by admin | May 9, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“You’ll Think of Me” is another emotionally charged contemporary novels by Robin Lee Hatcher. Whether one of her contemporary novels or a historical one, the author never fails to delve deep into the emotions of her characters. I know I can usually expect plenty of tension between the primary characters before their story reaches the end and this one did not disappoint me.
Single mother Brooklyn has not had an easy life. Abandoned by everyone who should have cared for her, she has managed to raise her daughter Alycia on her own after her husband left. When Brooklyn is notified that she has been left property in her old home town, she reluctantly returns there because she hopes it will be the best for Alycia. When she discovers that her ex-husband’s best friend Chad is her close neighbor, it is a draw as to which of them is most apprehensive about the situation. Due to their close proximity and continued interactions, somewhere along the way respect and possibly more softens their wounded hearts.
Brooklyn and Chad’s characters are both easy to identify with because their personal pain is so common to many. I liked that they didn’t fall immediately in love but that their developing relationship had several ups and downs as well as trust issues. Faith and prayer were prevalent throughout the story and were a natural and believable part of it.
I thoroughly enjoyed “You’ll Think of Me” and look forward to more books in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by BookLook Bloggers. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Her mother abandoned her, her father disowned her, and her husband left her. Can Brooklyn be convinced that it is possible to forgive the greatest of betrayals?
Brooklyn Myers escaped her broken home and her embittered, unloving father by eloping to Reno at the age of 17. But when she was pregnant with their first child, her husband abandoned her as well. Not welcome back home in Thunder Creek, Brooklyn stayed in Reno and raised her daughter Alycia on her own, doing her best to make sure Alycia never knew the heartache and rejection Brooklyn herself had known.
When her estranged husband Chad Hallston dies, he leaves the family home in Thunder Creek to his daughter. Believing it is the best way to give her daughter a stable home, Brooklyn does what she thought she would never do. She goes home to the orchard and wine country of Southwest Idaho. There, she encounters Chad’s best friend, Derek Johnson, a part time sheriff’s deputy who also owns an organic produce farm next door. Derek was never a fan of former bad girl Brooklyn Myers, but he made a promise to his dying friend that he would be the father to Alycia that Chad had never been.
Although Derek and Brooklyn get off to a bumpy start, he and Alycia quickly form a bond. And soon, Derek realizes that he wants Brooklyn to trust him too . . . even knowing that her trust won’t come easily. And then he realizes he wants even more than her trust. He wants to win her love.
While Brooklyn may be tempted to give her heart to Derek, risking her daughter’s happiness is another story. Will Brooklyn hold onto her self-reliance for dear life, or will she come to understand that the greatest gift she can give her daughter is showing her how to love and trust others?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robin Lee Hatcher is the bestselling author of 70 books. Her numerous awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. Robin and her husband currently reside in Idaho. For more information, visit www.robinleehatcher.com.
Save
Save
by admin | May 9, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Southern, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the previous books in the Mary Ellis Secrets of the South series so I was thrilled to have the chance to review “Sunset in Old Savannah”. As a lifetime southern gal, I love reading books about my part of the world, especially mysteries and suspense so this book was especially welcome.
Readers who got to know Michael and Elizabeth in the previous novel “Magnolia Moonlight” should be familiar with the tension between the two of them and might well wonder how an assignment working together in Savannah will turn out. What begins as routine surveillance turns into a murder mystery that Michael and Elizabeth just can’t ignore. What fun to follow them on their investigation as one secret after another is revealed. And could their animosity possibly change into affection?
The plot of “Magnolia Moonlight” moves along at a steady clip with plenty of twists and surprises that kept me guessing nearly until the end. Strong characters and excellent dialogue kept things moving right along. A secondary mystery involving a newly introduced character added depth to the story and left me anticipating the next book in the series (I hope!).
