Rachel (Once Upon a Church House #2) by Jo Grafford

Rachel Giordano and her older sister have always been fiercely competitive. This time, however, both are in love with the same man. When a compromising situation forces him to offer his hand in marriage to her sister, Rachel is shattered and purchases a one-way ticket to Mountain Springs to interview as their church choir director.

Ridge Carson hasn’t had it easy since the day he was born. Following a false accusation that earned him some jail time, he’s trying to carve out a new life for himself as the general manager of a sawmill. Unfortunately, there’s a saboteur in their midst, wreaking the kind of havoc he fears will eventually cost him his job.

Ridge is instantly drawn to the lovely newcomer in town. It’s clear she’s nursing old wounds — something he knows a thing or two about. He finds himself doing everything he can to help her find a fresh start, knowing a woman like her isn’t likely to find much to admire in a man like him.

ONCE UPON A CHURCH HOUSE is a sweet and inspirational historical western romance series with a dash of magic and time travel.

Pastor Zach Shepherd feels called to plant a church in rural Mountain Springs, Idaho, a place his friends warn him is unredeemable. However, he’s a firm believer in miracles and scoffs at their dire predictions of his pending failure. He quickly sizes up the renegade collection of mostly male town folk and determines what they need (in addition to salvation) is a woman’s touch to straighten them out. Throwing on his matchmaker hat, he prays God will send a few saved and sanctified women his way to get the first marriages rolling. He specifically prays for the kind of women legends are made of — from the Bible days — never dreaming how swiftly nor how thoroughly his prayers would be answered!

Available on Amazon

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About Jo Grafford

Jo writes sweet historical and contemporary romance stories — with humor, sass, and happily ever-afters. She loves to visit with readers in her Cuppa Jo Readers group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/CuppaJoReaders/. To receive a personal email about each book she publishes, join her New Release Email List at JoGrafford.com or follow her on BookBub at https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jo-grafford or her Amazon author page at https://www.amazon.com/Jo-Grafford/e/B00G56XKS2.

Review of One Little Lie by Colleen Coble #OLLPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the book tour for One Little Lie by Colleen Coble! This is the first in her Pelican Harbor series, and I promise there is more to come! Read on for my review of this title and then follow the tour for even more. Plus there's a great giveaway at the end!

One Little Lie

(Pelican Harbor #1)
By Colleen Coble
Christian Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 352 Pages
March 3rd 2020 by Thomas Nelson

It started with one little lie. But Jane Hardy will do everything in her power to uncover the truth in this gripping new romantic suspense.

Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, after her father retires, but there's no time for an adjustment period. When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, Jane quickly realizes she's facing someone out to destroy the only family she has.

After escaping with her father from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother—who refused to leave—ever since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them?

Reid Bechtol is well-known for his documentaries, and his latest project involves covering Jane's career. Jane has little interest in the attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the idea of the publicity.

Jane finds herself depending on Reid's calm manner as he follows her around filming, and they begin working together to clear her father. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross—especially once her father’s lie catches up with him.

Praise for the Book

“Colleen Coble always raises the notch on romantic suspense, and One Little Lie is my favorite yet! The story took me on a wild and wonderful ride.” —Diann Mills, bestselling author

"Colleen Coble once again proves she is at the pinnacle of Christian romantic suspense. Filled with characters you'll come to love, faith lost and found, and scenes that will have you holding your breath, Jane Hardy's story deftly follows the complex and tangled web that can be woven by one little lie.' —Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

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Book Depository | Target | Christianbook | TNZFiction

**My thoughts**

It has been a while since I read a Colleen Coble book, so I was glad to have one come across my queue for a review! This one starts out with a bang, gripping you from the first page, as you witness a teenager giving birth and then being ripped away from a cult that had been her life for as long as she could remember. 

Flash forward another 15 years, and we meet Jane, who has just taken over as Chief of Police after her father's retirement. Most people support her, but there are a few who are not happy she has taken on this role. Add to the stress a person known as The Vigilante who keeps killing people for their sins, and the camera guy doing a documentary on small town police offices who has been instructed to follow her every move.

There's a lot going on in this story. A lot of people have a lot of secrets, and they are all intertwined. Some of them you are going to figure out pretty quickly. But some of them, you will not. Pay attention to the relationships as all of these layers are peeled back. It's almost too much at some points. But then all of those pieces do fall together nicely as the case is finally solved at the end.

There's no cliffhanger as far as the murders are concerned, but there is one of sorts when it comes to Jane and a certain relationship in her life! How she is going to handle that situation almost felt like a cliffhanger to me. But the author says in her afterword that she felt Jane's story was too large for just one book, and we should get the satisfactory conclusion in the next installment due out this fall. I'm holding you to that, Colleen Coble! lol

But overall, I did enjoy the story. I kept my attention during a time of a lot of uncertainty in the world and was a welcome distraction. I gave it 3.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and Prism Book Tours for providing me a requested review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Colleen Coble is a USA TODAY bestselling author and RITA finalist best known for her coastal romantic suspense novels, including The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, and the Lavender Tides, Sunset Cove, Hope Beach, and Rock Harbor series.

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Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a print copy of Strands of Truth by Colleen Coble (US only)

Ends March 25, 2020

ENTER HERE

Review of Good News! God Made Me by Glenys Nellist

Who made my fingers wiggle so? Who gave me ten cute toes?
Who gave me eyes to peek at you? Who made my button nose?

Explore the creativity and wonder of our Creator with your children through this introduction to God as our Maker. Whimsically diverse illustrations pair with skillful rhyme to answer a child’s questions of who made them and why. From wiggly fingers to ten cute toes and everything in between, the story shows a child that God made each part of us because of His great love for us. Whether you buy this for your family or gift it to another growing family, it is sure to delight all the little ones in your life.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

**My thoughts**

This book is perfect for any church nursery or Sunday School program. The rhyming narrative is about the young girl talking about all of her wonderful features that God made for her, all leading up to a paraphrasing of Psalm 139:14. It's a lovely message for young children being brought up in the Christian faith.

My favorite part of this book is the adorable illustrations. It is of a supremely happy multiracial family that you can tell absolutely adores each other and just has a lot of fun in their lives. You cannot help but feel happy when looking at their pictures, which just really complements this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Afflictions Eclipsed by Glory: A Guided Journal for Believers

If you’re interested in truly reflecting on scripture and applying it to your afflictions, this is the journal for you. Grab a pen, open your heart, and get ready to transform your mind according to His word. Afflictions Eclipsed By Glory is a daily reprieve from your storm to take solace in God’s word. It will help you clear your mind, immerse yourself in His promises, and give the glory back to Him as you reflect on His excellent track record of working your troubles out for your good.

Available on Amazon

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Validations, Reflections & Affirmations: A Guided Journal by Tarynne Lynn Ross

Well-intentioned people often tell their loved ones to “Always look on the bright side” “Be grateful it’s not worse” “You’ll get over it,” the toxicity goes on. Those messages do not instill validation or hope and can fill the receiver with shame and guilt if they are experiencing negative emotions. This journal is to provide a space for users to be mindful of all their emotions without pushing the negative ones away. Users will acknowledge and explore the negative emotions that accompany stressful periods by self-validating, reflecting, affirming with the help of 390 prompts.

Available on Amazon

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.