by admin | Jul 22, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Novella, PTSD, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Beast of Stratton” is a 172 page novella that takes the reader on a fast and furious suspense-filled ride. It is a story about betrayal, trust, forgiveness, and healing. Readers get an up-close and personal look at the sufferings of an injured military man who suffers from PTSD as he struggles to overcome the pain and flashbacks.
In my personal opinion, “Beast of Stratton” is a good story that would have been even better in a full-length novel. I would have liked more background on the primary players, especially Miles, Aimee, and Ian as well as additional details about what was actually happening during much of the tale. The romance between Miles and Aimee went from dislike and distrust to love much too quickly. I wanted to watch it develop over more than what seemed to be one day’s time. I understand the need to condense and hasten the plot in novellas to fit page requirements. That is one reason I prefer full-length books. The story here is good and the author’s talent is obvious – I just wanted more of it.
This book was provided for review by The Book Club Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Architect Aimee Hart, determined to locate her father, infiltrates Miles Stratton’s engineering firm as a secretary. Her presence wrenches the shaggy, wounded man from his penthouse, and the quest begins. Betrayed by his best friend, Miles would rather hide than help, especially from the man’s daughter. But something’s not right. Someone’s trying to destroy Stratton Industrial. A decorated war veteran, he’s defended his own before and the Beast of Stratton can do it again. Even with the enemy at his side.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Raised in Louisiana and Wyoming, Renee started writing poetry in junior high school and that, as they say, was that. After having her son, a desire to attend pharmacy school sent her small family to Laramie and she’s been counting pills ever since. While writing’s her first love, well, after the Lord and her husband, she also likes to fish and hunt as well as pick away on her classical guitar. Nestled against the Black Hills with her husband, crazy old dog and ornery cat, she serves the community of northeastern Wyoming as a pharmacist and pens her Christian stories, keeping them interesting with action and intrigue, of course. She loves to interact with readers and invites you check out her website, blog, and social media.
Website: http://www.reneeblare.com/
Blog: https://reneeblare.wordpress.com/
Group Blog: http://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com/
by admin | Jul 21, 2015 | Adventure, Books, Romance, Speculative, Suspense, Teen, Young Adult
MY REVIEW:
When I agreed to review “The Stonekeepers”, I was unfamiliar with the author and took a chance because I thought the book might be interesting. I did not realize that teens and young adults seem to be its targeted audience. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
From the very beginning the author sets the perfect tone with a mysterious old house that seems to reach out to Lexi Christensen. When she learns that the house is scheduled to be torn down by the city, she and her two best friends set out to stop it. Along the way, she discovers some secrets that actually do connect her to the old home. Little does she realize the adventure and danger she, her friends, and family will encounter before summer is over.
The story itself is so imaginative yet keeps its characters and their relationships very realistic. I liked that Lexi was a typical teen who had conflicts with her parents, a crush on the same guy her best friend claimed, yet she was always determined to practice her faith and to follow the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit.
I believe this is a book that would be enjoyed by most teens and even some adults. I enjoyed it and these days I am far from young.
This book was provided for review by The Bookclub Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
For the past eighteen years, Lexi Christensen has been sheltered from the truth, protected by a soft-cushioned life of normalcy, until the contents of an envelope link her to an ancient vow. All Lexi wants is to get out from between the vise grips of her suddenly protective parents, rescue an historic mansion before she leaves for college, and stop herself from falling in love with the man her best friend claims to love. But finding the envelope thrusts her into new choices . . . and new danger. Someone knows more about Lexi’s heritage than she does, wants what she’s found, and will risk her life to get it. As her future twists into an incredible mission that propels her from her sand-ringed island home to a foreign mountaintop, she’s in a race against both time and danger. Her faith may be strong, but is God asking too much?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sally Chambers lives in warmth and sunshine among palm fronds, revels in sea breezes, loves the feel of sand between her toes, and braces for hurricanes annually. She, her husband, and two married children call Florida home. Sally writes for young adults, new adults, and women of all ages who enjoy contemporary inspirational fiction that’s a blend of easy drama, suspense, and light romance.
by admin | Jul 17, 2015 | Books, Historical, Mail Order Brides, Romance
MY REVIEW:
At the death of Anthony’s mother, three people want custody of him. Kate Dawson is Anthony’s teacher and loves him as a son. Two men also want Anthony – Silas, who may actually be Anthony’s father and another man who also calls him son. As Kate and Silas work together to work out what will be best for Anthony, she finds that both the boy and the man have caused major complications to her life and her job as teacher.
