"All Things Now Living" by Rondi Bauer Olson

A few years ago, YA dystopian novels—like The Hunger Games and Divergent—were all the rage. I (like many others, I imagine) tired of the genre, and it's been ages since I've read YA dystopian. But All Things Now Living caught my eye, and I decided to give it a chance.

"Bringing Maggie Home" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

In Bringing Maggie Home, Kim Vogel Sawyer has written a novel that pulls you in with the mother-daughter-granddaughter dynamic and keeps you engaged with a decades-old mystery.

"Many Sparrows" by Lori Benton

Revolutionary War-era historical fiction isn't usually what I'd choose (I tend to stay firmly in contemporary land with occasional forays into the World War II era), but I'd heard so many wonderful things about Lori Benton's writing from bloggers and authors I respect that I decided to try out Many Sparrows.

I wasn't disappointed.

"Grounded Hearts" by Jeanne M. Dickson

 

While I vastly prefer contemporary novels to historicals, there's one era that I'll always read about: World War II. So when I saw Jeanne M. Dickson's Grounded Hearts, set in Ireland during World War II, I knew I wanted to read it.

"Forensic Faith" by J. Warner Wallace

Last year, I read J. Warner Wallace's Cold-Case Christianity for Kids. Even though it's written for kids, I loved it, and I learned a lot, too. So when I heard Wallace had a new book coming out, Forensic Faith, I knew I wanted to read it.

"Getaway with God" by Letitia Suk

Several years ago, I was telling a friend that I felt like I needed to reconnect with God, but I wasn't sure what to do. This friend suggested that I get away, by myself, and spend a day with God. I thought it was a great idea, and I even planned to go to a local park that Saturday, just me, my Bible, and God. Then I was offered free Cornhusker football tickets, and, rightly or wrongly, the Huskers took precedence.

I actually hadn't thought about that in years, but when I heard about Getaway with God, that memory came rushing back, and the concept of a personal retreat began to really appeal to me.

"Getaway with God" Giveaway Info

Next week, I'll be reviewing Letitia Suk's Getaway with God. But today, I want to make sure you know about the great giveaway that's going along with this blog tour! Read more and enter below!

"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Ace Collins

Christmas is just around the corner, and, now that it finally feels like winter in Nebraska, I'm so ready! (Though I wouldn't complain about more 72 degree days...) Whether you're eagerly anticipating Christmas or you'd like to prolong fall a little longer, Ace Collins's new Christmas devotional, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, is the perfect thing to get you in the Christmas spirit.

"Trust My Heart" by Carol J. Post

Trust and forgiveness are at the forefront of Carol J. Post's Trust My Heart.

"Cold-Case Christianity for Kids" by J. Warner Wallace & Susie Wallace

At some point, kids who grow up knowing about Jesus want to know if what they've learned about Him is really true. Cold-Case Christianity for Kids is a great book for those kids—and for anyone who wants to investigate the claims of Christianity.

"god bless us every one" by eva marie everson

Abingdon Press, Sept. 2016

It may not feel like Christmas is on the horizon (we're looking at highs in the 70s and 80s for the next week), but I don't think it's ever too soon for a Christmas book!

Eva Marie Everson's God Bless Us Every One released earlier this week, and it's a great book to get you into the spirit of the season ... even if it is only September!

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Charlene Dixon---called Charlie by family and friends---is devastated at the recent loss of her job. For the last five years, the twenty-seven-year-old has blossomed as the activities director of an exclusive all-girls school. But when a misunderstanding with the headmistress leads to a pink slip right before the holidays, Charlie packs up her dreams and returns to her grandmother, Sis, who raised Charlie as her own in the mountains of North Carolina. 

When Charlie arrives---broken and confused---Sis immediately puts her granddaughter to work behind the scenes of the local school's Christmas play, A Christmas Carol. Charlie prickles at working with Dustin Kennedy, the drama teacher and her old crush from schooldays, but is even more put out at that the choice of the Dickens' classic for the holiday performance. When she discovers her estranged father's involvement her world turns on its head once more. But when Sis and Dustin encourage her to take a deeper look at the story behind A Christmas Carol, Charlie learns about trust, faith, and forgiveness and the needs of people in their own community.

