So fun! 'The Heartfelt Formula' - by Leslie Kirby Devooght

 

About the book:

She’s got a formula for love… but real life isn’t a Christmas movie.

After another breakup, Atlanta attorney Hope Elliot decides to stop waiting for her happily-ever-after and write it herself. Inspired by her beloved Christmas romance movies, Hope crafts The Heartfelt Formula: a foolproof plan including snowball fights, cookie baking, and a perfectly timed first kiss.

Trading the big city for coastal Georgia, Hope sets out to find her small-town soulmate. But the actors in her carefully plotted scenes keep shuffling—especially when Brennan Taylor, her ambitious co-counsel continues to fill in for Cole Walker, the carefree furniture maker, who Hope cast as her hero.

Between courtroom drama, a mismatched leading man, and a mistletoe mishap, Hope must decide if she’ll trust her formula or accept a plot twist that might leave her all alone, or perhaps, with the happiest ending of all.

A faith-filled romantic comedy for anyone who believes love, like Christmas, can still surprise you.

My review:

This was such a fun story and would make a great movie!  I loved the premise because I, too, am a huge fan of Hallmark, Great American Family and similar movies.  I had to laugh as yes, they may be formulaic, but actually trying to recreate scenes or manipulate an outcome you want is probably not going to go like you planned.  There were a lot of cute, Christmassy scenes that yes, you guessed it, didn't quite go as planned.  Sometimes Hope seemed so oblivious or stubborn as I thought how could she not see that or realize this.  I loved her generous and caring heart but was also surprised at what she ended up doing as there were a couple of twists.  I understood her wanting to control things but she started to learn to give that to God and start trusting Him with her life and future.  I also liked that she had some real conversations with her mom and others and found out some things she had misunderstood and that she realized she should start listening to good advice..  Brennan was a great guy who was a little too focused on work and seemed standoffish but that just goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover.  If you like rom-coms, do not pass this one up!

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

Wonderful Collection! 'The Last Noel' - by Sarah Hamaker, Jayna Breigh & Kimberley Woodhouse

 

About the book:

Christmas novellas from three award-winning suspense authors

The Last Noel is a riveting Christmas novella collection with suspense, intrigue, and second-chance romance.


"Do You See What I See?" by Sarah Hamaker

Oakleigh Wright's estranged foster sister reappears late one night desperate to hand off her children. Oakleigh agrees to bring them to their aunt out of state, but her travels are intercepted by a ruthless gang. She turns to her ex, Joseph, for help. Will they rekindle their love as they uncover what the gang seeks?


"Do You Hear What I Hear?" by Jayna Breigh

Trial lawyer Elise Sinclair resigns herself to a lonely Christmas reviewing legal documents—until her renegade fiancé, Jack, reappears. He is jobless, broken, and seeking forgiveness. Can two battered hearts overcome secrets and restore their love?


"Do You Know What I Know?" by Kimberley Woodhouse

When Faith Thibodeaux returns to her Cajun-style food truck in Alaska after an accident, the last thing she expects is to find out that her ex-boyfriend is the executive chef of a new restaurant. When they return to their hometown over the holidays to fundraise, will the "friendly" competition restore their love or rip them apart forever?

My review:

This was a great romantic suspense collection about second chances at Christmas.  The action and suspense were plentiful along with some sweet romance.  There were also good faith-filled conversations as the characters were believers but might need some help forgiving or trusting God for the future.  I also liked that there was a wise person who gave great advice, whether a relative or friend.  There were some fun and festive Christmas traditions that really made the stories Christmasy and as a foodie, I loved the last story about Cajun-style food.  Now I need some!  I also enjoyed the tie-in to Woodhouse's Alaskan Cyber Hunter series, though you don't need to have read those to enjoy the story.  I liked that the stories ended with hope and that even though the characters went through hard things, they knew that God was in charge and that He would never leave them.  I highly recommend adding it to your Christmas collection!

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

Cute Rom-Com! 'One Wild Chance' - Chance Brothers Ranch 1 - by Grace Worthington

 

About the book:

She isn't supposed to care about the ranch.
She definitely isn't supposed to fall for the oldest Chance brother.
And she's absolutely not supposed to trust him with her heart a second time.

Summer Daniels built her life on land she doesn't own, for a family that could take it back the second Jaxon Chance decides he wants it. Even though she works for Lucky Chance Ranch, Wildflower Farms is hers—the one thing she's built entirely on her own. She's got no interest in reliving the past, and even less interest in the infuriating hockey player who broke her heart on his way out the door after high school.

Jaxon Chance built his whole identity on hockey. A career-ending injury just took that away, and it's sent him back to the last place he ever wanted to be—his family's horse farm, now failing under a mountain of debt. The only way to save it is to run the place alongside his three brothers, under the terms of a will that gives them no choice.

