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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

"the memoir of johnny devine" by camille eide

Usually, I'm reluctant to put out good money to try a new-to-me author. However, when I saw a review of The Memoir of Johnny Devine on Sarah Sundin's blog, I decided the book was worth taking a chance on. I'm very glad I did!

Love can’t rewrite the pages of your past, but it can cover a multitude of sins—one page at a time.

In 1953, desperation forces war widow, Eliza Saunderson, to take a job writing the memoir of ex-Hollywood heartthrob, Johnny Devine. Rumor has it Johnny can seduce anything in a skirt quicker than he can hail a cab. But now, the notorious womanizer claims he’s born again. And so he seems to be. Eliza soon finds herself falling for the humble, grace-filled man John has become—a man who shows no sign of returning her feelings.

No sign, that is, until she discovers something John never meant for her to see.

When Eliza’s articles on minority oppression land her on McCarthy’s communist hit list, both John and Eliza become entangled in a HUAC investigation that threatens both John’s book and Eliza’s future. To clear her name, Eliza must solve a family mystery. She also needs to convince John that real love—not the Hollywood illusion—can cover a multitude of sins. But just when the hope of love becomes reality, a troubling discovery confirms Eliza’s worst fears. Like the happy façade many Americans cling to, had it all been empty lies? Is there a love she can truly believe in?

The Memoir of Johnny Devine is a dramatic story-within-a-story of a bad boy reformed and a good girl in need of reform. It’s a powerful tale of love, redemption, intrigue, and the miracle of deliberate grace.

The Memoir of Johnny Devine turned out to be not at all what I was expecting—and I mean that in the best way. I thought I'd be reading a Golden Age of Hollywood romance, and while there is some romance present, this novel is about so much more.

John's story—from being a high school dropout running from his past to becoming one of Hollywood's leading men to finding the Lord and changing his priorities—is simply fascinating. It also feels so real. In fact, I finished the novel wishing I could pick up John's memoir just to get the rest of the story.

Besides the slow unfolding of John's story, the novel also contains intrigue, as it takes place at the height of McCarthyism, and both Eliza and John find themselves the target of investigation—John because of his Hollywood connections, and Eliza because of her parentage. Eliza's quest to clear her name was especially fascinating.

Completely captivating and wholly engaging, The Memoir of Johnny Devine shows the power of Christ to change someone's life, whether that person has lived a life of debauchery or a life of striving to be good; no one is out of the reach of Christ. 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the book.

Camille Eide writes inspirational romantic & women's fiction. She lives in Oregon with her husband and is a mom and grammy. She's grateful for the amazing grace of God, and either in spite of or thanks to that grace, she has a PhD in Learning Stuff the Hard Way. She's also a church office admin, a bassist, and a fan of oldies rock, muscle cars, and tender romance. Visit her website at www.camilleeide.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this novel myself and chose to review it. 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 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.”

Monday, December 21, 2015

"at love's bidding" by regina jennings


I don't know about you, but when I read fiction, I want it to include a toe curling romance. (You've probably figured this out about me already based on the books I review!) At Love's Bidding is one such example.

She sells priceless antiques. He sells livestock by the pound. Is he really the man to make a bid for her heart?

After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she's accidentally sold a powerful family's prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the people who could ruin them forever, they track it to the Missouri Ozarks and make an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house and all its holdings before the painting can move again.

Upon crossing the country, however, Miranda and her grandfather discover their new auction house doesn't deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its frustratingly handsome manager, Wyatt Ballentine, is annoyed to discover his fussy new bosses don't know a thing about the business he's single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more heads of cattle than they can count---but no mysterious painting---Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and prevent a bad situation from getting worse.

The strength of At Love's Bidding lies in the romance. Wyatt and Miranda are a classic case of opposites attracting, and boy did they attract! Jennings hit the perfect tone with the slow build to the couple's first kiss, and the obstacles she threw in their way following the initial confession of feelings made sense and didn't feel contrived. I was incredibly invested in Wyatt and Miranda finding their happily ever after, and the romance portion of this book was handled expertly.

There's also a very intriguing mystery woven throughout the novel concerning the missing painting and its owner. I did not anticipate the turn the book took about three quarters of the way through, and that turn made the story so much more interesting.

At Love's Bidding also features a character (Miranda's grandfather) who is in the early stages of dementia. As someone who lost her grandfather to Alzheimer's, I don't like to read books or watch films about characters with dementia—it's too painful. So had I known, I probably wouldn't have picked up this book. That said, I thought Jennings did a good job with a difficult topic. (I wish the publisher would have given some indication of that important subplot in the back cover copy.)

Overall, though, in spite of the romance, I really struggled to get into At Love's Bidding. Sometimes I was even confused about events, and I think that's because I wasn't paying close enough attention as I read because I just wasn't engaged. When the plot took the aforementioned twist about three-quarters of the way through, my interest level skyrocketed, and I flew through the remaining pages. Had the whole book contained the same action and pacing, I would have loved it. As it is, it falls into the "It's OK" category for me. 3 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Jennings' Sixty Acres and a Bride (4-1/2 stars), Love in the Balance (4 stars), and Caught in the Middle (3 stars).

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She is the author of A Most Inconvenient Marriage, Sixty Acres and a Bride, and Caught in the Middle, and contributed a novella to A Match Made in Texas. Regina has worked at the Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children.

Connect with Regina: website, Twitter, Facebook


After a cross-country trip to track down a sold painting that could ruin her family's business forever, Miranda Wimplegate forms an unlikely but charged partnership with livestock auctioneer Wyatt Ballentine in Regina Jennings' At Love's Bidding. Miranda and her grandfather discover their new auction house doesn’t deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its frustratingly handsome manager, Wyatt, is annoyed to discover his fussy new bosses don’t know a thing about the business he’s single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more heads of cattle than they can count–but no mysterious painting–Miranda and Wyatt must try and prevent a bad situation from getting worse.

