Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Monday, August 29, 2022
Review of Words of Jesus: 180 Devotions and Prayers for Kids by Emily Biggers
Sunday, August 28, 2022
Review of In the Big Inning: Good, Clean Sports Jokes for Kids! by Barbour Staff
Why did the baseball player go to jail?
Because he was caught trying to steal second base!
He did, however, properly purchase his copy of In the Big Inning: Good, Clean Sports Jokes for Kids!
Monday, August 1, 2022
Review of 365 Days of Gratitude Journal by Marielle S. Smith
A practice of gratitude is so important in our lives. And sometimes you need a little nudge to help you along the way. Learn more about the 365 Days of Gratitude Journal by Marielle S. Smith and then get your own copy to get you started. She also shares with us her top 5 songs to listen to while doing your practice. Best of luck entering the giveaway! And follow the tour for more.
Monday, July 18, 2022
Review of Jesus, Who Are You? by Janna Arndt & Kay Arthur
A Beginner Inductive Bible Study on the Names of Jesus
From the authors and ministry of the bestselling Discover 4 Yourself Bible study series for kids (over 850,000 copies sold) comes an all-new study series for beginning readers ages 4-7. Each book is designed to help children build a familiarity with and love for God's Word at an early age.
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Review of Light the Way (The Lighthouse Sisters #1) by Lin Stepp
On Tour with Prism Book Tours
Welcome to the book tour for Light the Way, the first book in the new Lighthouse Sisters series by Lin Stepp! Today I'm sharing with you my thoughts about this novel. Be sure to follow the tour for even more, including my interview with the author at Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters. Best of luck entering the giveaway!
Light the Way
(The Lighthouse Sisters #1)
By Lin Stepp
Christian Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 292 Pages
April 1, 2022 by Mountain Hill Press
In this new coastal series, Lin Stepp transports her readers into the rich, colorful lives of Burke and her sisters, Lila, Gwen, and Celeste, who grew up at the Deveaux Inn and Lighthouse on a windswept island, accessible only by boat. Get ready to be introduced to the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, challenges and adventures of a Lighthouse Keeper.
Life had grown hard for Burke Deveaux at the family inn and lighthouse since her father died. She missed his warmth and still expected to see him walking into a room, his big laugh booming. Burke and her mother were gradually adjusting to the change, and Lila had come home this winter to help, but the workload was heavy. With spring coming and tourism picking up in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Burke welcomed Hal Jenkins’ request for his son Waylon to work for them. Waylon, retiring early from the Navy, knew the island and the lighthouse, having grown up nearby. Burke also knew Waylon well since they’d grown up together. He’d always been older, and she wondered how he’d see her now.
Waylon had been away from Edisto Island for over twelve years now, traveling around the world in the military, but it felt good to be home. He’d hated learning Lloyd Deveaux was gone, the warm-hearted Lighthouse Keeper he’d followed around as a boy. But he liked the idea of coming to stay at the lodge at Watch Island to help the Deveaux family with the inn, lighthouse, and nearly five-hundred acres of land the Lighthouse Station occupied. He knew Burke had picked up many of her father’s old tasks and he looked forward to seeing her again. He’d kept feelings for her clamped down for years but one look at her brought them surging back. How would he handle that with them working together?
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“This book feels just as tranquil as Edisto and has a wonderful, laid back flow, like beautiful ocean waves lapping up on the shore … you can’t help but fall in love with every facet of this novel.” – Christ F. JUST READS Review
“From the stunning backdrop of the South Carolina Lowcountry … this book was like going home.” – Kim Standridge Boykin, Bestselling Author of Palmetto Moon
“Each book showcases Lin Stepp’s natural gift as a novelist for originality and narrative driven storytelling.” – MIDWEST REVIEW
**My thoughts**
Light the Way was a bit of a change of pace for me, but nevertheless an entertaining read. You have history, strong family bonds, a sort of second chance romance, and a touch of mystery and suspense.
I always love reading about bigger families and small towns. There is a special kind of chemistry and bond that you can't find elsewhere. I would love to see the stories of Burke's mom and sisters fleshed out more. I believe there will be future installments that will update us on them. I think a prequel of Etta and her late husband in their early days could also be fun!
