by admin | Feb 16, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“The Red Door Inn” was a captivating novel with such a special setting and characters that I immediately wanted to move to Prince Edward Island (or at least visit). I especially liked the way Johnson revealed background information about each character little-by-little so that even the reader was kept in the dark along with the other characters.
I loved Marie, Seth, and Jack from the start even in their woundedness and lack of trust toward others. Jack’s determination to fulfill his deceased wife’s dream of opening an inn on PEI and his habit of taking in strays of the human species endeared him to me. Seth’s protectiveness toward his uncle earned him extra points. And Marie – her resolve to succeed due to her own efforts rather than becoming what someone else expected played a huge role in the story. Her generosity and caring spirit were especially significant once I learned her true background.
Then there was the love story. Despite their initial distrust of each other, there was a spark that grew between Marie and Seth that could not be denied. Unfortunately, past events and betrayals kept their suspicions on alert and very nearly kept them apart.
Oh, how can I tell you how much I enjoyed this book without major spoilers? I just loved the way I could see the Lord’s hand in the way He brought everything together in its perfect timing for each person involved and how He knit three unlikely people together as a family. I cannot wait for the next book. I hope the wait it not too long!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Marie Carrington is running from a host of bad memories. Broke and desperate, she’s hoping to find safety and sanctuary on Prince Edward Island, where she reluctantly agrees to help decorate a renovated bed-and-breakfast before it opens for prime tourist season.
Seth Sloane didn’t move three thousand miles to work on his uncle’s B&B so he could babysit a woman with a taste for expensive antiques and a bewildering habit of jumping every time he brushes past her. He came to help restore the old Victorian–and to forget about the fiancée who broke his heart.
The only thing Marie and Seth agree on is that getting the Red Door Inn ready to open in just a couple months will take everything they’ve got. Can these two wounded souls find hope, healing, and perhaps a bit of romance on this beautiful island?
Step into the Red Door Inn, a lovely home away from home tucked along the fabled north shore of Prince Edward Island. It’s a place where the wounded come to heal, the broken find forgiveness, and the lonely find a family. Won’t you stay for the season?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
By day Liz Johnson is a marketing manager. She makes time to write late at night—that’s when she thinks best anyway. Liz is the author of seven novels, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She’s also a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. She makes her home in Nashville, where she enjoys exploring local music, theater, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her nieces and nephews. She writes stories of true love filled with heart, humor, and happily ever afters.
by admin | Feb 15, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
Another trip to the Four of Hearts Ranch – what could be more fun! I have so enjoyed this entire series and was so ready to read Jarrod’s own story. I was not disappointed but I am sorry it’s over. I wouldn’t mind another trip or two back to Wishing Springs.
Jarrod attempted to convince himself and everyone else that he was just too busy for romance but to tell the truth, he just hadn’t found a suitable replacement for the gal he walked away from years ago and pretty much regretted ever since. So when Cassidy returns to Wishing Springs, the only place she has ever been truly happy, after an ugly divorce, Jarrod begins to think that just maybe he might have a second chance to make things right. Unfortunately Cassidy has different ideas. She has big plans for her aunt’s farm and absolutely no plans to get involved with another man. After all, two mistakes is quite enough. Well as everyone who has ever read a romance novel knows, these two will end up together. How that happens is the rest of the story.
Clopton’s writing style is so easy to read. She makes me feel right at home with her characters so I usually just settle in and read until the book is finished and the rest of the world disappears for awhile. I was right there in Wishing Springs, Texas witnessing Jarrod’s determined pursuit of Cassidy even as she shut him down again and again. Naturally I had to cheer him on because he was just the right man for her and he kind of needed her too. They both had a bit of old baggage they needed to leave behind and just maybe they could help each other. It was fun witnessing their story as it played out.
I loved “Kissed by a Cowboy” and the chance to visit with some familiar faces from Wishing Springs. I heartily recommend it to those like me who cannot resist a book with cowboys.
