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!
11 years ago
Showing posts with label kathryn springer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kathryn springer. Show all posts
Saturday, September 25, 2021
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!
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."
Saturday, June 25, 2016
"love on a deadline" by kathryn springer
In recent years, Kathryn Springer has become one of my favorite authors. I've absolutely adored her Bannister Falls series (especially book 2, The Hearts We Mend), and I also enjoyed A September Bride, her entry in Zondervan's first Year of Weddings series. This, of course, meant that I also wanted to read Love on a Deadline, her entry in the second installment of the Year of Weddings.MacKenzie thought writing wedding stories was beneath her journalistic abilities. Until one love story rekindled an old flame and opened her heart to love once more.
MacKenzie “Mac” Davis left her hometown of Red Leaf, Wisconsin, ten years ago, and she never looked back. But when her father, beloved Coach Davis, suffers a mild heart attack, she returns home for an extended visit. It means taking a job at the local newspaper, where the biggest news story is the return of Hollis Channing to marry her celebrity fiancé, but Mac would do anything to make sure her dad takes care of himself. She just didn’t know that would include spending extended time with her high school crush, Ethan Channing, brother of the bride and the boy who broke her heart.
When Ethan Channing offered to help his sister plan her fast wedding, he had no idea what a big production it would be. Nor what a dilapidated state their old family home would be in. But when he catches Mac trying to take pictures of the house for an article she’s writing, he ropes her in to helping him. It’s hard to believe the tomboy coach’s daughter he remembers from high school has turned into this beautiful fire ball of a woman. And he has to admit he doesn’t mind needing her help in planning the wedding of a lifetime.
It’s been ten years since they’ve seen each other. And ten years is a long time. But is it long enough to repair broken hearts and turn old high school crushes into love?
Oh my goodness, this novella was a delight from start to finish! I've mentioned before that sometimes it's difficult for an author to tell a complete story in a novella, but Springer had no problem here, perhaps because Ethan and Mac already had a history. Their past was revealed slowly, and I enjoyed seeing how it affected their present. I also really loved the romance—a plus when you're reading a romance novel! Overall, this novella is simply fantastic, and it lives up to what I've come to expect from Springer. 5 stars.
Buy Kiss the Bride, which contains the novellas I Hope You Dance, Picture Perfect Love, and Love on a Deadline.
Read my reviews of Springer's The Dandelion Field (5 stars), The Hearts We Mend (5 stars), and A September Bride (4 stars).
Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings and Year of Weddings 2 novellas.
Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings and Year of Weddings 2 novellas.
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.
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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, February 12, 2015
"the dandelion field" by kathryn springer
This handsome firefighter makes a living coming to the rescue, but Gin doesn't need a man to fight her battles.
After Raine's dad walked out, Ginevieve Lightly never lived in one place too long, a rambling lifestyle that defined her daughter's youth. When their car dies in Banister Falls, Wisconsin, Gin promises Raine they can stay until she finishes her senior year of high school. Gin will do anything to make sure her daughter has a bright future . . . a future that's compromised when Raine reveals she's pregnant.
Dan Moretti has only ever called Banister Falls home. After losing his best friend in a tragic accident, Dan devoted himself to responding to fires, rescuing the helpless, and guiding Cody Bennett, his best friend's son, through life. With Cody being the epitome of the good kid, it was an easy job. Until he says four little words: "The baby is mine."
Knowing gossip of Raine's pregnancy will erupt sooner or later in the small town, Gin's reflex is to grab the suitcase and escape to a new city, a new life. But with each passing day, Gin's feet stay rooted in Banister Falls, and she falls a little more for this local firefighter who shows her not all men abandon women at the first sign of smoke.
As Gin and Dan do the best they can to guide the two teenagers through their early entry into adulthood, they discover together that romance can bloom in the rockiest of situations. And God can turn the pieces of a broken past into a beautiful new beginning.
What a story! I picked up The Dandelion Field one evening and didn't stop reading until I'd finished it—I was that engrossed in the story!