I love this series so much that I would be happy if it continues for several more volumes. I don’t think I could possibly grow bored with it. I hope you’re listening Mary Ellis!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by Harvest House. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In Savannah, Everyone Has Something to Hide
When socialite Evelyn Doyle hires investigative partners and best friends Michael Preston and Elizabeth Kirby to do some routine surveillance on her wayward husband, the detective duo find themselves embroiled in a mystery that leaves them in this beautiful, historic city longer than they had expected.
Evelyn’s husband turns up dead, leaving her as the police chief’s prime target. The investigation reveals a hodgepodge of potential murderers, including a scheming business partner, a resentful mistress, and a ne’er-do-well brother. It’s up to Mike and Beth to follow the trail of secrets that reaches further than the branches of the moss-draped oaks of Savannah.
As praise of the agency gets around town, business is growing for Price Investigations. When Mike and Beth hire Kaitlyn Webb, Savannah’s newest transplant, their workload eases, but will the ghosts of her past threaten everyone’s safety before a killer can be put behind bars? And can Mike and Beth find love as their friendship and faith are put to the test?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Ellis is the bestselling author of many books, including A Widow’s Hope, An Amish Family Reunion, and Living in Harmony. She and her husband live in central Ohio, where they try to live a simpler style of life.
www.maryellis.net
Save
Save
Save
by admin | May 7, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
ABOUT THE BOOK:
MY REVIEW:
As the title hints, “A Second Chance” is a story about second chances at love. This contemporary Christian novella is also about learning to trust, especially when one has been wounded by past relationships.
Overall, the story is a good one with fairly strong characters. Both Traci and Marc are likeable and most readers will root for them to get together. At times the plot seems to be a bit rushed but that could be due to trying to fit too many details into a shorter length book. There was also a time or two that I thought things were too dramatic and blown out of proportion for the actual circumstances but hey, that’s just my own personal preferences coming into play.
“A Second Chance” is a fairly quick read and mostly entertaining. Those who enjoy contemporary romance novellas will probably enjoy it.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book that was provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
Newly single food critic and newspaper reporter Traci Hightower is done with dating. After the man of her dreams left her at the altar on their wedding day and ran off with the woman she thought was her best friend, Traci resolves to focus on work and resigns herself to being a bachelorette for life.
Marc Roberts is a political reporter who is known as Mr. Nice Guy, the one who always finishes last. However, Marc’s compassion and kindness are of invaluable help to his newly widowed sister Gina Braxton who is trying to raise her two kids in the wake of her firefighter husband’s death.
Traci and Marc may be the perfect match, but they don’t know it yet. With God’s guidance and the help of Gina’s matchmaking skills honed by her career as a bestselling romance novelist, there is hope for a happily ever after for these two broken hearts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.
GUEST POST FROM ALEXIS GORING:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
God has good plans for every single person living here on Earth. It’s important to remember to trust Him because no matter how bleak a situation looks, hope is always on the horizon when God’s in the picture…and the good news is that no matter what God is always in the picture.
I thought that it would be a good idea to explore the theme of Jeremiah 29:11 through a fictional story about characters who are in need of a second chance in life and love. So I create Traci and Marc and wrote their story, A Second Chance.
Traci and Marc are entry-level journalists therefore they struggle with the industry’s tough system of paying your dues and they know the conflicts firsthand about struggling to pay your bills because of that system.
But it’s not just the bills that weigh heavily on their hearts. Traci and Marc are facing battles that are unique to their individual life stories but common to people in the real world.
When the reader meets Traci, they see that she is bitter and cynical because she was left at the altar. Her fiancé ran off with her Maid of Honor and left Traci with a mile-high stack of bills to pay for their wedding that never happened. So when Traci’s Mom shows up on her doorstep with an inheritance letter that stipulates Traci must be married before receiving her inheritance from her late grandfather, Traci is closer to destroying the letter and being a bachelorette for life than she is about husband hunting.
When the reader meets Marc, they see that he is smitten with Traci at first sight. But they soon learn that he has trust issues because of his previous romantic relationships with women who would dump him because he was “too nice.” However, his niceness is of invaluable help to his newly widowed sister Gina who is struggling to raise her children in the wake of her firefighter husband’s death. Naturally, Marc wants to help his sister. So he volunteers to babysit her kids and take them out of the house so that she can meet her book deadlines. Gina is a bestselling romance novelist.
