More Than a Heartthrob by Kari Trumbo

by | Oct 14, 2021 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

MY REVIEW:

More Than a Heartthrob is the latest offering in The Independence Islands series but can easily stand alone. It is fun though to encounter characters from previous books in the series. I love that the slogan for the series is “beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.” You would definitely call books in this series beach reads but the stories take place at all seasons of the year.

More Than a Heartthrob is also more than your ordinary everyday romance novel. For widely different reasons both Jazzy and Chris have an identity crisis. It is easy to understand why Jazzy might not be certain about who she is because she has spent her life hiding her scars and lack of hair because of the way others have reacted to her. In some ways she has been acting a part. Chris is actually a fairly successful actor who doesn’t really know who the real Chris is outside his Hollywood persona. Circumstances bring the pair together and as their friendship grows, the path to self-discovery begins.

I thoroughly enjoyed More Than a Heartthrob. The plot moved along at such a steady pace and the story held my interest so well that I soon found myself at the very end. The book was a sweet romance that held strong revelation about finding ourselves by finding God’s plan for our lives.

 

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: More Thank A Heartthrob

Author: Kari Trumbo

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: September 28, 2021

Click here to get your copy!

Whoever said beauty is only skin deep lied. Beauty begins from within.

Jazzy is comfortable in her own skin, but the world cringes at it. Her personal armor since her teen years, makeup hides the scars that make anyone who sees them wince. The true test of any friend is: will they accept her without it?

Chris races to Hooper Island to escape a life-altering situation. The only person he knows and can trust there is a woman he met once. It wasn’t a good meeting. Lost and lonely after being the center of attention in Hollywood, he won’t risk losing the one friend he has.

Befriending Chris poses a risk Jazzy is loath to take. If anyone will reject her for her scars, it’ll be a guy whose life is focused on beauty. But as she helps him work through his own problems and his struggles with faith, will she gather the courage to pluck the plank from her own eye?

Once alone and vulnerable, will Jazzy and Chris rely on one another? Or will the force of their polar opposite lives push them apart—for good.

More Than a Heartthrob continues the Hooper Island stories of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kari writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart.
Her favorite place to write about is the place her heart lives, (even if she doesn’t) South Dakota.

Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.

MORE FROM KARI:

Hello Readers!

Welcome to the blog tour for More than a Heartthrob. I hope you’ve had a chance to read about the book a little. Thank you to today’s blog host and to Celebrate Lit for the tour and for publishing this great set.

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like everyone was staring at you for whatever reason? For me, it’s my weight. I’ve been overweight since my second year of marriage when I made a personal (and poor) decision to take a medication that made me gain a lot of weight quickly. And because of back pain, I’ve never been successful in shedding it.

For Jasmine (Jazzy), it’s her scars and lack of hair that she hides under makeup and wigs. She’s carefully kept them a secret her entire life. Only her friends and family know. She even has a beauty vlog (video blog) where she talks about faith and gives beauty tips.

But she isn’t happy. She’s lonely because it’s all fake. The skin she shows the world isn’t hers. I know I feel like that sometimes when I hide behind baggy clothes or sit behind a table so no one can really see me.

But, do people really think in their heads what we think they are? All that worry is spent, but it is fruitful? The answer to that, is no. Do some people judge us on our looks, behavior, or faith? Absolutely, but this book challenges the view that people “always” do.

Jazzy is challenged to forgo what she thinks makes her beautiful, it’s a twist on the old beauty and the beast story and I think you’re going to enjoy it. Especially because the guy who believes in her most, is the one society says should be the most critical, a Hollywood actor.

I hope, if you’re one of those people who wishes for a tall plant to hide behind when you’re in a crowded room, that you’ll find a kindred spirit in Jazzy.

Kari

BLOG STOPS:

 

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 2

Blossoms and Blessings, October 2

lakesidelivingsite, October 3

Texas Book-aholic, October 3

She Lives To Read, October 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 4

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 5

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, October 5 (Author Interview)

Inklings and notions, October 6

CarpeDiem, October 6

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, October 7

SusanLovesBooks, October 7

For Him and My Family, October 7

Connect in Fiction, October 8

deb’s Book Review, October 8

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 9

Splashes of Joy, October 9

Batya’s Bits, October 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 11

Blogging With Carol, October 11

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 12

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 12

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, October 13

Simple Harvest Reads, October 13 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, October 14

Kayem Reads, October 14

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, October 15

Daysong Reflections, October 15

GIVEAWAY:

https://promosimple.com/ps/11dd0/more-than-a-heartthrob-celebration-tour-giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kari is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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/11dd0/more-than-a-heartthrob-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Healing of Natalie Curtis by Jane Kirkpatrick

by | Oct 9, 2021 | Books, Native American, Western

MY REVIEW:

The Healing of Natalie Curtis is a fictional account that brings to life the quest of the real life Natalie Curtis who traveled to the southwest with her brother in hopes of finding healing after several years of illness after an emotional breakdown. In the quiet and beauty of the desert and the music and spirit of the Native Americans she encountered, Natalie not only received healing for her body and soul but a purpose for her life. Preservation of the languages, music, dances, and customs of the various tribes became a driving goal for Natalie and nothing would stand in her way.

This novel gives readers another look into how the Indian people were mistreated by the men in charge of assimilating them into the American culture. Mistakenly assuming that taking away everything about their way of life would be beneficial, these men nearly destroyed a culture rich in art, beauty, and music that made this country so unique. Thanks to brave and determined women like Natalie, at least some of their culture has been preserved and will live on for others to learn from and enjoy.