“A Bride at Last” is an attention grabbing story about two very wounded people who have difficulty trusting each other. Their friendship and mutual attraction grows despite the multiple complications they encounter yet misunderstandings threaten to come between them. Each character was well defined and it was easy to relate to both Silas and Kate and their situation. Anthony’s reactions to his circumstances were extreme but understandable from a child’s point of view.
The plot moved along at a good pace with a few unexpected twists and turns and at least one nice surprise before its end. “A Bride at Last” is a story that emphasizes faith, family and trust. I very much enjoyed this book and think I need to go back and read the previous books from this series.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesey has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts.
Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she’d been deceived about her intended groom, she’s now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she’ll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony–until two men suddenly show up in town, claiming to be the boy’s father.
Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony’s wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?
Read an excerpt from “A Bride at Last” HERE.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Melissa Jagears, an ESL teacher by trade and the author of “A Bride for Keeps” and “A Bride in Store,” is a stay-at-home mother on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. She’s a member of ACFW and CROWN fiction marketing, and her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly.
Find out more about Melissa at http://melissajagears.com.
Can Silas and Kate overcome their rocky start and experience healing—and possibly love? Discover the answer in Melissa Jagears’ new book, A Bride at Last.
Neither Kate nor Silas is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light as they attempt to prove nine-year-old Anthony’s paternity to the court. Can their wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?
Celebrate the release of A Bride at Last by entering to win a $100 Memory-Making giveaway and RSVPing to Melissa’s August 4th author chat party!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A $100 gift card to Netflix (for a family movie night), Shutterfly (to create a family memory book), or TablePlayGames (for a family game night)
- One copy of A Bride at Last
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/4. The winner will be announced at Melissa’s 8/4 A Bride at Last Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Melissa and fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!
RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!
by admin | Jul 16, 2015 | Books, Historical, Romance, Seattle
MY REVIEW:
Tracie Peterson always makes history come alive for me in her books and I enjoy learning a few facts while reading for pleasure. After all, history is really about the people and when carefully researched, fiction is a wonderful teaching tool.
The second book in the Brides of Seattle series features Militine Scott and Thane Patton. Although Militine is one of the young women in training at the Madison Bridal School, secrets from her past prevent her from hoping to ever marry – that is until Thane comes along. Thane has a few secrets of his own and he recognizes and relates to the sadness he sees in Militine’s eyes. The question is, will either of them ever let down their guard and let their relationship progress beyond friendship?
Once again I was fascinated by the three older women who ran the bridal school. They were good for several laughs. And – once again Abrianna and Wade’s relationship hijacked a large portion of the story. I am in hopes that everything will work out for those two in the final volume “Love Everlasting”. I did enjoy reading about Abrianna’s food mission as well as sharing a major surprise in her life. You’ll just have to read the book to find out! I also liked learning about the volunteer fire department in Seattle and the hurdles that hindered their work.
Lots of drama and danger and a bit of mystery are in store for readers of “Refining Fire”. The title is very much apropos as the city is threatened by a devastating fire. As always, Peterson blends a strong Christian message into her story in a natural way that does not detract.
I always enjoy Tracie Peterson’s novels and “Refining Fire” did not let me down. I look forward to the final book in this excellent series.
This book was provided for review by
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Twenty-two-year-old Militine Scott is in training at the Madison Bridal School in Seattle, yet she has no intention of pursuing marriage. What respectable man would have her? But she has found the school provides the perfect opportunity to keep her unsavory past hidden.