Copies of this book were provided for review by LitFuse Publicity and the Fiction Guild.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Cassidy was looking for a home and a place to belong . . . not for a cowboy to steal her heart.
Having lived through her parents’ endless string of “matrimonial bliss gone wrong,” Cassidy Starr knows when the odds are not in her favor. Divorced and humiliated, her faith on rocky ground, Cassidy is through with love. She’s been bucked off that horse far too many times. Instead, she returns to Wishing Springs, Texas, and the rundown farm she’s inherited from her great aunt Roxie. She’ll reopen the strawberry farm and a bed & breakfast and follow in her aunt’s footsteps, remaining forever-independent, happy . . . and single.
Rancher Jarrod Monahan’s hands are full running the ranch, looking after his ailing grandfather, and chasing down a group of rustlers on the loose. He’s pushed his longing for a family to the bottom of his list of priorities. Besides, he was in love once but ran scared and lost his shot at happiness. But suddenly, the biggest regret of his life has moved in next door with a wounded heart, determined to become a spinster . . . and that’s a challenge that Jarrod can’t pass up.
Jarrod sets his mind to breaking down the walls around Cassidy’s stubborn heart. How can he show her that a cowboy’s kiss lasts forever? For the good folks of Wishing Springs, falling in love has never been so much fun to witness.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Debra Clopton is a multi-award winning novelist and has written more than 22 novels. Along with writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church. Debra’s goal is to shine a light toward God while she entertains readers with her words.
Find out more about Debra at http://debraclopton.com.
by admin | Feb 15, 2016 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I always enjoy a historical novel that includes mystery and suspense as part of its story line. Debbie Lynne Costello has provided just that in the first book of her Charleston Earthquake Series, “Shattered Memories”. Most of the story takes place during the aftermath of the Charleston earthquake of August, 1886.
Doctor Andrew Warwick and Olivia Macqueen are the primary characters and the story is told from both points of view. Prior to the earthquake, Drew and Olivia were close to being engaged but injuries sustained during the quake left Olivia with memory loss of events of the past year. To further complicate matters, she believes she is still engaged to another man who may not be the upstanding person Olivia thinks he is.
“Shattered Memories” is a page-turner with plenty of romance and mystery to keep me reading. Unique twists and surprises added to the well-paced plot and I was sorry to reach the end. Details about what took place during and after the quake seemed to be very well researched and enhanced the already good story. A strong message about turning your problems over to the Lord was also appreciated.
My first book by this author, “Shattered Memories” certainly will not be my last one. I recommend it to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction.
A copy of this book was provided for review by Celebrate Lit Publicity Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Charleston earthquake has left destruction like nothing Doctor Andrew Warwick has ever seen. On a desperate mission to find the lady who owns his heart, he frantically searches through the rubble. He finds her injured and lifeless. After she regains consciousness, the doctor’s hopes are quickly dashed as he realizes she doesn’t remember him. Things only get worse when he discovers she believes she’s still engaged to the abusive scoundrel, Lloyd Pratt. Now Drew is on a race with the wedding clock to either help her remember or win her heart again before she marries the wrong man.
Waking in a makeshift hospital, Olivia Macqueen finds herself recovering from a head injury. With amnesia stealing a year of her memories, she has trouble discerning between lies and truth. When her memories start returning in bits and pieces, she must keep up the charade of amnesia until she can find out the truth behind the embezzlement of her family’s business while evading the danger lurking around her.
See what other bloggers think about SHATTERED MEMORIES.
Purchase a copy of “Shattered Memories” on AMAZON.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Debbie Lynne Costello is the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller Sword of Forgiveness, a medieval romance. She has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina where she has worked in many capacities in her church and is currently the Children’s Director. When not spending time with her husband, four children and grandchildren she hangs out with her Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses.
by admin | Feb 3, 2016 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a novel coauthored by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse. There is so much difference in their usual styles. After reading “Beyond the Silence” I can sincerely state that these two authors work very well together. With Peterson’s long acknowledged expertise with historical novels and Woodhouse’s obvious skill at suspense, this novel kept me spellbound until its conclusion.
