Tag Archives: Contemporary fiction

#BookReview: Begin Again by Crystal Walton | Release Week #Giveaway

11 Feb

begin-again

Begin Again is a charming tale! Crystal Walton brings her characters to life, deftly contrasting Ti’s free spirit and Drew’s rigid demeanor. The sparks fly between these two, and it is a pleasure to watch their relationship evolve. I loved the quaint setting and delighted in the romance that is interwoven with hope and healing. Ti and Drew share an emotional journey that is sure to warm your heart!

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

 

Visit Crystal’s blog and enter her release week giveaway!
Hurry, the giveaway ends Feb. 17!

begin-again-giveaway

 

About the book:

A single call is all it takes to drive artist Ti Russo into what she does best. Run. But hey, lying low in a beach town for a while isn’t so bad. Thanks to the distraction of playing consultant to a guy she’s determined to crack, she can almost forget about the past stalking her back home. But she never counted on the real danger being a picket-fenced life she has no business falling for.

Focus and self-preservation have gotten single dad Drew Anderson through the last nine years. With the threat of his shop’s foreclosure jeopardizing his daughter’s health care, the last thing he needs is a distracting hippie chick swooping in to shake up what he’s fought to protect. Including himself. The bank’s deadline adds enough pressure without re-risking feelings better left buried.

But as sparks flare and secrets escalate, the race against time propels Ti and Drew into a choice neither’s ready to make: Find the faith to surrender their past or forfeit their only chance to begin again.

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/2kn0oeY

Visit the author: http://crystal-walton.com/

#BookReview: Rescue Me by Susan May Warren

1 Feb

rescue-me

Rescue Me is a pulse-pounding adventure! Susan May Warren is one of my favorite contemporary authors, and I revel in each story she pens. Deputy Sam Brooks is a dashing hero, always the rescuer and never the rescued. However, all that changes during a dramatic venture in Glacier National Park.

From family relationships to romances, I delighted in the intertwining of multiple story lines. The vulnerability of the characters and their emotional and spiritual journeys shine against the beautiful backdrop of the rugged Montana wilderness. I thoroughly enjoyed Rescue Me and eagerly await the next installment in the Montana Rescue series!

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

 

About the book:

When Deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him–not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Falls sheriff’s department and PEAK Rescue, but in his private life. He’s the one who stuck around to take care of his mother after his father’s accidental death. And he’s the one–perhaps the only one–who believes Sierra Rose is the perfect girl for him. Safe, practical, and organized, she’s nothing like her hippie, impulsive, bleeding heart sister, Willow.

Willow, however, has been in love with Sam Brooks for as long as she can remember. But she wants her sister to have a happy ending. Besides, Willow has other things to focus on–namely, nabbing the job as youth pastor for her small-town church. Best thing for her to do is to purge Sam from her heart.

Neither can predict the events that will bring them together in a fight for their lives in the forbidding wilderness of Glacier National Park. Stranded, injured, and with the winter weather closing in, Sam and Willow will have to work together to save a crew of terrified teenagers. As they fight to survive, they might just discover a new hope for love.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2kpF1IY

Visit the author: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/

Katie Ganshert’s Life After Pre-Order Offer

18 Jan

life-after-pre-order

Pre-order Katie Ganshert’s most complex and unforgettable novel yet and receive these fun extras!  Get the official details here!

 

life-after

About the book:

It could have been me.
Snow whirls around an elevated train platform in Chicago. A distracted woman boards the train, takes her seat, and moments later a fiery explosion rips through the frigid air, tearing the car apart in a horrific attack on the city’s transit system. One life is spared. Twenty-two are lost.

A year later, Autumn Manning can’t remember the day of the bombing and she is tormented by grief—by guilt. Twelve months of the question constantly echoing. Why? Why? Why? Searching for answers, she haunts the lives of the victims, unable to rest.

Paul Elliott lost his wife in the train bombing and wants to let the dead rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to cause more pain for his loved ones. He wants normalcy for his twelve year-old daughter and young son, to see them move beyond the heartbreak. But when the Elliotts and Autumn are unexpectedly forced together, he fears she’ll bring more wreckage in her wake.

In Life After, Katie Ganshert’s most complex and unforgettable novel yet, the stirring prose and authentic characters pose questions of truth, goodness, and ultimate purpose in this emotionally resonant tale.

