Review: Timeless Western Collection: Big Sky by Kimberly Krey, Annette Lyon, Cindy Roland Anderson

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

THE COWBOY’S CATCH by Kimberly Krey
When Jason Keller bids on a date with Marlee at the town’s annual fundraising event, she’s quick to turn him down. First of all, an evening with Marlee was never on the table; just dates with each of her younger sisters. Beyond that, Jason Keller—a man with Hollywood ties—is the last cowboy in town she’d go on a date with. Being abandoned because of her own mother’s Hollywood pursuits taught her well. But when the Keller Cowboy offers a hefty sum for the charities in question, in front of half the town no less, Marlee’s compelled to accept. It’s just one date after all, and it’s not like she’d ever fall for a man like him. Or so she thinks.

SELLING HER RANCH, STEALING HIS HEART by Annette Lyon
Teresa adores her job as manager of the J-Bar-D Ranch, which boards horses and offers riding lessons. The owner, Dorothy, has become like a grandmother to Teresa. But when Dorothy passes away unexpectedly, the ranch is put up for sale by none other than Dorothy’s only grandson, Derek. Even with the obvious chemistry between them, Teresa refuses to consider dating the guy who’s going to turn her beloved ranch into a strip mall. Derek wishes more than anything that he didn’t have to sell, but Grandma Dorothy ran the ranch into deep debt, and Derek’s own mother has ongoing medical bills. Without selling the ranch, he can’t pay off the debts or take care of his mother. If only he’d met Teresa had met at in a different time and place, they might have a future.

THE COWBOY’S SECOND GO by Cindy Roland Anderson
When recently divorced Callie Stewart, an aspiring country music artist, confronts the dishonest talent agent who stole her new song, he turns the tables on her, and her world spins out of control. Without proof she composed the hit song, Callie is forced to take her twin boys with her, move out of Nashville and live with her aunt in Montana. Having her dreams shattered leaves her trying to figure out how she will support her little family. Reconnecting with Ty Carter, her long-ago crush from high school and the guy who broke her heart, has her questioning her resolve to leave romance out of her new life. Ty isn’t just a good-looking cowboy, he’s sweet to her boys and makes Callie feel beautiful and alive. As her feelings for Ty grow stronger, the music reawakens inside her, inspiring her creativity and the desire to sing. Giving love a second chance might be the key to a forever love, and the start of a new music career…but can it be both?

My Review

I really enjoy cowboy stories, both historical and contemporary, I think because of the Louis L'Amour books I read as a teen from my dad's collection. All three of these stories embody what's special about the cowboy ideal- tough yet vulnerable, hard working and hard playing.

In The Cowboy's Catch, I liked seeing Marlee try to keep Jason at arm's length, only to discover that her prejudices about him weren't accurate. They had great chemistry, but the author's choice of verbs in a few instances threw me- she used "crooned" and "purred" and "mumbled" to describe the ways Jason spoke to Marlee, supposedly romantically... and it came off very odd to me. I would use "crooned" to describe the way someone sings, "purred" for a sound someone makes while getting a massage, and "mumbled" for something you say under your breath that you don't want the other person to necessarily hear. "Murmured" might have been a better choice in that last case. Other than my verb issues, it was a fun story ;)

The next story by Annette Lyon also has the female lead making unfair assumptions about the male lead. Teresa feels so strongly about the ranch she works at that she doesn't do a good job of listening to Derek, opting to storm off instead of face the situation. It was nice to see Derek prove her wrong as his time reconnecting with the ranch helps him get in touch with his love for the countryside.

My favorite of the three was The Cowboy's Second Go, seeing the journey Callie goes through as she returns to her hometown, faces her unrequited love and finally overcomes the awkward moment of young heartbreak she never forgave Ty for. He is such a sweetheart (now) and I enjoyed the wonderful scenes as he endears himself to her again and her two young boys.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Review: The Reluctant Warrior by Mary Connealy

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Union army officer Cameron Scott is used to being obeyed, but nothing about this journey to Lake Tahoe has gone as expected. He's come to fetch his daughter and nephew, and seek revenge on the people who killed his brother. Instead he finds himself trapped by a blizzard with two children who are terrified of him and stubborn but beautiful Gwen Harkness, who he worries may be trying to keep the children.

When danger descends on the cabin where they're huddled, Cam is hurt trying to protect everyone and now finds Gwen caring for him too. He soon realizes why the kids love her so much and wonders if it might be best for him to move on without them. When she sees his broken heart, Gwen decides to help him win back their affection--and in the process he might just win her heart as well.

