by admin | May 26, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
The perfect book for the season, On a Coastal Breeze takes readers back to Three Sisters Island for another visit with the Grayson family and friends. Maddie has finally opened her own counseling business and should be celebrating her success but who should show up literally out-of-the-blue than her childhood nemesis Ricky O’Shea – and he just happens to be her new pastor! While the focus is on Maddie, other favorite characters from the previous novel make their appearance in this installment for another few hours of reading enjoyment. Oldest sister Cam is so busy attempting to arrange an alternative energy source for the island’s undependable electricity that she keeps putting off setting a date for her wedding to Seth. Youngest sister Blaine is home from culinary school but it is obvious something is amiss with her.
It was fun to observe the family dynamics of the Grayson family although there were times their interactions hit just a little close to home. I loved how Maddie was a sounding board for her sisters and was able to offer them valuable advice but had difficulty accepting their input into her own situation. Ricky was a great character. I enjoyed seeing him through Maddie’s memories of him and the person he had become. The plot moved along at a good pace with some misunderstandings, second chances, and a surprise or two.
I thoroughly enjoyed On a Coastal Breeze and the previous book of the series. I recommend it but also suggest that the series be read in order to gain the most understanding and enjoyment from it.
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: On A Coastal Breeze
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre: Amish Romance
Release Date: May 5, 2020
Click here to get your copy! |
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For Madison Grayson, life is good. Newly licensed as a marriage and family therapist, she can’t wait to start her practice. Despite the unfortunate shortage of eligible bachelors on the island–they’re all too young, too old, or too weird–Maddie feels like she’s finally found her sweet spot. Not even one panic attack in the last year. Not one.
And then Ricky O’Shea drops in. Literally. Floating down from the pure blue sky, the one man in the world she hoped never to see again–the one who’d been her archnemesis from kindergarten through her senior dance–parachutes into town, landing on Boon Dock, canopy draping behind him like a superhero. Ricky O’Shea. Now Pastor Rick, the new minister on Three Sisters Island.
Time to panic.
With wit and a bit of whimsy, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Three Sisters Island where family, forgiveness, and a second chance at love await.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than thirty books, including On a Summer Tide, as well as the Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop’s Family, The Deacon’s Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, among other novels. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and Twitter @suzannewfisher.
MORE FROM SUZANNE:
Dear Reader,
The minute you step off the ferry and onto Three Sister Island, magic begins. Crisp ocean air acts like an elixir. Stress starts to evaporate, like a wisp of steam from a cup of hot tea. Happiness moves in, and you’ll feel more cheerful, more positive about the future.
And then there’s time! Somehow, there seems to be plenty of it.
Little things will catch your notice—finding seashells on the beach, watching waves crash against the rocks, gazing at the star-studded night sky.
Life just starts to slow down…and you wonder if you really want to ever leave Three Sisters Island.
Nor do you have to! That’s the beauty of books—they are the perfect escape. Always available, just waiting to be picked up. Always ready to transport you to a fresh and new state of mind.
On a Coastal Breeze is that kind of a read. The Grayson Family saga continues as they move to Three Sisters Island off the coast of Maine for a fresh start. Maddie Grayson takes center stage in this story. Life is finally coming together for Maddie. On the very day she opens her counseling practice, she spots a billowing skydiver. Parachuting in is Ricky O’ Shea—the one person on earth Maddie hoped she’d never see again. But Rick’s the new pastor for the island’s only church and he’s not about to leave. That’s when sparks start to fly.
Join me for a getaway by the sea that will leave you in a happy, relaxed, vacation-y state of mind…without leaving your home. Once you board the Never Late Ferry, even in your imagination, the island will take it from there.
Warmly, Suzanne
BLOG STOPS:
| Through the Fire Blogs, May 18
The Avid Reader, May 18
By The Book, May 18
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 19
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 19
Artistic Nobody, May 19 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
Betti Mace, May 20
Lighthouse Academy, May 20
The Power of Words, May 20
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 21
Texas Book-aholic, May 21
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, May 21
Wishful Endings, May 22
Inklings and notions, May 22
deb’s Book Review, May 22
Blossoms and Blessings, May 23
reviewingbooksplusmore, May 23
Connect in Fiction, May 23
Remembrancy, May 24
Writing from the Heart Land, May 24
Blogging With Carol, May 24 |
Blessed & Bookish, May 25
Inspiration Clothesline, May 25
Back Porch Reads, May 25
For Him and My Family, May 26
Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 26
Daysong Reflections, May 26
Spoken from the Heart, May 27
Mary Hake, May 27
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 27
Simple Harvest Reads, May 28 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Bigreadersite, May 28
Splashes of Joy, May 28
Older & Smarter?, May 29
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, May 29
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 30
EmpowerMoms, May 30
Pause for Tales, May 30
Batya’s Bits, May 31
Southern Gal Loves to Read, May 31
Hallie Reads, May 31 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away a copy of her book to five winners!
