Wonderful! Giveaway of 'Stay with Me' - Misty River 1 - by Becky Wade #SWMPrism

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Stay with Me
(A Misty River Romance #1)
By Becky Wade
Christian Contemporary Romance
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages
May 5th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

Loving her is a risk he can’t afford . . . and can’t resist.

When acclaimed Bible study author Genevieve Woodward receives an anonymous letter referencing her parents’ past, she returns to her hometown in the Blue Ridge mountains to chase down her family’s secret. However, it’s Genevieve’s own secret that catches up to her when Sam Turner, owner of an historic farm, uncovers the source of shame she’s worked so hard to hide.

Sam has embraced his sorrow, his isolation, and his identity as an outsider. He’s spent years carving out both career success and peace of mind. The last thing he wants is to rent the cottage on his property to a woman whose struggles stir his worst failure back to life. Yet, can he bear to turn her away right when she needs him most?

My review:

This was a wonderful story about a woman trying to be perfect and do everything she thinks she's supposed to, all while keeping a huge secret that could ruin it all.  While I liked Genevieve and her confidence and flair, Sam seemed pretty much perfect, from his caring and caregiving to his cooking and loyalty.  While he felt he'd messed up royally in the past, I felt that he'd done his best and shouldn't be beating himself up.  Their romance was wonderful with many romantic moments.  The secret Genevieve and her sister investigated was interesting, though I did figure it out.  The spiritual aspect was great, too, as Gen's trying to find God again as she felt far away from him for a while.  Sam's a Christian, too, so they have that in common.  He had his own issues to work through.  I liked the snippets we see of Gen, her sister and their friends' past trauma they survived together and I'm excited to follow their stories as well.  While this was a wonderful romance, it dealt with a major issue but not in too heavy a way.  I highly recommend this book!

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

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Other Books in the Series

Take a Chance on Me
(A Misty River Romance #0.5)
By Becky Wade
Christian Contemporary Romance, Novella
ebook, 97 Pages
February 25th 2020

When baker Penelope Quinn steps in to help her brother’s family through a medical crisis, she’s forced into close proximity with charming Air Force fighter pilot Eli Price.

Penelope has one iron-clad dating rule—she does not date airmen. Months ago, she relaxed her rule with Eli and immediately lived to regret it. After a long deployment, he’s now back in Misty River and, to her dismay, she finds him just as tempting as always.

Eli’s spent months thinking about funny, feisty, creative Penelope. He once leveraged his focus and drive to become a pilot, his childhood dream. Now he's set on leveraging that same focus and drive in order to convince Penelope to give him one more chance.

This romantic prequel novella introduces readers to the quaint mountain town of Misty River and a brand-new series from Christy-winning author Becky Wade!

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Currently FREE

About the Author

Becky Wade is the 2018 Christy Award Book of the Year winner for True to You. She is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, then put her career on hold for several years to care for her children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. Her humorous, heart-pounding contemporary romance novels have won three Christy Awards, the Carol Award, the INSPY Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award for Romance. Becky lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children.

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Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive:
- A $100 gift card
- A paperback copy of Stay with Me
- A hand-knit scarf
- A pair of earrings
- A package of “Georgia Blues” coffee
- A package of apple oatmeal muffin mix

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Loved it! 'Hadley Beckett's Next Dish' - by Bethany Turner

About the book:

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

My review:

This was a wonderfully written romance with food, humor, redemption and did I mention food?  When I first met Max, I thought how in the world are these two going to end up together!  He was such a jerk!  He made a lot of progress, though, and really worked at managing his anger and what and how he said things; Staying away from alcohol helped a lot.  It helped that we got inside his head, as well as Hadley's, so that went a long way in understanding why he did what he did.  Both of them had messed up childhoods, so were a little gun-shy about relationships.  There was a little mention of Hadley's faith and I wished we would have gotten to see what Max ended up ultimately deciding, though I have a guess.  Hadley was such a sweet, Southern woman; even when she tried to be sarcastic it came across as sincere, which was pretty amusing.  She also had some awkward, laughable moments and there were quite a few times I laughed out loud.  She was also incredibly forgiving of Max and gave him chance after chance.  Max grew on me as I got to see what he was thinking and how he cared about Hadley.  Plus he was cute and could cook!  Hadley's grandmother was quite a character; I can't imagine being practically raised by her.  The romance was sweet, with them attracted to each other but fighting it.  This was my first Bethany Turner but I'm immediately searching out her other two books!  I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from Revell.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

           The Author

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   Photo by: Emilie Hendryx © EA Creative Photography

   Bethany Turner

   Bethany Turner is the award-winning author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and Wooing Cadie McCaffrey and the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former bank executive and a three-time cancer...
   

