by admin | Mar 31, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Current Issues, Romance
MY REVIEW:
A Gift to Cherish is another honestly realistic book that encourages readers to boldly face the giants in their lives with the help of the Lord. Although the story is obviously a contemporary romance, it is so much more. Both the hero and heroine of this tale carry secrets and heavy burdens that prevent them from living their life to the fullest. Fear has led to a strong lack of trust, especially of the opposite sex. The third primary character is an older woman, their employer who has also decided to play matchmaker. Her own past experiences are told alongside the main narrative and adds another layer to it.
I love how the author is unafraid to tackle the tough issues such as addiction, domestic abuse, the dangers of online dating, etc. Her approach is authentic without exaggeration or unnecessary details. It was a pleasure to follow Daisy’s progression as she gained confidence in herself and her abilities. Her loyalty and compassion toward her friends truly made Daisy a character I could love. I look forward to reading the next installment in this excellent series.
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:
When Daisy Riley arrives in Refuge, Wyoming to live with her brother and his family, she intends to stay forever. The victim of violence in Los Angeles, Daisy craves stability, peace of mind, and safety. Her dreams all come true when lands a job as a personal assistant to Miss Joan Prescott, the owner of Cottonwood Acres, a historic ranch that once served as the set for a famous TV show. A retired college professor, Miss Joan has secrets and stories of her own, including a very unusual project.
Rafe Donovan, a cop from Cincinnati, is haunted by a recurring nightmare about the drug death of his high school sweetheart and his failure to save her. Those nightmares lead Rafe to take leave from the police department, seek help, and shelter in Refuge where he pounds nails for his brother’s construction business. He has no desire to stay in Wyoming. His goal is to get back to being a cop in Ohio as soon as possible. But then he meets Daisy Riley . . . When he finds her stranded late at night with a flat tire, Rafe is instantly impressed by her courage. Daisy is equally impressed by him. Together they navigate the road to love—one that’s complicated by the arrival of Daisy’s troubled best friend, online dating, and the impossible obstacle of 1,600 miles between her home and his.
Author Note: This story is about our current dating culture, including the risks of online dating. It also looks at the social mores of 1970s and how those values impact today’s women.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Victoria Bylin is known for tackling tough subjects with great compassion. In 2016, Together With You, a story of grace and healing, won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary Romance. Her other books, including historical westerns, have finaled in the Carol Awards, the RITAs, and RT Magazine’s Reviewers Choice Award. A native of California, she and her husband now make their home in Lexington, Kentucky. Learn more at victoriabylin.com.
by admin | Mar 30, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
MY REVIEW:
HAPPY VALLEY:
Happy Valley was a delightful book that held my attention until the very end. Its gorgeous Smoky Mountain setting and the well-rounded characters added just the right touch to a warm and moving plot.
Although Happy Valley residents were generally suspicious of newcomers to their area, Walker Logan was regarded as an interloper when he bought a home and built a new store there. Naturally he was the first one many residents suspected for a string of unsolved break ins and thefts. Juliette Hollander, home to help after her grandfather’s heart attack immediately connected with Walker but his mysterious past held her at a distance. One or more mysteries are answered in due course, sometimes with surprising results.
I loved this wonderful story that focuses on secrets, trust, fear, risk-taking, and learning to be exactly who God made you to be.
RETURN TO EDISTO:
Another heart-warming story from author Lin Stepp, Return to Edisto features a young woman who has no choice but to leave her much loved job due to an unpleasant experience with another employee. She packs up and runs to her safe place, the family beach house on Edisto Island. Her first encounter there is with the very man she ran from ten years ago and his sweet and caring demeanor tempts her to renew their relationship but old trust issues die hard.
I very much enjoyed this novel although there were times that Mary Helen tended to exasperate me no end. Her lack of trust and refusal to allow J.T. to explain himself got just a little bit old. And J.T. – was he just a little bit dense or oblivious to what was going on with Mary Helen’s old nemesis?
Return to Edisto is fun to read and has a strong message about trust and forgiveness. I look forward to reading more by this new-to-me author.
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 BOOKS:
HAPPY VALLEY:
Title: Happy Valley
Author: Lin Stepp
Publisher: Mountain Hill Press
Release Date: April 2, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Escape to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in this sweet tale of two young people who meet by chance, their paths soon overlapping and intertwining amid a cast of warm-hearted characters in the small rural community of Happy Valley.
With Grandpa suffering a heart attack, Juliette Hollander saw little choice but to head back to their Tennessee mountain farm in Happy Valley to help out. She didn’t expect, or want, to leave behind her life and work in North Carolina to return to her grandparents’ home so soon. Nor did she imagine meeting, and working with, the mysterious man she met briefly last summer and never thought to see again.