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I picked up God Bless Us Every One immediately after reading two suspense novels, and it was a welcome change of pace! It's fairly short—200 pages with a larger-than-normal font and blank pages between chapters—so it makes for a quick read.

When Charlie loses her job right before Christmas, she moves back in with Sis, the grandmother who raised her. While Charlie anticipates staying in Testament only until she can find a new job, her re-connection with two men—her high school crush Dusty and her estranged father John—upends her world and makes her question where she belongs.

God Bless Us Every One is a sweet novella that I enjoyed reading. I especially liked the deeper look at Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol—while I've read it multiple times, I never knew the story behind it—and I enjoyed reading the excerpts at the beginning of each chapter.

While I did think that Charlie was a bit too quick to jump to conclusions about John (her hesitance to trust him made perfect sense, but she had scant evidence of his supposed misconduct that drove her actions for the last half of the novella), overall, I really enjoyed the story and would love to read more of Everson's books. 4 stars.

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Eva Marie Everson is an award-winning speaker and author of The Road to Testament, Things Left Unspoken, This Fine Life, Chasing Sunsets, Waiting for Sunrise, Slow Moon Rising, and The Potluck Club series (with Linda Evans Shepherd). She is the president of Word Weavers International, Inc., a member of AWSA, ACFW, RWA, the director of Florida Christian Writer's Conference, and the contest director for Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer's Conference. She and her husband make their home in Casselberry, Florida.

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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."

"starving hearts" by janine mendenhall

Heritage Beacon Fiction, May 2016

Long-kept secrets threaten to ruin two families in Janine Mendenhall's Starving Hearts.

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Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage.

She yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God's existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Mr. Peter Adsley is joining the clergy, and he desires a godly wife by his side. After a failed attempt to obtain one, he engages in a clandestine meeting with the bewitching young woman who keeps crossing his path. But she is so unsettling.

Destined for disappointments, Peter and Annette both endure disgraceful situations. Will Peter's faith sustain him through overwhelming setbacks? Can Annette overcome her doubts? Or will their starving hearts yield to the machinations of a mad man?

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Though you wouldn't know it by the cover, Starving Hearts is more of a suspense novel than a romance. I felt a sense of foreboding as I read—I was just sure something awful was on the next page (and sometimes it was). The suspense built the farther I got into the novel, and that's what kept me reading.

Starving Hearts is mainly about Annette Chetwynd and Peter Adsley and their struggle to be together. However, I didn't particularly care for the romance. Peter and Annette "fell in love" very quickly, though it really just seemed like obsession/fantasy on both of their parts. I spent the first half of the novel struggling to really engage with the plot, probably because I wasn't into the romance. I did appreciate some of the side characters and their interactions with Peter and Annette, though—characters like Turtle, a cabin boy on a ship Peter traveled on; Bledsoe, the ship's captain; and Steven Likebridge, tormentor of both Peter and Annette. When these characters became more prominent in the plot, I became much more interested in the story, and I flew through the last quarter of the novel.

Even though he was the villain, Steven Likebridge (Slike) was the most compelling character. Whereas I felt that Annette and Peter weren't quite fleshed out enough, Mendenhall really dove deep into Steven's character. The sections of the book that were from his point of view were the most interesting to me, and I loved discovering more about him as the book progressed. His motivations were made clear throughout the novel, and the twists surrounding his past and present were very satisfying. While overall I struggled to get into Starving Hearts, I would be totally on board with a sequel all about Steven. 2-1/2 stars.

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Janine Mendenhall teaches teens English, of all things! Sometimes she sleeps, but most nights she reads, writes, or watches movies like Pride and Prejudice and claims she's researching her next book. Splickety Love and Splickety Prime have published her flash fiction. She and her husband, Tom, live in North Carolina where they and their two golden retrievers help gratify the needs of their five children and two cats.

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Will Annette's search for love and acceptance replace the loss and hurt in her heart? Find out in Janine Mendenhall's book one, Starving Hearts, of the Triangular Trade Trilogy. Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage. But she yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God’s existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Join in the search for love and acceptance with Janine and Starving Hearts by entering to win the Delightful Heart Gift Pack Giveaway.

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Starving Hearts
• A bottle of essential oils
• An essential oils diffuser necklace
• A chiffon scarf
• A shoulder handbag
• A copy of Jane Austen's World

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on September 12. The winner will be announced September 13 on Janine's blog.