Join Regina in celebrating the release of At Love's Bidding by entering to win her Cozy Winter Night giveaway and RSVPing to her January 5th author chat party!

at love's bidding - 400 

One grand prize winner will receive everything you need for a cozy winter night:
at love's bidding - collage 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 1/5. The winner will be announced at the At Love's Bidding Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Regina and other readers, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

at love's bidding-enterbanner

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 5th!

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 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."

Saturday, December 19, 2015

"amish christmas at north star" by woodsmall, clark, flower, and ganshert

Several years ago, I tired of the Amish fiction genre. Now, it takes something big for me to pick up an Amish book—something like one of my favorite authors penning her first Amish story. When I heard that Katie Ganshert had an entry in an Amish anthology, well, I couldn't wait to read it!

One night four lives entered the world by the hands of an Amish midwife, just outside North Star, Pennsylvania. 

Rebekah’s Babies, as they are called, are now grown adults and in four heartwarming novellas each young person experiences a journey of discovery, a possibility of love, and the wonder of Christmas.

Guiding Star by Katie Ganshert
Curiosity gets the best of Englischer Chase Wellington when he investigates the twenty-five-year-old disappearance of an Amish baby. When he finds adventurous Elle McAllister in Iowa will his discoveries upend her world? 

Mourning Star by Amanda Flower
Eden Hochstetler slips from her parents’ fudge shop to investigate the death of her friend Isaac.  Who is guilty? Isaac’s handsome great nephew Jesse, an angry Englischer, or someone else?

In the Stars by Cindy Woodsmall
Heartbroken Kore Detweiler avoids North Star after Savilla Beiler rejects his love.  But when he is unexpectedly called to return home, he and Savilla must join forces to keep a family together.

Star of Grace by Mindy Starns Clark and Emily Clark
Andy Danner left North Star to join a new Amish settlement in Mississippi. His little brother devises a scheme to bring Andy home for Christmas and unwittingly unleashes the power of forgiveness in a reclusive widower’s life.

Since I came for Ganshert (and because her novella is first in the anthology), I'll talk about her entry first: Guiding Star. I've read Ganshert's women's fiction, romance, and dystopian YA, and I wondered how she would do writing an Amish romance. The answer is twofold: 1. She wrote a great love story. 2. She didn't write an Amish romance. That's because her heroine, Elle, was born Amish but raised by an Englisch family. Her interactions with her Amish family are very touching, but Elle and Chase are Englischers through and through. I found that to be refreshing—no one became Amish or left the Amish for love; through Elle, Ganshert gave an outsider's look into an Amish community. I also loved the build in Elle and Chase's relationship. 5 stars.

Mourning Star is a cute novella about two young women, Amish girl Eden and her best friend (and Englischer) Gina, who try to uncover the murderer of Eden's elderly friend Isaac. Along the way, Eden begins to fall for Isaac's nephew. This is a fun novella, though I did feel a little let down by the way the murderer was caught ... and by his motivation. Still, it was an enjoyable read. 4 stars.

In the Stars is the longest of the novellas in the collection, and I wouldn't have minded if it had been longer! Savvy broke Kore's heart when she unexpectedly ended their relationship. Her reasons (which I won't spoil here) are compelling, and I'm sure many women will identify in some way with her story. While I normally would scoff at this type of plot line, the fact that it's an Amish story makes it a bit more understandable. When Kore and Savvy are thrown together to care for some children, it's quickly obvious that they still care for one another, and I enjoyed watching them find their way back together. 4 stars.

Star of Grace turned out to be my favorite in the collection—a case of saving the best for last! This novella contains less romance than the other three, but it's also the most complete and compelling story. All Sam Danner wants for Christmas is for his older brother Andy to come home, so he devises a plan: if he can earn enough money to pay for Andy's train ticket home, surely Andy will come. He begins working for Vincent, a sad and bitter old man ... and as the two work together, both of their lives are changed. I loved watching Vincent's story slowly unfold and seeing how Sam's kindness to him rippled out to affect everyone around. 5 stars.

The prologue and epilogue (written by Ganshert) neatly tie together the various stories, and the epilogue answers several questions unresolved by the end of each novella. Overall, this is a wonderful collection—the perfect Christmas read! 4-1/2 stars.

Read the prologue and first chapter.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Ganshert's An October Bride (5 stars), The Perfect Arrangement (5 stars), A Broken Kind of Beautiful (5 stars), and Wildflowers from Winter (5 stars).

CINDY WOODSMALL is a best-selling author of several works of Amish fiction and a non-fiction book. MINDY STARNS CLARK is a bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction, coauthoring the Christy Award-winning The Amish Midwife. Her daughter EMILY CLARK is an MFA student. AMANDA FLOWER authored the Amish Quilt Shop mysteries as Isabella Alan and received an Agatha Award nomination for Maid of Murder. Christy Award winner KATIE GANSHERT is the author of A Broken Kind of Beautiful, three other novels and two novellas.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Blogging for Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a 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."

Thursday, December 17, 2015

"cornhuskers go to war" by tom kruger with jeff hower

In early March, I got an interesting phone call. Jeff Hower, one of the authors of Cornhuskers Go To War, wanted to know if I'd be interested in proofreading the book and giving my thoughts. I agreed, though with a bit of trepidation. You see, I had no doubt that I could proofread well/offer editorial comments. That's kind of my thing. But I wasn't sure if I'd like the book, and what would I tell Jeff if I hated it?

Fortunately, I had nothing to worry about!

