Loved It! 'Since You've Been Gone' - Restoring Heritage 3 - by Tari Faris

 

About the book:

With her vision and his know-how, this thing just might work . . .

Leah Williams is back in the quaint town of Heritage, Michigan, and ready to try again to make her business a success. But blank slates are hard to come by, and a piece of her past is waiting for her there. Heir to the Heritage Fruits company, Jonathan Kensington is the guy who not only made Leah's past difficult, but he also seems determined to complicate her present as well.

In order to avoid forcing a buyout of Leah's building, Jon will have to strike a compromise. Can the two of them work together? Or will their troubled past set the tone for their future?

My review:

This was a wonderful wrap-up to the Heritage series as a double love story unfolds, not only with Leah and Jon but also a redemption story with the town bad girl and an old friend of Nate's.  It was so cute to hear about Jon's crush on Leah back in high school and how it never really went away while she feels inadequate and doesn't think it could be true.  She also struggled with her dad's abandonment and feared no one will stay while Jon also wondered if he could measure up to his dad's legacy at the company he built and as a great man.  There were a lot of cute moments between them as they try to resist each other, especially as they end up working together.  I liked Leah's sassiness.  There were also a lot of good spiritual conversations.  I liked Madison's redemption story and how God used Colby to help her realize her worth.  Both love stories were incredible.  Tari Faris really knows how to write them and I didn't want to put this down!  I highly recommend it, as I do the whole series!

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

           The Author

1. 

   Tari Faris

   Tari Faris

   Tari Faris is the author of You Belong with Me and Until I Met You. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy, she is the projects manager for My Book Therapy, writes for learnhowtowriteanovel.com, and is a 2017 Genesis...

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Wonderfully Inspiring! Giveaway and Review of 'The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady' - by Sharon J. Mondragon

 

About the book:

A simple change of scenery can change lives in powerful ways.

Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing going: meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.

Uptight Margaret isn't having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she's ever heard of, and she's heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they're constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret--grumbling the whole way--to the mall with them. She can't wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.

Without the familiar mold the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community--or will the tangle be too much to unravel?

Sharon Mondragon's debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.

My review:

This was a wonderful, inspiring story about a group of ladies who get out of their comfort zone and see what a difference they and their prayers can make!  It was amusing to see some of the situations that transpired and especially the reactions of Margaret, the group leader and resident sourpuss.  As these ladies prayed for and helped the people they met, from a young unwed mother with piercings to a stubborn bookstore manager to a lady grieving the loss of her father, they found themselves helped, too, and challenged to deal with some of their own unresolved issues.  I liked that each lady was in a different place in life as it made their situations more interesting.  I loved that prayer was emphasized as we could all be doing more of that!  There were some touching moments, too.  I would highly recommend this book if you like a unique story !

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

Go here to enter giveaway!

https://www.audrajennings.com/2021/09/win-copy-of-unlikely-yarn-of-dragon-lady.html

Enjoyable Romance! 'Hangin' By a Moment' - Deep Haven Collection 5 - by Andrea Christianson & Susan May Warren

 

About the book:

He just wants to erase his past.

The day Jack—formerly Winston Stewart—walked out of jail, he vowed to keep his conviction a secret. After all, it wasn’t like he’d committed a murder. Just a terrible mistake, and he did his time. Now he wants a new life in a sleepy town where no one knows his name. Deep Haven is the perfect place to start over as a chef. The last thing the former pararescue jumper wants is to get involved. But when Boone Buckam—his friend and the one guy he owes for getting him out of the slammer—asks for help, how can Jack refuse?

She can’t seem to escape hers.

Colleen Decker has already escaped evil once—as a teenager, she was kidnapped by a murderer. But she’s put all that behind her as a trauma nurse in Minneapolis. Or maybe not, because a freak mistake in the ER sends her past crashing down on her. She needs a timeout in her hometown of Deep Haven. She doesn’t plan to stay—even when she’s roped into the job of flight nurse for the town’s Crisis Response Team chopper. Colleen’s not sure why she’s drawn to danger, but she’ll be safe enough. After all, she’ll need training, and her teacher is a handsome former pararescue jumper. What could go wrong?

But facing the past might put their future together in jeopardy.

When Jack said he didn’t want to get involved, he especially meant his heart—but being with Colleen feels like a fresh start. He’ll even climb aboard a chopper again, despite his vows. They’re headed for a happy ending…
But secrets never stay buried in a small town. And when disaster strikes one snowy night, they’ll both have to decide if the past will destroy them…or if it just might lead them home.

Cozy up to this perfect Deep Haven drama about discovering a season of second chances.

My review:

This was another enjoyable romance from the Deep Haven Collection!  I love the town of Deep Haven and was thrilled to be back.  It was fun to see past characters, though this book acted fine as a stand-alone.  Both Colleen and Jack have had hard things in their pasts they want to overcome and don't know if they can get past and that made them question their decisions and judgment.  There were some good conversations about faith, though I wished Jack would have explained to Colleen more about how he felt about God and especially about his past sooner.  However, I loved how he was a protector and jumped in to help, even when he was having flashbacks because of his past.  I felt like Colleen was a little impulsive, especially in how she acted in her relationship with Jack.  There were some sweet romantic scenes and some exciting emergency medical ones.  I would recommend this book if you like romance.