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:

She came to the West for rest . . . what she found was a passion.

Classically trained pianist and singer Natalie Curtis can’t seem to recapture the joy that music once brought her. In 1902, her brother invites her to join him in the West to search for healing. What she finds are songs she’d never before encountered–the haunting melodies, rhythms, and stories of Native Americans.

But their music is under attack. The US government’s Code of Offenses prohibits America’s Indigenous people from singing, dancing, or speaking their own languages. Natalie makes it her mission not only to document these songs before they disappear but to appeal to President Teddy Roosevelt himself, who is the only man with the power to repeal the unjust law.

Award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick weaves a lyrical novel based on a true story that captivates to the very end.

Read an excerpt Here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling and award-winning author or contributor to thirty-nine books, including Something Worth Doing, One More River to Cross, A Name of Her Own, All Together in One Place, A Light in the Wilderness, The Memory Weaver, This Road We Traveled, and A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her works have won the WILLA Literary Award, the Carol Award for Historical Fiction, the 2016 Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award and 2021 Silver award. They have been short-listed for the Christy, Oregon Book Awards, and the Spur Awards. A clinical social worker and former consultant to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Early Childhood programs, Jane now divides her time between Bend, Oregon, and Rancho Mirage, California, with her husband, Jerry, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Caesar. Learn more at www.jkbooks.com.

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano

by | Oct 9, 2021 | Books, Historical, Romance

MY REVIEW:

It should not be so difficult to write a review of a book one enjoyed as much as I loved A Midnight Dance yet I find it difficult to put into words. As expected, the story itself was beautifully written with evocative prose that pulls the reader into the sights and sounds of the backstage of a ballet theater. Characters were well developed yet at times mysterious which only added to the allure of the tale.

And what a tale it was! Aspiring ballerina Ella Blythe is determined to prove herself to her unknown benefactor by reaching the same level as her once famous mother yet her attempts at perfection have overshadowed her true talent. Two different men also inhabit her world – one she has dreamed of for years after a brief encounter and the other, the ever-present Jack who seems to taunt her yet somehow seems to be trying to help her achieve her goals.

As Ella’s history unfolds and with the help of Jack she discovers more about her parents, Ella begins to realize that almost everything she has always believed to be true was a myth. Surprises pop up around every corner and only one man will prove himself worthy of her love.

 I loved A Midnight Dance and its cast of remarkable characters. It was exciting to observe Ella as she grew from a self-centered young woman to a mature and caring person as she discovered truth and faith.

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:

The best moments in dance are the unscripted ones

At their core, all theater romances are tragedies. Ella Blythe knows this. Still, she cannot help but hope her own story may turn out different than most–and certainly different than the tragic story of the Ghost of Craven Street Theater.

After a chance encounter with one of the ballet company’s handsome dancers late one night, Ella is swept off her elegantly pointed toes. The dance they share and the promise he makes to her feel like a new beginning. Yet as she faces mounting challenges in the ever-shrinking ballet company, Ella cannot deny the uncanny feeling that her life is mirroring that of the ghostly ballerina.

Is she dancing ever closer to the edge of her own disastrous end? Or will the secrets that are about to come to light offer release from the unyielding grip of the past?

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, and The Love Note. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone’s story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan. You can find her at www.jdpstories.com.

Since You’ve Been Gone by Tari Faris

by | Oct 9, 2021 | Books

MY REVIEW:

I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the books in the Restoring Heritage series by Tari Faris and am quite sad that Since You’ve Been Gone brings it to an end. As final books go, this one was a winner with a double shot of romance as well as learning the story behind Otis, the mysterious wandering Hippo. Heritage Michigan is a small town I would love to visit and I have had fun meeting and getting to know some of its many residents.

Jonathan and Leah have known each other since high school and have been at odds most of that time. Leah believes that he destroyed her dreams and has toted around a load of unforgiveness for years. Jonathan has secretly loved Leah for all those years but somehow either sticks his foot in his mouth or gets his wires crossed when attempting to communicate with her. Now she wants to reopen the store her family once ran in the building she has joint ownership with Jonathan. Unfortunately he is being pressured to sell by his uncle and the board of the business he inherited from his father. Will he do the right thing?

Then there are Colby and Madison. Colby is a famous Christian recording artist hiding out in Heritage after a devastating betrayal by his partner. He becomes acquainted with Madison, who is in town to repair her family home before selling it. Not only is Madison considered the town bad girl but she has secrets that no one knows. Both Colby and Madison have damaged hearts. Will they be able to find healing with each other?

I loved Since You’ve Been Gone with its excellent cast of characters. Each of them is flawed in some way but readers can literally see the Holy Spirit at work as they walk out their problems. I cannot wait to see what this author has to offer next.

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:

With her vision and his know-how, this thing just might work . . .

Leah Williams is back in the quaint town of Heritage, Michigan, and ready to try again to make her business a success. But blank slates are hard to come by, and a piece of her past is waiting for her there. Heir to the Heritage Fruits company, Jonathan Kensington is the guy who not only made Leah’s past difficult, but he also seems determined to complicate her present as well.

In order to avoid forcing a buyout of Leah’s building, Jon will have to strike a compromise. Can the two of them work together? Or will their troubled past set the tone for their future?

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tari Faris is the author of You Belong with Me and Until I Met You. 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. Learn more at TariFaris.com.