In a story that feels ripped from the headlines, Robert Whitlow takes readers to a small town divided by racial tensions.
12 years ago
Showing posts with label booklook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label booklook. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
"A Time to Stand" by Robert Whitlow
In a story that feels ripped from the headlines, Robert Whitlow takes readers to a small town divided by racial tensions.
Friday, June 30, 2017
"Sweetbriar Cottage" by Denise Hunter
Every time Denise Hunter releases a new book, I'm itching to get my hands on it! I was especially excited to read Sweetbriar Cottage, as it features a (very) minor character from Just a Kiss, the final novel in her Summer Harbor series. (Also—Just a Kiss just won the 2017 INSPY Award for contemporary romance/romantic suspense! Check out all the winners here.)
Saturday, June 3, 2017
"The Noble Servant" by Melanie Dickerson
I love Melanie Dickerson's medieval novels! They all take one (or maybe two) fairy tales and give them a twist. Dickerson's Hagenheim/Fairy Tale Romance series, which I'm still working my way through when I have a spare reading moment, is absolutely fantastic. The Noble Servant is the third book in Dickerson's other medieval series (admittedly, it gets a little confusing keeping all the books straight!), the Thornbeck/Medieval Fairy Tale series. I loved the second book, The Beautiful Pretender, so I was quite eager to get my hands on this book.
Thursday, May 11, 2017
"You'll Think of Me" by Robin Lee Hatcher
Robin Lee Hatcher's latest novel, You'll Think of Me, is another charming small-town romance.
Friday, February 17, 2017
"A Portrait of Emily Price" by Katherine Reay
At the end of 2013, I discovered Katherine Reay's Dear Mr. Knightley. It's a beautiful novel that I read in one evening because it was so "unputdownable." I still haven't read her follow-up, Lizzy and Jane, but I was thrilled to get my hands on The Brontë Plot last year. Turns out my expectations were a bit too high, based on my complete adoration for Dear Mr. Knightley, and I walked away from The Brontë Plot a bit disappointed, even though it's a solid book.
While I expected to enjoy A Portrait of Emily Price, Reay's latest novel, I went into it with much lower expectations ... and I found myself blown away by this beautiful, touching novel.
Monday, December 12, 2016
"A Royal Christmas Wedding" by Rachel Hauck
I have loved (loved, loved!) Rachel Hauck's Royal Wedding series. I thought it was finished after the third book, How to Catch a Prince, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Hauck had written a new Christmas novella, A Royal Christmas Wedding, that serves as the fourth book in the series.
Monday, October 10, 2016
"The Wedding Shop" by Rachel Hauck
Thursday, July 7, 2016
"kiss the bride" by mcclone, hatcher, and springer
Three of the novellas in Zondervan's Year of Weddings series are brought together in this collection that makes a great beach read.
Meet the people who make it all happen—the planners, the photographers, the musicians who have helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples—as they find their own happy endings in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.
Picture Perfect Love: A June Wedding Story by Melissa McClone
When image becomes everything, it’s up to love to refocus the heart.
Photographer Jenna Harrison wants every bride and groom to look picture perfect on their special day. But her own heart is still broken, the unworn wedding dress hanging in her closet a reminder that relationships aren’t always as perfect as they look through her camera lens.
Attorney Ashton Vance is the one that got away, but he wrongly blamed Jenna for ruining his political aspirations. Even if Jenna can forgive him, dare he hope for a second chance at her love?
I Hope You Dance: A July Wedding Story by Robin Lee Hatcher
Can two left feet lead to one perfect romance?
Grant Nichols is a genius in the kitchen and a klutz on the dance floor. But his friend’s wedding is shaping up to be a shindig the likes of which Kings Meadow has never seen—including dancing. Lots of dancing.
Former rodeo queen Skye Foster is offering dance lessons for the wedding party. Grant and Skye are no match on paper. But when they step onto the dance floor, they create a melody all their own.
Love on a Deadline: An August Wedding Story by Kathryn Springer
MacKenzie “Mac” Davis returns to her hometown of Red Leaf, Wisconsin, and takes a job at the weekly newspaper writing about social events.
When Hollis Channing, Mac’s high school nemesis, returns to Red Leaf to marry her celebrity fiancé, the editor asks Mac to cover all the festivities for the newspaper. The last thing Mac wants to do is reconnect with the person who made her life miserable when she was a teenager . . . unless it’s spending time with Ethan Channing, the bride’s older brother—and Mac’s first crush.