The characters in “Beyond the Silence” were excellent. Even the bad guy was well defined. I liked everything about Lillian – her determination, her feistiness, and zest for live, but I especially liked her ability to see people for who they really were and her acceptance of those much different from herself. Her loyalty and compassion were other positive traits I admired. Even young Jimmy’s personality came through despite his lack of conversation.
The plot was suspense filled with a coldly evil villain who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. The townspeople and local sheriff too easily believed the worst of Woody Colton which allowed this man to get away with murder and other crimes much too long. With a strong spiritual theme, the story addressed such subjects as gossip and forgiveness.
I loved “Beyond the Silence” and hope to see more books by this well-matched writing team. This book is well worth the time.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The shadows over this olive grove hide more than just the truth.
Lillian Porter has always wanted to fulfill her mother’s dream of going west, so when she hears about a nanny position in Angels Camp, California, she defies her grandfather and takes a chance on a new future. But she quickly wonders if she made the right choice. Murky rumors swirl around Woodward Colton, her new employer, but the gossip doesn’t match the man Lillian comes to know.
Still, something dark did happen in the family’s past. Lillian’s seven-year-old charge hasn’t spoken in over a year. Gently, Lillian tries to coax him out of his shell, hoping he’ll one day feel safe enough to share what scared him. But the Colton olive farm is no longer a safe place. Lillian encounters suspicious characters on their land and mysterious damage done to the farm. When the housekeeper is brutally attacked, the town once again suspects the worst. Will discovering the truth help Lillian clear the name of the man she has come to love–or will it endanger her even more?
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
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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 Montana.
Find out more about Tracie Peterson at http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/bethanyhouse. |
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Kimberley Woodhouse is a multi-published author of fiction and nonfiction. A popular speaker/teacher, she’s shared her theme of Joy Through Trials with over 150,000 people at more than a thousand venues across the country. She lives, writes, and home schools with her husband of twenty-plus years and their two awesome teens live in Colorado. |
by admin | Feb 3, 2016 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Although Amish fiction is not my favorite genre, I know I can always depend on a good read when I pick up one of Shelley Shepard Gray’s novels. She has a unique approach that probes the depths of human emotions and brings her characters to life. I find it easy to empathize with each of them because their life situations are familiar despite the difference in culture.
“A Son’s Vow” takes place during a time frame following a devastating fire that killed several men of the community. Although no evidence proved him responsible, Darla’s father was blamed for the accident by many residents. With so many affected by the fire, relationships have been strained, even those between once close friends like Darla’s friend Lukas. Darla spends her days attempting to take care of her brothers and sisters in the absence of her parents and Lukas finds himself responsible for the mill since his father’s death. With so much responsibility and so many changes in their lives, can their friendship survive?
In this novel, Gray touches on the subjects of anger and domestic abuse which are not something most would associate with the Amish. The author illustrated how grief, anger, and stress can drive a person to do things he regrets and is ashamed of, yet cannot seem to stop. I particularly liked how the guilty party was brought to repentance and restoration through the loving and forgiving approach taken by those who confronted him.
I thoroughly enjoyed “A Son’s Vow” and liked how the title was tied into the story near its end. If this book is any indication, The Charmed Amish Life series promises to be a good one.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Three months ago, everything changed for Darla Kurtz and her family.
Darla’s father was responsible for a terrible fire at Charm’s lumber mill which killed five Amish men. And though he, too, lost his life, the town of Charm hasn’t looked at her family the same since. Even Lukas Kinsinger—with whom Darla used to have a close friendship.
