Review: Her Last Chance Cowboy

Her Last Chance Cowboy

"When pregnant single mother Hannah Vincent shows up professing to be the half sister of the Maxwells of Big Heart Ranch, horse trainer Tripp Walker is wary. Wounded before, he doesn’t trust easily. If only Hannah and her feisty five-year-old daughter weren’t so impossible to resist. Now, despite his doubts, joining this little family is quickly becoming the cautious cowboy’s greatest wish."

Author: Tina Radcliffe

Length: 224 pages

Series: Big Heart Ranch, book 4

She came seeking family…

Will she find love at Big Heart Ranch? 

I always get excited when I hear Tina Radcliffe is putting out a book. She has quickly worked her way into my "top favorite authors" list! This book was no exception, I've been anxiously awaiting this book since book 3 of the series came out.

If there ever was a character that I wanted to pluck out of a book and hug, it was Tripp Walker! He's been such a strong character since the beginning of the series, but I always knew there was something below the surface. 

I was THRILLED when I found out he was going to get his own happily ever after. 

I loved seeing him interact with the horses and all the kids. He really was the biggest teddy bear around. He was so gentle and sweet, and humble to boot. He just was a great character!

Hannah wasn't my favorite. She seemed very cookie cutter, single mom to me. She was a helicopter mom who wanted to keep her daughter close and never trust a man again. And though I get WHY she was like this, the character wasn't original so she kind of bored me more than anything. I did see some change throughout the story, but it wasn't enough to get me to love her.

Here's the thing, everyone knows that the love inspired line follows a hand full of plots. There is a rare occurrence when an author can write characters so unlike anything else you forget that its a love inspired book. Normally Tina KILLS the writing characters with a twist game, however this one was meh. 

I seriously LOVED the Extreme Mustang Makeover sub-plot, I honestly wish this part of the story had more screen time. It was such a great aspect!

The story overall was good, it wasn't my favorite of the series. It felt like it was missing something, but I can't pinpoint what it was. 

It was a good end to a great series. I will definitely miss Big Heart Ranch and its crew!

I rated this a 3.5/5 stars.

*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*

Review: The Curse of Misty Wayfair

The Curse of Misty Wayfair

"Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908. When clues lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a post-mortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death. 

A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother--who is battling dementia--compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman who haunts the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns--and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.

As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, can they overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined?"

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Length: 384 pages

 A "curse" that became a town's identity 

and in the process helped two women find their's.

Let me start off by saying, this book had me REELING! Jaime can write a story!! 😍😍

I am one of those people who can spot the bad guy from a mile away. Movies or books, you name it, I instantly feel a little "off" when they make an appearance.  It always baffles my mind when an author can pull the wool over my eyes and surprise me at the end! 

Jamie Jo Wright is one of the only authors who has that ability. 

The last hundred pages or so had my mind racing at rapid speeds trying to figure everything out. I definitely had some assumptions (that ended up being correct), but I was completely off the mark considering the WHOLE picture! And I LOVED it. 

I was IN BOTH of the timelines. I felt like I was living both of their stories! It was such a vivid story, every detail popped off the page. 

The author's writing style is beautiful, thick and dark. This lends a small "creep factor" into her books.

There are some people who didn't think this was a "night-time read", but I personally preferred to read it at night to get the full Jaime Jo Wright affect.

I loved this storyline! It was a twisted, mind spinning tale that lasted well over a century. A "curse" that became a town's identity and in the process helped two women find their's.

Both women in this story were fighting so hard to find themselves, their identity. Though they both started off by trying to solve the legend, in the end they found that GOD is the only way to truly be complete...and in God their identity was found.

I loved every character in this book! Each one had a specific reason for being the way they were, and it worked. (Even the bad guys)

This book dealt with mental illnesses and autism. Yet instead of making them feel less-than, this book shined a bright spotlight, showing the world they are PEOPLE, the same as you and me. As someone who has a disabled brother and cousin, and deals closely with people who have autism and anxiety, reading books talking about theses subjects makes me happy!

This book was definitely a dark and foreboding story, yet it was riddled with so much hope and love! It is such a great message to all those who are hurting, lost or have ever felt less-than. 

It was a 4/5 stars for me.

"Never forget that you are beautifully and wonderfully made. That is your identity. Search no further."

