Adorable! 'A Dazzle of Diamonds' - A Georgia Coast Romance 3 - by Liz Johnson

 

About the book:

Penelope Hunter loves her job as the event manager at one of Savannah's premier historic venues--until her ex-fiancé walks into her office with his new bride-to-be. Surely she cannot be expected to plan their wedding. To make matters worse, a scheming social matriarch is threatening to take her big-ticket event elsewhere, especially if Penelope insists on being seen with her best friend, Tucker Westbrook.

Since returning from serving two tours in the Middle East, Tucker has built a thriving security company. His work is nearly as stabilizing as his lifelong friendship with Penelope. But when the lone candidate for county sheriff goads him, Tucker loses his cool and ends up on the ballot--and on the receiving end of a smear campaign claiming the Westbrooks were traitors to the South.

To clear his name, Tucker and Penelope must join forces to find the truth behind a lost Civil War treasure. But the more time they spend together, the closer she comes to losing her job--and falling helplessly in love.

My review:

This book was too cute for words!  I love the story lines where best friends fall in love and this was one of the best!  There were so many cute moments as Tucker and Penelope tried to hold onto their friendship while falling for each other, the lines getting blurred between reality and pretending.  And talk about some swoon-worthy kisses!  The historical aspect was fascinating, too, as we see into the past through journal entries and what another woman went through in Atlanta near the end of the Civil War, plus another love story!  The search for the treasure was interesting.  Both Tucker and Penelope were Christians but realized they weren't checking with God like they should have in planning their lives.  Tucker was a bit impulsive and felt he had something to prove to his dad.  Penelope felt rejected and had a hard time trusting.  This worked well as a stand-alone but I definitely want to read the first two.  I highly recommend this book!

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

           The Author

1. 

   Liz Johnson

   Liz Johnson is the author of more than a dozen novels, including A Sparkle of Silver, A Glitter of Gold, The Red Door Inn, Where Two Hearts Meet, and On Love's Gentle Shore, as well as a New York Times bestselling...

   Continue reading about Liz Johnson 

Sweet Romance! 'Start With Me' - by Kara Isaac

 

About the book:

Lacey O’Connor is finally a sure thing for the promotion she’s spent ten years working for. But when a scandal rocks her firm she finds herself on a collision course with the one person she has spent five years trying to forget. Only to discover he doesn’t even remember her…

Victor Carlisle has spent the last three years trying to convince his family he’s no longer the playboy alcoholic who tore their life apart. When a company merger is announced with a US sister firm, he’s presented with the perfect opportunity to prove he’s changed. Only to find himself falling for his competition and the one woman his family will never accept.

As the competition intensifies the choice looms between the professional and the personal. Can they find a way beyond their past decisions and present aspirations to take a chance on the one thing they’re not looking for?

My review:

This was a wonderful romance about second chances and forgiveness!  I loved that Lacey was a strong woman who knew what she wanted and went for it.  I felt so bad for Victor, a former bad boy whose family won't let him get past his former life to make a new one.  I loved how he was so mindful of what he did now and was always trying to be honorable.  They both had plenty of baggage from their dysfunctional families that influenced how they viewed the world and reacted to it.  It was intriguing for Lacey to have this information about their past that Victor didn't remember and I kept wondering when it would come out.  Victor was new to faith as he found God in AA and prayed and tried to figure out what God wanted him to do.  Lacey didn't believe in God because she wanted to run her own life and not depend on anyone.  There were some funny moments and some sweet romantic ones, some action and twists.  I loved that she had such wise friends who were there for her and gave her the best advice.  I wondered as I was reading this if there was a story about one of her friends and I see there is!  So this looked like a stand-alone and worked great as one but there is a related book I can't wait to read!  This was my first Kara Isaac book but definitely not my last!  I highly recommend it!

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

Fun Romance! 'The Truth About Fame' - Faith & Fortune 2 - by Toni Shiloh

 

About the book:

My life has always been in the spotlight. Born to two famous parents and then quickly rising to "super" status in the modeling world ensured that I, Astoria "Tori" Bell, would always have my image plastered across newsstands. Unfortunately, adoring fans weren't always magnanimous and now I have a stalker on my hands.

Oddly enough, the tall, dark, and all-too handsome bodyguard hired to protect me seems more harmful than the threatening notes from the stalker. As well as his plan to flush out the danger by proposing a fake engagement.

The lines between pretend and reality blur and I have to shore up my resolves. Baggage from my past means I can't let myself be vulnerable. But the way Marcel Fox treats me has me thinking otherwise.

With a new rock on my finger and the man who put it there by my side, happily ever after seems like a possibility or is that as fake as my public persona?

The Truth About Fame is the second book in the Christian Chick Lit series: Faith & Fortune.

My review:

This was a fun romantic suspense I really enjoyed!  The dynamic between Fox and Tori was funny as they seemed to get on each other's nerves, yet there was a strong attraction below the surface.  There were some sweet romantic moments.  Fox definitely has a way with words!  Tori's pretty much the only character here who doesn't want to believe in God and there were some good conversations about faith and forgiveness.  I liked Tori's sassiness and strength and also her tender heart and how much she cared for Fox's niece and the sick children she visited.  Fox was an amazing guy, sweet yet tough, can quote Pride and Prejudice and discuss the Bible, then save your life!  There was also some action.  I liked the relaxed way the story's written in the first person, yet I did wish for Fox's point of view.  I also liked that a lot of the characters were black as you don't see that too often, especially in the main couple.  This book worked well as a stand-alone yet I wondered if they had met in book one and assumed that book was about her brother and her best friend.  I definitely want to read that one and the next book about her other best friend.  I highly recommend this book!