As for the relationship between Burke and Waylon, which is the focus of this installment, I love when childhood crushes are realized and given a second chance. They fit together well. Their leap to boyfriend-girlfriend felt a little abrupt and out of sync at the moment where it happened, though. Their engagement was also fast and felt a bit out of place. But their relationship quickly fell into a great pace as they grew a lot as friends while they worked together on the island.
The author is clearly well-versed in the history of the area and of lighthouses. I enjoyed learning all of that. Lighthouses fascinate me. And while we have some here on Lake Ontario, I haven't yet delved as deeply as I would like into their stories and histories.
I just felt like the information was shared awkwardly at times via conversations that the characters were having. For example, as Burke is taking Waylon around the island, she is giving him a big history lesson as if he had never been there before. But if he grew up there and spent as much time with her family as is indicated, I feel like he should have known a lot of that already. Or sometimes characters talked about places to visit and would describe where they were in ways that you wouldn't in normal conversations with people who were from the same area. I appreciated the background knowledge to help me better understand the setting, but personally would have described it differently. It just felt like the characters were doing too much of the narration.
This is an enjoyable start to a new series and I am looking forward to seeing the future installments, because I really want to know what happens to the sisters as they embark upon new chapters in their own lives.
Thank you to the author and Prism Book Tours for fulfilling my review request. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About the Author
Lin Stepp is a native Tennessean, businesswoman and educator. A New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon best-selling international author, Lin has twenty published novels out now, including her twelve beloved Smoky Mountain novels, all set in different Tennessee and North Carolina locations, three Mountain Home books, a novella in one of Kensington’s Christmas anthologies, and four South Carolina coastal novels, including her three Edisto Trilogy books and her first release in the new Lighthouse Sisters series. Lin and her husband J.L. also write regional guidebooks, including a published Smoky Mountain hiking guide and a TN and a SC state parks guidebook, all filled with hundreds of color photos. Stepp’s latest 2022 releases are Eight at the Lake, set in Dandridge near the Smoky Mountains, and Light the Way, set at the SC coast. Writing and adventuring are her joys and more novels set in the Smokies and at the beach are on the way, as well as more colorful regional guidebooks. Lin’s title Claire At Edisto was the 2019 Best Book Award Winner in Fiction: Romance, sponsored by American Book Fest and her novel Welcome Back a finalist in the 2017 Selah Awards. Lin enjoys speaking for events, festivals, libraries, and book clubs. And she loves reading, hiking, exploring out of doors, and keeping up with her readers. Look for her pages on Facebook and Twitter and follow her monthly blog and newsletter, too, that you will find on her website at: www.linstepp.com
Tour Schedule
Tour Giveaway
Ends April 6, 2022
Monday, March 28, 2022
Review of On That Easter Morning by Elena Pasquali, illustrated by Alison Jay
This exquisitely illustrated retelling of the Easter story brings its familiar events to life.
Alison Jay has illustrated many books for children, and her beautiful paintings are instantly recognisable. Join the crowds cheering as Jesus enters Jerusalem, the disciples sharing a special meal, and Mary weeping outside the empty tomb. Rediscover the wonder of the first Easter morning.
There are many intriguing people, animals and landscapes to look at along the way, bursting with new details to find with a young child, as you share the story of that special morning.
(affiliate link included)
This is the story of Jesus from Passover through the Resurrection, told in a prose format that will make sense to kids. This is a longer picture book, so it would be more appropriate for older kids who are in elementary school as opposed to the kindergarten and younger set. The pictures are also quite colorful and appealing. It would work well at home or in a church/Sunday school.
Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley.
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Review of Secrets of Their Past (Wander Canyon #5) by Allie Pleiter
On Tour with Prism Book Tours
Welcome to the book tour for Secrets of Their Past, the fifth book in the Wander Canyon series by Allie Pleiter, part of the Harlequin Love Inspired Romance collection. Today I'm sharing with you my thoughts on this standalone novel. You can follow the tour above for even more! Best of luck entering the great giveaway!
Secrets of Their Past
(Wander Canyon #5)
By Allie Pleiter
Contemporary, Inspirational Romance
Paperback & ebook, 224 Pages
February 22, 2022 by Love Inspired
Facing the past could change his future.
