Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon

by | May 10, 2022 | Books

MY REVIEW:

I never tire of visiting Hope Harbor through the pages of Irene Hannon’s wonderful series. It’s hard to believe that Sea Glass Cottage is book number eight. It makes me happy to know that there will be even more books upcoming in this series. I would be delighted if the series never ended.

Charlie and his taco stand are the one thing I always anticipate when opening one of the Hope Harbor series. His insight and wisdom are always so on point that one might wonder if he is actually an angel whose seagull friends also add their own special touch.

Sea Glass Cottage is yet another winner in which two hurting and estranged people are given another chance at love. As always there are hurdles they must overcome and a few surprises along their tangled path but faith and forgiveness always wins.

If you have not read any of the books in this series, Sea Glass Cottage is a good place to begin. Join Christi and Jack as they renew their acquaintance and discover the plans God had for their lives. I suspect you will want to read the rest of the series too.

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:

When painful pasts collide, can love overcome heartache–and triumph despite the odds?

Christi Reece is desperate. The one-time golden girl’s life has tarnished, and a cascade of setbacks has left her reeling. She needs help, and she’s certain Jack Colby is in a position to provide it.

When she shows up in Hope Harbor, however, Jack wants nothing to do with the woman who betrayed him. He’s built a new life on the Oregon coast–and there’s no room in it for Christi, even after she takes refuge in a charming but mysterious cottage nearby. Yet it soon becomes apparent his opinion of her may need revising . . . especially when he ends up needing her help.

Can these two hurting souls open their hearts to a new beginning?

Come home to Hope Harbor–where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 60 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a 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 for her entire body of work. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.

Persuade Me by Joanne Markey

by | May 8, 2022 | Books, Romance

MY REVIEW:

I hate to admit it but my literature education is woefully inadequate. Yes, I have probably read thousands of books including War and Peace and Anna Karenina, yet somehow I missed out on the Jane Austen novels. I hope to remedy that some day if I ever catch up on reading the many unread books already in my library. So I find myself unable to actually compare Persuade Me with Austen’s Persuasion. That being said, I did enjoy Persuade Me very much.

Another story about second chances, Persuade Me takes place on an Australian cattle station. A series of unexpected circumstances places Anne Elliot back in the presence of the man she once loved and has never gotten over. Neither of them welcomes the situation but attempt to make the best of it.

With its well paced plot, interesting character, dynamic events, and the always intriguing Australian setting, Persuade Me follows Anne and Fred as they renew their acquaintance. Observing Anne as she struggled to overcome the unhealthy control of her family was encouraging. I loved how she depended on her faith to guide her through her difficulties, even when she was tempted to run from them.

Persuade Me is an excellent novel with a strong message of faith and forgiveness. I highly recommend it.

 

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book: Persuade Me

Author: Joanne Markey

Genre: Women’s Christian Fiction/Romance

Release date: April 5, 2022

Click here to get your copy!

One horrible misunderstanding. Two heartbroken people.

For seven long years, Anne Elliot of Kellynch Station quietly mourned the loss of her first love. Now that she’s finally over Fred for good, her sister offers the perfect escape: Uppercross.

This move, from one cattle station to another, offers new friends, new responsibilities, and now that she’s out from under her father’s domineering thumb, a whole new world of possibilities.

The sky is the limit.

Or maybe the sky is the perfect place for helicopter mustering pilot Fred Wentworth to spend his days. It took a while for him to regroup after their breakup, but now he’s back, he’s successful, and he’s put the past so far behind him he doesn’t even think about Anne more than a couple dozen times a day.

Life is good.

Or it was until he quite literally runs into the one person he hoped to never see again. After that, what’s a bloke to do other than rethink every lie he’d convinced himself was the truth?

Although they both seem willing to admit they were wrong all those years ago, when things take a bad turn, Anne is left to wonder… Is it too late for a reconciliation?

Persuade Me: Austen’s Persuasion meets the rugged Australian bush—plus dingoes.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Originally from Australia, Joanne Markey now lives in Ohio with her husband and seven children. When she’s not reading or writing, you might find her wandering the property with her kids in search of whatever seasonal treasure they’re trying to find.

MORE FROM jOANNE:

Can a book be partially autobiographical without actually being an autobiography?
 