All of these main characters go on their own faith journey with God. Some resist His love at first (like Traci), some draw back because of broken trust (like Marc) and some heal slowly from pain (like Gina) but they all realize how much they need God in their life.
Faith elements are a woven lightly throughout this story but also go deep as the characters work toward wholeness and restoration.
If anything, this is a story about how the Creator of the Universe (God) loves humankind and desires to restore broken hearts, homes and lives.
I hope that you will enjoy reading this book!
God bless your heart.
Sincerely,
Alexis A. Goring
Author of A Second Chance
BLOG STOPS:
May 4: A Baker’s Perspective
May 5: Inklings and notions
May 6: Blossoms and Blessings
May 7: Moments Dipped in Ink
May 8: Books. Books. And More Books.
May 8: Captive Dreams Window
May 8: Daysong Reflections
May 9: Christian Bookaholic
May 9: A Greater Yes
May 10: Quiet Quilter
May 11: Remembrancy
May 11: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
May 12: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner
May 13: Reading Is My SuperPower
May 13: Through the Open Window
May 14: Carpe Diem
May 15: Neverending Stories
May 16: my site/autism mom
May 17: Avid Reader Book Reviews
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Alexis is giving away four eBook copies of her book – A Second Chance!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/b54b
Save
Save
Save
by admin | Apr 22, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Pursued” starts off full speed ahead with a plane crash and the action doesn’t let up until the very end. After the crash, the passenger next to Nikki is missing so Nikki is asked by the FBI to help find her. She is pulled immediately into the case and her reunion with Tyler, the man she cares for, has to be put on hold. As Nikki and the team frantically search for the woman, the body count increases at every turn and they all find themselves potential victims as well.
Action-packed with twists and surprises around every corner, “Pursued” kept me engrossed until the end. The story is so fast-paced that there is very little time for contact between Nikki and Tyler, let alone time for their romance to develop. Hopefully they will find more time in the next installment. There is also very little development in Nikki’s search for her missing sister so that is another matter I hope to see resolved one way or another in the next book. Despite both of those situations, the book was not lacking in excitement or enjoyment. I would highly recommend it as well as previous books of the series to all who enjoy fast-paced suspense.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Nikki Boyd’s flight into Nashville was routine–until the crash landing at the airport.
When the dust settles, Nikki discovers that the woman who had been seated next to her on the plane is missing–and no one will admit she was ever there. When she learns that Erika Hamilton had been flying to Nashville with an air marshal as a key witness in an upcoming grand jury trial, Nikki wonders if her disappearance from the crash site means she’s running from trouble–or straight into it. Before Nikki can even see her family, she and her team are pulled into a missing persons case where the motives are as unclear as the suspects.
Bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris has planted danger around every turn in this can’t-put-it-down thrill ride that will leave you stunned.
Read an excerpt of “Pursued” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lisa Harris is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from Romantic Times. She has sold over thirty novels and novella collections. Along with her husband, she and her three children have spent over ten years living as missionaries in Africa where she homeschools, leads a women’s group, and runs a nonprofit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. The ECHO Project works in southern Africa promoting Education, Compassion, Health, and Opportunity and is a way for her to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves . . . the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice” (Proverbs 31:8).
When she’s not working, she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa, visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com or her blog at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com. For more information about The ECHO Project, please visit www.theECHOproject.org.
Save
by admin | Apr 22, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
If Hope Harbor was a real place, I would be ready to move there in a jiffy. I do realize, of course, that it is a fictional town and reality is rarely what I find between the covers of my books. My daughter and her husband have lived in the general vicinity of this imaginary town for a year and although they love the coast of Oregon, they have not encountered anyone similar to the characters in Hannon’s Hope Harbor series. Oh well! I would be quite happy if Irene Hannon would extend this series to eight or ten novels. I don’t think I would quickly tire of reading about the residents of Hope Harbor, both human and animal. Charlie is a fixture who I would love to encounter on a regular basis.
