#TackleYourTBR Update: Day Six

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Day Six: September 22th

Books Read: This Courageous Journey by Misty M. Beller

Pages Read: 184

Total Pages Read: 1346
Finished Books: 3

Wrote reviews for The Cost of Betrayal by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, and Lynette Eason, and The Daily Question For You and Your Child

#TackleYourTBR Update: Day Five

Join the Read-a-thon here!

Day Five: September 21th

Books Read: This Courageous Journey by Misty M. Beller

Pages Read: 32

Total Pages Read: 1346
Finished Books: 2

Participated in the Initials Challenge at Tressa's Wishful Endings with a post on Instagram

Wrote the review for Creating Your Forever Family: How to Incorporate Family Proclamation Principles in Your Home by Rachel A. Sullivan

Review: Timeless Love: Romantic Stories that Span the Ages by Andrea Boeshaar, Kari Trumbo, Misty M. Beller, Stephenia H. McGee, Dawn Crandall, Pepper D. Basham, Sarah Monzon

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

This 7-novella romance collection will only be available until the first week of July for 99 cents, and then it will be "unpublished" from sell sites. (The digital edition of the collection will remain on the buyer’s device after the ebook is disbanded). Then all of the novellas and short stories in the collection will be published separately in print and ebook! 

All proceeds from the sale of this collection will be donated to the LiveStrong Foundation.
Enjoy seven romances through the ages in this Timeless Love limited time ebook. An open invitation to fall in love with the writing styles of a few new-to-you multi-published authors of your favorite Christian romance eras.

Synopsis

Give Me Thine Heart 1812 Andrea Boeshaar
Moira loathes the man she is set to marry. But when she meets Samuel Stryker, she soon guesses that he's from the colonies. When she finds a deep secret, Sam must make the decision: kill her or take her with him.

This Freedom Journey 1833 Misty M. Beller
Adrien Lockman left France to finally live life on his own terms, but when he discovers a half-starved and half-frozen woman in the treacherous Canadian mountains, the truth soon becomes clear--the only way they'll survive is together.

The Heart of Home 1865 Stephenia H. McGee
Opal Martin aspires to scrub the remnants of the War Between the States from her tattered life. When a nearly drowned soldier appears and asks if he can die on her porch, she must guard against the sudden revival of her heart's hope for love. Tristan Stuart wants to escape the pain of war. He wakes up at a house that's too much like home, with a woman determined to mend him he may discover a life worth fighting for. To save the last of what Opal holds dear, will he become the man she needs or let the troubled waters carry him away?

Enchanting Nicholette 1893 Dawn Crandall
Young, widowed, and newly out of mourning, Nicholette Everstone is an heiress yearning to be loved. Her parents had arranged for her to marry her loving late husband, but the marriage ended tragically on her wedding day. Returning to Boston after being away, she finds there's someone new to her set of friends and family she can't help but fall for. But when she learns of the danger and sacrifices this man takes on, will her heart be strong enough to keep her fears at bay?

Teach Me To Love 1899 Kari Trumbo
Izzy Lawson has taken her last abuse. When her husband dies, she rushes to Belle Fourche to stay with the only friend she has. The wall she's worked so hard to build crumbles in the arms of a man so different from her husband. Conrad Oleson can't read and it's shamed him for longer than he can remember. As Izzy reveals her painful past, he can't stay away. He'll do about anything, to get closer. Including, teach her how to love.

Façade 1942 Pepper D. Basham
Olivia Rakes has excellent observations skills for facts and details, but stumbles through matters of the heart. When her brother goes missing in German-occupied France, Livy enlists her services with a group of search-and-rescue spies, who not only thrust her toward espionage, but...romance. Agent Christopher Dawson has avoided Livy since she broke his heart. When the search for his best friend brings them together, the heart takes on a mind of its own. In a world where war changes the rules of life and love, can they work together to complete their rescue mission before the enemy catches them?

Bookishly Ever After 2018 Sarah Monzon
It all started with a bet and a book.
Emory Blake is the ultimate bibliophile. She'd take curling up with a novel over a night on the town any day. But then her best friend, Tate Woodby, accuses her of living between the pages of her paperbacks instead of the real world, and he makes a bet that will force her to experience the adventures of her fictional friends...instead of just reading about them. With her face no longer buried in books, Emory must confront the pain of the past.