Each character in the story was intriguing, from Gin and her daughter Raine to firefighter Dan and Raine's boyfriend Cody to Dan's big crazy family and Gin's coworkers. I especially loved Ginevieve's character, and I felt myself completely drawn into her problems and pulling for her to succeed.
The romance between Dan and Gin is sweet and builds slowly (but not too slowly), and the obstacles between them felt genuine, rather than just thrown in to create conflict. The romance between Cody and Raine also felt true to life. Really, that "realness" is what makes The Dandelion Field stand out from so many other books.
This is a book that I could see myself reading multiple times—it's simply fantastic! 5 stars.
See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Springer's A September Bride (4 stars).
Find Kathryn online: website, Facebook
Get ready for Valentine's Day with a new story of romance and falling in love in Kathryn Springer's The Dandelion Field. The handsome firefighter makes a living “coming to the rescue,” but Gin is used to fighting her own battles. Can a woman who doesn't believe in happy endings take a chance on a new beginning?
Celebrate a second chance at love and family with Kathryn by entering her Kindle Fire giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- The Dandelion Field
Sunday, October 12, 2014
"a september bride" by kathryn springer
Annie's always wanted a home and a family. But will pretending to be a bride get her closer to her dreams?
All Annie Price has ever wanted is a place to call home. Growing up in the foster care system, that dream seemed far away, but now Annie's dream may be coming true. A friend she met in an online book group wants to retire and has offered Annie a fresh start managing her little bookstore. Believing the opportunity is an answer to prayer, Annie packs her suitcase and moves to Red Leaf, Wisconsin.
The residents of Red Leaf welcome Annie into the fold . . . everyone except the bookstore owner's son, Jesse Kent. But Annie refuses to let the handsome deputy keep her from embracing her new home with open arms. She even volunteers to help the local historical society refurbish an old church and agrees to be the "bride" for a special reenactment celebrating the museum's open house.
Jesse Kent can't believe his mother has handed the keys to her business over to a woman she met on the Internet. Annie's beautiful, of course, and smart as a whip, but what do they really know about her, anyway? What if she's come to their town just for his mother's money? The only way to see if his suspicions about Annie Price are true is to keep a close eye on her-even if it means he has to marry her! Planning their mock wedding will give him the chance to uncover Annie's motive for moving to town. But as the day of the wedding approaches and secrets come to light, Jesse must face the truth. He wants Annie to be his September bride . . . for real.
"A September Bride" is another winning entry in Zondervan's Year of Weddings series, and it features some of the strongest chemistry of any of the novellas so far. Annie and Jesse's attraction is palpable, and they're both very likeable characters. The supporting characters are wonderful, as well, and I hope author Kathryn Springer revisits Red Leaf in the future, as there seem to be a lot more stories there!
I do think "A September Bride" suffers a bit because of its novella length. Annie has a secret that sort of, but not completely, comes to light, and as it was so important to her, I was surprised to see it dropped. (It's one of those cases where Jesse knows the truth, but she doesn't know that he knows.) I'm sure that in a full length novel, it would have been explored.
While I won't spoil anything, I have to say that the end didn't turn out as I'd anticipated—and I think this novella is so much better for it! Kathryn Springer is definitely moving onto my list of authors to watch. 4 stars.
Buy the novella.
Read my reviews of the other "Year of Weddings" entries: December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, and August.
Kathryn Springer, winner of the 2009 ACFW Carol Award (Family Treasures), grew up in a small town 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. After a number of busy years, when she married her college sweetheart and became a stay-at-home mom, Kathryn rediscovered her love for writing. An unexpected snow day from school became the inspiration for a short story, which she submitted to Brio magazine. She went on to publish over a dozen more short stories for Brio, but it wasn’t until her youngest child started school that she decided to pursue her dream to write a novel. In August 2004, her Love Inspired® debut novel, Tested by Fire, was published. Encouraging women in their faith journey is the reason Kathryn loves to write inspirational fiction. She hosts a women’s Bible study in her home and volunteers in a local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) ministry. When she isn’t at the computer, you’ll find her curled up with a good book, spending time with family and friends or walking on the trails near her country home.
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