Walker Logan spent the last two years traveling the United States, seeing the beauty of the country and running from his past. But an old rock house he sees while hiking near Abrams Creek Campground unexpectedly calls to his soul. With danger close behind, he never stayed in one place long enough to put down roots. Yet now, with a new vision, he decides to take the risk.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
RETURN TO EDISTO:
Title: Return to Edisto
Series: The Edisto Trilogy #2
Author: Lin Stepp
Publisher: Mountain Hill Press
Release Date: April 2, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Return to Edisto Island in the rich, Lowcountry story of a young woman’s difficult decision to run from threat and danger, changing the course of her well-ordered life and, in turn, the life of the young man who loved and lost her.
It was a long trip back to Edisto Island, South Carolina, and the beach house that shaped so much of Mary Helen Avery’s early life. Now her mind flashed between anger and hurt over the difficult situation she’d left behind at the job she loved. Was she doing the right thing to leave? Should she have stayed to fight? She hoped at the quiet, beloved island she knew so well, she’d find the answers she needed and peace from all this turmoil.
J.T.’s heart took a familiar lurch when he saw the car with New Jersey plates parked at the Avery’s beach house. Even after ten years, the memory of Mary Helen Avery still tormented him. Finding her on the porch weeping lit old fires he thought long dead. Was he a fool to hope for something more between them with all their problems of the past? Probably so, but if she stayed long enough, he’d find one more chance to try.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lin Stepp is a native Tennessean, businesswoman and educator. A New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon best-selling international author, Lin has eighteen published books, including her twelve beloved Smoky Mountain novels, all set in different Tennessee and North Carolina locations, her newest Mountain Home book, a novella in one of Kensington’s Christmas anthologies, and two novels in her new Edisto Trilogy, set on the South Carolina coast. Lin and her husband J.L. also write regional guidebooks, including a Smoky Mountain hiking guide and a Tennessee state parks book.
Stepp’s latest 2020 releases are Happy Valley, set in a quiet rural valley near the Smoky Mountains, and Return to Edisto, set at Edisto Beach, South Carolina. Lin’s previous title Claire At Edisto was the 2019 Best Books Award Winner in Fiction: Romance, sponsored by American Book Fest, her novel Welcome Back a finalist in the 2017 Selah Awards, and Lin and her husband’s guidebook Discovering Tennessee State Parks a 2019 American Book Fest Best Books Award Finalist in Nonfiction: Travel Guides and Essays.
Lin enjoys speaking for events, festivals, libraries, and book clubs, reading, hiking, exploring out of doors, and keeping up with her readers on Facebook, Twitter, and through her monthly blog and newsletter which you will find on her website at: www.linstepp.com
CONNECT WITH LIN: Website | Facebook | Twitter
TOUR GIVEAWAY:
(1) winner will receive a print copy of Happy Valley & Return to Edisto, matching bookmarks, and a $25 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 23, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on March 30, 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 mailing addresses 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.
by admin | Mar 22, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romantic Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Colleen Coble’s books have been on my must read list for several years but I believe she has outdone herself with One Little Lie. This novel grabbed my attention from the very first page and held it until the very end. With a convoluted plot where almost every character was suspect at one time or another and every one of them had secrets, the story had me on the edge of my seat much of the time. I certainly did not want to put it down until I finished it.
As always, the author has created characters that are easy to love and to identify with, characters who struggle with trust and faith just like we all do. Each and every chapter builds layer upon layer with unexpected twists and turns and surprises around every corner. A gripping tale with the perfect touch of romance, One Little Lie is a must read. I am looking forward to the next book in this series, Two Reasons to Run. Take my advice and do not miss this one if you are a fan of Christian suspense.
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: One Little Lie
Author: Colleen Coble
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: March 3, 2020
Click here to get your copy. |
 |
It started with one little lie. But Jane Hardy will do everything in her power to uncover the truth in this gripping new romantic suspense.
Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, after her father retires, but there’s no time for an adjustment period. When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, Jane quickly realizes she’s facing someone out to destroy the only family she has.
After escaping with her father from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother—who refused to leave—ever since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them?
Reid Bechtol is well-known for his documentaries, and his latest project involves covering Jane’s career. Jane has little interest in the attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the idea of the publicity.
Jane finds herself depending on Reid’s calm manner as he follows her around filming, and they begin working together to clear her father. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross—especially once her father’s lie catches up with him.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Best-selling author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. You can visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.