   Continue reading about Bethany Turner 

Wonderful Suspense! 'Standoff' - Natchez Trace Park Rangers 1 - by Patricia Bradley

About the book:

The Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River. It's the perfect road for a relaxed pleasure drive. Unfortunately for Luke Fereday, it's also perfect for moving drugs.

Sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring, Luke arrives too late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, park ranger John Danvers. John's daughter Brooke is determined to investigate her father's murder but soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her.

Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who's going to keep him safe when he realizes he's falling--hard--for the daughter of the man he failed to save?

My review:

This was an exciting suspenseful story with mystery, plenty of action and a second chance romance!  I liked seeing Brooke and Luke investigate her father's murder all while Luke keeps secret his true purpose for being there.  He had a lot of juggling to do!  He seemed like a slacker to Brooke as she thought he was a bartender and he couldn't reveal why he was there but she knew something didn't add up.  Brooke was a determined, independent woman who valued honesty and straightforwardness.  She was once good friends with Luke and just as it was about to turn into more he left without a goodbye.  She's now dating a politician with an adorable daughter yet she's still drawn to Luke fourteen years later.  There's a little bit of romance in the story.  Brooke dealt with a lot in this story, from her dad's murder to her relationship confusion to finding out shocking information about herself, not to mention someone trying to kill her!  Luke's grandma Daisy was a tough lady who spoke the truth and dispensed spiritual and relationship wisdom.  Both Brooke and Luke were also Christians.  I highly recommend this start to a new series and look forward to the next one about her friend Emma!

I received this book free from Revell.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.       

  The Author

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   Patricia Bradley

   Patricia Bradley is the author of Justice Delayed, Justice Buried, Justice Betrayed, and Justice Delivered, as well as the Logan Point series. Bradley won an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award in Romantic Suspense, a Daphne du...
   

   Continue reading about Patricia Bradley 

Very Enjoyable! 'Carolina Breeze' - Bluebell Inn Romance 2 - by Denise Hunter

About the book

A jilted bride. A struggling innkeeper. And a romantic mountain getaway that changes everything.

Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup and scandal, and she finds it in the lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina—the location of her canceled honeymoon. She wants nothing more than to hide and wait for the tabloids to die down.

Soon after her arrival at the Bluebell Inn, Mia meets Levi Bennett, who runs the inn along with his two younger sisters. Drawn to one another from the start, Mia trusts Levi to keep her location from the press, and Levi confides in Mia about the financial state of the inn—a secret he’s been keeping from his sisters.

When Mia and Levi discover an old journal that hints at a rare diamond necklace hidden in the inn, they set off on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost heirloom. What they don’t expect to surface are feelings they thought were safely locked away. Mia and Levi must decide if falling in love again is too big a risk—or if it will uncover a treasure of its own instead.

This Bluebell Inn romance takes us to a quiet North Carolina retreat that holds more secrets than it shares.

My review:

This was another wonderful romance by Denise Hunter!  Mia was a likable character, down-to-earth even while being in the Hollywood spotlight.  She cared about others, from being a volunteer big sister to taking the high road and not trying to get back at the other person involved in the scandal.  She struggled with rejection because of a messed up family situation and her ex breaking off their engagement; she was a Christian, though not very active in her faith lately.  I liked how she remedied that later, along with finally getting closure about her parents.  She also had to realize that God would never abandon her and that He was enough for her.  Levi was a Christian, too, and would pray but was actively lying to his sisters about the inn's true financial state.  It really bothered me because while I understood he felt he needed to take care of his sisters he kept lying to them even when they got into arguments about spending money and they were equal owners!  I got annoyed with some other decisions he made later.  I did like how he was respectful of Mia and didn't ogle her and that he was dependable and loyal, not to mention handsome.  The romance was wonderful; she sure can write some great kisses!  I also liked how we saw his sister Molly's romance continue with Adam.  It was interesting to see Mia discover more about her grandparents as they searched for the necklace.  I wished a little more would have been done with that.  I can't wait for the next book!  I recommend this story that works as a stand-alone but I definitely recommend you read the first book as it's still my favorite!

I received a free kindle copy of this book from Netgalley.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Wonderful! Review of 'Lu' and Giveaway- by Beth Troy

About the book:

"There’s great hope where the road meets the sky – maybe even an answer. But this road leads home. Just home. I thought I’d finished writing that story years ago, but then yesterday’s story happened – the one about the boy who cheats and the girl who leaves."

