Enjoyable Collection! 'This Time Around' - by Denise Hunter, Melissa Ferguson and Kathleen Fuller

 

About the book:

A Summer Detour  by Denise Hunter

In order to prove herself to her parents, free-spirited Allie Adams undertakes the responsibility of delivering her grandparents’ newly-restored ’57 Chevy for their 50th wedding anniversary party. But an unfortunate oversight forces her to make the road trip with Luke Fletcher, the man who callously broke her heart years ago.  

The journey soon dissolves into a series of misfortunes, obliging the antagonistic travelers to spend even more time together. As they overcome challenges and obstacles, they remember the spark that once flared between them. But they must decide if they’re willing to risk their hearts again—or if the personal cost is simply too great.

Pining for You  by Melissa Ferguson

Theo Watkins III is a respectable man—the kind who drives a Tesla, not a tractor. But when he discovers that the caretaker of his family-inherited Christmas tree farm is injured during planting season, he drives up to support the man who has been like a father to him.

Three months into her move back to the family farm, Skye Whitesides expected to run into Theo eventually. What she didn’t expect was for Theo to offer up his services for the farm. Not that he has any services—her childhood best friend and the man who broke her heart seventeen years ago wouldn’t know which part of the shovel was the handle. As the two are forced to work together, she finds herself lowering her guard and starting to trust Theo. Is he truly the man she hopes him to be, or will he break her heart again?

He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not  by Kathleen Fuller

Thirty-five-year-old Sophie has spent years making her floral shop, Petals and Posies, a success, and her love life has suffered. She’s avoided romance since her ex broke her heart, but now she’s ready to start dating again.

Joe, also thirty-five, has known Sophie since kindergarten, but sparks have never flown between them. He’s finally decided to get back into the dating pool after spending the past fifteen years coaching, teaching, and working with underprivileged kids. He decides to ask out Sophie. But to his dismay, someone else is also vying for her attention.

Should Sophie listen to Joe—and her heart? Or should she take a chance with Landon, the slick lawyer she’s also attracted to? Will Joe, who hates conflict, do the easy thing and let Sophie and Landon be together? Or force himself out of his comfort zone because he is unable to let her go?

My review:

I enjoyed these stories that were sometimes funny, sometimes sweet but ultimately about forgiveness and second chances.  There was plenty of romantic moments, misunderstandings and crazy situations.  These stories were never boring!  There really wasn't any element of faith to them but all were clean reads.  These stories are all stand-alones but I noticed at least two are related to other books by the authors, which was a fun surprise as I hadn't known that beforehand.  Overall, these are fun, sweet romances I recommend if you're looking for a happily-ever-after!

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

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Beautiful! 'The Nature of Small Birds' - by Susie Finkbeiner

 

About the book:

In 1975, three thousand children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. When one of those children announces her plans to return to Vietnam to find her birth mother, her loving adopted family is suddenly thrown back to the events surrounding her unconventional arrival in their lives.

Mindy's father grapples with the tension between holding on tightly and letting his daughter spread her wings. Her mother undergoes the emotional roller coaster inherent in the adoption of a child from a war-torn country, discovering the joy hidden amid the difficulties. And Mindy and her sister struggle to find the strength to accept each other as they both discover who they truly are.

Told through three distinct voices in three compelling timelines, The Nature of Small Birds is a hopeful story that explores the meaning of family far beyond genetic code.

My review:

This was a wonderful adoption story with a family overflowing with love but who'd also had their fair share of grief.  It was fascinating to follow this family in three different timelines as they remember how they came to adopt Mindy and the months following, then how Mindy and the older sister grapple with being teenagers and so different from each other in the late '80s to 2013 where Mindy decides she wants to find her birth family.  I had never heard of Operation Babylift so I found it fascinating to learn about it and some of the issues surrounding it.  I also loved how books and music were mentioned throughout the story and I'm going to look into those, too, as they sound wonderful.  I especially loved the dad as he had such a gentle way about him and a tender heart for his daughters.  He also had a strong faith.  Sonny, the oldest, made me laugh and there were moments that made me cry.  All of the characters were wonderful and so was the writing.  I highly recommend this book!

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

           The Author

1. 