BLOG STOPS:
| Back Porch Reads, March 10
Life of Literature, March 10
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 10
Texas Book-aholic, March 10
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 11
The Avid Reader, March 11
Lighthouse Academy, March 11
By The Book, March 12
Older & Smarter?, March 12
Through the Fire Blogs, March 12
Remembrancy, March 12
Betti Mace, March 13
April Hayman, Author, March 13
Emily Yager, March 13
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 14
Bigreadersite, March 14
deb’s Book Review, March 14
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 15
Inklings and notions, March 15
CarpeDiem, March 15
Christian Bookaholic, March 15
Just the Write Escape, March 16
For Him and My Family, March 16
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 16
Robin’s Nest, March 17
All-of-a-kind Mom, March 17 |
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 17
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, March 17
Stories By Gina, March 18
Janicesbookreviews, March 18
Mary Hake, March 18
Empowermoms, March 18
For the Love of Literature, March 19
Blossoms and Blessings, March 19
Because I said so – and other adventures in Parenting, March 19
Hallie Reads, March 19
A Baker’s Perspective, March 20
Quiet Quilter, March 20
Simple Harvest Reads, March 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Splashes of Joy, March 21
Moments, March 21
amandainpa, March 21
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 21
Pause for Tales, March 22
Britt Reads Fiction, March 22
Spoken from the Heart, March 22
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, March 22
To Everything There is a Season, March 23
Life love writing, March 23
Daysong Reflections, March 23
Lights in a Dark World, March 23 |
*No Giveaway for this Celebration Tour
by admin | Mar 22, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mystery
MY REVIEW:
Angela Ruth Strong’s The CafFunated Mysteries series has been a real treat thus far. A Latte Difficulty continues the adventures of Marissa and Tandy, unlikely friends who run a small-town coffee and tea establishment. Once again they find themselves smack dab in the middle of another mystery and Marissa’s wedding plans are interrupted in order to protect her life that everyone believes has been threatened.
As always Marissa’s tendency toward clumsiness offers readers frequent laughable moments. Tandy’s attempts to run the shop alone while Marissa is in hiding also adds some touches of humor. She manages to recruit a new friend who seems to be a blessing from God – but is he?
A Latte Difficult was a fun read from beginning to end with the aforementioned humor along with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing as to who-done-it and why. Don’t miss this delightful series but I suggest you begin with book one to get the whole 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:
Can two baristas track down a gunman after the espresso shot heard ‘round the world?
When Marissa witnesses an attempted murder during the 4th of July parade, it starts a battle for her independence. She is forced to hide out in a safehouse, leaving her co-owner, Tandy, to run their coffee shop, track down the criminal, and, worse, plan Marissa’s wedding. Thankfully Tandy has help, but can she really trust the P.I. in a bow tie, her new deaf barista who acts more like a bartender, or a wedding planner who’s keeping secrets?
The threat on Marissa’s future goes from bad to worse when her bridal gown is covered in blood. Though her fiancé, Connor, agrees to give up his identity to join her in the Witness Protection Program, Marissa refuses to wave the white flag. Instead, she enlists Tandy to help her fight for truth, justice, and the Americano way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK. Get to know her even better at www.angelaruthstrong.com.
by admin | Mar 16, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Love Inspired, Romantic Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Killer Harvest hits the ground running when heroine Sassa Nilsson witnesses the unexpected murder of her friend and boss. Border Patrol agent Jared De Luca has been working with Sassa’s boss to help bring down an environmentalist terrorist group and is determined to protect Sassa and her baby daughter at all costs while she works tirelessly to reproduce the crop virus developed in the university lab and prevent it from getting into the wrong hands.
As Sassa is relentlessly pursued by members of the terrorist organization, sparks also ignite between her and Jared who also develops a surprising bond with her daughter. Both of them have some trust issues, both with other people and especially with God but their circumstances demand that they learn to trust each other and depend on the Lord’s help in their desperate and dangerous situation.
A riveting narrative, Killer Harvest held my interest until its end with interesting, life-like characters and a well-developed plot. I enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more by Tanya Stowe.
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: Killer Harvest
Author: Tanya Stowe
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Release Date: March, 2020
Click here for your copy. |
 |
Can she stop a deadly crop virus from ending up in the wrong hands? Biologist and single mom Sassa Nilsson just witnessed her mentor’s brutal murder by environmental extremists. Now she’s the last link to a deadly pathogen they plan unleashing—and their number one target! But can handsome border patrol agent Jared De Luca shield Sassa and her baby long enough to find a cure…before the entire world faces the unthinkable consequences?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tanya Stowe is a Christian Fiction author with an unexpected edge. She is married to the love of her life, her high school sweetheart. They have four children and twenty-one grandchildren, a true adventure. She fills her books with the unusual…mysteries and exotic travel, even a murder or two. No matter where Tanya takes you…on a trip to foreign lands or a suspenseful journey packed with danger…be prepared for the extraordinary.
