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.

Enjoyable Addition to Heritage! 'Here With Me' - Home to Heritage 2 - by Mandy Boerma, Tari Farris & Susan May Warren

 

About the book:

He’s helping her stay. She’s making sure he can leave. This second chance at love in a small town will tug at your heart and make you believe in love all over again.

Love ignites in a last-chance hardware store, but will their hearts, like the failing family business, require a rescue?

She just wants a fresh start…

Inheriting her best friend’s daughter and a store on the brink of collapse, Sadie Hoover is determined to provide Lottie a stable life and keep the family business afloat. But her resolve is tested when the past walks in, wearing a tool belt and a smile that still weakens her knees.

Is he back to break her heart?

David Williams, once the love of Sadie’s life, returns to Heritage not as the missionary he was, but as a man in search of healing and purpose. Tasked with community service, he’s thrown into the daily grind of nuts and bolts, unaware that the hardware store’s troubles—and Sadie’s struggles—are more than just loose hinges and unpaid bills.

What will it cost her to fall for him again?

As they grapple with financial peril and the echoes of a love once lost, David and Sadie are forced to confront what they truly want. The store’s impending foreclosure looms over them, a testament to their joint past and the future they must shape.
If the store fails, they lose not just a legacy, but the second chance life has offered them. Can they rekindle their love while saving the heart of Heritage, or will their dreams rust away like forgotten tools?

Can love be rebuilt from the ruins of their shared history, or will the fight for survival drive the final wedge between them?

My review:

This was an enjoyable addition to the Heritage sphere of characters as we get to revisit this wonderful small town and reacquaint ourselves with past characters while getting to know Sadie, David and Lottie.  This is a second chance romance as Sadie and David dated seriously a decade ago but a misunderstanding split them up.  Now David's back and trying to figure out if God's still called him to Costa Rica or is he to follow a new plan?  Sadie's a widow, taking on her family's hardware store but realizing too late how much trouble it's in, all while raising her step-daughter and going through the process of adopting her.  That's a lot for anyone and she's used to taking care of everything herself because she can't really trust anyone to help, including God.  She'll decide the plan and then ask God to bless it.  David feels like he knows the plan but for some reason it's not coming together like it should, so he needs to try harder.  They were both very stubborn people, which was frustrating at times, as it seemed like they should have learned by now.  David kept making the same mistakes and was sure he was meant to go back to Costa Rica but hadn't asked God about it. Sadie was too scared to trust him again and then when she started to, her worst fears seemed to be realized.  What they had was a failure to communicate!  David had a lot of good people in his life giving him great advice and it shows how important it is to listen to wise counsel.  Sadie, too, had her family in her corner and the story and this town of Heritage really shows the importance of community and supporting each other.  It also showed the importance of forgiveness and following God daily and being open to whatever His plans may be for you.  The romance was satisfyingly sweet and you should enjoy this story if you like romance.  

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

Another Enjoyable Addition to the Series! 'Firestorm' - Chasing Fire: Montana 4 - by Lisa Phillips & Susan May Warren

About the book:

He thought his life was over…and then she walked back in. Charlie Benning has always been a rescuer—first with the Last Chance County Fire and Rescue team, and now as a firefighter with the Jude County Hotshots. But this summer isn’t about saving lives—it’s about hiding his own terrible secret. A secret he’s keeping from his estranged daughter, Alexis. But fate is about to intervene. Will their secrets destroy their second chance? 

Jayne Price raised her son, Orion, on her own just fine, thank you. And now, she runs Wildlands Academy, a summer camp that teaches kids how to fight forest fires and confront their own teenage angst—kids like Alexis Price, who clearly has a chip on her shoulder about her semi-estranged, firefighter father. And Jayne has her own issues, like not wanting her only son to join the elite smoke jumping corps. It’s enough that he’s risking his life as a hotshot on the Jude County team. Then the wildfire turns its force onto the camp and suddenly the hotshots show up to help her fight it. Only problem…the last person she expects is for her former flame, Charlie Benning—the man she can’t forget—to show up working alongside her son. Rather, his son. Who he doesn’t know exists. And then Charlie discovers the secret she’s been keeping, and he’s torn between anger and the long-simmering love that refuses to die. And Jayne isn’t about to let go of the man she loves a second time. 

But if the blazing wildfire isn't enough, a dangerous and relentless killer is on the prowl in the woods…Now, with the camp cut off from the outside world and the fire closing in, it’s a race against time as Charlie, Jayne, Orion, and a team of courageous smokejumpers join forces to protect the campers against a merciless inferno and a murderer. But the biggest threat of all might be Charlie’s devastating secret that could destroy the happy ending they’ve waited for for so long.

My review:

I've been enjoying this whole series and this one was another winner!  Jayne had a strong faith but also a strong fear about her son going into smokejumping.  She and Charlie both know what it's like to make mistakes and regret them but she tried to live in the present instead of dwelling on the past.  I admired the life she carved out for herself and her determination to get where she was today.  I was a little more frustrated with Charlie as he was so stubborn about a decision he made and was continuing to make.  He was blind to his own worth and importance to people, at least at first.  It was nice to see people from previous books on Charlie's team and catch up with them.  There were some cute romantic moments and I liked the strong sense of community, from Jayne's students to the firefighters.  There was plenty of excitement, too, as a plot that's been ongoing about a killer shared the page with a gigantic fire that threatened the camp and everything else!  I would recommend this book if you like romantic suspense!  

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