Giveaway and Review of 'Falling for the Cowgirl' - Big Heart Ranch 2 - by Tina Radcliffe

Welcome to my stop on the JustRead Publicity Tour's BLOG TOUR for Falling for the Cowgirl by Tina Radcliffe.

Title: Falling for the Cowgirl
Series: Big Heart Ranch, Book 2
Author: Tina Radcliffe
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: June 19, 2018 (Print) July 1, 2018 (Ebook)
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Western
Links: Goodreads l Book Bub

She won the job ... Can he win her heart?

Hiring Amanda ͞ AJ ͟McAlester as his assistant at the Big Heart Ranch isn’t foreman Travis Maxwell’s first choice — but his sisters insist she’s perfect for the job. And AJ’s determined to prove she's just as qualified as any man. But with money on the line, AJ and her innovative ideas could put him at risk of losing everything ... including his heart.

My review:

This was a fun story about a cowgirl looking for a place to call home and a stubborn and prideful cowboy who just might be that place.  AJ was a tough, smart, determined woman and I really admired her strength and that she stood up for herself and with a little bit of sass!  She really gave Travis a run for his money and there were a lot of amusing scenes and fun banter between them, and with the other ranch hands.  She had some interesting ideas to make the ranch successful in winning a grant proposal.  They were both Christians and struggled with trusting God; they both had had to deal with losing family and feeling abandoned.  Travis struggled more with pride and needing to prove his worth through his success while AJ kept people at arm's length so she wouldn't get hurt again.  There was a little bit of romance as they navigated working together but falling for each other and not wanting to mess up the working relationship.  There was also some excitement as cattle rustlers show up and there's a rodeo!  This worked fine as a stand-alone although it's book two.  I would recommend it if you like romance, cowboy or ranch stories.

I received a copy of this book from JustRead Publicity Tours. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes | CBD | Book Depository | BAM! | Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Originally from Western, N.Y., Tina Radcliffe left home for a tour of duty with the Army Security Agency stationed in Augsburg, Germany and ended up in Tulsa Oklahoma. While living in Tulsa she spent ten years as a Certified Oncology R.N. Her move to Colorado led to a career as a library cataloger. A freelance writer for over twenty years, Tina is a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, two-time Carol A ward finalist, and a 2014 ACFW Carol Award winner. She currently resides in Arizona where she writes fun, heart warming romance.

Stay up to date on all her releases by signing up for her newsletter HERE.(http://bit.ly/2angfWP)

TO CONNECT WITH TINA: website, facebook, twitter, pinterest, instagram, Book Bub

 GIVEAWAY

Tina has graciously offered (1) winner an awesome Falling for the Cowgirl prize pack that includes:

• An autographed copy of Falling for the Cowgirl
• Corkcicle Canteen Classic Collection-Water Bottle & Thermos-Triple Insulated Shatterproof Stainless Steel, 9 oz, Gloss Pink
• ESVAN Original Floral Tote Bag Shoulder Bag for Gym Hiking Picnic Travel Beach
• 20.00 Amazon Gift Card

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below.  Complete prize open to US mailing addresses only. If international winner, winner will win the gift card only.

ENTER HERE or use the Entry Form below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway will begin at midnight June 25, 2018 and last through 11:59 PM on July 4, 2018. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Be sure to stop at a stop each day for extra entries!

JustRead Launch Page

Laugh-Out-Loud Funny! 'How to Be a Perfect Christian' - by The Babylon Bee

About the book:

With a biting, satirical style reminiscent of The Onion, How to Be a Perfect Christian takes a humorous look at the quirks of cultural Christianity while subtly challenging the reader to search for more than a cultural faith.

Written in the trademark style of The Babylon Bee, this book humorously satirizes cultural Christianity while peppering in subtle challenges to the reader. Through humor and sarcasm (and a handy meter to rank your "holiness" as you progress through the book), readers will be called to find a more biblical understanding of the Christian faith, all while poking fun at the quirks of the modern, American Christian community.

My review:

This book was very funny, especially if you like sarcasm!  Some parts made me laugh out loud and others made me question if I do that, even just a little bit.  There were some convicting moments and I could see some Christians being very convicted by this book.  Nothing is sacred, not the church service, music, spiritual gifts, how we act on social media or what's considered acceptable entertainment.  It is interesting to take a step back and really look at the Christian subculture and why we do some of the things we do.  It made me a little sad to think there are probably a lot of people out there trying their hardest to be perfect hoping that will get them into heaven.  It's hard not to fall into that trap.  I liked that this book pointed out that grace would be an awesome alternative and explained the gospel.  I definitely recommend this book if you like humor.

I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

About The Babylon Bee

The Babylon Bee is the most popular Christian satire website, with more than 300,000 Facebook fans, and over 70,000 visitors to the website daily. They are a trusted voice in humor across a wide range of modern Christians.

Read the First Chapter here!

Things I Never Told You - Thatcher Sisters 1 - by Beth K. Vogt

 

This was a wonderfully written book about sisters who don't know how to relate to each other and then one of them is suddenly diagnosed with cancer.  Payton's twin sister died ten years ago and she's never really dealt with her loss or guilt over her sister's death.  She switched her life plans and everything looks completely different than she thought it would at the age of sixteen.  Now she's having nightmares about her sister, losing sleep and not understanding why now.  Zach, a classmate from high school, suddenly reenters her life, wanting to make amends for his part in her sister's death but she wants none of it.  He tries to tell her about his faith in Jesus but she's not interested, especially when this same faith was pulling her sister away from her that last year.  Is now the time to really grieve and come to terms with the loss of her sister?

