Monday, December 31, 2018

Reflections: A new year

2018 is almost gone, 2019 is about to begin, so typically today and tomorrow are days of reflecting back on the past year and dreaming of what the future will hold. 2018 has definitely been a year of huge changes for me and my family. A year with more pain than I can remember knowing, but also a year with great joy and excitement. A year of learning and growing and watching my family and friends do the same. A year where my faith was tested and sometimes found lacking, sometimes found stronger than I had imagined. A year where I asked Him and found God sufficient in all things, even when sometimes I doubted His grace.

Looking back over the last year, I can see my heavenly Father’s hand in so many things. I can even see Him in my mom going home to be with Jesus, though I had asked Him for a different answer. In the searching and the questions, in the doubt and the myriad of tears, I’ve found Him to be constant. Even when I yelled because I didn’t like His answer and I was angry with Him, He never walked away. Though I couldn’t always see it in the moment, looking back, He truly has been Immanuel, God with us (Matt 1:23).

I’ve seen Him SO often as my now-husband and I (along with some awesome friends and family!) planned a wedding in 90 days and it came off without any hitches that I know of (the bride is allowed to be oblivious, right?). And now I see Him as we’re learning life together and what being a godly wife and husband looks like. Getting to experience this journey with mentors, friends, and family who have walked the first few months of marriage some time ago and share their wisdom as we ask (and sometimes when we don’t ask, but really need it anyway).

I’m so thankful for the many lessons I’ve learned this year and am still learning as the new year rings in, though some I definitely wish had been different. Though God has used them to shape me, to grow and mold me, to strengthen my foundation in Him and show me anew who He is.

I’m not sure what I dream for 2019. Maybe a few less dramatic changes than the past year. Many more things to learn, I’m sure. Hopefully some good books and good chocolate. Time spent with family and friends. I know this doesn’t encompass nearly everything on my heart and mind, but sometimes words on a page or screen can’t fully express the emotions. The joys and grief, the laughter and tears, the simple smile at the end of a year and the anticipation of the one still to come. I don’t know what all I would dream for this new year, but I’m so enjoying getting to do so with my heavenly Father and my husband by my side.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this and remember the past year with me, a bit. I was trying to think of what to end this blog post with and music came to mind. There are so many songs that God has used to encourage us this year, so trying to narrow it down to just one to leave you with . . . . I think God of All My Days by Casting Crowns is a fitting one (click the title to listen on YouTube).

I hope you all have a blessed New Year!

My favorite books of 2018!

Soon to be Happy New Year, my friends! I have to be honest, I've read probably around 20 books this year - which may sound like a lot to some, but for me, that's not much. Though, I think I have a pretty great excuse, what with planning a wedding and getting married this past September and all. :)
So, with that being said, I have a whole 4 books for my list. This past year has been such a blur, that I could barely remember a couple of them, but I do remember really enjoying them! And that just gives me an excuse to read them, again, soon. ;)
I read a couple other great ones, as well. But they didn't come out in 2018, so they'll get honorable mention at the bottom, I think. As always, these aren't in any special order. (click the titles to read more about them)

Falling for You by Becky Wade

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White

Honorable mentions:

I've found these 2 books so encouraging

and convicting this past year and have

come back to them several times, reading

and rereading some pages until the truth

settles in.

Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado

Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors

What were some of your favorite reads from 2018? I know I've still got a whole list that came out that I haven't taken the time to read, yet!

Sunday, December 23, 2018

My Review: The Christmas Heirloom

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Description:

Perfect for the Christmas season, four beloved authors bring their bestselling, award-winning talents to a multigenerational collection of romantic holiday novellas. In stories ranging from 1820s Regency England to present-day Washington state, readers will be treated to Christmas tales of an heirloom brooch passed from mother to daughter for almost two hundred years. Will the family legend claiming the brooch brings love to its recipient hold true for these women separated by the years but bonded together by the ties of family?

In Kristi Ann Hunter's "Legacy of Love," Sarah Gooding never suspected returning a brooch to an elderly woman would lead to a job . . . and introduce her to the woman's grandson. While he may be far above her station, she can't help but notice that his desire to make this Christmas special for his grandmother matches her own.

In Karen Witemeyer's "Gift of the Heart," widow Ruth Fulbright uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from a wealthy resort owner. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love as the holidays draw near.