Veterinarian Neal Rodgers is in Wander Canyon seeking the truth about his past—not to rescue a litter of kittens under his next-door neighbor’s porch. But persistent single-mom Tessa Kennedy is impossible to ignore—especially when she uncovers a family secret of her own. Discovering the hidden facts of their histories could be the key to unlocking everything in this small town.
(Affiliate links included.)
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Target | Book Depository | Apple Books | Google Play | Kobo | IndieBound
**My thoughts**
This is the fifth book in the Wander Canyon series, but I felt right at home like I was already old friends with the characters in this inspirational small town romance. So if you haven't read the first four books, you'll be absolutely fine. I will admit that now I want to go back and revisit all of those stories, though!
I liked the premise of this one because it was different than most of the small town romances I have been enjoying as of late. Neal has come to town on vacation, but really, he's seeking answers to his past. Tessa, his well-meaning neighbor, ends up involved in his search and ends up finding mysteries in her own past as well. Neither one of them has been looking to pursue any kind of relationship with anyone else, but as they become friends and embark upon their searches, they strike up a close friendship that slowly burns into something a little bit more. Definitely more realistic than those quick-love stories that I so often find.
Watching their relationship build as they work to unravel their pasts made for a great evening read. I enjoyed my trip to this town and will have to go back for more!
Thank you to the publisher and Prism Book Tours for my requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Other Books in the Series
About the Author
An avid knitter, coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better,” Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction working on as many as four novels at a time. The bestselling author of over fifty books, Allie has enjoyed a twenty-year career with over 1.5 million books sold. In addition to writing, Allie maintains an active writing productivity coaching practice and speaks regularly on the creative process, publishing, and her very favorite topic—The Chunky Method of time management for writers. Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com to learn more.
Tour Schedule
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a signed True Large Print copy of Secrets of Their Past by Allie Pleiter, a wool shawl hand-knit by the author, and a 3oz bottle of Apple Harvest body lotion (US only)
One winner will receive an ebook of Secrets of Their Past by Allie Pleiter (International)
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Review of The Gift That I Can Give by Kathie Lee Gifford
Kids don't have to wait until they grow up to make the world a better place! The newest Kathie Lee Gifford book empowers children to find unique ways to make a difference in the lives of those around them.
The Gift That I Can Give is a heartwarming story that shows how all children can do something today to make a positive impact on others. From simply being kind to giving a loved one an extra-big hug to cheering for a friend, this story will inspire children with countless ways to show God's love. They'll want to read it again and again.
The Gift That I Can Give:
- highlights big gifts and points them back to God, like the ability to sing, play sports, and dance
- encourages quieter gifts as well, like encouragement, empathy, gratitude, kindness, and sharing God's love
- is a great bedtime story, grandparent story, or encouraging story to a child who is struggling.
Kathie Lee is a trusted voice who feels like a friend for countless people. With her strong faith, enthusiasm, and playful writing, she appeals to young hearts and encourages them with the message that no one is too young or too small to share their gift with others.
Book Links
(affiliate link included)
I was drawn to the book right away because of the absolutely darling little girl on the cover who looks just like one of the little ones I used to watch every week pre-pandemic. All of the children and all of the illustrations are absolutely darling.
The little girl knows that God has given her a special gift and she is trying to figure out what that gift might be. Through rhyming verse, she suggests different ways that she might be able to share this gift with others, and I would say that all of them qualify. So this book is teaching kids how to spread God's love every single day.
It really is a super sweet book that I recommend adding to your bookshelf.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Christmas Comes to Morning Star by Charlotte Hubbard
Welcome to the book tour for Christmas Comes to Morning Star, the third installment of the absolutely delightful Morning Star Amish series by Charlotte Hubbard. Today I have an excerpt for you as well as my thoughts on the book. And Charlotte is taking us into the lives of the twin heroines. Please let her know your thoughts and then be sure to follow the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!
Founded by five unmarried and enterprising Amish maidels, the new Morning Star Marketplace in small-town Missouri is preparing for a joyous Christmas season. But will the holiday also bring unexpected tidings of love?
