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: "Moments We Forget" by Beth K. Vogt

Earlier this week, I (finally) read Beth K. Vogt's excellent Things I Never Told You. It had been on my TBR shelf for nearly a year, but with the upcoming release of Moments We Forget (and the looming deadline for this review), I finally picked it up. I was captivated. I loved the introduction to the Thatcher sisters, and I was so glad to be able to move right into this book once I finished Things I Never Told You. (Also, you didn't miss it—I haven't posted that review yet. Coming soon, I promise!)

best books of 2015: honorable mention

2015 was a banner year for lovers of inspirational fiction. I can't remember another year when I've had such a difficult time choosing a top 10 list—I read so many phenomenal books this year that I couldn't limit myself to 10. (Goodreads tells me I read 104 books this year—crazy!) We'll start with the honorable mentions today (which were hard to narrow down, too!) and then move on to my 10 favorite books of the year tomorrow. Keep in mind that these are books I read in 2015; a few of them were published in previous years.

One Enchanted Christmas by Melissa Tagg (my review) 

While I loved all three of Tagg's novels/novellas that I read in 2015, One Enchanted Christmas takes the top prize for its humor and adorability.

The Girl From the Train by Irma Joubert (my review) 

Always a fan of World War II-era fiction, I devoured this novel about a German orphan who is adopted by a South African couple.

A Table by the Window and Reservations for Two by Hillary Manton Lodge (my reviews) 

I couldn't read these novels quickly enough, and I can't wait for the third to release! They contain a love triangle that is rare in the fact that I have no idea which man the main character should choose.

Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter (my review) 

I always love Denise Hunter's novels, and Falling Like Snowflakes marks a great start to her new Summer Harbor series.

Somebody Like You by Beth Vogt (my review)

Somebody Like You is the first book I read in 2015, and it remains one of my favorites. The premise—an identical twin the widow didn't know about shows up and falls in love with her—could have been ripped from a soap opera, but the book is not even slightly soapy.

Shadows of Ladenbrook Manor by Melanie Dobson (my review) 

I simply adored this dual timeline story that shows how one secret can affect a family for generations.

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck (my review)

This final book in Hauck's Royal Wedding series is cute, romantic, and thought provoking. It's a definite winner!

I'm sure there are many more books I could list here, but I have to cut myself off somewhere! Check back tomorrow for my top ten list, and be sure to let me know in the comments if you loved any of these books, too!

Disclosure of Material Connection: 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.”

"crazy little thing called love" by beth k. vogt

Second chance at love stories are some of my favorites—especially ones that reunite couples after years apart. So I was thrilled to dive into Beth K. Vogt's latest, Crazy Little Thing Called Love.

---

Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple's journey down the aisle to "I do."

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father's military career. She's overcome what her mother called "the biggest mistake of her life" and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?

---

Crazy Little Thing Called Love is such a fun book! Combining friendship, romance, and a beautiful destination wedding, it is a joy to read from start to finish.

Vanessa and Logan are such likeable characters, and I couldn't help but pull for their happily ever after. I loved how Vogt gave a glimpse into their teenage romance between the pages of the present-day action, as it brought another level of understanding to the characters.

The minor characters—like Vanessa's friend Mindy, Logan's sister Caron, and Logan's team—are fleshed out and realistic, and I would love to see some of their stories continued in future novels.

I'd say more than a romance, this book represents Vanessa's journey to finding her place in the world. Yes, there is romance involved, but it's also about finding friends, forging relationships, and developing a vital relationship with Christ.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a great opening novel to Vogt's new Destination Wedding series—romance lovers won't want to miss it! 4-1/2 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
See my reviews of Vogt's Wish You Were Here (5 stars), Catch a Falling Star (4-1/2 stars), A November Bride (4-1/2 stars), and Somebody Like You (5 stars).

---

Beth K. Vogt believes God's best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher's Weekly's Best Books of 2014. In 2015 she introduced her destination wedding series with both an e-novella, Can't Buy Me Love, (May) and a novel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love (June).

Visit Beth 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."

"somebody like you" by beth k vogt

What a book to begin 2015 with! Somebody Like You has been on my radar for a while (see this Top Ten Tuesday post from August), but it wasn't until the book began showing up on blogger after blogger's Best Books of 2014 list that I decided I needed to read it now. What a book! It just may end up on my best of 2015 list this time next year :-)

---

In this beautifully rendered, affecting novel, a young widow’s world is shattered when she meets her late husband’s identical twin—and finds herself caught between honoring her husband’s memory and falling in love with his reflection.

