Contemporary Fiction | Daysong Reflections

Molly by Sarah Monzon

by admin | Sep 28, 2020 | Books, Chick Lit, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

MY REVIEW:

Molly grabbed my attention in the very first chapter when she lost her job because she was too honest. How can a person be too honest? Isn’t that supposed to be a trait we all strive toward? As I walked beside her through the pages of this totally fun and fantastic tale it quickly became evident that Molly’s problem was not exactly honesty but the wisdom in knowing how much to say and when to say it.

Honestly though, I thoroughly enjoyed all of Molly’s exploits as she went from a job as a preschool teacher to one as a nanny to one child of a widower who was also working through his hospital residency. Molly and Ben’s story was sweet, funny, and romantic. It was delightful witnessing the growth of their relationship with all its ups and downs. Both characters were easy to love, especially Molly with her tender heart and Ben as a father determined to take care of his little girl no matter what it took.

Molly was a welcome ray of sunshine during this season of uncertainty in our world. I hope others will find it as much of an escape as I did.

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I absolutely refuse to tell a lie no matter the consequences. So don’t ask me a direct question unless you’re prepared for a direct answer—that’s something my SoCal sewing girlfriends have learned the hard way.But who would have thought my honesty policy would get me fired from my job at the preschool? Or that a desperate—and not to mention devastatingly handsome—single father of one of my (now-former) students would hire me that same day as a nanny for his daughter?I’m an education professional. How hard can taking care of a four-year-old and her over-stressed, over-worked father be?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Carol award finalist and Selah award winner, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain’s wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.

Until I Met You

by admin | Sep 24, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

MY REVIEW:

I happen to love series featuring small town life so the Restoring Heritage series by Tari Faris has been a welcome addition to my library. Until I Met You is the second full-length novel in the series and continues the narrative about the small town of Heritage and the multiple restoration projects that hope to bring new life to the area.

Librarian Libby Kingsley and landscaper Austin Williams are both newcomers to Heritage and their first encounter does not endear them to each other. Austin just wants to finish the landscaping for the new town square that could help rescue the failing family business. No matter how good his intentions might be, his brother Nate always seems to fall short and Austin has had enough. Coming from a large, well-equipped city library, Libby is disappointed to find and out-dated, dusty basement library is her new place of employment. She quickly comes up with a brilliant plan for a new library and Austin is reluctantly pulled into the project.

With its well-developed plot and delightful characters, Until I Met You moves along at a steady pace and includes a strong theme of forgiveness, grace, and mercy. There is a hint of more than one romance and of course the mysterious hippo is up to his old tricks. Familiar characters from the previous books are a welcome addition.

I enjoyed Until I Met You and hope other readers will take a chance on it.

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:

Welcome back to Heritage, Michigan–the small town with a big heart

When she hears that the town of Heritage is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a basement room stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.

All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished, and he hopes it is enough to save the family business. Then he can extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town’s new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints–and possibly even his heart?

Read an excerpt HERE.

Purchase a copy HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tari Faris is the author of You Belong with Me. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy, she is the projects manager for My Book Therapy, writes for learnhowtowriteanovel.com, and is a 2017 Genesis Award winner. She has an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary and lives in the Phoenix, Arizona, area with her husband and their three children. Although she lives in the Southwest now, she lived in a small town in Michigan for 25 years.

The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson

by admin | Sep 22, 2020 | Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

MY REVIEW:

Once again I have to say, “it just wouldn’t be Christmas without the latest Novella by Melody Carlson”. I have been reading them for ten years or more and always look forward to them. The Christmas Swap is her offering for the year 2020. Thankfully, the actual events of this year did not show up in the book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this light-hearted romance featuring a Christmas house-swapping. Unfortunately it was a done deal when songwriter West Prescott learned that his step-father had swapped his house for the holidays. When circumstances arise that force West to return to his home, he decides to sleep in his studio until the guests leave. Of course one of the guests attracts his attention but one complication after another makes things difficult for West to connect with what could be the woman of his dreams.

