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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Book Blast: The Rise of Miss Notley by Rachael Anderson

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The Rise of Miss Notley by Rachael Anderson 

Book Description:

When Miss Coralynn Notley’s father barters her off to the first titled gentleman to come along, she realizes she must flee her home or be forced to wed a despicable man. Driven by desperation, she applies for the position of housekeeper at Tanglewood Manor, the home of the handsome Mr. Jonathan Ludlow. The moment Jonathan sees Miss Notley, he is intrigued. She is far too young and inexperienced, yet there is something about her that that inspires a certain hope within him. Does he dare offer her the position of housekeeper or will doing so result in catastrophe?  

   

Excerpt:

Cora nodded and followed Mr. Ludlow into the parlor. He closed the doors and stood in front of them with his arms folded, looking far more intimidating than he had during their last meeting. He said nothing, merely lifted an inquiring eyebrow and waited. Caught unprepared, Cora stared at him, trying to organize her thoughts into words. After a few moments of awkward silence, he lost patience.

"What is it you wished to speak with me about, Mrs. Notley? Or are we to stand here staring at each other all afternoon?"

Not knowing how else to begin, Cora blurted, "Why have you hired me, sir?"

He blinked a few times before frowning. "I believe I have made that perfectly clear. You are to be the housekeeper, are you not?"

This was going to be more difficult than she had imagined. "Yes, of course, but there has been some talk about, or rather concerns expressed . . ." How did one put this delicately?

"About . . .?" he prodded, obviously not thrilled that his morning regime had been waylaid.

"About the reasons I have been offered the position," she quickly said, hoping that would be enough to make him understand her meaning. Unfortunately, his brows drew together in confusion.

"What are you saying, Mrs. Notley? I have hired you to do certain duties that will hopefully make my household run more smoothly. What other reason could I possibly have for offering you the position?"

"You have hired me to do a job I am untrained to do," she said. "While I am grateful for the opportunity, I also find it necessary to clarify that I have come here to be a housekeeper and only a housekeeper. Even though I am young and . . ." Her voice drifted off. Had she almost referred to herself as pretty? Goodness, this was proving to be very awkward indeed.

"Beautiful?" he finally guessed, not looking at all pleased with the direction the conversation was taking.

"I was going to say not repulsive," she fibbed.

"Very well," he said. "Even though you are young and not repulsive . . ." He moved his hand in a circular gesture, urging her to finish her thought. Cora straightened her shoulders and forced herself to continue.

"I am not the sort of girl who would ever . . . fraternize with her employer." Her face infused with heat, but she forced her gaze to remain steady.

"I see." He walked slowly towards her, rubbing his chin with his hand. A few steps away, he stopped and eyed her quizzically. "Have I made any improper advances towards you?"

"No, sir."

"Have I spoken to you in an unprofessional manner?"

"No."

"Have I looked at you in a way that has made you feel uncomfortable?"

"No." Cora suddenly wished she had not felt the need to clarify anything. He made her feel as though she had put the cart before the horse when what she had been trying to do was see that the cart and horse simply stayed in their proper places. Was that so wrong?

"Might I ask who, exactly, has led you to believe that I am the sort of man capable of—how did you put it? Fraternizing with my help?"

"I, er, would rather not say, sir." Though Cora felt no loyalty towards Sally, she refused to bring Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd's names into the conversation. "I did not mean to besmirch your name or cause any offense, Mr. Ludlow. I merely wanted to make my feelings on the matter clear."

"And you have."

"Good." Cora dropped into a quick curtsy, anxious to get away. "I shall go and find Watts now." She was almost to the door when his voice stopped her.

"Once again, you are attempting to scuttle away before we have completed our conversation."

Slowly, she turned around and lifted her eyes to his. "I never scuttle, sir."

"What would you call that rapid walk of yours?"

"A rapid walk."

   

About the Author:

RachaelA USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.




    amazon or paypal 

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway:

Ends 3/15/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  

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Monday, February 20, 2017

Spotlight: One Fell Down by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

One Fell Down by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

Book Description:

When Mikaela York opens an anonymous blue sympathy card with the nursery rhyme "Jack and Jill" written inside, she doesn't know what to make of it. But soon after, Mikaela and her fiancé are in a tragic car accident, resulting in her husband-to-be's death. Then when Mikaela's grandmother loses her life in a hiking accident one year later, an old man gives Mikaela another mysterious blue card at the funeral.

