Review: "So, This Is Christmas" by Tracy Andreen

I was very excited about this book, knowing it was written by the screenwriter of Snow Bride, one of my favorite Hallmark movies of all time. But Hallmark this ain't...

Review + Giveaway: "American Underdog" (2021 Film)

My family has a longstanding tradition of seeing a movie on Christmas. We won't be going this year - it's still too dangerous for my immunocompromised self - but if we were, American Underdog would be the movie we'd see. Fortunately, I was able to watch a screener ... so I can tell you that this absolutely should be on your Christmas agenda if you're comfortable going to movie theaters!

Review: "Lights Out" by Natalie Walters

After reading Lights Out, I have just one question: When can I get my hands on book two???

Review: "The Debutante's Code" by Erica Vetsch

A new Erica Vetsch Regency novel? Yes, please!

Review: "Night Night, Angel" & "Slothy Claus"

When I was growing up, my mom gave each of us kids a book at Christmas. It's a tradition I loved, and I wish we had carried it on as we got older. If you like to give books at Christmas, here are two that would be perfect for the young kids in your life.

Review: "The Cartographer's Secret" by Tea Cooper

I have recently become a big fan of Tea Cooper's writing. I love the Australian setting and the split-time nature of her novels. So I was quite happy to pick up The Cartographer's Secret!

Review: "Unpacking Christmas" by Beth K. Vogt

I've really enjoyed the books I read in the Thatcher Sisters series, so of course I wanted to read the new Christmas novella!

Review: "Never Too Late" by Susan L. Tuttle

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Never Too Late by Susan L. Tuttle, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I've been eager to read this book ever since I learned it existed, as I've really enjoyed the other books in the series!

Review: "Love and Lavender" by Josi S. Kilpack

Last year, I read Josi S. Kilpack's Rakes and Roses, the third book in her Mayfield Family series. I liked it quite a bit, so of course I wanted to read the next novel, Love and Lavender. I ended up liking Love and Lavender even more than its predecessor!

Review: "The London House" by Katherine Reay

Katherine Reay + THIS COVER = A Must-Read Novel!

Review: "A Season on the Wind" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

I have a pretty firm "no Amish books" policy (I read a ton of Amish fiction about a decade ago and got burned out on the genre) ... except when it comes to Suzanne Woods Fisher's books! I love every return trip to Stoney Ridge, and A Season on the Wind is no exception!

Review: "Christmas in Idaho" by Ray Downing

Looking for a different kind of reading experience for your family this Christmas? Check out Christmas in Idaho!

2021 Holiday Reading Roundup

Yes, it's still October, but Christmas season is upon us! (How do I know? Check out the Hallmark Channel 😄) As always, lots of new books are releasing around the Christmas season; here are some that have caught my eye. I'll be reviewing most of these as the season goes on, so keep an eye out! (Clicking on a book's title will take you to its Amazon page. These are affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase, I'll get a small commission.)

Review: "The Inns of Devonshire" by Sally Britton, Annette Lyon, & Deborah M. Hathaway

Mirror Press is back with another delightful Regency romance anthology, this one set in three inns in Devonshire.

Review: "The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery" by Amanda Cox

Last year, I read Amanda Cox's debut novel, The Edge of Belonging, and was completely enchanted. So when her new novel came up for review, I didn't even have to think about requesting it!

Review: "A Midnight Dance" by Joanna Davidson Politano

You know how sometimes when you're reading at night, you come to a realization that yes, you are going to finish the book before going to bed, no matter how late it gets? That's what happened to me with A Midnight Dance. When I started the book, I intended to read for about an hour before bed. Five hours later, I turned the final page. I just had to know how everything turned out!

Review: "The Single Dad's Holiday Match" by Tanya Agler

Oh, Harlequin ... you really know how to create titles 🤣. Believe it or not, The Single Dad's Holiday Match is not about online dating, takes place over the span of three holidays, and is just as much about the "match" as it is about the "single dad." It's also a better book than the title would imply.

Winner! "A Seaside Summer" Giveaway

Congratulations to Rachel on winning the giveaway of any book from the Timeless Regency Romance Collection that was announced on my post reviewing A Seaside Summer. Rachel, I've sent you an email with more information. Thanks to everyone for entering!

Review: "The Gathering Table" by Kathryn Springer

I have really enjoyed some of Kathryn Springer's novels over the years, so when the opportunity to review her new Love Inspired title came up, I didn't hesitate!

Review: "Beyond the Tides" by Liz Johnson

I was so excited when I heard that Liz Johnson would be returning to Prince Edward Island with her new series, and Beyond the Tides captures the same magic that her Prince Edward Island Dreams series did!

Review + Giveaway: "A Seaside Summer" by Josi S. Kilpack, Martha Keyes, & Heather B. Moore

It may be September, but here in Nebraska it sure feels like summer (and I guess that technically it still is ...), so why not relax with a nice summery novella collection?

