Tag Archives: Buzzing About Books

#BookReview: What Hope Remembers by Johnnie Alexander

18 May

It was such a pleasure to return to the community of Misty Willow! Having read the first two books in this series, I was eager to discover more about Amy Somers and delve deeper into her story. I enjoyed Amy’s rekindled relationship with Gabe Kendall and the navigation of their dramatic journey. I also enjoyed revisiting beloved characters from previous stories. Heartfelt and emotional, What Hope Remembers is a lovely addition to a charming series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

When Amy Somers loses her job as a lobbyist, she moves to Misty Willow, well aware that she’s crossing bridges she’d burned years before. With all the mistakes she’s made and the uncaring things she’s done–even to her own family–she can hardly believe that happiness will find her, especially when Gabe Kendall, her first crush and her first kiss, rides back into her life atop a buckskin mare.

A former Marine, Gabe is at loose ends after serving a prison sentence for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He sees beyond Amy’s hard exterior to the girl he once knew and loved, and he longs to see her open her heart. Yet with his vision clouded by shame for his past and fears about the future, he finds it difficult to see the path ahead.

But the memory of that long-ago kiss just may have the power to reignite a romance that brings out the best in both of them.

Purchase a copy of What Hope Remembers.

Visit Johnnie Alexander’s website.

#BookReview: True to You | $100 Cash Card + Prize Pack #Giveaway

16 May

A perfect balance of lighthearted humor and meaningful emotion, True to You is a most enjoyable read! I loved the characterization of the Bradford sisters and their unique family dynamic. Nora Bradford is a librarian and historian, and I found her bookish persona quite endearing. John Lawson, former Navy SEAL, is a chivalrous hero, and I delighted in the pairing of these polar opposites. Theirs is a clever and charming romance that leaves me eager to continue this exciting new series!

“She was bookish! She had no experience at holding eye contact with Navy SEALs. All the practice she’d put in with Mr. Darcy and Rochester and Adolphus didn’t seem to be holding her in good stead.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

Blog Tour Landing Page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/bwade

Celebrate the launch of Becky Wade’s new series by entering to win a fabulous prize pack and $100 cash card!

One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A copy of True to You
  • A $100 Visa cash card
  • A prize pack hand-picked by Becky

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on May 30. The winner will be announced May 31 on the Litfuse blog.

 

About the book:

After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now.

Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he’s diagnosed with an inherited condition, he’s forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother.
The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John’s already dating someone and Nora’s not sure she’s ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they’re seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

 

About the author:

Becky Wade is a California native who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market before putting her career on hold for several years to care for her three children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. She loves writing funny, modern, and inspirational contemporary romance! She’s the Carol Award, INSPY Award, and Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, the Porter Family series, and the Bradford Sisters Romance series.

#BookReview: Looking Glass Lies by Varina Denman

8 May

Looking Glass Lies is a poignant and powerful novel! Richly layered, Denman tackles weighty, mature issues and does so with a deft hand. The emotional depth of the story is vast, and thoughts of the characters and their journeys continue to linger in my mind. This is a book that provokes both thought and discussion, making it a great book club selection. Heart-wrenching, yet hopeful, Looking Glass Lies is not soon to be forgotten!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

 

About the book:

For most of her adult life, Cecily Ross has compared herself to other women—and come up short. After a painful divorce from her emotionally abusive husband, Cecily returns to her hometown of Canyon, Texas, looking to heal.

But coming home isn’t what she expects. In a town as small as Canyon, her pain is difficult to escape—especially with her model-perfect ex–sister-in-law working at the town’s popular coffee-shop hangout. With help from her father, a support group, and an old friend who guides her to see her own strengths, Cecily may have a shot at overcoming her insecurities and learning to love again.

The true test comes when tragedy strikes, opening Cecily’s eyes to the harmfulness of her distorted views on beauty—and giving her the perfect opportunity to find peace at last.

About the author | Purchase links

Friday Freebie

5 May

Kindle | Nook

The winner is…

3 May

Thank you, Alexa, for sharing the Season of Joy giveaway!  

Thank you, dear readers, for visiting my blog!

#BookReview: Love’s Winter Hope by Naomi Rawlings

2 May

I love every moment I spend in Eagle Harbor! I always marvel at the strength of Rawlings’ characters and their resilience in times of trial, and Jessalyn and Thomas’s story is no exception. Inspiration is beautifully woven through their journey, and my heart was stirred for this couple and the struggles they endured. Love’s Winter Hope is a tender tale of faith and forgiveness and one I highly recommend!

Love’s Winter Hope is Book 5 of the Eagle Harbor series and can be read independently of its predecessors. However, reading the series in order has allowed me to come to know and love this historical Michigan town and its residents, and I delight in the opportunity to return with each release. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

When Jessalyn Dowrick’s husband left her and their three daughters to head west five years earlier, she had no choice but to pick up the pieces of her broken life and continue without him, eventually supporting herself as Eagle Harbor’s seamstress, and secretly hoping her husband would return. But days soon slipped into months, and months into years, all without word of Thomas or a cent of the money he’d promised to send.

While working day and night to build a new life that his wife would be proud of, Thomas wrote Jessalyn every week, asking her to come to South Dakota. But she never arrived. In fact, she never answered a single one of his letters. When he returns to Eagle Harbor in search of answers, he finds a woman who thought him dead . . . and soon regrets he didn’t come after her earlier.

