by admin | Aug 23, 2020 | Blue Ridge Mountains, Books, Civil War, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
In this well-crafted tale loosely based on the Biblical book of Ruth, Heather Blanton offers her readers a change of scenery from her usual western settings. Carolina Homecoming takes place during the Civil War era and features Ruth Grant who has lost her husband in the war. Her mother-in-law Noemie has also been recently widowed and decides to return to her home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ruth chooses to accompany her, hoping they can both find the peace and healing they so desperately need.
Upon their arrival at Noemie’s farm, they discover that things are not what they expected. As they experience one mishap after another, it is apparent that something sinister is taking place and one particular person is at the top of the suspect list. Montgomery Boaze, a wealthy widower does everything in his power to help and protect the two women. Those familiar with the Biblical story will have a pretty good idea where the story is headed but Carolina Homecoming has a few twists and turns of its own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I know I can count on Heather Blanton to provide me with a story that has just the right blend of drama, mystery, action, and romance to keep me happy. Be sure to give this one a look.
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:
Even in the shadows of the Blue Ridge, war will find them.
Widowed by the Civil War, Ruth Grant insists on accompanying her grieving mother-in-law Noemie back to her roots in the beautiful but isolated foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This escape to a place barely touched by war will prove to be anything but peaceful for the two strong-willed women.
Montgomery Boaze is the wealthiest farmer in the upstate. He also happens to be a handsome widower. When distant relative Noemie returns home and butts heads with a mutual enemy, Montgomery appoints himself her and Ruth’s protector. Not such a difficult task since he adores his kin…and finds the beautiful, young widow bewitching.
Together, the three will become entangled in a battle over land, loyalty, and love that has nothing to do with North versus South.
Purchase a copy HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Heather Blanton is the independent bestselling author of several Christian Westerns, including the “Romance in the Rockies” series which was recently OPTIONED for a LIMITED TV SERIES.
She is a former journalist and avid researcher who endeavors to seamlessly weave actual history in among fictional storylines. She loves exploring the American West, especially ghost towns and museums. She has walked parts of the Oregon Trail, ridden horses through the Rockies, climbed to the top of Independence Rock, and even held an outlaw’s note in her hand.
“Heather Blanton is blessed with a natural storytelling ability, an ‘old soul’ wisdom, and wide expansive heart. Her characters are vividly drawn, and in the western settings where life can be hard, over quickly, and seemingly without meaning, she reveals Larger Hands holding everyone and everything together.”
MARK RICHARD, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, AMC’S HELL ON WHEELS, and PEN/ERNEST HEMINGWAY AWARD WINNER
Her novels are all Christian Western Romance because this is the genre that lets her write about feisty pioneer women who struggle to find love and keep their faith. Like all good, old-fashioned Westerns, there is always justice, a moral message, American values, lots of high adventure, unexpected plot twists, and often a touch of suspense. Of course, romance is always a strong element in her stories because it is such a beautiful gift from God and a perfect reflection of how he loves us: sacrificially and lavishly. Her work is inspired by authors like the great Louis L’Amour, Francine Rivers, and Linda Lael Miller, to name just a few.
She grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina on a steady diet of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and John Wayne Westerns. Her most fond childhood memory is of sitting next to her daddy, munching on popcorn, and watching Lucas McCain unload that Winchester! Her daddy also taught her to shoot and, trust us, she can sew on buttons with her rifle.
She is a proud member of Western Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers.
by admin | Aug 23, 2020 | Books, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Romance
MY REVIEW:
The Craft of Being Covert is the final book in Christy Barritt’s series The Sidekick’s Survival Guide Mysteries. It has been a fun ride with accidental PI Elliot Ransom and her associates as she practically stumbles onto the answers to several serious crimes. In this installment, things ramp up in Elliot’s own personal mystery that her father left behind at his death.
As always the author has managed to combine mystery, suspense, romance, and humor to create a quite readable and enjoyable tale that should delight all readers who love mysteries. Elliot is a multifaceted character whose keen insight and love of her family make her easy to love. Having grown up in another country, her confusion over common American phrases was entertaining.
I enjoyed this series very much and hate to see it reach its end. I am certain that the author will have another equally entertaining to offer her readers soon. Although I began my reviews with the final book, I plan to review the rest of the series asap. Please be on the look-out for those reviews.
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:
Time is running out for apprentice PI Elliot Ransom. She must find the information her father hid before he died or face devastating consequences. She’ll do anything to protect the ones she loves—even if it means sacrificing herself.
As a masked man taunts her, Elliot plunges herself into her father’s cloak-and-dagger world. Mastering the craft of being clandestine is a challenge. In order to survive, she must examine everything she thought to be true.