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."

"the ringmaster's wife" by kristy cambron

The Ringmaster's Wife
(Thomas Nelson, June 2016)

Travel back to the days of the Big Top circus with Kristy Cambron's fascinating novel The Ringmaster's Wife.

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An ounce of courage. A split-second leap of faith. Together, they propel two young women to chase a new life---one that's reimagined from what they might have become.

In turn-of-the-century America, a young girl dreams of a world that stretches beyond the confines of a quiet life on the family farm. With little more than her wit and a cigar box of treasures to call her own, Mable steps away from all she knows, seeking the limitless marvels of the Chicago World's Fair. There, a chance encounter triggers her destiny---a life with a famed showman by the name of John Ringling.

A quarter of a century later, Lady Rosamund Easling of Yorkshire, England, boards a ship to America as a last adventure before her life is planned out for her. There, the twenties are roaring, and the rich and famous gather at opulent, Gatsby-esque parties in the grandest ballrooms the country has to offer. The Jazz Age has arrived, and with it, the golden era of the American circus, whose queen is none other than the enigmatic Mable Ringling.

When Rosamund's path crosses with Mable's and the Ringlings' glittering world, she makes the life-altering decision to leave behind a comfortable future of estates and propriety, instead choosing the nomadic life of a trick rider in the Ringling Brothers' circus.

A novel that is at once captivating, deeply poignant, and swirling with exquisite historical details of a bygone world, The Ringmaster's Wife will escort readers into the center ring, with its bright lights, exotic animals, and a dazzling performance that can only be described as the greatest show on earth!

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I adore fiction, but I also love a good biography, and Kristy Cambron has given readers a great mix of the two in her fictionalized but reality-based novel The Ringmaster's Wife. The dual timeline novel follows two women: the historical Mable (Burton) Ringling and the fictional Lady Rosamund Easling.

I must admit that it took a while for me to get into the novel. It's written well—Cambron is an excellent writer—but the back-and-forth nature of the time lines, especially when Mable's story featured a few large time jumps, kept me from really engaging with the first half of the novel (and I often flipped back to see what year we'd previously been in). Near the midway point, though, something shifted, and I found myself swept into the world of the Ringling Brothers' circus. I especially loved how Cambron described the circus performers through Rosamund's eyes as she adjusted to life with the traveling circus. Through Rosamund, Cambron made a powerful point that people are just people: When reflecting on the sideshow performers after spending a bit of time with the circus, Rosamund thought "how peculiar it was that her surroundings weren't so peculiar after all. They included real people. With real hearts and giving natures few ever saw" (p. 191).

Of the story lines, Mable's was my favorite. I loved watching her romance with John Ringling develop and then seeing her become like a mother to some of those in the circus. While her story is fictionalized, it's so good that I'd love to believe it's close to the truth. I'm also now itching to see the Ringlings' home, Cà d'Zan, for myself! (Yes, I've looked it up on Google, but how great would it be to visit?)

All in all, Cambron has written a beautiful novel that will leave you longing to attend—or maybe join—the circus! 4 stars.

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Read my reviews of Cambron's The Butterfly and the Violin (4 stars) and A Sparrow in Terezin (4-1/2 stars).

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Kristy Cambron fancies life as a vintage-inspired storyteller. Her second novel, A Sparrow in Terezin, was named Library Journal Reviews' "Pick of the Month (Christian Fiction)" for February 2015.

Cambron is an art/design manager at TheGROVEstory.com storytelling ministry. She holds a degree in art history from Indiana University and has nearly 15 years of experience in instructional design and communications for a Fortune-100 company. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three football-loving sons, where she can probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good Christian fiction read.

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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."

"dawn at emberwilde" by sarah e. ladd

Regency romance fans will love Sarah E. Ladd's latest novel, Dawn at Emberwilde.

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Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty.

For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would enable her to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father's death.

The unexpected arrival of a stranger with news of unknown relatives turns Isabel's small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives.

At her new family's invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocate to Emberwilde, a sprawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. Perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart.

At Emberwilde Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it—in the depths of Emberwilde Forest.