Lu Sokolowski never planned to return to her small hometown of Dunlap’s Creek, but it’s the only place she can think of to go after her boyfriend cheats on her. Moving back in with her family lets her run away from her problems, but it also means suffering their attempts to reassemble her failed life, including arranging a job as the wedding beat writer at the local paper and setting her up with Jackson, the divorced pastor of her family’s church. Unexpected success and friendships restore Lu to the family and faith she’d left behind. But when the small-town life Lu never intended shakes up, will she run again?

Lu’s story is a journey of a woman back to her family, her faith, and herself. It’s about second chances and the unchosen circumstances that press the point of who we are and what we believe. Are we the sum of our successes and failures, or does our identity rest in a greater hope?

My review:

This story was amazing!  The humor was wonderful with so many laugh-out-loud moments.  I loved Lu and really felt for her trying to find her place in the world after feeling like she'd failed.  I was frustrated with her for some of her choices but a character I really disliked at first who somewhat grew on me was her ex, John.  Jackson, the pastor, was such a wonderful character because of his personality, his faith and how he loved and cared about people.  I liked see their friendship and maybe more grow throughout the story.  I really admired how he stuck by his beliefs when it would have been tempting to compromise.  Lu's grandmas were such characters and I loved the Polish culture and food as I'm Polish and that's not something you see much in stories.  It brought me back to my childhood when I'd visit my grandma.  The spiritual discussions between Jackson and Lu and Jackson's sermons on Ecclesiastes were fascinating with so much insight, such as only God can change a person and we can only find our worth in God.  There were a couple swear words, a few phrases that were a little more gritty than usually seen and Lu was living with John at the beginning of the story but she wasn't a Christian and seeing her journey to faith was wonderful.  There was some romance and it sounds like there will be a book two coming this summer so I'm so excited to see where it goes!  I highly recommend this wonderful story!

I received a pdf of this book from JustRead Tours.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

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'Finding Peace in Wishing Bridge' - Wishing Bridge 3 - by Ruth Logan Herne

About the book:

Being a supermodel isn't just hard.

It can be a killer, so when international sensation Jazz Monroe answered a friend's call for help, she'd just taken a hiatus from the job that made her a very rich woman and almost took her life. Outwardly Jazz was everything anyone would want to be. Beautiful, confident, rich and famous, and often seen on the arm of some of the world's most eligible bachelors, Jazz knows the truth she hides. Her self-confidence is an act and the eating disorder that plagues her refuses to let her rest.

But then she and her old friend Thea are called to help a friend and fulfill a pledge they'd made a dozen years before as high school seniors. If any one of the three ever needed help, the others would come running. Last December, Kelsey made that call and her two old friends, the other members of the "Soul Sisterhood", responded. They're here now. Thea is practicing medicine, Kelsey has married the hero deputy that saved her life and Jazz is finding the hints of peace that have eluded her for nearly two decades. She settles into the little town, helping out at a local diner, waiting for the sky to fall.

It doesn't. Instead, the sun begins to shine, winter fades to spring, and surrounded by new and old friends, Jazz begins to believe in herself. She loves the small town, the kindness of the locals, the warmth of the family diner and the special attention from two very different and distinct men makes her think new thoughts. Thoughts of family and picket fences and settling down.

But an unexpected attack on a wood-edged path reignites her fears and insecurities. Now she's looking in shadows again, doubting herself and others. In Manhattan, locked elevators and a staffed entrance desk kept her safe from intruders.

Wishing Bridge has nothing like that. Here, she lives life at ground level, with no bodyguards watching out for her. But when a local contingent makes it their job to keep her safe, Jazz learns not to sell the small town short. Folks here mean what they say because that's the kind of town Wishing Bridge is.

As Jazz rediscovers the most important things in life, she realizes that happiness isn't about where you are: it's about who you're with. And who you love.

Join Jazz, Kelsey, Thea and the rest of the Wishing Bridge cast as they band together to help the town and one another because together-- in Wishing Bridge-- they can make anything happen. 

My review:

I enjoyed this sweet and suspenseful story set in a wonderful small town.  I liked Jazz and how independent and strong she was.  She had already been through a lot with her career and eating disorder and wasn't about to let a possible stalker scare her away from the future she wanted.  The other characters in the story were great, from the elderly couple to a retired cop to her friends.  They became her family.  Garrett, one of the deputies and a friend who decided to guard her, was sweet and brave and cared about people, from Jazz who he had a crush on to a neighbor teen he hired who needed a job and wasn't getting enough to eat.  There was a sweet little boy with a health condition who just stole my heart, he was so cute and joyful.  His dad seemed to like Jazz as well.  Garrett and Jazz's friends all seemed to have a strong faith while Jazz struggled a bit.  There were some cute romantic moments.  I felt there was a little too much discussion about how to protect Jazz and their strategy but overall I liked this story and I need to catch up on her friends' stories by reading the first two books in the series.  This one did work well as a stand-alone.  I recommend this book if you like a sweet romance in a wonderful community.