Now her brother’s anger at the town is spilling over onto Darla, and she has the bruises to prove it. The accident already cost five lives, but if something doesn’t change soon, Darla fears it will cost her—and her family—even more.
Lukas Kinsinger wants to mourn the loss of his father, but he can hardly find the time to breathe. Suddenly the head of his father’s lumber mill and responsible for taking care of his three siblings, he’s feeling the pressure. He has also never felt more alone—especially with the new tension between he and Darla. But when he learns of her troubles at home, Lukas knows he can’t simply stand by and watch. Someone has to help her before another tragedy occurs.
As Lukas and Darla attempt to repair their families, they discover something deeper than friendship growing between them. But will Lukas and Darla’s love be accepted after so much loss? Or will the pain of the past overcome any chance of future happiness?
Shelley Shepard Gray’s first book in her Charmed Amish Life series is set in the quaint Amish village of Charm, Ohio, and tells the stories of the Kinsinger siblings who are each struggling to find both forgiveness and love in the face of tragedy.
Learn more and purchase a copy of A Son’s Vow.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.
Find out more about Shelley at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.
Enter to win a copy of A Son’s Vow—five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced February 11 on Shelley’s blog!
by admin | Jan 29, 2016 | Books, Historical, Michigan, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I always find it interesting to read a sequel to a book I previously read that features a character I did not particularly like in the other book. I feel certain that it is because that character is seen through the eyes of the primary character of the other book and usually has some negative interaction of some sort with that character. Tessa Taylor is one such character. She caused untold grief for her sister Caroline in “Hearts Made Whole” and I did not expect to like her as much as I did in “Undaunted Hope”.
I was reminded of a sermon I once heard about how the vows and judgements we make sometimes come back to haunt us. Tessa has taken a job as schoolteacher in Eagle Harbor, Michigan because she is determined to keep as far away from a lighthouse as she possibly can. So what does she quickly encounter? Two brothers who are lighthouse keepers and two adorable children who desperately want Tessa to be their new mother. Naturally she finds herself embroiled in their lives and spending more time than intended at the lighthouse. Then there is Percival Updegraff, the man who seems to run the town. Because Tessa refuses his advances, he takes it upon himself to punish her by hurting those she cares about. At times it looks as if the town itself cannot possibly survive the long winter. I liked the Tessa in this book much better than in “Hearts Made Whole”. She has definitely matured and regrets the bad choices she made. Her true caring nature is revealed through the sacrifices she makes for others throughout the story.
The plot moved along at a steady pace with plenty of action, drama, romance, and even a touch of humor. As always, this author’s characters are well-rounded and realistic. I particularly liked Tessa and hero Alex. Even Percival was well-developed. I enjoyed each book in this series and look forward to Jody Hedlund’s next book. I hope it will be soon!
This book was provided for review by
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
1871
Eagle Harbor, Michigan
In a Town Mired in Darkness,
She May Shine the Light They Need
Running from the mistakes of her past, Tessa Taylor heads to the uppermost reaches of Michigan, planning to serve as the new teacher to the children of miners. She quickly learns the town had requested a male teacher, but Percival Updegraff, superintendent and chief mine clerk, says she can stay through winter since it’s too late to replace her. Tessa can’t help but thank him and say she is in his debt.
Determined to make herself irreplaceable once spring thaw arrives, Tessa throws herself into her work, and soon two students have decided Miss Taylor is the right match for their grieving father. At the same time, charming assistant lightkeeper Alex Bjorklund makes his interest known, surprising Tessa, who has never had men fight for her hand before. But not all is well as she feels that someone is tracking her every move, and she may not be able to escape the trap that has been laid for her.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jody Hedlund is the author of over a dozen novels, including Love Unexpected, Captured by Love, Unending Devotion, The Preacher’s Bride, and A Noble Groom, winner of the 2014 Carol Award for historical romance. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in social work. She lives in Michigan with her husband and five children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog at www.jodyhedlund.com.