Haley’s whirlwind romance and almost three-year marriage to Sam, an army medic, ends tragically when he is killed in Afghanistan. As she grapples with widowhood and the upcoming birth of her son, her attempts to create a new life for herself are ambushed when she arrives home one evening—and finds her husband waiting for her. Did the military make an unimaginable mistake when they told her that Sam had been killed?

After a twelve-year estrangement, Stephen hopes to make things right with his brother—only to discover Sam died without revealing Stephen’s existence to Haley. As Haley and Stephen struggle to navigate their fragile relationship, they are inexorably drawn to each other. Haley is unnerved by Stephen’s uncanny resemblance to Sam, and Stephen struggles with the issue of Haley loving him as Stephen—and not as some reflection of his twin. How can Haley and Stephen honor the memory of a man whose death brought them together—and whose ghost could drive them apart?

Somebody Like You reminds us that while we can’t change the past, we have the choice—and the power through God—to change the future and start anew.

---

Somebody Like You is one of those rare novels that takes residence in your brain and won't let you stop thinking about it until well after you've finished reading. Though the story could easily veer into soap opera territory with the "identical twin the widow didn't know about" story line, it doesn't. (Vogt even acknowledges the soapy potential by having Stephen's friend ask him if he thinks he's living in a soap opera.) Instead, it's a very emotional, thought provoking novel.

Stephen and Haley's stutter-steps into a relationship struck me as very realistic given their circumstances, and the conflicting advice they got from friends and family just added to the realism. Though I was pretty sure I knew how the novel would turn out (and it would have been a terrible romance novel had it not turned out that way), some of the twists and turns along the way surprised and satisfied me.

It's always great to start off the year with a good novel, and Somebody Like You certainly fits the bill. I only wish it hadn't ended! 5 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Vogt's Wish You Were Here (5 stars), Catch a Falling Star (4-1/2 stars), and A November Bride (4-1/2 stars).

---

Beth K. Vogt believes God's best is often behind the doors marked "Never." She's the wife of a former Air Force family physician who said she'd never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four who said she'd never have kids. She's a former nonfiction writer and editor who said she'd never write fiction. Beth's novels include Wish You Were Here, Catch a Falling Star, and Somebody Like You.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this book myself and reviewed it because I wanted to. 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 november bride" by beth vogt

The final novella in Zondervan's Year of Weddings series ends the collection as it began—with an incredibly romantic story of two friends becoming something more.

---

Sadie McAllister is fastidious to a fault—but that serves her well as a personal chef to her clients in Denver. But her earliest attempt at managing romance was a bust when Erik Davis declined her invitation to the school's eighth grade Sadie Hawkins Dance.

Having celebrated the big 3-0 by ending a relationship, Sadie is tired of romantic relationships-by-text. The only man she knows willing to put down his iPhone and have face-to-face conversations with her is Erik. It's time to put a 21st-century twist on the Sadie Hawkins' tradition of a woman going after her man. He may not be the hero of her romantic dreams, but she can propose to Erik and achieve some sort of happily ever after with her best friend.

Erik is good at two things: his freelance job and maintaining casual, no-one-gets-hurt relationships with women. What is Sadie thinking, proposing to him? This is marriage-not a middle school dance. Erik decides to show Sadie what romance looks like when the man takes the lead. And while he's at it, he'll prove just how wrong they are for each other. But when he realizes he's fallen for her, can Erik convince Sadie his just-for-fun dates were the prelude to "'til death do us part"?

---

You know the phrase "you don't know what you've got till it's gone"? That could be Erik's motto in A November Bride. It's not until he's about to lose Sadie that he realizes that being her best friend isn't enough.

Erik and Sadie's story is incredibly sweet and romantic, and I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it. I also liked how author Beth Vogt included accountability in the story. I don't think I've ever before read a Christian romance that talked so openly about the importance of accountability in avoiding sexual temptation. It was included in a way that didn't come across as preachy and fit seamlessly into the novella.

A November Bride is a wonderful conclusion to the first Year of Weddings collection, and I eagerly anticipate reading the novellas in year two! 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the novella.
Read my review of Vogt's Wish You Were Here, and Catch a Falling Star.
Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings novellas: December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, and October. 

---

Beth K. Vogt believes God's best is often behind the doors marked "Never." She's the wife of a former Air Force family physician who said she'd never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four who said she'd never have kids. She's a former nonfiction writer and editor who said she'd never write fiction. Beth's novels include Wish You Were Here, Catch a Falling Star, and Somebody Like You. 

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

top ten tuesday: books i want to read but don't own yet

This week's Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke & The Bookish, is a fun one: Top Ten Books I Really Want To Read But Don't Own Yet. I couldn't come up with ten when I didn't include books that I haven't released yet, so here are my top four plus a bonus "wishful thinking" pick.

