Tag Archives: Inspirational romance

#BookReview: Tomorrow’s First Light by Naomi Rawlings

25 Feb

I loved Sam and Ellie’s story! Rawlings handily captured my attention and swept me away to Twin Rivers, Texas, as trail dust rose from the pages. The details and descriptions were vivid, and the storyline delighted me with elements of drama, intrigue, and romance. A distinctive marriage of convenience tale, Tomorrow’s First Light is one for my keeper shelf!

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

 

About the book:

Nervous about meeting her fiancé for the first time, Ellie Spritzer’s lifelong hope of finding love is about to end—or rather, begin. She never imagined her quest for love would take her to the other side of the country with all eight of her siblings in tow, but after her mother dies unexpectedly, what choice does she have? At least the man she’s been writing for the past year is still willing to marry her and take in her siblings… or so she thinks until she arrives in the dusty town of Twin Rivers, Texas.

Growing up an orphan, Sam Owens never had a place to call home or a family to love. So if his wife-to-be needs to bring three of her siblings with her, he has no complaints about having a ready-made family. But his mail-order-bride doesn’t arrive with three. She arrives with eight.

Sam can’t make himself turn away children in need. But as a beginning rancher, he doesn’t have the resources to care for so many people. When sinister forces threaten the things Sam and Ellie both hold dear, can they figure out how to keep their fledgling family together, or will they lose the very things they cherish most?

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer

14 Jul

Heart on the Line is a cleverly crafted tale! Witemeyer brings Harper’s Station to life with her signature wit and charm, and it was such fun to revisit this uncommon community. I loved the wealth of historical details that are included in the narrative and especially delighted in the uniqueness of the characters and their story. The relationship that develops between Grace and Amos is tender and heartfelt, and their journey progresses with unexpected twists and turns. Brimming with humor, suspense, and romance, I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story!

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

 

About the book:

Grace Mallory is tired of running, of hiding. But when an old friend sends an after-hours telegraph transmission warning Grace that the man who has hunted her for nearly a year has discovered her location, she fears she has no choice. She can’t let the villain she believes responsible for her father’s death release his wrath in Harper’s Station, the town that has sheltered her and blessed her with the dearest friends she’s ever known.

Amos Bledsoe prefers bicycles to horses and private conversations over the telegraph wire to social gatherings with young ladies who see him as nothing more than an oddity. His telegraph companion, the mysterious Miss G, listens eagerly to his ramblings every night and delights him with tales all her own. For months, their friendship–dare he believe, courtship?–has fed his hope that he has finally found the woman God intended for him. Yet when he takes the next step to meet her in person, he discovers her life is in peril, and Amos must decide if he can shed the cocoon of his quiet nature to become the hero Grace requires.

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: My Heart Belongs in Ruby City, Idaho by Susanne Dietze

1 Jun

This mail-order mix-up charmed me right from the start! Filled with action and adventure, Rebecca’s Plight engaged and entertained with every turn of the page. I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense and romance of the story and am eager to read more from Susanne Dietze. My Heart Belongs in Ruby City, Idaho is a delightful tale and a recommended read!

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

 

About the book:

Is it possible to marry the wrong man? Rebecca Rice was looking forward to a quiet life and a full stomach by becoming mail-order bride to her shopkeeper intended, Mr. Fordham—until the justice of the peace calls him Thaddeus, not Theodore, proceeded by the title Deputy. Rebecca would never marry a lawman like her father, so an annulment seems in order—and fast, since Rebecca’s true intended is impatient to claim her as his own. But when the legalities take longer than expected, Rebecca wonders if Tad Fordham wasn’t the right husband for her all along. . . .

Purchase the book | Connect with Susanne

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#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.

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#BookReview: Small-Town Girl by Jessica Keller

27 Aug

Small-Town Girl

Small-Town Girl by Jessica Keller

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

Goose Harbor, Michigan, is the perfect place for Kendall Mayes to start over and open her date-planning business. When she encounters handsome loner Brice Daniels, who is struggling to keep the shipping business he runs going, she sees an opportunity. A weekly sunset cruise catering to couples and tourists will keep their dealings strictly business. Kendall has had enough of failed romances, and Brice is too burned by love to give it another chance. But despite their reservations, they soon let down their walls. Yet when Kendall’s silent business partner is revealed to be Brice’s longtime enemy, staying together might be next to impossible.

 

My thoughts:

Small-Town Girl is a tender romance! It is always a pleasure to visit Goose Harbor, Michigan, and its familiar faces, as well as meet new friends, too!