In Sarah Loudin Thomas's "A Shot at Love," Fleeta Brady's rough-and-tumble childhood means she prefers hunting to more feminine activities. She never expected her mother's brooch might be how a fellow hunter turns her attention from competition to romance one December.

In Becky Wade's "Because of You," Maddie Winslow has spent years in love with a man whose heart was already spoken for. When a church Christmas project brings them together and she stumbles upon an old family brooch, might it finally be her turn for love?

About the Authors:

Karen Witemeyer is an award-winning, bestselling author and lives in Texas with her family. Find her online at www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Kristi Ann Hunter is the award-winning author of five books, and she lives with her family in Georgia. Find her online at www.kristiannhunter.com.

Sarah Loudin Thomas is an award-winning author, and she and her husband reside in Asheville, North Carolina. She can be found online at www.sarahloudinthomas.com.

Becky Wade is the award-winning author of seven books and lives in a suburb of Dallas with her husband and three kids. Find her online at www.beckywade.com.

My Review: 4.5 stars

Anyone who knows my reading habits much at all knows that I’m not typically fans of novellas - I love longer books and the deeper stories that typically come with more page time with the characters. But when I learned 3 of my favorite authors had teamed up for a Christmas novella collection, I couldn’t resist checking it out! Plus, I had the opportunity to read a new-to-me author’s work, which I almost always enjoy. With that being said, this book definitely surpassed my expectations and I quite enjoyed it!

One of my favorite things about this book is that they worked the story lines so that each author was able to write the time period and geography that suits the rest of their writing. Kristi Ann Hunter’s story is up first and it’s set in England in the early 1800s. Karen Witemeyer is next and it’s set in the mid 1800s in America, and so on. I’d never read anything from Sarah Loudin Thomas, despite the fact that I was born and raised in WV, so I had no idea what to expect of her story. It was . . . .different. At first I was a little unsure how it was going to play into the other stories, but she wove it in quite well. And I was so excited that Becky Wade was able to connect her novella with her Bradford Sisters series! I also really appreciated the fact that each story, while connected to the others, was complete on its own. None of them were left with things left unfinished to be picked up in the next tale.

I really don’t think I had a favorite in this collection, as they were all well written and fun to read! If you’re looking for a very well done Christmas novella collection to enjoy with the season, or any time of the year, I would highly recommend this one!

I don't have much to say at the moment. Cookies are baking, it's rather late, and my husband and I are trying to get things ready for family tomorrow. :) I hope everyone has an amazing Christmas and a very Happy New Year! (you'll probably see something from me before then, but just in case)

Amazon (Just as a heads up, this book is currently $2.99 on Kindle!)

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Tuesday, November 13, 2018

My Review: All Made Up

"I want to be someone's home. I want to spend my whole like making one woman happy. I want to be worth staying for." - Caleb Murphy

Description:

Everyone thinks Katriona McLeod is living the dream. Her professional career as a make up artist sees her traveling the world working with the stars and she's got no shortage of men wanting her affection. Only problem is she's never gotten over Caleb Murphy, the one guy she's ever loved. When she accepts a job on the latest looking-for-love reality TV show, Falling for the Farmer, she discovers to her horror that Caleb is the leading man and she's cast as one of his harem. But she hides a secret that means that even if she wanted a second chance with the guy who broke her heart she could never have it.

Caleb Murphy couldn't care less about C-Class celebrity fame or reality TV and he certainly doesn't believe it could lead him to love. The one thing he does care about is fulfilling his mother's last wish. Kat's presence on the show seems to offer up a solution that will make both the network and his mother happy. It might have been almost ten years since they split but he knows he can trust her with his plan. Just as long as he doesn't fall in love all over again with the woman who will never stay.

About the Author:

Kara Isaac writes contemporary romance in beautiful Wellington, New Zealand. She is the author of four novels including the Romance Writers' of America RITA award-winning Then There Was You, Close to You, a RITA Award Double Finalist, and Can't Help Falling, an RT Review Top Pick. When she's not chasing three small people, she spends her time writing horribly bad first drafts and wishing you could get Double Stuf Oreos in New Zealand. She loves to connect with readers on her website karaisaac.com, on Facebook at Kara Isaac - Author, Twitter @KaraIsaac and Instagram @kara.isaac.author

My Review: 4.5 stars

I’ve been anxiously awaiting Kat McLeod’s story since first meeting her in “Close To You” and was SO excited when Kara Isaac announced her book would be next! I have no idea how many pages this book has (I read an ebook), but it seemed to fly by! Every time I was able to pick it up, I really didn’t want to put it down again before reaching the end. I so enjoyed getting to dive into this story, meet Caleb Murphy, get to know Kat better, and laugh with them along their journey.

