by admin | Mar 22, 2019 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
I have always enjoyed Amanda Cabot’s novels and A Tender Hope was not exception. I read and reviewed the first book of the Cimarron Creek Trilogy and the second volume is still waiting on my TBR stack. I loved both of the ones I’ve read so much I can’t imagine how I’ve resisted the other one so far. Probably because I have a tendency to commit myself to so many reviews that often books I want to read have to wait in line.
The reader will get everything she hoped for and more in this lovely western romance. As is often the case in Cabot’s novels, there might just be more than one romance brewing and of course there will be a touch of comedy and enough danger, suspense, and surprises along the way to keep those pages turning. Wonderful characters including familiar faces from the previous two books and a well-paced plot that includes a non-intrusive message of Christian faith satisfied every expectation I have for a perfect reading experience.
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:
As far as Thea Michener is concerned, it’s time for a change. With her husband murdered and her much-anticipated baby stillborn, there is nothing left for her in Ladreville. Having accepted a position as Cimarron Creek’s midwife, she has no intention of remarrying. So when a handsome Texas Ranger appears on her doorstep with an abandoned baby, Thea isn’t sure her heart can take it.
Ranger Jackson Guthrie isn’t concerned only with the baby’s welfare. He’s been looking for Thea, convinced that her late husband was part of the gang that killed his brother. But it soon becomes clear that the situation is far more complicated than he anticipated–and he’ll need Thea’s help if he’s ever to find the justice he seeks.
Read an excerpt HERE.
Purchase a copy HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo by: Val Rothwell Photography
Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of A Stolen Heart and A Borrowed Dream, as well as the Texas Crossroads, Texas Dreams, and Westward Winds series. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers’ Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at www.amandacabot.com.
by admin | Mar 2, 2019 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
You can always expect an action-packed, faith-filled, romantic, and humorous story when they open any novel by Mary Connealy and The Unexpected Champion is no exception. In this wonderful conclusion to the Sierra Sweethearts series, readers encounter one surprising twist after another, including a kidnapping and harrowing escape, a forced marriage, and a massive wall enclosing a mansion in the wilderness.
The unlikely pair of John McCall and Penny Scott are opposites in almost every way. Penny’s expertise in necessary wilderness skills and her habit of dressing accordingly are a puzzle to city bred detective John whose attire is not exactly geared to his current situation – and that is just the beginning of their differences. Of course anyone who reads novels by Mary Connealy on a regular basis knows exactly how that will end up. A truly evil villain keeps the pair on their toes as they (and their friends) attempt to bring him to justice.
I loved everything about this book. The pacing was perfect and the subtle humor and romantic vignettes offered a welcome break from the escalating danger and suspense. Every aspect of the story was woven together with the skill that keeps this author near the top of my must read list.
If you have not experienced a Mary Connealy novel, The Unexpected Champion might be a great place to start but I personally suggest reading the entire series in order for the greatest enjoyment.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
They’re as Different as Could Be.
But They’ll Need to Trust Each Other to Survive
the Wilderness . . . and the Dangers Chasing Them.
City dweller John McCall never expected to be out in the High Sierras of 1868 on a wild-goose chase to find the Chiltons’ supposedly lost grandson. But now that he’s out here, things have gotten even more complicated, mostly due to wildcat Penny Scott. She’s not like any woman he’s ever met–comfortable in the woods, with a horse, and with a gun.
When Penny and John are taken against their will by a shadowy figure looking for evidence they don’t have, both realize they’ve stumbled into something dangerous. With their friends and family desperately searching for them, Penny and John must make a daring escape.
When they emerge back into the real world, they discover their kidnapper just won’t stop. This city man and country woman must bring a powerful, ruthless man to justice, all while fighting a very inconvenient attraction to each other.
Read an excerpt here.
Purchase a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo courtesy of Ginger Murray Photography
Mary Connealy 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. Learn more at www.maryconnealy.com.
by admin | Mar 2, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Montana, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
Just when I thought Susan May Warren’s heroes could not be topped, lo and behold she gives her readers Knox Marshall. I have always had a weakness for cowboys – probably because of all the westerns I watched with my Dad as a child. Two of my favorite TV series in my teens were Stoney Burke and Wild Country, shows that only older readers may remember had rodeo settings. Needless to say, Knox was exactly my cup of tea.