-Jaime Jo Wright

*I received this book from the author/publisher**All opinions are my own*

Quotes:

"Sometimes I wish I had a pocketful of glitter I could pull out and just toss into the air when I'm around people like you. You need a little sparkle in your life, Mr. Rhett Crawford."

Blitz: Handmade Hearts

Welcome to the Blog Blitz & Giveaway for Handmade Hearts by June McCrary Jacobs, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Handmade Hearts  

Author: June McCrary Jacobs  

Publisher: JMJ Story Stitcher Books  

Release Date: December 18, 2018  

Genre: Historical Romance 


'Handmade Hearts' is an historical romance short story set in New Orleans during World War II and was inspired by a true story.


Toward the end of his life, the author asked her Uncle 'Allen' how he met his wife. He shared about how he met 'Irene' at a church social in their neighborhood in New Orleans in the early 1940s. He had been seriously wounded in Guadalcanal in the South Pacific as a young Marine and was using crutches to get around as best he could.

He had many inner wounds which needed time to heal, too. He had no way of knowing when they first met that Irene had suffered her own wartime tragedy. She bravely sought to keep her grief locked away deep inside because thinking about her loss caused her even more sorrow. She needed to be strong because she was the breadwinner for her small family.

Times were tough, but these two unique individuals made it through each day with inner fortitude, determination, and the sincere hope of something greater just over the horizon.


This inspirational short story follows the growth of Allen and Irene's relationship beginning with their chance meeting and leading forward to a lifetime spent together. 'Handmade Hearts' was created to honor this unique couple's love for and devotion to each other in a relationship which spanned seven decades.  


PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon


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EXCERPT

As she walked the short distance to her home, Irene realized this soldier had a broken heart in need of healing. Although Allen did not know it, he and Irene were kindred spirits in that respect. Warm memories of the evening spent with Allen Bradford filled her mind and caused her to smile to herself all the way home.

The week marched on as usual for Irene. She helped her mother and sister with housekeeping chores around their small bungalow. She worked eight hours each weekday, including four hours on Saturday at the local savings and loan association. As secretary to the institution's president, Irene performed myriad professional responsibilities, including scheduling her bachelor boss's social calendar and coordinating other personal details for him such as his dry cleaning and grocery deliveries.

Irene felt fortunate to have secured a stable job so that she could assist her mother with the monthly house note and light bill. Along with her younger sister Frances, Irene had lived at home and contributed to household expenses since their father passed away almost two years earlier. The war years had not been easy on any American family, but losing their father to pneumonia at age fifty was a tragedy none of the Carstons anticipated.

For a while, the three women drifted aimlessly through life until Irene was hired for the bank job. The job was a blessing for them all. Her salary and working hours were regular and provided the family with some financial stability during uncertain times.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

June McCrary Jacobs was the winner of Cedar Fort Publishing's 2013 Holiday Tale Contest for her debut novella, 'A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom'. 'Robin's Reward', her first full-length novel, was set in her favorite location in California—the Mendocino coastal region. This book is the first installment of the 'Bonita Creek Trilogy'.

June's debut middle-grade novel, 'RES-Q Tyler Stop', an historical novel set in Sonoma County, California, in 1968, will be released in the spring of 2019. The second installment of the 'Bonita Creek Trilogy', 'Penny's Promise', will be released in late 2019 or early 2020.

June's original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred books, magazines, and on sewing industry blogs in the past decade. When she's not writing, reading, blogging, or sewing, June enjoys cooking, walking, visiting art and history museums, and touring historic homes and gardens.


CONNECT WITH JUNE: Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Goodreads Blog | Amazon

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win an ebook copy of Handmade Hearts + $15 Amazon Gift Code 

(2) additional winners will each receive an ebook copy of Handmade Hearts

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight January 15, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm January 22, 2019. Open internationally except where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review: Teal Paisley Tights

Teal Paisley Tights

"Life post-graduation was supposed to see the launch of paisley-loving Jadyn's art career, or at least an art gallery showing one of her watercolor paintings. Instead, this Pittsburgh native is locked into a low-paying, buttoned-up consultant position with an impossible boss. When another colleague is dismissed, Jadyn inherits extra workload, including the company's biggest client. If she loses him, she's fired.

