Wonderful! 'Joy to the World' - by Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt & Erica Vetsch

Joy to the World

About the book:

Inspirational Regency romance with a Christmas twist from three best-selling authors

In Joy to the World, three popular authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas in one book have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness.

"Heaven and Nature Sing" by Carolyn Miller
Two music lovers, deeply devoted to each other, were on the brink of engagement when family circumstances drove them apart. How can they ever overcome their obligations and fears to find their way back into each other's arms?

"Far as the Curse is Found" by Amanda Barratt
One winter night, a woman struggling to provide for her illegitimate child encounters a scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars on the streets of London. Can love conquer the darkness of two broken pasts?

"Wonders of His Love" by Erica Vetsch
A Scots portrait painter with a hidden identity finds work at a noble manor house over the holidays. He never imagined he'd fall in love with the emotionally frozen widow there. Now he wants nothing more than to thaw her heart.

 

My review:

This was such a wonderful collection of Regency stories!  There was a good mix of lost love, redemption, forgiveness, new love and faith.  Some of the characters were strong Christians, one finds faith, there were many prayers said and a church service or two attended.  It was interesting to see people from different classes interacting and sometimes falling in love.  It was fun to see characters from previous books show up yet these stories read very well as stand-alones.  There was some wonderful romance and it was so satisfying to see these characters who had been through so much find love.  The writing was very well done.  The stories had depth and didn't feel rushed as so many novellas do.  This is one of the best novella collections I've ever read!  I highly recommend it!

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

Softly Blows the Bugle - Amish of Weaver's Creek 3 - by Jan Drexler

 

About the book:

Welcome back to the Amish community at Weaver's Creek, where the bonds of family and faith bind up the brokenhearted.

When Elizabeth Kaufman received the news of her husband's death at the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863, she felt only relief. She determined that she would never be at the mercy of any man again, even if it meant not having a family of her own. Then along came Aaron Zook . . .

Despite the severity of his injuries, Aaron has resolved to move west and leave the pain of the past behind him. He never imagined that the Amish way of life his grandfather had rejected long ago would be so enticing. That, and a certain widow he can't get out of his mind.

Yet, even in a simple community, life has a way of getting complicated. Aaron soon finds that while he may have left the battlefield behind, there is another fight he must win--the one for the heart of the woman he loves.

My review:

This was an interesting story set in a fascinating time of history, right after the Civil War ended.  Aaron's friend, Jonas, comes back from the war wanting to marry Katie and has to be allowed to join the church to do that.  It was interesting to see how he was viewed for going to fight and the discussion to decide if he would be allowed to.  I really felt for Elizabeth and all she had gone through and that's why I was so surprised that she was swayed so easily to fall for Solomon, a new Amish man in town.  Even when she had misgivings and there were warning signs that he might not be all he seemed, she convinced herself it was fine.  I also felt like she made a couple of really dumb decisions.  For those reasons I was pretty frustrated for a while with her.   I get that she thought she would get her dream after all but still.  She obviously had issues from her marriage and didn't really understand grace or forgiveness as she kept punishing herself for past choices, despite having grown up in the Amish faith.  I really liked Aaron as he was self-sacrificing, gentle and determined.  He had much to learn about the Amish faith and lifestyle plus he had turned away from God as a child when his mother died.  There were a few sweet romantic moments and some suspenseful ones.  There was also a small story line about Levi, a young man in the district, meeting someone, too.  This story was fine as a stand-alone but I probably would have liked it better having the background of the characters from the first two books.  You might like it if you like Amish or historical fiction.

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

The Author

1. 

   Photo by: Roaming Reflections Photography

   Jan Drexler

   Jan Drexler brings a unique understanding of Amish traditions and beliefs to her writing. Her ancestors were among the first Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and their experiences are the inspiration for her stories. Jan...

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Amusing Romance! 'Cul-de-sac War' - by Melissa Ferguson

 

About the book:

Melissa Ferguson’s new novel proves that good fences make good neighbors—and that sometimes love and hate share a backyard.

