A Distance Too Grand by Regina Scott



MY REVIEW:

A Distance Too Grand is an attention grabbing historical novel with a Grand Canyon setting. The story revolves around an Army survey crew primarily searching for the perfect place to build a road across the immense mostly unexplored canyon. Meg Pero is a photographer who hopes to take her deceased father’s place on the crew but meets resistance because of her gender. Only because of a time crunch is she accepted to the team who just happens to be led by the very man she once rejected.

This story is not only a tale of second chance romance (you knew that didn’t you?) but is also a riveting account of the hardships and dangers faced by the team as they traveled to the canyon and began their exploration. A steady plot and excellent characterizations made the story a joy to read. As one who has always been afraid of heights, I had to admire Meg’s sometimes daredevil attempts to get the perfect photograph.  A bit of mystery and a thread of faith added the perfect touch.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Distance Too Grand and look forward to future novels by Regina Scott.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital 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:

Meg Pero has been assisting her photographer father since she was big enough to carry his equipment, so when he dies she is determined to take over his profession–starting with fulfilling the contract he signed to serve on an Army survey of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in 1871. What she doesn’t realize is that the leader of the expedition is none other than the man she once refused to marry.

Captain Ben Coleridge would like nothing more than to leave without the woman who broke his heart. He can’t afford to be distracted during this survey, which is a screen for another, more personal mission, one he cannot share with any member of his team.

As dangers arise from all sides–and even from within–Meg and Ben must work together to stay alive, fulfill their duties, and, just maybe, rekindle a love that neither had completely left behind.

Read an excerpt here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Regina Scott is the author of more than 40 works of warm, witty historical romance. Her writing has won praise from Booklist and Library Journal, and she was twice awarded the prestigious RT Books Reviews best book of the year in her category. A devotee of history, she has learned to fence, driven four-in-hand, and sailed on a tall ship, all in the name of research. She and her husband of 30 years live south of Tacoma, Washington, on the way to Mt. Rainier.

Hope’s Highest Mountain by Misty Beiler



MY REVIEW:

Hope’s Highest Mountain is a page-turner about a young woman badly injured in a devastating accident in the mountains of Montana and her reluctant yet dedicated rescuer as well as others met on their journey. With vivid descriptions of the snow-covered scenery and details about the necessary measures taken just to survive, the story held my interest to the very end. I was personally thankful that I did not have to endure the privations and danger Hope and Micah experienced.

I liked both Hope and Micah’s characters a lot. Despite her injuries Hope was one determined young lady whose one goal was to see the smallpox vaccines delivered in time to save lives. Micah’s reluctance to help was understandable due to his own tragic loss but Hope’s faith inspired him to do what was needed. While Hope’s Highest Mountain is an enjoyable story, I also liked how it illustrated the importance of following God’s call on one’s life.

I would definitely recommend Hope’s Highest Mountain to readers who enjoy historical fiction, especially that which features a wilderness adventure. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

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



ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book: Hope’s Highest Mountain

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: October, 2019

Click here to get your copy!

When Ingrid Chastain agreed to accompany her father to deliver vaccines to a mining town in the Montana Territory, she never could have anticipated a terrible accident would leave her alone and badly injured in the wilderness. Rescue comes in the form of a mysterious mountain man who tends her injuries, but she’s hesitant to put her trust in this man who seems to have wounds of his own.

After tragedy struck his family, Micah Bradley left his work as a doctor and escaped to the wilds of Montana. But his self-imposed solitude is broken when he finds Ingrid in desperate need of medical attention, and he’s forced to call on his doctoring skills once again.

Micah can’t help but admire Ingrid’s tenacity despite the severity of her injuries, until he learns the crate she brought contains smallpox vaccines to help quell a nearby outbreak. With Ingrid dead set on delivering the medicine–with or without his help–he has no choice but to accompany her. As they set off through the treacherous, snow-covered Rocky Mountains against all odds, the journey ahead will change their lives more than they could have known.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After working for 13 years in the corporate world, Misty M. Beller (mistymbeller.com) is now the author of fourteen independently published Christian historical romance novels. Raised on a farm in South Carolina, she combines her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life by writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. She lives outside Charlotte, North Carolina, is an active member of ACFW, and teaches regularly at conferences and writing groups on effective book marketing.