My Review

This second book in the High Sierra Sweethearts series continues the adventure in the wilds of Nevada. I love the absolute remoteness of the setting, and in winter it's especially isolated. Cam is stuck in the rut of his officer persona, and it's pretty humbling for him to realize that he has to change in order to win the affections of the children. Gwen is the mother figure in the lives of the children, and it's humbling for her to help a difficult man who will soon take them away from her. There is plenty of humor blended in the circumstances, though, and I chuckled every time Gwen literally smacked Cam upside the head to let him know he needed to chill. The danger and suspense continues with Raddo terrorizing the group in order to silence the witnesses to his crimes. I liked that he was a bit more complex and unpredictable in this book, and it was challenging for Trace, Cam, and the others to secure the homestead. The romance that develops between Cam and Gwen is hesitant and sweet, and it was nice to see them find a happy ending together.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Review & Giveaway: A Guarded Heart by Heidi Kimball

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Three years after a shocking scandal destroyed her family and forced her into isolation, Eleanor Hayward finally has an opportunity to put her painful history and dashed hopes behind her. But reentering society is no simple task. In her cousin's glittering ballroom, Eleanor is stunned when she comes face-to-face with the man who broke her heart those years before.

Edmund Fletcher thought he had laid the past to rest until he unexpectedly encounters the woman who so nearly became his wife. Soon to be engaged to another, Edmund knows he must let go of the complicated feelings he harbors for Eleanor. However, when the Hayward scandal resurfaces and the truth behind their parting is revealed, Eleanor and Edmund are left reeling. Tormented by thoughts of what could have been, they realize it is impossible to rewrite history. But is there a future in which they might both find happiness—and true love?

My Review

I loved the creative storytelling in this bittersweet Regency romance, with alternating perspectives of Eleanor and Edward, and also the past and present. It allowed details to unfold gradually and added  elements of suspense and anticipation to the plot. Conflict due to misunderstanding isn't my favorite, but the characters were complex and well-developed, drawing me into their world and emotions. The relationship between Eleanor and Edmund was a pleasure to read, and it was gratifying to see them have a second chance at love after everything went so wrong. So happy to have a new Regency author to follow and read!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Review: Tomorrow's First Light by Naomi Rawlings

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Marrying a stranger to keep the woman's siblings out of an orphanage is one thing, but when more children than expected pour out of the stagecoach, what’s a man to do?

Nervous about meeting her fiancé for the first time, Ellie Spritzer’s lifelong hope of finding love is about to end—or rather, begin. She never imagined her quest for love would take her to the other side of the country with all eight of her siblings in tow, but after her mother dies unexpectedly, what choice does she have? At least the man she’s been writing for the past year is still willing to marry her and take in her siblings… or so she thinks until she arrives in the dusty town of Twin Rivers, Texas.

Growing up an orphan, Sam Owens never had a place to call home or a family to love. So if his wife-to-be needs to bring three of her siblings with her, he has no complaints about having a ready-made family. But his mail-order-bride doesn’t arrive with three. She arrives with eight.

Sam can’t make himself turn away children in need. But as a beginning rancher, he doesn’t have the resources to care for so many people. When sinister forces threaten the things Sam and Ellie both hold dear, can they figure out how to keep their fledgling family together, or will they lose the very things they cherish most?

My Review

I'm excited for this new series set in the West from author Naomi Rawlings! It's loosely connected to her Eagle Harbor series, but follows Ellie and her siblings on their new venture to Texas. I admired Ellie for her determination to keep the family together, and Sam is patient and accepting of them all. I enjoyed their sweet relationship, even if it grew slowly because of all their chores and the children preventing them from spending quality time together. The dispute over Sam's ranch land brought tension and a real sense of anxiety to the plot, especially when it became apparent that corruption was at the root of the problems. Sam has a strong group of friends ready and willing to support him, once he figures he can't do it on his own... almost too late. Some scenes were told from the perspective of Daniel, the young sheriff, and I'm looking forward to the coming books telling the stories of Sam's friends.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Review & Giveaway: A Monumental Love by Susan Alyworth

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

A Monumental Love is FREE for Kindle Unlimited subscribers!

Synopsis

Roxelle McCann is eager to meet the family of her best friend, so she takes a mini-vacation to the Navajo Nation. Roxelle expects to find out more about Navajo language and customs and to be awed by the beauty of Monument Valley. She does not expect to find love among the monuments. The man she meets offers both a surprising possible future and a tender reminder of the past.

