Review: The Stranger She Married by Donna Hatch

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

When her parents and twin brother die within weeks of each other, Alicia and her younger sister are left in the hands of an uncle who has brought them all to financial and social ruin. Desperate to save her family from debtor's prison, Alicia vows to marry the first wealthy man to propose. She meets the dashing Lord Amesbury, and her heart whispers that this is the man she is destined to love, but his tainted past may forever stand in their way. Her choices in potential husbands narrow to either a scarred cripple with the heart of a poet, or a handsome rake with a deadly secret. Cole Amesbury is tormented by his own ghosts, and believes he is beyond redemption, yet he cannot deny his attraction for the girl whose genuine goodness touches the heart he'd thought long dead. He fears the scars in his soul cut so deeply that he may never be able to offer Alicia a love that is true. When yet another bizarre mishap threatens her life, Alicia suspects the seemingly unrelated accidents that have plagued her loved ones are actually a killer's attempt to exterminate every member of her family. Despite the threat looming over her, learning to love the stranger she married may pose the greatest danger to her heart. And Cole must protect Alicia from the killer who has been exterminating her family before she is the next target.

My Review

Wow. The Rogue Hearts series came highly recommended and this first book did not disappoint! There are vibrant characters who are flawed enough to be realistic but not unlikeable. The difficult circumstances provide impetus to push the action forward in unpredictable ways. I had my suspicions about the mysteries unfolding, but was uncertain enough to be kept guessing. I felt like Cole and Alicia fell rather quickly for each other in the beginning which made their attraction seem superficial or based on physicality, but as the story progresses they are able to appreciate each other for deeper reasons. I thoroughly enjoyed this clean but passionate romance and can't wait to read the next brother's story!

(Thank you to Loving The Book for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review & Giveaway: Asleep on the Hay: A Dust Bowl Christmas by Ben Sowards

 

Asleep on the Hay: A Dust Bowl Christmas by Ben Sowards

It’s Christmas Eve when a knock comes at the door of Paul’s family farmhouse. A small family is stranded due to a broken-down truck and seeks shelter for the evening. Paul’s grandfather not only welcomes them in, but offers them dinner and a bed for the night. Even though it is a season of giving, Paul’s heart is not filled with charity. It’s the height of the Dust Bowl and food is scarce. Why should he share what little he has with strangers? Worse, in order to help the sick baby, Paul will have to sell his beloved calf to buy a part to fix the truck. Angry, he retreats to the barn, where he sleeps and dreams of faraway Bethlehem. In his dream, he visits Mary and Joseph, and their newborn son, Jesus. The family offers Paul food and shelter and warmth—extending to him the love and charity he lacks and teaching him of the true meaning of Christmas.

   

My Review: 5 stars / It was amazing

I've fallen in love with the art in this book! It's always wonderful to discover an artist whose work resonates with me. The painterly quality, the light and expression depicted in the illustrations made the story come to life. I appreciated the realistic feelings of the boy who is conflicted about the sacrifice he is being asked to make, and how the comparison of the Christmas story puts things in perspective and blesses him with charity, the pure love of Christ. Highly recommend for children and families, would make a perfect gift!

(Thank you to Deseret Book Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

 
Author & Illustrator Ben Sowards

Ben Sowards is the illustrator of many well-loved picture books, including A Christmas Dress for Ellen, Seven Miracles that Saved America, and Christmas Oranges. Ben Sowards teaches others to paint both traditionally and digitally at Southern Utah University, where has directed the illustration program since 2001.

Website

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Review: Power of the Matchmaker by Karey White, Rachael Anderson, Sheralyn Pratt, Jaima Fixsen, Kelly Oram, Heather B. Moore, Julie Wright, Heidi Ashworth, Taylor Dean, Michele Paige Holmes, Janette Rallison, Regina Sirois

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

A prequel novella to the POWER OF THE MATCHMAKER Series
Mystical . . . Beautiful . . . Romantic . . .
12 novels by 12 bestselling authors
Released once a month in 2016
Read the matchmaker’s story to find out where it all starts . . .

Mae Li has been in love with Chen Zhu for years, and he with her. But when the matchmaker arrives at the Zhu family home, she recommends another village girl for Chen.

Heartbroken, Mae Li watches as Chen does his duty by marrying another. Mae flees her village with the clothes on her back and her only possession—a pearl embedded comb, given to her as a goodbye gift from Chen Zhu.

Upon Mae’s arrival in Shanghai, she quickly learns that she’ll starve within days unless she sells her prized comb or joins a courtesan house. She goes to the Huangpu River and promises the River God that she’ll always be selfless if he will save her from becoming a prostitute . . . Her wish is granted when Ms. Tan, the matchmaker of Shanghai, finds Mae. But Mae must completely change her future and her name if she is to become the next matchmaker.

My Review

What a sad situation. It's hard to imagine giving a matchmaker the power to choose who you will marry. What I loved about this short story is that Mae wasn't about to stay and watch her love live his life with someone else. Her perseverance and self-preservation were strengths that helped her push forward. I thought the ending was fitting since this is the introduction to a series of stories where Mae will influence couple so their path to true love, written by many of my favorite authors. I'm looking forward to reading more!

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

Review: It's All About Christmas- A collection of stories, carols, recipes, quotes, trivia, history, and everything you need to celebrate the spirit of the season.

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Like heirloom ornaments on a splendid tree, It’s All About Christmas will put you and your family in a festive frame of mind for a glorious holiday season. Stuffed with stories, songs, poems, Christmas history, joyful traditions, recipes, and activities, this delightful book celebrates all things Christmas—from the sacred story of the Nativity to the lore of Saint Nick. Opening this book is like tearing the paper off a much–anticipated gift, offering new surprises with each turn of the page. Generously illustrated with scores of vibrant vintage images, It’s All About Christmas will remind you of Christmases past, help you appreciate Christmas present, and guide you to creating memories for the Christmases to come.

My Review

This is a large volume, about the size of a text book, with over 230 pages of sturdy, high-quality, non-gloss pages filled with gorgeous imagery and heartwarming content. The blend of vintage pictures with clean modern layout design is seamless and easy on the eyes. It opens with scriptures detailing the prophecy and birth of Christ from both the Bible and Book of Mormon. Well-known stories such as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Elves and the Shoemaker are shared, but a wealth of lesser known classics are what drew my interest, especially The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson. Rounded out with fun songs, recipes, and fascinating tidbits that my girls will love, we will be savoring this book for several years! It is a wonderful idea for a gift :)

(Thank you to Covenant Communications for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

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