Twin sisters Molly and Marietta Helfing are eagerly anticipating Christmas, with Marietta fully recovered from cancer and their noodle making business thriving. But Molly clearly misses having former tenant Pete Shetler and his rambunctious dog, Riley, around. Marietta can’t ignore Molly’s feelings for Pete—or the anxiety it stirs within her. Convinced her illness has made her unmarriageable, Marietta wonders what kind of life she’ll have if her sister marries—despite Molly’s promise never to leave her behind. . .
Then a fire destroys the home of Amish neighbors and Molly and Marietta graciously make room for widower Glenn Detweiler, his dat, and his two young boys. When Pete returns to help the family rebuild, Molly relishes her reunion with the handsome carpenter, while Marietta delights in mothering Glenn’s boys—and is surprised by her poignant bond with their quiet, brooding father. Soon everyone is wondering if this season will bring the blessing of a merry double wedding to Morning Star . . .
Read an excerpt:
Pete cranked up his pickup, gunning the engine as he shot down the Helfings’ lane—and then he kicked himself. He was trying to act more mature, and driving like a clueless kid—he way he had when he’d lived in the twins’ dawdi haus—was not what he’d intended to do. But old habits died hard.
“Riley, we’ve gotta do better, boy,” he said as he slung his arm around the dog’s furry neck.
“Keep reminding me that Molly won’t take me seriously unless I turn over a lot of new leaves, will ya?”
Riley licked Pete’s face exuberantly. The dog loved to ride in the pickup every chance he got, and he’d been excited about returning to the twins’ place.
“Even though she and Marietta stick like glue, I have to admire the way Molly’s supported her sister,” Pete continued as he drove toward town. “Not many girls would’ve shaved their heads during Marietta’s chemo, knowing how that goes directly against the Ordnung! I love it that Molly broke the rules that way!”
When his dog’s eyes widened, Pete laughed.
“Uh-oh, I said that L word, didn’t I? Gotta watch that. Gotta toughen up my attitude,” he continued in a firmer voice. “Molly’s the bossiest girl I ever met—and there’s no prying those twins apart, anyway. So why act like I’m interested, right?”
Riley focused forward, gazing through the windshield as though he didn’t believe a word Pete had just said.
As always, the dog probably had it right.
Print: •• Amazon •• Amazon UK •• Amazon Canada •• Barnes & Noble •• Books-A-Million •• Chapters Indigo •• IndieBound ••Kensington •• Target •• The Book Depository ••Walmart ••
(affiliate links included)
**My thoughts**
I just love this series. Each charming book picks up right about where the previous one left off. And yet you don't even need to have read the others to understand what is going on in this specific story. The main focus is always on the couple-at-hand (or in this case, make that double), but there's just enough of an explanation of those already paired off to help you understand, without giving away too much information. That being said, I would still recommend reading them all at some point.
A lot has happened to our maidels in just a few short months. It's been fun watching their relationships grow. You just knew early on that Molly and Pete were going to fall for each other because of the way they bickered and picked one each other. It's just Pete has an awful lot of growing up to do in spite of his age. You just want to kick him so many times.
And you hope that Marietta can find love. It's hard enough to be an older Amish woman, let alone one who is now considered deformed and cannot bear children. She has a big heart and you just want to see her happy. And you want the twins to figure it out around the same time so that their separation doesn't lead to a long isolation, since they have been together their entire lives. Christmas is often a magical time, even in the Amish realm.
Glenn is a tough one. His previous behavior has left a lot of a bad taste in my mouth, though I understand why he has been such a mess. It's not fair that some people seem to take a bigger hit than others, though that often leads to the person growing into a better version of himself.
As with the previous books in this series, I was left with a warm and fuzzy feeling and plenty of smiles throughout. Now we just need to find out what is going to happen with Jo! And what is going to happen to the Marketplace when all of our maidels are settled in their new lives.
Read an excerpt from book 1: Morning Star.
Read an excerpt from book 2: First Light in Morning Star
Molly and Marietta Helfing: A Day in the Life!
The twin heroines of CHRISTMAS COMES TO MORNING STAR follow a fairly predictable schedule from one day to the next—at least until heroes Pete Shetler and Glenn Detweiler come along to upset it! In the first two books of this Maidels of Morning Star series (MORNING STAR and FIRST LIGHT IN MORNING STAR) Molly and Marietta are carrying on their mother’s homemade noodle business in a small building behind their farmhouse—and they also have two dawdi hauses. Ordinarily a dawdi haus is built so the older generation can live there, but the Helfings have lost their parents, so they rent these small houses to tourists who come to Morning Star.
