Can’t Buy Me Love by Andrea Christenson

by | Mar 22, 2021 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Can’t Buy Me Love by Andrea Christenson presented by Susan May Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

MY REVIEW:

Lovers of books by Susan May Warren have often longed for more books set in Deep Haven if not to live there themselves. With the kick-off of Warren’s Sunrise Publishing she has chosen several new authors to provide some new romantic adventures in Deep Haven. I think her hard core fans will be pleased with the results.

Can’t Buy Me Love is a modern take on the classic Cinderella tale, complete with wicked step-sister. It does not follow the fairy tale exactly but it definitely has elements that the reader will recognize scattered throughout. Heroine Ella Bradley is a down-on-her-luck housekeeper who has ambitions to form her own company. Adrian Vassos, while not a true prince, is son to an extremely wealthy businessman who has big plans for him. They find themselves in Deep Haven doing community service together and the rest of their story is delightful. Filled with misunderstandings, plenty of humor, and unexpected events, the novel held my attention all the way to its end. An encouraging story of discovering God’s plan for your life as well as a fine example of forgiveness, Can’t Buy Me Love is a must read for fans of contemporary romantic novels.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Title: Can’t Buy Me Love

Series: Deep Haven Collection #2

Author: Andrea Christenson presented by Susan May Warren

Publisher: Sunrise Publishing

Release Date: March 16, 2021

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

 

He can’t buy his way out of trouble this time…

Housekeeper-slash-entrepreneur Ella Bradley prides herself on being ready for anything. After all, with a father who died—and lied to her—and a stepmom and stepsister who despise her, she has no one else to depend on. But on the biggest night of her life, she’s unprepared to be trapped in an elevator with the man of her dreams.

Wealthy prince-to-a-fortune Adrian Vassos wants nothing more than to shed his reputation as a party boy and prove that he is a savvy businessman. Even, a gentleman. But when he’s trapped with a woman who knows his reputation but not his face, he gives into the temptation to be someone else—and lies.

When serendipity brings them together again—this time to work off community service—can their combined sentences spark a new ending? Maybe…if Adrian’s lies don’t find him out. Again.

The magic of Deep Haven enchants in this modern-day Cinderella story.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | BookBub

BOOKS IN THIS SERIES:

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Susan May Warren is the USA Today best-selling novelist of 80 books. With more than 1.5 million books in print, she is beloved by reviewers and readers around the world. Visit Susan at www.susanmaywarren.com.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Andrea Christenson lives in a Minneapolis, MN suburb with her husband and two daughters. When she is not busy homeschooling her girls, she loves to read anything she can get her hands on. She believes that a great loaf of artistic bread can turn a meal into a masterpiece. Andrea’s prayer is to write stories revealing God’s love.

CONNECT WITH ANDREA: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Merging the creative energies of best-selling authors Susan May Warren and Lindsay Harrel, Sunrise Publishing is the matchmaker for established authors who want to build on their current success for future growth and aspiring authors looking to break out, build an audience, and hone their writing skills.

CONNECT WITH SUNRISE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | admin@sunrisepublishing.com

TOUR GIVEAWAY:

(1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card + 3 Can’t Buy Me Love ebooks (one ebook for the winner and two to give to friends)!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 16, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 23, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Fate by Natasha Frazier

by | Mar 9, 2021 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

MY REVIEW:

I agreed to read and review Fate by Natasha Frazier without having a clue what it was about. Can I just say that this book made me really feel my age? As a senior citizen I am no longer a fan of romance novels for the sake of romance and that is pretty much the content of this novel.

Honestly the story would appeal to younger readers who want a simple, easy to read tale with lots of romance. It is a clean read so parents would not object to their teen daughter reading it. In fact teens would probably love the frequent descriptions of how the characters were dressed, the dates they went on, and meals they ate, not to mention how many times Brian was described as “hot” by Melanie’s friend.

I did like the fact that the characters were both believers and it was evident by their actions and personal growth throughout the narrative. A surprise or two did add a bit of tension to the story and helped keep it interesting.

Although not exactly my personal cup of tea, I would recommend this book to younger readers who are looking for a book that is primarily romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Melanie Bennett and Detective Brian Morris met over a year ago when he solved her best friend’s murder case, and now Nashville’s annual Christmas festivities have them crossing paths again, could it be fate?

Melanie Bennett has spent the last six months in therapy to erase the self-assigned blame and eradicate the night terrors that plagued her at every attempt to close her eyes after witnessing her best friend’s murder. The Christmas season always had a way of lifting her spirits, and this year is no different. The spark within her to live again couldn’t have come at a better time when she and Detective Brian Morris are reacquainted, but first, she must believe that she deserves happiness.

Will the circumstances of how they met prevent Melanie from taking a chance on love?