#BookReview: The Cowboy’s Texas Family by Margaret Daley

10 Jan

the-cowboys-texas-family

The Cowboy’s Texas Family is another great addition to the Lone Star Cowboy League: Boys Ranch series, as the mysterious happenings around the ranch remain unsolved and the suspense continues to build. For those who have not read earlier installments in this continuity series, The Cowboy’s Texas Family is a story that can also stand alone.

I really enjoyed Nick’s devotion to Corey and his determination to find the ten-year-old a better home. When Darcy comes to town, she immediately joins Nick in his endeavor, and their unexpected journey becomes one of hope and healing. Tackling some difficult issues, The Cowboy’s Texas Family tugged at my heartstrings!

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

 

About the book:

Rancher Nick McGarrett wants to help orphaned ten-year-old Corey Phillips, the brother of his late comrade. But he’s not fit to be a father—not with his troubled past. Thankfully, the child finds a home at the Lone Star Cowboy League Boys Ranch, where Nick volunteers. When wealthy newcomer Darcy Hill discovers she’s Corey’s cousin, she hopes to eventually take him in. Nick and Darcy couldn’t be more opposite—or more drawn to each other. But for Darcy, raising Corey in her hometown means leaving Texas…and Nick. It’ll take a special little boy to show these two grown-ups that the key to forging a new future is being together.

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/2i7CyTu

Visit the author: http://margaretdaley.com/

#BookReview: Undercover Protector by Elizabeth Goddard

9 Jan

undercover-protector

Undercover Protector is an intriguing tale! I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the setting and found the work at the tiger sanctuary to be quite interesting. Goddard’s imagery is vivid, pulling me into the animal enclosures where the roars of the big cats echoed in my ears.

Gray and Gemma’s story is a great blend of action and suspense, and danger escalates with every turn of the page. A fight for survival until the very end, Undercover Protector is an exciting addition to the Wilderness, Inc. series.

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

 

quote-undercover-protector

About the book:

Undercover at a tiger sanctuary, Special Agent Grayson Wilde’s convinced the owner must be involved in a wildlife trafficking ring—until someone tries to kill her. Now with Gemma Rollins’s life on the line, it’s clear that more than the wildcats need his help. Gemma’s determined to rebuild the tiger oasis she lost when her family died. But someone wants her out of the way, and she’s starting to wonder if her parents’ and uncle’s deaths were really accidental. Grayson says he’ll do anything to protect Gemma, but she can’t shake the feeling that her alluring new volunteer might not be all that he seems. With a vicious criminal closing in, though, she has to trust Grayson…because she won’t survive without him.

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/2i1gWXe

Visit the author: http://elizabethgoddard.com/

#BookReview: The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston

28 Dec

the-cherished-quilt

The Cherished Quilt is a lovely, heartfelt story! With imagery and emotion, Amy Clipston skillfully brings her characters and their community to life, and I loved spending time in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania.

Themes of guilt and grief are finely woven through Emily and Christopher’s story, but their journey is also filled with hope and healing. It was such a pleasure to watch their relationship grow and blossom! I thoroughly enjoyed The Cherished Quilt and look forward to continuing the Amish Heirloom series.

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

 

About the book:

the-cherished-quilt

Emily Fisher is eager to meet the new employee at her father’s shop in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. But when Christopher Hochstetler arrives, his cold demeanor freezes her attempts at building a friendship.

Longing for a fresh start, Christopher travels from Ohio to Bird-in-Hand to work at his uncle’s shop. Christopher’s heart is still wounded from memories of home, and making new friends is the last thing on his mind—he knows the pain that comes with losing those you love. When Emily is kind to him, he tries to remain distant, but he soon finds himself stealing glances at her throughout the day.

When Christopher shares his tragic reasons for leaving home, Emily decides to make a quilt for him as a gesture of their friendship. Even though he is not a member of the church, she’s found someone with whom she can imagine a future. The two are quickly falling in love when a family emergency calls Christopher back to Ohio without warning.

Emily finishes the quilt, in spite of her pain. But when Christopher receives it, will he have the courage to follow his heart?

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/2ii9700

Visit the author: amyclipston.com

Friday Freebie: One Enchanted Christmas by Melissa Tagg

2 Dec

one-enchanted-christmas-promo

One Enchanted Christmas by Melissa Tagg

Download your FREE copy here: http://amzn.to/2gsNSow

Last December, mystery author Maren Grant had the most perfect night of her life. On a glimmering winter evening, she got to watch the photo shoot for her very first book and ended up on a magical date with the cover model himself—Colin Renwycke.

