by admin | Jul 4, 2018 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
The small lakeside town of Harbor Pointe, Michigan was not a place down-on-his-luck champion skier Grady Benson would ever want to spend much time. No, it did not have the luxuries and entertainment Grady had become accustomed to in his celebrity lifestyle. Needless to say, he was not at all happy about his enforced community service for several weeks – not when he needed to hit the slopes hard to be assured of a place on the next Olympic team. On the other hand, Quinn Collins had never left Harbor Pointe and did not intend to ever do so. She was so straight-laced that her friends swore they could set their clocks by her routine. She was NOT at all happy to have the full-of-himself Grady assigned to her team for the annual winter festival. I bet most readers can guess what happens between this totally mismatched pair. Of course they can but it is so much fun to follow along their sometimes amusing but always interesting road to the romantic conclusion of their story.
As always, Walsh’s characters are realistic and well-rounded. Both Grady and Quinn have backgrounds that contributed to their fears and outlook on life. I loved how even though they each seemed to rub each other the wrong way, their relationship helped open their eyes to some deep internal truths that helped to start their healing and eventually led to forgiveness and restoration for them both. The spiritual content of the story was strong and could easily be an encouragement to many readers.
I thoroughly enjoyed Just Let Go as well as several other of this author’s books. It was fun to catch up with characters from Just Look Up also. I am certainly looking forward to the next installment of this excellent series.
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:
Title: Just Let Go
Author: Courtney Walsh
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
For Quinn Collins, buying the flower shop in downtown Harbor Pointe fulfills a childhood dream, but also gives her the chance to stick it to her mom, who owned the store before skipping town twenty years ago and never looking back. Completing much-needed renovations, however, while also competing for a prestigious flower competition with her mother as the head judge, soon has Quinn in over her head. Not that she’d ever ask for help.
Luckily, she may not need to. Quinn’s father and his meddling friends find the perfect solution in notorious Olympic skier Grady Benson, who had only planned on passing through the old-fashioned lakeside town. But when a heated confrontation leads to property damage, helping Quinn as a community-service sentence seems like the quickest way out—and the best way to avoid more negative press.
Quinn finds Grady reckless and entitled; he thinks she’s uptight and too regimented. Yet as the two begin to hammer and saw, Quinn sees glimpses of the vulnerability behind the bravado, and Grady learns from her passion and determination, qualities he seems to have lost along the way. But when a well-intentioned omission has devastating consequences, Grady finds himself cast out of town—and Quinn’s life—possibly forever. Forced to face the hurt holding her back, Quinn must finally let go or risk missing out on the adventure of a lifetime.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theatre director, and playwright. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. She has written two more books in the Sweethaven series, as well as two craft books and several full-length musicals. Courtney lives in Illinois with her husband and three children. Visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com.
BLOG STOPS:
By The Book, June 26
Faithfully Bookish, June 26
Luv’N Lambert Life, June 26
Reading Is My SuperPower, June 27
Among the Reads, June 27
Splashes of Joy, June 27
God is Love, June 28
Fiction Aficionado, June 28
Genesis 5020, June 28
All-of-a-kind Mom, June 28
Carpe Diem, June 29
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, June 29
100 Pages per Hour, June 29
The Power of Words, June 30
Lighthouse Academy, June 30
Radiant Light, June 30
Just the Write Escape, June 30
Quiet Quilter, July 1
C Jane Read, July 1
A Baker’s Perspective, July 1
Cordially Barbara, July 2
Baker kella, July 2
The Christian Fiction Girl, July 3
Remembrancy, July 3
amandainpa, July 3
Two Points of Interest, July 4
Daysong Reflections, July 4
SusanLovesBooks, July 4
Vicky Sluiter, July 5
proud to be an autism mom, July 5
Moments Dipped in Ink, July 6
Pause for Tales, July 6
Bibliophile Reviews, July 7
Texas Book-aholic, July 7
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 7
Janices book reviews, July 8
Bigreadersite, July 8
Blossoms and Blessings, July 8
Godly Book Reviews, July 9
Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 9
Christian Author, J.E.Grace, July 9
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Courtney Walsh is giving away a grand prize of a library of Courtney Walsh’s books and a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
https://promosimple.com/ps/d0a4/just-let-go-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Jun 29, 2018 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
A Place to Call Home is an engaging, easy-to-read, contemporary romance that held my interest until the end. I read fiction for relaxation and enjoyment and do not tend to analyze or critique the novels I read so this book met my requirements.