Jadyn people-pleases her way through life, resulting in extra work opportunities and a community classroom of art students. But when two guys appear on her doorstep, she just might not be able to people-please her way out of this love triangle. At the end of the day, she can't please everyone.

Then, because of a small spending problem, Jadyn is evicted from her apartment, and she must move in with her know-it-all sister. Jadyn needs to decide between a job transfer that would place her near her love interest, or a full-time art career with all its risks.

Stretched like canvas between responsibility and dreams, she must choose. Will practicality always win?"

Author: Barbara Brutt

Length: 336 pages

Stretched like canvas between responsibility and dreams, 

she must choose between the two.

I really enjoyed the voice of this book. I felt like I was listening to Barbara TELL a story. 

I could definitely see the story playing out in my head. I was walking the streets of Philly, going into the art galleries and working for the marketing company. The story was crafted very well.

You can tell this is the author's debut in a few places, but it does not take away from her talent for writing a great story.

There were a few characters I was not a fan of at the beginning of the book, that by the end I really enjoyed them. Their characters grew and changed in subtle ways that made them so much more likable.

(I wouldn't mind having a book about Lana...)

I enjoyed Ethan, though there were a few places he got a touch annoying. But overall he was a sweet and understanding guy. 

However with this book, the good comes with some bad. 

I really did NOT care for Jaydn. (a bit of a conundrum since she's the one the story is about)

She seemed very immature and was super disorganized, she was super indecisive and I just really struggled with her. 

MY personality is completely different, so I think that was my main problem. 

The story seemed so real and realistic that I just wanted to reach into the story and shake her. 😅

She got a bit better as the story neared the end and she got comfortable in her own skin, but it was touch and go there for a while.

I know there are people who will LOVE this book, it just wasn't my personal favorite flavor of coffee creamer. But I did enjoy the writing style and the way Barbara painted a realistic story, I will stand behind whatever else she publishes!

I rated it a 3/5 stars.

*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*

Review: A Baby for the Doctor

A Baby for the Doctor

"After becoming a foster parent to a young boy, equine therapist Jordan Conley’s life gets turned upside down. Little Levi is in need of an exceptional pediatrician, which means seeking help from Dr. Ash Sheehan—a man that, despite her heart-pounding crush, isn’t her type. Her life is horses and hay, and she can’t imagine the suit-clad doctor in a pair of cowboy boots. As a confirmed bachelor, Ash has never been nervous around women, but there’s something about Jordan that flusters him, and working closely together doesn’t help. The last thing he’s looking for is long-term romance. But the more involved he gets, the more he wishes they could stay together…always."


Author: Stephanie Dees
Length: 224 pages
Series: Family Blessings (book 2)

A family to call her own...

I rarely pick up the love inspired books. (NOT HISTORICAL! BRING ME ALL THE HISTORICAL!) I used to read them ALL the time. They were the only thing I'd read, because of this I ended up burning myself out.
However, the last few I have picked up have made me thankful I decided to give them another go.
I have found some new favorite authors because of it.

This story definitely falls into the "grateful I read it" category. I seriously loved this story!

I loved the foster/adoption theme of this book. I could FEEL the craziness oozing off the pages, but it was one of those "good crazy" feelings. Their life was hectic, but they wouldn't have it any other way.
Another aspect I loved was the horse therapy! Both of these things have such a huge piece of my heart, and I love seeing them together.

Book 1 is about Claire and Joe. I make mention of this because they are definitely on the scene quite a bit in this book. Though you don't have to read their story first, it would be fun to know their full history and why they do what they do.

There were some great main and side characters in this book. I loved seeing all the crazy mesh together and make a loving family. 

Jordan was great! She was a tough exterior, mushy interior kind of gal. She didn't WANT to need anyone, but she loved to give to other people. She loved her horses and she loved her clients. 

Ash was the same way. He put on a show of not needing anyone, but gave himself completely to his patients.

Both characters LOVED kids and made them their careers. *ALL THE HEART EYES*
I just loved it.

It was one of those "opposites attract" romances. He was oxford print and loafers, she was flannel and boots. But watching them realize that didn't matter was 😍. I LOVED!

I really enjoyed the writing style, and the author did an amazing job with character development. I really felt I understood both characters, and enjoyed their character changes throughout the book. I cannot wait to pick up other works by Stephanie Dees.
I rated it a 4/5 stars.

