I happen to love series featuring small town life so the Restoring Heritage series by Tari Faris has been a welcome addition to my library. Until I Met You is the second full-length novel in the series and continues the narrative about the small town of Heritage and the multiple restoration projects that hope to bring new life to the area.
Librarian Libby Kingsley and landscaper Austin Williams are both newcomers to Heritage and their first encounter does not endear them to each other. Austin just wants to finish the landscaping for the new town square that could help rescue the failing family business. No matter how good his intentions might be, his brother Nate always seems to fall short and Austin has had enough. Coming from a large, well-equipped city library, Libby is disappointed to find and out-dated, dusty basement library is her new place of employment. She quickly comes up with a brilliant plan for a new library and Austin is reluctantly pulled into the project.
With its well-developed plot and delightful characters, Until I Met You moves along at a steady pace and includes a strong theme of forgiveness, grace, and mercy. There is a hint of more than one romance and of course the mysterious hippo is up to his old tricks. Familiar characters from the previous books are a welcome addition.
I enjoyed Until I Met You and hope other readers will take a chance on it.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital 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:
Welcome back to Heritage, Michigan–the small town with a big heart
When she hears that the town of Heritage is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a basement room stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.
All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished, and he hopes it is enough to save the family business. Then he can extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town’s new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints–and possibly even his heart?
Tari Faris is the author of You Belong with Me. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy, she is the projects manager for My Book Therapy, writes for learnhowtowriteanovel.com, and is a 2017 Genesis Award winner. She has an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary and lives in the Phoenix, Arizona, area with her husband and their three children. Although she lives in the Southwest now, she lived in a small town in Michigan for 25 years.
From its gorgeous cover to the final page, The Edge of Belonging took me through the entire range of emotions before it was done with me. This beautifully crafted split time tale takes the reader on an incredible journey of what a family can be, even one not formed in the usual way.
Precious characters were a delight to get to know, especially Harvey with his tender heart and determination to take care of the abandoned baby despite his own lack of finances.
This story filled with love and compassion illustrates the difference that can be made in another person’s life if one can look past the outer appearances and get to know the true soul within.
Amanda Cox is a new author to me but I was so impressed by The Edge of Belonging that I will most certainly be on the lookout for her next book. I would definitely recommend it to all.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital 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 Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee her late grandmother’s estate sale, she soon discovers that the woman left behind more than trinkets and photo frames–she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy’s adoption. Shocked, Ivy seeks clues to her past, but a key piece to the mystery is missing.
Twenty-four years earlier, Harvey James finds an abandoned newborn who gives him a sense of human connection for the first time in his life. His desire to care for the baby runs up against the stark fact that he is homeless. When he becomes entwined with two people seeking to help him find his way, Harvey knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he’s ever loved.
In this dual-timeline story from debut novelist Amanda Cox, the truth–both the search for it and the desire to keep it from others–takes center stage as Ivy and Harvey grapple with love, loss, and letting go.
Amanda Cox is a blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, but her first love is communicating through story. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. Amanda lives in Tennessee with her husband and their three children.
To Love a Prince is for all those grown up little girls who ever dreamed of being a princess. It is a tale of one such little girl who actually spent her childhood with the princes of the kingdom as playmates until suddenly she found herself banished from the castle and therefore from their lives. As an adult she encounters Prince Gus unexpectedly and finds to her surprise that her dreams are still alive but just as hopeless as ever. Or are they?
I have always loved books by Rachel Hauck with the supernatural, romance, and spiritual truth blended with the perfect balance of wonder, whimsy, and humor. To Love a Prince did not disappoint. A story filled with family secrets, renewed friendship, mishaps, and a royally inappropriate romance, every page was a new discovery. I loved the unusual characters of Adelaide and Emmanuel and how the lives of Gus and Daffodil were touched by them, especially how Gus was guided back to his faith by the influence of Emmanuel.