Fast forward one year. This December, with a looming deadline, restless spirit and her creative spark long since gone, Maren is desperate to get unstuck. And she can’t get Colin out of her head…or his year-old open invitation to spend a couple weeks writing at his family’s farm.

Drew Renwycke never planned to come home and take over the Renwycke family farm. But he’s spent too many years watching his siblings unravel, including his brother, Colin, after one terrible family mistake. If moving to Maple Valley, Iowa, renovating an old farmhouse and switching careers is what it takes to put the Renwycke family back together, he’ll do it.

But his simple plan upends when a scrappy author lands on his doorstep. And she just might be the key to coaxing his brother home. But what if he wants her all to himself? Drew will have to choose between his Christmas wish and the enchantment of a holiday romance that just might be the happy ending they all long for.

#BookReview: Season of Miracles by Alexa Verde

1 Dec

season-of-miracles

Season of Miracles by Alexa Verde

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

Nurse Lana Smith gives herself a gift for Christmas, a fresh start in a small town. After escaping a dead-end relationship with a celebrity, she avoids her patient’s grandson, a pro football player. When Arturo gradually thaws her frozen heart, can her Christmas wish for family and affection come true?
Football is Arturo De La Vega’s life, but he returns to his hometown to help his ailing grandfather. Lana challenges Arturo to reach for stars of faith and love. Is Arturo’s quest for glory worth crushing Lana’s dreams and sacrificing his heart’s true desire?

 

My thoughts:

Season of Miracles is a heartwarming holiday tale! I have enjoyed each of Alexa Verde’s Rios Azules suspense stories, and it was a pleasure to revisit this south Texas town for a little Christmas romance. Each of the characters embodies their own particular charm, and I enjoyed their interactions and the development of their relationships. Lana and Arturo’s story is delightful and a recommended Christmas read!

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

#BookReview: A Primary Decision by Dr. Kevin Leman and Jeff Nesbit

30 Nov

a-primary-decision

A Primary Decision by Dr. Kevin Leman and Jeff Nesbit

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2ggUg4K

The road to power and position is fraught with perils, even for a Worthington.  But Sarah does not intend to lose.

Sarah Worthington never expected to become the US attorney general–at least not this early in her career. Plunged into the vicious vetting process, with all sides digging for secrets in her family closet, she steels herself for the path forward. Nothing will deter her from making her mark on the world in the biggest way possible–even if that means prosecuting the current president of the United States.

Yet powerful forces conspire behind the scenes to take the Worthington family down, and the president orders her to close the investigation. Will she comply? Or turn the tables to pursue her ultimate dream–the US presidency?

 

My thoughts:

The Worthingtons are back and better than ever! Leman and Nesbit masterfully capture the dynamics of this powerful, political family and drama ensues as their long-buried secrets begin to surface. Rife with themes that are relevant and conceivably ripped from the headlines, I loved the intrigue and excitement of this compelling story. A Primary Decision is a page-turning conclusion to The Worthington Destiny series!

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

$0.99 Sale- One Enchanted Eve

22 Nov

All the ingredients for an enchanting happily ever after!

one-enchanted-eve-sale

Melissa Tagg’s One Enchanted Eve is out today, and it’s only 99¢ for a limited time!  Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/2eUjNfW

 

After years of mistakes and regret, Colin Renwycke finally has a plan: Hone his baking talent at the Denver Culinary Institute and embark on a new career as a pastry chef. If he’s lucky, he might even manage to earn back his family’s respect. But despite his skills in the kitchen, Colin’s a mess in the classroom and his ongoing disasters are proving too much for his prickly instructor. If he loses his spot at the school, he’s out of backup plans.

Culinary school instructor Rylan Jefferson has the chance to reclaim her dream of running her own bakery. But she only has until Christmas Eve to come up with the perfect recipe to impress an eccentric investor. She has no time for holiday parties or family plans . . . and especially not for the unruly student baker who couldn’t follow a recipe if his life depended on it.

But Colin has the one ingredient Rylan needs most—talent. Lots of it. And when he makes a proposal that just might solve both their problems, Rylan can’t say no—even if it does mean traveling all the way to Iowa. It just might be that the snow-covered plains and a charming small town full of postcard Christmas cheer are exactly what her hungry heart needs . . . along with a man who is much more than he seems.