The book literally started off with a bang within the first few chapters and the drama, action, danger, and romance just escalated from that point on. I loved the characters. Knox was a somewhat brooding guy, responsible to the nth degree and with a protective streak a mile wide yet he was secretly resentful because he was left to take care of the family ranch while his brothers followed and achieved their dreams. Kelsey was a gorgeous singer in a popular girl band who mostly entertained at rodeos but she was haunted by her past and running from it as fast as she could, hoping it didn’t catch up to her. Then there was Tate, another of the Marshall brothers who will star in his own book soon. I loved getting to know him along with Knox and can’t wait to find out how their stories continue.
As is customary with any book by this author, I devoured it quickly and was disappointed to see it end much too soon. Needless to say I eagerly await Tate’s story.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Montana rancher Knox Marshall’s danger years are behind him. A former bull-rider, he now runs the Marshall family ranch, raising champion bucking bulls for the National Professional Bullrider’s Expo (NBR-X). Wealth and success are his, but life is stable, expected, and…ordinary. He can’t help but wonder if his best years are behind him.
Kelsey Jones just wants a safe life, a family, a home. Onstage, the beautiful rising star of the Yankee Belles becomes the person she longs to be – vivacious and confident – burying the brokenness she carries from a violent assault. Becoming NBR-X’s next country act is key to outrunning her past and achieving the success and security she craves.
Knox and Kelsey’s paths collide when an explosion at an NBR-X event traps them in the rubble and leaves them reeling. Kelsey’s crippling nightmares return, but for Knox, an obsession to find the bomber is ignited.
When Kelsey’s past threatens Knox’s family, he’ll have to choose between saving the Marshall legacy or becoming the protector he’s always longed to be.
The explosive beginning to the Montana Marshall series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Susan May Warren is the USA Today best-selling, Christy and RITA award-winning novelist of over 65 novels. An eight-time Christy award finalist, a three-time RITA finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.
A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: The Story Equation.
by admin | Jan 11, 2019 | Books, Historical, Native American, Romance, Western, Western Fort
MY REVIEW:
I thoroughly enjoyed The Lieutenant’s Bargain, the charming second installment in Regina Jennings’ Fort Reno Series. The story started quickly with the stage that is supposed to deliver Hattie Walker safely to Denver robbed and leaving everyone but Hattie dead. Rescued by Indians, then rescued again by someone from her past, Hattie is not at all happy with how her life is going. Determined to find her way to Denver before it is too late to enter a painting in an exhibition, she chafes at being confined to Fort Reno but agrees to a bargain with Lieutenant Hennessey. She can’t wait to leave but will he manage to change her mind?
With a balanced blend of light-hearted moments, historical facts, a bit of action, danger, and mystery, plus the expected romance, The Lieutenant’s Bargain was everything I hoped it would be. It was fun to witness the spiritual and personal growth of both Hattie and Jack. The author’s vivid imagery almost made me feel as if I were there experiencing everything along with Hattie. I loved touching base again with Daniel and Louisia from the first book of the series, Holding the Fort and learning how their life together was going. Reading this book was such fun but it also gave me food for thought about how we view others.
The Lieutenant’s Bargain is a must read if you enjoy your history mixed with a touch of faith, romance, and humor. I can’t wait for the next book in the series and am hoping it features Louisa’s brother
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author and Bethany House. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She Was Supposed to Be Gaining Independence.
What She Found Was Even Better . . .
Hattie Walker dreams of becoming a painter, but her parents want her to settle down. As a compromise, they give her two months to go to Denver and place her works in an exhibition. Her journey is derailed when a gunman attacks her stagecoach, leaving her to be rescued by a group of Arapaho . . . but she’s too terrified to recognize them as friendly.
Confirmed bachelor Lieutenant Jack Hennessey has long worked with the tribe and is tasked with trying to convince them that the mission school at Fort Reno can help their children. When a message arrives about a recovered survivor, Jack heads out to retrieve her–and plead his case with the chief once more.