As is the case with most novella collections, I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. My favorite by far is Springer's Love on a Deadline. Of the three novellas, it felt the most complete and featured my favorite romance. I also really enjoyed returning to Red Leaf, Wisconsin, the setting of Springer's A September Bride. 5 stars.
I Hope You Dance, which is part of Hatcher's Kings Meadow series, was also enjoyable to read, though the conflict keeping Grant and Skye apart was resolved a bit too easily and conveniently. 3-1/2 stars.
Picture Perfect Love was the one novella that missed the mark for me. I didn't enjoy the romance at all, which is a key component of a romance novel! I did appreciate Jenna's journey—except the part where she ended up with Ashton. 2-1/2 stars.
Overall, this collection is enjoyable, and it's nice to have these novellas in print when they were previously only available digitally. 4 stars for the collection.
Buy the book.
Read my full reviews of each novella: Picture Perfect Love, I Hope You Dance, and Love on a Deadline.
Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings and Year of Weddings 2 novellas.
Melissa McClone has published more than thirty novels with Harlequin and Tule Publishing Group. She has also been nominated for Romance Writers of America's RITA® award. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three school-aged children, two spoiled Norwegian Elkhounds and cats who think they rule the house.
Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heart-warming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, two RT Career Achievement Awards, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over sixty novels.
Kathryn Springer is a USA Today bestselling author. She grew up in northern Wisconsin, where her parents published a weekly newspaper. As a child she spent many hours sitting at her mother's typewriter, plunking out stories, and credits her parents for instilling in her a love of books --- which eventually turned into a desire to tell stories of her own. Kathryn has written nineteen books with close to two million copies sold. She lives with her husband and three children in Marinette, Wisconsin.
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."
Monday, June 20, 2016
"i hope you dance" by robin lee hatcher
Author Robin Lee Hatcher takes readers back to the beloved setting of Kings Meadow for this novella in Zondervan's second Year of Weddings series.
Can two left feet lead to one perfect romance?
Grant Nichols is a genius in the kitchen and a klutz on the dance floor. But his friend’s wedding is shaping up to be a shindig the likes of which Kings Meadow has never seen—including dancing. Lots of dancing. Then he learns that a local dance teacher, Skye Foster, is offering dance lessons for the wedding party. The lessons are free, so what does he have to lose?
A former rodeo queen, Skye Foster teaches children ballet and tap during the day, but with the popularity of ballroom dancing and her own love of Country Swing, she’s been teaching adults in the evenings.
Grant comes from a family of ten siblings. He was the second oldest and believes he's had his fill of little rug rats. He’s happy with his bachelor state, despite the fact that he’s given up his ladies’ man lifestyle. Even he admits to his wilder nature and has been trying to clean up his act, with God's help.
Skye, on the other hand, loves being around kids. She would love to find the right guy and settle down to have half a dozen children of her own.
Grant and Skye are no match on paper. But when they step onto the dance floor, they move to a love song all their own.
Skye, on the other hand, loves being around kids. She would love to find the right guy and settle down to have half a dozen children of her own.
Grant and Skye are no match on paper. But when they step onto the dance floor, they move to a love song all their own.
Novellas can be difficult. Because they're short, sometimes the author has to leave things out or rush things in order to tell a complete story. Unfortunately, that's what's happened with I Hope You Dance. I loved the set up of Grant and Skye meeting and falling in love, and I could even buy a quick proposal—after all, that does happen in real life. But the big hindrance to their happily ever after—Skye's desire for a big family contrasted with Grant's determination to not have children—is resolved so quickly and rather improbably, and it just didn't ring true.
I have loved Robin Lee Hatcher's Kings Meadow series, and I Hope You Dance is a charming return to that world. I just wish that it could have been slightly longer to allow for a touch more believability. 3-1/2 stars.
Buy the novella.
Buy Kiss the Bride, which contains the novellas I Hope You Dance, Picture Perfect Love, and Love on a Deadline.
Read my reviews of Hatcher's other Kings Meadow stories: A Promise Kept (5 stars--not "officially" a Kings Meadow novel, but set there), Love Without End (4-1/2 stars), Whenever You Come Around (4-1/2 stars), and Keeper of the Stars (4 stars).
Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings and Year of Weddings 2 novellas.
Connect with Robin: website, Twitter, Facebook
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."
