Review: Hadley Beckett's Next Dish

 Hadley Beckett's Next Dish

"Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanagh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show, To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum and is sent packing, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley. As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love.

In the meantime, hide the knives."

Author: Bethany Turner

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Get ready for a heaping helping of humor, romance, and second chances

I'm gonna be honest with y'all, I have a LOVE/dislike relationship with this book! 

When Hadley & Max were together, and were good to each other I was DIGGING the chemistry!! 😍😍

Hadley's "blowing up at random times" felt a bit hypocritical to me. One minute she was all "flirty flirty", then the next she was flying off the handle. (And she DIDN'T SEE IT!!!) 

*cough* Max wasn't the only one with anger issues...*cough*

Now, when she WASN'T freaking out, I really enjoyed her character! She was cutesy, a bit naive, a little insecure. Which is where I think a lot of her issues stemmed from.

She did have a lot of character growth throughout the story, so I guess I can't harp on her too much. 😅

AHHHH, MAX! I loved him! Plain & simple. 

He was trying SO hard to be a better man, and no one believed in him. (Other than our gracious Hadley 😉)

I loved watching him grow as a character, and in himself as the story progressed.

This book definely had its heavy hitting moments that make a person sit up and think. It wasn't super "in your face Christian fiction". So if you have any 

Review: Ready to Trust

 Ready to Trust

"Rancher Reece Rainbolt’s shocked to learn he’s inherited half of Claire Ballard’s family farm—and that he’s a father. Now Claire’s determined to break ties with the man who once left her behind. But Reece will buy her half only on one condition: she must stay in town to help with the harvest…and let him get to know his little girl."

Author: Tina Radcliffe

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Hearts of Oklahoma (book 2)

Proving he’s a changed man 

could be his biggest challenge yet.

Y'all, I was SO excited for this book. Like I was squealing the minute Reece came on the stage in the first book. I HAD SUCH HIGH HOPES!

Sadly, this one did NOT hit it for me. 

I have a REALLY REALLY REALLY hard time with the "secret child" troupe! Especially because the mothers seem to have the "holier-than-thou" "helicopter mom" attitude, and I can NOT get behind that character arc. 

That troupe normally goes hand & hand with the "I'll never ACTUALLY trust them, even though I said I did" troupe. Which is equally as irritating to me, personally. 

Claire fell PERFECTLY into this character mold, so I had the hardest time liking her!

Reece was great, though he was just as stubborn as Claire.

They were BOTH so hung up on the past! I felt like they kept repeating the same thing, and never actually fixing the problem. It was a bandaid relationship.

I ADORED the background characters! They made the whole thing worth it to me. 💙 I loved seeing the Rainbolt family all together.

I am looking forward to the next in the series. That one promises to be fun. 😉

So no, this wasn't my favorite book in the world, BUT I know Tina is going to knock it out of the park next time!

I rated it a 2.5/5 stars.

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

Review: Molly

Molly 

"If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I absolutely refuse to tell a lie no matter the consequences. So don’t ask me a direct question unless you’re prepared for a direct answer—that’s something my SoCal sewing girlfriends have learned the hard way.But who would have thought my honesty policy would get me fired from my job at the preschool? Or that a desperate—and not to mention devastatingly handsome—single father of one of my (now-former) students would hire me that same day as a nanny for his daughter?I’m an education professional. How hard can taking care of a four-year-old and her over-stressed, over-worked father be?" 

Author: Sarah Monzon

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Series: Sewing in SoCal (book 1)

They're SEW IN love 

in  SoCal

ALL. OF. THE. SWOONING. 

I'm so excited about this new series! I love the "Sewing in SoCal" girls. They're going to be a HOOT! 

I really enjoyed this book!! The troupe was so cute, I love the "nanny" troupe. *If you see it in other contemporary books, lemme know! 😉*

Molly & Ben were interesting, but adorable characters! Each had their own little quirks, but it added to their charm. 💛 I just loved them! 

It was a pretty quick book, so not every part of their backstories were delved in to. All the major things were taken care of though. I just love Sarah's stories so much so there is never enough of her books to me...

Overall it was SUPER CUTE! I adore Sarah, and her books, and I'm PUMPED about the rest of the series.

