Falling for a Devoted Cowgirl - Vargas Ranch 6 - by Karen Baney

 

About the book:

They’ve secretly loved each other for years. He’s hung up on their age gap. She can’t get him to see her as the woman she’s become. Will they let go of their fear to find true love?

When former pro bull rider, Adan Franco, discovers he’s been named the guardian of a twelve-year-old boy, his world turns upside down. He must head to New Mexico to settle the estate. As he fumbles through his new status as a single dad, he leans on the woman he’s secretly loved for years.

Solana Vargas is desperate for Adan to see her as something other than his best friend’s kid cousin. At twenty-five, she’s matured into a devoted friend and loyal member of the Vargas clan. If only Adan could come to see her as wife material, all her dreams could come true.

Will helping him settle into life as a single dad finally force him to see her in a new light? Will they ever take a chance on love together?

My review:

This was a sweet story about a mutual unrequited love that might have never gone anywhere but for the boy Adan's made guardian of.  Solana is a selfless person anyway but also thinks maybe spending more time with Adan will open his eyes to the woman she's become.  She ends up taking time off of work to travel with both of them to help pack up the mother's house.  She ends up bonding more with both Adan and the boy but starts to wonder if Adan likes her for her or is just looking for a mother for him.  Solana seemed very kind and caring and the only thing holding Adan back was their age difference.  Adan seemed like a very wise and caring guy, even letting his reputation suffer to protect the boy.  They both have a strong faith in God with many mentions of prayer and getting godly advice from friends and family.  There was some sweet romance to the story and also helping the boy deal with grief.  This story works well as a stand-alone even though it's book six.  I would recommend this story if you like a sweet romance, however I wasn't that crazy about the narrators as I listened to the audiobook.  I didn't really like their voices or the lack of emotion they portrayed.

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

Amazing Start to a New Series! 'Jack' - The Minnesota Kingstons 1 - by Susan May Warren

 

About the book:

There's Trouble in the North...

Meet Jack, a tracker with a past he’s trying to escape. The first epic book of the Minnesota Kingston series by USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren.

Her secret blew apart his life—and now she needs his help? If only he could say no…

Ten years should be long enough for Jack to forget the girl-next-door, his kid sister’s bestie and the woman—no, girl—who derailed his life. Now, he sort of likes his loner world as a missing person’s tracker. Well, mostly. But of course, when he returns home for his sister’s wedding, there she is…
Nope, not forgotten at all.

Of course Jack the Grump has shown up for his sister’s wedding, and by the way he looks at Harper, um, clearly her sins aren’t forgiven. So what—she’s sooo over her best-friend’s brooding, dark oldest brother. Really.

Then a bridesmaid goes missing.

And sure, Harper is a journalist who knows how to sniff out truth, but the clock is ticking and there’s only one person who can help…Perfect. No problem. She’s not going to fall for her childhood crush again. Promise.

Yes, Jack can admit that Harper’s not the girl he used to call Pigtails anymore. She’s all grown up…but he’s not going to get burned again. Still, what’s a guy going to do?

So, find her missing friend, get the bride down the aisle and ditch town before they find themselves in over their heads…or worse.

Dead.

Jack is a best friend’s brother, childhood crush, grumpy-to sunshine, sweet but sizzly romantic suspense about second chances and finding the family you always wanted…

My review:

I could not put this story down!  This has a couple of my favorite tropes plus I love the idea of Jack helping find missing people for a living.  You add in that one of my favorite authors is writing it and I knew I would not be disappointed!  I loved the romance and their history and the suspense was great as they worked together to find the missing bridesmaid, Penelope.  I also liked that the bridesmaid had a true crime podcast and they were trying to figure out if her disappearance was related to that or not.  There was some talk of God and faith and Jack had to look at his life and figure out some stuff about his past and his choices.  There was a hint of a romance brewing between Jack's brother and Penelope and the next book will focus on them.  There's also an intriguing subplot involving another brother and a woman he knew from his Navy Seal days as she sneaks around in disguises and believes she's trying to stop a terrorist plot and he doesn't seem to realize who she is.  I'm sure more will be uncovered in the next books!  It was such fun to see previous characters from other books but this book worked well as a stand-alone if you haven't read any of the other series.  I can't wait for the next installment!

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

Amazing Debut! 'The Color of Home' - by Kit Tosello

 

About the book:

The life she's designing may not be the life she's meant to live

Bay Area interior designer to the rich and pretentious, Audrey Needham is already on thin ice with her impossible-to-please boss when her great-aunt Daisy asks for support as her husband descends into Alzheimer's. Now Audrey is risking the career she worked hard to build as she returns to Charity Falls, Oregon.