*I received this book for my honest review**All opinions are my own*

Review: Flights of Fancy

Flights of Fancy

"Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high society world she's always known and finds herself to be an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.

Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely on his own merits. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he's unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.

Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when mysterious incidents on the farm and the truth of Isadora's secret threaten those they love, they'll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after."

Author: Jen Turano

Length: 368 pages

Series: American Heiresses (book 1)

An heiress on the run.

A farm in need of a housekeeper.

Can a job she's not qualified for actually lead her to her true self?

A high society lady goes undercover to escape marriage to a heinous man. She lands her self in a predicament (or two) that she isn't quite capable of handling. Cows who can open doors, goats who have a taste for freshly laundered clothes, and chickens...everywhere.
This all shapes up into a hilarious tale you'll want to finish! 

 The book boasts some adorable characters, from chubby babies to mischievous cows. Many a smile happened while I read this book.

There was instant chemistry between the two main characters, which always makes a book more enjoyable to read for me. 
Not only was there chemistry between them, but everyone just meshed well together making it seem like all had known each other forever. There was just a "home sweet home" feel when they were all together.

Uncle Amos & Aunt Birdie were the best! I loved the "grandparent" feel they gave to EVERYONE. They didn't care who they were "related" to, everyone was to call them Aunt Birdie and Uncle Amos. 
They gave with such selfless hearts, real servant hood. I just really loved them!! 😍

There was a ton of growth for both of the main characters. 

You can truly see the change in Isadora as she comes to find herself as an independent women, instead of being what her mother taught her she had to be. She grows from this sheltered, spoiled, demanding 😉 gentlewoman to this strong, brave, determined, confident young lady. Everything she knew about life flipped upside down, but she quickly realized that the life she lived wasn't the only way one could be happy.

Ian also grew a lot in this book. His dreams and desires he'd had his entire life changed when 4 little kiddos and one ridiculously under-qualified housekeeper wormed their way into his heart. He learned that status didn't mean as much as he thought it did, and family was everything. He, like Aunt Birdie and Uncle Amos, was such a giving soul. He didn't question anyone who needed help, he just extended his hand and his wallet. 
I will say this, I was very disappointed in how Ian handled learning the truth about Isadora. He never hid that he wanted to marry well and climb the social ladder. I am BEYOND glad he came to his senses, but still... 😒

This book has two "bad guys" and both were appropriately slimy. Each has his own agenda, but they never conflicted with each other and both subplots were dealt with in quick succession.
I love it when the good guy gets the win and the girl. 

This book had some adorable moments, and made me laugh a few times. Jen just has a way with spinning stories!
I rated it a 4/5 stars. I cannot wait to see what other shenanigans we get into with our next heiress!

Quotes:

She'd never been jealous of anyone in her entire life, but that was exactly what was flowing through her -- jealousy. The reason behind that jealousy could only mean one thing.
She, Miss Isadora Delafield, had fallen ever so slightly in love with the man who was currently her employer.

*I received this book from the author for an honest review**All opinions are my own*

Guest Post: Ruth Logan Herne (PLUS GIVEAWAY)

Welcome to the blog blitz & giveaway for A Cowboy in Shepherd's Crossing by Ruth Logan Herne, hosted by JustRead Tours.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: A Cowboy in Shepherd's Crossing  

Series: Shepherd's Crossing #2  

Author: Ruth Logan Herne  

Publisher: Love Inspired

Release Date: January 1, 2019  

Genre: Contemporary Romance


Cowboy bachelor Jace Middleton was ready to leave Shepherd’s Crossing for good – until he learns his family’s unspoken secrets.
Now Jace finds himself not only caring for his twin baby nieces, but working with beautiful, strong-willed designer Melonie Fitzgerald to renovate his grandmother’s run-down estate.
Love wasn’t part of the plan… but Jace soon finds himself wishing Melonie could become part of his unexpected family.  


PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD


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I'm so excited to have Ruth Logan Herne HERE, ON the blog today!! So without further ado...RUTHY!

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Alysha, I’m so happy to be with you today!

I have had a wonderful 2018 in so many ways. I am blessed to do what I love, to write books that touch hearts and souls. The number of folks who get to do that are not many, so I am just praising God today for this opportunity because I told him…

Wait, make that I promised him!!!

