Journaled With Love - by Erma M. Ullrey

 

About the book:

Lost words, found love — a misplaced journal may spark a happily-ever-after in this You’ve Got Mail-style Rom-Com
Macie Grammerly’s mother delivers an ultimatum—come home and work for the family business, or forfeit further financial support. Booted from her privileged jet-set life, Macie leaves sun-soaked Hawaii for Idaho. On her unglamorous bus ride to and from work, she pours her heart into her journal, writing about her dreams and the love she longs for.
Focused on his career, Ryan Tiggs’s five-year plan includes climbing to the top of a family-owned business. Then he can buy a car and move out of the garage apartment at his sister’s home. When he’s assigned the boss’s spoiled daughter as his intern, and they’re tasked with saving the floundering company, Ryan wonders if his days are numbered.
Everything changes when he finds a journal left on the bus. The anonymous writer’s vulnerability captivates him and sparks a secret email exchange that soon feels more real than anything else in his life.
As Macie and Ryan continue to work together, an undeniable attraction grows. Yet things are complicated by their individual online correspondence. When the truth is revealed, will they fight for the love they never saw coming or walk away from the one person who has always been there for them?

My review:

This was a cute story about co-workers who don't really get along in person but end up corresponding anonymously online and falling for each other.  This is one of my favorite plots and You've Got Mail is my favorite movie.  It was interesting to have a journal be the catalyst of them meeting online as Ryan really got a glimpse into the real Macie.  She acted kind of horrible to him at work and did or said things sometimes that didn't make sense.  It was hard to like her at first but she took some good advice from her sister and started seeming more humble and teachable instead of a know-it-all.  She did have some hard things happen to her when she was younger, like having lost her father who she was closer to and having dated a complete jerk who ends up being an in-law so she has to see him a lot.  These caused her to question her faith and turn away.  I also felt for her and the struggles with her mom, who was laying down the law and making her do a job she didn't know if she wanted, especially when she'd end up taking Ryan's job away just because she was the boss's daughter.  It would be a tough position.  

Ryan seemed too perfect for most of the story, from his looks to helping with his family, teaching Sunday school and a sweet but odd thing, getting a call by mistake from an elderly lady and calling her back and then taking her out to eat multiple times.  She was sweet, feisty, wise and a lot of fun.  I liked her a lot but I was surprised her daughters were so trusting of him so quick.  He seemed to have a strong faith but then it did bug me how he started acting at work, taking time off suddenly and not helping Macie when he should have since he figured he was on the way out anyway.  That just seemed petty.

This was a sweet romance and overall a cute story.  You might like it if you like romance and plenty of misunderstandings on the path to love.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author.  I was not compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Wonderful Message and Fun, Colorful Illustrations! 'If Jesus Came To My School - by April Graney, Illustrated by Yana Kozak

 

About the book:

In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a young girl learns how Jesus’s love can shine at school through her compassion, kindness, and inclusion.

In this whimsical tale, a young girl imagines what it would be like if Jesus visited her school as a boy. She would show Jesus around her classroom, introduce her friends and teachers, listen to story time, and eat lunch together! But Jesus wouldn't stop at learning and sitting in class. He'd invite the lonely to join in on games and find a way to love and get along with everyone. Soon the young girl realizes that even though Jesus doesn’t attend her school, he can live through her.

I can be his hands and feet
To spread his love to all
I can share and help and give
So no one feels too small!

Through rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, children will be inspired to make a difference in their schools through their actions. Because as they treat each other right and classes become families, Jesus truly will be in their school.

My review:

This was an adorable book, from the great illustrations to the wonderful message of  treating everyone with kindness and showing Jesus's love to others.  I loved the bright colors and expressive faces of the children and there was a great range of diversity with many skin tones, hair colors, hairstyles and races.  There was also a child in a wheelchair and a few with glasses.  It was funny to find the class guinea pig on almost every page and discover what she was doing.  It was cute to picture a child showing a young Jesus her cubby and class pet, along with guiding Him as they go throughout the day.  But it was inspiring for her to realize He wouldn't just play and have fun but He would include kids and help them get along.  It's a great message for kids to realize that they can make a difference every day in how they treat people and that they're being Jesus's hands and feet when they do.  Hopefully, this would spread to others and make their school a better place!  I would highly recommend this book for 3-8 year olds!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Waitin' on Paige - Romance in Valiant 4 - by Mary Pat Johns

 

About the book:

Tavo Morales has returned to Valiant, Texas, to stir the embers of a relationship with the woman he has never stopped loving, but hidden reefs from his past threaten to destroy his future.

Paige Muñoz wants her new event planning business to be a success and won’t let anything stand in her way. But the path she’s on to make her dreams come true proves dangerous.

Is the love Tavo and Paige once shared strong enough to survive his secrets and her stubbornness?