A Table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge

I've heard so many great things about this book, and it's in my Amazon wish list, but let's be real—I have so many review books on my shelf, and then another shelf full of books I want to read if I have time, that I doubt I'll be getting this one any time soon.

Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert

I read and loved Ganshert's Wildflowers from Winter last year. I had every intention of reading the sequel as soon as it released, but life got in the way, and I just haven't gotten around to buying it. I will, though—of that I have no doubt!

Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt

I read Vogt's Wish You Were Here and Catch a Falling Star and loved both of them. So I'm sure I'll get to this one at some point!

The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron

I passed on this one when the review invite came along, as I knew I was going to have a very busy summer. Every time I see a recommendation (and it's often), I regret that decision. I'll be getting this soon.

Bonus Pick:

The next Raleigh Harmon mystery (sequel to The Stars Shine Bright) by Sibella Giorello

I feel like I've been waiting forever for the next Raleigh Harmon mystery. In reality, it's only been two years. I've heard there's a sequel in the works, and I sincerely hope that's true—I really need a Raleigh-Jack kiss!

What do you think? Should I run out and buy any of these right now? What books would be on your list? Let me know in the comments, and then stop by the original post and check out other bloggers' picks!

"catch a falling star" by beth k. vogt

About the book: What does a girl do when life doesn't go according to her plan? 

At 36, Kendall Haynes has seen some of her dreams come true. She's a family physician helping kids with severe allergies and asthma achieve more fulfilling lives—a childhood struggle she knows all too well. But the feeling of being "the kid never picked" looms large when romance continues to evade her and yet another one of her closest friends gets engaged. Are Kendall's dreams of having it all—a career, a husband, children—nothing more than childish wishing upon a star? Should she hold out for her elusive Plan A? Dust off Plan B? Or is it time to settle? God says he knows the plans he has for her—why can't Kendall figure them out and be content with her life?

Griffin Walker prefers flying solo—both as an Air Force pilot and in his personal life. But a wrong choice and health problems pulled him out of the cockpit. His attempts to get out of "flying a desk" are complicated by his parents' death—making Griffin the reluctant guardian of his sixteen-year-old brother, Ian. How did his life get so off course? Can God get his life back on track ... or has there been a divine plan all along?

Catch a Falling Star reminds readers that romance isn't just for twenty-somethings and that sometimes letting go of your "wish I may, wish I might" dreams is the only way to embrace everything God has waiting for you.

My take: Catch a Falling Star is my favorite type of romance novel—the kind that features a woman who is older than I am. As I get into my 30's, most romance novel heroines are younger than I am ... and reading about an older woman's love story reminds me that there's no expiration date on romance!

Kendall is a thoroughly likable heroine (on the cover, she looks remarkably like Evangeline Lilly of Lost), and Griffin makes a great hero. I loved watching their relationship develop, even as obstacles kept popping up in their way. I do wish that some things had been more fully explained—there's a subplot regarding another doctor that gets resolved without the reader fully understanding what happened—but overall, I loved this book! 4-1/2 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Vogt's Wish You Were Here.

About the author: Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she'd never write fiction. She's the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice), though she said she'd never marry a doctor-or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four, though she said she'd never have kids. She's discovered that God's best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." Her contemporary romance novel, Wish You Were Here, debuted in May 2012 (Howard Books), and Catch a Falling Star released in May 2013. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also the Skills Coach for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren.

Find out more about Beth at http://bethvogt.com.

About the giveaway: Celebrate the release of Catch a Falling Star (Howard Books) with Beth K. Vogt by entering to win a Romantic Weekend Getaway and RSVPing for her June 4th Author Chat Party.

  One "lucky" winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Cash Card (Perfect for a weekend stay at a hotel or B&B!)
• Catch a Falling Star and Wish You Were Here by Beth Vogt (Swoon-worthy!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 3rd. Winner will be announced at the "Catch a Falling Star" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 4th. Connect with Beth for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Beth will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Catch a Falling Star and join Beth on the evening of June 4th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER 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 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."

mother of pearl, day 7: beth vogt

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother’s Day blog series—a nine-day celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today’s best writers (Tricia Goyer, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Beth Vogt, Lesli Westfall, and more). I hope you’ll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother’s Day.

AND . . . do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful handcrafted pearl necklace and a JOYN India bag. Enter at the bottom of this post. The contest runs 5/4-5/13, and the winner will be announced on 5/14. Contest is only open to U.S. residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info, subscribe to our blog, and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith to help support Pearl Girls™.

And to all you MOMS out there, Happy Mother’s Day!

~

The Pursuit of Imperfection by Beth Vogt

In my early mommy-ing years, I was all about perfection. I wasn’t going to be just a good mom—oh, no. I grabbed the virtual performance bar and shoved it way out of my reach.

