"a heart's promise" by colleen coble

Emmie Croftner tries to navigate pregnancy and romance in the fifth installment in Colleen Coble's Journey of the Heart series.

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When Emmie Croftner discovers she's pregnant, she's unsure what to do. Everyone at Fort Phil Kearny, including her dearest friends Sarah and Amelia, assume she's a widow. If the truth—that her late "husband" Monroe deceived her, and they were never truly married—comes out, she may lose her friends, her place to stay, and the attention of sweet soldier Isaac Liddle.

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I think I enjoyed this installment in the Journey of the Heart series more than any other so far. Not only is Emmie so wholly likeable, but there's good romantic tension between Emmie and Isaac, the plot moves forward quite a bit, and characters from previous installments make return appearances to shake things up.

Those return characters really add a lot to the story, and I think they'll continue to be influential in the final book of this series. When Morning Song, Sarah Campbell's old friend, returns, she brings with her two surprises that rock Emmie's world—one in a good way, and the other in a bad way. It will be very interesting to see how everything plays out there. The conniving Jessica DuBois, Sarah's husband's ex-fiancee, also shows up again, and her return is sure to make waves. Honestly, I'd love for Jessica to get eaten by the wolves that live outside the fort—that's not very charitable of me, I know, but she's just such a horrible person!

A Heart's Promise definitely left me hanging, and I can't wait to see how everything plays out in A Heart's Home. 4 stars.

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Buy the novella.
Read my reviews of A Heart's Disguise (4 stars), A Heart's Obsession (3 stars), A Heart's Danger (4 stars), and A Heart's Betrayal (3 stars).
Read my reviews of Coble's Inn at Ocean's Edge (5 stars), Lonestar series (Lonestar Secrets; Lonestar Angel, 3 stars), Under Texas Stars series (Blue Moon Promise, 3-1/2 stars; Safe in His Arms, 3-1/2 stars), and The Lightkeeper's Daughter.

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Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble's addictive brand of romantic suspense.

Find Colleen online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the curiosity keeper" by sarah e. ladd

Sweet romance, intriguing mystery, and rich descriptions combine into compelling historical fiction in Sarah E. Ladd's latest release.

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"It is not just a ruby, as you say. It is large as a quail's egg, still untouched and unpolished. And it is rumored to either bless or curse whoever possesses it."

Camille Iverness can take care of herself. She's done so since the day her mother abandoned the family and left Camille to run their shabby curiosity shop. But when a violent betrayal leaves her injured with no place to hide, Camille must allow a mysterious stranger to come to her aid.

Jonathan Gilchrist never wanted to inherit Kettering Hall. As a second son, he was content to work as the village apothecary. But when his brother's death made him heir just as his father's foolish decisions put the estate at risk, only the sale of a priceless possession---a ruby called the Bevoy---can save the family from ruin. But the gem has disappeared. And all trails lead to Iverness Curiosity Shop---and the beautiful shop girl who may be the answer to his many questions.

Caught at the intersection of blessings and curses, greed and deceit, these two determined souls must unite to protect what they hold dear. But when a passion that shines far brighter than any gem is ignited, they will have to decide how much they are willing to risk for their future, love, and happiness.

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I read each of Sarah Ladd's great Whispers of the Moors novels as they released. If The Curiosity Keeper is any indication, her new Treasures of Surrey series is sure to be just as wonderful!

The Curiosity Keeper features two extremely likeable yet flawed main characters, Camille and Jonathan. I found Camille's background to be fascinating, and I loved the way Ladd slowly unfolded the story of Camille's family. I felt for Jonathan as he strove to be the man he knew he was meant to be while still yearning for the approval of his father. Really, the family dynamics of both the Iverness and Gilchrist families were the most interesting aspects of the novel for me.

The romance is sweet, if understated, and the mystery is compelling without being heart pounding. (If you're wondering, I think both of those things are good.) I loved seeing how everything with the Bevoy unfolded and learning how both families were involved.

The Curiosity Keeper is a very enjoyable read. I'm sure Recency fans will love it! 4-1/2 stars.

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Read my reviews of Ladd's The Heiress of Winterwood (4 stars), The Headmistress of Rosemere (5 stars), and A Lady at Willowgrove Hall (4 stars).

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Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

Visit Sarah online: website, Facebook, Twitter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"living hope" cd from pizza ranch + giveaway

My first experience with Pizza Ranch was after the longest. speech meet. ever. We arrived at the meet late, due to stopping to pick up students from another school whose bus had broken down by the side of the road. Nothing ran on schedule practically all day. We had sick kids, and one of my students got hit on by a judge. It was a looooong day.