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In Dawn at Emberwilde, Isabel and her younger sister Lizzie suddenly find themselves swept from their peaceful (if poor) existence at a school to Emberwilde Hall, which Isabel's long-lost relatives own. Isabel tries to fit into polite society, but it seems she upsets her aunt at every turn. Then her aunt and uncle each begin pushing her toward very different men, and they both seem to have ulterior motives. Isabel knows what her heart feels, but just how beholden is she to her relatives?

Hands down, my favorite aspect of this novel is Isabel. She is at times strong, loving, hesitant, and confused—basically, she seems like a real person! She also has a very strong sense of self; though she does want to please her relatives, she never loses sight of what is important, and she doesn't allow herself to be pushed into anything, even when her new, comfortable life is at risk.

While Dawn at Emberwilde ostensibly features a love triangle, in actuality, there's no doubt about which suitor Isabel will choose—because the novel is written from two perspectives, Isabel's and the man she ends up with. Still, I enjoyed watching their romance develop, and Isabel's journey with the other suitor was also interesting.

I have enjoyed reading Ladd's Whispers on the Moors novels, as well as the first Treasures of Surrey novel. Dawn at Emberwilde fits well within Ladd's brand—sweet romance, great characters, and a touch of mystery. While I did struggle to stay engaged in the middle, I still greatly enjoyed the story, and I look forward to whatever Ladd will write next. 3-1/2 stars.

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Read my reviews of Ladd's Treasures of Surrey novel The Curiosity Keeper (4-1/2 stars) and her Whispers on the Moors novels: The Heiress of Winterwood (4 stars), The Headmistress of Rosemere (5 stars), and A Lady at Willowgrove Hall (4 stars).

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Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

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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."

"through the shadows" by karen barnett

Historical fiction lovers will enjoy this look into San Francisco as it recovers from the 1906 earthquake in Through the Shadows, the third book in Karen Barnett's Golden Gate Chronicles.

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As San Francisco rises from the ashes, an age-old battle looms between corruption and the promise of new beginnings.

The devastating earthquake is just two years past, but the city of San Francisco is still trying to recover. Destruction of this magnitude is not so easy to overcome—and neither are the past regrets shadowing Elizabeth King's hopeful future.

Hoping to right her wrongs, Elizabeth dedicates herself to helping girls rescued from slavery in Chinatown brothels, even if it means putting her own life at risk to sneak through the gloomy alleys and rooftops where dangers lurk.

Putting her life on the line for a worthy cause is admirable. But opening her heart is even more terrifying. So when Elizabeth meets attorney, Charles McKinley—a man who dreams of reforming San Francisco's crooked politics—Elizabeth begins to doubt: Can she maintain her pretense and hide her past? Or will her secret jeopardize both their futures?

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I've long been interested in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. (Just ask my poor high school classmates, who had to suffer through a speech I wrote about it. Trust me: no one back then would have ever believed I'd spend 12 years coaching high school speech!) So when I learned that Karen Barnett, whose Mistaken I really enjoyed, had written a series centered around the earthquake, I knew I wanted to read it. The first two books, Out of the Ruins and Beyond the Ashes, were both enjoyable reads. I loved the plots, but I felt a bit ambivalent toward the heroines. Still, the strong writing was enough to keep me coming back for more.

Through the Shadows features the same vivid writing found in Barnett's previous novels, but I liked it even better for one reason: I loved the heroine! Elizabeth is a spunky young woman unafraid to stand up against evil but terrified that she can never be forgiven for her past mistakes. I really appreciate that Barnett chose to gave Elizabeth a real past—she's not feeling guilty about circumstances out of her control; rather, she's regretting her sin. She moves to San Francisco to help the girls at the Mission Home, but she also believes that maybe, just maybe, if she does enough good, that will get her back into God's good graces. As danger swirls around her, she finally understands that God's grace is freely offered, not something she must work to attain.

I also enjoyed Elizabeth's romance with Charles. When Elizabeth was tentative, Charles was patient and kind, and all the roadblocks to their happily ever after made sense. (One of my biggest pet peeves in romance is when the hero and heroine are kept apart due to ridiculous miscommunication.) In the beginning, I wasn't so sure that I'd like Charles, as he was quick to take his (obviously shady) uncle at his word. But Charles quickly grew on me, and just as I rooted for Elizabeth to accept God's grace, I rooted for Charles to stand up to his uncle and make his own way in the world. Also, I enjoyed the look into law office politics.