I rated it a 4/5 stars

*SIDE SWOON* Chapter 19...😍😍🦄😍😍 (if you know, you know)

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

Review: Dust

Dust


 "Claire Kenton believes the world is too dark for magic to be real--since her twin brother was stolen away as a child. Now Claire's desperate search points to London... and a boy who shouldn't exist.

Peter Pan is having a beastly time getting back to Neverland. Grounded in London and hunted by his own Lost Boys, Peter searches for the last hope of restoring his crumbling island: a lass with magic in her veins.

The girl who fears her own destiny is on a collision course with the boy who never wanted to grow up. The truth behind this fairy tale is about to unravel everything Claire thought she knew about Peter Pan--and herself."

Author: Kara Swanson

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Series: Heirs of Neverland (book 1)

The truth about Neverland is far more dangerous than a fairy tale.

I don't even know where to begin...
This book was every. thing. It was absolutely beautiful!

I can't talk about too many of the details, because SPOILERS, but take what I DO say to heart.

Kara did an AMAZING job handling the age old fairytale we know and love. She kept the OG Peter Pan alive, but I could also see her unique voice in him. 

This book was MAGICAL! That's the best word to describe what was within these pages. Kara made every scene, every word, and every action come to life on the page and she made each one fly.

This book had so much more depth than the fairytale we've heard our whole lives. Kara took a beloved story, and made it better in my opinion! She added depth, character, and emotion. 

The story was told through Claire & Peter's perspectives, both in 1st person, but I could always tell which character's head I was in. She did a wonderful job separating their voices.

Claire was a bit on the dense side, but its a character flaw that she knows she has. Its also needed to move the plot along, so I tried not to let it ruffle my feathers too much. 

I'm CRAZY excited to how Shadow is handled, and what scrapes we're going to get into while we're in Neverland! 
5/5 stars!

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

Review: At Love's Command

At Love's Command

"Haunted by the horrors of war, ex-cavalry officer Matthew Hanger leads a band of mercenaries known as Hanger's Horsemen who have become legends in 1890s Texas. They defend the innocent and obtain justice for the oppressed. But when a rustler's bullet leaves one of them at death's door, they're the ones in need of saving.

Dr. Josephine Burkett is used to men taking one look at her skirts and discounting her medical skills. What she's not used to is having a man change his mind in a heartbeat and offer to assist her in surgery. Matthew Hanger's dedication to his friend during recovery earns Josephine's respect, and when she hears of her brother's abduction, he becomes her only hope for rescue.

Matt has stared down ruthless outlaws, betrayal, and injury, but when a bossy lady doctor crawls under his skin, his heart is tempted to surrender. And when she is caught in the crossfire, he may have to sacrifice everything--even his team--to save her."

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Genre: Historical Fiction

Series: Hanger's Horsemen (book 1)

"He's fought through ruthless outlaws and injury. 

But with her, he's tempted to surrender."

I really loved the connection between the Horsemen! I feel like we don't see a ton of this kind of relationship between guys in Christian fiction, so it's definitely a refreshing theme to see! 
I CANNOT wait to read the rest of the Horsemen's stories!

I liked the main characters! Both characters were strong, a just a smidge stubborn, but in a way that worked with the other. They complemented each other.

The romance was super quick in this story, but the whole book was fast paced! From the first page until the last, it was an action packed book. I'm kind of glad the romance kept up with the rest of the story. it didn't bog it down at all. 

As always Karen wove a STRONG Christian message into the book, and I LOVED IT! I love reading her books to see what lesson she's going to remind me of. This one had strong "let go & let God" message for me. It's a reminder we all need from time to time. (I might need it day to day sometimes)

I hope we see Charlie get a bit of a love story. (Novella, Karen? 😉)

Overall, it was a great introduction into this new series! I cannot wait to see how it goes! 
I rated this a 4/5 stars.

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

Review: A Temporary Engagement

A Temporary Engagement

"Elena is a thriving pharmacist who is completely confident in her single status. Well, relatively confident. But when her best friend calls in a favor for a needy brother-in-law, Elena can't say no. How hard can it be to fake an engagement for one evening?

Mason is not one to beg for a date. In fact, he prides himself on his natural charm and charisma. But when his big mouth gets him into trouble, he needs some last-minute help. He just didn't expect his rescuer to be quite so attractive. Or so completely uninterested in him.

