by admin | Mar 10, 2020 | Books, Colorado, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
I am loving Mary Connealy’s latest series, Brides of Hope Mountain. Aiming for Love was great but I believe Woman of Sunlight is even better! The saga of the Nordegren sisters continues in book two approximately where book 1 ended.
Ilsa’s character is so much fun. Her true innocence leaves her wide open to one misunderstanding or misinterpretation after another when she encounters the world below Hope Mountain. Despite their dislike of each other and many disagreements that took place in book 1, Mitch and Ilsa find themselves having to depend on each other – maybe for their very lives.
Woman of Sunlight was filled with Connealy’s typical humor and romance so it was such fun to read. The story was kicked up a notch or two by quite a bit of action, danger, and suspense laced with more than one surprise along the way. The growth of the relationship between Mitch and Ilsa was beautiful to witness and I enjoyed both characters immensely. I saw some hints that one of the bad guys might be having second thoughts about his involvement in crime and am hoping my suspicions about a possible featured role in the next installment are correct. Whatever the case, I loved this book and can’t wait to read the final installment of this series. It promises to be every bit as good.
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:
He’s Seen the Entire Country.
She’s Never Been Off Her Mountain Home.
When Danger Comes, This Unlikely Couple Will Need to Rely on Each Other.
After years of isolation on top of Hope Mountain, Ilsa Nordegren may finally be ready to leave. Raised to fear the world, Ilsa and her sisters never planned on coming down, but when the Warden family arrived in need, they had to help. But with the arrival of added danger, it may cost them the only life they’ve ever known.
Having made his fortune, Mitch Warden returned home and found the family homestead abandoned. In a land grab, a ruthless cattle baron had forced his family to escape up the mountain, and when Mitch follows, the last thing he expects is to fall smitten with a strong-willed, dark-haired woman who dresses like Robin Hood and defends herself better than most men.
Mitch is intent on helping his family reclaim their land but doesn’t realize the risks his past has brought. Hired killers are tracking him, and he’s determined to draw them away before anyone else gets hurt. But that means a journey to the city–and when Ilsa insists on joining him, the mismatched pair suddenly find themselves on an adventure they’ll never forget.
Read an excerpt here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Connealy (www.maryconnealy.com) writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.
by admin | Mar 6, 2020 | Books, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I thoroughly enjoyed The Road to Happenstance, the story of a town by the same name that somehow feels like it is in an alternate universe. It is a town with delightfully quirky inhabitants who manage to bring much needed healing to the soul of widower Matthew Sadler who feels beat up by his own world.
I loved how easily Matthew became involved in the lives of the elderly Barlow sisters who quickly pull him into various projects around town. He soon learns that when he helps others his own troubles seem to disappear. Life in Happenstance is not without its problems though. Matthew finds himself drawn to a woman who reminds him strongly of his late wife but the more he is around her the more something just seems to be off about her. The plot is filled with wonderful characters, some of whom are a tad shady, a bit of mystery and deception, but most of all an enchanting and whimsical tale with a strong message of hope.
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:
One man running from his past, two women he’s attracted to, and a peculiar town that won’t let him go. Matthew Sadler rides his ’77 Harley into Happenstance, intent on passing through, but people and events conspire to prevent his leaving. The elderly Barlow sisters consider Matt their knight on a motorcycle. Matt is entranced by Roni, the other lodger at the Happenstance Hotel, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Matt’s beloved, deceased wife. The young doctor in town, Paula Percy, adores Matt’s motorcycle. However, she is suspicious of the woman from the hotel.As the days pass, the quaint little town, with its unique residents, begins to show its sinister side. When evidence of multiple thefts leads to Matt’s door, he must deal with a mystery and yet more false accusations. Do the old diaries of Amanda Rutherford Barlow hold the answers Matt so desperately seeks? Will Happenstance finally let him go, or does he have a reason to stay?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Janice L. Dick has been writing since 1989. Her first two historical novels, Calm Before the Storm and Eye of the Storm, won first place in the historical fiction category of The Word Guild’s Canadian Writing Awards. The third novel in the series, Out of the Storm, was short-listed for the same award. These three novels, currently out of print, will be re-released under her own imprint, Tansy & Thistle Press, in the near future.