Her feelings toward the idyllic small town are . . . complicated. While she has many good memories of her childhood summers there, Charity Falls is also the place where her father was killed in a tragic fire at the Sugar Pine Inn thirteen years ago.

Despite Audrey's intent to avoid emotional entanglement, something should be done about the deteriorating inn. A local girl with an incarcerated father needs a friend. And handsome local do-gooder Cade Carter is coloring Audrey all shades of uncertain. The pull of home is hard to resist.

My review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel about a woman who thinks she knows what she wants out of life until she's thrown a curve ball that makes her question everything.  I loved how she went from this high-powered designer who's stressed out all the time to getting a job at the local hardware store and helping her great-aunt fix up her house and take care of her great-uncle.  She also befriends a little girl who's going through a hard time and meets an intriguing man, Cade.  As much as she loves it in the small town, it's hard because her father died there and her career is in California.  She's torn between two very different worlds.  I loved the quirky things she would think or say sometimes.  The book talk and music mentions were fun.  We also got her great-aunt's perspective of dealing with major changes in her life and her wisdom and gratefulness for the life she's had.  She also encouraged Audrey to reconnect with her faith as she'd let it drift away to a degree.   There was some great writing and life lessons along the way.   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. 

   © Ely Roberts

   Kit Tosello

   Kit Tosello is an award-winning writer of small-town contemporary fiction with a big heart, as well as inspirational essays and devotionals. With her eye trained on the beauty hiding in plain sight all around us, she arranges words with tenderness, humor, and...

   Continue reading about Kit Tosello 

Another Winner! 'Fiance Finale' - Love Off Script 3 - by Angela Ruth Strong

 

About the book:

Charlie Newberg is sure about one Nicole Lemaire is the woman God wants him to marry. There's a slight problem, though—he's already left her once. The day before their wedding. To make a documentary.

But he's got a plan. The marketing firm she works for is the ideal choice for promoting his new film. Collaborating will give him the perfect chance to propose again, so he conspires with her boss to make sure she runs the campaign for the same kind of documentary Charlie left her—basically at the altar—for.

Despite Nicole's resistance, the two work well together. But Charlie's going to need more than teamwork to convince the jilted bride to give him a second chance. In fact, he might need to fall in love in a way he's never really understood.

My review:

This was such a fun book, mostly because you never knew what Charlie would say or do!  There were different twists and turns where you thought the story was going one way and then it didn't.  It was wonderful to see Charlie's sister, Meri, from the first book and catch up with her and Kai.  I haven't read book two yet but plan to soon; Charlie's friend's story sounds just as hilarious as him and his sister's.  The story does work as a stand-alone but Meri's story is not to be missed!  Both Charlie and Nicole have such growth throughout the book in different ways.  I loved that Charlie had this strong community around him who encouraged him when he needed it but also called him out on his mistakes and had real Godly wisdom about his purpose and about love.   Nicole is estranged from her dad for betraying their family and isn't sure if they'll ever reconnect.  She starts to understand the importance of community herself.  There were some good romantic scenes and also some hilarious ones.  I highly recommend this satisfying story!

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

Sweet Regency Romance! 'The Gentleman's Confession' - Matchmaking Mamas 3 - by Anneka R. Walker

 

About the book:

Inexperienced in love, Jemma seeks help from her best friend, Miles, unaware that he has secretly loved her for years.

Brookeside, England, 1822

Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector with a talent for understanding matters of the heart.

However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Trapped by his own selfless nature, Miles fears he will never be more than a humble rector in her eyes.

Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance jeopardize their years of friendship, or will it reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever.

My review:

This was a fun Regency romance with one of my favorite tropes, the friends to lovers romance, but clean of course.  We have one very independent woman who never wanted to marry and one best friend who suddenly realizes he might lose the woman he loves for good.  To top if off, she wants him to help her fall in love with someone else!  The frustration and yearning were palpable throughout the story as you see Miles struggle to be selfless while his own heart is breaking.  Jemma, meanwhile, is also trying to be selfless as she believes Miles and her cousin are meant for each other and she doesn't want her heart broken.  Misunderstanding ensue.  I did get pretty frustrated with Miles as he should have just explained himself to her cousin.  Even though he had never courted her, much less proposed, there was an assumption on her part and everyone else's that they were going to be together so the right thing would have been to explain his intentions so she could be free.  This would have also freed Jemma and himself from one misunderstanding, anyway.  This was more of a clean read than a Christian book as there wasn't much about faith even though Miles was a vicar.   However, many vicars of that time were appointed or positions bought for second sons who wouldn't inherit.  There were a lot of sweet moments with lingering glances and some kissing.  Overall, this was a fun read with a satisfying romance!  I would recommend it if you like romance.