Free-spirited Bree Leake doesn’t want to be tied down. She’s had more jobs than she can count—and the next stop on her journey is the nation’s oldest live performance theater in Abingdon, Virginia. Just when it’s time to move on again, Bree’s parents make her an offer: hold steady in Abingdon for one full year, and they will give her the one thing she’s always wanted—her grandmother’s cabin. She feels like her dreams are coming true.

But life at the theater throws her some curve balls.

And then there’s her new neighbor—Chip McBride.

Chip is the man everyone in town seems to love, yet he’s nothing but a thorn in Bree’s side. She would move heaven and earth to have him out of her life, but according to the bargain she’s struck, she cannot move out of her house. So begins Bree’s obsessive new mission: to drive Chip out of the neighborhood—and fast.

Bree isn’t the only one who’s a wee bit competitive, and as Chip registers what Bree’s up to, he’s more than willing to fight fire with fire. But as their pranks escalate, both of their fragile job ambitions start to wobble. And it doesn’t help that the line between love and hate is starting to blur.

In Melissa Ferguson’s latest rom-com, two enemies find something they never expected in one another—taking “all’s fair in love and war” to a hilarious and heartwarming new level.

 My review:

This was an amusing story about a couple of misunderstandings escalating and the craziness that ensues.  It's funny how you can be so wrong about a person and Chip ended up being a really good guy.  It was so sweet how he took care of their elderly neighbor and sometimes put others first even at great inconvenience to himself.  He also was pretty wise about some things but not so much about others. The situation with his dog was hilarious!  There were some sweet romantic moments and some 'I can't believe they just did that' moments.  Chip goes to church, has a Bible and hinted at believing there's a heaven but there's not a mention of what Bree believes.  It bothered me that they don't talk more about her beliefs and that he did lie to try to get a job.  Both Chip and Bree have some stressful family situations to deal with, along with the work stress, but the story overall is light and fun.  I also liked that Cassie pops in for an update, Ferguson's heroine in her first book.  I would recommend if you like humorous romance.

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

 

Another Wonderful Romance! 'Autumn Skies' - Bluebell Inn Romance 3 - by Denise Hunter

 

About the book:

Facing the past is easier if you don’t have to face it alone.

The Bluebell Inn is turning a profit, and it’s time for the Bennett siblings to sell it and move on. Only Grace has plans to stay in the small lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina, where she hopes her growing outfitters business will save her from the loneliness of her siblings’ departure and the persistent sense of unworthiness in her life.

A gunshot wound resurrects the past for Secret Service agent Wyatt Jennings, and a mandatory leave of absence lands him in Bluebell. There he must come to grips with the tragedy that altered his life fourteen years ago.

When Wyatt books a room at the Bluebell Inn, sparks fly between him and Grace. She volunteers to be his mountain guide, and he soon opens up to her, drawn to her strength and sense of humor. But both are reticent to talk about the survivor’s guilt they each carry, and when their pasts finally collide, their budding romance might not survive the truth.

From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom and A December Bride (now beloved Hallmark Original movies) comes the third and final novel in the Bluebell Inn series.

My review:

This was another wonderful romance by Denise Hunter!  Wyatt was an amazing character, brave and dedicated to his job as a Secret Service agent but struggling with a tragedy he endured as a boy.  He also had such a wonderful sense of honor and treated Grace with such respect.  Grace was also a strong character, mature for her age, intuitive and also struggling with an event in her childhood.  I liked how they both were trying to work on their issues.  Their banter was fun and I liked how Grace was independent and a little bit strong-willed.  It was also so romantic that they each really got to each other, Grace having dated a lot but not really seeing what the big deal was and Wyatt getting bowled over by a small-town girl.  They had a lot of chemistry and some wonderful romantic moments.  Grace was a Christian while Wyatt hadn't attended church in a while but was starting to get back to his faith.  They had some good conversations about God and why bad things happen.  There was some action and I loved that we got to see Grace's siblings' love stories continue.  I highly recommend this story if you like romance!