I received a free pdf of this book from JustRead Tours.  I was not compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Happy Book Birthday! 'This Wandering Heart' - Madison River Romance 1 - by Janine Rosche

About the book:

In the first entry in the Madison River Romance series, Keira Knudsen gets the traveling opportunity of a lifetime, but when she reunites with her first love, Robbie, she learns that even a wandering heart needs a home....

No one in the quaint town of West Yellowstone, Montana knows that unassuming geography teacher Keira Knudsen moonlights as sensational travel blogger Kat Wanderfull. No one, that is, except for her first love, Robbie Matthews, who has just discovered the woman he is falling for online is the same one that broke his heart five years ago.

But Robbie has another problem: the mother of his daughter, Anabelle, has resurfaced after a three-year absence determined to rip Anabelle away from him. Robbie needs a steady paycheck for a chance at custody, and now, on the eve of a grand adventure that could give Keira a chance to flee her old, troubled life once and for all, she is in need of assistance.

With so much broken trust between them, Keira and Robbie must keep an arms-length away to make this partnership work. But the more time they spend together, exploring majestic places and sharing new experiences, the closer they get--until their secrets and dreams threaten to cost them everything.

My review:

This was a wonderfully written love story from a debut author!  Robbie was such a wonderful hero, putting his daughter first and also supporting Keira's dream.  He was incredibly handsome, funny, loved God but also wasn't perfect.  He had a learning disability and felt dumb when he had a hard time writing or reading.  I loved how he prayed for everyone and how he handled the whole messy situation with the mother of his child was amazing when she acted so horribly.  His daughter was so adorable; she almost stole the show!  Keira was finally realizing her dream yet hadn't quite gotten over Robbie and was also dealing with a difficult past and an annoying boyfriend.  John drove me nuts.  I don't know what she saw in him.  I think it must have been her insecurity after dealing with an abusive and controlling father.  Her father made me incredibly angry; I was relieved we didn't see him much.  I loved her sense of adventure, her love for travel and photography.  It was fun exploring with them.  She had a big heart and volunteered in the different towns they stopped in.  I felt she blew something a little out of proportion that didn't seem like a huge deal to me.  I wasn't sure if she was a Christian at first but later I realized she was.  I would have liked a little more development in that area or explanation of how each of them got to that point as it seemed like Robbie became a Christian sometime in high school and it wasn't clear to me when or how Keira did.  There were some wonderful romantic moments and I also loved getting a glimpse of when they first got together in high school.  While this story dealt with some real-life issues it didn't dwell on them or go into too much detail.  I can't wait for the next book in the series!  I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from the author.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Wonderful New Start to a Series & Giveaway! 'The Lost Lieutenant' - Serendipity & Secrets 1 - by Erica Vetsch

About the book:

Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.

Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.

Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith.

Read an excerpt from Kregel by clicking here!

He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?

My review:

This was a wonderful start to a new regency series and I can't wait for July when the second one comes out already!  The romance was wonderful.  There were a lot of sweet moments as they tried to navigate their new relationship while keeping their secrets from each other, so some misunderstandings as well.  It was interesting to see how a man dealt with what would be considered PTSD now when they didn't really have a name for it then.  I admired his bravery after serving in the war and his compassion and integrity as he was thrown into being an earl and not knowing what was expected of him while trying to forge a marriage with a woman he didn't know.  He put Diana first right from the start and it was sweet to see him take care of her and protect her.  Also seeing how he cared for fellow soldiers and horses he served with was wonderful.  There were some truly smarmy and conniving men in this story, from Diana's brother and her father to her brother's best friend.  They made me so angry!  I couldn't fathom how she survived in her father's household at all and I really felt for her as she had no control over her future before she married Evan and then was thrown into a marriage with a complete stranger.  I liked seeing her gain confidence in who she was as she designed, decorated and oversaw the estate being renovated.  Both Evan and Diana were Christians, though Evan seemed to have a stronger faith while Diana questioned if God heard her as all of her prayers seemed to go unanswered in the beginning.  Marcus was a wonderful and wise friend to Evan and I grew to really like him while wondering what secrets he kept.  I was excited to see the second book will be about him!  There were some suspenseful moments in the story as well.  I highly recommend this book!


I received this book free from Read with Audra and Kregel.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

About the author

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate. Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks. A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England. Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Twitter (@EricaVetsch), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch). Enter the Giveaway here!