My review:

This was a sweet story about a second chance at love.  Tavo and Paige both had issues with trust because of their childhoods. Tavo's been trying to win her back and it seems he might finally have her attention after he suffers an injury.  Then a celebrity client shows up to turn her head and he thinks all is lost.  I was a little frustrated with Paige as I get having trust issues but when it seemed like she left first for college and didn't come back, then why would she think he shouldn't leave?  They seemed to have a great relationship in high school so it felt like her fear didn't make a lot of sense to me.  It also seemed like she wasn't listening sometimes as he would tell her how he felt and she would get the opposite message.  I also felt like he could have explained things better and sooner as I felt he should have warned her about the celebrity with information he found out and not just vague comments.  He also didn't tell her very important information as soon as he found out later.  Tavo had wandered from his faith for a while after leaving Valiant and took a while to come back to it.  Paige decided to do her own thing concerning her ambition and not see what God's timing was.  Tavo had a great pair of friends who told him the truth, no matter what, and confronted him when necessary.  Paige's friends seemed like great ladies, too.  I think their stories were in the prior books and sound cute.  This was book four and worked as a stand-alone but it would have been nice to read the other couple's stories first as they were  very cute together in this one.  This was a sweet story for fans of second chance romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for reviewing this book.  All opinions are my own.

Didn't Want to Put it Down! 'Shadowed Witness' - The Secrets of Kincaid 2 - by Angela Carlisle

 

About the book:

Murder--that's what photographer Allye Jessup knows she witnessed as she departed her studio one evening. Waking with bruises on her neck and a foggy memory, she believes she survived an attack, but everyone seems to think she simply sustained a head injury from falling down the stairs of her studio. Plagued by an undiagnosed health condition, she is torn between the haunting reality of what she may have seen and the possibility that her mind is playing tricks on her.

Without proof the other victim ever existed, Detective Eric Thornton can hardly declare the area a murder scene. Still, he adds Allye's report to his already full caseload. But when new evidence surfaces to support her claims, Eric must stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer and uncover the truth before the suspect closes in on Allye again.

Angela Carlisle once again presents cutting-edge romantic suspense laced with danger, deception, and justice.

My review:

I did not want to put this book down!  The suspense started out exciting enough as Allye survived a vicious attack but then people didn't believe her and with the health problems she's been having, she started to question herself, too.  But then another, even more confusing one happens and no one's sure of what's going on.  I really felt for Allye as she had enough to deal with trying to figure out her health problems on top of just trying to survive them day to day, especially the debilitating migraines.  Then you add on attacks and people questioning your sanity and the suspense was really ratcheted up!  I liked that she wasn't a perfect character as she struggled with trying to do it all on her own; she was feisty and I loved how she stood up for herself verbally and physically when she needed to.  Eric had an intriguing backstory as a son of drug-addicted parents who worked to put criminals behind bars, especially drug dealers.  I liked that he was interested in giving back and getting involved in kid's lives, like someone did for him.  He knew Allye from high school and was good friends with her brother so was inclined to believe her but needed evidence.  When they kept getting thrown together, old crushes resurfaced.  I liked seeing a peek into the investigations and also seeing Allye's artistic side as she took photos and knitted for an upcoming festival.  Allye prayed throughout the story and Eric was a man of faith, also, but struggled with forgiveness.  There were some sweet romantic moments.  This worked well as a stand-alone but I look forward to reading book one about her brother.  I would recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Full of Action! 'Burning Secrets' Chasing Fire: Alaska 4 - by Susan May Warren

 

About the book:

RESCUE. DANGER. DEVOTION.
THIS TIME, THEIR HEARTS ARE ON THE LINE.

Wrong place, wrong time…

Wildlife biologist JoJo Butcher isn’t just a smokejumper for the Midnight Sun crew—she’s also in Alaska to finish up her wolf research…until, oops, she finds herself face-to-face with a wolf with nowhere to go…
And then she’s rescued by a hero from the woods. Who exactly is he, and what secrets is he hiding?

He's living a double life...

Undercover FBI informant Michael Crew Sterling hates his life. Buried deep inside a domestic terrorist group, he’s in over his head, trying to discover their lethal plans. And then he saves the life of JoJo Butcher, and suddenly she is sunshine to his dark soul…

Until she accidentally walks into nightmare.

Now Crew must keep her alive by proving that she’s his girlfriend. And she has to play along, or they’ll both be killed. And when they discover what the group is really doing, Crew will have to make a choice that could cost him everything he’s sacrificed to save the woman he’s falling for.

Book four in the epic Chasing Alaska series is an edge-of-your seat tale of danger, loyalty, and the power of hope in the darkest night.

My review:

There was one action-packed moment after another in this story!  From tracking wolves and being attacked to ending up in the middle of a domestic terrorist group, there's not a dull moment for JoJo.  Not to mention her actual job of being a smokejumper!  There was also time for romance in between all of the running for your lives bits as JoJo and Crew fall quickly for each other.  They work at trying to figure out what the group's plan is and what their next move might be and also make time for some great spiritual conversations about faith and trust and not letting darkness win.  I loved that she wasn't a damsel in distress type as yes, Crew had to save her, but she also was a bit of a MacGyver and did a pretty good job of saving herself, too.  The story continues in the next book and while I wasn't lost for having missed some of the previous books, it would have filled in more of the story of some of the other characters mentioned.  I would recommend this if you like romantic suspense.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Amazing Debut! 'Anything' - Mayberry University 1 - by Kristina Welch

 

About the book:

Two guarded hearts.
He’s breaking down walls and she’s building them higher—
A match made in Heaven, or a blueprint for disaster?