On January 1, 1941, Nebraska football coach Biff Jones led his Cornhuskers-with names like Harry Hippity Hopp from Hastings, G.I.'s King Kong Royal Kahler, the Star City's Own Eddie Schwartzkopf, Hermie the German Rohrig, and Forrest Behm, Al Zikmund from Ord, Walter "the Butcher" Luther of Cambridge, and Cowboy Roy Petsch of Scottsbluff -out to Pasadena to play the biggest game of their lives: the 1941 Rose Bowl. Before the end of World War II , nearly all of these Nebraskans were proudly wearing the uniform of their country. This is the bigger-than-life story of how they lived and how they died . . . Celebrate and remember with us the 75th anniversary of that first Nebraska bowl game and of the entry of our nation into the Second World War. 

When I began reading Cornhuskers Go To War, I was simply doing my job. As I continued reading, though, I found myself drawn into the stories—stories about Butch Luther (and his fascinating sister Marylou), Al Zikmund, and other Huskers. And then there are the name drops—famous people who just happened to figure into these Nebraska boys' stories. People like Senator Bob Dole and football player/broadcaster Tom Harmon (father to NCIS star Mark Harmon). Kruger and Hower have written this book in such a way that you feel like you're sitting in a room with them, listening as they recount the stories they've gathered.

Whether you're a history buff, a Husker football fan, or just someone who enjoys reading a good story, you'll love Cornhuskers Go To War. It would also make a great Christmas gift! You can get your copy through the website, on Amazon, or at Hy-Vee and Bossleman Travel Center in Nebraska. 4-1/2 stars.

Note: So I just have to share this—I'm pretty sure this is the first time I ever saw my name in a book! (And if you know Jeff, you'll recognize that the last sentence sounds exactly like something he'd say!)



Tom P. Kruger graduated in 1974 from Shelton High School, located in a small farming community along the Platte River in central Nebraska. He went on to college at Kearney State and holds an undergraduate degree in history and social sciences as well as a graduate degree in high school administration. He taught and coached in St. Paul, NE, and Lexington, NE. He was a principal at Lexington High School and assistant principal at Grand Island Senior High School. He retired after thirty years as an educator. Tom also had a second career in the military. After graduating from college and completing four years of Army ROTC, Tom was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the armor branch of the Army. He is a graduate of Armor Officer Basic Course as well as Advanced Armor Office Course for Armor Captains. He spent his last fourteen years in the Army National Guard and retired as a Major and operations officer for the 195 Armor Battalion. 

Tom lives in Grand Island, where he and wife Ronda raised their three sons--Heath, Cole, and Tad. He is currently researching and interviewing more veterans to complete Cornhuskers Go To War: The European Theater and Cornhuskers Go To War: Meet Me in Manila. Over the years, Tom has conducted over a hundred interviews with war veterans from WWI to Desert Storm to present day. Most of these interviews were conducted with WWII warriors. His experiences and military education and a life-time as a military historian made the writing of Cornhuskers Go To War a labor of love and a tribute that honors all who have worn the uniform honorably, and especially the WWII veterans. “When we honor one we honor all.”

Jeff Hower makes his living by helping Nebraska farmers make theirs: he works in the pivot and irrigation supply business.  Oh—and he was once upon a time a high school English teacher and school administrator with the Grand Island Public Schools.

Jeff also writes the news and a weekly column for the Central City (Nebraska) Republican-Nonpareil, and has filed numerous interviews with veterans and their family members in the attempt to document the memories and legacies of American heroes.   Cornhuskers Go To War is an extension of his interest in the men and women who built—and are building—the story of this great nation.

Jeff and his wife Daurice live in Grand Island, where they are raising their two children.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I read an early copy of this book and was not asked to review it. 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."

Saturday, December 12, 2015

"whispers in the reading room" by shelley gray

If you're looking for historical fiction full of danger and intrigue with a touch of romance, then Whispers in the Reading Room is just your style.

Lydia's job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World's Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn't merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

Whispers in the Reading Room is one of those novels that you just can't put down. I should know, as I read it far into the night (and paid for it the next day). From the beginning, I was intrigued by Lydia, a quiet librarian who set aside her own wants to please her mother, even agreeing to marry a man she didn't love in hopes of securing her mother's financial security.

I also loved Sebastian, though perhaps I shouldn't have! Sebastian is not your typical Christian romance novel hero ... and that's probably why I liked him so much. He drinks, he owns a bar, he fights, he runs an illegal gambling club ... yet he is also fiercely protective of those he loves, he is generous to a fault, and he despises those who would take advantage of a woman in any way.

The novel's action moves at breakneck pace, as Lydia finds herself in one scrape after another and murders on Camp Creek Alley, the seedy area of Chicago where Sebastian's club is located, become all too frequent. There is also a delightful subplot featuring Sebastian's maid Bridget and his club manager Vincent. In essence, it's two love stories for the price of one!

For the first 90 percent of this novel, I was reading one of the best books of the year. At the very end, however, the novel faltered a bit. By that point, much, but not everything, had been resolved. Then the action jumped forward nine days, and the reader only finds out in passing who was behind the murders on Camp Creek Alley. Then the action jumps forward another week, and the reader learns that Sebastian has stepped in to help with Lydia's financial situation. It just seemed an odd narrative choice to me, as in the majority of the novel, the reader is completely involved in the action, so it was a letdown to find out about these two major events after they happened.

My disappointment in the end of the novel does not change the fact that it is a great book. It is so different from most of what is available in the inspirational market, and it is such a gripping story that, although let down a bit by the end, I still highly recommend it. 4 stars.

Note: Whispers in the Reading Room is the third book in Shelley Gray's Chicago World's Fair Mystery series. It functions as a stand alone novel, but characters from the first two novels do make an appearance. I read it just fine without having previously read the first two books, and now they are on my wish list!

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Gray's The Outlaw's Heart (3 stars) in the Among the Fair Magnolias anthology.

Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.

Connect with Shelley: website, Twitter, Facebook


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and The Fiction Guild. 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."

