Texas Tears
by Caryl McAdoo

From Amazon ~  
Behold how good and pleasant it is to dwell together in unity.
In Book One of the Thanksgiving Books & Blessings Collection Two, just as Mexico and the United States both wanted the Republic of Texas, best friends Charity and Arlene want the same man! Which will the Texicans choose? Who will the man? Will Eberhart de Priest, the object of the young ladies’ desires, follow his heart or his mother’s advice? And what of the interloper from New Orleans who knows exactly whom he loves? Can a Christian find happiness with a non-believer? Only the Lord knows the future, but He does give the desires of the heart to those who delight in Him. 
My Comments ~

​Leading Characters
Eberhart de Vecchi, akd Hart
Landry Humble
Corbin Harrell—stepfather to Charity
Charity O’Neal
Arlene Van Zandt
 
In 1845 Texas teeters between being a Republic, or joining the USA. That’s the time frame and setting of Texas Tears by Caryl McAdoo. The opening chapter settles us right into the story in the aftermath of the Texas Statehood convention. As the primary characters return to their homes from said convention, the reader can almost choke on the dusty stagecoach ride, but it’s not until they arrive home that the story really ramps up.
 
A stranger rides into their lives on a gorgeous black stallion and immediately wins the hearts of the two best friends, Charity O’Neal and Arlene Van Zandt. These two friends find their lifelong relationship strained over his attentions, first flirting with one, then the other. But which one will handsome Eberhart de Vecchi, aka de Priest, choose?
 
To complicate matters, or maybe solve them, another fellow saunters into the story. What a contrast Landry Humble presents! Where “Hart” swaggers with self-awareness, Landry displays a selflessness nature filled with manly confidence. When he meets Arlene, he falls in love at first sight. He even proposes right off the bat! But his bravado offends her, especially since she only has eyes for Hart. Trouble is, Charity has claimed Hart for her very own Prince Charming!
 
Will either fellow pick Charity? Who will win Arlene’s heart? I’ll never tell. You’ll have to buy this delightful romp through the Texas countryside to find out. That said, the things I loved best about this story are Caryl’s children, especially the boys. They’re such little boogers, to borrow a word she uses, that this reader fell in love with them. Also loved is her Texas jargon which adds authenticity as well as local flavor. Then too, the fun story line keeps the story moving. It’s truly light, easy reading, not a suspenseful, dire, moment in the whole book…unless you count a broken teenage heart or two, thus the title, Texas Tears.
 
This full length novel was provided by the author, Caryl McAdoo, for comment in a pre-publication and unedited format. This reviewer is under no obligation to provide a positive review. But how could this reviewer not recommend Caryl McAdoo’s delightful story!
 

From Amazon
Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton has pledged his allegiance to the cause of liberty, his service to General George Washington, and his heart to fiery Elizabeth Howard. But when Washington takes command of the American forces, he orders Carleton to undertake a perilous journey deep into Indian country and persuades Elizabeth to continue her work as a spy. 
Captured and enslaved by the Seneca, Carleton is stripped of everything but his faith in God. At last rescued by the Shawnee, he is taken into deep Ohio Territory and adopted as the warrior White Eagle. When he rises to become war chief, he is drawn unwillingly into a bitter war against the white settlers who threaten to overrun the Shawnee’s ancestral lands. 
Meanwhile, as General William Howe gathers his forces to attack the outmatched Continental Army in New York City, Elizabeth despairs of ever learning Carleton’s fate. But as the western frontier explodes into flame, the name of White Eagle begins to spread beyond the borders of Ohio Territory.

My Comments
By necessity this book, Native Son, recounts bits of information from the first book,  Daughter of Liberty. J.M.Hochstetler neatly weaves those bits into this sequel by following the journey of Elizabeth and Carleton separately. Thus the reader flips back and forth between their two perspectives which can be difficult to sort out, but thankfully, a short addendum of terms and historical data in the back helps a lot. Now to read the next book in this enjoyable series.