After the service, Mikaela's grandfather asks that she oversee the renovations on his bed & breakfast in New Zealand. When she arrives, Mikaela meets Tui Davies the inn's manager and Brentin Williams, the man Tui expects her daughter to marry. Tui helps Mikaela retrieve a doll from the cellar vault, but the doll turns out to be an evil omen that Mikaela is told she must get rid of before someone is murdered.

Meanwhile, the old man from the funeral is bent on revenge and is plotting against everyone who has ever wronged him, and Mikaela is next in line. But until she discovers the killer's contact in New Zealand, whom can she trust? And while Brentin attempts to help Mikaela overcome her grief, she must decide is she ready to love again?

Tour Schedule:

Feb. 20th: 
Feb. 21st: 
Feb. 22nd: 
Feb. 23rd: 
Feb. 24th:

Tour Giveaway:

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Title: One Fell Down
Author: Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: February 2017
ISBN: 1524401404

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Deseret Book

Friday, February 17, 2017

Blog Tour: Breach of Trust by Kathi Oram Peterson

Reviews * Giveaway
Breach of Trust by Kathi Oram Peterson 


Book Description:

Lieutenant Commander Cooper Lane has so much to live for. With a loving husband and beautiful baby girl waiting for her back home, she is anxious to finish her mission in Afghanistan and return to her family. But in a split second, her world shatters. Her helicopter is going down in that hostile country, and there will be no survivors.

Four years later ...

On a covert mission in an Afghan village, Navy SEAL Axe Talbot finds something no one ever expected: Lieutenant Cooper Lane—alive. Cooper survived the crash that killed her team and has been hiding behind enemy lines for four years. It's the woman he's been looking for and dreaming about for so long.

After her rescue, Cooper is not sure she can survive the reality waiting for her back home—when she disappeared and was pronounced dead, her husband married her best friend. Cooper is lost, but her troubles are just beginning. In one horror-filled moment, her former husband is murdered before her eyes, and Cooper becomes the prime suspect. Now she must embark on one last mission to clear her name. And there are only two people she trusts to help her: her father and Axe, the SEAL who rescued her. Cooper and Axe take off, and together the makeshift team uncovers a trail of mysterious deaths that leads to unimaginable danger.


Rorie's Review:

Even though this story has been done before (I think I remember a short-lived TV show with a similar story line) I really enjoyed it. I was drawn in quickly, and didn't want to put it down.
Cooper's name kept hanging me up...it seems like it should be a last name, not a woman's first name...but I like how strong her character was, especially with how many trials she was going through.
Axe...yeah, I liked him. I wish we could have gotten to know him better though - it seemed like we only scratched the surface.
I admit, the whodunnit took me by surprise. Of all the people it could have been, I didn't think it would be who it was.

Andrea's Review:

This story was quite a bit different than I expected. I'm not usually one to read blurbs very close to the time I read a book (so many give more away than I want), but for some reason I remembered some of the details from this one. I went into it thinking a good portion of the story would be about the time in Afghanistan, but that only took a few pages. There were flashbacks throughout the story that let the reader know about some of the events that took place during the four years, but it wasn't how I expected the story to unfold.

The cover is great, and I liked the idea of this story, but the presentation fell flat for me. Cooper was a good character (even though I was thrown by her masculine name). There were definitely parts that had me engaged, but other parts felt too rushed.

Tarah's Review:

There is definitely a lot of action in this novel. These two characters couldn't catch a break! It maybe was a little unbelievable but I'm not sure that that will keep anyone from enjoying this story.

I enjoyed getting to know both Axe and Cooper. They were people filled with integrity and loyalty to their country and to people they loved. We get to know a lot about them, but after finishing the book it left me wondering why. Don't get me wrong, I really like getting to know my characters, but since the book didn't go in any direction I thought it would, a lot of the information didn't seem....needed.

I was a little sad about the ending. Everything was wrapped up (well, almost everything), but it was wrapped up really quickly. Those are the areas I would have liked more details from, because they actually pertained to the story.

To quickly sum up: Clean suspense read....check.

Tour Schedule:

Feb. 17thhttp://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/http://sweetlymadejustforyou.com/http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

Tour Giveaway:
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Title: Breach of Trust
Author: Kathi Oram Peterson
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: February 2017
ISBN: 1524400629
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Deseret Book

Cover Reveal: Love Remains by Sarah M. Eden

Sarah M. Eden fans, I have some wonderful news to share with you. Love Remains (from Eden's Hope Springs series) will be released on September 5, 2017! Here is the beautiful cover:


Book Description:

From the USA Today Bestselling author of the Longing for Home series, LOVE REMAINS is a new romance novel set in the beloved world of Hope Springs.