That when I got published I would work my hardest and my best to bring a little more light and love into the world and with fifty novels and novellas to date, I have kept my promise.

But life isn’t about one particular aspect, is it? Balancing our lives isn’t easy, nor is it always predictable. Things happen. Our roads take sudden turns and twists. When a parent gets the phone call every parent dreads… when a pregnant couple is no longer pregnant… when you lose your job and your home due to unforeseen circumstance… when you walk in the door and you’re served with divorce papers… when the doctor looks you straight in the eye and tells you the tests came back positive.

Life embraces so many sides, good and bad, because that’s life. It’s how it rolls. Now we might not have control over what happens, but we have amazing control over our reactions. Our choices. How we handle it.

And that’s what writing a story is all about. Seeing those beloved characters make choices. Find their paths. Deal with the past and manage the present. If life was easy, we’d have little need for stories, but life is understandably messy at times and the way we handle the chaos shows a mark of our character and that’s what you want in a great book. Unforgettable characters and wonderful stories.

I love writing inspirational fiction. I am so grateful for the many opportunities that have come my way. I am totally blessed that readers are finding me, discovering my work and loving it… but mostly I’m blessed by the chance to use this God-given talent to help others.

Sales will come. They always do. Books hit shelves and people buy them and the economic world keeps turning, but the heart of the story and the author isn’t about the sales… it’s about the heart.

The reader’s heart. Whether they grab the book from the library or a used book store or from the hand of a friend who says “Oh my gosh, I just read this book and LOVED it! You’ve got to try this!”

Because building a readership isn’t about those first-stage sales. It’s about the excitement and enthusiasm for the author’s work and how that ripple becomes a wave.

I am so grateful for readers and bloggers and reviewers who take their time to share books and authors they love. We are blessed by your commitment!

So when I start crafting a story, I think of you, the readers, and how these words and choices might affect you. Will I make you laugh? Cry? (Both, I hope!)

But mostly I want you to be able to relate to the characters like they’re the folks next door or up the road a piece or a childhood friend or the kid who came to school with nothing to eat…

Our love for God and fiction don’t ever have to diverge. Jesus, the premier teller of stories, set the example that life, love and faith can be as one, so thank you!

Thank you for being here today as we show off “A Cowboy in Shepherd’s Crossing”, this beautiful new Western novel from my “Shepherd’s Crossing” series with Love Inspired books.

This beautiful story isn’t about race or color or ethnicity. Jace and Melonie just happen to be a biracial couple. The story winds around what happens when our hero finds out his entire life has been a lie…

Jace Middleton isn’t who he thought he was, and two baby girls, born to an unwed mother aren’t just local kids. They’re his nieces, Ava and Annie.

This story doesn’t look at skin tone or hair color. It looks to the heart of the characters. Their pains, their successes, and how when one door closes, the Good Lord surely cracks open a window! We just don’t always recognize that window for what it could be: Our very own “road less traveled.”

This new book is on sale nationwide wherever mass market books are sold like Walmart, Kroger, Winn Dixie, Amazon.com or have your local bookstore or library order it! I hope you love reading it as much as I loved writing it!

***

Thank you so much for being here today Ruth, it was such an honor!

Keep scrolling for a chance to WIN Ruth's newest release.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Best-selling, multi-published, award-winning author Ruth Logan Herne is the author of nearly fifty novels and novellas through traditional publishers and her own independent works. She loves God, her family, country, coffee, chocolate and dogs, and wishes possums would leave the cat food on the side porch alone. And yet… they don’t. With over a million books in print, Ruthy is living her dream of touching hearts and souls by writing the kind of books she likes to read. She lives on a pumpkin farm in Western New York where they grow all kinds of cool things for fall from sumptuous squashes and veggies to gorgeous stacking pumpkins. Ruthy’s farm is quickly becoming the place to be every September and October!  

CONNECT WITH RUTHY: website | Facebook | Twitter

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 TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive (US only):

• all 3 Shepherd's Crossing books (Her Cowboy Reunion, A Cowboy Christmas, A Cowboy in Shepherd's Crossing)
• bookmarks
• a Seekerville notepad
• a bag of chocolate

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight January 4, 2019 and last through 11:59pm January 11, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review: The Lieutenant's Bargain

The Lieutenant's Bargain

"Hattie Walker dreams of becoming a painter, while her parents want her to settle down. As a compromise, they give her two months to head to Denver and place her works in an exhibition or give up the dream forever. Her journey is derailed when a gunman attacks her stagecoach, leaving her to be rescued by a group of Arapaho . . . but she's too terrified to recognize them as friendly.