Probably not. Persuade Me comes close though. Not in it’s entirety, but I did draw heavily on my own life when I wrote this book. Many of the situations that occur in the book were things that happened to me back in the late ‘90s when I worked on a cattle station as station cook. I also set the book in places where we lived—stations we lived or worked on. The autobiographical part ends there though.
 
As a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, the family situation in Persuade Me is patterned on the Elliot family, not my own. I was easily able to imagine a family like this living in Australia though. The family pride, boasting of being descended from free settlers, knowing how long the family has been in the country to the exact generation—were all things I ran into as a kid.
 
Not every Australian knows how many generations of the family have lived over there (or cares to know), but in high school there was this one girl… She knew exactly how long her family had been there, and anyone who couldn’t count as many generations of Australians as she could wasn’t as Australian as her. Other people have quite plainly offered the information that their family descended from free settlers, without a single convict in the lineage. Still others can tell the exact year their first ancestor moved to Australia. All I needed was to package all of those things into one prideful being—Mr. Elliot. He doesn’t play a huge role in the story, but his influence can be felt throughout the pages.
 
From there it was easy to imagine him as a grazier—a station owner—who’d run into hard times. His daughter, Anne, is the heroine who has a hidden past, a broken relationship she’d rather not remember. The hero of the story can’t exactly be a ship’s captain, but there is one occupation in the bush that does bring in a lot of money—helicopter mustering—and having gotten into that line of work his personal finances have taken a drastic change for the better. I won’t spoil the story, but the rest followed in like manner.
 
And then came the writing… To craft a uniquely Australian book one has to use Australian terms, phrases, and spellings. And when the author has been living outside the country for 21 years, sometimes it’s hard to remember what words go with what country! We worked it all out in the end though, and if you come across a word that looks like it’s been spelled wrong—it’s the Aussie spelling, which is correct for the setting.
 
I hope you enjoy this contemporary retelling of Persuasion set in the Australian bush. Happy reading!

 

BLOG STOPS:

 

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 4
Texas Book-aholic, May 5
Inklings and notions, May 6
Artistic Nobody, May 7
(Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, May 7
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 8
Daysong Reflections, May 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 10
(Author Interview)
Miriam Jacob, May 10
deb’s Book Review, May 11
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 12
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger,
May 13 (Author Interview)
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 14
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 15
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 16
Britt Reads Fiction, May 17

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Joanne is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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/1d729/persuade-me-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

 

Shadowed Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

by | May 2, 2022 | 1920's, Books, Chicago, Historical, Romance

MY REVIEW:

Shadowed Loyalty, latest stand alone novel by Roseanna M. White is a gripping tale where the protagonists must choose where their true loyalty lies. Set in Roaring Twenties Chicago and featuring members of the ruling mafia families, this book illustrates a life where men had two personnas, the loving family man who attended church every Sunday and the crime boss who would do almost anything to stay at the top – perhaps even murder.

It was interesting to me how the women of the families seemed to turn blind eyes to how their husbands and fathers made their livings. It had to be nerve-wracking to always wonder if their husband would come home that evening or could he be a victim of a street shooting, a police raid, etc.  Sabina Mancari was one such woman. The daughter of the leading mob boss, she had been sheltered and had never actually given it much thought until she met the truth face to face. Knowing the truth, it was up to her whether to make the right decision about her own life.

From the very first page, my interest was captured. The plot moved at a steady pace with plenty of action and suspense and numerous twists and surprises. Although I thought Sabina was a spoiled and fickle young woman at first, I was pleased to observe her growing maturity as the story progressed. I liked Lorenzo somewhat better but in his zeal to protect Sabina, he actually hurt her.

Shadowed Loyalty is  a wonderful story with all the necessary elements to satisfy me. A sometimes emotional tale, it delves into family dynamics and true faith. It is definitely well worth picking up a copy.

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Sabina Mancari never questioned her life as the daughter of Chicago’s leading mob boss until bullets tear apart her world and the man she thought she loved turns out to be an undercover Prohibition agent. Ambushes, bribes, murder, prostitution—all her life, her father sheltered her from his crimes, but now she can no longer turn away from the truth. Maybe Lorenzo, the fiancé who barely paid her any attention in the last two years, has the right idea by planning to escape their world. But can she truly turn her back on her family?
 