   Bree Rose Photos

   Susie Finkbeiner

   Susie Finkbeiner is the CBA bestselling author of All Manner of Things, which was selected as a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, and Stories That Bind Us, as well as A Cup of Dust, A Trail of Crumbs, and A Song of Home. She...

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Another Winner! 'Set in Stone' - The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone 4 - by David James Warren

 

About the book:

Rembrandt Stone is on the case of a serial killer. But when the killer finds him first, he puts the one person Rembrandt loves in his cross hairs. Now, Rembrandt must outwit time to save the people he loves.

The continuing adventures of Rembrandt Stone from the creative minds of James L. Rubart, Susan May Warren and newcomer David Curtis Warren, writing as DAVID JAMES WARREN.

My review:

This was another amazing addition to the series!  I love how you're never sure what's going to change as he jumps back, fixes what he can and then tries to figure out what happened, what changed and not let anyone realize he doesn't know what's going on half the time!  This one was a little different as he thought this timeline might have to be the final one and he was trying to understand where his life was at in terms of wife, kids and career.  He was coming to terms with regrets and starting to look forward, then the twist!  This story brought a little bit more faith in.  There's also some great action scenes and some romance.  Sometimes I felt like he jumped to conclusions with the serial killer case but I guess I'll find out in the next book!  I can't wait!  I highly recommend this fascinating series!

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

Delightful! 'Then Came You' - Deep Haven Collection 4 - by Rachel D. Russell, Presented by Susan May Warren

 

About the book:

He’s in Deep Haven to relax.

Detective Daniel “Boone” Buckam is more than burned out. After fourteen stellar years on the job, one bad judgment call—and, fine, a whole lot of cynicism—has forced him into a mandatory vacation. If he can get his head on straight, there’s a job as Police Chief waiting for him back in his Minneapolis suburb.

But then he meets Vivien.

Actress Vivien Calhoun isn’t really a drama queen. Sure, she gets swept up in the emotions of life—but please, she’s an actress. Or, um, was until a stalker made her flee the bright lights of Broadway. Now, she’s passionate about directing her local theater production. But when she accidentally ropes an uptight police detective on vacation into her cast, she can’t help but wonder if he might be the leading man she’s always longed for.

Of course, she’s in trouble.

Boone can’t help but like Vivien. He might even have a type—vivacious and bubbly, with a penchant for attracting danger. He can smell trouble even if she can’t, and is pretty sure her stalker has hunted her all the way to Deep Haven. He’ll have to stay by her side—even if it means being in her silly play—to keep her safe. But Vivien is more than he expected as she helps him discover a part of him he’s locked away…the part that said he could never love again.

So much for relaxing.

It’s summertime in Deep Haven, and the fun is heating up in this laugh-out-loud, charming story.

My review:

This was a wonderful addition to the Deep Haven collection as we get to see why Vivien's back in Deep Haven from New York City as she showed up unexpectedly in the last book as a side character.  Boone is from one of Susan May Warren's other series, P. J. Sugar, and there were a lot of characters from multiple other series that are set in Deep Haven so that was a lot of fun to catch up with them.  Both Boone and Vivien feel like they need to live up to expectations and prove themselves but both are having a hard go of it for different reasons.  I enjoyed watching them work through their pasts and baggage to discover who they were meant to be.  There was something that one of Boone's buddies said about embracing the life you have, not the one you expected to have or others expect you to have that was a good reminder for me as well.  There was some humor, some wonderful romantic moments and some suspense.  I highly recommend this book if you like romance!

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

An Unexpected Love Story - by Ellie Hall

 

About the book:

Catherine played it safe with book boyfriends—until Kellan, her nemesis, writes himself into her story.

Let’s not talk about how I was let go from my job and had to take a position as coffee-girl at a publicity firm. We definitely won't discuss their newest client and how he was the former love of my life. However, it’s fair to mention that Kellan Connelly is now my fiercest adversary.

I’ve spent the last decade playing it safe with book boyfriends—avoiding frustratingly attractive and three-dimensional guys like him.

When my roommate finds the Boyfriend Book, a silly relic leftover from my teens, it prompts a dare; go on five dates and pick one to be my Valentine. I can't say no, especially if it means proving to myself and Kellan that I’ve moved on.