Confirmed bachelor Lieutenant Jack Hennessey has long worked with the tribe and is tasked with trying to convince them that the mission school at Fort Reno can help their children. When a message arrives about a recovered survivor, Jack heads out to take her home--and plead his case once more.

He's stunned to run into Hattie Walker, the girl who shattered his heart--but quickly realizes he has a chance to impress her. When his plan gets tangled through translation, Jack and Hattie end up in a mess that puts her dreams in peril--and tests Jack's resolve to remain single."

Author: Regina Jennings

Length: 331 pages

Series: Fort Reno (book 2)

Welcome back to Fort Reno!

Where the heroes are hunky,

and the heroines are spunky.

I fell in love with Fort Reno the minute I started reading this series! Regina crafted this beautiful place that was so hard to leave when the story was done. (I might've read this one sitting...)

The characters were so stinkin' lovable and just so great! From the main characters to the secondary characters I was instantly in love with them all. Though they were all so different they created a wonderful "family" aspect.

This book had a mixture of some of my favorite things...accidental marriage and second hand embarrassment! 😆😊
(The second hand embarrassment was definitely BECAUSE of the forced/accidental marriage!)

The main characters grew up in the same town as kids, then lost touch for quite a few years. (There might have been an old crush that was rekindled when they saw each other again. 😏)
It was so fun watching them get to know each other as adults and see all their previous "kid" impressions change.

Jack and Hattie were such opposites, but ended up being the perfect fit!

Jack was so gentle, sweet and patient. He had a subtle confidence, but it was never overbearing or arrogant. I really loved his character and how he interacted with everyone. He was the same person with the Major and the Indians, he never changed or wavered. I also REALLY loved that JACK was the bookworm.

Hattie was the one who really changed throughout the story. She went from this naive, pampered gentlewoman to a strong independent woman. She was spunky and strong, but in a quite way.

Regina does an amazing job at writing characters who truly change and mature throughout the story. This book was no different, and it was done beautifully!

I really really really love Fort Reno and it's soldiers. I cannot wait to visit again.
I rated this a 4/5 stars.

*I received this book from the author for an honest review**All opinions are my own*

Review: Pretty in Punxsutawney

Pretty in Punxsutawney

"A Groundhog Day meets Pretty in Pink mashup from author Laurie Boyle Crompton, Pretty in Punxsutawney tells the tale of a girl willing to look beneath the surface to see people for who they really are.

Andie is the type of girl who always comes up with the perfect thing to say…after it’s too late to say it. She’s addicted to romance movies—okay, all movies—but has yet to experience her first kiss. After a move to Punxsutawney, PA, for her senior year, she gets caught in an endless loop of her first day at her new school, reliving those 24 hours again and again.

 Convinced the curse will be broken when she meets her true love, Andie embarks on a mission: infiltrating the various cliques to find the one boy who can break the spell. What she discovers along the way is that people who seem completely different can often share the very same hopes, dreams, and hang-ups. And that even a day that has been lived over and over can be filled with unexpected connections and plenty of happy endings."

Author: Laurie Boyle Crompton
Length: 304 pages

What put Andie in a time-warp?

Was it the pink couch, the pink dress or Pretty in Pink?

How does she get out?

This book is seriously one of my favorite books I've read in 2018! It put me in all the feels. I haven't even seen most the movies that were mentioned in this book, but it made me want to grab my mama, pop some kettle corn and binge watch all the old movies!

I loved the premise of this book so much! Something about the "idea" that we could get a do-over day until we get it perfect is next level unicorn imagination. AND I LOVE IT!

Normally YA contemporary is NOT my thing, but this one was a wild flower in a field of roses. 
I really liked all of the characters in this book...like every. single. one of them.

Seeing each clique's perspective change throughout the story, and every wall that broke between them as the story went one was fun to watch. 
Each group was SO much deeper than anyone else gave them credit for, and I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into each one.

