Review: A Bride at Last by Melissa Jagears and a $100 Memory-Making Giveaway!

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesey has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts.

Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she'd been deceived about her intended groom, she's now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she'll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony-until two men suddenly show up in town, claiming to be the boy's father.

Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

My Review

Kate and Silas are both strong, admirable characters, but have realistic flaws that show how they struggle with their past and the effect it has on their present and future. The chemistry is definitely there (my favorite parts!), they just have to overcome major trust issues and learn to discern and rely on God's will. Anthony is also a realistic portrayal of a young boy caught in the middle of two futures he wants nothing to do with. He is sweet and playful one moment, scared and taciturn the next. Much of the story involves Kate and Silas frantically searching for Anthony since his M.O. is to run away, which created a sense of urgency to the pacing of the novel. There are appearances of characters from the earlier books in the series which was fun, but A Bride at Last can definitely be read as a stand alone.

(Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

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Can Silas and Kate overcome their rocky start and experience healing—and possibly love? Discover the answer in Melissa Jagears' new book, A Bride at Last. Neither Kate nor Silas is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light as they attempt to prove nine-year-old Anthony's paternity to the court. Can their wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

Celebrate the release of A Bride at Last by entering to win a $100 Memory-Making giveaway and RSVPing to Melissa's August 4th author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $100 gift card to Netflix (for a family movie night), Shutterfly (to create a family memory book), or TablePlayGames (for a family game night)
• One copy of A Bride at Last

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/4. The winner will be announced at Melissa's 8/4 A Bride at Last Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Melissa and fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

New "Giveaway Alerts" at Heidi Reads... on Facebook

I love entering giveaways! Before I started reviewing books, it was a great way to be able to add new books to my personal library without going broke ;) I come across so many great book giveaways that I decided to share them with you! The easiest way for me to do that is on Facebook, but I know that posts with links don't show up on as many newsfeeds. If you are interested in entering giveaways and winning books, "Like" Heidi Reads... on Facebook and then select "Get Notifications". That way you won't miss a post! I'd love to hear from you and be sure to let me know if you win a book!

Review: The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs by Sheralyn Pratt

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Each weekday from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Grace and Ashton co-host Battle of the Sexes, a radio program arguing the he-said/she-said issues of the day. Their fiery debates often have listeners wondering if there’s more to their relationship than just talk, even though Grace has been dating Phillip, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Perfect, since long before she ever met Ashton Miller.

Yet when news comes that Battle of the Sexes is on the bubble for cancellation, Grace and Ashton need to step up their efforts to engage their audience to keep the show alive. When a charity organization approaches them and proposes that the two of them kiss for a fund raiser, Grace and Ash agree to kiss for a good cause. A kiss is just a kiss, right?

Or can one kiss really change everything?

My Review

I could not put this book down!!! Another 2:00 am finish for me :) Grace and Ashton are both strong, compelling characters that made me invest in the story from the get go. There is something about the attraction lurking beneath their emotionally-charged banter that takes the chemistry to a new level. They are both maddening at times, but what shines through is the compassion and caring they have not only for the friends and family they are close to, but for their listeners as well. They each take on the role of advocate for social issues in a way that is entertaining yet serious at times. Ashton's teenage niece is my favorite, wise beyond her years and the #1 supporter of an Ashton/Grace romance. The battle over social media is hilarious and there are several times I chuckled while reading. And the kiss... sigh. The lead up creates such anticipation and the description is perfection. From there the story takes a turn I didn't expect but made me desperate to find out what happens next. Highly recommend to fans of contemporary romance!!!

(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: Summer's List by Anita Higman

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Life hadn't been easy for Summer Snow. In acts of selflessness-caring for her ailing parents and running her grandmother's bookstore-she had forfeited her youth and dreams for the needs of others. And the only tries she had at love... didn't turn out. She had the bookstore, she had her beloved granny, but she was missing something-or someone.

Opportunity strikes when Granny sends Summer on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer's past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?

My Review

There's a kind of floating quality to the narrative in this book. It's told mostly from Summer's perspective (with some from Martin's POV), and it's as if she's slightly disconnected from her own experiences. She is not your run-of-the-mill contemporary female, in fact with her slightly formal yet fanciful dialogue, she seems to be from a much earlier era. She and Martin are both described as gentle souls, different from their peers, which is why their friendship is so timeless. I loved how after a twenty year separation, they fell right back into being best friends. The list from her Granny serves as catalyst to reunite them, but I was surprised to find that Martin's dysfunctional siblings and family secrets take center stage with an air of intrigue. Overcoming hurts from the past, forgiveness, grief, and pursuing a fulfilling life purpose are themes that make this a special book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I especially loved the scene with the hot air balloon ride since that's at the top of my own bucket list and it was described so beautifully!

(Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and River North Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)