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

"One Enchanted Christmas" by Melissa Tagg


Earlier this year, I read a novella by Melissa Tagg (Three Little Words)—and immediately, I wondered what had taken me so long to read Tagg's writing! I started following her on Instagram and saw that she was working on a "secret project"...when said project became available in the Kindle store, I pre-ordered it immediately. That was a very good decision :-)

Friday, December 4, 2015

"the bridge" by karen kingsbury

A few years ago, I had a public breakup with Karen Kingsbury. (Well, as public as airing my complaints on my blog is—I'm certain Kingsbury doesn't know or care that I stopped reading her novels.)

Sometimes I wondered what it would take for me to read another Kingsbury novel—after the Cody-Bailey-Brandon debacle at the end of the Bailey Flanigan series, I completely lost interest in Kingsbury's novels.

I now have my answer: It would take the Hallmark Channel turning one of her books into a movie. They've done just that with Karen Kingsbury's The Bridge, which premieres this Sunday night. Suddenly, I realized that I wanted to read The Bridge before seeing the movie. Fortunately, the school library had a copy I could check out—my own copy (purchased but never read) disappeared.

Molly Allen lives alone in Portland, but she left her heart back in Tennessee with a man she walked away from five years ago. They had a rare sort of love she hasn't found since.

Ryan Kelly lives in Nashville after a broken relationship and several years on the road touring with a country music duo. Sometimes when he's lonely he visits The Bridge - The oldest bookstore in historic downtown Franklin - and remembers the hours he and Molly once spent there.

For more than four decades, Charlie and Donna Barton have run The Bridge, providing customers with coffee, conversation, and shelves of classics - even through dismal sales and the rise of digital books. Then the hundred-year flood sweeps through Franklin and destroys everything. The bank is about to pull the store's lease when tragedy strikes.

Now the question remains: Can two generations of readers rally together to save The Bridge? And is it possible that an unforgettable love might lead to the miracle of a second chance?


Hmmm...I may have to rethink that breakup now, as The Bridge has reminded me what I loved about Kingsbury's writing in the first place. She has a way of creating characters who feel so realistic, and it only takes a short time for me to become completely wrapped up in their worlds. (Hence my *cough* passionate *cough* feelings about the lives of fictional characters Bailey, Cody, and Brandon.) I read The Bridge very quickly because I simply could not put it down.

I loved the way Kingsbury slowly revealed Ryan and Molly's relationship through flashbacks interspersed throughout the present-day story, and, though I accurately guessed early on how The Bridge would be saved, that hunch didn't make the journey through the novella any less sweet.

If I have one complaint, it would be that I wish the story would have been told solely from Molly's, Ryan's, and Charlie's perspectives. The sections told from Charlie's wife Donna's perspective didn't grab me the way the other sections did. But overall, The Bridge is an excellent, heart-tugging novella, and I cannot wait to watch the film! 4-1/2 stars.

Note: Film-version Ryan is played by Wyatt Nash, who I thought looked very familiar, so I IMDb'd him. Nothing there that I would have seen, so I dug a little deeper ... and discovered that his real name is Matt Elrod, and under that name he's best known for getting blindsided twice by Boston Rob on the Redemption Island season of Survivor, which I binge watched earlier this fall.

Buy the novella.
Read my reviews of Kingsbury's Longing (if you dare!), Waiting for Morning (5 stars), and The Beginning (a prequel to The Bridge; 3-1/2 stars).

Karen Kingsbury is a #1 New York Times Bestselling novelist with more than 25 million books in print. She is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller as her last dozen novels have hit top spot on national bestseller lists. Several of Karen’s books are in production as theatrical and Hallmark original movies. 

Karen lives in Nashville with her husband and five sons, three of whom were adopted from Haiti. They live nearby to their actress/designer daughter who is married to Christian recording artist Kyle Kupecky.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I checked this book out of a library and chose to review it. 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."

Monday, November 30, 2015

"every girl gets confused" by janice thompson

After winning the wedding dress of her dreams, followed by meeting the man of her dreams and landing her dream job, Katie Fisher's life seems perfect ... until her boyfriend begins to pull away and her ex tries to find his way back into her life. No wonder she's confused!

How can she choose between the love she thought she lost and the love she stumbled upon in the aftermath?

Katie Fisher and Brady James may be a match made in heaven, but that doesn't seem to guarantee them a happily ever after accompanied by angelic choirs. Katie's almost-fiancé Casey is back in Fairfield, ready to rekindle their relationship. And there's nothing Katie's parents want more than for their small-town girl to leave Dallas and come home for good.

But can she really leave Brady behind? And will she ever be able to wear that gorgeous wedding dress she won?

Every Girl Gets Confused, book two in Janice Thompson's Brides with Style series, continues Katie Fisher's unlikely path toward happily ever after. Amid helping plan her grandmother's wedding, organizing a giant Black Friday event at the bridal shop, and dealing with Brady's knee surgery, Katie finds that her ex Casey wants back into her life. Her confusion is understandable: she loves Brady, but she has such history with Casey.

As I read this novel, I did something I very rarely do—I flipped to the end and read the final page when I was only about halfway through the book! I just needed to prepare myself if Katie and Brady were going to break up...so I guess you could say I care about these characters! (And no, I'm not going to tell you what I found out.)

The book is about so much more than Katie's love life, though—it's also about family, compromise, and faith. And those aspects make it much richer than if it had "just" been a romance novel.

Full of quirky, hilarious characters, Every Girl Gets Confused is a fun continuation of the story Thompson began in Every Bride Needs a Groom, and I'm now anxious to rejoin these characters in the upcoming Every Bride Has Her Day. 4 stars.