Ordinarily the twin sisters rise early, eat their breakfast, and go right out to the noodle factory. They make large batches of dough, run the dough through their rollers to flatten it into sheets, and then cut the sheets into strips so they can flatten the dough even more. Then they use knives to cut the noodles into whichever size they’re making that day. The noodles air-dry on screens, and then Molly and Marietta bag and label them so they’re ready to sell at their Marketplace shop on Saturdays. Meanwhile, they do their laundry and other housekeeping chores, raise a garden, etc. After her double mastectomy, Marietta feels no man will ever want a flat-chested woman who can’t bear kids, so she has resolved never to marry. Molly has vowed to remain single, as well, so Marietta won’t live alone…even though Molly secretly adores cute, blond carpenter Pete and his dog!
In earlier books, Pete Shetler lived in one of their dawdi hauses because his uncle, Bishop Jeremiah, believed he’d lead a more appropriate life and maybe be persuaded to join the Amish church. He and Molly are sweet on each other—trying not to admit it—so when Pete moves to his uncle’s place to remodel it, Molly’s life becomes a lot less exciting because he takes his rambunctious dog, Riley, with him.
Once CHRISTMAS COMES TO MORNING STAR gets going, however, it’s Glenn Detweiler who’s moving into a dawdi haus because his house burns down. He arrives with an elderly father, a seven-year-old son, and a newborn son because his mother and wife have died within the past six months. It’s December, and Marietta immediately realizes that warming bottles for a tiny baby on the hot plate in the little dawdi haus just won’t work—so the Helfing sisters’ usual schedule is disrupted in a BIG way by the arrival of four needy males!
As fate and faith would have it, Marietta becomes so attached to baby Levi and Billy Jay that her maternal instincts kick in—and Glenn is extremely grateful for her help. The twins even have Glenn’s elderly dad and Billy Jay helping them bag and label their noodles. Not once do they complain about the drop in their production because caring for the Detweilers takes so much of their time. The entire Amish community helps build—and completely furnish—a new home for this family. We also get to watch Billy Jay recite his verses of the Christmas story at the Christmas Eve program and share in his accomplishment.
CHRISTMAS COMES TO MORNING STAR is a romance, so of course both sisters get their happily-ever-after! But they don’t allow Pete or Glenn an easy time of it!
www.charlottehubbard.com
Facebook -- www.Facebook.com/Charlotte.Hubbard1
Charlotte Hubbard be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. In addition to the GC, the author would like to select one female reader's name to use in her upcoming book, HIDDEN AWAY AT PROMISE LODGE.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thursday, February 4, 2021
The Hope Series by E.C. Jackson
On Tour with Prism Book Tours
Welcome to the tour for The Hope Series by E.C. Jackson! You'll want to follow the rest of the tour to get all of the reviews and excerpts! Plus you can enjoy entering the great giveaway at the end. Read on for more information and thanks for stopping by!
A Gateway to Hope
(Hope Series #1)
By E. C. Jackson
Christian Contemporary Romance
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 297 Pages
May 20, 2015
Twenty-one-year-old Neka is a bit of an introvert, she also happens to be stunningly beautiful.
When she discovers her friend James is about to be dumped, she sees the perfect opportunity to escape from her quiet life. Can she summon the courage to leave it all behind?
James Copley comes from a ruthless family. It’s rubbed off.
Years ago, he disengaged from his brother’s smear campaign, but now his father has offered him an ultimatum, “Get married or lose your seat at the table.”
Plotting to stamp his design on the family business, he proposes to a woman, even though he doesn’t love her.
But his carefully laid plans start to unravel when she leaves him on the day she’s due to meet his family.
Could years of planning his comeback vanish with her departure?
A possible solution comes in an unexpected form: Neka. She’s not only a friend, but the daughter of his benefactor. And she’s right there, offering to support him.
But will her support stretch to marriage?
He attempts to win her over to his plan but collides with her powerful father who wants to leverage the situation for his own gain.