Besides historical fiction, Janice also writes long and short contemporary fiction, book reviews, blogs and non-fiction articles.
Janice is the first winner of the Janette Oke Award, presented by InScribe Christian Writer’s Fellowship in 2016.
Janice writes from her farm home on the Saskatchewan prairies of Canada. She and her husband love farm life and enjoy their family of three married children and their spouses, and eleven grandchildren.
See more about Janice and her writing on her website at http://www.janicedick.com.
by admin | Mar 6, 2020 | Books, Historical, Romance, Suspense, True Crime
MY REVIEW:
Each and every book I have read from the True Colors series has been excellent. I have enjoyed the historical tales based on true American crimes. Some of them are almost too strange to believe but it is obvious that the authors have researched their chosen subjects well.
The Green Dress is a somewhat disturbing addition to the series. The story itself is very good with well developed, three dimensional characters who practically leap off the pages of the book. Even the villains of the story showed more than one side of their personalities. The disturbing thing is the very idea that such evil people exist in our world and the depths of their lack of conscience and depravity. The fact that the story is based on a true crime is indeed unthinkable.
I tend to enjoy suspenseful novels. The Green Dress contained just the right touch of mystery and suspense to hold my interest and keep me turning the pages. I found Harriet and Michael to be perfect heroes with their loyalty, determination to find the truth, and resolve to help. It was not too much of a surprise when the truth was exposed but satisfaction that the horror had been stopped. I found it particularly interesting when the role of the green dress was revealed.
I highly recommend The Green Dress as well as the entire True Colors series. I don’t intend to miss a single book in the series.
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: The Green Dress
Author: Liz Tolsma
Genre: Christian Historical Suspense
Release Date: June 2020
Click here to get your copy!
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Death Seems to Follow Harriet’s New Friend
Book 6 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History
When Harriet Peters came to Boston in 1882, the Robinson family took her in like one of their own, and Harriet became closer to Lizzie Robinson than her own siblings. Now, four years later, Lizzie is deathly sick, failing quickly just like several others in her family have done over the past few years. How can so many in one family die from the same mysterious illness? Harriet doesn’t have answers, but she is determined to help the family, bringing in a new-to-the-neighborhood doctor, Michael Wheaton.
As Harriet and Michael close in on the answer, putting their own lives at risk, can the cause be found before anyone else dies?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Liz Tolsma is a popular speaker and an editor and the owner of the Write Direction Editing. An almost-native Wisconsinite, she resides in a quiet corner of the state with her husband and is the mother of three. Her son proudly serves as a U.S. Marine. They adopted all of their children internationally, and one has special needs. When she gets a few spare minutes, she enjoys reading, relaxing on the front porch, walking, working in her large perennial garden, and camping with her family.
MORE FROM LIZ:
We’ve all been there—started a letter or an email or even a list, didn’t like what we had, crossed it out or hit the delete button, and tried again. Now imagine that happening when you’re writing a novel.
That’s what occurred with The Green Dress. Finding the perfect place to start a novel can be tricky, but when you’re trying to balance fact with fiction, it’s even harder. I needed the fictional heroine, Harriet Peters, to have a good reason to come into contact with and become close to the factual Robinson family. And I needed for the hero, Michael Wheaton, to meet Harriet early on. So I dove into the story. Five chapters later, the hero and heroine hadn’t yet met. The book wasn’t working.
I scrapped those chapters and started at a different point. At first, it seemed to be going better. I was happy. Until I got to the fifth chapter, when I realized again that the book wasn’t working. Frankly, it was boring. So those ended up in the virtual trash bin. Meanwhile, the clock was ticking on my deadline. I was desperate to find the right starting point, at a place with high tension. Finally, I had an “aha” moment, and the story flowed from there. That’s how the first five chapters (and the rest of The Green Dress) came to be.