All his life, Lorenzo’s family assumed he would become a priest, but he has different ideas—marrying Sabina and pursuing a career in the law. Despite his morals, he knows at the core he isn’t so unlike his mafiosi father and brothers. Has he, in trying to protect Sabina, forced her into the arms of the Prohibition agent bent on tearing her family apart? How can they rebuild what has so long been neglected and do it in the shadow of the dark empire of the Mafia?
 
Shadowed Loyalty, set amid the glitz and scandal of the Roaring Twenties, examines what love really means and how we draw lines between family and our own convictions, especially when following one could mean losing the other.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

GIVEAWAY:

 

One lucky winner, to be drawn on June 3, 2022, will receive:

A set of the art deco dangling earrings featured on the book cover
A tin of Italian pastries
A seat at the July Tea Party Book Club where we chat about the book!

Enter between now and June 2 using the form at this link!

 

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp

by | Apr 29, 2022 | Books

MY REVIEW:

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye is one of those debut novels that will cause many readers add the author to their must read list. I know I intend to do so.

It is a story of a young man eager to return home after serving in the war but he quickly learns that nothing is as he expected it to be. His beloved wife does not know how to react to the changes in him, his mother’s health has deteriorated since he left, and his brother has returned with unexpected injuries. And his precious daughter seems to know and love his best friend better. Not to mention that the best friend always seems to be underfoot. The devastating nightmares and sometimes extreme reactions to events precipitated by PTSD seem to form a barrier between him and his family.

Even as Sam and Annie work hard to save their marriage, mysterious things are happening on their farm that accelerate into danger for their family. Numerous plot twists and surprises flesh out this story where nothing is quite what it seems.

A wonderful hope filled novel that pulls the reader into the lives of Sam, Annie, and Rosie quickly, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye is a must read.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Audra Jennings PR. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Charlotte Anne Mattas longs to turn back the clock. Before her husband, Sam, went to serve his country in the war, he was the man everyone could rely on–responsible, intelligent, and loving. But the person who’s come back to their family farm is very different from the protector Annie remembers. Sam’s experience in the Pacific theater has left him broken in ways no one can understand–but that everyone is learning to fear.

Tongues start wagging after Sam nearly kills his own brother. Now when he claims to have seen men on the mountain when no one else has seen them, Annie isn’t the only one questioning his sanity and her safety. If there were criminals haunting the hills, there should be evidence beyond his claims. Is he really seeing what he says, or is his war-tortured mind conjuring ghosts?

Annie desperately wants to believe her husband. But between his irrational choices and his nightmares leaking into the daytime, she’s terrified he’s going mad. Can she trust God to heal Sam’s mental wounds–or will sticking by him mean keeping her marriage at the cost of her own life?

Debut novelist Janyre Tromp delivers a deliciously eerie, Hitchcockian story filled with love and suspense. Readers of psychological thrillers and historical fiction by Jaime Jo Wright and Sarah Sundin will add Tromp to their favorite authors list.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Janyre Tromp is a historical novelist whose loves spinning tales that, at their core, hunt for beauty, even when it isn’t pretty. She’s the author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and coauthor of It’s a Wonderful Christmas.

She’s also a book editor, published children’s book author, and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her family, two crazy cats, and a slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog. And if you ever meet in person, you pronounce that first name Jan-ear.

You can find her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and her website, www.JanyreTromp.com (where you can grab a free copy of her novella Wide Open). 

GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win a  prize pack that includes:

– A copy of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye,
– A custom made silver peach tree necklace inspired by the book,
– A “Light speaks through the broken places” t-shirt also inspired by the book.

A Strike to the Heart by Danielle Grandinetti

by | Apr 28, 2022 | Books, Depression Era, Historical, Romance, Suspense

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for A Strike to the Heart by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

MY REVIEW:

A Strike to the Heart is an intense historical suspense novel that leaps into action from the very beginning when a rescue mission goes terribly wrong and Miles Wright loses several of his team members. To make things even more difficult, the woman he managed to rescue despite the odds is exceptionally stubborn and uncooperative. How in the world will he manage to keep her safe?

Set during the early 1930s in Wisconsin dairy country, this book weaves a twisted path through its well developed plot and raises multiple questions along the way. Multiple characters make it hard to determine just who Miles and Lily can trust, especially when they are unsure why she has been targeted. Even family members are suspect!

