Review & Giveaway: A Date with Danger by Kari Iroz

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis


She just wanted to shake up her love life. Jacklyn (Jack) Wyatt is the typical twenty-five-year-old living the typical Provo single life with the typical bad luck—at least until the FBI recruits her for a completely different type of dating.

A young woman has gone missing, and all signs point to her online dating profile as the kidnapper’s operating ground. But when suspects who crossed paths with the missing girl begin contacting Jack, the FBI sees its opportunity for an inside man—er, woman.

Now Jack will have to play the field, dating each of the men in an attempt to weed out the kidnapper. But with such an unusual array of characters vying for her attention, pinpointing the culprit may prove even harder than finding Mr. Right. And as more young women disappear, will Jack stay professional and objective, even with the handsome Special Agent Damon Wade just a whisper in her hidden microphone away?


My Review

This book was definitely not what I expected! Even with Jack's self-deprecating and sassy humor, there is a vulnerability and longing in her character as she navigates the dating field in a Utah college town. While there are definite references to the Mormon church she belongs to, this is a book that can be understood and enjoyed by those from other faiths as well. One of the lines that caught my eye early on and appropriately describes the dating scene in the book is: "Clichés get that way because they're the extreme of something." While I spent my college experience dating one man and then marrying him, I was a highly entertained observer of friends and family members who endured similar experiences to what Jack goes through. The chemistry and banter between Damon and Jack are too good since they drive each other nuts but provide support as the tension steadily increases throughout the book. A highly climactic ending wraps the plot up nicely. A great blend of humor, romance and suspense!

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

  
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E-book sale: Mail Order Bride Collection

Only 99 cents for A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride Collection!

I absolutely loved these novellas and this collection is now one of my favorites. Don't miss this fabulous deal!!! (Read my 5 star review here)

Loving the Book Publicity Announcement and Giveaway

We are sad to inform you that Jess is no longer with our team. Her husband recently graduated from the Police Academy and we are so happy for them. They have now moved and she is spending time focusing on her 3 kiddos, husband, and her new MaryKay business. We’re very excited to see her thrive.

However, we are excited to announce that we have a new team member! Welcome to Corinne Prost – our new Freelance writer. Her responsibilities will include writing fabulous articles about writing, reading, reviewing, and blogging. She’ll be putting together some great tips for all book lovers, and helping up as we build our blogger/review team.

To celebrate her joining us, we are doing a giveaway and showing her some support at the same time! In order to see some of her fantastic articles, sign up for our monthly newsletter. 

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And, of course, just helping spread word about our services will also give you entries into our fabulous giveaway!

We love you all and we are grateful for your support!

Introducing our new team member

Corinne is a BA at Hillsdale College, and her declared major is American Studies with a projected minor in Journalism. Although these choices sound informed and thoughtful on Corinne's part, what really happened is that a really cool, successful senior did the same major and minor and went on to do really cool, successful things. So even though Corinne doesn't know what she will do with these life choices, she does know one thing: her dream is to become as great as the classical authors.

While growing up, Corinne battled a severe condition that afflicted her for many years: she could not see because her eyes were glued permanently to books. This caused her to be the girl at recess who hid in the shade to read from her pile of library books, and her occasional companion was the library lady. One day, Corinne finally found she could look up, and after the initial shock she realized that her college applications would need to say more than "loves to read". Her solution: to become involved in as many things as possible. 

As a result, Corinne came to the realization that she also enjoys creative writing, drawing or painting, traveling, playing tennis, and spending inappropriate amounts of time thinking about the money it would take to adopt all the unclaimed dogs at the animal shelter. In the near future, she hopes to spend less time thinking about those dogs and more time writing.

Come get to know a bit more about Corinne with her

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1. Books
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Join our party for loads of fun and even more chances to win some fabulous prizes!!!

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Review: The Ringmaster's Wife by Kristy Cambron

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

What is revealed when you draw back the curtain of the Greatest Show on Earth?