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

Wonderful! Review & Giveaway of 'The Gentleman Spy' - Serendipity & Secrets 2 - by Erica Vetsch

About the book:

 He only wanted a duchess for a day--but she's determined to make it a marriage for life

 
When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she's meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life--as a secret agent for the Crown.
 
But his bride has other ideas. She's determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society--the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she'd remain in the background as he ordered.
 
Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?

My review:

Erica Vetsch has done it again!  This was a wonderful story full of romance and intrigue!  I loved that Charlotte was an unusual woman, well-read and intelligent, unconventional by society's standards.  It was so interesting learning about the things she was interested in.  I loved that she wanted to help prostitutes, women she's supposed to pretend don't even exist, much less get her hands dirty helping.  She had a strong faith in God, yet felt like she couldn't really trust Him to give her good gifts because of her upbringing.  Marcus was an honorable man who tried to always do his duty and serve his country but felt that he needed to keep his life compartmentalized.  Keep God in one box, his wife in another and his spying in yet another but he found it wasn't so easy to keep everything separated.  It was sweet to see how Marcus cared for her and found things to make her happy when she'd has so little before.  There were some sweet romantic moments.  The spying was interesting as they tried to find out who was behind the attempt on the Prince Regent's life.  There was some action.  This worked as a stand-alone but I would recommend reading the first book where we're introduced to Marcus and that also contains the wonderful love story of his friends, who feature prominently in this book.  Overall, this was a sweet love story I highly recommend!

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

About the author:

 

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.  
 
Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.
 
A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.
 
Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

Enter Giveaway Here!

Free Books and a Wonderful Sale Book for Kindle!

 

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Cute Story! 'Sweet Melody' - A Seabrook Romance - by Heidi McCahan

About the book:

When a struggling bakery owner is rescued by a wannabe songwriter with hidden culinary talents, they discover they can make sweet harmony … if they can only learn to work together.

Rhett Foster longs to change the world with his music, yet he can’t even finish writing one song. Battered by a string of failures and disillusioned, he returns home to Portland, Oregon. While he desperately wants to create a chart-topping hit, his dad mandates a new mission: move to coastal vacation hotspot Seabrook, Washington and expand the family’s successful restaurant chain.
In danger of destroying her late parents’ legacy if she doesn’t diversify her menu, Lindsay Carmichael will try anything to save her bakery. But with a tiny budget and an injured employee who can’t work, she has no choice but to sink the last of her savings into buying a dilapidated food truck and hiring Rhett as a part-time barista. What she doesn’t know is that the handsome songwriter has a secret … one that could destroy her business and her heart.

My review:

I enjoyed this story about a determined young woman who's had her heart broken once and the songwriter who feels he can never make his dad proud.  I liked Lindsay's perseverance but did feel like she bit off more than she could chew with buying the food truck.  There was quite a bit of shop talk as she tried out different recipes and worried about her business failing.  She was also angry at the family who had ruined her parents' business and was pretty bitter toward them.  Rhett sounded like a good guy who just needed a break but who should have been honest with her sooner.  He struggled to forgive his dad for how he'd been treated.  He also wasn't sure if he should give up songwriting, which was his passion, to work for his dad's business.  Lindsay's best friend was a strong Christian and a good witness to Lindsay about who God is.  Neither Lindsay nor Rhett were Christians.  There was some sweet romance.  There's also another couple who are total opposites that seemed to be interested in each other and I hope the next book is about them!  I thought the narrator did a good job but I definitely had to listen to it at at least one and a half speed.  I would recommend this story if you like romance, especially centered around coffee and food!

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

Wonderful Sequel! 'Louisa: A Modern Faith Story' - Modern Faith 2 - by Beth Troy

About the book:

What happens after salvation – when you’ve changed, but others don’t see it? Author Beth Troy addresses this question from the first page, which finds Lu Sokolowski – the engaging and relatable heroine from Troy’s redemptive debut novel, Lu – back in her hometown with her expectations of a new life, dashed.

Lu has returned to Dunlap’s Creek with a hope to stay, but she struggles to right the wrongs she’d left behind, build a career outside of writing, and move on from the man who has moved on from her.

Louisa is a modern faith story of life after salvation that openly explores:
• The disconnect between who we are and how others perceive us
• The struggle in speaking up for our beliefs
• The question of when to let go and when to fight
• The journey in claiming a new identity

In turns captivating and pointed, Louisa is a novel of a woman coming into the fullness of life God has for her. It’s for women who have experienced this for themselves and for women who doubt whether such a life exists. It’s for women who understand that a life of faith isn’t without struggle or mistakes. Louisa is about restoration – in its grit and glory.

My review:

This was a wonderful sequel and I was rooting for Lu all the way as she came back to Dunlap's Creek with such high hopes.  It was a bit painful to watch Jackson with someone else and it was almost worse that she seemed like a wonderful woman, too.  I felt for him as he felt torn between them but thought nothing had changed for her regarding her lack of faith so he knew he couldn't be with her.  I loved that we see the story from both Lu and Jackson's points of view.  I liked seeing Lu discover a new career and also take on a big history project for the church.  She's lost at the beginning in so many ways and it's wonderful to see her find her footing.  She also discovered so much about her deceased grandma's past and also made an unlikely friend.  She's brave and honest and funny and I just love her.  I loved the honest faith conversations, even in her own head.  There was a bit of romance.  This novel's a bit grittier than most Christian fiction as there's a swear word or two and there's mention of a secondary character who gets drunk and sleeps around, along with mention of prior mistakes Lu made, though it's not graphic at all.  I definitely recommend you read the first book, Lu, before this one as this continues right where it left off and it will make so much more sense, not to mention it was incredible.  I highly recommend this book!

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