The bulk of the novel takes place at the Mission Home, a refuge for girls rescued from forced servitude and prostitution in Chinatown. I loved reading about Elizabeth's interactions with the girls, as well as the rescue missions—so to learn the Mission Home was a real place (that still exists today!) and mission director Donaldina Cameron was a real person was just the icing on the cake. You can learn more about the mission—renamed the Cameron House—here.

Through the Shadows is Barnett's best book yet. I loved every second I spent reading it, and I highly recommend it! 5 stars.

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Read my reviews of Barnett's Beyond the Ashes (3-1/2 stars), Out of the Ruins (4 stars), and Mistaken (4 stars).
Enter the giveaway here.

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Karen Barnett is the author of Beyond the Ashes, Out of the Ruins, and Mistaken. Named the 2013 Writer of Promise by Oregon Christian Writers, Karen lives in Albany, Oregon, with her husband and two kids. When she's not writing novels, she loves speaking at women's events, libraries, and book clubs.

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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."

"the beautiful pretender" by melanie dickerson

Fans of Beauty and the Beast and The Bachelor will love Melanie Dickerson's latest fairy tale romance, The Beautiful Pretender!

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What happens when a margrave realizes he's fallen in love with a servant?

The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble-born ladies from around the country to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina is only responsible for two things: making sure her deception goes undetected and avoiding being selected as the margrave's bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

Despite Avelina's best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can't deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse---far deadlier---consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost? 

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Melanie Dickerson's The Beautiful Pretender has just about everything you could want in a romance: flawed yet likable main characters, forbidden love, a touch of danger, and a happily ever after.

Avelina, lady's maid to the Earl of Plimmwald's daughter Dorothea, must take Dorothea's place when the Margrave of Thornbeck, Reinhart Stolten, invites noble ladies to spend two weeks at his castle. He plans to choose a bride at the end of the period, and Avelina knows that choice cannot be her, but she needs to impress the Margrave enough for him to look favorably upon Plimmwald. This becomes more difficult than she imagined when she finds herself drawn to the Margrave ... and he seems drawn to her, too.

Avelina and Reinhart's romance is so sweet! I pulled for their happily ever after from the very beginning, but I also appreciated that the story continued after they fell in love. In fact, some of my favorite portions of the novel came after Reinhart had chosen his bride. Another wonderful aspect of this novel is the friendship between Avelina and Magdalen, one of the potential brides. I don't know if Dickerson plans to continue this series, but I would love to revisit Magdalen in a future novel.

The Beautiful Pretender is not just a simple love story—it also drives home several important points: every life is precious, each person has innate worth and deserves respect, and prejudice is a cancer that tears people apart. And it does all this wrapped up in a beautiful, captivating plot.

I've read and enjoyed a few of Melanie Dickerson's other books, but The Beautiful Pretender is by far my favorite. I highly recommend it! 5 stars.

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Read my reviews of Dickerson's The Golden Braid (5 stars) and The Princess Spy (5 stars).

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


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Inheriting the new title of margrave means Reinhart has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise? Find out in the new medieval fairy tale, The Beautiful Pretender, by Melanie Dickerson. Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost?

Join Melanie in celebrating the release of The Beautiful Pretender by entering to win her Once Upon a Kindle giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The Beautiful Pretender
• A Kindle Fire tablet
• A $25 Amazon gift card
• The choice between a Funko POP Disney Beauty or Beast doll

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 7th. The winner will be announced June 8th on Melanie's blog.

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."

"her one and only" by becky wade

I don't think words can adequately express just how excited I've been for Her One and Only! Ever since I fell in love with Becky Wade's My Stubborn Heart (which Timehop recently informed me was exactly four years ago), I've eagerly anticipated her subsequent releases. Her One and Only marks the final book in the Porter Family series, and it was everything I'd hoped for and more.

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After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt–none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives — and their hearts — to one another.

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I like to go into Becky Wade's books blind. I trust that they're going to be good, and I want to discover everything about them for myself, so I largely ignore book descriptions. I began reading Her One and Only knowing it would be about youngest Porter sibling Dru, and she would be a bodyguard. Period. So what I discovered as I read surprised me in a very good way.

Her One and Only is romantic suspense!