Kendall Mayes and Brice Daniels are endearing characters who carry a lot of emotional baggage from their pasts, and I enjoyed experiencing their journeys. I delighted in their choosing to open their hearts once again and loved the wonderful inspirational threads that were woven through their story. “The beauty of it all is that within the pain of relationships, we learn grace and forgiveness and love—which are some of the most prized attributes in the Bible.”

Jessica Keller captures the charm of small town life, and I look forward to visiting Goose Harbor again soon!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

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$0.99 Sale- Christmas Traditions

19 Aug

 Did you know there are only 127 days until Christmas?  

While I’m not quite ready to think about Christmas yet, I do want to share this collection of holiday stories.  Whether you’re treating yourself or stuffing cyber stockings, the Christmas Traditions collection is a great gift at a great price! 

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions (Christmas Romance short stories)

Purchase a copy:  http://amzn.to/1LjQs9Z

Eight heartwarming novellas of Christmas’s gone by where the true meaning of the season warms your heart and love flows as fast as apple cider. Grab your favorite drink, no matter the temperature outside, curl up in a cozy chair and lose yourself in holiday romance.

My thoughts:

Each of these gifted authors brings their heartwarming story to life with endearing characters and an engaging story line!  At the time I read these stories individually, Angela Breidenbach’s novella was not available.  However, I have since purchased the collection and plan to enjoy Eleven Pipers Piping soon.    

Nutcracker Christmas– Jennifer AlLee has written a beautiful story that will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. Isabella Brandt is a lovely character and I loved reading her story!

An Apple for Christmas– An Apple for Christmas is a wonderful novella! Darlene Franklin has penned a story as sweet and delicious as the apples she has written about.

Christmas Lessons– Patty Smith Hall tugged at my heartstrings in this Christmas novella. I loved Claire Davenport and Billy Warner and their rekindled romance.

Handcarved Christmas– Handcarved Christmas is a beautiful tale, brimming with love! Cynthia Hickey deftly expresses the emotions of her characters when an unexpected gift becomes a great blessing.

The Fruitcake Challenge– I opened the pages of this novella and stepped into a lively lumber camp of 1890! Carrie Fancett Pagels brings to life a delightful cast of characters, as well as the sights and sounds of Northern Michigan.

Sadie’s Gift– Niki Turner shares her gift of writing in this inspiring novella. From heart-wrenching to heartwarming, Sadie’s Gift is a wonderful Christmas story you don’t want to miss!

Holly Daze– Holly Daze is a wonderful story! I love Gina Welborn’s writing and was delighted by her charming, holiday novella!

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Review: Frontier Engagement

4 Aug

Frontier Engagement

Frontier Engagement by Regina Scott

Purchase a copy:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | DeeperShopping

James Wallin’s family is depending on him to find a schoolteacher for their frontier town. Alexandrina Fosgrave seems to be exactly what he needs to help fulfill his father’s dream of building a new community. If only James could convince her to accept the position.

Alexandrina has traveled west to seek a fresh start, not to find a groom. But after she’s stranded in the wilderness with James, he offers her his hand in marriage to protect her reputation. Both are afraid to fall in love, but maybe an engagement of convenience could make them reconsider…

My thoughts:

Frontier Engagement is a charming story! Regina Scott’s wonderful imagery and historical details paint a vivid picture and drew me into the story. While I especially enjoyed James Wallin and Alexandrina Fosgrave, I also enjoyed the extended Wallin family. I loved their genuine, heartfelt banter and camaraderie! In addition to the wonderful characters, I also loved the spiritual messages that were seamlessly woven through the story. A frontier adventure that leads to romance, James and Rina’s story is a delightful tale!

Although Frontier Engagement is the third book in the Frontier Bachelors series, it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story. I have not read the first two books in this series, but I plan to remedy that soon. I am eager to revisit the Wallin family and Wallin Landing!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. I appreciate the opportunity to read this story and share my thoughts.

 

Regina Scott

Regina Scott started writing novels in the third grade. Thankfully for literature as we know it, she didn’t actually sell her first novel until she’d learned a bit more about writing. After numerous short stories and articles in magazines and trade journals, and a good kick in the backside from her husband, she got serious about writing. Since then, she’s had published more than two dozen clean historical romances for adults and young adults. Her traditional romances have earned praised from reviewers and readers alike. Booklist calls her work “quietly compelling” and “impeccably written.” Huntress Reviews says, “Regina Scott delivers,” and “I will always buy a book with Regina Scott’s name on it.”