He’s stunned to run into Hattie Walker, the girl who shattered his heart years ago, but quickly realizes he has a chance to impress her. When his plan gets tangled through translation, Jack and Hattie end up in a mess that puts her dreams in peril and threatens to destroy his life’s work.
Read an excerpt here.
Purchase a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a minor in history. She’s the winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, a two-time Golden Quill finalist and a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award. Regina has worked at the Mustang News and at First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.
by admin | Nov 12, 2018 | Books, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
For the most part I enjoyed The Kitchen Marriage. The plot was a unique take on the mail order bride theme with a bride who was mistakenly led to believe she was answering an ad for a position as a chef. The fact that the intended groom had a twin brother who was antagonistic toward the bride made the story even more interesting, especially when the plot took an unexpected twist or two.
Characters were well-rounded and interesting although Zoe’s accent was sometimes distracting. I would have liked to see Isaak’s character developed more but enjoyed seeing the changes in Jakob as the story progressed. The bit of mystery was a nice touch but could have been developed further to make the story even better.
I did enjoy this story and would not mind reading more by these authors.
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:
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Book: The Kitchen Marriage
Author: Gina Welborn & Beccan Whitham
Publisher: Kensington Publishers
Genre: Inspirational romance/Historical America set in the old west
Release Date: September 25, 2018
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A bright future awaits the women of courage and faith who boldly chase their dreams across the wide-open Montana Territory, prepared to embrace adventure and forge their own destinies . . .
When French immigrant Zoe de Fleur is forced out of her position as household cook for a high society New Yorker, the pretty and talented chef seizes an unexpected chance to head west for a new beginning. She pursues what she thinks is a prestigious job in the frontier’s “finest kitchen,” but instead finds herself in a matchmaker’s agency . . .
Isaak Gunderson is one of Helena, Montana’s most eligible bachelors, but he’s too focused on running for mayor and his family’s business to think about a wife and family. His twin brother, Jakob, is supposed to be too busy as well, yet sends for a mail-order bride anyway. Isaak doesn’t want to fuel an ongoing rivalry with his twin, but this tempting newcomer can’t be ignored. If only she’d come to Helena a different way and loving her wasn’t a betrayal . . .
Click here to purchase your copy!
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
GINA WELBORN is the bestselling author of sixteen inspirational romances. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers, and serves on the ACFW Foundation Board. Sharing her husband’s passion for the premier American sports car, she is a lifetime member of the National Corvette Museum and a founding member of the Southwest Oklahoma Corvette Club. Gina lives with her husband, three of their five children, several rabbits and guinea pigs, and a dog that doesn’t realize rabbits and pigs are edible. Visit her online at GinaWelborn.com.
BECCA WHITHAM (WIT-um) Multi-published author, paper crafter, and Chai tea lover, Becca and her twelve-foot-long craft cabinet follow her husband of more than thirty years to wherever the army currently needs a chaplain. In between moves from one part of the country to the other, she writes stories of faith that touch the heart. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a Genesis Contest finalist. Connect with her online at BeccaWhitham.com.
GUEST POST FROM GINA AND BECCA:
Dear Reader,
What’s better than fulfilling a dream? Why…taking the journey with a friend, of course. And we have the army to thank for it. Gina, whose father spent most of his army career at Fort Sill, had just moved back to Lawton, Oklahoma when Becca’s husband received orders to Sill. We were both looking for friendship and found a kindred spirit.
When we first conceived the Montana Brides series over Frappuccinos (Gina) and Chai Tea Lattes (Becca) at our local Starbucks, we set out to make our make our mail-order bride stories different.
The first thing we decided on was setting our series in Helena, Montana because, in 1888, the city boasted the most millionaires per capita in the United States. We liked the idea of a former mining town grown into a cultured city and that it wasn’t the usual isolated ranch setting for a Western.
We also wanted to create stories of mail-order bride romances gone wrong. In fact, our original series title was Mail (Dis) Order Brides. We brainstormed all the ways a mail-order bride story could go sideways and settled on our top three: a widow before a wife; two brothers, one bride; and a deceitful—though well-meaning—matchmaker. The Kitchen Marriage is the second book in this series and puts our heroine, Zoe de Fleur, between twin brothers, Isaak and Jakob Gunderson. Like our first bride, Emilia Stanek (The Promise Bride), Zoe shows up in town knowing no one. Does that sound familiar? As a former military kid and current military wife, we are very familiar with needing to start over, forge new friendships, and make strangers into family.