My Review

I appreciated the unusual setting in this novella of a remote Indian reservation. It was interesting and Roxelle was respectful of the heritage and culture of her friend. Roxelle had a rough childhood but it helped her bond with her roommate and they became unlikely best friends. I liked that Roxelle worked hard and has a bright future ahead of her, but she really dwelt on the past and how it shaped her. After a bit of a mix up, she has a wonderful encounter with someone she admired from afar, and I enjoyed seeing them get reacquainted. I would have liked to see more conversations and scenes as their relationship deepened. Even though it looks like they will have to sacrifice their dreams in order to be together, everything works out in the end. A sweet love story!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

About the author

Susan Aylworth loves books, poems, plays, words in almost all polite forms, and good raspberry 
jam. Her first book, started when she was nine, "was a rip-off of Black Beauty. I wrote eight 
whole pages." For her fifth grade career day, she stated her ambition to become "a rich and famous 
author." Decades later, she is pleased to have achieved the 'author' part of that goal.

A former university professor, she enjoys researching backgrounds and careers for her novels. "It's 
one way to live many lives all at once." Servant to two spoiled cats, she lives in northern California 
with her writer husband, Roger. She wishes the kids would visit more often.

Susan loves "travel, great music, and hearing from readers." Reach her at 
susan.aylworth.author@gmail.com, post on her wall at:
www.facebook.com/Susan.Aylworth.Author or follow her @SusanAylworth. "If you enjoy my 
books, please tell everyone you know: friends, relatives, neighbors, the person who delivers your 
mail, people you meet in line in the grocery store, everyone!" She welcomes ideas for new books 
and characters.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Feb 25: Katie’s Clean Book Collection / Peggy Urry Writer

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Review: A Return of Devotion by Kristi Ann Hunter

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Daphne Blakemoor was perfectly happy living in her own secluded world for twelve years. She had everything she needed—loved ones, a true home, and time to indulge her imagination. But when ownership of the estate where she works as a housekeeper passes on, and the new marquis has an undeniable connection to her past, everything she's come to rely upon is threatened.

William, Marquis of Chemsford's main goal in life is to be the exact opposite of his father. Starting a new life in the peace and quiet of the country sounds perfect until his housekeeper turns his life upside down.

They've spent their lives hiding from the past. Can they find the courage to face their deepest wounds and, perhaps, find a new path for the future together?

My Review

What stood out to me most about this book was the daydreaming and fantasizing of Daphne! It's something I've done, more at some times in my life than others. It was interesting to see how her fantasies faded as she became more present and invested in a real relationship and her own life beyond her son and the other children. I love the premise of this series, how the characters provide aid to women in desperate circumstances, even raising their children. Their haven came to an end, and it was fun to see them try to keep the secret from William, who kept discovering curiosities about his estate and the people who remained there. I also enjoyed Daphne and William's early perceptions of each other and the way they slowly became more comfortable... until the secrets rising to the surface could no longer be avoided. I was happy with the way the story ended, with a new future and direction for their humanitarian efforts. Looking forward to the next in the Haven Manor series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Review: This Homeward Journey by Misty M. Beller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

She’s desperate for a new life in the Canadian mountains…He’s the last person she should trust to get her there.

After her husband’s death, Rachel Gray is finally free from the turmoil his addictions caused. She wants nothing more than a new life with her twelve-year-old son. If she can reach her brother in the wilderness of the Canadian territories, they’ll have help to start over in peace. She knows better than to put her life in the hands of another man, but she never expected the Montana mountains to be so treacherous. When two brothers invite her to join their small group traveling to the same area, she refuses. After she and her son narrowly escape a bear attack, she’s forced to admit they need the safety of numbers in this untamed land. If the men prove dangerous, she can always leave with her son and strike out alone again.

Seth Grant has made some bad choices in his life, but God healed him from the addiction that mired him in his sins. Now, he’s determined to live the life God called him to, starting with a journey northward to see the Canadian mountain both his brother and sister have fallen in love with. When he discovers the woman and boy who plan to travel the same mountain trail, he can’t fathom why she refuses to join in the safety of their larger group. Though her decision seems unwise, he has no other choice but to pray God provides her protection.

Despite Rachel’s best efforts, she can’t seem to fight her attraction to Seth—until a secret from his past proves he’s not at all the man she thought. When a new peril threatens her son’s life, she must choose between trusting in what she can control, or the man who her heart says is trustworthy, no matter his previous sins. The path she chooses just may determine whether she can step into the new life God has in store for them all.

