"three little words" by melissa tagg

This. Is. Adorable.

Those three little words are pretty much all you need to know about Three Little Words. Now go to Amazon and get your free Kindle copy!

(Oh, you want more of a review than that? Well, I'll oblige ...)

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Ava Kingsley and Seth Walker might be the most unlikely friends ever. The only thing these two polar opposites have in common is a knack for wordsmithing. Back in college, they were known for their written sparring in the campus newspaper's popular "He Says/She Says" column.

At their ten-year college reunion, they pick up right where they left off. Except this time their squabbling leads to a surprising turn: friendship and a year-long exchange of emails. So when Ava approaches a crossroads in her athletics department career in Minnesota, Seth is quick to offer the open apartment above the restaurant he's been remodeling in Maple Valley, Iowa.

Ava doesn't know where her career will lead her next, but she's starting to suspect she might see Seth as more than a pen pal. Which would be exciting...except for the fact that he only sees her as a friend.

As Maple Valley grows on her, Ava wonders if there might be something here for her even though Seth is unavailable. And maybe, just maybe, after all the words the two of them have exchanged over the years, they'll finally be able to say the three that matter most.

Three Little Words is an e-only novella that gives an exciting introduction to Melissa Tagg's new series about the charismatic Walker family and the endearing town of Maple Valley!

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I cannot believe it took me this long to read something by Melissa Tagg. Seriously! I've been following her blog for more than a year now, and anyone who loves Gilmore Girls as much as I do is OK in my book. (Sure, she falls on the wrong side of the Dean/Jess debate, but we all have our faults.) So of course I'd enjoy her fiction!

Three Little Words is just so cute. I've said before that "friends falling in love" is one of my favorite romance tropes, and this is another example of it being done well. So, so well.

My favorite line from the whole novella is this: "Not even twenty-four hours open, and Seth was already regretting not hanging the No Cell Phones sign he'd wanted to," because as soon as I read it, I immediately flashed to this:

#tbt That time Regina took me and Jen on a tour of the Warner Bros lot, and Luke's Diner was unlocked. #GilmoreGirls

A photo posted by Becky Ritta (@beckyritta) on Oct 2, 2014 at 11:08am PDT

Yup, that's me inside Luke's Diner! Notice the No Cell Phones sign. It was such a thrill to be on the Gilmore set!

Gilmore Girls reference aside, this novella has a lot to offer. It's romantic, witty, and charming. It also feels complete without being rushed, which is a feat for a novella. Ava and Seth make a great couple to cheer for, and Seth's family is great—I'm glad this series will be centered around them!

Once you start reading Three Little Words, you won't want to put it down ... and once you finish, you'll want to tear right into From the Start, the first novel in the Walker Family series.

So what are you waiting for? Go get your free copy now! 5 stars.

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Melissa Tagg, author of Made to Last and Here to Stay, is a former newspaper reporter, current nonprofit grant writer, and total Iowa girl. When she's not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever. She's passionate about humor, grace, and happy endings. Melissa blogs regularly at www.melissatagg.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this book myself and reviewed it of my own accord. I was not compensated in any way. 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.”

product review: enLIGHTen by trinity--six week update

When I initially reviewed enLIGHTen by Trinity, I said I'd update after six weeks to let you know how the product was working for me. Well ...

It's not.

Working, that is.

I know others who reviewed this product through CWA had fantastic results, so I'm not saying it's a terrible product. I am saying it's not a good product for me.

Here's the review I posted on Amazon earlier today (some of it will sound familiar if you read my initial review):

I have just a couple dark spots on my face—one close to my eye, and one on my nose. I also have terrible dark circles under my eyes. So my hope for this product was that it would lighten the two dark spots on my face and my under eye circles. (Note: Nowhere did I read that this product claimed to reduce under eye circles—I just hoped that it would.) 

After six weeks of regular use, I honestly haven't seen much difference. I hoped that at least the dark spot on my nose would diminish, but it hasn't seemed to change at all. 

My impressions of the product itself: it has kind of a green tea smell to it—not bad, but not really nice, either. I do very much like the way it feels on my skin; it has a nice cooling sensation. Also, a little bit goes a very long way, so I'll be able to use it for a long time ... but I'm not sure that I'll keep using it, since I haven't seen any results after six weeks. I do know that some people have had great success with it, but this product just didn't work for me.

I wonder if maybe my dark spots just aren't big enough or dark enough to be affected by this product. Either way, I'm glad I tried it ... and I'm also glad I didn't have to pay for it myself! 2 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the product.
Discover other Trinity products HERE.