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/fb52/on-a-coastal-breeze-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | May 21, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mystery
MY REVIEW:
Serena Lavinia just can’t get a break. She needs every penny she can make between her newspaper job and her ice cream truck. It’s just her luck to find her very best customer dead when she decides to check on him. And the circumstances make Serena look mighty suspicious as the murderer. With way too much evidence pointing her way, Serena needs to find the real culprit before she ends up in jail (or worse)! Serena’s new newspaper boss Webster is growing on her but the jury is still out whether he is her friend or enemy. At least he is willing to help her track down clues in the latest mystery on Lantern Beach.
Milkshake Up is another quick and easy-to-read cozy mystery in Barritt’s latest Crime a la Mode series. More fun, more quirky characters, and another mystery to solve adds up to a pleasant evening of reading escape. Christy Barritt’s novellas may not qualify as serious literature but there is definitely a place for it in my life when I want to lighten things up a bit. I love her style and sense of humor and will continue to read as many of her books as I can.
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:
When ice cream lady Serena Lavinia’s best customer doesn’t show up to buy his daily treats, she has no choice but to find out if he’s okay.
She didn’t expect to find him lying dead amid the wrappers of her wares.
As an investigation begins and all the evidence points to Serena, she has no choice but to clear her name. With the help of her trusty dog Scoops and her new frenemy Webster Newsome, she’s determined to find the bad guy before her life gets the ultimate shake up and she spends the rest of her days behind bars . . . and not of the frozen indulgence variety.
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 | May 21, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mystery
MY REVIEW:
In this spin-off from Christy Barrit’s Lantern Beach series, Serena Lavinia, a quirky character familiar to readers takes center stage in her own series. Naturally her tale gets off to a quick start with the discovery of a stray dog followed shortly by a dead body.
It was fun getting to know Serena better in her own story, especially to gain an understanding of some of her somewhat weird habits. This novella is fairly short and easy to read in an evening but it offers plenty of mystery and laughs. It also introduces a new character, Webster Newsome who has arrived to take over as editor of the newspaper. That does not go over very well with Serena! I already have a few suspicions about how that relationship will develop as the series progresses. I also enjoyed touching base with a few characters from the previous series and fully expect to see a few others show up in later installments.
I always enjoy Barritt’s books, especially when I need a bit of relief from some of the more suspenseful or historical books I frequently read. If you haven’t read any of her books, this series might be a good place to start. It can easily stand on its own.
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:
USA Today bestselling author Christy Barritt takes readers to the mysterious, quirky island of Lantern Beach, North Carolina, in this charming cozy series!
It all started with a runaway dog.
Meet Serena Lavinia: part-time ice cream truck driver, part-time reporter, and full-time woman of mystery. She never expected to find a cute little terrier while on her morning ice cream route on the island of Lantern Beach.
Nor did she expect the dog to be carrying a bloody shoe.
When a dead body is discovered floating in a nearby pool, Serena becomes fully immersed in her very own who-done-it. But her investigation hits a snag when a new foe arrives in town. Webster Newsome has been appointed the town’s new newspaper editor—a job Serena wanted—and the man is entirely too bossy.
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 | May 21, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Stay With Me is one of those novels that stays with the reader for awhile after reading it. Not only is it a satisfying romance but this story touches on some very serious issues that probably more people than we can imagine struggle with daily.
In this new book from Becky Wade, the heroine is a well-known and popular Bible study author and speaker who struggles with a problem that she is unable to handle on her own but is ashamed to admit to her family and friends. An inadvertent meeting with Sam begins a relationship in which he reluctantly agrees to help her. Unfortunately Genevieve brings some buried memories and guilt to the surface for Sam who fights his attraction to her. A family mystery adds another layer to Genevieve’s story and has the power to make or break her, especially as God suddenly seems so far away to her.