She makes her home in the Puget Sound area of Washington State with her beloved husband and a hyperactive Irish terrier named Fergus. Find her online at her website, the blog she shares with author Marissa Doyle, on Facebook, and on Goodreads.

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Review: Mistletoe Kisses + Release Party

25 Nov

MISTLETOE KISSES RELEASE PARTY!
 TONIGHT, November 25, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm EST

https://www.facebook.com/events/946042445424762/

Mistletoe Kisses is on sale for $0.99 until November 30th!

Mistletoe Kisses

Available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, and Kobo

A new collection from some of your favorite inspirational authors!

From USA Today bestselling author Janet Tronstad, The Day Gina Rossi Lost Her Yet:

Gina Rossi has dreamed of being Marco Scaglia’s sweetheart for as long as she can remember. But just when it looks like her dream might come true, her life gets crazy.

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Mondello, The Gift:

When Allison Jones finds a small envelope on the ground, CEO Derek Holden accuses her of stealing the money that was supposed to be inside. Knowing what the envelope means for a little girl, Allison is determined to not only fulfill the gift herself, but to prove to Derek that there is more to life than just money. Derek didn’t need the simple conventions of life…until he met Allison. He soon learns that a bank account full of money is no match for a heart full of love…

From New York Times bestselling author Lenora Worth, A Palm Tree Christmas:

When an overworked, heartbroken Atlanta nurse takes a holiday on the Gulf coast, she meets a widower with two adorable children and rethinks what love really means. Together, Clara and Hank rediscover Christmas and maybe the beginning of something more.

From Amazon bestselling author Margaret Daley, Deadly Holiday:

Tory Caldwell witnesses a hit-and-run, but when the dead victim disappears from the scene, police doubt a crime has been committed. Tory is threatened when she keeps insisting she saw a man killed and the only one who believes her is her neighbor, Jordan Steele. Together, can they solve the mystery of the disappearing body and stay alive?

From Carol Winner and CBA Bestselling author Pamela Tracy, Two by Two:

In 1880’s Arizona Territory, Frank Barlett, a Yuma prison guard, heads to the mining town of Bisbee in order to bury his younger brother Jasper and see that his widow has safe passage home. The widow isn’t who or what Frank expected and doesn’t have a home to be escorted to. Emmaline Bartlett has a secret or two and every time Frank uncovers one, it’s just one more reason he’s got to protect her.

From award-winning author Camille Elliot, The Spinster’s Christmas:

Spinster Miranda Belmoore and naval Captain Gerard Foremont, old childhood friends, meet again for a large Christmas party at Wintrell Hall. Miranda is making plans to escape a life of drudgery as a poor relation in her cousin’s household, while Gerard battles bitterness that his career was cut short by the injury to his knee. However, an enemy has infiltrated the family party, bent on revenge and determined that Twelfth Night will end in someone’s death …

From fan favorite author Lacy Williams, Mistletoe Cowboy:

After suffering a career-ending injury, bull rider Justin Michaels has stalled out. At twenty-seven, he’s back in college to try and find direction for his life. Valri North is a few credits away from completing her pre-med degree. She’s got her life planned out, until a disastrous assignment in class and a distracting cowboy threaten to derail her carefully-ordered plans.

From award-winning author Cheryl Wyatt, A Refuge Christmas:

Refuge police officer Connor Stallings is facing the challenge of his career: new mayor Adrianna White, who wants to restructure his beloved town upside down. Adrianna’s heart is in the right place, but as she and the handsome police officer clash, they grow close enough to glimpse on their horizon a partnership of vows beyond helping the quirky but close-knit town.

Thoughts:

Mistletoe Kisses is another Inspy Kisses collection to fall in love with!  Once again, a wonderful group of inspirational authors has shared their talents in a great anthology.  I enjoyed each of the eight novellas and their shared theme of kisses under the mistletoe! 

Janet Tronstad delighted me with her fun, retro romance.  Lisa Mondello and Lenora Worth warmed my heart with their contemporary romances.  Margaret Daley kept me guessing with her exciting, romantic suspense.  Pamela Tracy and Camille Elliot swept me back in time with their engaging historicals.  Lacy Williams stole my heart with her cowboy romance, and Cheryl Wyatt encouraged me with her story of love and forgiveness.  

I loved Mistletoe Kisses and look forward to reading more Inspy Kisses collections!  Don’t miss these delightful, inspirational stories! 

