by admin | Oct 9, 2019 | Books, Colorado, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
I have read quite a few of Mary Connealy’s books over the past several years and always enjoy them. I know I can usually depend on her giving me a few hours reading pleasure with her western historical romances laced with her wonderful sense of humor. Her books may not be deep or particularly thought provoking all the time but that’s not what I’m looking for when I pick up one of her books. Connealy is one of my go-to’s when I am in the mood for pure entertainment and a cowboy or two in the mix is welcomed.
Aiming For Love is the author’s latest offering and the first book in Brides of Hope Mountain series. The series features the three Nordegren sisters who have lived alone atop a Colorado mountain since the deaths of their parents and grandparents. Each young woman is skilled in taking care of themselves in the wilderness and have been taught to avoid the outside world. Everything changes for them the day the Warden family shows up on their mountain and find themselves in need of shelter and medical help. From that point the story gets more and more interesting as the wild sisters are forced to interact with the strangers from the valley below.
Vivid descriptions of Colorado scenery and appealing characters combine with a plot that moves right along at a good pace to offer a tale that should satisfy many readers, especially if they are prepared to wait to learn more about how things will develop for certain characters. It is obvious that both other sisters, Ilsa and Ursula will be featured in their own books now that Josephine and David’s story has been told, but there are at least two men I hope to learn more about in the other books of this series – particularly Mitch and the mysterious hired gun. Great start to what promises to be a good series!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author and Bethany House, a Division of Baker Publishing. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Strangers Intrude
on Three Wild Sisters’ Hidden Mountain Life,
Their World Will Never Be the Same.
Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world–a world she’s been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls’ secret home, her older sister is especially frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.
David’s parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. But his father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo courtesy of Ginger Murray Photography
Mary Connealy (www.maryconnealy.com) writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.
by admin | Oct 9, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Spotlight, Suspense
Welcome to the Blog Blitz and Giveaway for Edge of Truth by Kimberly Rose Johnson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: Edge of Truth
Series: Law Enforcement Heroes
Author: Kimberly Rose Johnson
Publisher: Sweet Rose Press
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: August 6, 2019
Two DEA agents. One undercover mission. Lives changed forever.
The DEA sends two of its best agents, Kara Nelson and Jeff Clark, to Central Oregon, to shut down a major drug ring. Kara and Jeff usually work alone, but Operation Trail Ride throws them undercover together in a way neither of them expected.
A notorious Miami drug lord wants Kara dead. Can these agents pull off the greatest acting job of their lives—and manage the sparks flying between them?
Or will they die trying?
Edge of Truth is the first book in the Law Enforcement Heroes series. A romantic suspense series with nail biting suspense and a splash of romance. If you like engaging characters, small-town antics, and page turning suspense, then you’ll love Kimberly Rose Johnson’s Law Enforcement Heroes series.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
READ AN EXCERPT:
The hair on Kara Nelson’s neck prickled as she sat behind the wheel of her car parked near the Miami Beach Marina. Something wasn’t right. If she’d been made…She flung the door open and ran.
A boom sounded, and heat stung her back. Running full speed, Kara tripped and flew through the air, hitting the pavement hard. Her hands smacked the ground first, and she flipped, her legs whipping over her head. She lay face up in the parking lot. Searing pain tore through her wrists, arms, shoulders, and neck.
A second explosion sent a ball of fire into the mid-morning air. Kara covered her head as debris smacked the ground around her. She lifted her head with effort, first looking at her dismantled undercover car then back at the marina. Drug lord, Luis Alvarado’s yacht had moved out to sea and with it, her chances of wrapping up a year-long investigation. Where had the second blast come from? She struggled to sit up. Then the world went black.
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/
CONNECT WITH KIMBERLY: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 7, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm October 14, 2019. Open internationally as long as winner can accept gift card from US Amazon. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. 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 | Oct 7, 2019 | Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have read and enjoyed quite a few of Christy Barritt’s novels. Most of them are mysteries, some may contain a humorous touch, but all have inspired me to read most everything she writes. Home to Chestnut Grove is a bit different than previous books I’ve read by her but I am also a sucker for Christmas stories this time of year so naturally I had to read it. A story about a young woman whose dreams of Broadway have been a disappointment and who returns home to a dying small town uncertain of her reception. As her readers can probably guess, even in a Christmas romance, Barritt cannot resist adding a bit of a mystery to round things out. This is a lovely story with a strong theme of forgiveness and hope that should touch all but the hardest hearts and it might just soften them. Don’t miss this one for sure if you are a lover of Christmas books.
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:
A heartwarming, small-town Christmas story about restoring broken hearts and remembering those you love.
When Faith Winters returns to Chestnut Grove, Virginia, for the community’s annual Christmas celebration, she’s determined to make amends. She’s failed at making it on Broadway and is certain everyone hates her for decisions she had no control over.
Jake Whitmire is the sheriff in Chestnut Grove, but keeping the area free of crime is the least of his worries. Most days are filled with trying to keep the community’s spirits up as jobs have disappeared. He never expected to see the woman who broke his heart return home to lead up the town’s Christmas concert, nor is he sure he can ever forgive her.
As someone in town begins sabotaging the community’s celebration, Faith and Jake work together to find the person responsible and ensure their friend Jenny’s last request is fulfilled. Can holiday hope heal the broken spirit afflicting Chestnut Grove residents? Or is it time for everyone—including Faith and Jake—to treasure the memories of the past but to move on?
Includes bonus recipes!
Purchase a copy here.