Lexie and Adam were both characters that I grew to love. Adam was such a great guy, one who was always finding ways to help others but saw himself as a real loser and had very little hope for his own future. Police chief Lexie was too busy with her job and young son to even think about romance but something about Adam made her take notice when circumstances threw them together more than once. Too bad it would never do for the police chief to spend much time with an ex-con!
A little drama, a bit of mystery, a touch of suspense, and lots of romance work together to make “Sandpiper Cove” a special tale that kept me turning pages well into the night. Hannon is a pro when it comes to character development and her stories always touch my heart. I try to never miss one of her novels whether it is a solid suspense or a contemporary romance. “Sandpiper Cove” is not to be missed and I would also suggest picking up the other books in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Wishing for things that can never be is foolish . . . or is it?
Hope Harbor police chief and single mom Lexie Graham has zero time for extracurricular activities–including romance. Ex-con Adam Stone isn’t looking for love either–but how ironic is it that the first woman to catch his eye is a police chief?
When Lexie enlists Adam’s help to keep a troubled young man from heading down the wrong path, sparks begin to fly. Could it be that God may have a different–and better–future planned for them than either could imagine?
Lauded by Library Journal as “a master at character development,” Irene Hannon welcomes you back to this charming Oregon seaside village.
Come home to Hope Harbor
where hearts heal–and love blooms
Read an excerpt from “Sandpiper Cove” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Save
Save
by admin | Apr 22, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
If you are looking for an entertaining story, or one that will cheer you up, or if you want a sweet romance, you should probably look elsewhere. But, if you would like a story that might make you think deep thoughts and possibly even examine your own actions toward your loved ones, “A Fragile Hope” might be a good choice.
It is not a fast-moving plot but then how could it be. Most of the book is spent in the ICU waiting room or at the bedside of Josiah Chamberlain’s wife after a tragic accident has left her in a coma. Circumstances around the accident give Josiah reasons to believe the worst and he struggles with feelings of betrayal. Day by day as he reviews their life together, he realizes his many shortcomings in his own marriage even as he has gained an amount of fame telling others how to improve their marriages. Strongly emotional at times, “A Fragile Hope” is strongly introspective and stresses forgiveness . It also offers hope even in the direst of situations.
I especially liked the quotations at the beginning of each chapter from Karin’s Seedlings and Sentiment inspirational cards . I would actually love to have the opportunity to purchase some of these cards – they seemed like something unique that I would enjoy sending to my friends.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by Litfuse Publicity. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Hope grows when seeds are planted—even in the muddy middle of life.
Josiah Chamberlain’s life’s work revolves around repairing other people’s marriages. When his own is threatened by his wife’s unexplained distance, and then threatened further when she’s unexpectedly plunged into an unending fog, Josiah finds his expertise, quick wit and clever quips are no match for a relationship that is clearly broken.
Feeling betrayed, confused, and ill-equipped for a crisis this crippling, he reexamines everything he knows about the fragility of hope and the strength of his faith and love. Love seems to have failed him. Will what’s left of his faith fail him, too? Or will it be the one thing that holds him together and sears through the impenetrable wall that separates them?
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in hope. She’s the award-winning author of 17 books and a frequent speaker for women’s ministry events. She serves as the Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, where she helps retailers, libraries, and book clubs connect with the authors and books they love. She lives with her husband in Central Wisconsin.
Find out more about Cynthia at http://www.cynthiaruchti.com.
GIVEAWAY:
Celebrate the release of A Fragile Hope by entering to win Cynthia’s Sign of Hope Giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on May 3. The winner will be announced May 4 on the Litfuse blog.
Save
Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifty novels, including Buried Secrets, Thin Ice, and Tangled Webs, as well as the Heroes of Quantico, Guardians of Justice, and Private Justice series. In addition to many other honors, she is a seven-time finalist for and three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA’s elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.