This is a wonderful story of love and forgiveness and learning not only the importance of truth but the discovery of exactly who we are in Christ. As always I recommend this book as well as any other by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
An enchanting new royal romance from NYT bestselling author Rachel Hauck
Daffodil Caron is not a princess, even though she once dreamed of being one. After all, she grew up as a playmate to royal princes, running through the halls of Perrigwynn Palace and dining with the queen. But the day she stumbled upon a royal secret, everything changed.
Flash forward eighteen years, and Daffy’s living a sweet, non-royal life. A skilled art curator for the Royal Trust, she has friends, a flat in the heart of the city, and a handsome, successful fiancée. The last person on her mind is Gus, a prince she once called her best mate.
HRH Prince Augustus is no longer “Prince Pudgy,” as caricaturized by the press, he’s charming and gorgeous, possessing a world-famous smile. But when he’s jilted at the altar by an American heiress as millions of people around the world watched, the spare heir to Lauchtenland’s ancient House of Blue escapes, finding solace on a Florida beach.
A year as a regular bloke allows him to rethink his purpose. He’s half decided his calling is to pour pints at a tiki bar, rather than serving his country and the Family.
Until an accident on the beach with a Frisbee changes his course.
Despite his long hair and beard, Daffy recognizes her prince, and their childhood friendship is renewed. She assures Gus Lauchtenland needs him, giving him the courage to return home.
When Daffy and Gus find themselves on assignment to Hadsby Castle in preparation for his brother’s wedding, their friendship blooms into affection.
But Gus cannot, will not, trust his heart again. Daffy’s engaged. And she also remains a royal family outcast because she knows the Queen’s secret.
When affection grows into love and secrets are exposed, trust is destroyed. Gus must choose which is stronger: the lies of his past or the hope of his future. And Daffy must face every fear to prove she will forever love a prince.
“Another compelling royal story by the master of princely tales!” Susan May Warren, USA Today bestselling, RITA award-winning novelist
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times Book Reviews. She is a double RITA finalist, and a Christy and Carol Award Winner.
Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie.
Rachel has been awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.
A member of the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.
At home, she’s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.
A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she’s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan. Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.
She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.
MORE FROM RACHEL:
Hello Royal Rockstar Readers!
I’m thrilled to share To Love A Prince with you. So many of you who loved the Royal Wedding Series have asked for more royals so as I noodled over new story ideas, my thoughts drifted toward princes and princesses. What’s more romantic than a royal wedding?
This royal story, the first book in a new series, True Blue Royal, is set in a new fictional country, Lauchtenland, in the North Sea. I’m really squeezing all those oil wells currently occupying that body of water.
The beauty of royal stories is they remind us of who we really are: princes and princesses. There is always a point in the story where the royal character, as well as the commoner, must come to grips with his and her true identity! Who God says we are!
Stories are a powerful reflection of life and it’s fun to insert ourselves into the tale. While fiction employs a lot of hyperbole we can find ourselves on the page somewhere, somehow.
Thanks for going on this little tour with me and To Love A Prince. You are so vital to my story as an author. Thank you!
Once again I have to say, “it just wouldn’t be Christmas without the latest Novella by Melody Carlson”. I have been reading them for ten years or more and always look forward to them. The Christmas Swap is her offering for the year 2020. Thankfully, the actual events of this year did not show up in the book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this light-hearted romance featuring a Christmas house-swapping. Unfortunately it was a done deal when songwriter West Prescott learned that his step-father had swapped his house for the holidays. When circumstances arise that force West to return to his home, he decides to sleep in his studio until the guests leave. Of course one of the guests attracts his attention but one complication after another makes things difficult for West to connect with what could be the woman of his dreams.
The Christmas Swap moves along at a steady pace and can easily be read in one sitting for a reader like me. Characterization is well developed and I found it easy to relate to them all, especially Emma and West. One character in particular caused some problems but even she was not deliberately divisive or mean. Overall this book is a feel-good story that is perfect for a relaxing evening as the holidays approach.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital 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:
All Emma Daley wants this holiday season is a white Christmas. But the young teacher and struggling musician sure can’t find that in sunny Arizona. Luckily, there’s someone living in a perfect mountain home in the Colorado Rockies looking to make a vacation trade.