Jillian's finally getting engaged after she feared she would never get married when she's hit with a cancer diagnosis.  Will her fiance still love her or will he stay out of pity?  Their oldest sister, Johanna, has to always be in control and butts heads with both sisters as she tries to plan not only a wedding shower for Jillian but tries to push her into a new plan for her wedding.  Meanwhile, she's been engaged to her fiance for years and they have a long-distance relationship.  What's holding her back?

I really liked the characters, especially Payton, Jillian and Zach.  I felt really sorry for Payton and can't imagine how hard it would be to lose a sister, much less a twin.  There was an almost otherworldy quality as she keeps dreaming that her sister is talking to her and asking her questions but it's made obvious that these are just dreams and she's not a ghost.  However, that doesn't stop her from feeling haunted.  I play volleyball, too, so I felt I had a little in common with Payton; I could relate more to Jillian, including her personality, except for the cancer diagnosis and Johanna drove me nuts!  I would probably be like Payton and challenge her more than Jillian because her need for controlling everything would get to me.  I'm interested to explore more of why Johanna is the way she is as we don't get inside her head like we do the other two.  I also like that we get Zach's viewpoint.  He seemed like a great guy who had turned his life around and was willing to do the hard things is that was what God asked of him.  I really admired that.  There's a little bit of romance but the story focused more on dealing with grief and learning how to move on and choose to live.  It wasn't done in a depressing way, though.  Payton also started to look at her sister's faith with Zach's help.  It's always interesting to have a main character who isn't interested in God at all and see their journey.  I would recommend this book if you like contemporary issues, books about sisters and women or just a well-written story.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

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Harp on the Willow - by BJ Hoff

About the book:

Love is patient and kind…1 Corinthians 13:4

West Virginia, 1869

Three years ago, Dr. Daniel Kavanagh settled down in the quaint town of Mount Laurel and established a medical practice there. The single doctor has been nursing an unrequited crush on Serena Norman, the local schoolteacher.

Just down the road lies the coal mining town of Owenduffy, considered by most in Mount Laurel to be a backwoods hamlet. When the mine company’s doctor abandons his post, Daniel agrees to visit one day a week, much to the consternation of his fellow residents, including his secret love, Serena.

Addie Rose, the daughter of an Owenduffy coal miner, has a gift for caring for others. When a receptionist position in Daniel’s office suddenly becomes available, what windows of opportunity will God open for Addie Rose—just a job, a possible career as a nurse, or maybe something more?

Harp on the Willow is a touching tale of true love, the kind that can only come from a Savior who first loved us.

My review:

I liked this story about a small-town doctor, his medical practice and the two women he's interested in who couldn't be more different.  It was interesting to see what the medical practices were like during the 1860s in America.  It was also sad to see what the justice system was like then, too, as men who beat their wives weren't usually punished.  I felt for him as it would have been hard to treat women who you couldn't really help.  I liked how much he cared about others and put them first, even to the detriment of himself.  He had a strong relationship with the Lord and prayed often.  One thing I thought was odd was that he prayed for two deceased people and he wasn't Catholic.  I also liked the moments of humor as Daniel could be pretty amusing when he wanted to be.  There were a few romantic moments but the scene I was really waiting for took place off page, so I was disappointed  at the seeming build-up.  I would recommend this story if you like historical fiction.

I received a copy of this book from Harvest House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

Meet the author

BJ Hoff

BJ Hoff’s bestselling historical novels continue to cross the boundaries of religion, language, and culture to capture a worldwide reading audience. Her books include Song of Erin and American Anthem and such popular series as The Riverhaven Years, The Mountain Song Legacy, and The Emerald Ballad. Hoff’s stories, although set in the past,...

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Deceived & Honored - The Baron's Vexing Wife (Love's Second Chance 7) - by Bree Wolf

About the book:

A simple man. A vexing lady. And an unforgettable night.

LADY MADELEINE has vowed not to marry below the rank of an earl. Using her clever wit and fierce determination, she has passed up several marriage offers as well as successfully sidestepped the occasional scandal. Ultimately, her choice falls on the Earl of Townsend who is handsome, rich AND an earl and thus everything she’s ever desired in a husband.
Until one night when her plans go horribly wrong, and she is compromised by the wrong man.

DEREK MCKNIGHT, BARON AINSWORTH, is a self-made man. As a farmer’s son, he gained glory in the war and was given a run-down barony for his service to the crown. Now, he only wishes to keep a safe distance from the peers he despises and rebuild his estate to see his family and tenants well settled.
Until one night when he sees a raven-haired lady on the arm of a man from his past.
Determined to protect her, he takes a wrong step, dooming them both.

Will Madeline ever be able to see past his title? Can Derek come to love a woman of high standing?

My review:

I enjoyed this story about a seemingly mismatched couple who find they have a lot more in common than they thought.  While I usually review Christian books, this was classified as a clean story and there wasn't really a faith element.  There were a few swear words.  There was some romance and while it did get passionate, it didn't go too far and I agree this was a clean story overall.  I liked how Madeline grew from a spoiled rich girl into a strong, capable woman.  Her values got a little off course for a while but she came to her senses.  Derek seemed like a great guy who was just trying to do the right thing and it got misinterpreted.  I loved how he encouraged Madeline in her growth and took care of his family so well.  It was interesting learning more about the time period, such as learning how to light the tinderbox or some of the medical practices of the day.  I liked a lot of the secondary characters, too, and am interested to read their stories.  I would recommend this story if you like Regency romances.

Disclaimer: I received a kindle copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.