Rosamund Easling is no stranger to opulence. As the daughter of an earl, she’s grown up with every comfort money can buy. But when hard times befall the family’s Yorkshire estate in the aftermath of the Great War, Rosamund’s father sells her beloved horse, setting the stage for a series of events that would extend beyond even her wildest dreams.

Though expected to marry for a title instead of love, Rosamund feels called to a different life – one of adventure outside the confines of a ladies’ parlor. She abandons all she’s known and follows in pursuit as her horse is shipped to the new owner – an American entertainer by the name of John Ringling. Once introduced to the Ringling Brothers’ circus and knowing she has much to learn, Rosamund agrees to a bareback riding apprenticeship in the shadow of the Ringlings’ winter home—Ca’D’Zan. It is at that mansion, in what would become the last days of the enigmatic Mable Ringling’s life, that Rosamund finds a deeper sense of purpose in the life she’s been given, and the awakening of faith in her heart.

With a supporting cast of characters as mysterious and dazzling as the Ringlings’ big-top world, Rosamund’s journey takes her from the tradition of the English countryside to the last days of America’s Roaring ‘20s—a journey that forever changes what one life might have been.

My Review

I first fell in love with the circus in literature when as a teenager I read the book "The Long Way Down" by Robb White about a runaway turned trapeze artist and the performers that become her family. The Ringmaster's Wife has the same sense of family, that in the midst of the enchanting and chaotic existence in the circus, relationships based on kindness and compassion are what really bring happiness and belonging. The pace of the book was somewhat slow for me, but I appreciated that since the author's words painted vivid pictures of the environments and experiences. The timeline also stretches over a couple decades, weaving back and forth as lives are intertwined and echoed, and facets of the past are revealed. I don't always relate well to older characters, but Mable is introduced to us when she was young, and she always felt that way to me throughout the later years of her story. Her compassion and wisdom learned from life are inspiring. My favorite quote from the book is spoken by Mable to Rose:

"This building up of what we want doesn't have to be a tearing down of who we are. It's the worst kind of extravagance to think we're above adversity. Isn't that what God calls of us, to acknowledge that we are moving with this undercurrent of something that is always at work around us? Something bigger than we could ever be as just one person?"

Rose finds herself embracing her new life in the circus, but still feels adrift and uncertain at times. The support she receives from her new family is invaluable and helps open her eyes to the importance of love. Colin is a complex hero, with several sides to him- competent manager, teasing friend, vulnerable and grieving. Even though their romance isn't at the forefront of the plot, the special moments between him and Rose are that much more poignant. There is a sense of anxiety as mysterious threats pose danger to Rose during a time when she feels most susceptible, and I didn't expect some of the twists that made her story touching. This is not a book to breeze though, but one to savor. Highly recommend!

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

Review: The Butterfly Bride by Lacy Williams

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

The prodigal son is back. Ever since the terrible mistake he made in high school—a mistake that cost his best friend his life—bullfighter Luke Starr has stayed far away from Pecan, Texas, and his family. But with his twin brothers gone on their respective honeymoons, Luke is forced to come back to town to watch over Gramma and the family ranch. And he can’t wait to leave again. Because being home hurts more than being stomped on by a bull—and it’s only a matter of time until he messes up all over again.

Special ed teacher Jess Sadler will do anything for her students—even abandon her comfort zone to convince a reluctant rodeo cowboy to give “horse lessons” to a student she can’t reach. But when feelings for Luke blindside Jess, she knows she’s in trouble. The man is counting down the minutes until he can leave Pecan. Will he take her heart with him when he goes?

Then a little boy goes missing on the family ranch, and Luke must confront the ghosts of his past or lose the future he never dreamed was possible.