In their fight for survival and love, they are forced to face some uncomfortable truths.
Can they overcome thwarted dreams and missed chances to find true love, or does forcing destiny’s hand only lead to misery?
**My thoughts**
This book reminded me a lot of a soap opera, only without all of the sex and debauchery and a strong tie to the characters' faiths. After all, you have an almost arranged marriage being forced onto James in order for him to maintain his stake in the family company. Neka is already in love with James, but he has only thought of her as a friend thus far. He is the one who has a lot of money and enjoys using it to "shape" his future wife. She is merely 21 years old and seems quite naive and like she has been sheltered from a lot in her life. And then there is all of the interference from their families. I almost flashed back to Dallas in a way. But again, much "cleaner."
I felt a little confused at the beginning because I was having a hard time understanding all of the connections between the characters, but eventually that was sorted out. It did remind me of a TV show in a way, so that would definitely work in that format. It's definitely a different kind of contemporary romance!
I received a requested review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
(Affiliate links included.)
A Living Hope
(Hope Series #2)
By E. C. Jackson
Christian Contemporary Romance
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 287 Pages
July 31, 2016
It was a match made in heaven. Or so everyone thought. Sadie Mae Cummings is all set to marry her childhood sweetheart, Kyle, when she is assigned to tutor Lincoln, the new college football running back. This sophomore phenomenon has all the girls on campus knocking on his door. But Sadie isn't interested in his advances.
Lincoln’s overblown ego doesn't take well to being shunned, and he resolves to make Sadie his own. He pursues her relentlessly, until finally Kyle finds himself shut out of Sadie's life, with their shared future crumbling around him.
After two years, Sadie’s relationship with Lincoln ends, and she is left having to put the pieces of her life back together. She desires nothing more than to recapture her relationship with Kyle. He has stayed true to the dreams they had planned together, living the vision even without Sadie by his side.
When she moves back to her hometown, she labors to rekindle their love. But things have changed, and Kyle has moved on. Sadie quickly discovers how hard it is to rebuild burned bridges.
Follow Sadie’s story as she fights for a chance to restore broken dreams. Will love endure?
This inspirational romance by E. C. Jackson is book two of the Hope series and is a standalone book.
(Affiliate links included.)
The Certain Hope
(Hope Series #3)
By E. C. Jackson
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 318 Pages
December 5th 2018
Love at first sight. It’s every girl’s dream. But Tara Simpkins is finding out it’s not as easy as it seems. Is this truly the man God sent to be her husband, or is she just desperate to escape her loneliness? The recent loss of both parents has left her reeling, and close friends don’t think she’s in any position to make major life decisions. She and her new-found love are convinced they can live happily ever after in the home of their dreams. His family thinks he’s moving way too fast and might disappoint the kind-hearted woman he’s fallen head over heels for. And then there’s Leah. Leah is supposed to be part of his past, but what if she decides she’s his future? Tara’s match made in Heaven may be over before it truly begins.
(Affiliate links included.)
The Confident Hope
(Hope Series #4)
By E. C. Jackson
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 338 Pages
September 28, 2020
Is there hope for this love between friends?
Pamela Hayes is a smart, successful business owner with a supportive family and a thriving bakery. She should be the happiest girl in the world. But she can’t shake the melancholy that accompanies every conversation she has with her best friend, Mark. Pamela doesn’t know how much longer she can hide her true feelings.
Why can’t Mark see how perfect they would be together? She would make a much better girlfriend than the one he currently has. Pamela prays he’ll come to his senses soon and realize he’s with the wrong girl. But when her dream comes true, it isn’t the fantasy she had envisioned.
There is trouble in paradise from the start, and all the red flags she’s been ignoring are starting to threaten her confidence…and her relationship with Mark. She’ll have to rely on family and her faith in God to help her secure the hope she so desperately needs.
(Affiliate links included.)
E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. Thirty-one years later, she adapted the play into Pajama Party: The Story, a companion book to the second book in the five-book standalone Hope series.
Jackson’s favorite pastime is reading fiction. She enjoys taking the journey along with the characters in the books. That also led to her unorthodox approach to story writing. Her vision for each book she writes is to immerse readers into the storyline so they become connected with each character.