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
"the goodbye bride" by denise hunter
For several years now, Denise Hunter's new releases have been "must reads" for me. As soon as I got my hands on her latest, The Goodbye Bride, well, it leapfrogged over several other review books that I simply must read ASAP ... because I couldn't wait another minute to dive into the novel!
She only remembers loving him. But he can’t forget the way she left.
Lucy Lovett can’t remember the last seven months of her life. She doesn’t remember leaving her fiancé Zac Callahan weeks before their wedding or moving to Portland, Maine. And she sure doesn’t remember getting engaged to another man. All she remembers is loving Zac more than life itself.
Zac was just beginning to get his life back on track after Lucy left him with no explanation. And now she’s back—vulnerable, homeless, and still in love with him. Has he been given a second chance with the only woman who stirs his passion and haunts his dreams?
Lucy knows she must unlock those missing months and discover why she threw everything away. And Zac knows that if he follows his heart he’ll win back the love of his life—but if Lucy’s memory returns, his would-be bride might say goodbye forever.
Just when I think there's no way I could possibly like a new Denise Hunter book more than the last, she surprises me again. Honestly, when I heard that the next book in the Summer Harbor series would be about middle Callahan brother Zac, I was a bit disappointed. You see, Hunter did such an excellent job of building up the potential romance between youngest brother Riley and oldest brother Beau's former girlfriend Paige in Falling like Snowflakes that I just wanted to get to their story. I didn't particularly care about Zac or his runaway fiancee Lucy.
Then I started reading the book. Immediately I was swept into Lucy's story and the questions it brought up: how did Lucy lose her memory, who is her new fiance, and will her memory ever come back?
Lucy is such an incredibly likable character that I couldn't help but pull for her happily ever after. Hunter did a magnificent job of portraying Lucy's confusion, fear, and determination, and, due to Hunter's choice to let the audience in on Lucy's past only when Lucy learns about it herself, there's a sense of mystery and suspense that runs throughout the novel, adding another layer to the story.
The Goodbye Bride is a wonderful love story that will keep readers turning pages long into the night. This is a must-read for fans of Christian romance! 5 stars.
Note: While you could technically read this book without first having read Falling like Snowflakes, you'll definitely miss out on some of the nuances of the characters if you don't have the background information. And Falling like Snowflakes IS a wonderful book, so do yourself a favor and pick up both of these novels!
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Hunter's Falling like Snowflakes (5 stars) and the Chapel Springs books: Barefoot Summer (5 stars), A December Bride (4.5 stars), Dancing with Fireflies (5 stars), The Wishing Season (5 stars), and Married 'til Monday (4.5 stars).
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."
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
"the wedding chapel" by rachel hauck
After taking a much needed break from reading over Christmas vacation, I decided to begin 2016 with Rachel Hauck's latest release. I thought I'd read for an hour or two ... and five hours later, I turned the final page of this wonderful book.A lonely wedding chapel built as a tribute to lost love just might hold the long-awaited secret to hope and reconciliation.
For sixty years, the wedding chapel has stood silent and empty. Retired football hall-of-famer Jimmy “Coach” Westbrook built the chapel by hand, stone by stone, for his beautiful and beloved Colette Greer, whom he lost so many years ago. The chapel is a sanctuary for his memories, a monument to true love, and a testament to his survival of the deepest pain and loss.
Photographer Taylor Branson left her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee to make a new life for herself in New York. Taylor had lots to run away from, not least of all a family history of broken promises and broken dreams. Love catches Taylor off guard when she falls for Jack Forester, a successful advertising executive, and their whirlwind romance leads to an elopement – and then to second guesses. Jack, in spite of his very real love for Taylor, is battling his own demons and struggles to show her his true self and the depths of his love for her.
When Taylor takes a photography assignment in Heart’s Bend, she is thrown back into her own past and encounters family secrets buried deep beneath the sands of time. And when Taylor and Coach’s journeys collide, they each rediscover the heartbeat of their own dreams as they learn that the love they long to hold is well worth waiting for.
From beginning to end, I was completely engaged in The Wedding Chapel. When I realized it would be a dual timeline story, I became a bit uneasy—often in these stories, I care far more for one timeline than the other. Not the case here, possibly because Jimmy's and Colette's stories ran through both timelines, providing a unifying factor. Plus, the stories were just so good!
