by admin | Oct 10, 2016 | Books, Historical, Romantic Suspense, Western
MY REVIEW:
There is nothing I like much more than a historical romantic suspense and Tracie Peterson is a master at writing them. I have been faithfully reading her books since I first discovered them and am always thrilled if I have a chance to review her latest. I have especially enjoyed the Sapphire Brides series and learning about the history of the Yogo sapphires.
Clara had been forced to leave the love of her life and marry someone chosen by her mother. When her husband is murdered and it appears that her mother will attempt to take over her life once again, Clara packs up and returns with her two children to the one place she remembers ever being truly happy – the Montana ranch of her aunt and uncle. Not only is she welcomed by her relatives but is surprised by who is living with them as he recuperates from serious injuries from a mine cave-in. Clara and her children settle into the routine and find themselves content with life but secrets of her late husband and his twin threaten them all.
Once again Tracie Peterson has penned a tale that had me turning the pages well into the night. It was impossible to find a stopping point. Her characters were so well defined that I disliked a couple of them from the start. What a self-centered mother Clara had! And that brother-in-law! There was something fishy about him from the start. I was also not too thrilled with Curtis – I thought he was a bit whiny and sorry for himself but he eventually grew on me. I did like Clara and her strength and determination and her children were adorable. I also loved her aunt Madeline who never hesitated to tell someone the truth they needed to hear.
“A Love Transformed” is Tracie’s usual mix of history, romance, and suspense with a strong touch of faith. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend the entire series to others who love historical Christian fiction.
A free copy of this book was provided for review by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Clara lacks for nothing in her lavish New York mansion–except love.
When her husband, Adolph, dies suddenly, Clara Vesper is stunned. Not grief-stricken, as their marriage had never been a love match, but staggered by what might become of her and her children. For years she designed the sapphire jewelry that made her husband’s company a fortune, but she has little money in her own name and soon discovers that she has inherited nothing. Fearing for the welfare of her two small children, she decides to take them to her aunt and uncle’s ranch in Montana, the only place she has ever been happy.
But much has changed since she last visited the Montana ranch, both for Clara and for those she was forced to leave behind. And when dangerous secrets from her late husband’s past threaten everyone she loves, Clara must fight to remain where she can fulfill her dreams.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit: ©Lissa Barber Photography
Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana. Learn more at www.traciepeterson.com.
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by admin | Oct 10, 2016 | Books, Historical, Romance, Texas, Western
MY REVIEW:
“When the Cowboy Rides Away” is a romantic western set in Texas that is faithful to historic detail and relates an authentic view of life on a ranch. Maggie had her hands full with a ranch to run, a younger sister and an orphaned nephew to raise. It didn’t help things when she found an injured cowboy nearby who can’t remember much of anything by Maggie’s compassion compelled her to help him recover. Naturally a bit of romance develops along the way but plenty of drama, mystery, and surprises are in store before its satisfying conclusion.
I loved this book but then I am a huge fan of books with historical Texas settings. “When the Cowboy Rides Away” is extremely well-written with bigger-than-life characters and a plot that grabbed hold of my attention from the get-go. I also loved how well the author blended a message of faith throughout the story.
I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more from this author.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the author. A favorable
review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Maggie Gallagher, twenty-one, runs the Gallagher Ranch in South Texas and has raised her little sister and orphaned nephew since her parents and older sister died. No wonder she can’t find time for romance! The novel opens two years after Maggie loses her family members.
Out for a ride with her sister, she discovers Alex Lancaster, a handsome cowboy, shot and seriously wounded on her land. Kind-hearted and a Christian, Maggie nurses him back to health despite all her other chores. How could she know that Alex had a secret that could break her heart?
When the Cowboy Rides Away is a romantic western set on a cattle ranch in south Texas in 1880, and it was published in September 2015. The novel is available in paperback and as an e-book, but what makes all Molly’s westerns unique is the fact that both her father and her grandfather were ranch managers, real Texas cowboys. Molly spent part of her growing up years on a sixty thousand acre cattle ranch, and when she writes about ranches and cowboys and south Texas, she knows what she is talking about.
“When the Cowboy Rides Away” is First Place Winner in the Christian Western category of the 2016 Texas Association of Authors Award.
Besides winning the 2016 Texas Association of Authors contest in the Christian Western category, “When the Cowboy Rides Away” is also a finalist in the 2016 Will Rogers Medallion Awards contest in the Inspirational category.
Read an excerpt from When the Cowboy Rides Away
Listen to an interview with Molly
Purchase on Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Molly Noble Bull, Christian novelist, might be called a Genre Jumper because she enjoys writing everything from Christian romances to adventure stories to humor to books and stories for children to scary Gothic novels to western romances to non-fiction, and she is a wife, mother, grandmother and former elementary and early childhood teacher. A native Texan, she is also a graduate of Texas A&M University at Kingsville.Molly has a Texas cattle ranch background, and When the Cowboy Rides Away, her historical western with a touch of romance, won the 2016 Texas Association of Authors contest in the Christian Western category. Other of Molly’s westerns include Love Inspired’s The Winter Pearl and Brides And Blessings and also, The Rogue’s Daughter–first published by Zondervan.