From Amazon
Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton rejoins General George Washington’s army to find the patriot cause on the verge of extinction. In a daring gamble the American force crosses the Delaware on Christmas night 1776, to defeat outposts at Trenton and Princeton before vanishing into the mountain bastions around Morristown. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Howard is drawn ever deeper into the intrigues that swirl around British General William Howe as she continues to gather intelligence for the rebels. As decisive battles at Brandywine and Saratoga loom, both Elizabeth and Carleton face a crucible of war that tests their mettle, faith, and love to the very limits—and beyond.
My Comments
Wartime is no picnic in the parks, nor is it a time to let down ones guard,  a lesson both Carleton and Elizabeth must learn...again. Will their love survive the conflict? Will they? This reviewer won't tell. Now on to the next book!

​The American War for Independence from English rule had many cliffhanger moments. In the schools of the U.S.A. children learn the barest details and most important facts about that struggle. "Daughter of Liberty" by J.M.Hochstetler tells a tale that imagines what it must have been like to participate in an insurrection designed to gain the Colonies' right to self-government. Woven throughout the book is a love story that follows the faith journey of the two main characters,  Carleton and Elizabeth, as they each take one step forward then back again learning to trust each other and God.

Daughter of Liberty is no light, read it in one sitting book. Rather it relates the early years of the fight for Independence through the medium of storytelling. It's a riveting read that takes hostages until the last page. This reader truly enjoyed reading this book. Loved it!

From Amazon --
Experience the psalms like never before - through heart-pounding fiction!  When Babylon destroys Jerusalem, as Yahweh warned through his prophets, the captives' bitterness and grief pours out in the Captives' Psalm: 

"[By the rivers of Babylon] we sat as exiles, mourning our captivity, and wept with great love for Zion. Our music and mirth were no longer heard, only sadness. We hung up our harps on the willow trees." (Psalm 137:1-2, The Passion Translation)

A young Israelite woman is among them, captured by a mercenary Scythian prince. Driven toward Babylon by both hatred and hope, she endures captivity to reunite with her husband. But will he be there when she reaches Babylon? Will the prince risk the Scythian throne - and his life - to believe in the Hebrew God?  Can they both find what they seek when they meet the prophet Ezekiel. . . by the waters of Babylon?

My Comments--
This book is an excellent Biblically base story  set just prior to and during the period of the Babylonian Captivity.  Well written, captivating, and true to the Biblical accounts, this book is well worth the time spent reading it. 

​          Biparisan Love
                    by Caryl McAdoo
 
Setting—Llano County, Texas

• Cynthia Ann Kramer—heroine
• Cody Wayne “Cody Bear” Buckmeyer—hero
• Amy Zimmerman—Villian, immoral, gold-digger, aka “Bleachy”
• Travis Buckmeyer—adopted Cody’s father and mentor
• Emma Lee “Lee Lee” Buckmeyer—Cody’s “mother”

 
Back Cover Copy
Does time truly heal a broken heart?
Cody thought it had until she walked into the diner like she owned the world and back into his life as if she owned him.
Can betrayal ever be completely forgiven?
Cindy thought it could until she saw him with the bleached blonde. Her Cody! 
Separated eighteen years, Cody Wayne Buckmeyer and Cindy think they can put the past behind them and work toward a common goal, a congressional seat . . . but is that possible?
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My Review
Cynthia Ann Kramer returns to her hometown in an effort persuade Cody Wayne “Cody Bear” Buckmeyer to run for an impending vacation of a seat in the US Congress. She has her work cut out for her due to his gold-digging, bleached-blond fiancé, Amy Zimmerman. She’s a self-promoting piece of work who had no moral compass. She’ll do anything to become Cody’s wife who she sees as a rich man who she can wrap around her manicured fingers. His parents know she isn’t the woman he should marry, but they believe he’ll figure it out sooner rather than too late. Through it all, Cindy remains steadfast taking the high road while Amy sinks lower and lower. Meanwhile, Cody remains a man of his word, but will his future be ruined by Amy’s self-serving choices? The reader will just have to buy and read this book to find out because this reviewer won’t give away the end.
Caryl McAdoo has written a book for our political era dealing with issues that trouble America. She does it by telling a story that keeps the reader scrolling through the pages, cheering for those taking the high road, and grinding their teeth at those who don’t. This book is well worth the time spent reading a story that speaks to our nation’s troubling issues. Being a somewhat political person, this reader absolutely loved this story, but being interested in politics isn’t necessary to enjoy this book because Caryl McAdoo’s story deals with situations common to all humans regardless of political affiliations.