MORE FROM MISTY:

Remember Lassie? Old Yeller? Chance and Shadow from the movie Homeward Bound? There was something about these dogs that gripped my heartstrings and made me love them as though I’d known them for years. (And, yes, I cried during every one of these movies and books.)

Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had real dogs I’ve loved too. As far back as I can remember, we’ve had at least one or two dogs, and each one has been my very best friend. They’ve suffered my undying love, even allowing me to dress them up like dolls during my younger years.

But the dogs in my stories have a special place in my heart. Handsome, the sweet little black fluffball in Hope’s Highest Mountain is no exception! He was the runt of the litter, and such a dark black that the story’s hero nicknamed him Shadow. You can see the picture that inspired Handsome at the book’s Pinterest page. Those eyes! Hard not to fall in love, right?

The more I wrote in the story, the more I enjoyed getting to know this little guy, and I could almost feel his soft puppy fur as he snuggled in close. I completely see why Ingrid (the heroine) is smitten him! As you read Hope’s Highest Mountain, I hope you love Handsome as much as I do. Please give him some extra petting for me! ?

BLOG STOPS:

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 12

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, October 12

Sara Jane Jacobs, October 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 13

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 13

Betti Mace, October 13

Blessed & Bookish, October 14

Texas Book-aholic, October 14

Rebekah Jones, Author, October 14

Genesis 5020, October 14

For Him and My Family, October 15

Bloggin’ ’bout Books, October 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 15

A Baker’s Perspective, October 16

For the Love of Literature, October 16

janicesbookreviews, October 16

Mary Hake, October 16

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess , October 17

Batya’s Bits, October 17

Connect in Fiction, October 17

Older & Smarter?, October 18

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 18

Life of Literature, October 18

A Reader’s Brain, October 18

The Becca Files, October 19

Blossoms and Blessings, October 19

Splashes of Joy , October 19

Through the Fire Blogs, October 20

Moments, October 20

Inklings and notions , October 20

Simple Harvest Reads, October 20

Daysong Reflections, October 21

Wishful Endings, October 21

Joy of Reading , October 21

Pause for Tales, October 22

For The Love of Books, October 22

Britt Reads Fiction, October 22

Lis Loves Reading, October 23

Bigreadersite , October 23

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 23

Live. Love. Read. , October 24

Deanne’s Book Thoughts, October 24

Hallie Reads, October 24

Remembrancy, October 25

Mia Reads Blog, October 25

To Everything There is A Season, October 25

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of Hope’s Highest Mountain, a $20 B&N gift card, and cute mountain cards!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ed1b/hopes-highest-mountain-celebration-tour-giveaway

Dark Ambitions by Irene Hannon



MY REVIEW:

Once again Irene Hannon has provided me with a few hours of suspenseful reading that kept me on my toes as I tried to guess the person behind the various criminal deeds in her story. Each time I thought I had a good idea – and I suspect that was exactly what the author wanted me to think – another character turned up with equally good motives. I loved how the various aspects of the plot were so deftly interwoven. I also liked that even the guilty characters were portrayed with a somewhat sympathetic insight into their background that may well have influenced the direction their lives took.

Dark Ambitions has all the elements that are necessary for a good suspense novel with its fast-moving plot, plenty of mystery, action and danger as well as a touch of romance. Plot twists abound with surprises around every corner. A fairly strong thread of faith was also included which added depth to the primary characters relationship.

In my opinion, one can never go wrong when choosing a novel by Irene Hannon. Dark Ambitions certainly lived up to my expectations!

I voluntarily reviewed a digital 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:

Danger lurks when ambitions turn deadly . . .