This beautifully told story is filled with grace and forgiveness and saturated with the love the Lord has for each of his children. I highly recommend reading this touching tale as soon as possible. It might even change your life.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Prism Book Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Stay with Me
(A Misty River Romance #1)
By Becky Wade
Christian Contemporary Romance
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages
May 5th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers |
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Loving her is a risk he can’t afford . . . and can’t resist.
When acclaimed Bible study author Genevieve Woodward receives an anonymous letter referencing her parents’ past, she returns to her hometown in the Blue Ridge mountains to chase down her family’s secret. However, it’s Genevieve’s own secret that catches up to her when Sam Turner, owner of an historic farm, uncovers the source of shame she’s worked so hard to hide.
Sam has embraced his sorrow, his isolation, and his identity as an outsider. He’s spent years carving out both career success and peace of mind. The last thing he wants is to rent the cottage on his property to a woman whose struggles stir his worst failure back to life. Yet, can he bear to turn her away right when she needs him most?
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Target | Christianbook
OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES:
Take a Chance on Me
(A Misty River Romance #0.5)
By Becky Wade
Christian Contemporary Romance, Novella
ebook, 97 Pages
February 25th 2020 |
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When baker Penelope Quinn steps in to help her brother’s family through a medical crisis, she’s forced into close proximity with charming Air Force fighter pilot Eli Price.
Penelope has one iron-clad dating rule—she does not date airmen. Months ago, she relaxed her rule with Eli and immediately lived to regret it. After a long deployment, he’s now back in Misty River and, to her dismay, she finds him just as tempting as always.
Eli’s spent months thinking about funny, feisty, creative Penelope. He once leveraged his focus and drive to become a pilot, his childhood dream. Now he’s set on leveraging that same focus and drive in order to convince Penelope to give him one more chance.
This romantic prequel novella introduces readers to the quaint mountain town of Misty River and a brand-new series from Christy-winning author Becky Wade!
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Currently FREE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Becky Wade is the 2018 Christy Award Book of the Year winner for True to You. She is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, then put her career on hold for several years to care for her children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. Her humorous, heart-pounding contemporary romance novels have won three Christy Awards, the Carol Award, the INSPY Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award for Romance. Becky lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children.
Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
TOUR SCHEDULE:
There is also a bookstagram tour with its own giveaway. Follow on Instagram.
GIVEAWAY:
One winner will receive:
– A $100 gift card
– A paperback copy of Stay with Me
– A hand-knit scarf
– A pair of earrings
– A package of “Georgia Blues” coffee
– A package of apple oatmeal muffin mix
ENTER HERE
by admin | May 20, 2020 | Books
MY REVIEW:
You know what they always say about not letting success go to your head? Yeah, a little success with a case and Elliot is raring to take on another one – this time pro bono because she felt sorry for the gal her boss turned down. As frequent readers of Christy Barrit’s cozy mysteries know, things are about to get a little crazy ’round here.
It doesn’t take very long before Elliot finds herself right in the middle of danger but in her own naive and clueless way, she keeps on following those clues into one disaster after another. But somehow, some way Elliot manages to put together the clues and solve yet another case.
The Perks of Meddling is yet another fun cozy mystery with a quirky heroine whose ignorance of Americanisms offers a chuckle or two. Then there are those two guys – her cute coworker Michael and that handsome cop Hunter who keeps showing up everywhere she goes. It seems to me that they are both interested in Elliot but neither is quite on her radar yet. It will be interesting to see how that part of the story goes. I am also very interested for Elliot to learn more about her father’s mysterious journal.
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:
She’s determined to work this case—with or without permission . . .
Investigator-wannabe Elliot Ransom doesn’t have much clout with the PI firm that recently hired her. When she meets a woman whose “riffraff” sister has gone missing, Elliot can’t resist the urge to help—despite her boss’s stern warning to stay away. But her snooping may prove as dangerous as the jungle she left behind.
As Elliot digs deeper, the underbelly of wealthy Storm River bubbles to the surface. Following the advice found in her father’s old journal, Elliot tracks the killer. But the more she uncovers, the more of a target she becomes. Could a little meddling lead to a vast amount of trouble?
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.