So when it was finally time to begin our 90-minute drive home, we decided to stop for food. Pizza Ranch won out, basically because it was conveniently located. Best decision ever!

The food was amazing, and we had so much fun decompressing after our long day! 

While the nearest Pizza Ranch is 45 minutes away from where I live, I though I might start going more often ... and then I began my gluten free diet. I just assumed that Pizza Ranch was out for me—my favorite menu items were the pizza, fried chicken, and potato wedges ... all of which contain gluten. But when I was researching for this post, I discovered that they offer a gluten free pizza. Win! I'm looking forward to trying it out.

And now there's another reason to love Pizza Ranch: they've just released a CD of great Christian music, and it's only $5!

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On June 2, 2015, Pizza Ranch released a CD called Living Hope containing twelve songs from many of their favorite Christian artists.  Most of the songs are brand-new and written exclusively for this CD around the theme of Hope.  Artists include Colton Dixon, Francesca Batistelli, Ellie Holcomb, Sidewalk Prophets, Kevin Max, Bart Millard, Passion Band featuring Kristian Stanfill, Michael W. Smith, and Mark Schultz.  

The CD will be available to purchase for $5 plus tax exclusively in Pizza Ranch restaurants or for download at pizzaranch.com/livinghope through August 31.  

From Adrie Groeneweg, President & CEO of Pizza Ranch, Inc.: "This album has a very special meaning for Pizza Ranch. Although Pizza Ranch is not in the music business, many things have been happening, conversations have been taking place and doors have been opening for this album. Through these events, I believe it was obvious that God has been behind this for His specific purpose and putting it on our hearts to collectively create this project. As such, we call this our miracle album, Living Hope."

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I'm really enjoying this CD. Most of the songs were written exclusively for this album, and they all feature the theme of hope. I think my favorite track is "Day One" by Matthew West, which is an acoustic version of his current hit. I also really like "A Little Hope" by Bart Millard (best known from MercyMe). It's such a happy, bouncy tune. The rest of the songs on the album are good, too—I highly recommend it! 5 stars.

Not only did I get to enjoy this great CD, but I also have a copy to give away! Enter through the Raffelcopter below.

Giveaway rules: Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Contest is open in the US and CANADA only. Winner will be selected at random using Rafflecopter.com and will have 48 hours to respond to email notification, or another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Buy the album at any Pizza Ranch or download here.

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About Pizza Ranch: Adrie Groeneweg founded Pizza Ranch in 1981 in Hull, Iowa. Currently, Pizza Ranch has 190 locations in 13 states including Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Home of the Pizza Lover’s Pizza®, The Country’s Best Chicken®, and our famous cactus bread, Pizza Ranch prides itself on legendary service and quality food.

Learn more about Pizza Ranch and the Living Hope album: 
Twitter: @PizzaRanch @PRServes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PizzaRanchRacing
Official Website: http://www.pizzaranch.com/livinghope/
YouTube Channel (features images and videos of the artists talking about the story behind each song): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE9lEnxuNzMyLfRyX8_tiLA

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

"thriving in babylon" by larry osborne + giveaway

Conservative Christians have a tendency to freak out whenever something that goes against God's word is embraced by society. I had a boss like that once, and I dreaded going to staff meetings, as I was sure we were going to hear yet another reason why America was going to Hell in a handbasket. And it's true that a lot is happening in America—and around the world—that goes directly against the Bible. So how should we respond? Larry Osborne offers some suggestions in his new book, Thriving in Babylon.

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Meet a man forced to live in a fast changing and godless society. He faced fears about the future, concern for his safety, and the discouragement of world that seemed to be falling apart at warp speed.

Sound familiar? His name was Daniel, and with the power of hope, humility, and wisdom, he not only thrived, he changed an empire while he was at it. Though he lived thousands of years ago, he has much to teach us today.

Even in Babylon, God is in control.

In Thriving in Babylon, Larry Osborne explores the "adult" story of Daniel to help us not only survive - but actually thrive in an increasingly godless culture. Here Pastor Osborne looks at:

-Why panic and despair are never from God
-What true optimism looks like
-How humility disarms even our greatest of enemies
-Why respect causes even those who will have nothing to do with God to listen
-How wisdom can snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat

For those who know Jesus and understand the full implications of the cross, the resurrection, and the promises of Jesus, everything changes---not only in us, but also in our world.

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Thriving in Babylon is full of advice for Christians living in America today. I especially appreciated sections on examining our faith, as well as the descriptions of how to live lives full of hope, humility, and wisdom.