Cecily faces a dark, uncertain future. Tavish is haunted by his painful, anguished past. Fate has brought them together in a world determined to tear them apart.


Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Review: Valentine's Day Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology Book 19)


Happy Valentine's Day to all the book lovers out there! I had the chance to read a cute collection of Valentine inspired novellas recently and wanted to share the book with you.

Valentine's Day Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology Book 19) is a collection of six novellas by some wonderful authors: Janette Rallison, Heather B. Moore, Jenny Proctor, Annette Lyon, Heather Tullis, and Sarah M. Eden. I don't think I've ready anything else by Heather Tullis, but I've read a lot of books by the other authors.

Those familiar with Rallison will be happy to find that her story, A Brush with the Law, has the humor she's known for (and if you aren't familiar with her, you should become familiar-she's a great writer and has a lot of books out there that will make you smile). It was definitely one of my favorite stories in the collection. It's a tough choice, but if I had to pick another favorite, it would be Sarah M. Eden's Hey, Helen! Eden is one of my favorite authors, and her "crushing on the neighbor" story was a great way to end this collection.

If you are looking for a quick Valentine read (or six) today, you can get the eBook on Amazon for less than $5.


Book Description:

From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean Romance, comes VALENTINE'S DAY COLLECTION.

Six brand new contemporary romance novellas by Janette Rallison, Heather B. Moore, Jenny Proctor, Annette Lyon, Heather Tullis, and Sarah M. Eden.

A BRUSH WITH THE LAW by Janette Rallison
Bethany has endured a streak of depressing Valentine’s Days. And this one is turning out no different. Her friend set her up on a blind date—and Bethany can only hope that James will be a decent guy. But it seems the fated day has other plans, and Bethany finds herself in the middle of a comedy of errors that make a blind date with a stranger the least of her problems.

EVERY OCCASION by Heather B. Moore
When Maurie moves back to her hometown to open up her dream shop, she calls a local construction crew for help. Former teenage crush Grant shows up on her front porch, answering the call for the construction job, and Maurie’s memories of her troubled childhood return with full force. When she discovers Grant has a troubled past of his own, Maurie realizes that she might have misjudged him all along.

HOLD YOUR BREATH by Jenny Proctor
As Kayla trains for the Olympic swimming trials, she vows to never let another boyfriend get in her way. When she finds out her younger sister’s new high school swim coach is Nate—the guy Kayla had a huge crush on when they were in school together—Kayla realizes that her resolve is weakening. But Kayla isn’t willing to risk giving up her Olympic dream for anyone, not even charming Nate.

THE ULTIMATE BACHELOR CHALLENGE by Annette Lyon
When Sam’s long-time boyfriend, Steve, texts that he has something important to ask her on Valentine’s Day, she’s sure that he’s going to propose. Determined to look great for the big day, she hits the all-night laundromat to wash her favorite outfit. When her clothes are chugging away in a machine, Steve calls and pops a question—not one she ever would have expected. Reeling with shock, she’s left facing the holiday alone, unless you count the other person at laundromat, a guy leaning against his own washer, intent on his phone.

DEAL BREAKERS by Heather Tullis
The last place Colette wants to be stranded is the snowed-in Denver airport, especially when her sister is enduring chemo treatments and needs Colette’s help back home. When Colette runs into another stranded passenger—none other than former college boyfriend Drew—she can’t believe how much he’s changed . . . and hasn’t changed. Drew is still the same amazing guy that Colette was foolish enough to blow off for someone else. By the time she’d realized her mistake all those years ago, Drew’s heart had been too broken to give her a second chance. Now Colette can only hope that she can work her way back into his heart.

HEY, HELEN! by Sarah M. Eden
On the surface, Helen seems to have her life figured out. Her advice column, Hey, Helen!, is gaining more readers every week. She regularly hangs out with the guy next door, laughing and chatting over pizza and work. But when her feelings for her handsome neighbor begin tiptoeing toward something more than friendship, Helen can’t help hoping Neil might feel the same way. Between her own uncertainties, his friend-zone treatment of her, and a pair of loudly interfering parents, Hey, Helen! could use a little advice in love.