I enjoyed the development of the romance between Kurt and Molly despite her misgivings about him at first. His very demeanor and caring nature made it obvious that he was a person who could be trusted. Although there was a bit of drama and mystery, overall A Place to Call Home was primarily just an enjoyable, well-written tale with a sweet romance, some cute kids, and lots of forgiveness and reconciliation. What more could a gal require for a lazy summer evening other than a comfy chair and a tall cold drink?
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:
An ex-con finds forgiveness and love in this contemporary Christian romance.
STARTING OVER
After serving six years in prison for the false charge of manslaughter in the death of his wife, Kurt Jansen must overcome a world of bitterness if he wants to start a new life. But his first priority is securing a restoration job to pay a private investigator to find the real killer and a lawyer to get his kids back.Hiring a convicted wife-killer isn’t what kind-hearted Molly Finnerty bargains for as part of the prison ministry she supports. However, she begins to believe Kurt’s claim of innocence and gradually finds a great deal to like about him—perhaps more to like than she should. Can they overcome the past and find forgiveness and love?
BOOKS IN THE FRONT PORCH PROMISES SERIES:
- A Place to Call Home
- A Love to Call Mine
- A Family to Call Ours
Each book stands alone, but the stories are connected through setting or characters.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author who writes inspirational romance. She is the Winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of forty- plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. She spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels. Please visit her Website and signup for her newsletter and connect with her on Facebook.
Social Media Links:
by admin | Jun 29, 2018 | Books, Historical, Post Civil War, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Having read Beth White’s previous series, The Gulf Coast Chronicles, I was delighted to receive a review copy of A Rebel Heart, first book in her latest series. It was everything I expected and more. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading White’s historical fiction about the South that contains an intimate view of the lives and experiences of people who lived during a tumultuous period in our country.
A Rebel Heart gets off to a speedy start with a disastrous train derailment and a daring rescue in which the primary characters Selah and Levi meet. Their paths cross later and the two of them eventually end up working together in a scheme to save her family’s damaged plantation home in Mississippi. The characters come alive in a plot wrought with action, danger, secrets, misunderstandings, suspense, and romance. I liked seeing how they had to learn to depend upon each other and their faith in order to survive and thrive during the difficult days of post Civil War reconstruction.
I look forward to the rest of this series because I can’t wait to learn what happens with Selah’s two sisters and their cousin. I hope you will give this excellent book a chance too.
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:
“Full of intrigue, grit, and grace, A Rebel Heart is Beth White at her finest.”—Jocelyn Green, award-winning author of A Refuge Assured
Five years after the final shot was fired in the War Between the States, Selah Daughtry can barely manage to keep herself, her two younger sisters, and their spinster cousin fed and clothed. With their family’s Mississippi plantation swamped by debt and the Big House falling down around them, the only option seems to be giving up their ancestral land–until a hotel management agent for the railroad offers her hope for the future.
If she’ll turn her home into a hotel, Levi Riggins says, he can all but guarantee it will be saved. Selah isn’t sure she entirely trusts the handsome Yankee. Yet what other options does she have? She’ll have to stay on her guard . . . but she never expected to have to guard her heart.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Beth White‘s day job is teaching music at an inner-city high school in historic Mobile, Alabama. A native Mississippian, she writes historical romance with a Southern drawl and is the author of The Pelican Bride and The Creole Princess. Her novels have won the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award, the RT Book Club Reviewers’ Choice Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award. Learn more at www.bethwhite.net.
by admin | Jun 21, 2018 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Outer Banks, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I discovered Lisa Carter’s books several years ago and have since made it a point not to miss her latest. I was blessed to have the opportunity to read and review a copy of A Vast and Gracious Tide for JustRead Publicity but would have definitely purchased a copy otherwise.
The setting and plot may be different than the previous novels but I can guarantee that the suspense and romance are still top notch with plenty of twists and surprises in store for the reader. In this wonderful story both McKenna and Caden are dealing with the loss in their lives in different ways. A chance meeting brings the pair together in ways that will change their own lives and that of others forever.