"Being afraid doesn't mean you're making the wrong decision.

Being afraid means you're invested in the outcome.

Having faith is trusting God with whatever the outcome is.

Even if it's not the outcome we hoped for."

Janine Tyler

This book tackles the reality TV world with panache, humor, and a honesty that makes this reader wonder if the author has been able to witness the behind the scenes of one such show. I had to laugh at Caleb’s awkwardness and some of the things the women connived to try to get his attention. I also so appreciated the author portraying Caleb as a strong Christian and highlighting the brokenness in how some of the contestants viewed themselves. This story tackles some difficult and painful topics, such as a family member with dementia, fear, trust, forgiveness, and facing the past. I could so easily relate with the struggles each of the protagonist’s were facing and I was so drawn into the story that I often felt as though I was right there with them, shouldering the pain and wishing someone understood.

And I really enjoyed that characters from a couple previous books made appearances in this one and kind of linked them all back around.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys rom-coms that touch on deeper things.

Thank you again for stopping by and spending some of your valuable time on my blog! I hope you enjoyed my review - there are so many other great quotes I wanted to use! - and will check into this and the author's other books a bit more. They are seriously some of my favorites!

As always, I hope you're having a ducky day!

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Thursday, November 8, 2018

My Review: Dead Drift (and a question)

I'm rather disappointed in myself that I apparently didn't save any photos of book pages - because I remember several excellent quotes from this book . . .

Description:

Burning debris littering the ground . . . smoke pluming in the acrid air . . . this is just the beginning if he fails.

Seven years ago, operative Luke Gallagher vanished to become part of an elite team set on capturing a deadly terrorist. When Luke returns to face those he left behind, their help becomes his only hope of stopping his target's latest threat of an attack that would shake America to its core.

Private investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving or looking for Luke after he disappeared. But she also never imagined he left her or his life by choice. Now he's back, and together they must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal, all while on the brink of a biological disaster.

Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist's next mark?

About the Author:

Dani Pettrey is the bestselling author of the Chesapeake Valor series and the Alaskan Courage series and winner of the 2014 Daphne du Maurier Award for Inspirational Novel, the 2014 Christian Retailing's Best Award for Suspense, and the 2013 Holt Medallion for First Novel. She and her husband reside in the D.C. Metro area. She can be found online at www.danipettrey.com.

My Review: 3.5-4 stars

This is the final book in Dani Pettrey’s “Chesapeake Valor” series and I was so excited to read it! Especially after the cliffhanger at the end of “Blind Spot.” I had to know what was going to happen! As always with Ms. Pettrey’s books, this story is fast-paced and action packed keeping me reading through traffic lights and lunch breaks. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but it was definitely a compelling read!

One of my favorite things about Ms. Pettrey’s books is how she keeps the pace speeding along. In this case, there are dual storylines at play, something I really enjoyed and that indubitably amped up the suspense. Though I did find the story a bit disjointed at times, when it would switch between mysteries. The time-frame for the story is rather short, so it definitely moves quickly, in more ways than one. I did appreciate getting to follow Luke and Kate, searching for a terrorist, and Griffin and Finley, searching for a murderer. This author definitely has a way of leaving the chapter with just enough of a question or cliffhanger to keep you racing through the pages, having to know what’s going to happen next.

I’ve enjoyed getting to know Kate over the past three books and have been so looking forward to her and Luke finally getting their story. Kate is strong and independent, with a stubborn streak that is potentially wider than Luke’s. But she also has a vulnerable side that is revealed with Luke’s return. Luke is strong and determined to finally finish the war he’s been fighting for years. He’s become disillusioned over the depths of deprivation he’s seen and is looking to find what is real and good in the world, again. I greatly enjoyed getting to know both of them better and following them through their journey. Ms. Pettrey did an excellent job of bringing them to life and making them seem more like old friends than characters in a fictional story.