While I didn't agree with everything Osborne said (I thought he was a little too quick to dismiss the lies certain Biblical figures told, saying God understands that sometimes we have to choose the lesser of two evils), he certainly gave me a lot to think about.

I really enjoyed Osborne's writing style—it's engaging, funny, and very easy to read and understand.

One of the things I've been thinking about recently is this question: Why would we expect people who don't know Jesus to live like they do? Legislating morality doesn't work, and neither do "in your face" debates. Jesus calls us to love others and share the gospel with them. At the end of the book's section on humility, Osborne addresses this, saying, "We are to proclaim the gospel to lost people in the hope they will repent and bow the knee. Our goal is to win them over, not wipe them out. But we'll never be able to persuade anybody if our knee-jerk response to those held captive to do the enemy's will remains one of anger, resentment, disrespect, and scorn" (p. 166). A lot of people on social media need to think that one over!

Osborne also addresses sin in the church, saying that's what we need to be concerned about. If unbelievers are living lives of sin, that's to be expected. If those who call themselves Christ followers are, that's a problem that needs to be addressed.

Overall, I'm very glad I read Thriving in Babylon. It's given me a lot to think about, that's for sure! 4 stars.

The publisher sent me an extra copy of the book to give away! Just enter through the Rafflecopter below. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email notification, or another winner will be chosen.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Buy the book.

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Dr. Larry Osborne has served as a senior pastor and teaching pastor at North Coast Church---one of the ten most influential churches in the country---since 1980. Dr. Osborne is the author of numerous books, includingAccidental Pharisees. He and his wife live in Oceanside, California. They have three grown children.

Find Larry online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the lost garden" by katharine swartz

The Lost Garden by Katharine Swartz first caught my attention because of the stunning cover (probably my favorite cover so far in 2015), and it kept my attention because of the beautiful prose and sweetly gripping story line.

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Present and past residents of a countryside English vicarage search for love 

Marin Ellis is in search of a new start after her father and his second wife die in a car accident leaving her the guardian of her fifteen-year-old half-sister, Rebecca. They choose the picturesque village of Goswell on the Cumbrian coast and settle into Bower House, the former vicarage, on the edge of the church property. When a door to a walled garden captures Rebecca's interest, Marin becomes determined to open it and discover what is hidden beneath the bramble inside. She enlists the help of local gardener Joss Fowler, and together the three of them begin to uncover the garden's secrets. 

In 1919, nineteen-year-old Eleanor Sanderson, daughter of Goswell's vicar, is grieving the loss of her beloved brother Walter, who was killed just days before the Armistice was signed. Eleanor retreats into herself and her father starts to notice how unhappy she is. As spring arrives, he decides to hire someone to make a garden for Eleanor, and draw her out of--or at least distract her from--her grief and sorrow. Jack Taylor is in his early twenties, a Yorkshire man who has been doing odd jobs in the village, and when Eleanor's father hires him to work on the vicarage gardens, a surprising--and unsuitable--friendship unfolds. 

Deftly weaving the dual narratives, Katharine Swartz explores themes of loyalty and love through her memorable characters and strong sense of place. 

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The Lost Garden is not a particularly fast read—it's not one of those novels that moves at breakneck pace or is full of passionate romance. But it is a beautiful novel—one that you read slowly so as to savor the experience as the story unfolds.

Swartz weaves her dual narratives in such a way that as Marin is learning the secrets of the garden and its inhabitants, those events are unfolding in Eleanor's time. The narrative switches between past and present with each chapter, and I never found myself more interested in one timeline than another—both are equally fascinating.

In both timelines, the main characters deal with grief in wildly different ways. Yet their journeys to love and healing do mirror each other in an interesting fashion. Both story lines would be compelling on their own, but the intertwining of the two makes for a much richer and emotional reading experience. This is my first time reading a Katharine Swartz novel, but I'm sure it won't be my last. 5 stars.

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After spending three years as a diehard New Yorker, Katharine Swartz now lives in the Lake District with her husband, an Anglican minister, their five children, and a Golden Retriever. She enjoys such novel things as long country walks and chatting with people in the street, and her children love the freedom of village life—although she often has to ring four or five people to figure out where they've gone off to!

In addition to writing women's fiction, she writes contemporary romance for Mills & Boon Modern under the name Kate Hewitt. Whatever the genre, she enjoys delivering a compelling and intensely emotional story.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"a bride at last" by melissa jagears

You wanna know what initially drew me to this novel? The woman on the cover reminds me of Marla Sokoloff (who I first knew as bad girl Gia on Full House and who has lately become a regular on Hallmark-type romances), and the guy looks like he could be a long lost Hemsworth brother. Fortunately, the book has more than just the cover to recommend it.