What he didn't plan on was Summer Daniels, running her business on his family's land, making him remember exactly what he walked away from.

But somewhere between their first fight and long days working the horses side by side, something shifts. Summer stops bracing for the day he leaves again. And Jaxon stops pretending he wants to go.

The farm is what brought him home. But she might be the reason he finally stays.

TROPES:
Rivals to lovers
Cowboy romance
Closed door romance
Grumpy sunshine
Second chance
Small town

ONE WILD CHANCE is book one in the Chance Brothers Ranch series—a sweet, closed-door, second-chance, rivals-to-lovers cowboy romance with grumpy/sunshine chemistry and forced proximity.

My review:

This was a fun rom-com about rivals Jaxon and Summer who compete over everything and have since they were teens.  He doesn't want to be back home and starts out cocky thinking he knows what the ranch needs but there are some amusing incidents where he finds out he needs to learn a thing or two.  It was also cute how they were drawn to each other like when they were younger but both try to resist, her more than him as she's sure he'll leave again.  Her father left when she was little so has a hard time believing a man will stay, especially one who's left once.  I enjoyed the laugh-out-loud banter between them and the swoony kisses.  It was sweet to see him helping a kid's hockey team and also how supportive he was of Summer's dream of turning the barn into a wedding venue.  It's not all fun and games as Summer's mom has Alzheimer's and she pays for her care plus sees her mom slip away more all the time.  This was a clean read and I don't believe it's faith based as I don't remember faith being mentioned.  I would recommend it if you like rom-com's.

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

Charming! 'New Beginnings in Shady Springs' - Shady Springs 4 - by Sarah Anne Crouch

 

About the book:

When the storm passes, can two guarded hearts believe in love again?

After six years of widowhood, high school biology teacher Clara Lewis has settled into a quiet life in Shady Springs, Arkansas, pouring her heart into her students, her church, and her garden. Romance, she tells herself, belongs to another season.

Sam Sullivan understands the safety of a guarded heart. A painful childhood and a broken engagement have convinced him that love is meant for others, not for him. Yet his long-hidden feelings for Clara become harder to ignore as they work together to encourage a withdrawn teen who needs them both.

Then a devastating tornado tears through Shady Springs, drawing Clara and Sam together in the storm’s aftermath as they help rescue the hurting, shelter the displaced, and rebuild the community they love. Amid the wreckage, Clara begins to wonder whether the steady, compassionate man beside her might be part of the new life God is offering.

But opening their hearts means facing old fears, unexpected competition, and the scrutiny of a small town that notices everything.

Perfect for fans of heartwarming Christian romance, this tender small-town story weaves together friendship, faith, grief, and healing as two guarded hearts must decide whether love is worth trusting again.

My review:

This was a sweet story about a second chance at love and realizing that maybe your story isn't over after all.  I enjoyed the small town feel to the story and I liked that love grew while Clara and Sam were helping the community, from helping clean up after the storm to planting a garden to help people in need and reaching out to a troubled teen, they were offering practical help while showing God's love.  I appreciated that faith was an integral part of their lives and they prayed and had conversations reflecting that.  However, they weren't perfect and both still had hang-ups to deal with, such as a fear of rejection or not being enough.  There was some suspense when the tornado came and some sweet romance as Clara started to have feelings for Sam and he realized there may be hope for him yet.  I loved the feeling of hope that permeated the story.  It worked well as a stand-alone even though it's book four and I didn't feel lost at all not having read the first three yet.  I would recommend this book if you like uplifting, feel good romance!

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

Enjoyable Debut! 'High Exposure' - Jagged Edges 1 - by Kelly Borjas

 

About the book:

The riveting start to an adventure-driven romantic suspense series from a debut author

Determined travel blogger Julia Stevens is on her final assignment in snowy Silverberg, Colorado. She's running from her past-and God-but the charm of small-town life brings little comfort when she's face-to-face with the winter sport that killed her sister, skiing. Upon her arrival in town, she discovers a dead body and is compelled to research the situation, give justice to the man's story, and kick off her new career in journalism.


Cade Haskins is back home after a failed mission and his subsequent retirement from the DEA. His father's declining health has pushed Cade to prioritize family, and he helps at the historic Silverberg Hotel on his dad's behalf. When Julia shows up at the hotel, Cade becomes her local contact. He quickly realizes she has a knack for sniffing around where she shouldn't, and he attaches himself to her side.


With the local death connected to a meth ring, Julia's investigation has unknowingly put a target on her back. As the danger increases and she begins to learn more about Cade and his family, she finds herself trusting the God she was running from. And Cade? He doesn't want to get dragged back into DEA work, but it seems like he may not have a choice if he wants to protect Julia . . . and his growing attraction to her.