My Review

I can always count on this author to take me on an adventure in the wilderness, bringing the dangers and beauty of the vast mountains and forests to life. Rachael is extremely protective of her son and doesn't trust strangers or men after the hardships in her life. I admired her determination and independence in relocating to make a new life for them. I couldn't help but feel for her as she is alternately fierce and vulnerable. Seth is so patient as he proves to her that he and his traveling companions are worthy of her trust as they continue on in a group for safety. Plenty of hair-raising adventure as they forge through the mountains and confront not only the dangers there but also their inner turmoil. I appreciate the subtle message of faith as Rachel and Seth both learn to rely on the Lord for peace and strength.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Review: Hitching the Pitcher by Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers, Heather B. Moore

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Sawyer Bennett has a secret. A risky thing, being one of the popular Belltown Six Pack, a group of six guys from the same college baseball team, all of whom got drafted and now play in the Major Leagues. Between the media frenzy over them and his bond with the guys, his secret has to stay carefully hidden if he wants it to stay that way. He needs to focus on his pitching and let everything else fall away.

Running into his former college girlfriend wasn’t supposed to happen. Falling for her again wasn’t supposed to happen. Confessing his secret to her was definitely not supposed to happen. But the harder he falls for Erica Moore, the more important his secret—and she—becomes.

My Review

This was a fun introduction to a new series! Even though the main character is Sawyer, we get to know all the members of the Six Pack, some more than others. I'm looking forward to reading each of their stories! I really liked Erica, but Sawyer was such a head case! He definitely provided the drama and angst with some self-defeating behaviors as he struggles and works through some issues. Erica had the patience of a saint! I was proud of her for giving Sawyer the space he needed and knowing when to leave the ball in his court (or field). :) My husband coaches high school baseball and after reading this book we had an insightful conversation about the mental game that is also played and can prevent a perfectly talented and skilled player from succeeding. Overall, I enjoyed the dynamics of the ball player characters and the chemistry between Erica and Sawyer. Can't wait for the next book!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Welcome to Belltown! Six baseball players meet in the college town of Belltown, Massachusettes, becoming best friends, their lives intertwining as they each get called up to the Major Leagues.

Follow Sawyer, Cole, Axel, David, Ryker, and Levi in these six swoony sports romances.

Belltown Six Pack Series:
Hitching the Pitcher
Falling for Centerfield
Charming the Shortstop
Snatching the Catcher
Flirting with First
Kissing on Third

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Review: The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

War Forces a Choice Between Love and Country
 
A trip home from England to Maryland in 1812 finds Emeline Baratt a captive on a British warship and forced to declare her allegiance between the British and Americans. Remaining somewhat politically neutral on a ship where her nursing skills are desperately needed is fairly easy—until she starts to have feelings for the first lieutenant who becomes her protector. However, when the captain sends her and Lieutenant Owen Masters on land to spy, she must choose between her love for him or her love for her country.

My Review

I enjoyed the early American setting on both land and sea and the theme of patriotism that runs throughout the book. There is plenty of action and I appreciated the historical details that brought authenticity and made me grateful I live now instead of then! The swift pace of the plot made it hard to put the book down and even though I didn't quite connect with the main characters' emotions, I found the story captivating with twists and turns that made me wonder how on earth there would be a happily ever after. I loved the premise that Emeline and Owen are both spying for the same side, yet don't know that about each other and hold the perceived loyalties of the other against them. I would have thought that they'd realize it sooner, but I understand the risk involved if they happened to be mistaken. They were both likeable characters that grew in their faith and learned important life lessons.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Review: On the Shores of Tregalwen by Deborah M. Hathaway

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

A Clean, Regency Romance Novella

When her estranged mother beckons her to London, Hannah Summerfield has no choice but to answer her call. Forced to leave behind her peaceful life in Cornwall, she bids farewell to the seaside, her grandparents—and her childhood sweetheart, Thomas. She becomes subdued at once by Society’s rigid rules and her mother’s censure, and when Thomas’s letters unexplainedly stop, she is left to wonder if she ought to embrace her new life in Town after all. But when her mother pressures her to accept an unwanted proposal, Hannah cannot help but flee to the one place she has ever called home—to the only boy she has ever loved.

After three years apart, Thomas Causey has all but given up hope of Hannah ever returning to Cornwall, fearing she has fallen in love with another. But when she appears on his doorstep, soaked through with rain and covered in mud, he allows himself to long once more for a future with the woman he still loves.

However, Thomas quickly realizes that Hannah is not who she was before. She has left London for a reason—a reason he cannot uncover. He longs for the truth they once so easily shared, but Hannah must first find the courage to rediscover herself—and what her heart truly desires.

My Review

This is a sweet romance without much conflict, but it was still a pleasure to read as Hannah follows her impetuous desire to visit Cornwall and leaves her manipulative mother and London society behind. Thomas and Hannah's renewed friendship turned to romance rather quickly, and I would have enjoyed more of them getting to know each other again. It works well as a novella though, and inspired me add Cornwall to my travel bucket list!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)