My Review

Give Me Thine Heart by Andrea Boeshaar - 3 stars
This was a quick paced adventure that didn't seem entirely realistic, but was entertaining.

The Heart of Home by Stephenia H. McGee - 4 stars
I always find stories set in the South during Reconstruction after the Civil War to be fascinating. While it's easy to vilify the people on that side of the conflict, they are people with families and heartache as well. I loved that Tristan was able to find healing with Opal and her mother and they could lean on him for support as well. A sweet romance.

This Freedom Journey by Misty M. Beller - 5 stars
I always love the rugged wilderness settings in this author's stories. Being snowed in together while also dealing with loss and loneliness accelerates the developing relationship between Adrien and Mary. I loved Adrien's gentle nature and Mary's appreciation of his kindnesses. She is hardly a damsel in distress, proving herself strong and willing to do the hard work it takes to survive. They come to rely on each other and with the various trials they encounter during the harsh winter, their mutual support builds a solid foundation.

Enchanting Nicholette by Dawn Crandall - 5 stars
Fans of The Everstone Chronicles series will absolutely love this addition to the series! Cal Hawthorne and Nicholette Everstone are pleasant and charming together, but Cal has secrets and Nicholette struggles with any sort of danger that puts loved ones at risk. I enjoyed their friendship and loved the chemistry as they are instantly attracted to each other. There is a good pace to the story and it felt longer than a novella with its full plot and character arc.

Teach Me To Love by Kari Trumbo - 5 stars
I really enjoyed this story. Isabella is easy to feel sympathy for, and Conrad's compassionate and protective nature brings him closer to the young widow, even with his initial resistance. The help she is able to provide him with learning to read helps her confidence bloom again and it was lovely to see her repressed personality begin to shine through. Some conflict on the ranch brought an element of danger and suspense, and with the yearning romance, it's a well-rounded novella.

Façade by Pepper Basham - 5 stars
What a rollercoaster ride this story took me on in the middle of WWII France with two spies who have a second chance romance, once they untangled the miscommunications that ended their friendship. My eyes were opened to the sacrifices of the citizens during the turbulent and uncertain times of war, and made me even more thankful for those that risk and give their lives for the cause of freedom.

Bookishly Ever After by Sarah Monzon - 5 stars 
Seriously so cute! A contemporary romance of unrequited love told from the perspective of the clueless one, Emory. She has some hang-ups from her past that makes her avoid conflict and deeper feelings that have the potential for future hurt and vulnerability. Tate is so patient with her, and I loved the little observations clue the reader in that he's carrying a serious torch. The setting of Seattle was awesome, I love that city! Combine that with a soulful musician and reclusive bibliophile stretching outside their comfort zones and this story was a perfect blend of angst, humor, and sweet romance. 

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

Review: This Wilderness Journey by Misty M. Beller

Book Two in the Heart of the Mountains series

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Joseph Malcom has spent his life protecting those in need, but now that his sister is safely settled with her new family in the Canadian Rockies, his help is no longer required. That is, until he’s asked to safely retrieve the priest’s cousin to help minister to the local Indian tribe. But his passenger is not at all who he expects.

After the death of her mother, Monti Bergeron has nothing to keep her in Montreal. While the prospect of ministering to the Indians out West is daunting, she looks forward to assisting her beloved cousin in his mission work. The life of a nun may be just what she needs to heal her grief, serving her Heavenly Father and fellow mankind, especially if no more pesky suitors are around to ask for her hand in marriage. But the man who’s been sent to guide her through the mountains might make her second-guess her plans before she even begins.

As Monti settles into her ministry, Joseph finds his wandering feet drawn back to the Indian camp. Monti’s focus on God is more unsettling than he’d like to admit. Add to that her beauty which tests his willpower at every turn, and she’s made it crystal clear she doesn’t want a husband. But when his determination to keep distance between them puts Monti in danger, protecting her might require something Joseph might not be able to give.

