by admin | Jul 24, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Liz Johnson is an author with a gift for combining a really good romance with an equally intriguing mystery. I have enjoyed her Georgia Coast series set in the historic city of Savannah with each book focusing on a long lost legendary treasure. It has been such fun following the characters as they search for clues to discover the location of treasures most people believe to be tall tales.
A Dazzle of Diamonds was quite the satisfying story featuring lifelong friends Penelope and Tucker. The common best friends to more trope was such fun to watch play out between the characters even as they both had major problems to overcome. I loved how loyal Penelope and Tucker were to each other, attempting to help in any way possible, only wanting the best for the other.
A plot that includes a family scandal, a former fiance, an old diary, a mysterious treasure, and a quirky but delightful aunt, makes for some pretty good reading. I thoroughly enjoyed A Dazzle of Diamonds and encourage you to grab a copy of your own as soon as possible. I do not think you will be sorry.
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:
Penelope Hunter loves her job as the event manager at one of Savannah’s premier historic venues–until her ex-fiancé walks into her office with his new bride-to-be. Surely she cannot be expected to plan their wedding. To make matters worse, a scheming social matriarch is threatening to take her big-ticket event elsewhere, especially if Penelope insists on being seen with her best friend, Tucker Westbrook.
Since returning from serving two tours in the Middle East, Tucker has built a thriving security company. His work is nearly as stabilizing as his lifelong friendship with Penelope. But when the lone candidate for county sheriff goads him, Tucker loses his cool and ends up on the ballot–and on the receiving end of a smear campaign claiming the Westbrooks were traitors to the South.
To clear his name, Tucker and Penelope must join forces to find the truth behind a lost Civil War treasure. But the more time they spend together, the closer she comes to losing her job–and falling helplessly in love.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Liz Johnson is the author of more than a dozen novels, including A Sparkle of Silver, A Glitter of Gold, The Red Door Inn, Where Two Hearts Meet, and On Love’s Gentle Shore, as well as a New York Times bestselling novella and a handful of short stories. She works in marketing and makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona.
by admin | Jul 24, 2020 | Books, Speculative
MY REVIEW:
These Nameless Things is my first novel by Shawn Smucker. I was not sure what to expect when I opened its pages so I was not prepared for the mysterious journey the words of the author carried me. His prose is lush and descriptive with a brooding atmosphere. Most of the time I felt like I was wandering in the dark, not certain what was actually happening. For every question that was answered, I had several more for which I wanted answers.
This tale is about a small group of people who have escaped a tormented captivity from “the moutain”. Yet these same people have elected to live almost in sight of their former prison in a sort of limbo in which they are waiting. Dan, the main character, knows he is waiting for his brother who was left behind but is uncertain why the others have not headed east. As the story progresses, the reader does learn how the seemingly unrelated characters are actually connected.
I am still not sure what I really think about this book. It definitely asks questions that we need to ask ourselves. Ultimately it is an allegory that illustrates the choices we make and their consequences, heaven and hell, and ultimately a story about forgiveness, sacrifice, and hope.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Once held captive and tortured on a mysterious mountain, Dan was lucky to have made it out alive. But freedom comes at a cost. Left with little memory of the horrific ordeal, Dan can recall one thing–his escape meant leaving his brother behind.
With each day that passes, Dan waits with the other survivors in hope of his brother’s escape. But just as long-forgotten memories start rising to the surface, the sudden appearance of a wounded woman throws everything into question. As Dan struggles to know who to trust, he is caught once again in a paralyzing moral dilemma:
How far will he go to save the people he loves?
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shawn Smucker is the award-winning author of Light from Distant Stars, the young adult novels The Day the Angels Fell and The Edge of Over There, and the memoir Once We Were Strangers. He lives with his wife and six children in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. You can find him online at www.shawnsmucker.com.
by admin | Jul 24, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Falling for the Innkeeper is a Love Inspired offering that seems perfect for a Hallmark Movie script. With its romantic Cape Cod setting and well defined characters, this book was a welcome break from the current newscasts and Facebook feed.