Read my reviews of Thompson's wedding novels Every Bride Needs a Groom (4 stars), A Bouquet of Love (4 stars) and Never a Bridesmaid (4-1/2 stars) and her Titanic romance Queen of the Waves (4-1/2 stars).
Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson offers an inside look at the wedding business, drawing on her own experiences as a wedding planner. She is the author of the hugely popular Weddings by Bella series and the Backstage Pass series, as well as Picture Perfect, The Icing on the Cake, and The Dream Dress. She lives in Texas. Learn more at www.janiceathompson.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."

Saturday, November 28, 2015

"the golden braid" by melanie dickerson

We're all familiar with the story of Rapunzel—especially after the success of Disney's Tangled a few years ago. In her latest book in the Hagenheim/Fairy Tale Romance series, Melanie Dickerson gives us another welcome take on the age old fairy tale.

The one who needs rescuing isn't always the one in the tower...

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel's hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel, in turn, rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to him than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery are about to be revealed after seventeen years. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

My introduction to Melanie Dickerson came last year when I read The Princess Spy. It was a delightful retelling of The Frog Prince, and I immediately added Dickerson to my list of authors to watch. When I heard of The Golden Braid (and, let's be honest, first saw that gorgeous cover), I knew I wanted to read it.

Dickerson's Rapunzel is a young woman who knows her own mind and longs to chase her dreams—specifically, her dream of reading and writing—yet she has a deep respect for and devotion to her mother, who insists on sheltering her from the world. It's not until she meets Sir Gerek that she realizes her mother's rules and demands may come from a place of fear, rather than love.

Rapunzel and Gerek together are a great couple, and Dickerson clearly shows how they make each other better people—Rapunzel becomes brave enough to step out of her mother's shadow, and Gerek realizes the shallowness and selfishness of his own dreams.

The novel is full of action, adventure, and intrigue ... and, of course, love. It's listed as fiction (not YA fiction), but it's perfectly acceptable for a teen audience. It's a fast, easy read that is incredibly enjoyable! 5 stars.

Note: While The Golden Braid can be enjoyed without having read any of Dickerson's other novels, my favorite part came from reading about certain events from The Princess Spy from a new perspective, as The Golden Braid is set at the same time with several overlapping characters.

See what others are saying.
Buy the novel.
Read my review of Dickerson's The Princess Spy (5 stars).

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer's Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.

Connect with Melanie: website, Twitter,Facebook, YouTube


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 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."



Friday, November 27, 2015

black friday book sale!

Smiley

It’s that time of year. The time for buying presents, making wish lists, and planning New Year’s Resolutions. If any of those activities involve books for you, Indie Christian Authors has a perfect event for you. From Nov 27 (that’s today!) through Nov 30th, more than 70 independent Christian books are on sale. You can find free shipping, $0.99 ebooks, package deals, and more! And if your budget is depleted from Christmas shopping, they’ve got you covered with some freebies. Think 70 books is overwhelming? Narrow it down and find the perfect books for you or someone on your Christmas list by using this quiz to generate a customized book list.

What awesome reads of 2015 are you grateful for? What books are you looking forward to reading in 2016?
A note on the Ebooks Only page. All books are listed as “Sold Out.” This only refers to paperback copies of these titles. Please click onto the product pages to find descriptions and links to discounted or free ebooks.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Leah E. Good for her work organizing this sale, Gloria Repp for completing the time consuming job of uploading book info to the sale website, and Hannah Mills for her fantastic design work on the website graphics. Hannah can be contacted at hmills(at)omorecollege(dot)edu for more information about her design services.

Monday, November 23, 2015

"a broken kind of beautiful" by katie ganshert

When I first started reading A Broken Kind of Beautiful, I wondered if I'd enjoy it at all. A story about a model? How could I relate to that? Oh, how wrong I was!

Sometimes everything you ever learned about yourself is wrong.

Fashion is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four year old model Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she’s learned a sacred truth—appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows—so when it starts to unravel, she’ll do anything to hold on. Even if that means moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be the new face of her stepmother’s bridal wear line—an irony too rich for words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white.

If only her tenuous future didn’t rest in the hands of Davis Knight, her mysterious new photographer. Not only did he walk away from the kind of success Ivy longs for to work maintenance at a local church, he treats her differently than any man ever has. Somehow, Davis sees through the façade she works so hard to maintain. He, along with a cast of other characters, challenges everything Ivy has come to believe about beauty and worth. Is it possible that God sees her—a woman stained and broken by the world—yet wants her still?

Every so often (and it's really not often enough, in my opinion), you come across a book that grips you from the opening pages and sticks with you long after you've turned the final page. A Broken Kind of Beautiful is one such book.

As I began reading, I did not like Ivy at all—which could have been a problem, considering she's the main character. But ultimately I connected with this book in a way that I don't often experience. I could go into great detail here, but that would end up being a bit too personal. (You should have seen my first draft!) I will say that I deeply identified with Ivy's step-mother Marilyn's story. Though I have no idea what it's like to be barren and have a husband who strayed, I do know what it's like to have your life not turn out like you'd planned. I know the pain of not having a husband or children. To see how God redeemed Marilyn's story—in a way she wouldn't have imagined—spoke to me.

I finished this book with tears streaming down my cheeks. It's not a romance in the traditional sense—while there is a bit of romance between Davis and Ivy, the real romance is between a Heavenly Father and his children. His pursuit of Ivy—and Davis—and Marilyn—is depicted beautifully. This may not have been the most romantic of books in the classic way, but it certainly touched my heart. 5 stars.

Buy the novel.
Read my reviews of Ganshert's An October Bride (5 stars), The Perfect Arrangement (5 stars), and Wildflowers from Winter (5 stars).

Katie Ganshert was born and raised in the exciting state of Iowa, where she currently resides with her family. She likes to write things and consume large quantities of coffee and chocolate while she writes all the things. She's won some awards. For the writing, not the consuming. Although the latter would be fun. You can learn more about Katie and these things she writes at her website www.katieganshert.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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."