Former Army Night Stalker Rick Jordan usually has his camp for foster children to himself during the winter months. But someone has visited recently–leaving a trail of blood. One of the two clues left behind tips Rick off to the identity of his visitor, who soon turns up dead. The police deem it an accident, but Rick isn’t convinced.

With the help of private investigator Heather Shields, he sets out to decipher the remaining clue. Except someone doesn’t want them to succeed–and will stop at nothing to keep them from finding the truth.

Read an excerpt here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including Hope Harbor, Sea Rose Lane, Sandpiper Cove, Pelican Point, and Driftwood Bay, as well as the Code of Honor, Private Justice, and Men of Valor suspense series. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, and she is a member of that organization’s elite Hall of Fame. Her many other awards include National Readers’ Choice, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers’ Choice, Booksellers’ Best, Carols, and Reviewers’ Choice from RT Book Reviews magazine, which also honored her with a Career Achievement award for her entire body of work. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.

The Vacant House by Tamara G. Cooper



MY REVIEW:

Tamara G. Cooper is a new-to-me author but the cover and book description of The Vacant House  both appeared interesting so I took a chance on it. I found a book with a fast-moving plot filled with likeable characters, some of them quite quirky. Heroine Sophie O’Brion is a best-selling author who lives in a small town and finds herself accused of killing her neighbor’s cat. From that point things escalate quickly with Sophie in danger of landing in jail or losing her life.

In this entertaining mystery that seems to make absolutely no sense at times, there are a number of possible suspects as well as motives but the author does a great job of untangling all the threads to where it makes perfect sense at the end. I certainly had no clue where it was all going! Action, danger, plenty of humor, second chance romance, and lovable pets that play a major role all work together to assure readers of an enjoyable few hours of reading time.

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



ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book: The Vacant House

Author: Tamara G. Cooper

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 3, 2019

Click here for your copy!

She knows she didn’t do it, but everybody thinks she did.

It all begins when best-selling author Sophie O’Brion is the last person to see a murder victim alive. She looks even more guilty when a woman from her church is beaten, and Sophie was seen with her just hours before. Suddenly, people she has known her entire life begin pointing accusing fingers at her.

Marine Master Sergeant Burke Maguire, an old flame who dumped Sophie years ago, has recently been hired as a police officer in Forman Falls, Texas, and is assigned her case. She doesn’t want his help.

As she gets deeper and deeper into trouble, though, she must rely on him, but trusting him is another matter.

Will they be able to work together, maneuver dangerous twists and turns, and finally clear her name?

A clean romantic suspense novel that grips you from the very beginning and won’t let you go! The Vacant House is an unforgettable adventure. Read it today, if you have plans to stay up all night.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tamara G. Cooper lives in Texas with her husband, three sons, five dogs, and loves writing mysteries with a touch of romance.

MORE FROM TAMARA:

Book 1 of Sophie O’Brion Mysteries introduces us to Sophie O’Brion, a quirky, funny, and reclusive mystery writer who lives in a small town in East Texas. Because Sophie looks at life through a lens of humor, funny moments appear often. There are frightening moments, too, in her quest to clear her name from pointing fingers accusing her of murder and attempted murder. Sophie is vulnerable, yet strong; reclusive, yet kind; funny, yet serious. And she is determined! It doesn’t help that added to all this is the return of her high school sweetheart who dumped her 12 years before to join the Marines. As a new police officer, Burke is assigned her case, but she doesn’t want his help. Sparks fly, trust doesn’t, and love stays comfortably in the past. Will Sophie and Burke be able to save her reputation and re-ignite their love for each other? I hope you enjoy this book! Happy reading!