Jonathan Masters is a corporate lawyer whose sole ambition is to become a partner in his firm. Laura Lessoway is a single mother whose dream is to operate her late grandmother’s Sea Glass Inn but may have a few hurdles to overcome in order to do so. The inn becomes pivotal in the story as Jonathan arrives believing he must procure the property for a client or forever lose his chance as partner.
I enjoyed the conflict between Jonathan and Laura as they each fought for their own dream, especially since despite their different goals they were becoming increasingly drawn to each other. Laura’s young daughter added a special spark to the tale. I loved watching Jonathan gradually discover his true calling and the way he turned his life over to the leading of the Lord. Falling for the Innkeeper is a sweet romance that should delight all those who love a good, clean story.
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:
She’s the home he never expected to find.
A battle for a charming Cape Cod inn…
But what happens when romance checks in?
Single mom Laura Lessoway won’t accept her mother’s plan of selling her late grandmother’s inn without a fight. But when big-city attorney Jonathan Masters arrives to arrange an offer from his client, she’s drawn to him. And working together as he helps with repairs only brings them closer. With his career and her home on the line, can they ever find common ground?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Meghann Whistler writes sweet Christian romance novels that won’t make your grandmother blush. A hopeless romantic who met her husband on a blind date, Meghann has a passion for writing inspirational stories that demonstrate the power of love and grace. Before settling down with her husband and raising three rambunctious boys, she earned an M.F.A. in creative writing from Emerson College. She loves to hear from her readers, who can reach her at www.meghannwhistler.com.
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by admin | Jul 16, 2020 | Books, Romance, Split Time
MY REVIEW:
The third installment of Hatcher’s Legacy of Faith series, How Sweet It Is, continues the split time series that connects the historic story of Andrew Henning through his Bible to the current story of one of his descendants. In this case, great-grandson Jed is featured along with Holly Stanford who just happens to own the house Andrew and Helen lived in during the early days of their marriage.
As can be expected, How Sweet It Is uses Andrew’s bible to once again bring a family member back to their walk of faith. Andrew and Helen’s story is one that is filled with both love and tragedy but it vividly illustrates how the Lord stands strong through all the storms of life. Jed and Holly each have challenges in their lives that only God can help them overcome. It was encouraging to read about how seeming coincidences actually became evident as the obvious leading of the Lord.
A sweet romance, How Sweet It Is was easy to read and enjoyable. Although filled with scripture references, the faith element was not intrusive and did not detract from the story.
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:
How Sweet It Is (Legacy of Faith, #3)
By Robin Lee Hatcher
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 304 Pages
July 14th 2020 by Thomas Nelson
He lost his brother. She lost her dream. Together, they might find what they’re really looking for.
Holly Stanford is doing the best she can with the restaurant she inherited from her late uncle. But after her fiancé abandons her and the business, Holly regrets having given up her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Now a few bad financial decisions might cost her everything, including her hope for the future.
Jed Henning has done well with his new company despite his prodigal brother’s behavior. When Jed‘s father, the controlling member of the board of directors, temporarily suspends operations until his sons work out their differences, Jed resentfully chases his brother, Chris, to Boise. There Jed rents a basement apartment from Holly and hopes to convince Chris to get his act together before their company collapses.
Unaware that Holly is the one person who can help him get through to Chris, Jed starts the tough work of reconciliation armed with little more than a few family photographs, a stack of old letters, and a Bible that belonged to his great-grandfather, Andrew Henning. And as romance blossoms between Holly and Jed, the story of Jed’s great-grandfather highlights the power of God across the generations and the legacy of a family’s courageous faith.
(Affiliate links included.)
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OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 80 novels and novellas with over five million copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Her numerous awards include the RITA Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. Robin is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.
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