West Prescott is an in-demand songwriter and talented musician who put his own singing career on hold to write songs for celebrity acts to perform. When his mother convinces him to do a vacation trade for Christmas, he never imagined one of the houseguests would be so sweet–or so strikingly pretty. Naturally, he decides to stick around, and to get better acquainted, he poses as the caretaker of his own house. But when Emma’s friend Gillian discovers his true identity and sets her sights on him, things get . . . messy.
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.
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for The Bird and the Bees by Neena Gaynor, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
MY REVIEW:
In many ways Larkin Maybie was a lost soul. She certainly had made more than her share of bad decisions in her short life. When her mother’s death leaves her finances pretty much depleted and one more poor choice causes regrets, Larkin jumps on road to claim the mysterious inheritance she has just learned about. When she arrives at Presque Isle, she is surprised to learn exactly what she has inherited and the conditions required to claim it. With very little money and no transportation, Larkin is forced to accept help from members of the community including a very determined baseball player, Ketch Devine.
I have to say that for awhile I was unsure if I was reading Christian fiction. Larkin’s lifestyle definitely did not meet the criteria. But with every page I turned, her story clearly illustrated the path the Lord was guiding her down through her brokenness and with the help of divine appointments along the way. I definitely don’t think Ketch’s last name was an accident. I loved how he helped Larkin to see herself through not only his eyes but the Lord’s also.
The story was beautifully rendered with vivid imagery and a tender touch. The ending was quite satisfying and worth every trial and temptation that Larkin experienced.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: The Bird and the Bees Author: Neena Gaynor Publisher: Mantle Rock Publishing
Release Date: April 21, 2020 Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
When Larkin Maybie buries her mother in the foothills of Appalachia, she is left all alone. Her only inheritance? A crazy aunt, a mountain of debt, and a run-down, secluded cabin left by a mysterious benefactor. While Larkin thinks an escape to a cabin miles from anything familiar might be exactly what she needs, the quick answer to her problems only leaves her with more questions… Questions concerning her true identity.
As Larkin searches for her link to the Lewandowski Estate, she begins to accept the kindness of strangers on Presque Isle and the affection of professional baseball player, Ketch Devine. Charged with caring for the cabin’s honey bees and haunted by past choices, Larkin struggles to move forward in a new direction and is running out of time. With summer and baseball season coming to an end, she must decide: what is the value of true love?
When not chasing after her two joyful little boys, Neena Gaynor enjoys beekeeping, a good cup of coffee, and writing.
She’s spent much of the last decade traveling with her husband, Wade, a former professional baseball player. Throughout the 29 changes of address and the stresses of moving a young family, Neena has learned to embrace the peace that only comes from the steady accompaniment of Christ.
(1) winner will receive a $15 Chick-fil-A gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight September 15, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on September 22, 2020. 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.
Tari Faris is the author of You Belong with Me. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy, she is the projects manager for My Book Therapy, writes for learnhowtowriteanovel.com, and is a 2017 Genesis Award winner. She has an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary and lives in the Phoenix, Arizona, area with her husband and their three children. Although she lives in the Southwest now, she lived in a small town in Michigan for 25 years.
Amanda Cox is a blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, but her first love is communicating through story. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. Amanda lives in Tennessee with her husband and their three children.
Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
I’m thrilled to share To Love A Prince with you. So many of you who loved the Royal Wedding Series have asked for more royals so as I noodled over new story ideas, my thoughts drifted toward princes and princesses. What’s more romantic than a royal wedding?
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 
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for The Bird and the Bees by Neena Gaynor, hosted by 
When not chasing after her two joyful little boys, Neena Gaynor enjoys beekeeping, a good cup of coffee, and writing.