Overall, I quite enjoyed the journey and would highly recommend it (and the whole series) to anyone who likes mystery and suspense.

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my review! I hope you enjoyed it and will consider checking out the book (and the rest of the series). :)

I know I keep saying this, but I'm considering the merits of posting some more personal things on here from time to time. Though I did just get married 2 months ago, so I'm mostly just enjoying time with my husband right now. :) Maybe next year . . . . After the holidays slow down.

If you have time to comment, would you like something beyond book reviews from me?

As always, I hope your day is ducky!

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Saturday, September 1, 2018

My Review: Thief of Corinth

"God wants everything. Every part of you." - Paul

Description:

First-century Corinth is a city teeming with commerce and charm. It's also filled with danger and corruption-the perfect setting for Ariadne's greatest adventure.

After years spent living with her mother and oppressive grandfather in Athens, Ariadne runs away to her father's home in Corinth, only to discover the perilous secret that destroyed his marriage: though a Greek of high birth, Galenos is the infamous thief who has been robbing the city's corrupt of their ill-gotten gains.

Desperate to keep him safe, Ariadne risks her good name, her freedom, and the love of the man she adores to become her father's apprentice. As her unusual athletic ability leads her into dangerous exploits, Ariadne discovers that she secretly revels in playing with fire. But when the wrong person discovers their secret, Ariadne and her father find their future-and very lives-hanging in the balance.

About the Author:

Tessa Afshar is an award-winning author of historical and biblical fiction. Her novel Land of Silence was voted by Library Journal as one of top five Christian fiction titles of 2016 and won the INSPY Award for General Fiction. Harvest of Gold won the prestigious 2014 Christy Award in the Historical Romance category. Her book Harvest of Rubies was a finalist for the 2013 ECPA Book Award in the fiction category. In 2011, after publishing her first novel, Pearl in the Sand, Tessa was named New Author of the Year in the FamilyFiction-sponsored Reader’s Choice Awards. Tessa lived in the Middle East for the first fourteen years of her life. She then moved to England, where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States. She holds an MDiv from Yale Divinity School, where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship. But that has not cured her from being exceptionally fond of chocolate. Contact Tessa at tessaafshar.com or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTessaAfshar/

My Review : 5 stars

I’ve long been a fan of Tessa Afshar’s books and this one is far from the exception! Her books first introduced me to Biblical Fiction and she is still my go-to author for anything in the genre. When I learned she was writing a book set during the time Paul would have been in Corinth, I was really excited to read it! Plus, how could I pass up a book titled “Thief of Corinth”? I couldn’t, and so here we are. I’m not sure this is my absolute favorite of her books (I think Pearl in the Sand still holds that title), but it was definitely an excellent book and one I’d for sure highly recommend!

One of my favorite things about her books is how relatable the characters always are. They may be “living” in centuries long past, but they are still so relevant to life right now. I connect with them very quickly and often become immersed in their stories before I’m even through the first chapter. By the end of the book, I always feel as though I’m being forced to say, “goodbye” to some very dear friends that I’m not at all ready to depart from, yet. I also really enjoyed how Ariadne’s story is told. It’s as though she’s writing a letter to someone, sharing her life with them and looking back on memories. She sees her faults and failures very clearly and where the decisions that were made shaped and formed the future. I loved how the author chose to incorporate the Apostle Paul (and some other people mentioned in his letters) into the story. Obviously she doesn’t use the exact wording from scripture and this is fiction, but the things she does include are woven precisely where they needed to be. Oftentimes I found the words convicting or encouraging right when I needed it.

"It would be sad, indeed, if the world were at the mercy of an impersonal force, a detached power without the ability to love. The God I speak of gives life and breath to everything. To this clump of mint, to you, to me. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He cares for the desires of your heart. Underneath the currents of your life, he stretches his everlasting arms. He has set his affections on you, though he knows your every weakness. The broken and the good in you. His love makes you whole. No man can give you this. Only God." - Paul, page 212

The story itself was fast-paced and kept me wanting to read more! I rarely actually wanted to put the book down and I’d usually go back to work wondering what was going to happen next or how the story was going to move forward from there. Especially during Ariadne’s escapades. I was up late more than once, trying to stay awake long enough to answer some of those questions. Ms. Afshar definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and I’m looking forward to being able to take the time to read this book again, soon!