Somehow, though the main characters were not always likable, I was very invested in each of their stories, and I never minded the shift from one character's point of view to another's. While I enjoyed each of the four main characters, I especially loved Jack's story (though he received less page time than some of the others). His journey, which led him to the father's love he so craved, also represented the strongest faith thread of the novel.
Hauck wove multiple twists and turns into this engaging story—the kinds of twists that I didn't fully anticipate, yet they made perfect sense once revealed and caused the story to take on new meaning.
While Hauck's recent releases (the Royal Wedding series, which I loved) have been a bit on the fluffy side, The Wedding Chapel has much in common with her wonderful The Wedding Dress. There's a depth and realism to The Wedding Chapel that I found wholly satisfying. This is a beautifully romantic and compelling novel about secrets, sin's consequences, family, and redemption that will stick with you beyond the final page. 5 stars.
Buy the novel.
Read my reviews of Hauck's The Wedding Dress (4-1/2 stars), Once Upon a Prince (5 stars), Princess Ever After (5 stars), How to Catch a Prince (5 stars), A Brush with Love (5 stars), and A March Bride (4 stars).
Rachel Hauck is an award winning, bestselling author. Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times, and Once Upon A Prince was a Christy Award finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and two pets and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at rachelhauck.com, Facebook: rachelhauck, and Twitter: @RachelHauck.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook blogger program 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 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."
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
"the perfect arrangement" by katie ganshert
Amelia Woods is a small-town wallflower and the proud owner of Forget-Me-Nots, a quaint flower shop that once belonged to her mother. Despite her success in business, her love life has always been a bit lackluster. Until she spies on her ex-boyfriend's wedding and ends up in horrifyingly embarrassing fender-bender with handsome wedding guest, Nate Gallagher.
Meanwhile, Amelia's younger brother, William, has proposed to his girlfriend. Amelia would be excited except she has evidence that the fiancée is not who she says she is. How can she be supportive and yet be the protective big sister too? It seems Nate is the only one available for any advice-giving, and he's good at it—and pretty fun to talk to, too. Amelia and Nate strike up an online relationship, but always lingering in Amelia's mind is the fear that he'll realize she's not nearly as appealing in real life.
As Amelia works to craft the perfect flower arrangements for other people, she begins to wonder if real love is better than the dream. And if it is, will Nate still be interested when he learns who she is?
Prior to reading The Perfect Arrangement, I'd read two Katie Ganshert novels and one novella, and I gave them all five stars (I would have given A Broken Kind of Beautiful more stars than that if I could have). Her writing has a way of gripping me emotionally, and the stories stick with me long after I've turned the final page. So when I picked up The Perfect Arrangement, I expected it to be great. What I didn't expect? Laughter and tears, but this novella produced both in abundance!
Amelia, a shy cat owner who had only ever dated one guy and had a bit of a Cinderella backstory, was such a likable and relatable character. I absolutely loved watching her relationship with Nate grow through emails (which were so witty and fun), and I adored her interaction with George, her elderly customer. George's story is the one that so touched my heart.
While Amelia and Nate do fall in love (this is a romance, after all), some aspects of the story are left unresolved, which I actually found to be refreshing. In real life, sometimes you just have to let things go and see how they play out, and that's what Amelia had to do. I would definitely love to visit this town with Ganshert again and learn what happens to Amelia and her family! 5 stars.
Buy the novella.
Read my reviews of Ganshert's An October Bride (5 stars) and Wildflowers from Winter (5 stars).
Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings and Year of Weddings 2 novellas.
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.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
"falling like snowflakes" by denise hunter
Speeding north through rural Maine, Eden Martelli wonders how her life came to this—on the run with her mute five-year-old son dozing fitfully in the passenger seat. When a breakdown leaves them stranded in Summer Harbor, Eden has no choice to stay put through Christmas...even though they have no place to lay their heads.
Beau Callahan is a habitual problem solver—for other people, anyway. He left the sheriff's department to take over his family's Christmas tree farm, but he's still haunted by the loss of his parents and struggling to handle his first Christmas alone.
When Eden shows up looking for work just as Beau's feisty aunt gets out of the hospital, Beau thinks he's finally caught a break. Eden is competent and dedicated—if a little guarded—an a knockout to boot. But, as he soon finds out, she also comes with a boatload of secrets.
Eden has been through too much to trust her heart to another man, but Beau is impossible to resist, and the feeling seems to be mutual. As Christmas Eve approaches, Eden's past catches up to her.
Beau will go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe. But who's going to protect his heart from a woman who can't seem to trust again?