Blog Tour: Stu Stories by Patrick Hueller




https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91UsWDcFMjL.jpg



Book Description:

Stu Sanderson is no ordinary eighth-grader. Almost seven feet tall, he vanishes into thin air, duels knights with ninja stealth, lifts the downtrodden, and woos the coolest, best-calved girl in school. Become a middle-grade legend with Stu and his sidekick, Bird Bones, on the journey of a lifetime in Stu Stories.

Review:

You get a two-fer with this review...well, more like a one and a halfer, since my 8-year-old is notoriously lacking in the descriptive writing category. (Hey, we've all got to start somewhere, right?)
At any rate, despite the lack of detail in his review, it was very obvious that he thoroughly enjoyed the book. I gave it to him in the car when I picked him up from school and he read it all the way home, and pretty much didn't come up for air until he finished the entire book the next day. I'm sure he would have finished it sooner if he didn't have to stop to do all that pesky stuff like sleep, go to school and eat. So, without further delay, here is his review:
"I liked it because the author has a great sence of humor. My favorite charicter was Stu because he is very funny. I do recomend this book to others. My favorite time is when Stu hid in the vent, and took the intercom." (Incidentally, that was one of my favorite parts too.)

I enjoyed the book as well, but it is definitely geared toward younger readers. My personal favorite part of the book was the flagpole incident. I enjoyed the strange relationship that Bird Bones and Stu had with each other. Good friends, but neither of them was puppy-dogging the other, or constantly making a pest out of themselves. Well, Stu may have made a pest out of himself a time or ten, but I think that was part of his charm. Definitely a book I would recommend for Elementary/early Middle School readers.

Tour Schedule:

February 14: Literary Time Out || Write, Writing, Written
February 15: My Love for Reading Keeps Growing
February 16: Three Boys and an Old Lady
February 17: Mel’s Shelves
February 18: Kaki Commends
February 19: Reidhead Random-ness
February 20: Book Dreaming
February 21: Community Bookstop
February 22: On the Border
February 23: Queen of the Clan
February 24: Blooming With Books
February 25: Middle Grade Ninja
February 26: Parenting With Purpose
February 27: My Book a Day
February 28: Rockin’ Book Reviews

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91UsWDcFMjL.jpgTitle: Stu Stories
Author: Patrick Hueller
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: January 2017
ISBN:  1462119557
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon Barnes & Noble

Friday, February 10, 2017

Book Review: Rescue Me by Susan May Warren

Rescue Me (Montana Rescue, #2)
Book Description:

When Deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him--not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Falls sheriff's department and PEAK Rescue, but in his private life. He's the one who stuck around to take care of his mother after his father's accidental death. And he's the one--perhaps the only one--who believes Sierra Rose is the perfect girl for him. Safe, practical, and organized, she's nothing like her hippie, impulsive, bleeding heart sister, Willow.

Willow, however, has been in love with Sam Brooks for as long as she can remember. But she wants her sister to have a happy ending. Besides, Willow has other things to focus on--namely, nabbing the job as youth pastor for her small-town church. Best thing for her to do is to purge Sam from her heart.

Neither can predict the events that will bring them together in a fight for their lives in the forbidding wilderness of Glacier National Park. Stranded, injured, and with the winter weather closing in, Sam and Willow will have to work together to save a crew of terrified teenagers. As they fight to survive, they might just discover a new hope for love.


Book Review:

First of all, this is the second book in a series, and if you haven't read the first one, don't start with this one. There is so much going on in this book, and much of it comes from the first book, so even though it all dealt with minor characters, I think the reader would be lost if they hadn't started with the first one.

I did enjoy this book much better than the first one. However, like I said, there was a lot going on. A lot...and it was much like a soap opera. I'm embarrassed to admit that I was totally taken in by that aspect and will finish the series because of it. I generally avoid soap operaish books, but I'm curious about the minor characters so I'll keep reading.

There was a lot of action in this book and, again, it was like, "Can't these characters ever get a break?" I'm not a bear expert in any shape or form, but I did wonder how researched that aspect of the book was. It didn't seem all accurate, but since I haven't done any research I can't say one way or the other.

Like I said, I will read the next in the series because I'm curious about the minor characters, but honestly, I wouldn't recommend this series to my friends.