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 | Oct 5, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
The exciting conclusion to Lynn H. Blackburn’s Dive Team series, One Final Breath begins and ends with a bang. In the pages between Gabe, Anissa, and the rest of the team are in over their heads as they work together to solve not one, not two, but three seemingly unrelated separate crimes at the same time, one over thirteen years old.
It was fun watching Gabe and Anissa work together so well and even more fun watching romance blossom between them. Meanwhile the escalating danger to Anissa’s life and the team’s effort to protect her kept me turning the pages as fast as I could when I had a moment to spare due to family health problems that demanded my attention. Blackburn’s plot was developed perfectly and the circumstances made it quite difficult for me to even begin to guess the identity of the villain.
One Final Breath is not only a great suspense novel but also emphasizes the importance of relying on God, forgiveness toward those who have wronged you, and learning how to identify God’s plan for your life. I enjoyed this book as well as the entire series and would recommend it to all who enjoy a good suspense or crime novel.
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:
Revenge has no statute of limitations
When investigator Gabe Chavez had his cover blown by an aggressive reporter, the silver lining was being able to rejoin the dive team. The downside? Dive team captain Anissa Bell, a woman who both fascinates and frustrates him.
Anissa grew up as a missionary kid on the Micronesian island of Yap and always planned to return after college. But she remained stateside, determined to solve the case that haunts her–the murder of her best friend and the disappearance of a three-year-old child.
When Anissa’s fractured past collides with Gabe’s investigation into the tragic shooting death of a teenage boy in Lake Porter, they’ll have to put aside their complicated history with each other in order to uncover the killer’s identity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lynn H. Blackburn is the author of Beneath the Surface, In Too Deep, Hidden Legacy, and Covert Justice. Winner of the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense, and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel, Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She’s passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children
by admin | Oct 3, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Always Look Twice is a book that kept me mentally on the edge of my seat for much of the story. Had I not had a serious health crisis in my family that prevented me from doing so, I would have probably read it in one sitting. With a Wyoming wilderness setting, the first pages of the suspense involved a grizzly encounter and a murder witnessed through a camera lens. From that point on the action, danger, and suspense continued to increase from one chapter to the next. A scene or two had me almost holding my breath as the danger ramped up even more.
A brilliant plot, interesting characters, and ample plot twists that kept me guessing made Always Look Twice a book for my keeper shelf as well as one I will likely share with my suspense loving friends. I myself look forward to the next book in the series because Heath’s brother has some mysterious secrets I am hoping will be revealed.
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:
Justice lies just on the other side of fear
At the advice of her therapist, Harper Reynolds has traded her job as a crime scene photographer for a more peaceful life taking photographs of the natural world. But her hopes for a life surrounded by the serenity of the outdoors are dashed when she inadvertently captures a murder being committed. She flees the scene in fear–and loses the camera.
Former Green Beret Heath McKade, a reserve deputy in an understaffed county, has been called in to protect Harper, a childhood friend he is surprised to see back in the area. When Harper learns that the sheriff’s department can’t find any evidence of the murder she witnessed, she is determined to do what she can to see that justice is done. What neither Harper nor Heath could know is how many explosive secrets from the past will be exposed–or how deeply they will fall for each other.
Elizabeth Goddard is the bestselling author of more than 40 books, including the Carol Award-winning The Camera Never Lies. Her Mountain Cove series books have been finalists in the Daphne du Maurier Awards and the Carol Awards. Goddard is a seventh generation Texan and can be found online at www.elizabethgoddard.com.
by admin | Oct 3, 2019 | Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Each year when the days of summer are winding down and autumn begins to open the doors to the beginning of fall and winter holidays, I anticipate the release of Melody Carlson’s traditional Christmas novella. I never know what kind of story to expect but I am confident that it will be a good one that will probably touch my heart in some way. This year’s offering from Carlson, Christmas in Winter Hill did not disappoint.
Featuring a young single mother whose life has not been easy, the story introduces her to a new home town where everyone pretty much drops everything to celebrate Christmasville in the days leading up to Christmas. Unfortunately most of the saddest events in Krista’s life took place around Christmas. As a result Christmas was way down her list of favorites so when she found out her new job as city manager would plunge her deeply into preparations for the festival, Krista wondered if she had made the right decision in moving to Winter Hill.
A well-paced plot, excellent characters, and enough conflict to keep things interesting made Christmas in Winter Hill a delight to read. A bit of romance didn’t hurt anything either. I loved this story with its faith filled message of the true spirit of the Christmas season. Another win for Melody Carlson!
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:
Spend this holiday season in a town you’ll never forget–and never want to leave.
“That sign says Home of Christmasville–what does that mean? Does Santa Claus live here?” Emily giggled like she knew better.
“What do you think?” Krista grimaced at the plywood Christmas tree alongside the welcome sign. It could use a new coat of paint.
“I know, Santa isn’t really real. But are we near the North Pole now? You said it snowed a lot here.” Emily peered eagerly out the window, almost as if she expected to see snowflakes flying.
“It does snow here,” Krista confirmed. “But it’s still late autumn, Emily.” She pointed to where some orange and gold leaves still clung to a large tree, vibrating in the afternoon breeze.
“But why did that sign say Home of Christmasville?” Emily persisted.
“I’m not sure.”
Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster homes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager . . . well, manages.
As she tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, Krista begins to wonder if this move was a mistake. She doesn’t always feel welcomed in the close-knit town, and Emily continually wonders, “Where’s the snow?”
Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista’s Christmas spirit before the big day?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over 200 books with sales of more than 7 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.