(There are several other quotes that I really want to share from this book, but they're long and I don't want to steal the pleasure of discovering them for yourself.)

Hello bookish friends! Long time no post, yes? I'm kind of sorry about that - I just haven't had much time to read or play around on here, lately. Or more accurately, I haven't taken the time. I've only got 2 more weeks 'til my wedding! So the next post you see from me may be a couple wedding photos! (I'm debating whether I'm going to share any on here, or not. Maybe just Facebook . . . )

Have a lovely weekend! (or whatever day you see this, have an amazing day!)

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Friday, August 3, 2018

My Review: A Defense of Honor

" . . . grace doesn't come because of anything you can do. Jesus didn't die and rise again so you could crucify yourself with guilt." - Graham, Lord Wharton

Description:

When Katherine "Kit" FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she's forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. What should have been a chance encounter becomes much more as Graham embarks on a search for his friend's missing sister and is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she's telling.

After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different for the first time in her life, but what she wants can't matter. Long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. And as much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, revealing the truth isn't worth putting him and everyone she loves in danger.

About the Author:

Kristi Ann Hunter is the author of the Hawthorne House series and a 2016 RITA Award winner, an ACFW Genesis contest winner, and a Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for excellence winner. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her online at www.kristiannhunter.com.

My Review: 5 stars

I’m not even sure where to start this review . . . I simply fell in love with this book and the characters! I’ve been a huge fan of Ms. Hunter’s books since reading her very first one, which was actually a novella to introduce her first series. And I’ve happily fallen into each of her books, smiling at the end, but also sad that the journey is over, at least for now. So learning she had a new series beginning made this book addict incredibly happy! And as expected, I was not disappointed in the least! I never have a favorite of her books, except for perhaps the one I’ve just finished. For the moment, this one must be m favorite, until I reread one of the others.

I can’t even begin to describe what makes her writing style different, but there is something that is just distinctly Kristi Ann Hunter. I’m actually not even typically that much of a fan of the Regency time period, so her books are definitely the exception to my rule. They are unique, at least to me. I so enjoy the genuineness. The characters simply come alive and I often feel as though I’m right there with them. I adore the humor she weaves into them. I don’t often read Regency novels that make me laugh like hers do: out loud and often. I so appreciate the depth in her stories. They aren’t “preachy,” but at the same time, I often find myself convicted by something one of the characters is struggling with. I can see myself in them or in the situation and that just deepens how much I’m enjoying the story, lighthearted though it often was.

I immensely enjoyed getting to know all of the characters in this book, from Graham and his friends (I’m hoping we’ll see more of them!), to Kit and the ladies at the manor, and of course the children that simply stole the show, more often than not! If you enjoy stories that tug on your heart, but also encourage you to laugh out loud in public places, then I highly recommend this book!

Thanks for stopping by! I so appreciate the time you take to read my reviews and I hope you enjoyed it!

As always, links are below!

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Thursday, August 2, 2018

My Review: Love's Silver Lining

"No fret, darling - God already knows we're not perfect. It's certainly no surprise to Him when we falter or fail . . . or even forget how much He loves us."

Description:

She tampers with his life.
He tampers with her heart.
Love tampers with them both.

Desperate to escape an arranged marriage to a womanizer, twenty-two-year-old Maggie Mullaney flees New York for Virginia City, Nevada with her Aunt Liberty, two spunky suffragists intent on bettering the lives of women. Fresh out of nursing school, Maggie hopes to devote herself to serving others rather than just one man, a goal quickly affirmed when she encounters Blaze Donovan, a womanizing cowboy who both riles and rouses her pulse. But when Aunt Liberty’s parents' house burns down, she and Maggie are coerced into staying at the ranch of Liberty’s ex-husband, Finn McShane, who just happens to be the uncle of the cocky cowboy Maggie had hoped to avoid.

If there’s one thing twenty-nine-year-old Blaze Donovan can’t abide, it’s respectable women who spout piety and prayer, so when he butts heads with perky Maggie Mullaney at St. Mary Louise Hospital, he wants to stay as far away from her as he possibly can. Unfortunately, she now lives in the bedroom next to his in his uncle’s ranch house, a revolting development that sends Blaze to The Ponderosa Saloon more than usual. But when Maggie interferes in Blaze’s life by converting his favorite “disrespectable” girl, Blaze is determined to make her pay. Only problem is—the price HE has to pay may be a little too steep for his heart.

