking life and has succumbed to escapism in the form of drinking, a vice that he can’t seem to free himself from. Though not all of us can understand that kind of thirst I believe we all have had a similar struggle in some form or another, and thus can identify the inner struggle that Gideon endures throughout the story.

Claiming Her Legacy is a novel that has it all. Suspense, intrigue, love, and hope shroud this story, enveloping you in this world. You will find yourself cheering for the girls, hoping that they will all get their happily ever after. They are truly inspiring in their own right, flaws and all. The ending is sheer perfection and I found myself with a goofy grin on my face, completely satisfied with this novel.

It’s truly a charming read and one that I highly recommend.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own. show less

This book is on sale in the Kindle store this month, and I enjoyed the sample, so I scooped it up. It's pretty much exactly what it says on the tin: Annalisa Keller is running for her life after being assaulted by her boyfriend on a deserted road near the infamous Whisper Falls, Arkansas. The story of the falls is that if you pray behind the waterfall, God will answer your prayers, and she is certainly praying for assistance: battered, bruised, and with a broken arm, she needs all the help show more she can get.

The falls skirt Austin Blackwell's land, and he spotted her as she was tripping through the mountains. He's concerned because of her obviously broken arm and goes after her. He hauls her into town to the doctor, pays for her pain meds, and takes her back to the ranch he shares with his sister, Cassie. Annalisa hides in shame and tries to lie to him about what happened, but he isn't buying it. After a few days, she tells him what happened, but she also tells him that she's not going to rely on him to sort things out for her. She wants to start her life over, and Whisper Falls is as good a place as any to do it.

Austin wouldn't really know. He's made a recluse of himself on his ranch, and with good reason: there's a pretty ugly secret from his past that he's running from, one that no one but his sister knows about. He's determined to hide in his own shame, and does it for most of the story. It's a pretty spectacular secret; the author pulls no punches there, I have to give her credit for that.

The inevitable happens: Annalisa and Austin live in fear of her ex coming back, which he eventually does. It turns into a showdown with the town, and it's a fairly decent climax to the story. A bit dramatic, but everyone's secrets come pouring out, and both Austin and Annalisa learn what real love is, both romantic and familial, as the townspeople absorb their backgrounds and stand with them anyway.

The romance was quiet and sweet, and I enjoyed Austin and Annalisa's journey towards each other and facing their respective pasts. The "God stuff" was laid on a little too thick for my tastes, but I knew what I was coming in for with a LoveInspired novel, so no surprises. I do appreciate that the two don't immediately tie the knot at the end (having known each other for less than a year after a three-month jump in the epilogue), but the author also shoves in a long-lost family reunion at literally the last second that was completely unbelievable. Maybe it would've fit if the book wasn't category length, but it just stuck out like a sore thumb to me.

This was more of a library-level of enjoyment than a bought-book level of enjoyment for me. I'm curious about the rest of the series, as I did enjoy the townsfolk (very small town/women's-fiction-y vibe in that sense), but I don't think I'll be buying any more of the books. show less

3.5/5 stars. I am a sucker for stories where children wish or pray for a new mommy/daddy for Christmas. There's something heartwarming about new families being made over holiday celebrations and rituals.

Davis' children pray for a new mom "with brown hair" and right after they do brown-haired Lana and her daughter move to town. Davis remembers Lana as the bad girl from high school but despite malicious town gossip--and his own sister warning him away--decides to give adult Lana the benefit show more of the doubt. The kids hit it off, Davis and Lana hit it off, and everything is going great heading toward Christmas. Then Davis' daughter spills a secret and Davis has to decide what to do.

The thing I like about this very Christian book is that Davis soon realizes that his definition of being a good Christian is not turning his back and judging, but helping, trusting, and loving. I also very much like Lana and the way she was determined to make a better life for her daughter than she had for herself, and how that included becoming sober and returning to a town where she expected to be hated.

This book definitely had what I look for in a Christmas and holiday romance. Right down to Mr. & Mrs. Claus on a Christmas train.

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