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Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesey has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts.

Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she'd been deceived about her intended groom, she's now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she'll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony-until two men suddenly show up in town, claiming to be the boy's father.

Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

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A Bride at Last is the third novel in Melissa Jagears' Unexpected Bride series, which takes the mail order bride trope and turns it on its head. In A Bride at Last, Silas had a mail order bride who ran away, and Kate planned to be a mail order bride until her intended turned out to be the town drunk. Both moved on from their pasts, but those pasts come back to haunt them when they're thrown together in a quest to help Kate's student Anthony—who just might also be Silas's son.

Overall, I really enjoyed A Bride at Last. Kate and Silas are both likeable characters, and I wanted them to be together. I did feel like Silas's reaction to Kate's past was a bit too extreme—or perhaps just too drawn out. That said, I loved the way Jagears brought about their reconciliation.

If the novel had been about 50 pages shorter with the time that Kate and Silas spent apart in Silas's hometown Salt Flatts greatly reduced, the novel would have been just about perfect. As it is, it's still a very solid historical romance. 4 stars.

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Read my review of Jagears' A Bride in Store (4 stars).

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Melissa Jagears, an ESL teacher by trade and the author of A Bride for Keeps and A Bride in Store, is a stay-at-home mother on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. She's a member of ACFW and CROWN fiction marketing, and her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly.

Find Melissa online: website, Facebook
 

Can Silas and Kate overcome their rocky start and experience healing—and possibly love? Discover the answer in Melissa Jagears' new book, A Bride at Last. Neither Kate nor Silas is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light as they attempt to prove nine-year-old Anthony's paternity to the court. Can their wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

Celebrate the release of A Bride at Last by entering to win a $100 Memory-Making giveaway and RSVPing to Melissa's August 4th author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $100 gift card to Netflix (for a family movie night), Shutterfly (to create a family memory book), or TablePlayGames (for a family game night)
• One copy of A Bride at Last

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/4. The winner will be announced at Melissa's 8/4 A Bride at Last Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Melissa and fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

"movie star by lizzie pepper" by hilary liftin

Three years ago, in the middle of my Dawson's Creek obsession, Katie Holmes shocked the world (and Tom Cruise) by filing for divorce. Of course, I wondered what went on behind the scenes of their crazy romance and the demise of their relationship. So far, Holmes hasn't written a tell-all, but this is the next best thing ...

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Actress Lizzie Pepper was America’s Girl Next Door and her marriage to Hollywood mega-star Rob Mars was tabloid gold—a whirlwind romance and an elaborate celebrity-studded wedding landed them on the cover of every celebrity weekly. But fame, beauty, and wealth weren't enough to keep their marriage together. Hollywood’s “It” couple are over—and now Lizzie is going to tell her side of the story.

Celebrity ghostwriter Hilary Liftin chronicles the tabloids’ favorite marriage as Lizzie Pepper realizes that, when the curtain falls, her romance isn't what she and everyone else thought. From her lonely holidays in sumptuous villas to her husband’s deep commitment to a disconcertingly repressive mind-body group, Lizzie reveals a side of fame that her fans never get to see in a story that will have every reader guessing the real-life inspirations for its players. Full of twists and turns, Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper is a breathless journey to the heights of Hollywood power and royalty and a life in the spotlight that is nearly impossible to escape.

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Anyone with a passing knowledge of American pop culture over the last decade will have no trouble identifying the inspiration behind Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper—the infamous TomKat, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. And it's that inspiration that both helps and harms this novel.

As you read, it's fun to see the parallels between Rob & Lizzie and Tom & Katie. But the similarities to the real-life story (or at least the version reported in tabloids and entertainment magazines) also cause this story to falter a bit. Every time I read a seemingly significant detail that I wasn't aware of in the TomKat story, I would stop and wonder if the detail was just the author telling her fictional story or something that was real and I was just unaware. The lines between fiction and reality are quite blurred in this novel.

I did appreciate Liftin's choice to make the ending differ from the TomKat ending, though the revelation is a bit rushed. It was almost as though the author was trying to prove that Rob and Lizzie really aren't Tom and Katie by making the ending unexpected, and she didn't spend the time necessary to make it a truly believable and satisfying plot point.

But my favorite, favorite, favorite aspect of the novel is something that I hope is not based in reality! I don't want to spoil anything, but the reason Lizzie decides to leave Rob is both horrifying and morbidly hilarious, and it made everything about the book suddenly fall into place.

Overall, though, Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper is a fun, light read—perfect for a day at the beach! 3-1/2 stars.

Note: While not prevalent, several profanities are scattered throughout the novel. Also, there is some discussion of sexual situations, but nothing explicit is mentioned.