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Trinity is a Christian Skincare company that develops products for Believers. They try to reinforce the principle that God is in ALL aspects of our lives. Trinity believes in referencing God’s word as part of our identity.

As a reminder of their faith in the Lord, the company strives to see not only outer beauty, but inner beauty as well.  Trinity wishes to motivate and uplift their customers’ spirits, by celebrating both inner and outer beauty; to inspire them to look, to live and to feel their best. Trinity promises to deliver exceptional products that rejoice in beauty, both skin deep and in spirit.

Trinity is built on 3 core values:

1. The Word of God
All of Trinity products incorporate the Scripture into their design and are given names that reflect a positive Christian lifestyle.

2. Customer Experience
Providing the customer with a fantastic shopping experience, including post-sale support, open communication, and a comprehensive, no hassle guarantee.

3. Quality Products
Trinity uses only premium ingredients in their formulations. Many of their products have ingredients found in very expensive products. Trinity products are developed to improve their customers’ skin and to strengthen their faith in God.

Trinity realizes that we are all obligated to care for those in God’s Kingdom, and are all connected to the Body of Christ. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

"every bride needs a groom" by janice thompson

Janice Thompson's new series is set in her sweet spot—the wedding industry.

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Somewhere in a sea of tulle and taffeta, satin and crepe, Katie Fisher needs to find a key ingredient of the perfect wedding—the groom.

Small-town girl Katie Fisher is busy planning her fairy-tale wedding. Sure, her boyfriend hasn't managed to pop the question just yet, but that doesn't mean she shouldn't enter a contest in Texas Bride magazine to win the dress of her dreams, right? Anyway, she's sure he'll be getting down on one knee any time now. And a one-of-a-kind designer dress doesn't just fall out of the sky right when you need it.

But when Katie's boyfriend takes a job in another town and breaks up with her—on the very same day she wins her dream dress—her world is turned upside down. Dare she go to Dallas to claim her prize? And will the hunky pro basketball player who runs the beyond-swanky bridal shop—yeah, you read that right—discover her humiliating secret if she does?

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I've come to expect a few things from a Janice Thompson contemporary novel: humor, quirky families, and first-person storytelling, and it's usually centered around the wedding industry. Every Bride Needs a Groom fits perfectly into this brand.

Honestly, this book seems exactly like something the Hallmark Channel would make into a movie. It's light and funny with a touch of romance. And Katie's family is a hoot! From her grandma Queenie with her mysterious grudge against the Presbyterians to her afraid-to-let-her-babies-test-their-wings mom to her black sheep aunt Alva, the characters practically jump off the page.

The whole set up is pretty ridiculous with Katie winning a designer wedding dress with no fiance to speak of, but Katie's secret definitely adds to the humor of the story, and the "big reveal" to the bridal shop people came about in a way I didn't anticipate; I'm glad Thompson didn't drag it out. I'm looking forward to continuing Katie's story in book two!

Every Bride Needs a Groom isn't a story that will make you contemplate life, but it is the perfect book for when you need a little escape from reality. This would be a great book to throw in your beach bag. 4 stars.

Read an excerpt.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Thompson's wedding novels A Bouquet of Love (4 stars) and Never a Bridesmaid (4-1/2 stars) and her Titanic romance Queen of the Waves (4-1/2 stars).

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Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson offers an inside look at the wedding business, drawing on her own experiences as a wedding planner. She is the author of the hugely popular Weddings by Bella series and the Backstage Pass series, as well as Picture Perfect, The Icing on the Cake, and The Dream Dress. She lives in Texas. Learn more at www.janiceathompson.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads 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 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."

"let it be jesus" by christy nockels + giveaway

I love worship music, especially live worship music, so I jumped at the chance to review Christy Nockels' new live album, Let It Be Jesus.

Prior to this album, I wasn't very familiar with Christy Nockels or her music. I'd heard "Let It Be Jesus" before, and I liked it, so I thought there was a decent chance I'd enjoy the album.

I was right. It's confession time: I've been listening to Let It Be Jesus on perpetual repeat for the last week! I love all these songs—overall, they're more mellow than I expected, but they're so emotionally gripping, and they're full of biblical truth. My favorites are "Freedom Song," "Everything Is Mine In You," and "If You Never" ... but really, all the songs are excellent! Listen to the album, and you'll be singing along in no time! The album releases tomorrow, and you really should get yourself a copy! 5 stars.