At times heartbreaking, the story eventually leads to hope and restoration for its characters. I liked how the author managed to convey the despair and hopelessness often experienced by our veterans of war. We lose too many of these young men to suicide yet so many are unaware of their desperation. I also loved how the words of the much loved song Here is Love were woven throughout this powerful story of the power of Christ to restore broken lives.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by JustRead Publicity. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Welcome to the blog tour and giveaway for A Vast and Gracious Tide by Lisa Carter,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
 |
Title: A Vast and Gracious Tide
Author: Lisa Carter
Publisher: Gilead
Release Date: June 12, 2018
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense |
A wounded veteran and the police chief’s daughter must work together to bring a killer to justice
Caden Wallis lost friends, his girlfriend, and even his leg to the ravages of war. He arrives on the Outer Banks broken and still reeling, struggling to make peace with his new life.
McKenna Dockery has been stuck in limbo since her fiancé died three years ago . Now, when the handsome yet heartbroken Caden arrives at her doorstep, she starts to wonder if there may be hope for her heart after all . . .
But no sooner do they meet than a man is found murdered on McKenna’s property — and Caden is the prime suspect. The two must learn to trust each other, or no one will be safe in the tangled web of conspiracy, greed, and deceit lurking in the tidal marshlands of the Outer Banks.
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD | Book Depository
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award-winning author Lisa Carter describes her Southern suspense novels as “sweet tea with a slice of murder.” She is the bestselling author of seven romantic suspense novels, four historical novellas, and a contemporary Coast Guard series. Lisa enjoys traveling to romantic locales and researching her next exotic adventure. A native North Carolinian, she has strong opinions on barbecue and ACC basketball.
CONNECT WITH LISA: website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
Don’t miss your chance to enter this great giveaway prize pack! One winner (US only) will receive:
Print copy of A Vast and Gracious Tide by Lisa Carter
Sea glass jewelry set (see here)
Framed print of Psalm 93:4 (see here)
$65 value
Giveaway will run from midnight June 18, 2018 through 11:59pm July 2, 2018. It is subject to the policies found here.
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below.
Follow along with the tour HERE for more chances to win!
by admin | Jun 17, 2018 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Blind Betrayal is another fast-paced suspense novel by Nancy Mehl that held me in its grip until the very last page. Action and danger fill the pages as a team from the U.S. Marshals Office do everything they can to escort a vital witness to Washington D.C. to testify. The story starts with a bang when a bomb attack at headquarters sends the team off on a mission that is not exactly as planned. Problems continue to plague them and they begin to wonder if any of them will survive. It was interesting to observe the interaction between Casey and E.J. as they were forced to work together despite their past connection. It soon became obvious that there were some misunderstandings that needed to be overcome if they were to successfully complete their assignment.
I enjoyed this suspense filled tale with realistic characters and a plot that could easily be drawn from current news. Plenty of unexpected twists and surprises kept me on the edge of my seat and I did not want to close the cover until I reached the end. I can always count on Nancy Mehl to provide a great read with just the right blend of faith, suspense, and romance.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
After two years at the St. Louis U.S. Marshals Office, Casey Sloane is tasked with escorting a reporter to Washington to testify before a grand jury. The reporter’s research on an up-and-coming environmentalist who suddenly disappeared is now even more vital than anticipated.
At first, Casey’s assignment seems routine. But a dangerous attack on the Marshals Office puts everyone on high alert. When Casey and two other Marshals–one a man from her past–are forced on the run with the reporter, they’ll do whatever it takes to protect their witness and make it out alive.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nancy Mehl (www.nancymehl.com) is the author of more than thirty books, including the Road to Kingdom, Finding Sanctuary, and Defenders of Justice series. She received the ACFW Mystery Book of the Year Award in 2009. She has a background in social work and is a member of ACFW and RWA. She writes from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her husband, Norman, and their Puggle, Watson. She is part of The Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com, along with several other popular suspense authors. She is also very active on Facebook.
by admin | Jun 16, 2018 | Books, Colonial America, Historical, Native American, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have been a fan of Michelle Griep’s books since I read Brentwood’s Ward and have attempted to read every other book by her that I can find. I was excited to read her latest, The Captured Bride and I was not disappointed in the least.
Heroine Mercy is the daughter of a Mohawk father and a white mother. Now on her own she functions as a scout for the English because of her natural skill and unusual gifts. The story covers a dangerous assignment in which Mercy accompanies her usual scouting partner and Elias, a condemned traitor escorting a shipment of French gold to a different fort. Along the way, the group face various dangerous situations and begin to wonder if they will be able to complete their mission. Mercy also finds herself undeniably attracted to the one man she is afraid to trust.