Review: "Husband Auditions" by Angela Ruth Strong

You know how sometimes you hear about a book and think it sounds super adorable? As soon as I read the tagline for Husband Auditions, I knew it was a book I wanted to read. And it turned out to be just as fun as I'd hoped it would be!

Review: "Since You've Been Gone" by Tari Faris

Tari Faris's Restoring Heritage series is the series I've been most excited about continuing this year ... so I'm happy to report that the newest installment (releasing in early September) doesn't disappoint!

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Review: "The Nature of Small Birds" by Susie Finkbeiner

Most of the books I read are romances, and sometimes it's hard for me to break out of my comfort zone. But taking a chance on something different can be rewarding, and that's certainly the case with The Nature of Small Birds.

Review: "Between the Wild Branches" by Connilyn Cossette

Overall, I don't read much biblical fiction. I'm just not drawn to it like I am contemporary or Regency romance. But I will make an exception for whatever Connilyn Cossette book comes my way!

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Review: "When We Last Spoke" (2019 Film)

When We Last Spoke had me at Corbin Bernsen and Melissa Gilbert. I didn't really know anything else about the film going in, except that it was a family film. As it turns out, I'm glad that I went in without any preconceived notions, as I really enjoyed learning about the movie as it went along!

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Review: "This Time Around" by Denise Hunter, Melissa Ferguson, & Kathleen Fuller

Do you read novellas? They've often gotten me out of a reading slump. You can read one in just a couple hours - great for an evening after a long day at work! Of course, romance novellas are my favorite, and This Time Around offers three great stories!

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Review: "John Eyre" by Mimi Matthews

If you've been around here very long, you know my love for all things Mimi Matthews. But a Gothic romance/supernatural thriller? Not exactly my cup of tea, but since it was Mimi Matthews, I still wanted to read it. It was a good choice.

Review: "Is It Any Wonder" by Courtney Walsh

Though she wasn't on my radar for a long time, Courtney Walsh is quickly becoming a must-read author for me! Reading Is It Any Wonder just solidified that fact 😊

Review: "A Lady in Attendance" by Rachel Fordham

Rachel Fordham is quickly becoming a name to watch in Christian historical fiction, and A Lady in Attendance might be her best book yet.

Review: "Come Back to Me" by Jody Hedlund

She had me at time travel. Then I saw this gorgeous cover, and I was a goner!  

Review: "Dusk's Darkest Shores" by Carolyn Miller

I have loved all of Carolyn Miller's books, but I've been especially excited for her new Regency Wallflowers series, which focuses on older women. If the first book, Dusk's Darkest Shores, is any indication, this series will be wonderful!

Review: "At Lighthouse Point" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Return to Three Sisters Island for youngest Grayson sister Blaine's story!

Review: "Isabelle and Alexander" by Rebecca Anderson

There's a very North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell novel/BBC miniseries) vibe to Isabelle and Alexander, and fans of that story will find much to like here.

The Power of the Dizi

In early September, I stumbled across the Turkish TV show Erkenci Kuş, and I was immediately enchanted. I watched the entire series - 51 episodes averaging just over two hours each - in just over a month. And while it lost some of its early magic (which I wrote about here) due to writer changes, I still loved every minute I spent watching it. 

Erkenci Kuş led me to search out other dizis - I initially went for others starting Can Yaman, who played the wonderful Can Divit in EK - and then I found Sen Çal Kapimi. SÇK is a currently airing dizi, so I can't binge it like I did EK. It's also become incredibly maddening due to writer changes, but I keep watching for the insane chemistry between leads Kerem Bürsin and Hande Erçel. (Also, I live for the moments when Bürsin - who grew up in the US - speaks English.)

Review: "Blackberry Beach" by Irene Hannon

It's time for a return to Hope Harbor - one of my favorite book series!

Review: "Everybody Fights" by Kim and Penn Holderness

If you've been on social media in the last few years, you've probably seen at least one video by Kim & Penn Holderness. Their clever parody videos have me constantly laughing. Now, they've written a book about marriage...which might seem like a funny choice for single me to read and review! But stick with me ...

Review: "The Indebted Earl" by Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch continues her delightful Serendipity & Secrets series with The Indebted Earl!

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Can Captain Wyvern keep his new marriage of convenience all business--or will it turn into something more?

Captain Charles Wyvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life--especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The best way to honor that hero's dying wish is for Wyvern to escort the man's grieving fiance and mother safely to a new cottage home by the sea. But along the way, he learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: his uncle has died and the captain is now the Earl of Rothwell.

When he and the ladies arrive at his new manor house in Devon, they discover an estate in need of a leader and a gaggle of girls, all wards of the former earl. War the new earl knows; young ladies and properties he does not. Still wishing to provide for the bereaved Lady Sophia Haverly, Charles proposes a marriage of convenience.

Sophie is surprised to find she isn't opposed to the idea. It will help her care for her betrothed's elderly mother, and she's already fallen in love with the wayward girls on the Rothwell estate. This alliance is a chance to repay the captain who has done so much for her care, as well as divert her attention from her grief. When Wyvern returns to his sea commission, she'll stay behind to oversee his property and wards.