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On the listening front, I have good news! I'm able to give away a digital copy of the album to one of my readers! Check out the rules below, and then enter through the Rafflecopter. The giveaway will run through Saturday, May 2.

Giveaway rules: Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Contest is open to US residents only. Winner will be selected at random using Rafflecopter.com and will have 48 hours to respond to email notification, or another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
As a worship leader for many years, Christy Nockels has been an integral part of Passion Conferences from its inception in 1997. She's seen first hand music sweep people into the presence of God in a powerful way. A pastor’s kid, who was born in Fort Worth and raised in Oklahoma, she grew up singing in church. She met her husband, Nathan, in 1993 at the Christian Artists Seminar in Estes Park, Co. They recorded an independent record with fellow worship leader Charlie Hall under the name Sons & Daughters that led to an invitation from Louie Giglio to participate in the first Passion conference in Austin. Christy’s voice gained a national platform when she and Nathan formed the duo Watermark, recording four acclaimed albums before that musical season ended, paving the way for Christy’s solo career. In 2008, the couple moved to Atlanta to become part of Passion City Church where she serves on the worship team with sixstepsrecords labelmates Chris Tomlin and Kristian Stanfill. The following year, Nockels released her acclaimed solo debut, Life Light Up, and spent much of the next two years touring with Tomlin and Passion.

Follow Christy: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER
Purchase on iTunes

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

"a heart's obsession" by colleen coble

Sarah and Rand's story continues in A Heart's Obsession.

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In A Heart's Disguise, Sarah Montgomery and Rand Campbell are reunited, only to discover that Sarah's family commitments and Rand's Army career will not allow them to remain together. The story continues in A Heart's Obsession, which finds Rand settling into his new life at Fort Laramie. Sarah soon joins him, though their relationship does not continue in the way she expected. Rand has new commitments, and Sarah's former fiance Ben is still determined to have her. Will Sarah and Rand ever truly be reunited?

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Once again, I've written my own summary, as the provided summary/back cover copy give away practically the entire plot line. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be spoiled simply by reading the back cover!

A Heart's Obsession begins with a brief summary of the first portion of this serialized novel, A Heart's Disguise. It's written into the narrative, though, so it seems to flow naturally—and it certainly helped me to have this refresher, even though it was only a month ago that I read A Heart's Disguise!

I must admit that I didn't enjoy this portion of the story nearly as much as I did the first portion. It really felt like this particular book served just to move the pieces into place to continue the story. I also didn't like the way Jessica, Sarah's rival for Rand's heart, was portrayed. Apparently, she was manipulative and vindictive, but I only know that because of Sarah's impressions of her—the reader never really sees her acting that way until after it's been stated many times that Sarah is not a nice person. I'd rather be shown than told about someone's character. (I even went back and reread each scene that included Jessica to see if I'd missed something. I hadn't—yet somehow Sarah sensed Jessica's true nature long before it came out.)

I did enjoy the look at the life of Indians at Fort Laramie. I'm especially interested to see where Sarah's new friend Morning Song's story will go. Like I said before, this portion feels like a set up to the main event, and I can't wait to get to it! 3 stars.

Note: This serialized series is releasing one installment per month over a six month period.

See what others are saying.

Buy the book.

Read my review of A Heart's Disguise (4 stars).

Read my reviews of Coble's Inn at Ocean's Edge (5 stars), Lonestar series (Lonestar Secrets; Lonestar Angel, 3 stars), Under Texas Stars series (Blue Moon Promise, 3-1/2 stars; Safe in His Arms, 3-1/2 stars), and The Lightkeeper's Daughter.

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Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble's addictive brand of romantic suspense.

Find Colleen online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Can a woman held captive by her family make it back to the one man she knows she can trust? Find out in book two, A Heart's Obsession, of Colleen Coble's Journey of the Heart series. When Sarah Montgomery’s father succumbs to his long illness, Sarah is faced with a life-altering choice: submit to her brother’s will and marry the deceptive Ben Croftner . . . or escape through the dangerous American West to reclaim the heart of her beloved Rand Campbell at Fort Laramie, Wyoming.

Celebrate book two in Colleen's A Journey of the Heart series by entering to win a Kindle Fire and RSVPing to her May 5th author chat party!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of A Heart's Disguise
• A copy of A Heart's Obsession
• A copy of The Inn at Ocean's Edge (blog tour coming in mid-April)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen's website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean's Edge! RSVP here!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on May 5th!