MORE FROM TANYA:
As a teenager, I spent my summers water-skiing on the King’s River in Central California. Even though we lived on the coast and the ocean, we traveled inland to the smooth river waters every other weekend for our sport. We camped on a sandy beach, skimmed over the water all day long and at night sat under a sky full of brilliant stars and listened to the sound of the water rippling past. Since we lived on the coast with a heavy marine layer, the amazing sky always fascinated me. Surrounded by massive cottonwood trees, with the smell of ripe fruit drifting toward us, my river experiences were different from home and more than memorable. On some nights we’d hear the splash and laughter as teenagers, somewhere across the river, came down to swim. I always wondered what it would be like to live in the nearby small, neat-as-a-pin town, to know the same people all of my life and to be able to drive down to the river with my friends on any given night. I envied those teenagers and always knew I’d someday write a story about central California. I didn’t know it would involve biological warfare and crazed killers…but that transition is another story all its own! I’ll stop here and hope you enjoy Killer Harvest!
BLOG STOPS:
| The Avid Reader, March 7
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 7
deb’s Book Review, March 7
Texas Book-aholic, March 8
Simple Harvest Reads, March 8 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 9
Among the Reads, March 9
Genesis 5020, March 9
For Him and My Family, March 10
Kat’s Corner Books, March 10
April Hayman, Author, March 10
Inklings and notions, March 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 11
Betti Mace, March 12
Reading Is My SuperPower, March 12
Bigreadersite, March 12
Through the Fire Blogs, March 13
Maureen’s Musings, March 13
Older & Smarter?, March 14 |
She Lives To Read, March 14
Remembrancy, March 15
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, March 15
Blogging With Carol, March 15
Emily Yager, March 16
Blossoms and Blessings, March 16
janicesbookreviews, March 17
Daysong Reflections, March 17
Mary Hake, March 17
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 18
Pause for Tales, March 18
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 19
SPLASHES of Joy, March 19
Hallie Reads, March 19
Artistic Nobody, March 20 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, March 20
To Everything There Is A Season, March 20 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Tanya is giving away the grand prize of a $25 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/f640/killer-harvest-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Mar 5, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
I do not remember having read another novel by Christina Suzann Nelson but I can safely state that after reading More Than We Remember, I plan to remedy that as soon as I can. This author’s writing style pulled me right into her story and held me there until the end.
The stories of three women who seemed to have absolutely nothing in common were told from their separate points of view as their lives intersected at various points. Addison, Emilia, and Brianne each struggled with difficult burdens in their lives and often felt that they carried those burdens alone. A terrible accident touches their lives on different levels but serves as a catalyst that challenges each of them to overcome the memories that prevent them from becoming the women they were designed to be.
I loved how the women crossed paths in one way or another, sometimes helping another yet by that very act receiving help herself. It was gratifying to observe as each of them slowly transformed as a result of their interactions. Various twists and turns of the plot kept me turning the pages and one major surprise was totally unexpected. I really loved this book with its deep personal insights and cannot wait to read another by this author.
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:
One night changes everything. . . .
When Addison Kilbourn’s husband is involved in a car accident that leaves a woman dead, her perfectly constructed life crumbles apart. With her husband’s memory of that night gone and the revelation of a potentially life-altering secret, Addison has to reevaluate all she thought she knew.
Emilia Cruz is a deputy bearing a heavy burden far beyond the weight of her job. After a traumatic brain injury, her husband is no longer the man she married, and Emilia’s determined to prevent others from facing the same hardship. When she’s called to the scene of an accident pointing to everything she’s fighting against, she’s determined to see justice for those wronged.
Brianne Demanno is hiding from reality. She once thrived as a counselor, but when tragedy struck a beloved client, she lost faith in herself and her purpose. When her neighbors, the Kilbourns, are thrown into crisis, Brianne’s solitary life is disrupted and she finds herself needed in a way she hasn’t been for too long.
As the lives of these women intersect, they can no longer dwell in the memory of who they’ve been. Can they rise from the wreck of the worst moments of their lives to become who they were meant to be?
Read an excerpt here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit: © Katey Tryon
CBA bestselling author Christina Suzann Nelson (www.christinasuzannnelson.com) writes stories that focus on changing legacies from dysfunction to hope. Her first novel, If We Make It Home, was named a Library Journal Best Book of 2017 and a Foreword INDIES 2017 Book of the Year. Christina is a part of Oregon Christian Writers and a member of ACFW, where she has served as the northwest zone director. She lives in Oregon’s gorgeous Willamette Valley with her husband of 26 years and their children.