What happens when this one night sham turns into more than these two planned for?"

Author: Summer Dowell

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Series: Fake Love Series (book 3)

A fake fiance is supposed to stay that way: fake.

AHHH!! All of the heart eyes! Y'all know this is one of my favorite troupes EVER!!

Writing this review is making me all smiley just because I'm replaying the book in my mind, and I just loved it!

The wit & banter between the characters was EVERYTHING! There was such amazing chemistry between the main characters! There was also amazing chemistry between the side characters, which made me love the book even more.

I love that this series is centered on one family. The sibling relationship, even the parental relationship, in this book was such fun. I could totally put my family in these roles, so I was having a grand time reading this story.

Elena & Mason were such fun characters! They clicked on the page instantly, and I loved every minute of their story!

The story had a chick-lit movie vibe, and I was HERE FOR IT!

I would've loved some more history/back story about the main characters. (especially Elena's)
BUT for the size and purpose of the book it was perfect!

This was an amazing clean read! I'm so glad I have the other book in the series on my bookshelf already.
I think Summer is a new favorite contemporary author!
I rated this book 5/5 stars!

(Though this is a series, the books can definitely be read alone)

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

Review: The Story Hunter

The Story Hunter

"In the wake of a deadly coup, the capital city of Urian has descended into chaos. Heartbreak and bloodshed await Tanwen and her friends as they discover the unlikeliest leader now rules Tir.

If they want to save the realm, Tannie and the Corsyth weavers must rescue Queen Braith and unmask the Master, ending the strife once and for all. But the success of their hunt depends upon an ally no one trusts.

The Master has a new target in sight: fragile, trauma-scarred Digwyn, whose unique weaving ability could turn the tide of any war. When the desire for vengeance proves too powerful for Digwyn to resist, Tanwen must face a terrifying truth: the fate of Tir rests in the hands of a volatile, shattered girl."

Author: Lindsay A. Franklin

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Weaver Trilogy (book 3)

Redeeming the past is a fatal quest.

How does one begin to describe this story ? This whole series? (Especially without spoilers...😜)

If you haven't gotten on 'the Weaver Trilogy' boat, I don't know what you're doing?! From the first page of book one, until the last word of book 3, this series will take you on adventures like you've never seen before. 

SO much was packed into this last story! 
Character growth. Heartache. Restoration. Healing.

The story came alive, just like the stories in the book. The words wove their way around until they crystallized into the masterpiece that can sit on our shelf forever!

I would LOVE to go into detail, but because spoilers are a REAL thing, I'll keep my thoughts and feelings slightly contained.

This series was glorious, but this story was beautiful! Definitely my favorite of the series. 
I'm going to miss this world with my whole heart! My greatest wish is that a few novellas will be written, so we can get another glimpse into this place.

I cannot wait to see where Lindsay takes us next!
I rated it a 4.5/5 stars

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

Review: Her Hidden Hope

Her Hidden Hope


 "With only two weeks to renovate her family’s Colorado B and B, struggling single mom Addie Ricci can’t turn away help. Especially not when it’s her handsome high school sweetheart, Evan Hawke, who’s offering to pitch in. As they repair the B and B, Addie and Evan also begin rebuilding their relationship…until a secret from their past threatens to bring it all crashing down."

Author: Jill Lynn

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Colorado Grooms (book 4)

She once trusted him with her heart…

but will she ever trust him with the truth?

I'm coming to find that books with "old flames hiding something from the other" are not my type of stories. I struggled with it in this story, but I love Jill's writing style so I always stick it out.

One thing that I love about Jill's characters is that they grow SO much throughout the story. In God, as people, the shabang!

I'm CRAZY excited that Charlie is getting her own story! I cannot wait to get my hands on that book.

It was a cute story overall! (I didn't expect anything less) I loved seeing Jace again, and the brother/brother scenes were the BEST!

The B&B renovation was a fun story line! (And I loved the dog 😉😆)
3/5 stars

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

Review: Finding the Road Home

Finding the Road Home

"To care for her orphaned nieces and nephews, Daisy Anderson moved to a small town for a new deputy position—but now her job could be eliminated. With potential budget cuts looming, her only hope is to work with police chief Mitch Rainbolt to save their department’s funds. But can their fight for her job lead to something neither dared wish for: a future together?"