Brian was drawn to Melanie when he first laid eyes on her over a year ago; he wanted to ask her out, but the timing was all wrong. Expressing interest in her when she’d just lost her best friend was tacky, but fate dealt him another opportunity when he walked into her hair salon delivering flyers for the annual stuff the cruiser toy drive a year later. Though Brian desires love, will his unresolved issues with his mother get in the way?

Every moment spent with one another can only be described as fate – a power beyond human control. Will this Christmas season bring about the healing and love both Melanie and Brian crave?

Fate is book 2 in the Perfect Time for Love Series (Sweet Christian Romance).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Natasha has penned an award-winning devotional, The Life Your Spirit Craves and a Henri award nominated devotional, Not Without You: 365 Days in the Lord’s Presence. Natasha desires to encourage readers to live the life they have been created to live in God. Natasha’s first fiction book, Love, Lies & Consequences, was released on April 21, 2015, and earned The Readers’ Choice Award.

The Love, Lies & Consequences seems to be taking on a life of it’s own as books two and three delve deeper into the lives of the characters and how they deal with life’s issues. Natasha enjoys crafting stories that we can relate to and learn from. Visit Natasha’s website www.natashafrazier.com to sign up for her newsletter or to connect.

Natasha is also a motivational speaker, in much like her literary works, who speaks to encourage women to take their lives to the next level, release fear and become the women they have been predestined to be.

 

Braced For Love by Mary Connealy

by | Mar 9, 2021 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western

MY REVIEW:

I have been a long-time fan of Mary Connealy’s books and her unique sense of humor. Although I have always loved her books I have noticed that each new series has lost a bit more of the slapstick humor and moved toward even greater character and plot development. I honestly appreciate the direction she has taken. There is still plenty of humor yet greater depth to her stories.

Braced For Love is the first book in the author’s latest series Brothers in Arms. Kansas farmer Kevin Hunt has left his struggling farm to take over his share of an inherited ranch in Wyoming. Turns out he has a brother he never knew existed and he also learns a few choice facts about his late father that he has believed dead for years. It is also evident that someone is determined to keep him from reaching the ranch.

There is more than enough drama, conflict, action, and danger to go around in Braced For Love, A hearty dose of romance is thrown in for good measure along with several surprises. It took me a few chapters to get all the characters straight in my mind but each of them has unique traits that quickly set them apart. Knowing that the novel is the first of a trilogy, I soon found myself pairing each of the Hunt brothers with one of the young women. Only time will tell if I am correct. I eagerly wait for book two.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author and Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When entering the rough new land, does he go to meet his greatest enemy, or his greatest ally?

Kevin Hunt was at peace with the grueling but honest labor of Kansas farm life, until he received the news that he had inherited part of a successful Wyoming ranch. The only catch is it’s to be shared with a half brother he never knew existed. Turns out, Kevin’s supposedly dead father led a secret and scandalous life, and the townsfolk are quick to spurn Kevin and his siblings for it.

But trouble seems to follow Kevin on the way, and he wonders if his half brother Wyatt is behind the attacks. Once at the ranch, everyone is at each other’s throats, and the only person willing to stand in between is Winona Hawkins, the local schoolmarm and a wealthy rancher’s daughter.

Despite being a longtime friend to Wyatt, Winona can’t help but be drawn to the earnest, kind Kevin, and that puts her in the cross hairs of somebody’s dangerous plot. With every reason to despise each other, can the Hunt brothers put aside their differences long enough to protect the ones they love?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary Connealy (www.maryconnealy.com) writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than half a million books. She is the author of the popular series Brides of Hope Mountain, High Sierra Sweethearts, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

by | Feb 27, 2021 | Books, Germany, Historical, Romance, WWII

MY REVIEW:

While I have read and enjoyed several books by Sarah Sundin, I believe that When Twilight Breaks must be my very favorite. Set in Munich, Germany during the days leading up to World War 2, the story features U.S. news correspondent Evelyn Brand aka the Firebrand. Feisty and courageous, Evelyn is determined to earn her place in the news agency despite the fact that she is a woman in a man’s domain. Most of all, Evelyn wants the truth to be known about her observations in Germany and is frustrated because her articles have been edited at every turn. Peter Lang, an American graduate student working on his thesis in German and teaching at the university, only sees the positive aspects of German life until his friendship with Evelyn begins to open his eyes.

While I enjoyed every minute of reading When Twilight Breaks, there were a few times when I wanted to put it down because I feared what might happen next. Not only that but there were a few scenes that were so disturbingly similar to what I see happening in my own nation now. Oh, if only we could open our eyes and hearts and learn from the past!

When Twilight Breaks touched me deeply and the story will stay with me for awhile. It is well worth reading with its simple message of faith and courage.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession and to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country–or worse. If she does not report truthfully, she’ll betray the oppressed and fail to wake up the folks back home.

Peter Lang is an American graduate student working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party–to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can’t get off his mind.