Buy the book.

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Hilary Liftin is a collaborator specializing in celebrity memoir. Since 2006 she has worked on fifteen books, ten of which hit the New York Times bestseller list. Hilary has also written three books under her own name. The first, DEAR EXILE, is letters that she exchanged with her co-author, Kate Montgomery, when Kate was in the Peace Corps in Kenya and Hilary was in New York. It was published by Vintage in 1999 and is still in print. CANDY AND ME: A Love Story is Hilary's memoir told through different kinds of candy. MOVIE STAR BY LIZZIE PEPPER is her first novel. 


Before becoming a full-time writer in 2006, Hilary worked in the publishing industry for ten years, holding positions in editorial, marketing, and business development at Houghton Mifflin, Barnes & Noble.com, and the ebook division of Time Warner Books (now Hachette). 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"summer's list" by anita higman

Thirty-something single Summer Snow has been unlucky in love. But when her grandmother's dying wish is for Summer to complete a bucket list of sorts with the childhood friend she hasn't seen in twenty years, it seems Summer's luck in love is about to change.

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A dying wish alters the course of a young woman's life.

Life hadn't been easy for Summer Snow. In acts of selflessness---caring for her ailing parents and running her grandmother's bookstore---she had forfeited her youth and dreams for the needs of others. And the only tries she had at love . . . didn't turn out. She had the bookstore, she had her beloved granny, but she was missing something---or someone.

Opportunity strikes when Granny sends Summer on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer's past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?

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When I first heard about Summer's List, I was intrigued. I love reading about older heroines, and the bucket list concept combined with a long-lost best friend sounded fun and romantic. And it was, some of the time. However, I really struggled to connect with Summer's List. I think there are several reasons for this:

• The dialog often comes off as stilted and unnatural. I don't think I've met anyone who speaks quite like Summer, Martin, and Granny, and their conversations tended to make me feel removed from the story.
• The novel is dialog heavy and description light. This wouldn't be such a problem if the dialog was more natural, but because I didn't particularly enjoy the dialog, the lack of description only further removed me from the story.
• Martin's brothers are horrible at best and psychotic at worst. The resolution with them near the end of the novel really seemed too good to be true.
• A few things aren't explained fully, like Summer's parents' deaths and Martin's parents' abandonment. I definitely would have liked more information and, in the case of Martin's parents, a more thorough resolution.

I did enjoy certain aspects of the novel, though. I loved the list that Summer had to complete, especially the hot air balloon ride. That scene, as well as the events directly following, really tugged at my heart. Martin was completely endearing, and I enjoyed watching him rekindle his friendship (and more) with Summer. I also enjoyed the mystery of Martin's parents--both biological and adoptive. 

I wish that I had liked Summer's List more, but I just didn't connect with the majority of the novel. I do think that many readers will enjoy it, but it wasn't the novel for me. 2-1/2 stars.

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Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Higman's A Merry Little Christmas ( 3-1/2 stars) and Winter in Full Bloom (3 stars).

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Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Find Anita online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"eyes unveiled" by crystal walton

While I love reading Young Adult fiction and romance, I haven't read much New Adult fiction (where the protagonist is college aged to mid-20's). This is because much of what I've seen is overly focused on sexuality, and I want to read about love, not sex. So when Crystal Walton contacted me about reviewing her clean New Adult romance, I was intrigued.

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Twenty-one-year-old Emma Matthews lost the song in her heart the same night she lost her dad. With an unfulfilled promise and an ultimatum shadowing her junior year of college, maybe it’s better that way. You can’t hurt if you can’t feel. 

But when the reflection she sees in musician Riley Preston’s eyes borders dangerously close to the one she’s spent the last five years searching for, Emma discovers her walls can’t guard her heart from its fiercest desire. Terrified of what she’s experiencing, and even more afraid of what she might lose, Emma grapples for the courage to hold on to one dream without abandoning the promise of another. 

Contemporary Inspirational Romance novel Eyes Unveiled lets you relive those heartfelt moments when you don’t know how you’d survive a day without your best friend, when you’re trying to figure out who you are and what you’re supposed to do with your life, and when falling in love changes everything. 

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While love at first sight/instant attraction stories aren't my favorite, Walton did an excellent job of conveying the pull between Emma and Riley. I definitely felt like I was experiencing everything along with Emma, and I could buy into her feelings. (Though I think I preferred A.J., the rival for Emma's affections, to Riley. Not sure that was supposed to happen ...) While I thought Emma and Riley's relationship progressed too quickly, that's the 33-year-old me talking. The 21-year-old me would have found everything to be wonderfully romantic ... and that's what makes Eyes Unveiled a great New Adult romance. The romance and passion are there—along with a healthy dose of uncertainty that often accompanies the college years—but there's no sex or foul language.