Rescue Me (Montana Rescue, #2)
Title: Rescue Me
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Revell
Published: January 2017
ISBN:  0800727444
Source: I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Blog Tour: The Remnant by William Michael Davidson

The Remnant

Book Description:

One nation, without God…
          Colton Pierce apprehends Abberants—those who display symptoms of faith—and quarantines them on a remote island to ensure public safety.  Years prior, the government released a genetically-engineered super flu that destroyed the genes believed to be the biological source of spiritual experience in an effort to rid the world of terrorism. As an extractor with the Center for Theological Control, Colton is dedicated to the cause.
            But Colton’s steadfast commitment is challenged when he learns his own son has been targeted for extraction. An underground militia, the Remnant, agrees to help Colton save his son in exchange for his assistance with their plan to free the Aberrants on the island.
            Colton is faced with the most important decision of his life. Remain faithful to the CTC? Or give up everything to save his son?

Rorie's Review:

The tagline of the book drew me in right away. I've always been interested in the dystopian society-type of books. Imagining a world where religion or even acknowledging that there is a God is against the law...well, I can't even imagine it.

Colton was not my favorite person. So entirely full of himself, concerned only with how awesome of a person he was, and how great he was at his job. His family life suffered because of it, but he barely even noticed, because he was so focused on getting a promotion for his job.

Imagine his surprise, shock and horror when he realizes that his son is part of the rogue group of believers that he has been doing his best to eradicate. While Colton never became my favorite person throughout the story, it was nice to read the changes that happened in his life when he was forced to choose between his precious career and son that he was about to lose.

The ending of the book definitely leaves a lot of room for a sequel. Hopefully it's not too long in coming. :) There is some minor cursing in this book, but not too much.

Tarah's Review:

I enjoy the Dystopian genre (which is ironic considering that some of it hits way too close to home. There was a time when I read this genre that it seemed more sci-fi to me, but now it's seeming less and less sci-fi and more and more real.)

I will admit that I struggle with books where I don't like the main characters. Colton was a pompous arrogant jerk for over half of the book. I would have liked this book better if we started in the middle and went from there.

There is some swearing and some editing issues (which may be fixed since I got an advanced copy). While the ending is open for a sequel, it is tied up enough not be be a cliff-hanger.

About the Author:

 William Michael Davidson lives in Long Beach, California with his wife and two daughters. A believer that “good living produces good writing,” Davidson writes early in the morning so he can get outside, exercise, spend time with people, and experience as much as possible.
A writer of speculative fiction, he enjoys stories that deal with humanity’s inherent need for redemption.
For more on Davidson and his writing, connect with him on Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon Author’s Page.


Tour Schedule:

Jan. 23 – The Silver Dagger Scriptorium – Excerpt
                  Tamara Naraya – Q&A and Review
                  Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews – Q&A
Jan. 24 – EmmyMom Taking One Day At A Time – Excerpt and Review
                  Writers and Authors – Q & A
Jan. 25 – Book Dreaming – Excerpt and Review
                  The Five Year Project – Guest Post
Jan. 26 – Patricia Stoltey, Author – Interview
Jan. 27 – Inside the Inkwell – Feature
                 Mythical Books – Guest Post
Jan. 30 – Christine Rains – Writer – Review
                  The Story of a Writer – Excerpt

Jan. 31 – Reviews From The Heart – Review
                 Carole’s Book Corner – Excerpt
                Literature and Lamp Posts – Excerpt, Feature, Review
Feb. 1 – Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf Review, Guest Post
Feb. 2 – Reveries Reviews – Review
Feb. 3 – Deal Sharing Aunt – Review
Rockin’ Book Reviews – Excerpt
Feb. 6 – Murees DupĂ© – Q&A
               Alex J. Cavanaugh – Guest Post
Feb. 7 – Cheryl’s Book Nook – Review
Feb. 8 – Literary Time Out – Dual Reviews
               Mary’s Cup of Tea – Review
Feb. 9 – Live to Read ~Krystal – Review
Feb. 10 – Bookworm1102 – Excerpt
Feb. 13 – 2 Kids and Tired Books – Excerpt
                 Haddie’s Haven – Excerpt and Review
Feb 14 – Tyrean’s Writing Spot – Guest Post and Review
Feb 15 – Book Giveaways – Feature
Feb. 16 – Joylene Nowell Butler, Suspense Author – Feature
Feb. 17 – Year of the Book – Interview
Feb. 20 – Thoughts in Progress – Review
Feb. 21 – Just Us Book Blog – Excerpt
Feb. 22 – Reviews by Crystal – Excerpt

Tour Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xDE-H1FjL.jpg Title: The Remnant
Author: William Michael Davidson
Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press
Published: February 2017
ISBN: 1939844290
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review




THE REMNANT is available to order in eBook form at the following sites:

The print format of the book is available at these sites:
Fiction DB

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Blog Tour: An Inconvenient Romance by Chalon Linton

Reviews * Giveaway
An Inconvenient Romance by Chalon Linton

Book Description:

The countryside of England provided an idyllic backdrop for Charles Brumley’s and Leah Hastings’s childhood. Neighbors and best friends, the pair passed many happy days racing through the rolling hills of Derbyshire. Everything was perfect—until Charles ruined it all and abandoned Leah for university.