Author: Tina Radcliffe

Genre: Contemporary romance

Series: Hearts of Oklahoma (book 1)

Some paths need courage to follow…

Can they find their fresh start with roadblocks around every corner?

I ADORE Tina. She always has the best towns, the best townsfolk, and the best main characters.

Daisy and Mitch were adorable! They were both hurting terribly, but were making great efforts to get better.
They learned that life is hard and God doesn't instantly make everything better, but He helps you heal. Life isn't perfect, but they were working towards making lemon meringue pie out of life's lemons.

The kids were an adorable touch in this story. I loved that everyone just fit like a puzzle. It all clicked, and they all fit together perfectly.

I LOVED the side characters, and I hope they all make an appearance in the series again. I'm anxiously awaiting the rest of the Rainbolt sibling stories!

Also, REAL mac & cheese was discussed in this book. I'm a happy girl. 😄
4/5 stars

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

Quotes:

"Surely you look in a mirror on occasion. You're single and handsome. You wear a uniform that includes a Stenson. Women swoon over that stuff."

Review: The Land Beneath Us

The Land Beneath Us

 "In 1943, Private Clay Paxton trains hard with the US Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, determined to do his best in the upcoming Allied invasion of France. With his future stolen by his brothers' betrayal, Clay has only one thing to live for--fulfilling the recurring dream of his death.

Leah Jones works as a librarian at Camp Forrest, longing to rise above her orphanage upbringing and belong to the community, even as she uses her spare time to search for her real family--the baby sisters she was separated from so long ago.

After Clay saves Leah's life from a brutal attack, he saves her virtue with a marriage of convenience. When he ships out to train in England for D-day, their letters bind them together over the distance. But can a love strong enough to overcome death grow between them before Clay's recurring dream comes true?"

Author: Sarah Sundin

Genre: Historical Romance 

Series: Sunrise at Normandy (book 3)

"In the midst of a global war, 

two forsaken souls search for personal peace"

This series has been EVERYTHING! I already want to experience the whole thing again. 😍

This book was SO good! There was so much depth woven into the story. I loved all the biblical parallels! This was the perfect conclusion this amazing series.

Both characters grew so much as the story progressed. They learned about themselves, while still falling in love with each other. (THROUGH LETTERS!! *swoon* 😍😍😍)
I LOVED the support system they created through the letter they wrote to each other!

Y'all know how I feel about the marriage of convenience troupe, but the letter writing was a new addition. And its one I can now add to the top of my favorite list!

Leah's growth was definitely the greatest! She had places where she was getting under my skin because of her immaturity,  but she grew and matured into a wonderful young woman.

The family aspect was my FAVORITE! I loved the redemption and forgiveness arcs!

This truly was a wonderful book!
5/5 stars

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

Review: A Girl's Guide to the Outback

A Girl's Guide to the Outback

"Samuel Payton is a passionate youth pastor in Virginia, but below the surface, he’s still recovering from the blow of a failed business and insecurities he can’t shake. His coworker, start-up expert Kimberly Foster, is brilliant, fearless, and capable, but years of personal rejection have left her defensive and longing for a family. Two people have never been more at odds—or more attracted to one another. And every day at work, the sparks sure do fly. 

When Kimberly’s ambitious plans for Sam’s ministry butt up against his risk-averse nature, Sam decides that obligations to family trump his work for the church. He quits the ministry and heads home to Australia to help his sister, Jules, save her struggling farm. As Kimberly’s grand plans flounder, she is forced to face the truth: that no one can replace Sam. Together they strike up a deal: If Kimberly comes to work on Jules’s dairy farm and lends her business brains to their endeavor, then maybe—just maybe—Sam will reconsider his future with the church. 

As Kimberly tries her hand at Australian farm life, she learns more about herself than she could’ve ever expected. Meanwhile Sam is forced to re-evaluate this spunky woman he thought he already knew. As foes slowly morph into friends, they wonder if they might be something even more. But when disaster strikes the farm, will Sam find it within himself to take a risk that could lead to love? And will Kimberly trust God with her future? "

Author: Jessica Kate

Genre: Contemporary Romance

How far will a girl go to win back a guy she can’t stand? 

AH! This book was amazing! 

At first glance you'd think it was just a quick, fluffy, chick-lit rom-com then poof you're done. No siree! There was so much more to this delightful, and delicious book!