The faith element in Eyes Unveiled is very light—so light that, had it not been called an inspirational romance in the description, I would have thought it was just a clean romance. I think it will appeal to both girls who are Christians and girls who aren't. It is perfect for those who want to read New Adult romance without the sexual content common to the genre. 3-1/2 stars.

Buy the book. (You can also borrow it free if you're a Prime member.)

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Amidst multiple moves up and down the east coast, Crystal received her bachelor of arts from Messiah College in PA, married her exact opposite in upstate NY, and earned her master of arts from Regent University in VA, where she currently resides with her husband. Crystal writes contemporary inspirational fiction fueled by venti green teas from Starbucks.

When not working her accounting day job, she's delving into the wonder of words, supporting her Starbucks habit, or laughing over movie quotes & singing eighties songs with her husband. She'd love to connect with you at crystal-walton.com.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"gone without a trace" by patricia bradley

With a plot that keeps you guessing, Gone without a Trace will have romantic suspense lovers flying through the pages.

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The past is repeating itself—and time is running out.

It's been more than two years since homicide detective Livy Reynolds's cousin disappeared from Logan Point. Unlike most people in her hometown, Livy has never believed that Robyn left voluntarily. When Dallas private investigator Alex Jennings contacts her concerning a senator's missing granddaughter who was last seen in Logan Point, Livy notices eerie similarities between the two disappearances. With self-doubt plaguing her and an almost instant dislike of the self-assured PI, she's finding this investigation an uphill battle. But with the prospect of finding her cousin on the horizon, she'll have to find a way to work with Alex--before it's too late.

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley keeps you on the edge of your seat with a case—and a relationship—that is anything but certain.

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The covers of Patricia Bradley's Logan's Point novels may look like posters for Lifetime movies, but there's nothing cheesy about the stories inside. In the third book (which can be read as a stand alone), Gone without a Trace, Bradley amps up the suspense with a story that feels like it could happen just about anywhere, making it all the more scary.

One of my favorite things about Gone without a Trace is the way Bradley drops clues about the abductor's identity without actually giving anything away. Basically, there are four or five men who could be the bad guy, and I kept changing my mind about who it was! But I also felt like I could follow along and make intelligent guesses, so when he was revealed, I didn't feel cheated—everything lined up based on the story.

While the mystery was fantastic and the romance between Livy and Alex was believable, I did feel like a few other relationships resolved a bit too conveniently. One of them, the relationship between Livy and her father, didn't have a huge bearing on the story anyway, so I don't know why it needed to be included. However, it was just a minor sub-plot; I absolutely loved 95% of this novel.

I know I joked about Lifetime earlier, but I could absolutely see Gone without a Trace being made into a Lifetime-type movie. And I for one would love to watch it. 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my review of Bradley's A Promise to Protect (4 stars.)

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Patricia Bradley is the author of Shadows of the Past, A Promise to Protect, and Gone without a Trace. Bradley has been a finalist for the Genesis Award, winner of a Daphne du Maurier Award, and winner of a Touched by Love Award. Bradley is a published short story writer and cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America, and makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

the friendship tour grand finale + giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Check out all of Tara's events HERE.

We're blitzing The Friendship Tour Grand Finale for:

The Friendship Pact
&
Once Upon a Friendship

By Tara Taylor Quinn

We hope you've enjoyed getting to know more about Author Tara Taylor Quinn and the friendships in these two stories throughout the tour. If you missed any of the stops, go back and check them out...

Launch - Introductions

Intro to The Friendship Pact
I've written a lot of books. From thriller/suspense to romance, I've given you many kinds of stories. This one isn't like any of them. It's a story of heart. Of soul-searching. Of tough questions with no easy answers. It's a story of relationships. Of friendship. It's the story of two very different women who, as children, make a pact to travel life's journey together.
Intro to Once Upon a Friendship
On the surface, Once Upon a Friendship was kind of ordinary when I started writing. . . . But as I've come to accept over the years, the book wasn't really mine. The story belongs to Liam and Gabi and Marie. And the things that happened to them are not mine to change.