About the Author:

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together. Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, and Isle of Hope series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 18 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner. Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com

My Review: 4 stars

Julie Lessman has been one of my favorite authors for several years now, so this review may be a tad biased. I just so enjoy her stories! This book (series) is very different from anything else she’s written. I’m quite enjoying how she’s trying different time periods and genres, and was especially excited for this one, knowing it was going to be a bit of a lighter read and more humorous. Though I’ve found her other books pretty amusing as well, particularly her San Francisco series. I tried to start this book without many expectations. I knew it would have a dual storyline (one of my favorite things in her books) and a strong spiritual element (my very favorite thing about her writing), but other than that, I was just looking to enjoy the ride. And she had me hooked from the opening page! I’m not going to spoil it, but it is very interesting!

Ms. Lessman is one of those authors that I’m fairly confident that someone could hand me a random page from one of her books and I could tell you right away that it was one of hers. Her writing style is quite distinct and vivid. I so enjoy getting pulled into one of her stories and seeing life through the characters’ eyes. They are sometimes rather dramatic in their telling, but that’s also part of the fun! And I appreciate how honest her writing is - I’ve rarely, if ever, read stories with characters that were more realistic than hers. Even in the midst of the lighthearted moments and fun, she tackles a few more difficult topics, specifically commitment and trust. Along with a healthy dose of God and the gospel, which I find to be such an encouragement. Her books always include wisdom that seems as though it’s directed straight at me, or something that I know I needed to hear at the time. I enjoy rereading her books for that same reason.

If you’re looking for a rather lighthearted read about stubborn cowboys and possibly more stubborn women, then I would highly recommend this book!

Hello fellow reader friends! Goodness! I hadn't realized how long it's been since I've been on here! I've rather missed it - though I do have a good excuse for my absence: I'm getting married in right about a month and a half!! So I've been doing wedding things and enjoying time with my fiancé, so there's that. :)

As always, links are below. And please leave me a comment about what's been going on with your summer!

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Wednesday, May 23, 2018

My Review: Falling For You

"Fake perfection was tiring. The mistakes you didn't confess accumulated more and more mass over time. No one ministered to you because you were busy broadcasting the fact that you didn't need ministering to." - Willow Bradford

Description:

Famously beautiful model Willow Bradford is taking a temporary break from her hectic schedule to work as the innkeeper at her family's small-town bed-and-breakfast. She was enjoying the peace of her hometown, Merryweather, Washington, right up until she came face-to-face with Corbin Stewart, the man she loves to hate. A thoughtful rule-follower by nature, Willow threw caution to the wind four years ago when she entrusted her heart to Corbin--and suffered the consequences when it all fell apart.

Former NFL quarterback Corbin is forceful, charming, and accustomed to getting what he wants . . . except where Willow Bradford is concerned. Unable to forget her, he's never stopped regretting what happened between them. When their paths unexpectedly cross again, he's determined to make her give him a second chance.

When a decades-old missing persons case finds Corbin and Willow working together, they're forced to confront their past and who they've become--and whether they can risk falling for one another all over again.

About the Author:

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 Christy Award, a Carol Award, an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and an INSPY Award. Learn more at www.beckywade.com.

My Review: 5 stars

I’m not sure where to even start this review! I have a completely biased opinion, because I always greatly enjoy Becky Wade’s books. She’s one of my very favorite authors and I love diving into any of her stories (usually multiple times) and this one is certainly no exception! I’ve been anxiously awaiting Willow’s book since getting a glimpse of her and Corbin’s story in “True to You,” (you can read my review for it here) and it definitely surpassed any expectation I may have had.

Corbin and Willow are characters that I could so easily identify with, even if I hadn’t walked in their shoes, directly. I was pulled into their story from the first page and didn’t want to put it down! The relationships are always one of my favorite things in Ms. Wade’s books and that is true of this one, too. I loved the quick dialogue and comebacks between Corbin and Willow, as well as the bantering between the sisters, and the teasing with Charlotte (who is definitely one of my favorite secondary characters!). They had me laughing out loud more than once and earned me a couple interesting glances from anyone sitting nearby. And the mystery! I’m always a sucker for a mystery and having this unlikely team searching for answers to a cold-case was excellent! More fun banter, as well as questions needing answered? Yes, please!