Tom's crew seemed FABULOUS and I would love to hang out with them for a day. 😆
Okay, but also Tom was just fabulous. His character was my absolute favorite! 😍😍

I really enjoyed the assisted living/retirement home aspect that came into the book. I don't feel like that's something we see much in fiction, especially YA. I have fond memories of spending many hours at assisted livings growing up, just visiting with the people who lived there.
Seeing it in such a positive way really made my heart happy!

I truly loved every aspect of this book, so much so that I stayed up until 2 am to finish it. I could not put it down. I seriously cannot wait to have a finished copy on my shelf!
I rated it a 5/5 stars!

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Review: Mind Games

Mind Games

"Kaely Quinn's talents as an FBI behavior analyst are impossible to ignore, no matter how unorthodox her methods. But when a reporter outs her as the daughter of an infamous serial killer, she's demoted to field agent and transferred to St. Louis.

When the same reporter who ruined her career claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely's, the reporter's ulterior motives bring his claim into question. But when a body is found that fits the poem's predictions, the threat is undeniable, and the FBI sends Special Agent Noah Hunter to St. Louis. 

Initially resentful of the assignment, Noah is surprised at how quickly his respect for Kaely grows, despite her oddities. But with a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else--including Kaely herself--is killed."

Author: Nancy Mehl

Length:336 pages

Series: Kaely Quinn Profiler (book 1)

Six little elephants start this little game... 

Anyone who knows me knows I love the show Criminal Minds. So to read a book with a BAU agent was so exciting. This book was NOTHING like the show, however I did still find it intriguing. 

It takes QUITE a bit for a suspense author to transport me so deep into the book I have to watch puppy videos before I go to sleep. I can normally pick out the "bad guy" in a book pretty quick.  But I have to give props to this author because I was a bit surprised when he was revealed! The author did a great job covering her tracks.

Kaely was an interesting character! She was super awkward and a little on the weird side, but it added to her charm. It made her unique.

I actually really enjoyed her "system". It was wacky and unsettling all at once. Not something I'd ever seen done before. I thought it was very interesting.

I'm anxious to see how her character develops. She had her "normal" moments, but also some straight up "psycho" moments. I'm waiting with bated breath for the cliff-hanger/plot twist to be addressed. 

I also liked Noah's character. He definitely screamed "FBI agent". He reminds me a bit of an onion and I'm excited to watch all his layers get peeled away. He's a very complex, yet closed off character with a lot of skepticism and doubt. He has a curiosity that will make reading about his eyes opening to things super fun.

I think these two will make great work partners and life partners in the end...once they get over a few more bumps in the road.

The writing style itself was not my favorite. However I did enjoy the story within.

I rated this book a 3.5/5 stars.

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Blitz: Silent Days Holy Night

Let's all get in the mood for Christmas with this blog tour and giveaway for Silent Days, Holy Night by Phyllis Clark Nichols, hosted by JustRead Tours.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Silent Days, Holy Night  

Author: Phyllis Clark Nichols  

Publisher: Gilead Publishing  

Release Date: October 30, 2018  

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction/Christmas  

The sounds of Christmases past echo through a silent house...  

Everyone in town knows Emerald Crest, the green granite mansion atop the highest hill: the legendary, lavish Christmas festivities that used to light up the nights— and the silence that followed when the parties abruptly stopped many years ago. And everyone has heard whispers about the reclusive, mysterious master of the manor, Henry Lafferty the Second . . .

When eleven-year-old Julia Russell steps into the great house for the first time and meets Mr. Lafferty, the entire course of her life is altered. She meets a man who is nothing at all like the rumors she’s heard from neighbors and classmates. He’s kind and extraordinarily talented—he also happens to be deaf and uses a wheelchair. And when she overhears a secret about him, Julia decides it’s time for the town to bring Christmas back to Emerald Crest—an act that will change them all forever.


PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD | Book Depository


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EXCERPT

Dad sat down on the edge of my bed. “Time for lights out, my number one daughter.”

“I’m sorry if I disappointed you today. I didn’t mean to. I just couldn’t help myself.”

“So, your curiosity got the best of you? You might remember what it did to the cat. But everything turned out all right for you. Not so much for the cat. And Mr. Lafferty did seem to enjoy your playing.”

“Will you take me back with you when you go to see him? Mr. Lafferty asked me to come and play again.”

“We’ll see.”