Falling Like Snowflakes is the first book in Hunter's new Summer Harbor series, which focuses on the Callahan brothers. (These brothers were introduced in Married 'Til Monday, the final book in Hunter's Chapel Springs series, but you do not need to have read that book to jump into this series.)
I've come to expect sizzling (yet chaste) romance from Hunter, and Falling Like Snowflakes does not disappoint! There's obviously a spark between Beau and Eden from their first meeting, and their relationship has a slow burn quality to it that I appreciated. I loved both Beau and Eden as characters, and I definitely pulled for their happily ever after!
Falling Like Snowflakes also features an intriguing suspense thread. Eden is running from someone—the reader doesn't know who or why at first—and as her story is slowly revealed, the tension mounts. While everything is resolved rather easily, I still enjoyed the plot line.
This book has that "just one more chapter" quality that keeps you reading late into the night. Once again, Denise Hunter has written a captivating inspirational romance that is definitely worth reading. While it won't surpass The Convenient Groom or Dancing with Fireflies as my favorite Hunter novel, it's very, very good. 5 stars.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Hunter's Chapel Springs books: Barefoot Summer (5 stars), A December Bride (4.5 stars), Dancing with Fireflies (5 stars), The Wishing Season (5 stars), and Married 'til Monday (4.5 stars).
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."
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
"love takes the cake" by besty st. amant
Meet the people who make it all happen—the planners, the photographers, the musicians who have helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples—as they find their own happy endings in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.
She’s known for her delicious cakes, but there’s no recipe for dealing with the new man in her life. Charlotte owns the best bakery in Louisiana, and clients come from near and far for her renowned wedding cakes. And while the wedding scene is Charlotte’s place to shine, her own love life is more dull than ever. After a string of failed relationships—and men who actually were too good to be true—she has decided to throw herself into her craft and leave love and marriage to her clients.
Will is a successful entrepreneur but devotes much of his spare time to caring for his sister. He deeply regrets his past mistakes, so he has done everything he can to guard his heart from relationships. And what girl would understand that he needs to spend all his time with his sister? But when his best friend calls in his help for his September wedding, Will can’t refuse. He's always been there for those closest to him. And when he finds out they don’t have a wedding cake yet, he knows exactly where to go—the bakery owned by the beautiful, mysterious young woman he buys treats from.
Charlotte assumes Will is just another party boy who flirts with all the bridesmaids. But is Will hiding something that explains his behavior? And despite their reservations, will they be able to deny the chemistry between them?
In Love Takes the Cake, Charlotte and Will sort of stutter-step toward a relationship. She swore off charismatic, attractive men after being duped by her ex. He doesn't feel worthy of a good relationship, due to his past mistakes.
While Charlotte and Will's holdups could become annoying, St. Amant wrote the characters in such a way that their reservations were perfectly understandable. And the two certainly had chemistry, which made the novella that much more fun to read!
Sometimes novellas feel rushed or incomplete, but Love Takes the Cake was really the perfect length. The leads are well developed, and many of the supporting characters feel fully fleshed out, as well. (And can we please get a story about Will's sister Melissa next? I would absolutely love to read her love story!)
Love Takes the Cake is the fourth Besty St. Amant novel or novella that I've read, and I've enjoyed each one. She's definitely become a must-read author for me! 4-1/2 stars.
Buy the novella.
Read my reviews of St. Amant's A February Bride (4 stars), All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes (5 stars), and Love Arrives in Pieces (4-1/2 stars).
Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings and Year of Weddings 2 novellas.
Find Betsy online: website, Facebook
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
"whenever you come around" by robin lee hatcher
Just when Charity's wild imagination failed her, a flesh-and-blood hero walked into her life.
Best-selling author Charity Anderson returns to her hometown of Kings Meadow to defeat a bad case of writer's block. She imagines she'll spend a lonely summer writing and then return to her home in Boise. She soon finds herself caring for Buck Malone, a wilderness guide-and the object of her unrequited teenage crush. But what else can she do? Her dog Cocoa caused the accident that left Buck with a broken ankle and wrist, taking him off the trail for weeks of prime tourist-season work.
Buck and Charity have gone different ways since high school, and at first it seems they have little in common. Buck loves the simple, low-key life he's made for himself in the mountains of Idaho, and she's a woman accustomed to the faster, bustling pace of the city. But spending so much time together has Buck hoping to change her mind about staying in the small town she thought she'd left behind for good.