"Love was an intensely powerful emotion,

but it wasn't always the smartest of entities.

Was it possible to control whom you loved?

Perhaps in part. But not fully.

Sometimes, you just loved."

I also so appreciate that even though this book was a lot of fun to read, it also dealt with some deeper topics: loss, grief, perfectionism, expectations, and relationships in general. The story was never weighed down by them, but rather I found she hit precisely the right note with each one. And I needed the truth the characters come to find. Willow struggles with perfectionism, so the message of grace and love in the midst of our failings was exactly what she (and I) needed. Corbin’s struggle was as equally, if not more personal for me. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I was almost crying at the end, knowing the pain a fictional character was going through. And if that doesn’t say something about this author’s writing skills, then I’m not sure what does. Before I make the ending sound like a downer, it wasn’t. I was alternating dreading reading the last line and smiling as I did, because it was a fantastic ending! Though I now want to demand Britt’s book! I have to know what happens with her and Zander!

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!

Welcome back fellow book and chocolate addicts! Goodness, I haven't done this in 5 months! Where did the time go??? And I hadn't written a review in that long, so please, bear with me. I think I need to do a life catch up post at some point, maybe. Until then, please leave me a comment and let me know how you've been doing!

As always, links and such are below!

Have a beautiful day, friends!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Christian Book

Thursday, January 18, 2018

A Song Unheard Blog Tour and Giveaway

"You can spend your life regretting what you've lost. Or you can thank the Lord for what He's given." - Barclay Pearce

Description:

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he’s won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father’s work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn’t—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

You can purchase a copy here!

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

My Review: 5 stars

This is the second book in a series by one of my favorite historical authors, so of course I was super excited to hold a copy, admire the beautiful cover, and dive into it. I’ve been anxiously anticipating Willa’s book since finishing the first book, “A Name Unknown,” and was not at all disappointed!

As always, Rosanna M. White weaves a compelling story, this one set in 1914, during The Great War in Europe. I so enjoy the history in all of her books, as well as her writing style. She brings her stories to vivid life, drawing me in until it seemed as though I could heard the orchestra, see the Stradivarius, and feel the autumn wind. And this cast of characters she’s created - they began to feel like dear friends, after a while. I’m very anxious for Barclay’s book, which I’ve just learned will be the next one. Though if you’re not able to read the books in order, she’s written them to stand alone just as well. This family of thieves though . . . .there’s something about them. It seems like such a novel concept, though not entirely, if I think about it. The way she portrays them has me cheering them on, rather than being appalled at their audacity. I have to appreciate their ingenuity and quite liked learning how such things might play out 100 years ago, without all of the technology we have now. I also really appreciated the balance she found in the morality of the story. Especially in the context of the German soldiers, I thought she did an excellent job of showing them to be human as well. And allowing for a debate over how they handled the War. She never condones their actions, but tries to show a bit of both sides of the story.

Willa Forsythe has undoubtedly become one of my very favorite characters from Ms. White’s novels. She is strong, stubborn, straightforward, more than a little blunt at times, a wonderfully talented musician, and so very broken. I couldn’t not love her. Or Lukas De Wilde. Both he and his precocious sister, Margot, made sure they took up residence in my affections, as well. I enjoyed how the story came from all three perspectives, giving me an insight into each situation and character. Though I don’t believe I could choose a favorite, Margot would definitely be near the top of the list. With her sharp wit, need for order, and incredible intelligence, she may have started out a secondary character, but she quickly became a leading lady. I also couldn’t resist smiling at the relationship Lukas and Willa slowly form. Particularly his persistence in loving her. And by extension, showing God’s love. The author so seamlessly weaves faith throughout the story, giving space to questions so often unvoiced, but not overwhelming the rest of the narrative.

I would highly recommend this book, as well as the first in the series, to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and desires an introduction to a rather unorthodox family of thieves.

To celebrate her tour, Roseanna is giving away a Grand Prize Package of a signed copy of the book as well as a lovely album of soothing songs based on the Scriptures called Hidden in My Heart (winner’s choice of CD or digital download)!!

Click the link below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! And pop over to the other stops (listen below) to gain more entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/c72a