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

Wonderful Start to a New Series! 'Beyond the Tides' - Prince Edward Island Shores 1 - by Liz Johnson

 

About the book:

When Meg Whitaker's father decides to sell the family's lobster fishing business to her high school nemesis, she sets out to prove she should take it over instead. Though she's never had any interest in running the small fleet--or even getting on a boat due to her persistent seasickness--she can't stand to see Oliver Ross in charge. Not when he ruined her dreams for a science scholarship and an Ivy League education ten years ago.

Oliver isn't proud of what he did back then. Angry and broken by his father walking out on his family, he lashed out at Meg--an innocent bystander. But owning a respected fishing fleet on Prince Edward Island is the opportunity of a lifetime, as well as a way to provide for his mother, and he's not about to walk away just because Meg wants him to.

Meg's father has the perfect solution: Oliver and Meg will work the business together, and at the end of the season, he'll decide who gets it. Along the way, they may discover that their stories are more similar than they thought . . . and their dreams aren't what they expected.

My review:

I absolutely loved this book!  Meg and Oliver were both wonderful and I loved the love/hate relationship they shared because of a situation in their past.  Meg was strong and loved her parents fiercely and would do anything to save her family's legacy.  I thought she was crazy myself, especially since she gets really seasick!  Oliver had come a long way from the angry teenager he used to be and I loved the care he showed for Meg, from helping her prepare for the work to being a listening ear and being so gentle with her mom.  They both had a strong faith, too.  The romance was so sweet and I loved the little moments between them.  I love Liz Johnson's books because she writes her characters so well, along with the wonderful romance.  The setting was gorgeous and I can't wait to visit this wonderful place.  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. 

   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...

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An Absolute Delight! Review & Giveaway of 'Husband Auditions - by Angela Ruth Strong

 

About the Book

How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s? In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she's handed a strange present at the latest wedding--a 1950s magazine article of "ways to get a husband"--she decides there's nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can't get any more single, can she? Her brother's roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love--Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made. When Meri Me debuts, it's an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she's looking for . . . With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for. My review:  This story was so funny, sweet and romantic!  I loved the premise and couldn't wait to read it and it did not disappoint!  I loved Kai and Meri; they were adventurous and witty and never boring.  It was also great to see both Kai and Meri grow in their faith and just as people as they tried to discern if what they wanted was what God wanted for them.  I loved the funny scenarios and there were some great romantic moments.  There was also some great advice for singles!  I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.  I highly recommend it! I received this book free from Read with Audra.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there's nothing else she'd rather write about. She is the author of the Resort to Love series and the CafFUNated mysteries. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. Finding Love in Big Sky was recently filmed on location in Montana and will air soon. Her latest release is Husband Auditions. Strong also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho and teaches as an expert online at Write That Book. Learn more at www.angelaruthstrong.com, and follow her on Facebook (Angela Ruth Strong Fan Page), Twitter (@AngelaRStrong), and Instagram (@ang_strong).

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Enjoyable Collection! 'This Time Around' - by Denise Hunter, Melissa Ferguson and Kathleen Fuller

 

About the book:

A Summer Detour  by Denise Hunter

In order to prove herself to her parents, free-spirited Allie Adams undertakes the responsibility of delivering her grandparents’ newly-restored ’57 Chevy for their 50th wedding anniversary party. But an unfortunate oversight forces her to make the road trip with Luke Fletcher, the man who callously broke her heart years ago.  

The journey soon dissolves into a series of misfortunes, obliging the antagonistic travelers to spend even more time together. As they overcome challenges and obstacles, they remember the spark that once flared between them. But they must decide if they’re willing to risk their hearts again—or if the personal cost is simply too great.

Pining for You  by Melissa Ferguson

Theo Watkins III is a respectable man—the kind who drives a Tesla, not a tractor. But when he discovers that the caretaker of his family-inherited Christmas tree farm is injured during planting season, he drives up to support the man who has been like a father to him.

Three months into her move back to the family farm, Skye Whitesides expected to run into Theo eventually. What she didn’t expect was for Theo to offer up his services for the farm. Not that he has any services—her childhood best friend and the man who broke her heart seventeen years ago wouldn’t know which part of the shovel was the handle. As the two are forced to work together, she finds herself lowering her guard and starting to trust Theo. Is he truly the man she hopes him to be, or will he break her heart again?

He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not  by Kathleen Fuller

Thirty-five-year-old Sophie has spent years making her floral shop, Petals and Posies, a success, and her love life has suffered. She’s avoided romance since her ex broke her heart, but now she’s ready to start dating again.

Joe, also thirty-five, has known Sophie since kindergarten, but sparks have never flown between them. He’s finally decided to get back into the dating pool after spending the past fifteen years coaching, teaching, and working with underprivileged kids. He decides to ask out Sophie. But to his dismay, someone else is also vying for her attention.

Should Sophie listen to Joe—and her heart? Or should she take a chance with Landon, the slick lawyer she’s also attracted to? Will Joe, who hates conflict, do the easy thing and let Sophie and Landon be together? Or force himself out of his comfort zone because he is unable to let her go?

My review:

I enjoyed these stories that were sometimes funny, sometimes sweet but ultimately about forgiveness and second chances.  There was plenty of romantic moments, misunderstandings and crazy situations.  These stories were never boring!  There really wasn't any element of faith to them but all were clean reads.  These stories are all stand-alones but I noticed at least two are related to other books by the authors, which was a fun surprise as I hadn't known that beforehand.  Overall, these are fun, sweet romances I recommend if you're looking for a happily-ever-after!

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

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