“The Write Way: A Real Slice of Life” is the slogan on her website and Facebook author page. She feels that if every person reading her books feels connected to the characters, her job is done.
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Review of Secret Angel by Cherry Christensen
Christmas is coming and romance is in the air! Check out an excerpt from Secret Angel by Cherry Christensen as well as my thoughts. Be sure to follow the tour for even more and let the author know your thoughts along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!
Doctoral student Hannah Wagganer has big dreams of leaving her hometown of Glen Arbor behind to teach at a large university. That is, until Jasper Morgan, the new mail carrier, arrives in town. Not only does he send Hannah’s heart racing, but he creates an instant bond with her cat, Jingles.
While Hannah is busy preparing for the church’s candlelight Christmas Eve service and running the family store, she keeps bumping into Jasper—right in front of the prying eyes of the locals, who suspect there’s more going on than business as usual.
But then, a series of unexpected blessings occurs that changes the town’s focus: first, an anonymous donor pays to have the church furnace repaired, and then other locals suddenly find solutions to their problems. Is it coincidental, or the work of a secret angel?
Read an excerpt:
“The meal was wonderful, and so was the company,” Jasper answered, turning briefly to catch Hannah’s eye.
“Glad to hear,” Sabela said, grinning. “Be right back.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “Now you’ve gone and done it. We’ll be the talk of the town by tomorrow morning.”
“That’s one time I won’t mind being in the spotlight.”
The heat in his voice melted her insides to mush. “You’re crazy.”
“Uh-oh,” Sabela said, approaching their table. “I bet you weren’t supposed to figure that out until he had you completely under his spell.” She handed him the credit card and winked at Hannah. “Thank you and come back soon.”
Hannah laughed and put on her coat. Exiting the restaurant, frigid air smacked her cheeks as the door closed behind them. She pinched her collar tighter, stepping beside Jasper on the way back to the shop.
“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you in there,” he said, kicking a chunk of ice with the toe of his boot.
“It isn’t the first time.” She listened to the faint sound of a snow blower off in the distance, remembering other occasions when Sabela instigated rumors about Hannah’s love life. She quirked a smile, realizing fantasy was more gossip-worthy than reality, and perhaps Sabela’s meddling would somehow prove beneficial in the future.
“Is that a good smile or an ‘I’m plotting my revenge on him’ smile?”
She hastened her pace as Deer Crossings came into view. “I’ll never tell.”
“Hey, wait,” Jasper called out, his footsteps stomping behind her. “That’s not reassuring at all.”
Buy on Amazon
(affiliate link)
**My thoughts**
It's a sweet short-ish story about a single woman who falls for the new postman in town. He clearly also thinks very highly of her. The two of them quickly bond and get to know each other. But Jasper has a secret past that he isn't willing to tell Hannah about, in spite of their bond and mutual trust. But you can tell it is nothing sinister. I think I would have enjoyed digging even deeper into their personal stories as they embarked upon creating their own story with their close friendship.
The whole story is full of secrets, particularly involving an anonymous benefactor who keeps blessing the small town's inhabitants. I felt like I figured out a lot of the secrets pretty quickly, but that didn't detract from the story. All of that generosity left me feeling warm and fuzzy, especially in our current crazy climate.
I think one of my favorite parts of the story was visiting that area of Michigan again and learning about the Sleeping Bear Dunes again. I grew up just south of the Michigan line and my mom grew up in the Mitten State. One of my favorite memories was a family trip up to the Dunes and all over northern Michigan and the UP. And as always, Go Blue!
Thank you to Goddess Fish and the author for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A confirmed night owl, Cherry wholeheartedly agrees with whoever said, “I could be a morning person, if morning happened around noon.” It’s no surprise then she prefers to write in the evening. She’s a bit of a pantser writer, meaning she dreams up stories without using an outline, so every day is an exciting adventure as she waits to see where the characters lead her next!
A lifelong avid reader, Cherry turned to writing as a creative outlet. Drawing partly from her own experiences, and partly from her wild imagination, she weaves romantic tales with a smidgen of religion and a hint of mystery. Cherry’s first novel, The Fearful Heart, debuted in 2014, and she has never looked back. She continues to grow as an author, learning more about the writing craft with each book.