I thoroughly enjoyed this action packed novel filled with danger, secrets, betrayal, and a romance that developed naturally without overwhelming the rest of the tale. A few plot twists and surprises along the way served to keep things interesting. It was also gratifying to watch the relationship grow between Elias and Mercy as well as their dependence on the Lord.
I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, particularly that of the early days of America.
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:
Click to purchase
A war-torn countryside is no place for a lady—but Mercy Lytton is a lady like none other. Raised amongst the Mohawks, she straddles two cultures, yet each are united in one cause . . . to defeat the French. Born with a rare gift of unusually keen eyesight, she is chosen as a scout to accompany a team of men on a dangerous mission. Yet it is not her life that is threatened. It is her heart.
Condemned as a traitor, Elias Dubois faces the gallows. At the last minute, he’s offered his freedom if he consents to accompany a stolen shipment of French gold to a nearby fort—but he’s the one they stole it from in the first place. It turns out that the real thief is the beguiling woman, Mercy Lytton, for she steals his every waking thought.
Can love survive divided loyalties in a backcountry wilderness?
Click here to purchase your copy!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the author of historical romances: The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, Undercurrent and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.
GUEST POST FROM MICHELLE:
A Visit to Fort Niagara
Whether you’re a history buff or don’t have a clue what the French and Indian War was about, there’s a destination in upstate New York that’s fun to visit for the whole family . . .
My husband and I made the trek to this living history site last summer. I had no idea what to expect, other than what was advertised as a “reenactment camp.” For those who don’t know, this is when volunteers who adore history come together to present a particular event, such as a battle. These people usually choose a real person from the era upon whom they fashion their modern day persona. They dress, speak, eat and live as that person might have. Here I am with some of my new friends:
Generally around the 4th of July, the 1759 Battle of Fort Niagara is recreated in a 3-day extravaganza of soldiers, muskets, canons and an entire market place to peruse selling period-related items.
Some of the things that surprised me about stepping back into the mid-eighteenth century were:
- How much smoke muskets kick out
- Once the battle begins, it’s hard to see who is your enemy or ally
- Canons are really loud
- Everything wasn’t as black and white as it seems in pictures—gowns and uniforms were very colorful
What makes this event so spectacular is that they take the entire 20 day siege and condense it into 3 days. If you visit every day, you’ll see and experience exactly what happened. You’ll be there to see the British, Colonial regulars and Iroquois allies sneak out of the tree line to shoot at some French soldiers who were pigeon hunting just outside the fort. You’ll hear the war whoops and barrage of angry French epithets roaring on the air. You’ll even get a chance to taste some of their food as you wander around inside the French Encampment set up inside the fort walls.
To experience a bit of the danger, sights and sounds of what Mercy and Elias lived through in The Captured Bride, Fort Niagara really is a fantastic place to visit.
BLOG STOPS:
Vicky Sluiter, June 9
Fiction Aficionado, June 9
Blossoms and Blessings, June 9
A Baker’s Perspective, June 9
History, Mystery & Faith, June 10
Inklings and notions, June 10
Just the Write Escape, June 10
Faithfully Bookish, June 11
The Power of Words, June 11
Genesis 5020, June 11
Bakerkella, June 11
My Writer’s Life, June 12
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, June 12
Luv’N Lambert Life, June 12
Among the Reads, June 13
Book by Book, June 13
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, June 13
Moments Dipped in Ink, June 14
Splashes of Joy, June 14
Artistic Nobody, June 14 (Spotlight)
Bibliophile Reviews, June 14
Pause for Tales, June 15
All-of-a-kind Mom, June 15
Mary Hake, June 15
Bigreadersite, June 15
Connie’s History Classroom, June 16
Simple Harvest Reads, June 16 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
Two Points of Interest, June 16
The Christian Fiction Girl, June 17
Daysong Reflections, June 17
Novels corner, June 17
Kathleen Denly, June 18
A Reader’s Brain, June 18
Remembrancy, June 18
proud to be an autism mom, June 19
Texas Book-aholic, June 19
Christian Author, J.E.Grace, June 19
Reading Is My SuperPower, June 20
Red Headed Book Lady, June 20
Margaret Kazmierczak, June 20
Mommynificent, June 20
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 21
Janices book reviews, June 21
Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 21
With a Joyful Noise, June 22
Pink Granny’s Journey, June 22
Carpe Diem, June 22
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away a grand prize of
a signed copy of The Captured Bride and a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card!!
Click below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d06e/the-captured-bride-celebration-tour-giveaway