My Review

There is instant attraction between Jess and Luke, but it is the compassion they show- even when it takes effort- that makes this story heartfelt. There is plenty of angst with Luke's overwhelming feelings of guilt that he faces being back home and interacting with the community he thinks blames and hates him. Dating Jess provides a bit of respite... until she tries to help him come to terms with his past. The horse lessons for her special charge gives them a connection he can't escape, and the miracle of progress they see in the child reinforces the importance of Jess's work and Luke's help. There is plenty of tension during the climax of hunting for the missing boy, but it is softened with Luke's healing experience and the decisions he makes for his future.

(Thank you to the author for a copy of the book; this is my honest review)

Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop!

Happy summer! I hope you're staying cool and having some good summertime fun! Some of my favorite memories of summer are playing with my sisters and cousins while beach camping in southern California. We loved boogie boarding and collecting shells, and we'd dig a hole big enough for us all to sit in while we played card games like Phase 10. What's your favorite summertime memory? 

Enter in the Giveaway Tools widget below for a chance to win a print copy of Lizzy & Jane by Katherine Reay!

Synopsis

Lizzy and Jane never saw eye to eye. But when illness brings them together, they discover they may be more like Austen’s famous sisters after all.

Lizzy was only a teenager when her mother died of cancer. Shortly after, Lizzy fled from her home, her family, and her cherished nickname. After working tirelessly to hone her gift of creating magic in the kitchen, Elizabeth has climbed the culinary ladder to become the head chef of her own New York restaurant, Feast. But as her magic begins to elude her, Paul, Feast’s financial backer, brings in someone to share her responsibilities and her kitchen. So Elizabeth flees again.

In a desperate attempt to reconnect with her gift, Elizabeth returns home. But her plans are derailed when she learns that her estranged sister, Jane, is battling cancer. Elizabeth surprises everyone—including herself—when she decides to stay in Seattle and work to prepare healthy, sustaining meals for Jane as she undergoes chemotherapy. She also meets Nick and his winsome son, Matt, who, like Elizabeth, are trying to heal from the wounds of the past.

As she tends to Jane's needs, Elizabeth's powers begin to return to her, along with the family she left behind so long ago. Then Paul tries to entice her back to New York, and she is faced with a hard decision: stay and become Lizzy to her sister’s Jane, or return to New York and the life she worked so hard to create?

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Review: A Timeless Romance Anthology: Road Trip Collection by Jolene Betty Perry, Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore, Aubrey Mace, Ranee S. Clark

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

#1 Amazon Bestselling Romance Anthology in Clean Romance
Six new contemporary romance novellas from bestselling authors.

WHAT FALLING FEELS LIKE by Jolene Betty Perry
High school was years ago, and Kendell is ready to admit that Tyler, her best friend’s younger brother, has matured into a good-looking man. But the once-popular Kendell is recovering from a marriage-gone-wrong, and she regrets turning Tyler down for high school prom. On their road trip to deliver a refurbished camper, Kendell rediscovers all the reasons she liked Tyler, but it might be too late to rekindle their friendship.

ANTIQUES ROAD TRIP by Sarah M. Eden
Kelsey is living out her dream for the weekend as she participates in a reality show contest by living on a 19th century film set. The contestant who wins the show receives a trip to England and $100k, more than enough to get her through grad school. When she meets Devon, who was coerced by his sister to participate, friendship blossoms. When things go wrong for Kelsey, Devon is there to help, and she soon realizes that winning the contest isn’t what she most desires.

WOULDN’T IT BE NICE by Ranee` S. Clark
When Jacqueline's boyfriend Colin drops out of their long-planned road trip with friends to put his job first—again—it's the final nail in the coffin of their dying relationship. But then Hudson, her best friend’s brother, takes Colin's spot for the road trip, and Jacqueline’s disappointment in her ex takes a back seat to the chance for reestablishing the close ties she once had with Hudson. When their friendship detours into romance, it forces Jacqueline to question her reasons for breaking up with Colin and her future with Hudson.