It's a summer for discovering that young love is a spark not soon extinguished.
Kings Meadow is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to visit in fiction. The three novels so far—A Promise Kept, Love Without End, and Whenever You Come Around—feature wonderful romances and can be read separately or as part of the series.
Whenever You Come Around focuses on Charity Anderson, a woman whose past has kept her from spending much time in her hometown and has held her back from finding love. When she reconnects with Buck, her high school crush, the walls she has erected around her heart begin to crumble.
I absolutely loved Charity's back story—the circumstances that turned her into the woman she is in the novel. It's revealed in bits and pieces, and it's both infuriating and heartbreaking. I hated how she felt the need to keep her story a secret, though I understood why she did.
The romance in Whenever You Come Around is very sweet, especially from Buck's perspective. Watching him fall in love with Charity was one of my favorite aspects of this novel. I also enjoyed another relationship in the novel: Charity's relationship with her sister Terri. Terri plays a major role in Charity's healing, which I think is more realistic than having Buck be the one to "save" Charity.
I did think that the ending came rather quickly and wrapped up a bit too neatly, but that's a minor complaint when compared with my regard for the rest of the novel. Whenever You Come Around is wonderful romance with depth, and I highly recommend it. 4-1/2 stars.
Buy the book.
See my reviews of the Kings Meadow books A Promise Kept (5 stars) and Love Without End (4-1/2 stars); Beloved (4-1/2 stars); and The Heart's Pursuit (4 stars).
Robin Lee Hatcher is the bestselling author of 70 books. Her numerous awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. Robin and her husband currently reside in Idaho. For more information, visit www.robinleehatcher.com.
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."
Whenever You Come Around focuses on Charity Anderson, a woman whose past has kept her from spending much time in her hometown and has held her back from finding love. When she reconnects with Buck, her high school crush, the walls she has erected around her heart begin to crumble.
I absolutely loved Charity's back story—the circumstances that turned her into the woman she is in the novel. It's revealed in bits and pieces, and it's both infuriating and heartbreaking. I hated how she felt the need to keep her story a secret, though I understood why she did.
The romance in Whenever You Come Around is very sweet, especially from Buck's perspective. Watching him fall in love with Charity was one of my favorite aspects of this novel. I also enjoyed another relationship in the novel: Charity's relationship with her sister Terri. Terri plays a major role in Charity's healing, which I think is more realistic than having Buck be the one to "save" Charity.
I did think that the ending came rather quickly and wrapped up a bit too neatly, but that's a minor complaint when compared with my regard for the rest of the novel. Whenever You Come Around is wonderful romance with depth, and I highly recommend it. 4-1/2 stars.
Buy the book.
See my reviews of the Kings Meadow books A Promise Kept (5 stars) and Love Without End (4-1/2 stars); Beloved (4-1/2 stars); and The Heart's Pursuit (4 stars).
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."
Thursday, April 9, 2015
"never a bridesmaid" by janice thompson
Can one bridesmaid undo the disasters caused by a poorly chosen maid of honor and save her sister's wedding from disaster?
Mari's older sister Crystal is getting married, and Mari is one of her bridesmaids - actually, the last in a lineup of five bridesmaids, but that doesn't really bother her. Much. But Sienna Jameson as the maid of honor? Really? She might be Crystal's best friend, but she's ditzy and undependable on her best days. When the best man turns out to be hunky Derrick Richardson, the right fielder for the Houston Astros and one of Houston's most eligible bachelors, Sienna abandons her duties as maid of honor to chase Derrick, and it's up to Mari to make sure Crystal's wedding day goes off without a hitch.
While Mari is wrapped up in dress fittings, bridal showers, and bachelorette nights, Derrick has taken notice of her devotion to her sister and her determination to make the wedding perfect. But between dodging Sienna's advances and watching Mari running around like a madwoman, Derrick is left to steal moments whenever he can to get to know this beautiful bridesmaid.
When the maid of honor shows up to the ceremony late and more done up than the bride herself, Mari fears her attempts to make her sister's wedding perfect have all been for naught. Will the bride be up-staged by the maid of honor? Will the fifth-in-line bridesmaid ever be recognized for all the work she's done? And will Mari finally have a moment to revel in the magic of a wedding and dance in the strong arms of a man?