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

Sweet Christmas Romance! 'Meddling with Mistletoe: A Red Door Inn Christmas Romance' - Prince Edward Island Dreams - by Liz Johnson

 

About the book:

The recipe for romance is simple: sweets, treats, and mistletoe meets

Whitney Garrett is preparing to enter culinary school in the spring, but first she has to sell enough homemade pies at the local Christmas markets to pay her tuition. When her oven breaks, Whitney asks Marie Sloan, proprietor of the Red Door Inn, if she can use the inn's kitchen to keep up with her orders. Marie agrees, with a catch: Whitney has to watch the three Sloan children and cook breakfasts for the Red Door in return.

The inn is busy with holiday guests--including Aretha Franklin Sloan's perpetually single nephew Daniel and Ruby, a businesswoman in town to purchase Aretha's antiques store. Intent on making a Christmas match for the two, Aretha enlists Whitney's help in her schemes. But the deeper Whitney gets, the more she realizes that Ruby is not the right woman for Daniel--and the more she thinks that she just might be his perfect match.

My review:

This was a perfect Christmas romance about a grumpy numbers guy who avoids Christmas and is forced to spend time at the Red Door Inn with creative Whitney and the three adorable children she's watching.  He gets pulled into spending time with them and eating the delicious food she prepares and realizes what he's been missing.  His heart was broken by his fiance and he's focused on nothing but work since but he starts to hope that maybe his life can have more.  I liked that Daniel isn't the usual perfect hero as he seems to be a little bit autistic and has a hard time reading social cues. His ex-fiance made him doubt himself even more and it doesn't help that Whitney fights her feelings since she's supposed to be helping match him with Ruby, the businesswoman negotiating to buy his aunt's store.  She also needs the money for tuition that Aretha agreed to pay her for helping and she wants to prove to her parents that she can finish something as she's had trouble following through on things.  Which will win out, her feelings or her goal?  Will Daniel find out about the matchmaking plot?  There's a subtle faith message as Daniel attends a rehearsal for the Christmas pageant and is reminded of God's love and presence.  The romance was very sweet and it was great to catch up with prior characters in the series and meet their children!  I highly recommend this sweet Christmas story!

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

           The Author

1. 

   © Erin McFarland

   Liz Johnson

   Liz Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 novels, including Beyond the Tides, The Last Way Home, and Summer in the Spotlight, as well as the Georgia Coast Romance and Prince Edward Island Dreams series....

   Continue reading about Liz Johnson 

Wonderful Start to a New Series! 'A Thieving at Carlton House' - Of Cloaks & Daggers 1 - by Erica Vetsch

 

About the book:

The Home Office has asked Sir Bertrand Thorndike to head an investigation into stolen royal jewels. And as with everything concerning the Prince Regent, discretion is paramount.

It's the perfect chance for Bertie to step out of his brother's long shadow. Unfortunately, his superior, the Duke of Haverly, has a plan that makes him balk. In order to sell his cover, Bertie must play the part of a man looking for love, ready to reform his rakish ways.

Philippa Cashel escaped a life as one of society's best-known courtesans and now devotes her time to helping other women in dire straits. Her hope is that laboring hard enough at her charity work will allow her to feel worthy of God's forgiveness of her past. So when Sir Bertrand Thorndike approaches her about becoming an agent of the Crown, she is skeptical. Why her? She's focused on getting her school for underprivileged women up and running, not on cloak-and-dagger skullduggery.

But when two of Philippa's rescued girls become targets, Philippa risks partnering with Bertie to find the loot and stop a killer.

My review:

This was a wonderful start to a new series but also such fun to see characters from past books and get caught up on their lives.  The combination of romance and investigation and suspense in the Regency period was fun and interesting.  Bertrand and Philippa themselves were fascinating characters as  Philippa's past makes her pretty unique as the heroine of a Regency and then you have Bertrand's years of spying and his public persona, not to be confused with his real one.  I loved how tough Philippa was and how she stood up for the fallen women she was trying to help.  It was wonderful to see how Bertrand started to slowly change as he used to hold himself aloof from most people and situations but he started to care and get invested in helping.  Philippa struggled with feeling unworthy because even though she repented she still felt like so much more of a sinner than other people.  There were some good conversations both about that and her bitterness towards her father and the importance of forgiveness.  I can't wait to see where this series takes us as we get to know Philippa and Bertrand better and see how he handles his new mission and whether Philippa will join him in it!  I highly recommend this book!

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