My review:

I enjoyed this suspenseful start to a new series by a debut author!  The book starts almost right away with a mysterious death and dangerous incidents keep happening to Julia, ratcheting up the suspense.  I thought she was a little naive to write about the dead man when she didn't know what had happened to him and to keep writing about events; I also thought Cade could have warned her somehow without revealing too much or putting her in more danger but then again, she was trying to be a reporter so that could have made it worse.  She also had a stubborn streak and felt like she could take care of things on her own.  She and Cade had that in common.  While Cade was a strong believer, he struggled with letting go of control and felt like he had to handle everything himself.  Julia had turned away from God after her sister's death and, through talks with Cade and situations they found themselves in, had started to reach out to Him again.  I liked the moments of attraction and banter sprinkled in and that we got to read what they were both thinking.  The small town community felt cozy, especially nestled in the mountains and made me want to visit.  I liked that we got to know Cade's family and I look forward to reading about his sister more in the next book.  I recommend this story if you like romantic suspense!

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

Another Winner! 'Twilight Tactics' - Soldiers in Shadows 1 - by Lynette Eason

 

About the book:

FBI agent Collin "Sully" Sullivan arrives at Broken Chains Ranch with Ollie Callahan--a foster teen and sole witness to a mob hit. The ranch, started by Collin's cousin to provide a trauma recovery facility for veterans, should be a place he can keep Ollie safe until the trial. But what was meant as a peaceful haven becomes a battleground when armed attackers surround the property.

Survival expert Elena Thompson teaches wilderness skills at the ranch and coaches Ollie in self-defense, but soon the series of attacks on the ranch escalates into a full siege. The question is, Who are the attackers after? Ollie, the young witness? Or Elena, with her mysterious past? Cut off from help by tech skills superior to their own, Collin and Elena fight to keep everyone alive as secrets and danger close in.

USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason presents an action-packed start to a new series with twists and turns readers will never see coming.

My review:

This was a great start to a new series by one of my favorite authors!  I loved all of the action but that there was also a bit of a mystery, namely, who's the real target?  It felt like there were two situations escalating, which ratcheted up the tension.  I was surprised to learn about Elena's secrets; I wasn't expecting that.  I liked Sully and his determination to protect Ollie, no matter what, but felt sorry for a past bad experience he blamed himself for.  He prayed and had faith in God but also took too much on himself.  Ollie didn't know if she believed after all she'd been through but Elena had a strong faith.  There were some sweet romantic moments.  I liked the setting of the ranch and that they did horse therapy for vets.  I did question how they didn't figure out something sooner.  I also thought Elena, Sully and Ollie all made dumb decisions at different points.  Overall, I enjoyed it and am looking forward to book two!

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

Great Wrap-up to the Series! 'Fatal Finale' - The Erin Delaney Mysteries 3 - by Nancy Mehl

 

About the book:

When bestselling author Erin Delaney's novel gets picked up for a movie deal, she eagerly awaits her friend Kaely Quinn-Hunter's arrival in Tennessee before they head to California to observe the film's production. However, when Kaely does not arrive at the scheduled time and Erin can't reach her by phone, her concern grows.

A cryptic phone call from Kaely's kidnapper confirms her worst fears--Erin has exactly six days to save her friend's life by solving his twisted clues. The man's message comes with a Contact the police or FBI and Kaely dies. But Erin works for the Sanctuary Police Department and Kaely's husband is with the FBI, putting her in an impossible situation. As Erin races against time, she's forced to crack the kidnapper's chilling puzzle before it's too late.

My review:

This was a great wrap-up to the series and while you could read this as a stand-alone, it's so much richer having read the first two and knowing how far Erin's come and what Kaely and Erin have been through together.  It's also great catching up with Kaely after reading her wonderful trilogy and seeing her story continue through this series.  This was another hard one to put down and I almost read it in one sitting but I had to get to bed!  The book starts off with a bang and the suspense doesn't let up as we see what Kaely goes through and then back to Erin trying to figure out the clues with some help.  The profiling is fascinating as you see them both trying to understand what's going on plus you get the kidnapper's point of view as well, which adds an extra layer of suspense.  The spiritual aspect was really well done for the whole series as Erin isn't a Christian and actually somewhat hostile in the beginning and her and Kaely have some great discussions about faith.  I liked that the gospel was clearly presented and even in this book where Erin is in a much different place, faith was still a very important part as she needs to lean on God to get through the stress and pressure as she races to save Kaely.  There's a hint of romance and also some action.  There were also some great discussion questions for your book club with questions that really make you think.  I highly recommend this book and the whole series and can't wait for her new one, which you get a sneak peak of as well!

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