Second Time Around by JoAnn Durgin

Book Two of the Lewis Legacy Series.

I so enjoyed the first in this series, that I was excited to start the second.  Sure wish that darn four letter word, work, would stop getting in the way!  LOL

Seriously, I was so happy when this book arrived, but as OCD as I am, I had to wait until I finished the book I was currently reading first.

This story is about two newlyweds, Marc and Natalie.  They've only been married two months when an accident leaves Natalie with amnesia...oh, she remembers bits from her childhood and attending college, but she has no memory of her husband, Marc!

Again, I found the story line very realistic and well written.  I could see things as they happened, feel what the characters were feeling.  I love the fact that this book shows the lengths a person would go to help their partner in life...a book that is pro-marriage.  Some would find that strange in this day and age.    But, then, it is also a story about Christian faith, so that makes the difference.  I also appreciate the fact that the characters are allowed to be real.  No "perfect Christian" persona's....awesome, since there are no perfect humans today, only one lived, died, and was resurrected on the third day, our Savior, Jesus!

This story is told from Marc's perspective...he still feels it was a miracle he was able to get Natalie to date and marry him, now he faces finding a way to make her fall in love with him all over again, or as the title states, "The Second Time Around"

Marc's pastor suggests he get in touch with the crew of TeamWork Missions, a ministry Natalie loves. We get to see Sam and Lexa from Awakening.  (yeah!  missed them already).  I love that Marc finds a new friend, and role model, in Sam.  And then there is the mysterious Mr. Davis that Marc meets at the hospital...can't say too much about him, without ruining the story line, but he plays a small, but very important role!

I feel like I'm not giving this story justice here, maybe my thoughts are just not connecting today...please understand that I highly enjoyed this story and am looking forward to ordering the next in the series.

"Unspoken" by Dee Henderson

I have enjoyed all the books I've read by Dee Henderson.  I like the mixture of a good suspense, some romance, and Christian Faith.  I have to admit that it took me longer to get through this book, not only due to the length of the book, but I had a hard time sticking with it.  To be fair, I have to admit that I have little interest in antiques or coins, so I got lost in some of those details.

The story begins with Bryce Bishop...a bored, but successful rare coin dealer.  Until Charlotte makes a mysterious appearance one night,  She has a large collection she wishes to sell to him.  If he refuses, she will open a store right next door.

Soon, Charlotte's secret begins to unravel.  She and her twin were kidnapped at the age of 16.  While her sister "escaped", Charlotte spend four long years with her kidnappers.  She has not spoken of what happened in those years, and even though it's been 18 years since her release ,there are still threats to her family.

I was disappointed in the fact the reader never really gets to know Charlotte.  With the exception that she was kidnapped and was having trouble accepting that God is a loving God, due to her circumstances, that's all that is revealed about her. 

I think Bryce's character was a little too "good".  He was an honest, God fearing man, but that's all I got out if it.  No flaws, no fights or major disagreements.  In a word, boring.  

No real suspense, or danger to any of the characters, nor did Charlotte have any part of solving the mystery of the kidnappers.