The Christmas Swap moves along at a steady pace and can easily be read in one sitting for a reader like me. Characterization is well developed and I found it easy to relate to them all, especially Emma and West. One character in particular caused some problems but even she was not deliberately divisive or mean. Overall this book is a feel-good story that is perfect for a relaxing evening as the holidays approach.

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:

All Emma Daley wants this holiday season is a white Christmas. But the young teacher and struggling musician sure can’t find that in sunny Arizona. Luckily, there’s someone living in a perfect mountain home in the Colorado Rockies looking to make a vacation trade.

West Prescott is an in-demand songwriter and talented musician who put his own singing career on hold to write songs for celebrity acts to perform. When his mother convinces him to do a vacation trade for Christmas, he never imagined one of the houseguests would be so sweet–or so strikingly pretty. Naturally, he decides to stick around, and to get better acquainted, he poses as the caretaker of his own house. But when Emma’s friend Gillian discovers his true identity and sets her sights on him, things get . . . messy.

Read an excerpt HERE.

Purchase a copy HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over 200 books with sales of more than 7 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.

The Bird and the Bees by Neena Gaynor

by admin | Sep 16, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for The Bird and the Bees by Neena Gaynor, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

MY REVIEW:

In many ways Larkin Maybie was a lost soul. She certainly had made more than her share of bad decisions in her short life. When her mother’s death leaves her finances pretty much depleted and one more poor choice causes regrets, Larkin jumps on road to claim the mysterious inheritance she has just learned about. When she arrives at Presque Isle, she is surprised to learn exactly what she has inherited and the conditions required to claim it. With very little money and no transportation, Larkin is forced to accept help from members of the community including a very determined baseball player, Ketch Devine.

I have to say that for awhile I was unsure if I was reading Christian fiction. Larkin’s lifestyle definitely did not meet the criteria. But with every page I turned, her story clearly illustrated the path the Lord was guiding her down through her brokenness and with the help of divine appointments along the way. I definitely don’t think Ketch’s last name was an accident. I loved how he helped Larkin to see herself through not only his eyes but the Lord’s also.

The story was beautifully rendered with vivid imagery and a tender touch. The ending was quite satisfying and worth every trial and temptation that Larkin experienced.

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: The Bird and the Bees
Author: Neena Gaynor
Publisher: Mantle Rock Publishing
Release Date: April 21, 2020
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

When Larkin Maybie buries her mother in the foothills of Appalachia, she is left all alone. Her only inheritance? A crazy aunt, a mountain of debt, and a run-down, secluded cabin left by a mysterious benefactor. While Larkin thinks an escape to a cabin miles from anything familiar might be exactly what she needs, the quick answer to her problems only leaves her with more questions… Questions concerning her true identity.

As Larkin searches for her link to the Lewandowski Estate, she begins to accept the kindness of strangers on Presque Isle and the affection of professional baseball player, Ketch Devine. Charged with caring for the cabin’s honey bees and haunted by past choices, Larkin struggles to move forward in a new direction and is running out of time. With summer and baseball season coming to an end, she must decide: what is the value of true love?

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

When not chasing after her two joyful little boys, Neena Gaynor enjoys beekeeping, a good cup of coffee, and writing.

She’s spent much of the last decade traveling with her husband, Wade, a former professional baseball player. Throughout the 29 changes of address and the stresses of moving a young family, Neena has learned to embrace the peace that only comes from the steady accompaniment of Christ.

CONNECT WITH NEENA: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

TOUR GIVEAWAY:

(1) winner will receive a $15 Chick-fil-A gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight September 15, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on September 22, 2020. 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.