As winter closes in and storms trap Thomas in town until the harbor opens in the spring, will he be able to convince his wife he’s worth a second chance?

Learn more about Love’s Winter Hope and purchase a copy.

#BookReview: The Heart-Shaped Life Daily Devotional by Karen Moore

30 Apr

The Heart-Shaped Life is a lovely devotional! Karen Moore welcomes readers by saying, “It’s time to energize your spirit and realign your heart so you think more positively and lovingly about every circumstance you encounter.” Brimming with encouragement for every day of the year, I have enjoyed adding this devotional to my daily routine. Its uplifting reminders to make love a priority will hearten readers and inspire greater love and heart-shaped living.

“Actions created in love feel good. They lift our spirits and encourage our hearts. If what you did yesterday doesn’t brings you peace of mind today, then try again. Create meaningful interactions with the people around you, and let love guide all you do.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:2: “If I had the gift of prophecy and knew all about what is going to happen in the future, knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would it do?” . . .the Heart-Shaped Life series will encourage you to live life “heart first.”

The Heart-Shaped Life Daily Devotional provides refreshing thoughts, prayers, and scripture selections to help you discover the best path to the good life. . .which is all about LOVE!

Learn more about The Heart-Shaped Life Daily Devotional.

#BookReview: Long Time Gone by Mary Connealy

26 Apr

From the western setting to the strong characters, Connealy’s stories are always fun to read! Drama and danger continue for the Boden clan, and I enjoyed reading Justin and Angie’s story. Humor and hijinks abound amidst the mystery and mayhem, leaving me eager to know how the series will conclude. While reading this series in order is not necessary, it is recommended for a greater understanding of the ongoing storyline. Long Time Gone is a charming blend of action, adventure, and romance!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

The Boden clan thought their problems had ended with the death of a dangerous enemy, but have they truly uncovered the real plot to take their New Mexico ranch? Rancher Justin Boden is now in charge. He is normally an unshakable and rugged man, but with his brother, Cole, shot and in mortal danger, even a tough man faces doubts. And it doesn’t help that Angie DuPree, the assistant to the doctor trying to save Cole, is as distracting a woman as Justin ever laid eyes on.

With her and the doc’s timely skills, Cole looks to be on the mend, and Justin and the rest of the Bodens can turn their attention back to the dangers facing them. It’s clear now that everything that’s occurred is part of a much bigger plot that could date back to a decades-old secret. Can they uncover all the pieces before danger closes in on them, or is the threat to the ranch even bigger than any of the Bodens could imagine?

Purchase a copy | Visit the author’s website

Spotlight + #Giveaway: Season of Joy by Alexa Verde

25 Apr

Season of Joy by Alexa Verde

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/2optegL

Single dad Dylan McGregor wants to give his two sons the best life possible in the small town where he’d grown up. When his youngest son writes a letter to God asking for a Mom for Christmas, Dylan reluctantly starts dating again. His lifelong friend, Joy Avila, agrees to help him find the right woman. Then Dylan begins to see Joy in a new light and believes she’s the right woman for him and his family.

Overweight and teased in school, Joy never hoped her first crush, Dylan McGregor, would return her feelings. Confident and successful now, she’s found her passion in writing about international travels. The trip of a lifetime awaits her after the holidays. Instead, will she find her dreams right there in Rios Azules?

 

Thanks to the generosity of Alexa Verde, one lucky commenter will win a Kindle copy of Season of Joy.

To enter the giveaway:
Leave a comment below letting us know what you enjoy about small town settings.  The giveaway ends Tuesday, May 2 at midnight CST. The winner will be chosen and announced on Wednesday, May 3.

To earn additional entries:
Follow this blog and/or share the giveaway. Be sure to let me know what you’ve done to earn additional entries! This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Contest Rules:
◦No purchase is necessary.
◦Odds of winning are based on number of entries.

Whether as a reader or a resident, what do you enjoy about small town settings?

#BookReview: Sandpiper Cove by Irene Hannon

22 Apr

Sandpiper Cove is full of charm! Irene Hannon has crafted a community that springs to life on the page, and I always delight in the time I spend in this seaside setting. Lexie Graham and Adam Stone are contrasting characters, yet they share more in common than they realize. I loved their story and the complexities of their relationship; theirs is my favorite Hope Harbor romance to date. As with each visit to this special place, I also enjoyed the endearing cast of secondary characters and the wisdom they dispensed. Hope and healing resonate through this heartwarming series, and I’m already anticipating its next installment!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Hope Harbor police chief Lexie Graham has plenty on her plate raising her son alone and dealing with a sudden rash of petty theft and vandalism in her coastal Oregon hometown. As a result, she has zero time for extracurricular activities–including romance. Ex-con Adam Stone isn’t looking for love either–but how ironic is it that the first woman to catch his eye is a police chief? Yet wishing for things that can never be is foolish.

Nevertheless, when Lexie enlists Adam’s help to keep a young man from falling into a life of crime, sparks begin to fly. And as they work together, it soon becomes apparent that God may have a different–and better–future planned for them than either could imagine.

Purchase a copy.

Visit the author’s website.