After the fiery downward spiral of senior year, Kit Talbot crash-lands on a quirky college campus where traditions rule and dorm floors act more like family. It’s just weird enough to keep her mind off the wreckage she’s leaving behind.
Enter Levi Whitaker, known as the swooniest guy on campus. Magnetic, confident, and far too much like the ex who sent her life into that PTSD-tainted nosedive. Levi seems to be everywhere, focused on her like she’s the only girl in the world—even indulging her sugar addiction with delivered treats. But Kit’s self-preservation instincts are sharper than ever, and she deflects him like Wonder Woman blocking bullets.

That is, until Levi’s quiet faith and humble apology start to break down Kit’s defenses. He loves Jesus in the dreamiest way, looks like wow, and ... somehow triggers the flashbacks she fights so hard to avoid. Every minute with him is a risk she isn’t sure she should take. Should she protect them both from the chaos of her life or learn a bravery that feels irresponsible?
As Kit fights to keep her life safe and manageable, she leans into her faith, clinging to the Bible verses God whispers to her heart. Clearly, he’s up to something, but the healing she prays for isn’t happening the way she wants.

Why is God silent on the prayer she needs most?

My review:

This was an amazing debut!  I loved all the fun pop culture references and great music referenced.  I had to stop listening to the book so I could look up some of these and found some great new bands to me!  This book was humorous and fun while also having a great spiritual message.  Kit has a hard time trusting for some reason.  Levi can't understand why she seems to be the only girl not interested in him but he knows she's worth pursuing.  Both of them try to listen for the Lord's leading and I loved all of the verses that came to Kit's mind and how she prayed throughout her day.  Her relationship with the Lord was inspiring.  They had a great friend group who were a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to reading about them in future books.  I liked that the story dealt with mental health and trauma but felt like Kit should have realized her options sooner.  The romance was very sweet and wonderful and I loved seeing how both of them grew throughout the story.  I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the next one!

No Place Like Home - Magnolia Bay 2 - by Betsy St. Amant

 

About the book:

The girl he always loved ran away to join...the circus. But will a homecoming give him a second chance at giving her a reason to stay in this unrequited love romance?

Magnolia Bay’s development director, Cade Landry, would do anything for his town—and his family. So when the mayor—who also happens to be his father—decides to retire, he talks Cade into running for his seat. But Cade is already up to his dimpled cheeks in the town’s post-hurricane revitalization fundraiser—Magnolia Days, featuring a flashy Cajun Circus. If Cade can’t put the bay back on the map as a tourist town, he’ll let the whole community down…and worse yet, his father.

Rosalyn Dupree is a famous aerialist with a secret—actually, quite a few of them. Much to Cade’s relief, she agrees to return to Magnolia Bay for the first time in years as a headliner for the Cajun Circus. But neither her charming former school rival Cade nor her parents know she’s broke, in debt, and nursing a knee injury...among other things. She’d love to move back to the bay for good, but the beloved sport that used to let her fly has become her cage.

Despite her best efforts at resisting, sparks fly between Cade and Rosalyn as they work together on the circus fundraiser. But when everyone’s secrets are revealed and worlds collide, will Rosalyn find forgiveness and restoration in a town being rebuilt? Or will there never be anywhere to truly call home?

My review:

This was a sweet love story set in a beautiful small town that's a little down on its luck after a hurricane.  Rosalyn and Cade's back story was very cute, rivals all through school but secretly had crushes on each other.  It was fun seeing them reminisce about pranks and school experiments gone wrong like volcanoes and the epic battle for valedictorian.  That's why it surprised me so much when the extent of Rosalyn's secrets came out.  She's obviously smart and I couldn't understand how she could have made so many poor choices or that she couldn't figure out some answers herself.  I can understand her struggle with perfectionism but not really Cade's struggle to live up to his family's legacy as I don't have any politicians in my family.  I can understand his trying to do everything himself as I struggle with that at work as well.  There were some cute romantic moments and some suspense.  Rosalyn felt distant from God but felt she had to fix her problems first and then she could come to Him, which I think most of us have felt at one time or another.  Cade was such a noble guy in so many ways, trying to help everyone.  I loved his food obsession.  I also loved the other quirky characters in town, especially the crabby barista, and the wonderful sense of community.  This town reminded me of the town from Gilmore Girls, which I loved.  This worked well as a stand-alone but I want to read the other books in the series as Cade's friends seemed great and their stories sound really cute!  I liked this story and would recommend it if you like romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I wasn't compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.