As the world marches relentlessly toward war, Evelyn and Peter are on a collision course with destiny.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of several popular WWII series, including Sunrise at Normandy, Waves of Freedom, Wings of the Nightingale, and Wings of Glory. Her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. The Sky Above Us received the Carol Award, her bestselling The Sea Before Us received the FHL Reader’s Choice Award, and both Through Waters Deep and When Tides Turn were named on Booklist‘s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years.” Sarah lives in Northern California. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information.

A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel

by | Feb 27, 2021 | Books, Historical, Ireland, Romance

MY REVIEW:

If talented new authors like Jennifer Deibel continue to be published I will never get all the books read that I would like. Another exemplary writer, Deibel’s first novel, A Dance in Donegal, caught my interest quickly and held it until the very last page.

Through the author’s powerful imagery, I walked down the paths along the shores of Ireland and saw it through the eyes of Moira for the first time. I could almost smell the peat fires and the briny air. It was easy to imagine each character as Moira interacted with them. Even the most vile of them played an important role as the story played out.

And what a story it was! It didn’t take very long to discover that the townsfolk had their own opinions about Moira’s mother yet were unwilling to share their secrets except through overheard whispers and veiled threats. Yet Moira’s gentle demeanor and kindness to others won her staunch supporters in a few friends who stood beside her, especially Sean, Brid, Colm, and Peg.

I found it encouraging to witness Moira’s journey as she discovered exactly why the Lord had brought her to Ballymann and the plans He had for her life there. Filled with both joy and sorrow, A Dance in Donegal was a beautiful illustration of how following the lead of the Holy Spirit and showing mercy and care to an enemy can bring true redemption into a life.

I cannot say enough about this wonderful book except that you just have to read it for yourself. I will be waiting impatiently for another one by this author.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

All of her life, Irish-American Moira Doherty has relished her mother’s descriptions of Ireland. When her mother dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1920, Moira decides to fulfill her mother’s wish that she become the teacher in Ballymann, her home village in Donegal, Ireland.

After an arduous voyage, Moira arrives to a new home and a new job in an ancient country. Though a few locals offer a warm welcome, others are distanced by superstition and suspicion. Rumors about Moira’s mother are unspoken in her presence but threaten to derail everything she’s journeyed to Ballymann to do. Moira must rely on the kindness of a handful of friends–and the strength of Sean, an unsettlingly handsome thatcher who keeps popping up unannounced–as she seeks to navigate a life she’d never dreamed of . . . but perhaps was meant to live.

Jennifer Deibel’s debut novel delights the senses, bringing to life the sights, sounds, smells, and language of a lush country and a colorful people. Historical romance fans will embrace her with open arms.

Read an excerpt HERE.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher whose work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and others. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at www.jenniferdeibel.com.

 

The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher

by | Feb 26, 2021 | Appalachia, Books, Historical, Romance

MY REVIEW:

As an avid reader I cannot begin to imagine going through life unable to read. It was a foreign concept to Lucy Wilson also until she traveled to Rowan County, Kentucky to work for her father’s cousin Cora Wilson Stewart, the first woman superintendent of education in that area. As a city girl who had been provided with everything she needed, Lucy’s first encounter with the impoverished mountain people was a rude awakening. Everything and everyone she encountered was alien to her previous experience.

With the eager help of Finn, the more reluctant help of Angie, and the quiet wisdom of Brother Wyatt, Lucy gradually became adjusted to the area and even grew comfortable with the horse she rode to visit the scattered inhabitants of the mountain. She grew to love many of the mountain people and felt increasingly burdened to help them.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the customs of the mountain people and particularly found interesting the mention of using shaped notes to teach music to those who could not read. One of my own ancestors, Mennonite Bishop Joseph Funk was instrumental in the use of shaped notes and wrote an extensive book about their use that is still in use today. How I wish I could have been in Lucy’s shoes the first time she experienced a singing.

The Moonlight School is a beautiful story with vivid descriptions of the land and people of early 1900 hill country of Kentucky. While based on the true story of Cora Wilson Stewart, this book is a fictional account that features Lucy and Wyatt. A bit of mystery and a sweet romance round the story out to make a thoroughly satisfying read. There is much more to discover than I have described so I would recommend picking up a copy for yourself as soon as possible. I don’t think you will regret it.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Haunted by personal tragedy, Lucy Wilson arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1911 to assist her cousin, Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of schools. A fish out of water, Lucy is appalled by the primitive conditions and intellectual poverty she encounters.

Born in those very hills, Cora knows the twin plagues of illiteracy and poverty. So does Brother Wyatt, a singing school master who travels through the hills. Involving Lucy and Wyatt, Cora hatches a plan to open the schoolhouses to adults on moonlit nights. The best way to combat poverty, she believes, is to eliminate illiteracy. But will the people come?

As Lucy emerges from a life in the shadows, she finds purpose, along with something else she hadn’t expected: love.

Inspired by true events, this novel from bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings to life the story that shocked the nation into taking adult literacy seriously.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 books, including The Moonlight School and the Three Sisters Island, Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop’s Family, The Deacon’s Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and Twitter @suzannewfisher.