Sunday, November 22, 2015

"on this foundation" by lynn austin

Over the past couple years, I've enjoyed reading Lynn Austin's Restoration Chronicles, and I was especially excited for On This Foundation, as it's Nehemiah's story. Nehemiah has been special to me ever since I selected the book of Nehemiah for a project in my Old Testament class at Grace. I really enjoyed reading this fictionalization of Nehemiah's story.

Stone by Stone, the Wall Will Rise Once More Around God's City

When news reaches him that Jerusalem's wall is shattered and its gates burned with fire, a distraught Nehemiah seeks God's guidance in fasting and prayer. Granted an unexpected leave from his duty as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah sets out for Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall--never anticipating all the dangers that await him on his arrival.

The leaders of the surrounding nations become his fierce enemies, plotting to assassinate him and stop the wall's reconstruction forever. A drought, meanwhile, has left the country impoverished, with many families resorting to selling their children as bondservants just to keep from starving. 

Capturing the rebuilding of the wall through the eyes of a number of characters, On This Foundation is the powerful conclusion to The Restoration Chronicles. This exploration of faith in the midst of oppression offers hope that, in spite of appearances, the gracious hand of God is upon those who believe.

On This Foundation details Nehemiah's journey from being cupbearer to King Artaxerxes to becoming governor of Judah and rebuilding Jerusalem's wall. But Nehemiah isn't the only focus of the book. Perhaps even more fascinating are the stories of Nava, a young woman who becomes a bondservant to the wealthy Malkijah to help pay off her family's debts, and Chana, the woman Malkijah hopes to marry. Something that I've noticed as I've read this series is that Austin is able to craft very engaging side stories—something that's essential for a tome of more than 400 pages!

I must say that On This Foundation didn't go where I expected (aside from the building of the wall), something I greatly appreciated. In fact, I spent about three quarters of the novel wondering, along with Chana, if Malkijah was someone to be trusted or feared. The way his story turned out (along with the stories of Chana and Nava) was a powerful lesson in trusting God. I always appreciate when authors incorporate biblical lessons without forcing them into the plot!

If you're a fan of biblical fiction—or good historical fiction—then I suggest you pick up this series right away. And now that it's finished, you won't have to wait a year between installments! 5 stars.

Buy the novel.
Read my reviews of the other Restoration Chronicles: Return to Me (4.5 stars) and Keepers of the Covenant (5 stars).

Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live near Chicago.

Find Lynn online: website, Facebook


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers. 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."

Saturday, November 21, 2015

"an endless christmas" by cynthia ruchti

Imagine the potential for awkward: your boyfriend has just proposed, you've said "no," and now you have to spend Christmas week in the middle of nowhere with his entire family. That's the situation in which Katie finds herself in An Endless Christmas.

Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster.

Christmas takes a very different turn when the guests of honor break up instead of announcing their engagement. Trapped with his family, they learn that love looks different than either imagined. Both in their eighties, Dodie and Wilson Binder celebrate every Christmas as if it were their last. This year, their grandson Micah is planning to ask his girlfriend, Katie, to marry him so they can celebrate with the whole family. But things go very wrong when she says, "no." Now they are stuck. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But sometimes too much is just enough. Especially when it's Christmas.


'Tis the season for all things Christmas: Hallmark Christmas movies playing 24/7, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," Christmas decorations, holiday baking, and—of course—Christmas reading. An Endless Christmas fits that last category, though it's far from the fluffy romance that comprises many Christmas novellas. In fact, while there is romance, An Endless Christmas is more about embracing family and cherishing each other than it is about romantic love.

We never know when we'll have our last Christmas all together as a family—a fact that has become more real to me after the deaths of three of my four grandparents. That's a concept the Binder family embraced, and I loved reading about their traditions and extreme love for each other. I also thought the way they rallied around each other and clung to the Lord amidst difficulty was inspiring and realistic. (I may have shed a few tears.)

The majority of the story is told from Katie's perspective, and I enjoyed trying to learn about the family members and figure out what was wrong with Grandpa Wilson along with her. However, I never quite understood Katie's hesitance to accept Micah's proposal. When her reasons were revealed, they seemed a little too inconsequential to me—that doesn't mean they were inconsequential, but I certainly didn't understand them.

I did enjoy almost everything about the novel, especially the way Ruchti told the story. I knew that she and I would be on the same page when she touched on one of the things that annoys me most in romances—"just talk about it already" syndrome. As Katie said to Micah, "It frustrates me when I read a novel about a conflict between people that goes on and on when all they'd need to do is sit down and talk to each other for a few minutes" (p. 103). At that moment, I wanted to give Ruchti a high five :-)

With a plot that I could easily see as a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, An Endless Christmas is both a good read and challenging. As I head into the Christmas season, I will certainly be considering how I can make the most of each experience with my family. 4 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the novella.

Drawing from 33 years of on-air radio ministry, Cynthia Ruchti tells stories of hope-that-glows-in-the-dark through her novels and novellas, nonfiction books and devotionals, and speaking for women's and writers' events. Her books have been recognized by Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards, Selah Awards, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Christian Retailing's BEST Awards, and Carol Award nominations, among other honors, including a Family Fiction Readers' Choice Award. She and her plot-tweaking husband live in Pittsville, Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.

Connect with Cynthia: website, Twitter,Facebook


There's no getting out of Christmas now, despite Katie rejecting Micah's marriage proposal. Cozy up this holiday season with Cynthia Ruchti's new novella, An Endless Christmas. The Binder family celebrates every Christmas as if it were their last. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But sometimes too much is just enough. Especially when it’s Christmas.

Celebrate the holidays with Cynthia and An Endless Christmas by entering her $100 Target gift card giveaway!

endless christmas-400 

One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A copy of An Endless Christmas
  • A $100 gift card to Target
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 30th. The winner will be announced December 1st on Cynthia's blog.

endless christmas-enterbanner


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 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."