—Liz Tolsma
BLOG STOPS:
| The Power of Words, June 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 26
deb’s Book Review, June 26
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, June 26
A Reader’s Brain, June 27
Rebecca Tews, June 27
For Him and My Family, June 27
Texas Book-aholic, June 28
Back Porch Reads, June 28
Inklings and notions, June 28
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 28
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 29
Genesis 5020, June 29
Emily Yager, June 29
Christian Bookaholic, June 30
Robin’s Nest, June 30
To Everything There is A Season, June 30
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 30
Blogging With Carol, July 1
Bigreadersite, July 1
Read Review Rejoice, July 1
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 2
Life of Literature, July 2
Connie’s History Classroom, July 2 |
Betti Mace, July 3
Southern Gal Loves to Read, July 3
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, July 3
Stories By Gina, July 3
For the Love of Literature, July 4
Remembrancy, July 4
Reviewingbooksplusmore, July 4
Godly Book Reviews, July 5
Splashes of Joy, July 5
Vicky Sluiter, July 5
Older & Smarter?, July 6
Through the Fire Blogs, July 6
Daysong Reflections, July 6
amandainpa, July 6
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 7
Pause for Tales , July 7
Just the Write Escape, July 7
Hallie Reads, July 8
Where Faith and Books Meet, July 8
Blossoms and Blessings, July 8
Spoken from the Heart, July 9
With a Joyful Noise, July 9
Artistic Nobody, July 9 (Guest Review from Donna Cline) |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!
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/fcd8/the-green-dress-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Mar 5, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
I do not remember having read another novel by Christina Suzann Nelson but I can safely state that after reading More Than We Remember, I plan to remedy that as soon as I can. This author’s writing style pulled me right into her story and held me there until the end.
The stories of three women who seemed to have absolutely nothing in common were told from their separate points of view as their lives intersected at various points. Addison, Emilia, and Brianne each struggled with difficult burdens in their lives and often felt that they carried those burdens alone. A terrible accident touches their lives on different levels but serves as a catalyst that challenges each of them to overcome the memories that prevent them from becoming the women they were designed to be.
I loved how the women crossed paths in one way or another, sometimes helping another yet by that very act receiving help herself. It was gratifying to observe as each of them slowly transformed as a result of their interactions. Various twists and turns of the plot kept me turning the pages and one major surprise was totally unexpected. I really loved this book with its deep personal insights and cannot wait to read another by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required.All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
One night changes everything. . . .
When Addison Kilbourn’s husband is involved in a car accident that leaves a woman dead, her perfectly constructed life crumbles apart. With her husband’s memory of that night gone and the revelation of a potentially life-altering secret, Addison has to reevaluate all she thought she knew.
Emilia Cruz is a deputy bearing a heavy burden far beyond the weight of her job. After a traumatic brain injury, her husband is no longer the man she married, and Emilia’s determined to prevent others from facing the same hardship. When she’s called to the scene of an accident pointing to everything she’s fighting against, she’s determined to see justice for those wronged.
Brianne Demanno is hiding from reality. She once thrived as a counselor, but when tragedy struck a beloved client, she lost faith in herself and her purpose. When her neighbors, the Kilbourns, are thrown into crisis, Brianne’s solitary life is disrupted and she finds herself needed in a way she hasn’t been for too long.
As the lives of these women intersect, they can no longer dwell in the memory of who they’ve been. Can they rise from the wreck of the worst moments of their lives to become who they were meant to be?
Read an excerpt here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit: © Katey Tryon
CBA bestselling author Christina Suzann Nelson (www.christinasuzannnelson.com) writes stories that focus on changing legacies from dysfunction to hope. Her first novel, If We Make It Home, was named a Library Journal Best Book of 2017 and a Foreword INDIES 2017 Book of the Year. Christina is a part of Oregon Christian Writers and a member of ACFW, where she has served as the northwest zone director. She lives in Oregon’s gorgeous Willamette Valley with her husband of 26 years and their children.