Will confronting her troubles ruin everything? Or will it provide Elliot’s family a new start? Either way, who would have ever thought being covert could cause such chaos?
Available to purchase for 99¢ or FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today has called Christy Barritt’s books “scary, funny, passionate, and quirky.”
A Publishers Weekly best-seller, Christy writes both mystery and romantic suspense novels that are clean with underlying messages of faith. Her books have sold almost two million copies, and one is currently being developed as a movie.
Christy’s books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, have been twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and have finaled for both a Carol Award and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year.
She’s married to her prince charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious–but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado.
Christy currently splits her time between the Virginia suburbs and Hatteras Island, North Carolina. She loves spending time with her husband, her two sons, and her four dogs.
For more information, visit her website: www.christybarritt.com.
by admin | Aug 7, 2020 | Abortion, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Marriage, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I can always count on books by Chautona Havig having a somewhat different approach than most that I read. Tempting Tait is definitely one of those with its unusual approach to marriage. If you have already read Bentley’s story you may have a tiny idea of what Tait’s story has in store for you.
Tait is not the usual romantic hero. Girls are not falling over themselves to date him. In fact the one girl he ever dated (once) married someone else. But Tait is an upstanding guy, one with very strong convictions – and those convictions lead him to make some very interesting choices as he follows what he believes to be God’s plan for his life.
Overall, the tale moves along at a decent pace with plenty of angst as well as humorous moments to keep it interesting. At times Tait’s approach to life can be a little frustrating, but hey, you have to respect a guy who stands up for what he believes. Tait never wavers. A cute story, Tempting Tait also deals with a very serious problem in our country, an issue on which more of us should take a stronger stand. Hopefully readers will be challenged and inspired by Tait’s story.
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: Tempting Tait
Author: Chautona Havig
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Release Date: July 30, 2020
Click here to get your copy!
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He chose to be a dad before he realized he’d need a wife, too.
When Tait took in an abandoned girl, he had no idea it would change his life.
Tait Stedtmann–accountant, fledgling do-it-yourselfer, and all-around nice guy. He’d been more than a little interested in Bentley Girard and had finally worked up the courage to ask her out. That was before that fateful day at the rest stop when he saw a girl shoved from a car and abandoned there.
She’s not like any girl he’s ever met, and now she’s given him an ultimatum. Adopt her baby, or she’ll abort it.
Eden doesn’t think he’ll do it. She can have the abortion and move on with her life–far away from these creepy Christians in Fairbury. But when Tait agrees, she finds herself keeping her word… and the pregnancy.
Nine months later, Tait is wracked by guilt as relief sets in when Eden leaves and terrified as he decides he can’t do this daddy thing alone. Bentley figured out how to make marriage happen for her.
Would she help him, find someone, too?
Tempting Tait is the second in the Marriages of Conviction series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.
MORE FROM CHAUTONA:
How One Man Turns A Mess into a Miracle
It’s been ten… maybe fifteen years since Eden Pohl waltzed into my brain and settled in. Despite my focused attention on other books, her taunts never strayed far from my hearing.
If you really believed what you say about abortion, you’d tell my story.
You just don’t want to have to write the messy stuff.
Ouch. Worst of all, she was wrong. And she wasn’t.
I don’t mind attacking the hard things when it’s the right time, but I only had half a story. I knew what would not happen but not what would.
So, she languished there in what is probably the longest pregnancy in fiction.
After my friend, Sandy, killed my dreams of combining Tait and Bentley’s stories and added Tait’s (and therefore Eden’s) into a series, things clicked. Duh. Tait would need a wife. Being a single parent is hard. It isn’t how God designed things, you know? We’re supposed to have help. A spouse, extended family, the church.
But sometimes things don’t work in this fallen world. Sometimes we find ourselves parents—even by choice—without the daily support of another parent. Not only that, sometimes our own parents aren’t in a position to be able to help. Age, illness, or distance can remove us from the God-given networks we should have and don’t.
Finally, our decisions sometimes cause us to isolate ourselves even from God’s family, and the result can mean we don’t have that help that we otherwise would.
One verse came to mind over and over when I planned out the rest of Tait’s story.
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18)
Sometimes the words tried to transform themselves into, “It is not good for a father to be alone, so God will find him a helper parent suitable…”
And I had to silence that voice.
First, because we don’t just change Scripture to suit our purpose. Or rather, we shouldn’t.
Second, because that’s even more out of order than having a baby before marriage. It happens sometimes—sometimes by choice, as in Tait’s situation. However, the healthiest marriage will usually put a strong emphasis on the marriage relationship first (after the Lord, of course) and then focus on the children. Why? Because it is best for the children if their parents are in unity. Children find security and strength in knowing their parents love and are committed to each other.