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

Fascinating! 'The Conqueror' - Constantine's Empire 1 - by Bryan Litfin

 

About the book:

AD 309. Rome teeters on the brink of war. Constantine's army is on the move. On the Rhine frontier, pagan Germanic barbarian Brandulf Rex joins the Roman army as a spy. Down in Rome, senator's daughter Junia Flavia finds herself embroiled in anti-Christian politics as she works on behalf of the church.

As armies converge and forces beyond their control threaten to destroy everything they have worked for, these two people from different worlds will have to fight together to bring down the evil Emperor Maxentius. But his villainous plans and devious henchmen are not easily overcome.

Will Rex and Flavia live to see the Empire bow the knee to Christ? Or will their part in the story of Constantine's rise meet an untimely and brutal end?

My review:

What a wild and crazy ride!  There was so much action in this book, not to mention political intrigue and church history.  It was incredibly fascinating!  I really admired Flavia as she had such a strong faith, even while she went through dangerous circumstances.  Rex was wonderful, too, self-sacrificing on the one hand and reluctant to give up his violent ways on the other.  He had a hard time understanding who Jesus was as Flavia's God and why he should worship Him instead of Hercules.  There was so much mentioned in this book I want to learn more about.  It's a fascinating time period but also a hard one to read about when you see how women and slaves were treated.  The story wasn't graphic, however.  There's a good amount of detail that really fleshed out the time period. There was some romance.  This is the first book and I'm interested to see where it goes from here.  I would recommend it if you like history and action.

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

           The Author

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   Bryan Litfin

   Bryan Litfin is the author of the Chiveis Trilogy, as well as several works of nonfiction, including Early Christian Martyr Stories, After Acts, and Getting to Know the Church Fathers. A former professor of theology at...

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Sweet Enjoyable Romance! 'The Key to Love' - by Betsy St. Amant

 

About the book:

Love doesn't always look the way we expect

The only thing Bri Duval loves more than baking petit fours is romance. So much so that she's created her own version of the famous Parisian love-lock wall at the bakery where she works in Story, Kansas. She never expects a video involving the wall to go viral--or for Trek Magazine to send travel writer Gerard Fortier to feature the bakery. He's definitely handsome, but Bri has been holding out for an epic love story like the one her parents had--and that certainly will not include the love-scorning Gerard.

Just when it seems the Pastry Puff is poised for unprecedented success, a series of events threaten not just the bakery but the pedestal she's kept her parents on all these years. Maybe Gerard is right about romance. Or maybe Bri's recipe just needs to be tweaked.

My review:

This was a sweet (pun intended) story about opposites attracting between a romantic and a cynic and the quirky matchmakers who make it happen!  I liked Gerard a lot and felt for the painful past he had, both the messed-up childhood and his broken heart.  He was funny and straightforward and gruff.  I liked Bri, too, but she was more naive and dramatic and had put her parents' relationship on such a pedestal that finding out something negative about it pretty much sent her over the edge.  I liked the fun banter between them and the wonderful romantic moments.  I loved when he crashed her book club and argued about Pride and Prejudice!  It's mentioned that Bri knew her mom was a Christian and that Bri attended church but not much more is said about her faith while Gerard had a past bad experience with the church so he was more cynical of that, too.  Some well-timed conversations with the pastor in Story started to make him think.  There were some really quirky townsfolk, especially the two elderly ladies who were pretty hilarious. Also, I really want some baked goods!  Overall, I really enjoyed this story about risk, roots and the perfect dessert!  I highly recommend it if you like romantic stories!

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

           The Author

1. 

   Emilie Hendryx © EA Creative Photography

   Betsy St. Amant

   Betsy St. Amant is the author of more than 15 inspirational romances and a frequent contributor to iBelieve.com. She lives in north Louisiana with her husband, two daughters, a collection of Austen novels, and an impressive stash of pickle-flavored Pringles....

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