While there were MANY a swoon worthy moment, we also got heart, pain, confusion, and the human feelings. This book was real, every feeling and emotion that rolled across the page was real!

There were some great, meaty conversations about trusting God! And I loved every one of them! There were so many quotable moments in this book. Lessons we could all apply to our lives! 

I loved the premise, and the "hate to love" troupe is one of my favorite troupes ever. Especially when we get TWO romances in one book! *insert ALL the heart eyes* 😍😍😍

Both story lines were written beautifully. Neither one felt like it was missing anything, or the other got more love than the other. (Though I'm partial to Kate & Sam's story because...well...Sam...😍)

There were misunderstandings and miscommunication galore (like any good rom-com), but they always got to the point that they talked it through.

Jessica is a crazy talented author, and I can't wait to see where she goes next!

4.5/5 stars! 

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

Quotes:

"Whatever happens, God won't desert you. You aren't alone."

Review: Storing Up Trouble

Storing Up Trouble

"When Miss Beatrix Waterbury's Chicago-bound train ride is interrupted by a heist, Mr. Norman Nesbit, a man of science who believes his research was the target of the heist, comes to her aid. Despite the fact that they immediately butt heads, they join forces to make a quick escape.

Upon her arrival in Chicago, Beatrix is surprised to discover her supposedly querulous Aunt Gladys shares her own suffragette passions. Encouraged by Gladys to leave her sheltered world, Beatrix begins working as a salesclerk at the Marshall Field and Company department store. When she again encounters Norman on a shopping expedition, he is quickly swept up in the havoc she always seems to attract.

But when another attempt is made to part Norman from his research papers, and it becomes clear Beatrix's safety is also at risk, they soon discover the curious way feelings can grow between two very different people in the midst of chaos."

Author: Jen Turano
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: The American Heiresses (book 3)

***

OH MAN. OH MAN. OH MAN. I LOVED THIS BOOK SO STINKIN' MUCH!! 
I think it's my favorite of the series!

I really wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Norman at the beginning of the book since he was very close minded. BUT! He turned out to be one the sweetest, most thoughtful, adorable quirky, and unusual hero. I LOVED watching him change and work really hard, but never losing HIMSELF. He just made me smile.

Beatrix was a hoot! She was quirky and fun. I loved really seeing her in this book. Her spunk and determination really made her enjoyable.

Aunt Gladys and the ladies she took under her wing were spectacular! They really added the Turano flare, SO MUCH character, and many giggles to the experience! (The cats were a wonderful touch as well)

It was really fun to see some real towns that I know of, and actually live near, mentioned at the beginning of the book. It was a cool touch!

😍😍😍😍
I just loved ALL. THE. THINGS.
😍😍😍😍

5/5 stars

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

Review: Silent Shadows

Silent Shadows

 "Pecca Gallegos moved to the tiny town of Walton, Georgia, to protect her son and escape the dangerous lifestyle that once defined her. When a series of strange circumstances evolve into threats, Pecca finds herself confiding in an unlikely ally--her stubborn patient.

Army veteran Colton Crawford is desperate to recover from the undiagnosed disorder that is ruining his life, and his instincts are on high alert when threats against his nurse and her son force him to take action. But Colton's involvement only ramps up the danger when he uncovers a family secret revealing that whoever is after Pecca is closer--and more deadly--than they realized.

With this suspenseful new story, Natalie Walters welcomes you once more to Walton, Georgia, where everyone knows your name--but no one knows your secret."

Author: Natalie Walters
Genre: Romantic Suspense 
Series: Harbored Secrets (book 3)

"They're running from their pasts into an unknown future.
But first, they'll have to survive the present."

ALL of the actual feels! I adored this book so much.

The characters were built so well! The suspense line was everything...
It was SUCH a nice twist on a pretty common plot line.

I loved the growth that took place throughout the story! The growth that took place throughout the series as a whole.

The romance. The banter. 😍 Beautifully done. 
The wit and banter between the side and main characters was SO good! I think the dialogue was my favorite part of the whole book. (Though the kissing scenes weren't to shabby either 😏😉)

I honestly get a little misty eyed when I think of how much Natalie has grown since book 1 came out. I'm so proud of her, and I cannot wait to see what's coming down the line from her!
4.5/5 stars

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