Molly’s father and maternal grandfather were ranch managers, making them real Texas cowboys, and she spent part of her growing up years on a 60,000 acre cattle ranch. She and her husband have three grown sons and six grandchildren, and all three of their sons are involved in ranching in Texas today.
www.mollynoblebull.com
http://writersrest.blogspot.com
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by admin | Oct 7, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Love Everlasting”, Julie Lessman’s second book in the Isle of Hope series is every bit as engaging as the first one. In it the reader revisits the O’Bryen family and not only catches up with what is going on with Dr. Doom and Tess, Lacey and Jack and the rest of the family but gets an intimate view of the stormy romance between sister Shannon and pediatric Dr. Sam Cunningham aka Dr. Love.
To say Shannon and Sam’s relationship was tumultuous might be a bit of an understatement. Shannon has just recently begun to recover from a disastrous college romance and is determined not to get involved with another man. Sam’s party boy reputation made him all wrong for Shannon but she saw through the designer clothing and bravado and found it difficult to resist the wounded boy Sam tried to hide.
“Love Everlasting” is another of Julie’s daring, gritty, and passionate stories that shows life as it really is. Some readers might be offended by the honest portrayal of physical attraction between the couples. That is their prerogative. I personally found the abundant amount of scripture and discussions of faith to far outweigh those scenes. I loved how Shannon tried to help Sam even though she knew it wasn’t a good idea to spend time with him and I loved how just being around her helped make such a drastic change in his life. You know, I wouldn’t be too surprised to hear that someone actually made a decision to follow the Lord after reading this book. It is that powerful!
“Love Everlasting” is an emotionally charged romance (or two) that balances faith and physical attraction. Julie Lessman has done a wonderful job as usual. I would definitely recommend this series to those who enjoy their Christian romance with a generous dose of reality.
A digital copy of this book was provided for review by Singing Librarian Books.
A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Series: Isle of Hope
Genre: Christian, Romance
Publisher: Julie Lessman, LLC
Publication date: September 30, 2016
Number of pages: 307
He sets hearts on fire.
She’s been burned by love.
Can hope survive the flames of the past?
School teacher by day, ghostwriter by night, sweet and shy Shannon O’Bryen doesn’t mind writing romance on the sly, but to live it? No, thank you, not since the man she loved turned out to be a player who broke both her heart and her spirit. Now focused more on her faith and her fiction, she vows the next time she falls in love, it will be safely—through the pages of a book.
Dr. Sam Cunningham is a charismatic player who breaks hearts as regularly as he washes his pearl-white Corvette. Abandoned as a young child, Sam was an orphan shuffled through the foster-care system, bitterly driven to prove he is worthy of love—the kind that lasts forever. Once he learns Shannon is a romance writer, he enlists her help in winning back his ex-girlfriend. She teaches him about faith and the true definition of love, and he soon discovers he’s been seeking it in the wrong place all along—and with the wrong girl. But can he convince a woman who’s been burned by love to open her eyes—and her heart—to a love everlasting?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.
Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and Heart of San Francisco series, Julie Lessman was named American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered 17 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also named on Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction list.Julie’s most recent novel, Isle of Hope was voted on Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, and Surprised by Love appeared on Family Fiction magazine’s list of Top Ten Novels of 2014. Her independent novel A Light in the Window is an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers’ Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner. Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. You can contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com.
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by admin | Oct 6, 2016 | Books, Colonial America, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I loved “Brentwood’s Ward” so much that I just knew I would also love “The Captive Heart”. I was not disappointed. Many things about “The Captive Heart” are so different than “Brentwood’s Ward” but the vivid descriptions, compelling characters, and a suspenseful yet romantic plot remained the same.
Eleanor Morgan was a character I could admire. Her strong determination to survive coupled with a tender and merciful heart had me in her corner from the start. Samuel Heath was also a hero I could love. I liked how he came across as so gruff and even frightening but it didn’t take very long to see his true and loyal heart. No wonder Eleanor found herself falling in love with him, almost without realizing it. He certainly was not the man everyone thought him to be.
“The Captive Heart” was such an intense read that I didn’t want to put it down. What adventure! What danger! What suspense! What romance! Bears and fire and evil demented men and faith, and love and loss. Oh, there is so much I could say about how much I liked this book but I would be sure to reveal a spoiler or two. Take my word for it and grab a copy for yourself soon. I love Michelle Griep’s novels and highly recommend them.
A copy of this book was provided for review by Barbour Publishing Review Crew.
A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
On the run from a cruel British aristocratic employer, Eleanor Morgan escapes to America, the land of the free, for the opportunity to serve an upstanding Charles Town family. But freedom is hard to come by as an indentured servant, and downright impossible when she’s forced to agree to an even harsher contract—marriage to a man she’s never met.
Backwoodsman Samuel Heath doesn’t care what others think of him—but his young daughter’s upbringing matters very much. The life of a trapper in the Carolina backcountry is no life for a small girl, but neither is abandoning his child to another family. He decides it’s time to marry again, but that proves to be an impossible task. Who wants to wed a murderer?
Both Samuel and Eleanor are survivors, facing down the threat of war, betrayal, and divided loyalties that could cost them everything, but this time they must face their biggest challenge ever . . . Love.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michelle Griep has been writing for most of her life and attended poetry workshops instead of summer camp and spent her time writing in her room while her teen peers threw parties when their parents weren’t home. She lives in Minnesota where she tutors writing and history at a local high school homeschool co-op.
She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op. Michelle loves Great Britain, boxers, Science Fiction, and once-a-month cooking. Married for twenty years, she is mother to two sons and two daughters.
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