My Review

I loved Joseph in the first book of the series, so I was so excited to read his story! He was such a fun and light-hearted character, but that part of him is not as apparent in this book since he's weighed down by an injury that makes daily tasks difficult. Over time and with Monti's influence, his good humor does start to shine through again. Monti was sweet and compassionate, and I admired her determination and independence on her journey and with the Native American tribe her uncle ministered to. The author descriptive writing had me transported to the setting and experiencing the harshness and perils of the wilderness with the characters. The pace of the book was steady, with periods of contemplation that slowed things down a bit, but overall it was an enjoyable story in a great wilderness setting.

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

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Don't miss the first book in the Heart of the Mountains series . . . 

Book One

Read my 5 star review here

Synopsis

Widowed and with child, Emma Malcom is fleeing from the reward offered for her arrest. She’s innocent of the dirty dealings her deceased husband orchestrated, but the angry townspeople didn’t stop to listen to her defense before she narrowly escaped with her life. Now, she and her twin brother, Joseph, must battle the mountain wilderness of the Rockies to reach Canada and the clean start she craves. But when a fall from the rocky cliff leaves Joseph wounded and weak, could the strange mountain man they encounter be God’s gift to see them to safety?

Simeon Grant makes bad choices. His deceased wife and twin babies are lost to him now because of his reckless decisions, and the penance he pays by living alone in this mountain wilderness is only a small piece of what he thinks he deserves. When a city woman, heavy with child, appears on his doorstep with her injured brother, her presence resurrects the memories he’s worked so hard to forget. And when she asks for his help to travel deeper into the mountain country, he can’t help wonder why God would force him to relive the same mistakes he’s already suffered through. Or maybe taking these two to safety could be the way to redeem himself.

But when their travels prove more treacherous than he imagined, Simeon finds himself pressing the limits of his ability to keep Emma and her brother safe. Can he overcome the past that haunts him to be the man she needs? Will Emma break through the walls around Simeon’s heart before it’s too late, or will the dangers of these mountains be the end of them all?

Review: This Treacherous Journey by Misty M. Beller

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Widowed and with child, Emma Malcom is fleeing from the reward offered for her arrest. She’s innocent of the dirty dealings her deceased husband orchestrated, but the angry townspeople didn’t stop to listen to her defense before she narrowly escaped with her life. Now, she and her twin brother, Joseph, must battle the mountain wilderness of the Rockies to reach Canada and the clean start she craves. But when a fall from the rocky cliff leaves Joseph wounded and weak, could the strange mountain man they encounter be God’s gift to see them to safety?

Simeon Grant makes bad choices. His deceased wife and twin babies are lost to him now because of his reckless decisions, and the penance he pays by living alone in this mountain wilderness is only a small piece of what he thinks he deserves. When a city woman, heavy with child, appears on his doorstep with her injured brother, her presence resurrects the memories he’s worked so hard to forget. And when she asks for his help to travel deeper into the mountain country, he can’t help wonder why God would force him to relive the same mistakes he’s already suffered through. Or maybe taking these two to safety could be the way to redeem himself.

But when their travels prove more treacherous than he imagined, Simeon finds himself pressing the limits of his ability to keep Emma and her brother safe. Can he overcome the past that haunts him to be the man she needs? Will Emma break through the walls around Simeon’s heart before it’s too late, or will the dangers of these mountains be the end of them all?

My Review

What an adventure! I loved getting lost in the Rocky Mountains with Emma, Simeon, and Joseph, and feeling the majesty and power and danger of the untamed wilderness. Simeon is one of my favorite types of heroes- strong, quiet, and harboring a private angst that our heroine helps him release. He saves her physically, but she saves him spiritually by encouraging him to turn to the Lord and reminding him that God's love and peace are always there, even and especially in the hard times. Emma's strength and fortitude was impressive, I can't imagine undergoing such a journey during pregnancy! When the circumstances were overwhelming, she had the grit necessary to push her anxieties to the side and buckle down to help the men. I loved her relationship with her brother Joseph and the care and support they gave each other. Joseph had a good sense of humor and was quick to smile... when he wasn't injured. Emma wasn't quick to trust Simeon because of her previous experience with men, but he quickly proved himself stalwart and reliable. Their friendship grew steadily throughout the book and their romance developed naturally after that, which I loved. There is plenty of peril and nail-biting suspense balanced skillfully with the more mundane parts of an arduous journey and the reflections of characters who are searching for safety. I am looking forward to reading more by this author!

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