Despite braving the dating jungle, none of the guys comes close to being my one true love. Except Kellan. He’s infuriating, confusing, catnip…and it turns out he has a secret.

With a love letter and a plane ticket in hand, can I leave my baggage behind and decide between love, hate, and the lies I told to protect my fragile heart?

My review:

This was a cute story about second chances that had some sweet romantic moments and plenty of angst!  We're not quite sure of the whole background and we get bits and pieces as the story develops of what happened between Kellan and Catherine over a decade ago.  This is a clean read, not really a Christian story as there are maybe a couple comments about Jesus and prayer in passing.  The main focus is on forgiveness as Catherine is dealing with some major hurts from their past and struggling to overcome them.  I felt like the issues between them are talked about a little too much and just when you think they've finally resolved them, it starts again.  I wished for a little more to the dating dare.  There's a couple surprises but nothing too unexpected.  You might like this story, especially if you like second chance romance.

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

Interesting! 'Mysteries of the Messiah' - by Rabbi Jason Sobel

 About the book:

Are you settling for half the story? Highlighting connections that have been hidden from non-Jewish eyes, Rabbi Jason Sobel will connect the dots between the Old and New Testament, helping you see the Bible with clarity as God intended.

Most people—even people of faith—do not understand how the Bible fits together. Too many Christians accept half an inheritance, content to embrace merely the New Testament, while Jewish people may often experience the same by embracing only the Old Testament. But God has an intricate plan and purpose for both the Old and the New.

In Mysteries of the Messiah, Rabbi Jason Sobel reveals the many connections in Scripture hidden in plain sight. Known for his emphatic declaration “but there’s more!” he guides us in seeing the passion and purpose of the Messiah. Mysteries of the Messiah:

• Uncovers connections between the Old and New Testaments
• Connects the dots for readers with details about Jesus, the Torah, and biblical characters
• Written with the unique perspective of a rabbi with an evangelical theological degree

No matter how many times you have read the Bible, Mysteries of the Messiah will bring fresh perspective and insight. God’s Word, written by many people over thousands of years, is not a random selection of people and stories. Rabbi Jason Sobel connects the dots and helps us see with clarity what God intended.

My review:

This was an interesting book that brought out a lot of Jewish history and tradition to show connections between the Old and New Testaments of the Bible or what's also known as the Jewish Bible with the Christian New Testament.  He pointed out where events happened on feast days in the New Testament and what the feasts meant and how they connected.  He also talked a lot about numerology and how letters and words have numbers in the Hebrew alphabet and how words and phrases connect to each other based on the same numbers that add up, which I hadn't really heard about before and sometimes it made sense to me and sometimes it felt like a bit of a stretch.  Mostly he was pointing out how the Jewish Bible points to Jesus as the Messiah in many different verses, either with certain words they use, the foreshadowing they do that parallels events in the Old and New Testaments or numerology that connects words and phrases to each other.  Overall, I found it very interesting and I learned more about the Jewish roots to my faith.  I recommend it!