So many times, I started to put that emphasis in the wrong place struggled to get it right. Then one day I realized that this was the very thing I needed to do. Show that struggle. I needed to show that Tait’s focus was wrong—that he created problems he could have avoided simply by being a good daddy… but also by being an even better husband.
I hope you’ll enjoy Tait’s story, and I pray that his heart for the unborn will touch your life in a real and tangible way.
BLOG STOPS:
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of Tempting Tait and an original watercolor of “Tait’s Wedding”!!
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/fe37/tempting-tait-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Aug 6, 2020 | Books, Historical, Historical Mystery/Suspense, Rocky Mountains, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Although I learned after reading it that Love’s Mountain Quest is the second book in a series, I had no problems reading it as a stand-alone novel. A minimal amount of background was provided within the story which was quite enough for me to understand the context. I read historical fiction because I love it and am not a stickler for details. I trust the authors have done their research so I just sit back and enjoy a good book.
Love’s Mountain Quest was quite the wilderness adventure that took place in the Rocky Mountains of Montana territory. When Joanna’s young son and his companion were kidnapped by a group of outlaws, she insists on going with Isaac Bowen to rescue them. As the pair travels together through the rough mountain country, they encounter one delay after another due to several unexpected calamities. Frequent readers will assume that romantic feelings will develop during such close proximity in a tense situation and they would be correct.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel with its vivid descriptions of the wilderness, strong characters, and plenty of danger and action. Although I love reading books of this type, they do tend to make me realize what a sheltered life I have led and how unprepared I would be to attempt such a journey myself. I am definitely an armchair adventurer.
So all you other armchair adventurers, Love’s Mountain Quest should satisfy your longing for adventure right in the comfort of your own home. Be sure to pick up a copy and join Joanna and Isaac as they venture through the Montana wilderness to rescue her son and his companion.
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: Love’s Mountain Quest
Author: Misty M Beller
Genre: Historical romance
Release Date: June 30, 2020
Click here to get your copy!
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After losing her husband in the Rocky Mountain wilderness, young widow Joanna Watson is struggling to make a new home for her five-year-old son, Samuel, in the little mountain town of Settler’s Fort. When she returns home from work to find Samuel and the woman watching him missing–and the sheriff dead–she enlists a man she prays has enough experience in this rugged country to help.
Isaac Bowen wants nothing more than a quiet, invisible life in these mountains, far away from the bad decisions of his past. But he has a strong suspicion of who’s behind the kidnapping and murder, and if he’s right, he knows all too well the evil they’re chasing.
As they press on against the elements, Joanna fights to hold on to hope, while Isaac knows a reckoning is coming. They find encouragement in the tentative trust that grows between them, but whether it can withstand the danger and coming confrontation is far from certain in this wild, unpredictable land.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
After working for 13 years in the corporate world, Misty M. Beller (mistymbeller.com) is now the author of fourteen independently published Christian historical romance novels. Raised on a farm in South Carolina, she combines her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life by writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. She lives outside Charlotte, North Carolina, is an active member of ACFW, and teaches regularly at conferences and writing groups on effective book marketing.
MORE FROM MISTY:
The Story Behind the Story: Love’s Mountain Quest
Love’s Mountain Quest was one of the hardest books I’ve ever written, even though I LOVE Isaac and Joanna and their story. What made this book so hard was the fact that I wrote most of the story during my third trimester of pregnancy with our son!
Our little Matthew is our fourth baby (and first boy), so I was VERY heavy with child during the last three months I carried him, and that was the time that I’d scheduled to write Love’s Mountain Quest. Needless to say, the words were not flowing very well. My creativity was as exhausted as the rest of me! I could see Isaac and Joanna’s story in my mind, but showing it for readers using real words was the hard part.
Thankfully, I have an amazing editor at Bethany House (waving at Jen Veilleux!) who helped me massage the first draft, pushing both me and the story to be the very best we could be. Unfortunately for her, the edits for this book were the first bit of writing I did after taking a short maternity leave after the birth, so my brain was still a bit mushy from all the post-partum hormones and lack of sleep a newborn always brings. Jen’s patience through the process was remarkable, yet I so appreciate her determination not to stop until we had the very best book possible.
Our little Matthew just turned one, and Love’s Mountain Quest is finally making its way out into the world. Because of Jen, I’m so excited to share it with you! I can’t wait for you to meet the characters and story I love so much.
BLOG STOPS:
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize package of Love’s Mountain Quest, Hope’s Highest Mountain, and a bath bomb!!