I received a complimentary copy of this collection from the authors.  All thoughts expressed are my own and no monetary compensation was received.

To learn more about the Inspy Kisses collections, visit http://www.inspykisses.com or https://www.facebook.com/inspykisses

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Sealed with a Kiss

29 Jul

thunderclap

The Inspy Kisses authors have released a new collection of never-before-seen love stories!

 

Featuring these novellas:

Mail-Order Sunshine Bride by Janet Tronstad 

When mail-order bride, Eleanor O’Reilly, arrives in the Montana Territory the only one on the railway platform to greet her is a dangerous-looking man who claims to be the sheriff. Where is her intended husband? Janet Tronstad delights readers with another of her popular mail-order bride stories.

Deadly Intent by Margaret Daley 

Texas Ranger Sarah Osborn is sent to investigate the kidnapping of a prize stallion from the Shamrock Ranch, owned by Ian O’Leary, an ex-FBI agent and Sarah’s high school sweetheart. Someone from Ian’s past has a grudge against him and intends to make him suffer. Can Sarah help Ian find who wants him dead?

Unshakeable Pursuit by Camy Tang 

A mysterious young woman warns Dr. Geoffrey Whelan and nurse Maylin Kinley that they are in mortal danger, and then two Asian hit men attack them at the children’s clinic where they work. Geoffrey and Maylin run for their lives, determined to figure out who is after them and why. When they discover the threat is connected to a young teenager whose life they saved, they must race to stop the person who wants them dead—before everyone they care about is caught in the crossfire.

With Love, Cowboy by Lacy Williams

When the love of his life is injured in combat, Ryan Michaels promises himself he won’t let any more time go by without declaring his love. Veteran Ashley Reynolds returns home a changed woman, but is she ready to see the truth about the cowboy she left behind?

 

Thoughts:

Sealed with a Kiss is a delightful anthology by a wonderfully talented group of inspirational authors!

From historical to contemporary, each novella was a pleasure to read! I adored Janet Tronstad’s mail-order bride story. Margaret Daley and Camy Tang kept me in suspense with lots of excitement and hold-your-breath moments. Lacy Williams warmed my heart with her endearing love story.

I loved Sealed with a Kiss and look forward to reading more from these great authors!

I received a complimentary copy of Sealed with a Kiss. All thoughts expressed are my own and no monetary compensation was received.

Buy now:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
iBooks

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Free Novella- Kissed By A Cowboy

21 Feb

Kissed By A Cowboy

Kissed By A Cowboy by Lacy Williams

Synopsis:

Kissed By A Cowboy, a sweet inspirational romance
 
Just shy of her thirtieth birthday, Haley Carston returns to Redbud Trails, Oklahoma, to care for her dying aunt. She thinks she’s ready for this homecoming. She’s spent years escaping her perpetual shyness and being Katie Michaels’ tag-along friend, but being back in her hometown brings back a lot of old memories, especially when she is faced with the cowboy she never forgot—Katie’s older brother, Maddox.
 
Twelve years ago, Maddox Michaels was supposed to be somebody. He had everything. A football scholarship. A Division I team scouting him. Maybe even a chance at the pros. Now, he’s a burned-out cowboy working day and night to stay ahead of his brother’s medical bills and keep their family farm from going bankrupt. And trying to be a father-figure for his niece, Olivia.
 
When Haley and Olivia start spending time together, Maddox can’t help remembering those dreams that died alongside his sister. Will being with Haley open his heart to new dreams?

Thoughts:

Kissed By A Cowboy is a delightful novella! Lacy Williams writes with wonderful characterization and vivid descriptions. I loved the main characters, Haley Carston and Maddox Michaels, and adored Maddox’s niece, Olivia. Their story is one that will captivate you and warm your heart!  Don’t miss the opportunity to download this free novella, Kissed By A Cowboy!

Kissed By A Cowboy is also included in the anthology, First Kisses, which releases March 15, 2014.

Biography:

Lacy Williams grew up on a farm, which is where her love of cowboys was born. In reality, she’s married to a right-brained banker (happily with three kiddos). She gets to express her love of western men by writing historical romance. Her books have finaled in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Awards (2012 & 2013), the Golden Quill and the Booksellers Best Award.

Lacy also writes YA action romance under the pen name Lacy Yager. She has a soft spot for bad boy heroes and heroines with swords. Although her teen years are long behind her, she enjoys writing about the drama and first love that comes with this time in our lives.

You can learn more about Lacy Williams by visiting her website, http://lacyjwilliams.com/.

 

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