First of all, the title is a bit of a misnomer, as Mari is certainly a bridesmaid. What she is is the last bridesmaid—the one who stands farthest away from the bride. Her frustration as she deals with the hurt of being passed over for maid of honor duties and strives to make her sister's day the best day possible anyway is palpable ... and totally relatable.
Amid the frustration, though, is a lighthearted wedding story that completely fits with the Janice Thompson brand. The romance between Mari and Derrick is sweet, and I also loved the dynamic between Mari and her sister Crystal—despite Crystal's insensitivity toward Mari and her tendency to bow to her future mother-in-law's wishes, she clearly loved Mari, and Mari loved her. Never a Bridesmaid is a great entry in the Year of Weddings series, and fans of wedding stories will love it. 4-1/2 stars.
See what others are saying.
Buy the novella.
Read my reviews of Thompson's Queen of the Waves (set on the Titanic, 4-1/2 stars) and Bouquet of Love (Weddings by Design, 4 stars).
Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings and Year of Weddings 2 novellas.
Janice Thompson got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. She has published over ninety books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children's books, and more. She particularly enjoys writing light-hearted, comedic tales because she enjoys making readers laugh. In addition, she enjoys public speaking and mentoring young writers. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. Visit her website at www.janiceathompson.com. Twitter: @booksbyjanice Facebook: Janice Hanna Thompson's Reader Page
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."
Sunday, March 29, 2015
"serving up a sweetheart" by cheryl wyatt
Meadow knows how to serve delicious food to match any wedding theme. But can she accept love when it's served up on a silver platter?
During one of the biggest weeks of her catering career, Meadow Larson’s kitchen roof caves in after an unrelenting blizzard. She has to accept help from the last person on earth she wants to see: Colin McGrath. The tormentor from her past is now a contractor, her new neighbor—and the only person available to take on a project of this size.
Colin is aware God has given him a second chance to make things right with Meadow after bullying her in high school. After years of regret and guilt, Colin is determined to earn her respect and forgiveness, no matter what it takes.
It’ll take an extreme kitchen renovation, several cooking lessons, a little lace, and a lot of grace, but God is using this renovation project not only to restore Meadow’s heart, but also to restore Colin’s integrity in her eyes. Will Meadow learn to trust the new Colin even as their relationship grows from a business exchange to something more meaningful?
Serving up a Sweetheart is a sweet "second chance at love" story. It also has surprising depth, dealing with bullying, domestic violence, and addiction.
While I enjoyed the story, it didn't ever completely capture my attention. I didn't particularly care for Meadow, probably because she often didn't seem to know her own mind. (This is a trend I've noticed in inspirational fiction, and I don't like it at all.) I did really like Colin, though, as well as Meadow's sister Flora and her business partner Del.
Overall, Serving up a Sweetheart is a nice story for a rainy day. It's not one that I found particularly memorable, but I did enjoy it. 3 stars.
Buy the novella.
Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings and Year of Weddings 2 novellas.
Cheryl Wyatt writes romance with virtue. She’s earned RT Top Picks, spots #1 and #4 on her debut publisher’s Top 10 Most-Blogged-About-Books list, Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence final, and other awards. Cheryl loves readers! Join her newsletter at www.CherylWyatt.com. Facebook: CherylWyattAuthor Twitter: @cherylwyatt
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."
Monday, March 23, 2015
"for the right reasons" by sean lowe
The "virgin Bachelor" Sean Lowe reveals the challenges of finding love while championing his Christian convictions in the morally complex world of reality TV.
After The Bachelorette broke his heart, Sean Lowe suspected his "nice guy" image hurt him. The show never emphasized it, but Sean committed to living according to biblical standards of sexuality, even as producers emphasized the risqué and promiscuous. A Texas boy from a Baptist home, Sean tells the story of how he went from a Division I college football player to a fan favorite on reality television, taking readers behind the scenes of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette to see the challenges of living out his values and faith-and ultimately winning his true love's heart.
For the Right Reasons is about the journeys we all have to take in the real world, where being "good" is the right thing to do but sometimes doesn't seem to be enough; where betrayal is commonplace; and where that thing called perfection is actually just a cruel myth. Sean learned a few things from his two seasons on the hottest romance shows on television, and he wants others to benefit from those lessons: good does eventually win, lies will be discovered, and "nice guys" do ultimately finish first.
For the Right Reasons is like a backstage pass to The Bachelor/ette. In the opening section of the book, Sean details his early life and faith, and that's interesting enough, but what I wanted—and what most readers will want—was the behind the scenes info from his time on The Bachelorette and The Bachelor. He delivers that in spades.