From Amazon--
      It isn’t within man to guide his own steps—or a woman.  
     Caught between a wagon train and the deep blue sea, Agnes Remington Dalrumple--Remi for short--chooses the overland journey west over crossing the Atlantic with her mother and step-father. Though she’s never been on her own, she decides to go to California and try to find the father she’s never known. Thwarted at every turn, almost every effort is dashed until a widower’s thirteen-year-old daughter intervenes on her behalf. How can the headstrong woman place herself under the responsibility of the young girl’s father, a perfect stranger? But if she doesn’t, her journey ends right there in Saint Joseph, Missouri. On the Oregon/California Trail, will her pride and independence deter her from the destiny God has prepared?
     Asher Adams, a widower with two daughters and a desire to start anew has sold everything he owns and is headed to California with his recently wed sister and her husband. She and his girls conspire every step of the way, hoping he will find someone to be a companion and friend. Remi fits the bill as far as all the women in his life are concerned, but is it too soon? 
​
​My thoughts--
     One thing Remi does know for sure, she gets horribly seasick. That fact deters her from sailing the Atlantic in order to tour Europe with her mother and fourth husband, Donovan. Having seen her mother’s many infatuations quickly sour, she’s not about to join her mother’s latest fling. Instead, she decides to take a cross country journey to find her birth father who supposedly resides in California. The trouble is, although she’s received a couple of letters from him, she’s never met the man. Also, money is a problem, that is, until Donovan and her mother generously support her endeavor.
     Since no self-respecting female dares to travel alone, Remi engages a bondwoman named Edwina Blaine as a servant and traveling companion. Together the women set out by rail to St. Joseph, Missouri where the plan is to join a wagon train. The difficulty with that is the Wagon Train master has a firm rule, no single women allowed. All women must be married, related to, or under the supervision of a man who is responsible for them. Remi and Edwina have no one until the daughter of a man who signed onto the train volunteers her father, Asher Adams.
     Asher’s two daughters take to Remi right away. Patricia Annabelle Adams, aka Patty Cake, 7, takes to Remi right away. She wants her to be her mother. Samantha Edith Adams, aka Sam, turns 13 years old two days before leaving for the Oregon/California trail. She’s lovelorn and pining for a fellow who she knew for only two days named Silas Mercier. Throughout the story, she has a fantasy romance with him via letters and journal. Will he ever write as many letters to her as she has written to him? Does he love her or not?
     As for Remi, she falls quickly in love with both girls, but she holds her heart aloof from Asher, even though he carefully and thoughtfully romances her. Remi finds him nice enough, but her mother’s experience with relationships makes her delay involving her heart with anyone until after she’s found her birth father in California. The great question is, will she be able to keep her heart from loving him? 
What an interesting and great read this was! This reviewer totally enjoyed this book. In fact, this book is in the running for my all time favorite book written by Caryl McAdoo! 

From Amazon--
Could life get any better? 
With a husband, four beautiful, adopted teenage daughters, and a forever home, Rozene Carson felt her life was finally complete. With their second daughter well on her way to a music career, and the youngest recovering from a car accident that crushed her ankle, everything’s coming together. 

But when another teen girl comes to her for help, Rozene quickly learns how life can throw a monkey-wrench into the works. Can she handle this new situation? Only time–and the grace of God–would tell.

My Comments--
​The Sweetwater River series defines the sweet novella category. With a nearly "perfect" family, clearly adored kids, open hearted acceptance, and totally supportive parents, this short book makes a good pick-me-up read when the blues hit...or anytime at all. What's even better is the very affordable price! If you're looking for a gentle, sweet story, this book should  just  fill the bill.