Christian Chick's Thoughts - Once Upon a Friendship Review

"I definitely felt the chemistry between Gabi and Liam, and I pulled for their happy ending. I also enjoyed a couple other non-romantic relationships that Liam developed throughout the novel. The touch of mystery also added to my enjoyment of the novel. And now I'm very curious about where Marie's story will go."

undercover book reviews - Promo

underneath the covers - TTQ Signature

Both books celebrate friendship. Both come straight from my heart and soul to yours. I can promise you that, if you read them, you'll take an emotional journey. You'll be made to question a thing or two that matters to you. And you'll find something to take with you, too.

deal sharing aunt - Elderly Couple

In Once Upon A Friendship, three friends buy an old apartment building to prevent the elderly people who've been living there all their lives from being put out on the street. They had no idea what a bounty their investment would be to them in terms of the gifts they'd get in return from the residents they'd saved. But I knew. And I had a great time showing them what I knew.

Diana's Book Reviews - Reviews

The Friendship Pact: "As I started getting into the story, I really couldn't put it down, had to finish it all, but of course there is life, work and dinner to be cooked. But this story really touched my heart, and even a lesson in this story. Each person in this story had something to give and take, and the emotions were raw and real."
Once Upon a Friendship: "I just love the way Tara Taylor Quinn writes, you can feel the emotion in her stories, the people seem real, and I love to read stories that seem real."

beck valley books - 70th Book

The release of Once Upon A Friendship this month marks my seventieth published novel with the Harlequin/MIRA/Harper Collins team. When the publisher sent me the list of my titles recently, telling me that I was at number 70--a number they consider a milestone--I took a quick glance. I knew I'd written close to seventy books. But then a title caught my eye. Not because of the particular title. Or because of the particular book. But because I'd written the book years ago, saw the name, and got that rush feeling in my stomach that you get on Facebook when you see that an old friend has found you.

Mel's Shelves - Once Upon a Friendship Review

"I love a good romance, especially when there's a secondary storyline and this book delivered! I wasn't expecting the mystery so that was a pleasant surprise. I had a pretty good idea of who was behind the scheme early on but there were still some twists and turns along the way that I didn't see coming."

Words for the Journey - Once Upon a Friendship Review

"True to Harlequin Heartwarming's style, Once Upon a Friendship is a clean story centered around traditional values of family, friendship, and personal growth. These are so rare nowadays, it's always a joy to find one!"

Wishful Endings - Once Upon a Friendship Excerpt

Liam didn't remember getting back to his car. He knew he'd done so on his own. Without escort. He climbed behind the wheel, starting the car with a calm he'd probably feel if he felt anything at all.

Christy's Cozy Corners - Once Upon a Friendship Review

"If you like sweet romance stories with endearing characters, you will love Once Upon a Friendship by Tara Taylor Quinn. It is filled with emotion and it will keep your attention throughout!"

Getting Your Read On - Once Upon a Friendship Review

"I did enjoy the cast of characters here. It was easy to feel their camaraderie and loyalty to each other. Friendship is the best base for a romantic relationship, I think. Well, friendship and attraction. :) This was an easy going book. It was gentle in nature and never really got my heart pounding but it was solid and had a good flow to it."

Life as Leels - Once Upon a Friendship Review

"I will say, the big twist in the mix really through me for a loop though. It wasn't what I expected and left me turning the pages to see what was all going to come of the entire situation. While it wasn't my usual type of read, I did enjoy it and recommend that if you are looking for a good, clean read; this is it!"

Colorimetry - My Best Friend

I learned the value of friendship at a very young age. I was five when I met my best friend. Not a best friend in the moment. Or a bestie. Not one of several. Just the one. She was four at the time. I don't know why she was different from every other person I would meet in life. No clue why she was the one.

Katie's Clean Book Collection - Closest Friend

And this is the message I hope you get from The Friendship Pact and Once Upon A Friendship. Cherish your friends. Tend to them. Let the little things go. Work through the big ones. Because they are the ones who will always be there to catch you when you fall. To hold you up. And help put you back together again.

Hardcover Feedback - Reviews

The Friendship Pact: "The story was in a way like riding a roller coaster, because it would be so sweet in one moment and so heartbreaking the next, but strangely enough I liked that. For the most part it felt extremely realistic and I just couldn't put it down."
Once Upon a Friendship: "I enjoyed that this wasn't just a romance, but a story about a father and son and their relationship with each other. I didn't see the ending coming, the part without the romance, and that's always nice. If you enjoy these type of books I recommend you give it a read."

Just as the social sharing contest Tara is running through all her tour events this summer (details here) she's also hosting a giveaway for those who share quotes from her about friendship. There are three different choices all provided below to share. Share one or all just once or every day this week!

QUOTE #1

QUOTE #2

QUOTE #3 

Prizes include:

US PRIZE: Girlfriend note cards, mini-book full of quotes, "friends" picture frame, friends wall plaque, and ebooks of The Friendship Pact and Once Upon a Friendship.