Thursday, November 19, 2015

"christmas with miss austen" by laura briggs

I'm sure you know by now that I love all things Jane Austen—film adaptations, novels loosely based on her work, parodies, anything. So when the author of Christmas with Miss Austen contacted me about reviewing her novella, I jumped at the chance.

Julia Allen is a waitress by day, painter by night, and…a famous 1800s authoress on weekends? 

Moonlighting as Jane Austen for a historical open house is a strange hobby for a contemporary artist, but Julia loves the role–until she falls asleep and gets locked inside after all the visitors are gone! Rushing home from the dark, historical mansion, she collides with a stranger in the snowy park, and discovers later her shortcut cost her the rare copy of Austen’s Northanger Abbey borrowed from a friend’s treasured collection. 

Book historian Eliot Weston thinks he imagined the Regency-era figure, but the book he finds in her wake proves otherwise. The first edition of Jane Austen’s novel is authentic and incredibly rare, but he fails to find any trace of its owner. Reminders of the unusual encounter keep popping up, however, like the pretty modern artist eager to buy an identical volume. Coincidence? Or Divine intervention making it clear this is anything but an ordinary Christmas for these two hearts? 

Christmas with Miss Austen is the story of Julia, and artist/waitress who moonlights as Jane Austen at a historic house during the holiday season. When she loses a first edition Northanger Abbey belonging to a friend, she enlists the help of book historian Eliot to find another, unaware that he found the very copy she lost.

Christmas with Miss Austen does several things very well. The author uses Jane Austen as a basis for the plot, rather than adapting one of Austen's novels in a modern setting, so she's not bound by one Austen plot. I also appreciated all the name references: Eliot, Collins, Pemberley, etc. Julia and Eliot are a fun pair with undeniable chemistry, and their journey to romance was endearing. I also loved Eliot's relationship with his little sister, and their interactions were some of my favorites throughout the novella.

While overall I very much enjoyed Christmas with Miss Austen, it does suffer from what I like to call "just talk about it already" syndrome. (I talk about the syndrome here.) Why Julia doesn't just tell Eliot she lost Northanger Abbey in the park or why Eliot doesn't tell her he found a copy in the park is beyond me! (I mean, if either of those things happened, the novella would be considerably shorter ...)

Perfect for a wintry evening, Christmas with Miss Austen is an enjoyable romance. It may not be a book that sticks with you, but you'll definitely enjoy it while you're reading it. 3-1/2 stars.

Buy the novella.

Laura Briggs's first published work was Only in Novels, a short romance story from Pelican Book Group that garnered a CAPA award nomination. She has since published several other titles with the same company, all featuring an Inspirational Romance theme. Among her independently published works are a series of wedding-themed romances and Jane Austen-inspired fiction. Laura is also the co-author of a series of Grimm-esque fantasy-themed fairytale retellings known as The Dark Woods.
Sign up for her newsletter at http://bit.ly/1TUcI1A

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review 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 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."

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

free short story: "thankful for you" by karen rock

On tour with Prism Book Tours.

Today, I'm happy to be a stop on the Heartwarming Thanksgiving Tour! I love promoting clean reads, and the books in the Harlequin Heartwarming line fit the bill. Throughout this tour, we'll be highlighting 13 FREE short stories by beloved Harlequin Heartwarming authors that will be available from Harlequin during November. All Heartwarming titles are 30% OFF during November from Harlequin as well! Use code HEART1115.

TODAY'S FREE SHORT STORY:

Thankful for You by Karen Rock

A HAPPY REUNION?

Way back when, Hunter Boone thought he and Josie Stephens had something that would last forever. Then she got her ticket out of town and took off—alone. The hurt nearly tore him apart. By the time Josie realized she'd made a mistake, Hunter had already married.

Now Josie's back in Stonewall Crossing, and while instant fire flares between them, she can't come between the now single dad and his son. As the whole town gets ready for Christmas, Josie finds it hard to avoid Hunter. No matter how much he tempts her with the promise of a future together, she has to tell herself—for her own survival—that relationships just aren't her thing…

Maggie James has worked hard to get over her commitment phobic ex, Lt. Eric Langley. Yet old feelings resurface when they’re reunited to put on a Thanksgiving dinner for foster children displaced by their group home’s fire. She still loves Eric, but she’d grown up vowing to have the traditional, nuclear family her loving parents provided and won’t accept anything less. This time around, does she dare give them a second chance?

After watching his vibrant mother retreat from life following his firefighter father’s tragic death, Lt. Eric Langley vowed never to inflict that pain on anyone, especially Maggie. When she’d begun talking kids, marriage, it’d nearly killed him to break things off. But how could he take the risks his job required, if he worried about a family counting on his safety? Although he’d shut away his pain when he and Maggie had broken up, his old feelings rush back after one glimpse of her beautiful face. He should want to avoid her, but feels thankful for this time together instead. Is it possible some surprising wisdom from the children he saved, could rescue him, too?

Read it HERE!

Guest Post by Karen Rock

Rushing headlong to make a deadline for an upcoming Harlequin Heartwarming, HERS FOR KEEPS, I received an email from our Senior Editor, Victoria Curran, subject line: Thanksgiving Short Read. Intrigued, I bypassed the oh-so-tempting Bed Bath and Beyond savings offer and opened her note. Was I ever glad that I did! Our marketing department approved a plan for select Heartwarming authors to write eight thousand word short reads that would be free downloads all through November.