What I actually found most interesting was what he had to say about being on The Bachelorette. I always enjoy The Bachelorette more than The Bachelor because I love how the guys goof around and forge real friendships, while the girls on The Bachelor often just come off as catty or crazy. (I realize I'm in the minority here!) So when Sean talked about his friendships with Arie and Jef, his relationship with Emily Maynard, and what he went through after Emily let him go, well, I ate it up.
Sean spends considerable time on the whole Bachelor experience (for good reason). He addresses the Tierra drama, Des' brother, the difficulty he had in choosing who to let go near the end, and his reasons for ultimately choosing Catherine. The one aspect I wish he would have touched on is The Women Tell All episode. He never mentioned it, and I seem to recall it being rather dramatic regarding AshLee, the girl who came in third. (Here's the video evidence!) It just seems a little odd that he wouldn't mention that episode at all.
He also talks about his time on Dancing with the Stars and is very open about how difficult that time was for him and Catherine. There's also a bit about Catherine's conversion and their wedding.
All in all, For the Right Reasons is a must read for any Bachelor fan! 4-1/2 stars.
Buy the book.
Watch the book trailer. (It's adorable!)
Sean Lowe, one of the three finalists on Emily Maynard's popular season of The Bachelorette, later starred in the 2013 season of The Bachelor. Credited by the New York Times for "reinvigorating the franchise," he has been voted America's favorite Bachelor and is the only one to marry his match from the show. Sean and his bride, Catherine, live in Dallas, Texas, with their two dogs, Ellie and Lola.
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."
Monday, December 8, 2014
"a november bride" by beth vogt
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."
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
"love at mistletoe inn" by cindy kirk
They've helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples. Now twelve new couples will find themselves in the wedding spotlight in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.
Sometimes the road to happiness is paved with youthful mistakes.
Hope Prentiss didn’t go to the Harmony High School senior prom. Instead, she and John Burke drove to Boise and got married. At eighteen. But when Hope panicked after saying “I do,” the mail-order preacher assured her he just wouldn’t send in the paperwork. No forms, no marriage, no problem. Right?
Well . . .
Now, ten years later, Hope discovers that her prom-night wedding counted—and, as fate would have it, the jilted John Burke has just ridden back into town. And he’s staying with her Aunt Verna at the inn where she and Hope host weddings. After spending some time with John and helping plan a Christmas wedding for a mystery couple, Hope begins to wonder if she really wants a divorce … or a real wedding of her own.
I absolutely love the concept behind Love at Mistletoe Inn. The "secretly still married" trope is one I definitely enjoy. However, while I flew through this novella and think it would make a fantastic movie, the "in print" Hope seemed far too wishy-washy to me, and some of her actions didn't make sense at all. I think this is because the reader is privy to her secret thoughts and emotions, so when her actions contradict what the reader knows about her, she comes off as a bit flaky or indecisive, and that cuts down on her likability. (This problem likely wouldn't exist in film, as Hope's likability would depend on how the actress portrayed her.)
My qualms about Hope as a heroine aside, I did really like this story. I especially enjoyed Hope's aunt and her very obvious scheming to reunite Hope and John. Also, General Hospital viewers of old will appreciate the names of the couple whose wedding Hope has to plan.
Love at Mistletoe Inn has a compelling plot and makes for an enjoyable hour of reading. Though it's not my favorite of the Year of Weddings novellas, it's still pretty good. (And, thanks to the preview at the end, I now cannot wait to get my hands on December's installment!) 3 stars.
See what others are saying.
Buy the novella.
Cindy Kirk sold her first book in 1999 as a result of a contest win which garnered a critique of the entire manuscript. She’s been writing—and selling—ever since. Cindy has been a Booksellers’ Best Award Winner, a finalist for the National Readers’ Choice Awards and a Publishers Weekly best seller. Cindy has served on the Board of Directors of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) since 2007. In November 2014, she began serving as President of the 10,000+ member organization. She’s a frequent speaker at not only the national RWA conferences, but large regional writing conferences. She has also presented at smaller retreats and conferences across the country. She lives on an acreage in Nebraska with her high school sweetheart husband of too-many-years-to-count and their three “boys” (a shih tzu, a blue heeler and a dorkie). Their daughter lives close by with her wonderful husband and their two little girls.
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."
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