Tethered by Eleanor Bertin

by admin | Sep 11, 2020 | Books, Canada, Contemporary Fiction

MY REVIEW:

Tethered is a beautifully written story about finding oneself as well as discovering one’s family roots and making peace with the past. As I read many of the characters and their history seemed quite familiar to me. Took me awhile but I realized that many of them played a major role in an earlier book by this author that I reviewed, Unbound. Once I remembered that, this book took on even more depth to me as I began to connect the dots between characters and situations.

I loved the sense of family and community portrayed in this novel. Although a virtual stranger to everyone in town, Jacqui was accepted and ministered to by so many of them despite her frequent mishaps and mess ups. One hurting man in particular helped her out again and again. The path to his healing and Jaqui’s road to the truth intersected, then reached the same destination.

What a special story with a strong theme of redemption woven through it! I would highly recommend it to those who love a good contemporary romance without all the fluff.

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:

Perfectionistic librarian Jacqui Penn is ripped up by the roots when she’s dumped by her longtime boyfriend. Rootless and on the run, she is drawn two thousand miles west across Canada to the last place she ever thought could offer stability—the old homestead where her father grew up.Renovating the derelict house soon becomes a personal battle as it stubbornly resists her efforts. While Jacqui struggles to renew the home, she spends time with the family Pops bitterly resented. Her hunger for roots grows stronger as she fights to discover the long-buried reasons her father fled the house as a beleaguered teen. But will she ever find the belonging she craves?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In a fit of optimism at age eleven, Eleanor Bertin began her first novel by numbering a stack of 100 pages. Two of them got filled.

Eleanor holds a college diploma in Communications and worked in agriculture journalism until the birth of her first child. The family eventually grew to include seven children, all girls except six. Writing was crowded out by homeschooling a houseful for 25 years until Lifelines, her first completed novel, was shortlisted in the 2015 Word Alive Free Publishing Contest.

Eleanor and her husband live with their youngest son, who has Down syndrome, amidst the ongoing renovation of a century home in central Alberta. She blogs about a sometimes elusive contentment at jewelofcontentment.wordpress.com

The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey

by admin | Aug 23, 2020 | Books, Coast Guard, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense

MY REVIEW:

The Crushing Depths gets off to a rousing start and the action rarely stops until it reaches its somewhat unexpected end. I love how true-to-life the author forms her characters with none of their human strengths and frailties hidden from view. The camaraderie between the characters is a pleasure to observe with touches of humor in the midst of danger and tragedy, much like real life. I also enjoy how characters cross between books so that their stories continue alongside the featured heroes of the current novel.

I will keep this review short because I certainly do not want to reveal any spoilers. This story is action packed and filled with danger, suspense, tragedy, loyalty and dedication with a bit of faith, humor, and romance woven in for good measure. Lovers of suspense cannot go wrong with a novel by Dani Pettrey and The Crushing Depths is a fine example of her talent.

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 Crushing Depths

Author: Dani Pettrey

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 30, 2020

Click here to get your copy!

They know the power and peril of the ocean.

But as they get closer to the deadly truth…

An even greater danger lurks just beneath the surface.

When an accident claims the life of an oil-rig worker on the first drilling platform off the North Carolina coast, Coast Guard investigators Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers are sent to take the case. Tensions surrounding the oil rig are high and the death has everyone on edge. Environmental activists are threatening to do whatever it takes to stop the structure from being completed, while rumors are being whispered about ancient curses surrounding this part of the ocean.

Mounting evidence shows the death may not have been an accident at all. Was he killed by one of the activists or, perhaps more frighteningly, a member of his own crew? Rissi and Mason have to sort through not only a plethora of suspects, but also their own past and attraction to each other.

Just as the case seems like it’ll break open, worse news arrives. A tropical storm has turned their way and soon they’re cut off from any rescue–and right where the killer wants them. It’s a race to discover his identity before he eliminates the threat they pose.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today). She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland, where she lives with her husband. Their two daughters, a son-in-law, and two adorable grandsons also reside in Maryland. For more information about her novels, visit www.danipettrey.com