It didn’t take long for that bar to come crashing down on my head. Perfection was toppled by the harsh reality that, at times, I was an angry mom. I hit my knees and begged God for forgiveness, for patience, for the ability to love my children one day at a time . . . sometimes one hour at a time.

I embraced 1 Peter 4:8: Love covers a multitude of mistakes, even altering it a bit so that it met my need. My version of 1 Peter 4:8 became: Love covers a multitude of mommy-mistakes. There was no way I could pretend that I was perfect, but I could do everything possible so that my children knew that I loved them, despite my imperfections.

Fast forward through toddlers and teenagers to being the mother of a twenty-something son, two late-teen daughters, and one (surprise!) elementary-school-age daughter.

During lunch one day with Katie Beth and Amy, my two oldest daughters, Katie Beth looked at me and asked, “Do you want to know what the best thing was about you as a mom?”

Did I? How could I say no to an unexpected “her children will rise up and call her blessed” moment? I assured Katie Beth I absolutely wanted to know the best thing about me as a mom. She looked at me and said, “The best thing about you as a mom was that you weren’t perfect.”

Oh. I admit I expected something . . . more. I joked with my daughter, telling her I wished she’d told me this sooner, as I wasted too much time trying to be perfect. We all laughed and the conversation moved on.

A few weeks later as a prepared a talk on motherhood and perfection for a moms group, I asked Katie Beth, “Can you tell me again why not being perfect was the best thing about me as a mom?”

She emailed me a letter that read: So many kids grow up thinking their parents are up on this pedestal. They think their parents can do no wrong, but then when they fail at something or make a mistake . . . it can tend to devastate those kids. Also, it taught me that being a Christian does not equal perfection. So many people think because they are a Christian they have to be perfect, and I learned from you that, while you are a very loving mother, you are not perfect. It helps me know you don’t expect me to be perfect. 

Our children don’t want perfect moms—but they do want to know we love them. And maybe by admitting we’re not perfect, our kids will avoid the perfectionist trap too.

###

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best is often behind the doors marked “Never.” After being a nonfiction writer and editor who said she'd never write fiction, Beth has proudly authored two novels, Wish You Were Here and the newly released Catch a Falling Star. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

"wish you were here" by beth k. vogt

About the book: Allison fell in love with Seth because he made her feel safe. Now, he just makes her feel suffocated. As their wedding approaches, her cold feet become frigid; everything is wrong—the dress, the huge ceremony, and perhaps even the groom.

Allison becomes a runaway bride—and in the process, she rediscovers herself, finds out what it means to love and be loved, and reconnects with the God she abandoned as a teenager.

My take: Wish You Were Here, stripped down to its core, could be one of a zillion other romantic comedies. Boy loves girl. Girl is dating (or engaged to) another guy. Boy wins girl over. Boy and girl ride off into the sunset together. That plot by itself makes for an enjoyable romance. But what makes Wish You Were Here so completely compelling is the depth author Beth K. Vogt has added to that story line. Characters struggle with cutting, pornography, family relationships, and abusive situations. These aspects could weigh the story down, but somehow, Vogt keeps it light while still dealing with the gravity of the situations.

Wish You Were Here is a book I simply could not put down (and I stayed up far too late two nights in a row reading it), and I'm happy to recommend it! 5 out of 5 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying here or buy the book here.

About the author: Beth K. Vogt provides her readers with a happily ever after woven through with humor, reality, and God's lavish grace. She's a non-fiction author and editor who said she'd never write fiction. She's the wife of an Air Force physician (now in solo practice) who said she'd never marry a doctor-or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four who said she'd never have kids. Beth has discovered that God's best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." She writes contemporary romance because she believes there's more to happily ever after than the fairy tales tell us. Beth earned a journalism degree from San Jose State University and met her husband Rob when he knocked her down at a karate studio. They've been married for 31 years. They have four children, ranging in ages from 28, 25, 23 and - thanks to a funny thing happening on their way to the empty nest-a 10-year-old. The Vogt Team, which now includes a "daughter-in-love" and "son-in-love," enjoys hiking and camping in Colorado. Read more about Beth at her website: http://bethvogt.com.

About the giveaway: Win an iPad2 from @BethVogt! Celebrate with Beth by entering her Wish You Were Here Giveaway!

One "happy" winner will receive:

• A brand new iPad with Wi-Fi (The must-have, do-everything gadget!)
• Wish You Were Here by Beth Vogt (Swoon worthy.)
• $15 iTunes Gift Card (Music, books, apps, & more.)

Hurry, the giveaway ends on 6/4/12. The winner will be announced 6/6/12 on Beth's website!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Beth's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

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. 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."