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Cherry Christensen will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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Monday, September 14, 2020
Review of The Matchmaker and the Marine
Welcome to the blurb blitz tour for The Matchmaker and the Marine by Lucinda Race! Today I am not only sharing with you an excerpt from this book but also my thoughts on the story. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for more people's thoughts and share yours with the author along the way. Plus that gives you bonus chances to enter the great giveaway!
Widowed matchmaker Melinda Phillips wants everyone to experience the kind of love she lost. Though she’s committed to a lonely life, her skill at pairing perfect couples has her business thriving and her work in demand. But when she trips at a client’s wedding into the arms of a handsome Marine, she can’t help but feel that the falling has only just begun.
Adam Bell’s amputated leg is a crippling reminder of his war-torn past. So after his girlfriend rejected his new body and kicked him to the curb, he pledged to protect his heart as fiercely as he defended his country. But after a chivalrous rescue during a friend’s nuptials, he wonders if he’s given up on love too soon.
Hired to find Adam the woman of his dreams, Melinda is surprised to discover the ideal candidate is herself. But as their relationship blossoms, the tortured former serviceman believes his hidden disfigurement will cost him everything again.
Can two broken souls let go of their traumatic pasts to give happiness a second chance?
The Matchmaker and The Marine is an inspiring standalone romance novel. If you like rich backstories, learning to heal, and giving into dreamy temptation, then you’ll adore Lucinda Race’s sweet story.
Read an excerpt:
“Love isn’t complicated, people make it that way.” Melinda smiled brightly. “So, give me the rundown on who is who.”
In a conspiratorial whisper, Stacey said, “Okay. That tall, well-built man over there?” she pointed to the one person who left a lasting impression on Mel at the wedding. “That’s Adam Bell. He and Will go way back to their Marine Corps days. They were deployed together and have been best friends since basic.” She gave Melinda a wink. “He’s single and Will is trying to get him to sign up with you. He could use a good woman. His ex-girlfriend dumped him after he came back from his last tour of duty.”
Melinda bit back a sharp retort about the kind of woman who would do that to a man who served his country. She quickly reminded herself to not be judgmental. There could be a very good reason why his ex broke it off, but it did sound a bit heartless to do it right after he came back from deployment.
She inclined her head toward a pretty woman about their age. “Who’s that?”
“The girl in the short shorts and crop top?”
Melinda gave a slow nod. “She seems to be a little out of place.” Glancing around, she noticed most of the girls wore longer shorts or flowing skirts and tops that covered up their midsections.
“That’s Mary, one of Will’s other friends from work. I’m surprised you didn’t notice her at the wedding. I saw a picture of her and whoa, I have no idea how she even danced in the dress she was wearing.”
Melinda’s eyebrow shot up. “She’s very pretty.”
Stacey grinned. “Someone said she’s quite the party girl. Like she hasn’t outgrown that stage of life yet.”
Assessing the woman, Mel said, “I wonder if it’s all a front. Maybe she dresses that way to get attention in certain situations but under it all, she’s shy.”
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**My thoughts**
She's supposed to be finding him the love of his life. But as Mel and Adam get to know each other better, they become super close friends who are able to help each other work through their respective tragic and troubling pasts. It's a slow burn kind of relationship that I find refreshing for a change. I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow, in spite of all the hidden secrets they are keeping from each other.
Thank you to Goddess Fish and the author and publisher for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Award winning author Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of romantic fiction. As a young girl, she spent hours reading novels and dreaming of, one day, becoming a writer and spreading love in romance books.
As life twisted and turned, she found herself writing nonfiction but longed to turn to her true passion. After developing the storyline for The Loudon Series, it was time to start living her dream. With fingers flying over computer keys, she does her best to weave stories about strong women and the men who love them.
Lucinda lives with her husband and their two little dogs, a miniature long hair dachshund and a shitzu mix rescue, in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts. When she’s not at her day job, she’s immersed in her fictional worlds. And if she’s not writing romance novels, she reading everything she can get her hands on. It’s a good thing her husband loves takeout. (He doesn’t cook.)
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Lucinda Race will be awarding a signed copy of The Matchmaker and The Marine to two randomly drawn winners (US Only) via rafflecopter during the tour.
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