Thank you for taking a journey into the past with us. We pray you find our stories filled with hope, humor, and happily-ever-afters.
Sincerely,
Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham
BLOG STOPS:
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Genesis 5020, November 1
Christian Centered book Reviews, November 1
Carpe Diem, November 1
Cultivating Us, November 2
Remembrancy, November 2
Inklings and Notions, November 3
The Becca Files, November 3
Stories By Gina, November 4
A Baker’s Perspective, November 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 5
Texas Book-aholic, November 5
KarenSueHadley, November 6
Luv’N Lambert Life, November 6
Maureen’s Musings, November 6
cherylbbookblog, November 7
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 7
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 7
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SusanLovesBooks, November 8
Book by Book, November 8
Janices book reviews, November 8
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 9
Have A Wonderful Day, November 9
A Rup Life, November 10
Baker Kella, November 10
Bibliophile Reviews, November 11
Black ‘n’ Gold Girl’s Book Spot, November 11
Britt Reads Fiction, November 12
Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 12
Bigreadersite, November 12
Daysong Reflections, November 13
Vicky Sluiter, November 13
Singing Librarian Books, November 14
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 14
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GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her their tour, Gina and Becca are giving away a copy of The Kitchen Marriage to ten lucky winners!!
Be sure to comment of the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/d772/the-kitchen-marriage-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Oct 7, 2018 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
After agreeing to review A Contradiction to His Pride I decided to purchase a copy of Leaving Independence to read first. I enjoyed it but have not managed to fit a review into my schedule. I wish I could make myself write one for every book I read but obviously I enjoy reading more than reviewing. I finally got around to reading A Contradiction to His Pride and found it even more exciting than the previous novel.
I did have a bit of a problem at first with the age difference of James and Corrine but his behavior was always proper and respectful toward her as is fitting in a Christian novel. By the time the story got into full swing, that was no longer an issue. I was too busy keeping up with all the danger and action that was taking place. It seemed that the characters went from one dangerous situation to another. And what characters they are! Corrine, Harry and Tam Sims trying to catch up with James and Charlie to warn them about the outlaw determined to kill James, each of them a picture of bravery in their own right. Then several others get involved and the plot gets more twisted by the minute leading up to a major showdown near the end.
So this may be considered a Christian romance novel but it rivals any of the shoot-em-up westerns I watched with my dad as a child. I think it would be perfect for a movie. Anyone who enjoys Christian western novels should pick up a copy of A Contradiction to His Pride as well as Leaving Independence. I would love to see more novels in this vein.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
From the moment James met Corrine as they traveled the Oregon Trail, in Smith’s best-selling debut novel Leaving Independence, he couldn’t resist trying to win the sharp-mouthed beauty’s affections.
Now, as the core group of pioneers in Colonel Dotson’s wagon train begins to settle in Baker City, Oregon and build homesteads, James is restless to make his fortune so he can stake his own claim and win Corrine’s hand with honor.
But when James takes Corrine on an outing designed to impress her, things go tragically wrong. James foils a bank robbery and unwittingly sets a series of events into motion that shatter Corrine’s heart and now threaten her life, along with his and her older brother Charlie’s.
Soon there are several folks heading back down the trail–James, Charlie, Corrine, Harry and Tam Sims, the Baker City Sheriff, a newspaperman, a notorious criminal family, and Hoke Mathews–all set to collide in a final showdown in a Colorado mining town as outlaw Duke Walden seeks to make James pay for his heroic actions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Leanne W. Smith is a writer and professor. Her books include Leaving Independence, On a Dark & Snowy Night (short story), and A Contradiction to His Pride. She also teaches business courses at a university in Nashville. Smith and her husband have two creative daughters and a son-in-law who make the world a more beautiful place through their art, design, photography, singing, songwriting and mandolin-playing.
WEBSITE: leannewsmith.com
BLOG: leannewsmith.com/blog
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_INmFNwsmI