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

About the author: Raised in a Jewish home in New Jersey, Rabbi Jason Sobel dedicated much of his life in pursuit of a spiritual connection with God. After years of seeking and studying, he encountered God and found his true destiny as a Jewish follower of Yeshua (Jesus). Suddenly, all the traditions Rabbi Jason grew up with took on new depth and meaning as God connected the ancient wisdom of the Torah with the teachings of the Messiah. Rabbi Jason received his rabbinic ordination from the UMJC (Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations) in 2005. He has a B.A. in Jewish Studies (Moody) and an M.A. in Intercultural Studies (Southeastern Seminary). He is a sought-after speaker and has made multiple appearances on national television, including the Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Daystar Network, and the Dr. Oz Show. Rabbi Jason is the author of Breakthrough: Living a Life That Overflows, Aligning with God's Appointed Times, and Mysteries of the Messiah and he is also the coauthor of New York Times bestseller The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi with Kathie Lee Gifford. You can learn more at www.rabbisobel.com. Excerpt: As a young Jewish boy growing up on the streets of New Jersey, I encountered many things that influenced me. My parents and their faith were my heritage, but my friends and their ways were different. It was a little challenging to reconcile everything. But while I became fluent in the culture, even learning how to “rap with my homies,” I remained faithful to our Jewish tradition. Not just because I had to but because I wanted to. Yet I often felt there was something more. At the age of sixteen I found myself one day in a state of meditation. This was something I did regularly as I attempted to figure out things in the midst of a world that was constantly pulling me away from spiritual things. It was an ordinary day but a truly extraordinary experience in that I had a personal encounter with Yeshua. This was the first time I’d ever felt as though the Lord was speaking directly to me. It was so unbelievable and yet so real, and I will never forget His words. He said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” In my innermost being I knew exactly what he was saying, but I needed to ask, “Lord, am I chosen?” He sweetly smiled and replied, “Yes.” I was overcome by the peace and presence of God— energized and in awe of the experience. I felt as if I were in a state of euphoria. This filling, which was much like an indwelling, kept me in a state of deep contentment. I ran down the steps and into my front yard. Not caring who was watching, I jumped up and down, screaming at the top of my lungs, “I am called to serve Him! I am called to serve Him!” At this same moment my mom pulled into the driveway and saw her good little Jewish son running around in circles like a crazy man for all the neighbors to gawk at. Surely she thought I was mashugana (a Yiddish term describing a person who is nonsensical or silly). I didn’t care; I was so elated by the fact that God, the God who created the universe, wanted to use me. Although she did not understand what was happening to me, my mother did not want to rain on my parade. There was only one problem. I wondered, What does it look like for a nice Jewish boy to begin serving Yeshua? I had no clue. My best friend was John. I met him as part of a wannabe Filipino gang. We became close, practicing martial arts together and discussing spiritual things. By this time, John had become a believer in Yeshua and talked about it with me as often as possible. One day he called and asked, “You went to Hebrew school as a child, right? Do you think you could tell the difference between the Old and New Testaments if I read you some passages?” I said, “Sure.” He read me a passage about this guy dying on a cross and asked if it was from the Old or New Testament. I said, “Obviously it’s from the New Testament because it’s talking about Jesus.” He read another passage: “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities. . . . He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.” Then he asked, “Is this from the Old or New Testament?” I said, “It must be from the New Testament because it sounds like it’s talking about Jesus.” John paused, then said, “It’s from the Old Testament, from Isaiah 53 (vv. 5, 7 niv). Isaiah was a Jewish prophet who lived seven hundred years before the Messiah was born.” That got my attention. After our conversation I agreed to go with John to the messianic synagogue led by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, who would later write the highly acclaimed and bestselling book The Harbinger. During the service, Rabbi Cahn talked about being “born anew,” but I didn’t think a good Jewish boy should ever do that. However, when he gave the invitation, I stood up. Rabbi Cahn led me in a prayer to receive Yeshua. My friend had prayed to lead one Jewish person to faith in Messiah Jesus, but he never thought it would be me. After the service I was given the first New Testament I had ever seen. I took it home, not quite sure what had just happened, and hid it in my room— God forbid my parents should find it. Of course, Mom did find it and confronted me: “What is this? Don’t tell me you’re a Jew thinking about believing in Jesus!” By then, I had read the New Testament and believed that Jesus was the One that Moses and the prophets had foretold. He was the One who spoke the words of eternal life. My mom was concerned and called our rabbi to meet with me. I knew I needed to verify for myself that Yeshua was the Messiah of the Hebrew Bible. As I studied in preparation for my meeting with the rabbi, I made a list of all the messianic promises and prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures that I could find. I wanted to make sure I clearly understood and could articulate what I believed about the Messiah based on the Hebrew Bible and Jewish sources. The rabbi asked me how I had come to believe in Yeshua as the Messiah, and I read all the passages that had impacted me. I believe that by discovering the connections between the Old Testament and New Testament, your life can be transformed like mine. I liken it to experiencing your faith in high definition. When you “see” Jesus and the Bible in HD, you enjoy greater richness, sharpness, and clarity of details that you would have otherwise missed. Taken from “Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today” by Rabbi Jason Sobel. Copyright 2021 by Rabbi Jason Sobel. Used with permission from Thomas Nelson Publishing. Watch more videos of Rabbi Jason Sobel sharing about Mysteries of the Messiah on YouTube.