It sounds so simple. Until the stalwart captain is arrested on suspicion of smuggling, and Sophie realizes how much he's come to mean to her. Now she'll have to learn to fight, not only for his freedom but also for his love.

Click here to read an excerpt.

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Oh, how I loved this book! I've read all three books in Erica Vetsch's Serendipity & Secrets series, and I can say that this one is my favorite! 

There's romance, there's intrigue, there's found family. It's such a delightful story!

I loved watching Sophie and Charles fall for each other, and the angst each felt because of Sophie's late fiancé Rich was really perfection. Also, hello marriage of convenience plot! It's my favorite, and I thought it was executed especially well here. 

I also loved the inclusion of the three girls who had been wards of the previous earl. Little Betsy was just the cutest (her insistence on calling Charles "Captain Earl" was adorable), I loved Thea's spunk, and Penny was certainly a typical lovestruck teenager!

The smuggling subplot did seem a little obvious to me, but I suppose I can excuse both Sophie's and Charles's blindness to it. (Had they communicated more, they would've easily put it together.) And it did lead to some really exciting scenes!

Overall, I loved this novel. Regency romance fans are sure to find much to enjoy here. 5 stars.

Note: While this is the third book in the series, and characters from the other novels do appear, it really can be read as a stand alone.

Buy the book (Amazon ad).

Read my reviews of Vetsch's The Lost Lieutenant (4-1/2 stars), The Gentleman Spy (4 stars), and her novella Wonders of His Love (5 stars, found in Joy to the World).

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Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review through Read With Audra. 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."

Review: "The Girl in the Painting" by Tea Cooper

Last year, I read my first Tea Cooper book. I was completely charmed. So when I had the opportunity to review The Girl in the Painting, I jumped at it.

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Review: "A Captain for Caroline Gray" by Julie Wright

As you may have noticed, I've become a huge fan of Regency romances in the last year, especially ones published through Shadow Mountain Publishing's Proper Romance line. Really falling for Regency romances has been one of the pandemic's highlights for me. (Turkish TV shows are another, but that's a post for another day!) Anyway, when I had the opportunity to read Julie Wright's new Regency, I jumped at it! 

Review: "Can't Buy Me Love" by Andrea Christenson presented by Susan May Warren

Another Deep Haven novel? Yes, please!

Review: "It's Never Too Late" by Kathie Lee Gifford

Kathie Lee Gifford has been part of my world for as long as I can remember: I grew up watching Regis & Kathie Lee during the summers; my 8th grade graduation dress came from her Walmart line; I simply adored the Justin Timberlake - Maggie Lawson "classic" Model Behavior, which co-starred Kathie Lee and her son Cody; and A Godwink Christmas (co-starring, you guessed it, Kathie Lee) was my favorite Hallmark Christmas movie of the 2018 season. So of course I wanted to get my hands on her new memoir! It turned out to be a really fun read.

Review: "Making Faces" by Amy Harmon

The fact that I read this book is another example of how Turkish TV has taken over my life 😂. I listen to a podcast called Dizzy for Dizi, which covers Sen Çal Kapımı, a currently airing dizi that I'm OBSESSED with. One of the hosts recently talked about her love for Amy Harmon novels, specifically Making Faces. And so I had to check it out!

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Review: "Pudge & Prejudice" by A.K. Pittman

I first read Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice as a junior in high school. Honestly, I wasn't too impressed 🤣 ... but as a senior in college, I was introduced to the 5-hour 1995 miniseries, and suddenly I was ALL IN on Austen. I've never been a classic literature snob, so I've read and watched all the retellings/adaptations/loosely based on the book stories ... and when I heard about Pudge & Prejudice, well, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!

Review: "When Twilight Breaks" by Sarah Sundin

I've long said that Sarah Sundin writes some of the best World War II fiction out there. Her latest release, When Twilight Breaks, is a bit different, as it's set in Germany in the years just prior to the War's outbreak, but it's just as excellent as - if not even better than - her previous novels.

Review: "The Dress Shop on King Street" by Ashley Clark

Life intervened with my plans to read The Dress Shop on King Street, but I've finally finished it, and it was worth the wait!

Review: "Still the One" by Rachel D. Russell presented by Susan May Warren

I've loved all of the Susan May Warren books I've read, but my favorites are the ones set in Deep Haven, Minnesota. Now, Deep Haven is back with a series written by different authors who keep the Deep Haven "feel." First up is Rachel D. Russell's Still the One.

Review: "A Cowboy for Keeps" by Jody Hedlund

Every time I hear Jody Hedlund has a new series starting, I think, "Yes, please!" So when I heard about A Cowboy for Keeps, the first book in her Colorado Cowboys series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. And then I found out it was a marriage of convenience romance--my favorite!

Review: "Then Again, Maybe" by Susan L. Tuttle

One of my favorite reads of 2019 was Susan L. Tuttle's At First Glance. When I heard she had written a sequel, I had to get my hands on it! So I'm very happy to welcome you to my stop on the Blog + Review Tour for Then Again, Maybe, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!