It's definitely more "romance" than "suspense," but the suspense is there, and it's done well. In fact, if Wade wanted to write a romantic suspense series, I wouldn't complain. The suspense surrounds Gray's stalker, and I changed my mind about the stalker's identity about five times ... never arriving on the correct person. (In fact, if I was a betting woman, I would have placed money on the stalker being a certain character—and I would have lost it all.) However, once everything was revealed, it all made sense, which isn't always a given with romantic suspense.

Of course, Her One and Only contains Wade's trademark toe-curling romance, too. I loved watching Dru and Gray fight their attraction and eventually fall for each other. While all the Porter romances have been great, I think Dru & Gray's is second only to Ty & Celia's from Meant to Be Mine—and that's saying something, as Meant to Be Mine is one of my all-time favorite books!

The other thing that I loved about Her One and Only is that it brought closure to Meg & Bo's story from Undeniably Yours, the first Porter novel. While they seemed to get their happily ever after in Undeniably Yours, glimpses we saw of them in the second and third novels showed some struggles. When Meg's story picked up in Her One and Only (which is told from Dru's, Gray's, and Meg's perspectives), I gasped and then cheered. And then I was nervous for Meg through the whole novel, as her happy ending was not a given. (Is this intentionally vague? Yes. You'll understand when you read the book.)

The whole Porter Family series has been wonderful, and Her One and Only was a delight to read. While I'm sorry to see this series end, this was a great way to go out! 5 stars.

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Read my reviews of the Porter Family Series: Undeniably Yours (5 stars), Meant to Be Mine (5 stars), and A Love Like Ours (5 stars); My Stubborn Heart (5 stars); and Love in the Details (5 stars).

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Becky Wade is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and now lives in Dallas. A favorite among readers of Christian contemporary romance, Becky has won a Carol Award, an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and an INSPY Award. 

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Meet Dru Porter, former Marine, expert markswoman, and black belt—who also happens to be assigned as a bodyguard to star NFL tight end Gray Fowler. Don't miss the final Porter family novel by Becky Wade, Her One and Only. Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, and Dru is determined to find his stalker. Every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives—and their hearts—to one another.

Join Becky in celebrating the release of Her One and Only by entering to win her Porter prize pack and $100 cash card giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Her One and Only
• A $100 cash card
• Follow Your Heart tote bag
• 24 oz Tervis Wonder Woman Tumbler
• The Blind Side DVD
• Necklace with star charm
• Porter Family navy jersey

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on May 31st. The winner will be announced June 1st on the Litfuse blog.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free for review.  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.”

join becky wade for a facebook party may 5

I don't think there's a 2016 release I'm anticipating more than Becky Wade's Her One and Only. I've pretty much gushed about each of Becky's books so far (here's the proof), and this one is sure to be great, too.  Becky is celebrating the release of Her One and Only—which I will very soon have in my hands!—with a Facebook party, and you're invited to join in! Keep reading to learn more.

 

A female bodyguard plus her star NFL client plus danger equals a great recipe for romance! Her One and Only, book four in Becky Wade's Porter Family novels, releases May 3. To celebrate, Becky is hosting an author chat party on her Facebook page on May 5 at 5 PM PDT/8 PM EDT. Join Becky for an evening of book chat with other bookworms and prizes.

Plus a portion of all pre-sales and sales the release week of Her One and Only will be donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. For more details on how to purchase a copy, click here.

About the Book

After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt–none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives — and their hearts — to one another.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

"the bachelor girl's guide to murder" by rachel mcmillan

The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder (Harvest House, April 2016)
Add to Goodreads.

It's a rainy, dreary day today. The kind of day where you just want to curl up under a blanket with a good book and a cat. So that's what I did!

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In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.

Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city's underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.

While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto's premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever—if they can stay alive long enough to do so.

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I wasn't quite sure what to expect from The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder, but I thought it looked like fun ... and it certainly was! The novel feels old-timey—in a good way! Merinda and Jem do bear a resemblance to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and I loved seeing all the parallels. Also, the book just reads like an older mystery—like something Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers would have written.

While the mystery—surrounding two murdered girls and government corruption—was interesting, I didn't care as much about the "whodunit" as I did about getting to know Jem and Merinda. Much of the novel is told through Jem's eyes, and I appreciated that perspective. Jem is clearly Merinda's sidekick, and usually the sidekick is a supporting character, but not here. I loved Jem dearly, while I felt like Merinda was just "there." Hopefully Merinda will become equally fleshed out in future novels!