I was honored to be asked and immediately said, “YES”! Then, reality set in. I still had over fifty thousand words on my current WIP to write in just five weeks. How could I also create and pen an additional story that would be due during the same time period? I took a long hard look at my calendar (I always write my writing goals in it), and immediately started penciling in writing days on the weekends. I also extended my work day into evening hours (buh-bye to America’s Got Talent and the start of fall TV line-up… sigh*) But, in the end, it was worth it and my Thanksgiving Short Read, THANKFUL FOR YOU, was born. I’m absolutely thrilled with the second chance love story I wrote for a secondary character in another romance I’d set in the Adirondacks, RAISING THE STAKES. In that book, two best friends co-own a diner. I wanted to give Maggie James, a woman who admires the gutsy gals she grew-up watching in black and white films with her grandmother, the happily-ever-after she deserved.

From her retro, vintage style, independent spirit, and traditional values of wanting a nuclear family, Maggie is a lot like her idol, Katharine Hepburn. She’s strong willed and knows what she wants, and what she wanted from her ex, firefighter Lt. Eric Langley, was her white picket fence dream. Instead, he broke her heart six months ago by ending their two-year relationship when she’d begun talking marriage and kids. Now he’s back, and talking kids again, only this time it’s to ask for her help in putting on a dinner for the displaced foster kids after their group home burned. It was fun to imagine how Maggie, who admires strong, traditional woman, would handle herself as she works with Eric during a holiday that makes everyone grateful for the ones they love and appreciate the value of family.

Lt. Eric Langley is carrying on his generations-old family legacy of fighting fires. After watching his vibrant mother retreat from life following his father’s death, he’d vowed never to inflict that pain on anyone, especially Maggie. When she’d begun talking kids, marriage, it’d nearly killed him to break things off. But how could he take the risks his job required, if he worried about a family counting on his safety? The dynamic of putting together two great people, like Eric and Maggie, who are so perfect for each other but can’t see how to overcome their obstacles, made this an engrossing story to write. I hope you’ll feel the same way when you read it.

I’m thankful for many things this holiday season and at the top of the list is being a part of the wonderful Heartwarming family! If you are interested in learning more about me or my books, please stop by http://www.karenrock.com or click on the follow button beneath my picture on Amazon’s author page http://amzn.to/1NSRVrT You can also find me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/karenrock5 or facebook at http://facebook.com/karenrockauthor Happy Holidays everyone!



Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary author. She holds a master’s degree in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time author. Most recently, her Harlequin Heartwarming novels have won the 2015 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award and the 2015 Booksellers Best Award. When she's not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales, cooking and hiking. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, daughter and Cavalier King Charles spaniels.

Other Heartwarming Titles by this Author

Wish Me Tomorrow His Hometown Girl
Someone Like You A League of Her Own
Raising the Stakes Winter Wedding Bells

TOUR SCHEDULE

Don't miss any of these FREE novellas or the extra tour content! Stop by each of the tour stops each day:

11/2: Snow Day Baby by Amy Vastine
Singing Librarian Books, The Power of Words, & Katie's Clean Book Collection


11/4: Wedding at Turkey Run by Liz Flaherty
My Love for Reading Keeps Growing, Babs Book Bistro, & Heidi Reads...

11/6: Her Thanksgiving Soldier by Leigh Riker
Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima, Mel's Shelves, & Brooke Blogs

11/9: Mr. Right All Along by Jen Snow
Katie's Clean Book CollectionMin Reads and Reviews, & Love thy Shelf

11/11: Falling for the Cowboy by Sophia Sasson
Kindle and Me, The Power of Words, & Colorimetry

11/13: The Marriage Gift by Tara Taylor Quinn
deal sharing aunt, Babs Book Bistro, & Brooke Blogs

11/16: Heart of a Hero by Pamela Tracy
Writing Pearls, Wishful Endings, & Waiting For Wentworth

11/18: Thankful for You by Karen Rock
Christian Chick's Thoughts, Getting Your Read On, & Love, Laughter, Friendship

11/20: Autumn at Jasper Lake by Carol Ross
Reading Is My SuperPower, I Am A Reader, & Colorimetry

11/23: The Firefighter’s Promise by Kate James
Canadian Book Addict, Mel's Shelves, & Beck Valley Books

11/24: Wedding of His Dreams by Cari Lynn Webb
Bookworm Lisa, Kindle and Me, & Zerina Blossom's Books

11/25: The Sweetheart Tree by Rula Sinara
The Written Adventure, Reading Is My SuperPower, & Writing Pearl

11/26: Married by Thanksgiving by Melinda Curtis
Heidi Reads..., Love, Laughter, Friendship, & Singing Librarian Books 

11/29: Grand Finale
11/30: Facebook Party

GIVEAWAYS

Goodreads Giveaway

13 Harlequin Heartwarming Books
Enter on Goodreads HERE.

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Pin one or both of these images to spread the word and enter to win this adorably festive Thanksgiving Table Set:


Pinterest Prize includes: four reversible, quilted placemats, four matching napkins, hand-painted matching napkin rings, matching table runner, matching quilted hot pad/trivet, floral centerpiece in pot, and hand-crafted pilgrim pair.
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- Ends December 4th


Tour Giveaway

Grand Prize: Harlequin Heartwarming Year Subscription (Provided by Harlequin and to US/CAN only)
$40 VISA card (US only)
13-Book Heartwarming Prize Pack: The Best Laid Plans, Back to McGuffy's, If I Loved You, Love, Lies & Mistletoe, First Comes Marriage, Once Upon A Marriage, Small Town Secrets, Winter Wedding Bells, If Not For A Bee, When The Right One Comes Along, Wedding of His Dreams, After The Silence, and A Memory Away (print copies if US, ebooks if international)
9-Book Prize Pack: The Best Laid Plans, If I Loved You, Love, Lies & Mistletoe, First Comes Marriage, Once Upon A Marriage, When The Right One Comes Along, Winter Wedding Bells, If Not For A Bee, and After The Silence (print copies if US, ebooks if international)
Ends December 4th

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