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/fe39/love-s-mountain-quest-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Aug 2, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Oregon, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
The first book in Kimberly Rose Johnson’s new Protection Inc series, Direct Threat delivers an action-filled suspense that will keep readers guessing until its very end. The story features the two co-owners of a northwestern protection agency as well as a newcomer who has been invited to work with them on a new case. Protecting the young daughter of their clients at her grandparents’ secure home on the Oregon coast should be a piece of cake but turns out to be just a bit more difficult than expected. An uncooperative ten-year-old is the least of their problems.
The author provides a vivid backdrop to the tale and her characters are well rounded and believable. New characters arrive on the scene throughout the book and some of them seemed fairly suspicious to me. I loved how the author managed to keep me fooled almost to the end although I had begun to wonder about a certain person.
I thoroughly enjoyed Direct Threat and will be looking forward to the next book of this series.
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: Direct Threat
Author: Kimberly Rose Johnson
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: June 1 2020
Click here to get your copy!
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One little girl.
Two bodyguards.
Only one chance to guard their hearts.
Protection Inc. co-owner, Carissa Jones, an ex-cop turned bodyguard, has one goal—keep her young client safe. When her business partner brings in a new guy to help, she discovers her heart desires more. Can she still do her job and follow her heart without compromising her client’s safety?
Marc Olsen, a former Military Police officer, struggles to find his way as a civilian. He agrees to help out an old friend for the summer. He gets more than he bargained for when he’s assigned to work with the feisty co-owner of Protection Inc.
When sparks fly faster than bullets, will the bodyguards be distracted from their task, or will they work together as an even stronger team?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award winning author
Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.
Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
You can sign up for Kimberly’s newsletter via her website at: https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/
MORE FROM KIMBERLY:
Direct Threat is the first book in the Protection Inc. series. The series follows a group of bodyguards who are all either former cops or military police. They are on location in Lincoln City on the Oregon coast in book one, but their business is based out of Seattle.
I’ve been to Lincoln City more times than I can remember, but I took a research trip there with my husband, specifically for this book.
While in Lincoln City my husband and I walked the same beach my characters walk. I studied the access points to the cliffside homes from the vantage point of the beach, as this was an important aspect in the story. We also visited the ice cream shop mentioned in the book. You’ll understand significance of the shop when you read the story.
My writing career has taken some twists and turns. When I first began writing in 2006 I wrote romantic suspense. Then switched over to writing contemporary romance, which turned out to be the genre of my first contracted book and many more after that. After writing several romantic mystery novels for my publisher, I decided to dust off my romantic suspense manuscripts and publish them. Direct Threat is one of those manuscripts.
I absolutely love reading and writing suspense as well as romance, so joining the two together comes naturally for me. I hope you will read and enjoy this story.
You can learn more about Kimberly Rose Johnson and her books at https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/
BLOG STOPS:
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Kimberly 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/fe34/direct-threat-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Aug 2, 2020 | Books, England, Historical, Regency, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have been a fan of books by Erica Vetsch since I read my first one. It is a given that I want them all permanently on my bookshelf. I am particularly enjoying her Serendipity & Secrets series and The Gentleman Spy met my every expectation and beyond.
The characters have a mind of their own and definitely do not adhere to the usual stereotypes. A hero who is too involved with his career and has his life carefully regimented to keep every aspect of it separate, suddenly finds himself in need of a wife. Naturally he believes he can conveniently place her in her own special spot and go on with his life. Yeah, right! Even his friends found that laughable. Our heroine has been under the thumb of a very controlling father her entire life, a father who would like to marry her off as soon as possible because she tends to think for herself and has difficulty keeping her mouth shut. How embarrassing is that when you would like to protect your impeccable image for society?
As you might have guessed, these two find themselves with wedding plans but nothing goes quite as expected. That is really where the fun begins. It would be easy to share more details but why ruin your enjoyment? You need to read The Gentleman Spy for yourself. Witty and romantic, this book offers an enjoyable journey back to Regency England. I would also recommend picking up a copy of The Lost Lieutenant as well.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author’s influencer team. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
He only wanted a duchess for a day–but she’s determined to make it a marriage for life. When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she’s meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life–as a secret agent for the Crown.
But his bride has other ideas. She’s determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society–the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she’d remain in the background as he ordered.
Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?
Click here to read an excerpt!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota. Learn more about Erica at www.ericavetsch.com.
Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor)
Instagram (@EricaVetsch)
Pinterest (Erica Vetsch)
GIVEAWAY:
Alternate Links to Enter:
https://www.audrajennings.com/2020/07/win-copy-of-gentleman-spy.html
https://www.ericavetsch.com/giveaway.html
https://promosimple.com/ps/10029/the-gentleman-spy