I enjoyed learning more about the dairy wars as I attempted to help Miles and Lily solve the case. I truly became that absorbed in the tale.

I would highly recommend A Strike to the Heart to all who love both historical and suspense novels. It is worth your time. I look forward to more novels by this new-to-me author.

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.

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Title: A Strike to the Heart

Series: Strike to the Heart #1

Author: Danielle Grandinetti

Publisher: Iron Stream Media

Release Date: April 12, 2022

Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense

 

She’s fiercely independent. He’s determined to protect her.

Wisconsin, 1933?When a routine mission becomes an ambush that kills his team, Craft Agency sniper Miles Wright determines to find the persons responsible and protect the woman he rescued. But the fierce independence that led Lily Moore to leave her family’s dairy business for the solitary life of a dog trainer and the isolation of her farm don’t make that easy. Neither does his unwanted attraction to her. Meanwhile, escalating incidents confirm that she’s far from safe.

Lily fears letting the surprisingly gentle retired marine into her life almost as much as she fears whoever is threatening her. As Wisconsin farmers edge toward another milk strike, one that will surely turn violent, it becomes clear that the plot against Lily may be part of a much larger conspiracy. When the search for her abductor leads close to home, she must decide whether to trust her family or the man who saved her life.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | Christianbook | BookBub

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Danielle Grandinetti is author of To Stand in the Breach and a book blogger at DaniellesWritingSpot.com. Her short stories have appeared in several publications and her writing has won the University of Northwestern Distinguished Faith in Writing Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Danielle especially loves quiet mornings served with the perfect cup of tea.

CONNECT WITH DANIELLE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

GIVEAWAY:

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of A Strike to the Heart & $10 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 18, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 25, 2022. 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.

An Undaunted Matchmaker by Anne Greene

by | Apr 11, 2022 | Books

MY REVIEW:

An Undaunted Matchmaker was an entertaining historical Gold Rush era novella that featured a young woman who found husbands for girls who had aged out of the orphanage where she taught. Robbed and stranded in Eureka after the wedding of the last girl she had brought from San Francisco, Eve was determined to find a job to fund another trip back home. Rafe, who owned the town mortuary, was determined to convince Eve to marry him but she was determined that her true calling was to help the other girls find husbands.

I enjoyed the story, especially the details of historic Eureka where a niece now lives. The plot moved at a steady pace and characters were well developed. At times I felt that Eve was just a bit fickle but was able to overlook that that because of her generous heart. Rafe was a great hero and I was hoping throughout the story that he and Eve would end up together.

An Undaunted Matchmaker is a quick read and perfect for those days when you want something light and entertaining.

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:

Not everything that glitters is gold in California gold rush country. Eve Molloy passionately imports six young ladies from the San Francisco Hibernia Orphanage to Eureka, California, to meet the loves of their lives. But Eve refuses to prospect that gold mine herself. Eve is determined to return to the orphanage and bring six more young ladies waiting their turn to match with a husband.

Problem is, Eve travelled to the gold rush boomtown expecting to link up with her uncle who financed her trip. But robbers murder Eve’s uncle, which leaves her penniless and stranded in the woman-hungry town.

Rafe Riley, a wealthy mortician, fights to overcome the galaxy of males desiring to marry Eve. But the independent Irish matchmaker has no desire to lose her freedom and hates the mortuary business. She prefers working a gold mining claim.

Does the Ultimate Matchmaker have a different plan for Eve?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anne Greene delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. She writes both historical and suspense novels. Anne graduated from the University of Texas, Dallas, cum laude, with a degree in Literary Studies. She’s freshly back from Seoul, Korea with her very recently retired Army Special Forces Colonel husband. Anne loves to travel and has visited twenty-nine countries, including three communist ones. Anne set a few of her books in exotic locations such as the American Virgin Islands and Istanbul, Turkey. A visit to the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands resulted in her book, MASQUERADE MARRIAGE. Her book A TEXAS CHRISTMAS MYSTERY is set in Anne’s home town.Looke for her newest release from B & H Publishing, ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS coming soon. Anne’s love of sailing, horseback riding, history and art, as well as her Plano Police Academy training and her military life, often show up in her books. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to awesome new worlds and touch their hearts. To learn more of Anne and to view her art as well as pictures from her extensive travel, visit her at AnneGreeneAuthor.com.