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 legacy" by dan walsh & gary smalley

The captivating Restoration Series concludes with youngest son Doug's take on becoming The Prodigal Son.

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One young man is about to discover the true cost of independence

For years, Doug Anderson has been drifting slowly but steadily away from both his family and his faith. His parents have been trying to reach him before he falls too far. His friend Christina hopes what she is seeing online isn't true. But sometimes you have to hit bottom before you're ready to grow up. 

Just as things begin to settle down a bit, Doug's life takes a turn that requires every bit of faith and patience for both his family and Christina—whose growing feelings for Doug, a man who writes her off as not worth his time, keep her off balance. Will Doug's crisis finally clear his vision and help him focus on what he has right in front of him?

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When I read The Desire last fall, one of the more intriguing aspects of the plot was the friendship-and-potentially-more between Christina and Doug. So when I realized that The Legacy would tell Doug's story, I couldn't wait to dive in.

I definitely enjoyed Christina's part of the story the most; even though her background is about as far from mine as you could possibly get, I related to some of her relationship struggles and appreciated her journey to finding love.

The Doug story did strike me as a bit convenient—what I mean by that is he very quickly turned his life around following a pivotal event, and the resolution with Christina came about almost too easily and neatly. So much time was spent setting up Doug's downward spiral that his redemption came at the very end of the novel—I would have preferred to spend more time with "new" Doug, and I really would have liked to see more of the romance with Christina. Still, though, I did enjoy his story.

I also have to mention that the spiritual lessons in this novel seem much less forced than they did in The Desire. Conversations about faith flow naturally and seem like they belong in the plot, rather than being forced in. This is a major improvement over the last novel.

The Legacy provides a satisfying conclusion to Doug and Christina's story, and it also wraps up Allan and Michele's story, which was the focus of The Desire. Overall, I really enjoyed this look in on the Anderson family and felt it was a fitting conclusion to the series.  4 stars.

Note: While this is book four in the Restoration Series, it could be read as a stand alone.

Buy the book.
Read my review of The Desire (4 stars).

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Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of many books, including The Dance, The Promise, and The Desire with Gary Smalley. He has won three Carol Awards, and three of his novels were finalists for RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 50 years and live in Missouri.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads 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 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 inn at ocean's edge" by colleen coble

Colleen Coble is at the top of her game with the romantic and suspenseful The Inn at Ocean's Edge.

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Claire's visit to a luxury hotel in Maine awakens repressed memories, threatening all she holds dear.

In 1989, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine. She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation. Nobody knows where Claire spent that year—and until now, Claire didn't even know she had ever been missing.

But when Claire returns to the Hotel Tourmaline for a business meeting with her CEO father, disturbing memories begin to surface . . . despite her parents' best efforts to keep them forgotten.

Luke Rocco lost his mother under equally mysterious circumstances—at the same time Claire disappeared. After a chance encounter reveals the unlikely link between them, Claire and Luke set out together to uncover the truth about what happened that fateful year.

With flashbacks swimming just beneath her consciousness and a murderer threatening her safety, Claire's very life depends on unscrambling her past . . . even if her family refuses to acknowledge it. Someone-maybe everyone-is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light.

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Colleen Coble is known for combining romance and suspense, and I have to admit that oftentimes I've found one or the other lacking. Not so with The Inn at Ocean's Edge! Coble has written a romantic suspense novel that serves the romance well while providing great twists and turns. The suspense is crafted in such a way that the twists are completely believable, yet still wholly surprising.

The novel is written from the perspectives of Claire, Luke, and Kate, a woman with serious medical issues who is desperate to contact the father who abandoned her. The paths of the three intertwine in surprising ways, making for a very satisfying novel.

The Inn at Ocean's Edge is the first in Coble's new Sunset Cove series, and I'm looking forward to book two's release in December. Fans of romantic suspense will definitely want to check this book out! 5 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of other Coble novels.

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Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble's addictive brand of romantic suspense.

Find Colleen online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Someone—maybe everyone—is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light. Colleen Coble's new book, The Inn at Ocean's Edge, is a must-read for mystery and suspense readers. As Claire and Luke put together the pieces of a decades-old mystery, they discover that some family secrets refuse to stay buried. And some passions are worth killing for.

Celebrate the release of The Inn at Ocean's Edge by entering to win a Kindle Fire and RSVPing to her May 5th author chat party!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of A Heart's Disguise
• A copy of A Heart's Obsession
• A copy of The Inn at Ocean's Edge

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen's website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean's Edge! RSVP here!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on May 5th!

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."