Six years later, the former friends are thrust into each other's paths once more. Leah had been looking forward to the ball, an opportunity to further her acquaintance with the handsome Mr. Wilkins—but when she sees Charles’s familiar face through the crowd, her traitorous heart leaps.

Charles faces his own struggle: he has loved Leah since he was fifteen years old, yet it seems he is too late—it appears that her affections are otherwise engaged. As the pair tentatively renews their friendship, the spark between them is undeniable.

After so many years apart, Leah endeavors to reconcile her feelings toward her once cherished companion. But when a conniving rival for Charles’s attention approaches Leah, the threat is clear: give up her association with Charles, or a devastating secret about her family will be revealed. Faced with an impossible decision, Leah must make a choice—the ruin of her family or the ruin of her heart?

Andrea's Review:

An Inconvenient Romance is a cute and sweet story. I liked the characters and enjoyed the long relationship they had had as neighbors that added so much to their feelings. The alternating points of view really added to the story.

As a reader there was a bit of frustration that Charles and Leah didn't just talk to each other, but their fears, coupled with Leah's dedication to her family, made for an entertaining read.

I would read more from this author.

Rorie's Review:

I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn't hit the mark for me. The main two reasons were that there was so much switching between formal and informal names - sometimes several times on a page. It was kind of confusing at times trying to keep track of who was who. The second reason was that Leah kept mentioning that Charles broke her heart, but we never saw anything about how it happened until page 84. That was 84 pages of me wondering what he did that was so bad, because in the first chapter of the book, nothing overly heart-breaking happened.

Other than those two things, the story was OK, but it just wasn't the amazing romance that I was hoping for.

Tarah's Review:

When I first saw that each chapter was alternating perspectives I was a little leery. That can either be good or bad, but I was pleasantly surprised that it added to the story instead of being a huge distraction. I was able to read this quickly and as an added bonus, it's a cute cover :)

This is one of those books that you want to yell at the characters to just communicate with each other and it will all be fine! They don't of course...got to have that tension and conflict I guess. Where would the story go without it?

I was kind of hoping for more on the resolution. I mean, I like how it ended and everything, but the way the conflict was solved I would have liked a little more with what happened to everyone. I guess it wasn't really needed, but I still would have liked it.

Tour Schedule:


Tour Giveaway:

 
An Inconvenient Romance Title: An Inconvenient Romance
Author: Chalon Linton
Publisher: Covenant
Published: February 2017
ISBN: 1524400262
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Deseret Book

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Book Review: The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep

The Captive Heart
Book Description:

Proper English governess Eleanor Morgan flees to the colonies to escape the wrath of a an angry duke. When the Charles Town family she’s to work for never arrives to collect her from the dock, she is forced to settle for the only reputable choice remaining to her—marriage to a man she’s never met. Trapper and tracker Samuel Heath is a hardened survivor used to getting his own way by brain or by brawn, and he’s determined to find a mother for his young daughter. But finding a wife proves to be impossible. No upstanding woman wants to marry a murderer.

Book Review:

I was drawn into this book right away with Eleanor's predicament, but I think the overall feeling is one of anger. While the book is well written and interesting, Samuel just isn't the type of character I enjoy. While there is a lot of admire about him, it just made me mad that he never took the time to actually talk to Elanor. She has no idea what she's doing, and he just leaves her for days on end and never tells her anything. All he ever says is, "Trust me" and for some reason she does. I'm not entirely sure why because the dialogue between the two of them could maybe fill three pages. And most of that would be his yelling at her. I guess I just don't really like the strong silent type, and that kind of ruined everything for me. If you don't mind that type, then you will probably enjoy this book because like I said before, it was interesting and well written.

The Captive Heart

Title: The Captive Heart
Author: Michelle Griep
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
Published: October 2016
ISBN: 1634097831
Source: I received an eCopy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review