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 3

Godly Book Reviews, October 3

Pause for Tales, October 4

Emily Yager, October 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6

Mary Hake, October 6

Texas Book-aholic, October 7

CarpeDiem, October 7

janicesbookreviews, October 8

All-of-a-kind Mom, October 8

Quiet Quilter, October 9

Betti Mace, October 10

Blogging With Carol, October 10

Remembrancy, October 11

A Reader’s Brain, October 12

For Him and My Family, October 12

Moments, October 13

Inklings and notions , October 14

Maureen’s Musings, October 14

My Devotional Thoughts, October 15

HookMeInABook, October 15

Daysong Reflections, October 16

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Tamara is giving away a copy of the book and a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/eeaa/vacant-house-celebration-tour-giveaway

Unscripted by Davis Bunn



MY REVIEW:

I have read many books by Davis Bunn over the years and have always considered him one of my favorite authors so I was pleased to have the opportunity to review Unscripted. While not my favorite of his works, this novel was nevertheless a solid one with an intriguing plot and interesting characters. I particularly enjoyed learning about what goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood including the legal aspects of producing a film. I also loved the descriptions of how many of the scenes were filmed almost spontaneously and the outcome seemed to be so magical that I found myself wanting to see the final product.

The details appear to have been well researched and were quite believable. I’ll admit that I would like to have seen a bit more development of the primary characters, especially Danny and Megan. Their relationship seemed a bit rushed to me and it would have been nice if their dependence had been more on the Lord than on each other.

I did enjoy Unscripted and will always look forward to reading anything this author publishes.

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:

Line producer Danny Byrd is well known in Hollywood for being someone who gets things done on time and under budget. But when his reputation takes a beating after his partner–and former best friend–makes off with their investors’ money, Danny has but one chance to redeem himself and restore his ruined career.

LA lawyer Megan Pierce has sacrificed years of her life proving herself to impossible bosses, only to find herself disgusted at their snobbery and their specious business practices. When an opportunity to actually make a difference comes her way, she knows she has to grab it–even though she’s not entirely clear what “it” is.

Danny and Megan are each other’s best hope for redemption. What they never could have imagined was that they might also be each other’s best hope for love.

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Photo Credit: © Paul Wheeler

Davis Bunn (www.davisbunn.com) is the award-winning author of numerous national bestsellers with sales totaling more than seven million copies worldwide. His work has been published in twenty languages, and his critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. Bunn is a Writer-in-Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University. He and his wife, Isabella, divide their time between England and Florida.

 

Aiming For Love by Mary Connealy



MY REVIEW:

I have read quite a few of Mary Connealy’s books over the past several years and always enjoy them. I know I can usually depend on her giving me a few hours reading pleasure with her western historical romances laced with her wonderful sense of humor. Her books may not be deep or particularly thought provoking all the time but that’s not what I’m looking for when I pick up one of her books. Connealy is one of my go-to’s when I am in the mood for pure entertainment and a cowboy or two in the mix is welcomed.

Aiming For Love is the author’s latest offering and the first book in Brides of Hope Mountain series. The series features the three Nordegren sisters who have lived alone atop a Colorado mountain since the deaths of their parents and grandparents. Each young woman is skilled in taking care of themselves in the wilderness and have been taught to avoid the outside world. Everything changes for them the day the Warden family shows up on their mountain and find themselves in need of shelter and medical help. From that point the story gets more and more interesting as the wild sisters are forced to interact with the strangers from the valley below.

Vivid descriptions of Colorado scenery and appealing characters combine with a plot that moves right along at a good pace to offer a tale that should satisfy many readers, especially if they are prepared to wait to learn more about how things will develop for certain characters. It is obvious that both other sisters, Ilsa and Ursula will be featured in their own books now that Josephine and David’s story has been told, but there are at least two men I hope to learn more about in the other books of this series – particularly Mitch and the mysterious hired gun. Great start to what promises to be a good series!

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



ABOUT THE BOOK:

When Strangers Intrude
on Three Wild Sisters’ Hidden Mountain Life,
Their World Will Never Be the Same.

Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world–a world she’s been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls’ secret home, her older sister is especially frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David’s parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. But his father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Photo courtesy of Ginger Murray Photography

Mary Connealy (www.maryconnealy.com) writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, 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.