Thane Patton, though fun-loving and fiercely loyal to his friends, hides a dark secret, as well. He finds himself drawn to Militine, sensing that she harbors a haunting pain similar to his own.
Will they allow God to make something new and beautiful from the debris of their past?
Read an excerpt from “Refining Fire” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit: ©Lissa Barber Photography
Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Belgrade, Montana. Learn more at www.traciepeterson.com.
by admin | Jul 16, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Can’t Buy Me Love” is a fantastic prequel to Beth Vogt’s new Destination Wedding series. If the rest of the series is even half as good, I will be happy. Can’t wait to dive into “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” which is waiting it’s turn patiently on my review stack.
The story of Bellamy, a gal from a large, middle-class family who is engaged to Reid who comes from a wealthy, upper-crust background. As Bellamy plans her dream wedding, she stresses over meeting the standards of Reid’s family and accidentally makes a purchase that could put a stop to everything. I loved how Reid’s mom stepped in to set things right and proved that you really can’t buy love.
“Can’t Buy Me Love” is truly a story about love, family, what is truly important, and forgiveness.
This book was provided for review by The Book Club Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In this e-novella kicking off the brand-new Destination Wedding series, Bellamy, a bride-to-be who dreams of a one-of-a-kind Manhattan wedding, gets caught up in all the planning, and things quickly spin out of control. What is the true cost of an ultimate uptown wedding?
Bellamy grew up in a large, boisterous family. The Hillmans may not have had it all, but Bellamy learned how to stretch a dollar and make it look like she did. Now she’s marrying Reid Stanton, the man of her dreams. While planning their one-of-a-kind Manhattan destination wedding, Bellamy gets caught up in all things Pinterest. It starts out simply enough with a “Save the Date Destination Wedding” board. Then it’s the “Destination Wedding Dresses” and “Invitations” boards. As her ideas multiply, so does the cost of the wedding.
Before she realizes it, all her creative planning has decimated the budget. Can Bellamy make things right, or will the cost of the ultimate wedding be losing the man she loves?
NOTE — the e-novella also includes an excerpt of Crazy Little Thing Called Love, the first novel in the series, which releases June 30, 2015.
Purchase a copy on Amazon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. In 2015, Beth introduced her destination wedding series with both an e-novella, Can’t Buy Me Love, and a novel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Her e-novella, A November Bride, was part of the Year of Wedding Series by Zondervan. Beth enjoys writing contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Find out more about her books at bethvogt.com. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also part of the leadership team for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, Christa, who loves to play volleyball and enjoys writing her own stories.
by admin | Jul 14, 2015 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I was so charmed by Millie’s character in “After a Fashion” that I couldn’t wait to read her own story. Well, I finally had the chance and as expected I loved it. My only complaint is that it ended much too soon and now I have to wait again for the next volume of this wonderful series.
Millie’s character brought back memories of my grandmother who was feisty, funny, and had a similar tendency to get words mixed up. We still laugh about the time she told us that a person must be scenic but meant psychic. With all her fun-loving ways, I would like to think that in her younger days my grandmother may have been much like Millie.
Aside from my personal memories, “In Good Company” absolutely lived up to my expectations. It was humorous, romantic, and entertaining yet did not fail to impart a spiritual message as well. Peppered with numerous laugh-out-loud scenes from the very beginning, the story captured my interest and wouldn’t let go until the final page. I loved touching base with characters from “After a Fashion”, several of whom continued to play strong supporting roles.
Jen Turano is my go-to author when I need a light-hearted book that will be sure to cheer up the darkest mood. If you haven’t tried one of her novels, please do yourself a favor and pick up one (or all) of them.
This book was provided for review by the author through
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren’t always well-received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position.
Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he’s desperate for competent childcare.
At wit’s end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance–with each other. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges, Everett focuses on achieving the coveted societal status of the upper echelons. But as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the children’s parents, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?
Read an excerpt from In Good Company.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jen Turano, author of six books, is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in clothing and textiles. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.