“Is Mr. Lafferty’s special gift talking with his hands? It surely looked like a gift to me.”

“No, that’s just his language, one of the ways he communicates. You’ll know his special gift when you see it, because you have never, and I mean never, seen anything like it. Maybe next time.”

“So that means I get to go back to Emerald Crest?”

“Sounds like it, but you need to remember that you’re not to talk about meeting Mr. Lafferty. He’s a very private man and doesn’t want people knowing anything about his business. We need to respect that. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.” Dad prayed with me, kissed me goodnight, and turned off my bedside lamp. As soon as he closed my door, that’s when the light came on—the light in my brain.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phyllis Clark Nichols’s character-driven Southern fiction explores profound human questions using the imagined residents of small town communities you just know you’ve visited before. With a strong faith and a love for nature, art, music, and ordinary people, she tells redemptive tales of loss and recovery, estrangement and connection, longing and fulfillment . . . often through surprisingly serendipitous events.

Phyllis grew up in the deep shade of magnolia trees in South Georgia. Born during a hurricane, she is no stranger to the winds of change: In addition to her life as a novelist, Phyllis is a seminary graduate, concert pianist, and cofounder of a national cable network with health- and disability-related programming. Regardless of the role she’s playing, Phyllis brings creativity and compelling storytelling.

She frequently appears at conventions, conferences, civic groups, and churches, performing half-hour musical monologues that express her faith, joy, and thoughts about life—all with the homespun humor and gentility of a true Southern woman.

Phyllis currently serves on several nonprofit boards. She lives in the Texas Hill Country with her portrait-artist husband.  


CONNECT WITH PHYLLIS: website | Facebook | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive (US only):

• a print copy of Silent Days, Holy Night by Phyllis Clark Nichols
• a print copy of Sleigh Bells Ring by various authors

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight December 10, 2018 and last through 11:59pm December 17, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.


Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review: Mark of the Raven

Mark of the Raven

"Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. For the last hundred years, the Ravenwood women have used their gift of dreaming for hire to gather information or to assassinate.

As she discovers her family's dark secret, Selene is torn between upholding her family's legacy--a legacy that supports her people--or seeking the true reason behind her family's gift.

Her dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations, but who will also bring about the downfall of her own house.

One path holds glory and power, and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and execution. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?"

Author: Morgan L. Busse
Length: 352 pages
Series: Ravenwood Saga book 1

He was a threat to her house.

Her mission was to kill him.

Will the Light chase away the darkness?

Fun fact, I actually got to meet Morgan at the Christy Awards. She is the sweetest soul, and she's a blast to talk to!

Anywho. On to what you're actually here for...the review. 😉

The first book in a fantasy series is normally really focused on WORLD BUILDING. 
This book was no exception. From the first page until about the last hundred pages was a lot of world building. The author works to draw you into this world of dream assassins and evil plots, with an imagination like that OF COURSE it's going to take a while to build everything up.

First books in series are always a little hard for me to get into because of everything I have to retain in mah brain. So getting into a rhythm with this book took me a little bit. 

HOWEVER! Once I got it down I flew through this book and I need book 2 in my hands ASAP! 

This book had a great cast of characters. Each person played their respective parts beautifully! 
There was a wonderful blend of villain to hero. And we ever got a mixture of both in one character. 

Selene is this strong young woman on the outside, but inside she is searching for something. She knows her family was not given the ability to dreamwalk for the evil purpose it was used for. Though she hides all her feelings under the perfect mask of ice and indifference.

Insert Damien. A follower of the Light and a threat to the House of Ravenwood. Even burdened by the responsibility of being grand lord at such a young age, he was a level-headed man with a heart to save the hurting. Plus he smells like clove, cinnamon and sandalwood...😍🤤 (It's in the book I promise!)

I really enjoyed Selene and Damien, separate and together. I am anxious to see their love story pan out over the course of the series! 
THEY GET THROWN TOGETHER! If that isn't the greatest thing in a book I don't know what is.
(...okay, so it totally helps they have a TON of chemistry!)

I'm interested in seeing how the author reveals the Light to Selene...🤔

Guys I'm just ready to see this series continue!! I really really liked it.

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Quotes:

"You have a big heart. And it hurts to see the pain in this world. But that's not a weakness. It is your hidden strength. Never forget that."