INT PRIZE: Two (2) winners will receive ebook copies of The Friendship Pact and Once Upon a Friendship.

*Share must be public to be eligible. Can share once each day. Ends July 17th. Enter via the Rafflecopter link below.

ENTER HERE

The Friendship Pact

by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Romance, Women's Fiction

Paperback & ebook, 245 pages
June 1st 2014 by MIRA

This is a story for every woman who has a best friend...

Bailey Watters and Koralynn Mitchell consider themselves "sisters of the soul." Their circumstances growing up couldn't have been more different; Kora came from a wealthy, privileged family, while Bailey's home life was hard. They'd do anything for each other. "I'd give you a kidney," they always say. There are no secrets between them--until there's one secret Bailey can't share.

This is a story for every woman who's been in love.

Danny Brown is the only man Kora's ever wanted, ever loved, and her marriage seems as flawless as everything else in her life. Bailey, however, doesn't want a husband. She does want a baby--but only by IVF. And the perfect donor, the perfect biological father, would be a man like...Danny.

What happens when love and friendship collide?

Kora might be willing to give Bailey a kidney. But what about a baby?

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin

Once Upon a Friendship

(The Historic Arapahoe #1)

by Tara Taylor Quinn

Adult Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
July 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming

They?re a team...not a couple!

Falling for Liam was unthinkable. He and Gabi had been best friends since college, nothing more. And crucially, now Liam was her client and needed her to be focused on his case. Gabi could never risk their friendship--or Liam's freedom--over these feelings. They could never be a couple, anyway. He was Liam Connelly, the handsome and privileged son of a billionaire. She was Gabrielle Miller, the girl who'd fought her way out of poverty and put herself through law school. They were unlikely friends to begin with. Anything more was impossible. Unless...he felt it, too.

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin

The author of more than 70 original novels, in twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestseller with over six million copies sold. She is known for delivering deeply emotional and psychologically astute novels of suspense and romance. Tara is a recipient of the Reader's Choice Award, a five time finalist for the RWA Rita Award, the Reviewer's Choice Award, the Bookseller's Best Award and appears frequently on bestseller lists, including #1 placement on Amazon lists. Tara is the past-president of Romance Writers of America and served eight years on that board of directors. She has appeared on national and local TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning and is a frequent guest speaker. In her spare time Tara likes to travel, climb Arizona mountains, and inline skate.

Tara is a supporter of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233. 

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Tour Giveaways

$10 VISA Gift Card & ebooks of The Friendship Pact and Once Upon a Friendship (US only)

Print copy of Once Upon a Friendship & a Spend the Summer with TTQ T-shirt (US only)

ebooks of The Friendship Pact and Once Upon a Friendship  (INT)

Ends July 17th

(All to one winner - US only.)

$10 VISA Gift Card

Copies of all five books on Tara's Summer Tour

Spend the Summer with TTQ T-Shirt

Ends July 16th

a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

"shadows of ladenbrooke manor" by melanie dobson

A delightful mix of family drama, intrigue, and romance make Melanie Dobson's Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor the perfect summer read.

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When Heather Toulson returns to her parents' cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a decades-old murder.

Libby, a free spirit who can't be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver's death.

Decades later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family's cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She's mourning her father's passing but can't let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family's belongings left behind in the cottage. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family's history.

Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways.

Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

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I've read several of Melanie Dobson's novels, and they seem to just get better and better. I opened up Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor expecting to like it, but I had no idea just how invested I would become in this novel!

The book is told from multiple perspectives in both the present and the past. While this could get confusing, it does not, and it also allows the reader to view events from multiple perspectives, causing characters who could seem like villains (like Libby's boyfriend Oliver) to come across as more sympathetic and relatable.

The portion of the story told in the past begins when Maggie, pregnant and alone, accepts Walter Doyle's offer of marriage. Maggie's decision to allow Walter to believe Libby is his sets off a cycle of lies and deception that is not broken until their younger daughter Heather returns to the family cottage following Walter's death. The novel powerfully shows how secrets and lies can affect families for generations.

Beautifully written with an intriguing and thought provoking plot, Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor is unlike any other book I've read. I almost wish I hadn't finished it yet, just so I could still have the pleasure of discovering how everything turned out for the Doyle family. 5 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Dobson's The Courier of Casewell Hall (5 stars), Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan (3.5 stars), Refuge on Crescent Hill (4 stars), and Where the Trail Ends (4.5 stars).

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Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of thirteen historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels. Two of her novels won Carol Awards in 2011, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana in 2010. Melanie lives with her husband Jon and two daughters near Portland, Oregon.

Find Melanie online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."