Throughout the novel, author Rachel McMillan includes two things that you may be tempted to skip over (these are things I generally skip): excerpt quotes at the beginning of each chapter and footnotes scattered throughout. The footnotes are fabulous! They are so funny and provide extra information that's helpful to know. And the excerpt quotes? They go with each chapter, but what you really want to pay attention to is the attribution. So great!

I thoroughly enjoyed this first encounter with Herringford and Watts, and I look forward to their future adventures! 4 stars.

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Rachel McMillan is a keen history enthusiast and a lifelong bibliophile. When not writing or reading, she can most often be found drinking tea and watching British miniseries. Rachel lives in bustling Toronto, where she works in educational publishing and pursues her passion for art, literature, music, and theater.

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Meet best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem, who launch their own Sherlock Holmes-esque consulting detective business in 1910 Toronto in Rachel McMillan’s The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city’s underbelly. Merinda could well be Toronto’s premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever–if they can stay alive long enough to do so.

Rachel is celebrating the release of The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder with a Murder Mystery Prize Pack giveaway (details below) and an author chat party on April 28!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• One copy of The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder
• A magnifying glass necklace
• A bowler hat
• A pocket watch
• A $30 Amazon gift card

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 4/28. The winner will be announced at The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Rachel and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

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."

"the hearts we mend" by kathryn springer

Early last year, I picked up Kathryn Springer's The Dandelion Field and read the whole thing in one evening. I knew then that the world and characters Springer had created were special. So when the second book in her Bannister Falls series released, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!

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Planning and Post-It notes are the epitome of Evie's life. But when she meets Jack, her life gets more than a little complicated.

Thirteen years ago, Evie's firefighter husband was killed in the line of duty, leaving her to raise their young son, Cody, alone. Now, Cody is marrying the love of his life, and as he packs up his belongings, the house feels as empty as Evie's heart. But for all her planning and mad organizational skills, Evie could never have anticipated the dramatic shift her life is about to make.

Tattooed, rough-around-the-edges Jack raises quite a few eyebrows in the tight-knit community of Banister Falls. Where Evie's life is stream-lined, Jack's approach to living is moment-by-moment. But as Evie gets drawn into Jack's world---a world that isn't as safe or predictable as the one she's worked so hard to create---he challenges her to open her eyes to the problems outside the walls of the church.

Jack doesn't make Evie feel comfortable, but he definitely makes her feel something. Something she hasn't felt since Max passed away---or, maybe ever. Because even though Jack isn't anything like her late husband, he just might be everything she needs.

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Evie Bennett's life hasn't always been easy—she lost her firefighter husband when their son was very young; her son fell in love his senior year of high school and soon announced his girlfriend was pregnant and they were getting married—but it has always been safe. She lives in an upper middle class neighborhood, she works as the women's ministries director at her church, and she is surrounded by friends who stepped in to fill the gap after her husband's death. When Jack Vale enters her life, he challenges her to step outside the safety of the church walls and "love your neighbor as yourself." As Evie is drawn into Jack's world, she begins to really experience life in all its messiness for the first time since her husband's death.

I honestly don't think I can say enough good things about The Hearts We Mend! Because of my love for the first novel in this series, I knew I wanted to read the book—but I did wonder if author Kathryn Springer could match the quality, depth, and realness of The Dandelion Field. Well, she did; in fact, I think I actually liked The Hearts We Mend better!

Not only did I love the romance between Evie and Jack, but I also enjoyed Evie's transformation into a strong, independent woman who began pursuing the dreams God placed on her heart.

Ultimately, while I enjoyed The Hearts We Mend, it also challenged me to get out of my Evie-like comfort zone and look for opportunities God has given me to impact the world outside the church doors ... and it did it without coming across as preachy. The Bannister Falls series is a must read for anyone looking for faith-filled, realistic romance. 5 stars.

Note: The Hearts We Mend can be read as a stand-alone title, but I'd recommend reading The Dandelion Field first, as Evie's journey really begins there.

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Read my reviews of Springer's The Dandelion Field (5 stars) and A September Bride (4 stars).

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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 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."