HEAD OVER HEELS by Annette Lyon
Tristan is proud to be an entrepreneur, running a popular singles’ lifestyle blog. So when she gets an offer to cover a singles convention in Las Vegas, she needs to find a way to get there from another freelance job in Salt Lake without breaking into her personal savings. Her friend sets her up with a co-worker who happens to be driving that way, and Tristan is more than surprised to come face-to-face with a man she has a lot in common with, not to mention seems to click with right away. The two decide to play a prank on Tristan’s friend, and pretend that they are smitten with each other, but soon, the lines between pretend and reality start to fade.

TWO DOZEN ROSES by Heather B. Moore
Dayna reluctantly takes time out of her busy work life to drive her mother up the Pacific Coast Highway from California to her brother’s home in Oregon. Strangely enough, they keep running into two brothers who are traveling the same route in honor of their sister’s memory. The older brother Garrett is a merciless flirt, but the younger brother Roman is who captures Dayna’s attention. Soon she realizes that the brothers are extremely competitive, and she’s just become their next target.

TRY, TRY AGAIN by Aubrey Mace
Sarah’s secret crush on Justin takes a sudden turn when he breaks up with his girlfriend and declares that he’s interested in Sarah. She believes he’s just on the rebound, and they slowly drift apart. Six months later, Sarah still can’t stop thinking about what might have been. She ropes her friend into taking a road trip to visit Justin, hoping for a second chance. When Justin sees her, he wants answers, and Sarah has to decide if she’s brave enough to finally tell him the truth.

My Review

I love that the stories in this collection are so very different from each other, even with the same theme! The premises are creative, the details are fun, and the romance is sweet as always. I love taking road trips, especially with my husband since he prefers driving and I can read my books :) These stories capture the feeling of adventure and escape that hitting the road has in store. The most light-hearted of the bunch and my personal favorite is 'Head Over Heels" with the classic road trip element of singing 80's ballads at the top of your lungs, a Tom Hiddleston look-alike, and the out-of-nowhere romance that ensues (what a fun first kiss!). The other novellas offer a bit more relationship drama/angst, and Sarah Eden's regency reality show takes the term road trip to a whole new level with horse drawn carriages. Highly recommend- a great summer read!

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

Review: Once Upon a Cowboy by Lacy Williams

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

A princess on-the-run finds sanctuary where she least expects it... After nearly dying in an assassination attempt, Princess Alessandra of Glorvaird escapes to a place no one would ever think to look for her: small town Oklahoma and a ranch staffed by a herd of wooly, uncouth cowboys. One cowboy in particular gets under her skin, until she sees his softer side. She knows this interlude can't last forever, but that doesn't stop her from wishing it might... Former Navy SEAL Gideon Hale might've rescued the princess from freezing to death, but the soldier doesn't trust easily-or at all-especially when his gut tells him Alessandra is keeping secrets. But as Alessandra begins to fit into his life, he discovers another side to the princess-one that he can't help but like. When Alessandra's enemies close in, Gideon must fight to save the woman who has become so much more than a princess... "Once Upon a Cowboy" is a contemporary western retelling of the Snow White fairytale and Book 1 in the Cowboy Fairytales series. Other books include: Cowboy Charming and The Toad Prince.

My Review

I enjoyed this novella about a modern day princess. The author did a great job portraying her desperation to escape, her fear of danger, and trauma from the recent violence. Gideon is a pretty tough nut to crack, but when he falls, he falls hard. Allie's pleasure in cooking for the cowboys and working in the kitchen endears her to all the men working on the ranch, and soon they can't imagine life without her. The fact that her stay is just temporary creates a strong tension, while the suspense from the danger she's in keeps the story quickly moving forward. Looking forward to reading more in the series!

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

Review: Between the Lines by Annette Lyon

Between the Lines is only 99 cents! This sweet novella is worth every penny ;)

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Jane Martin is intelligent but extremely shy, especially around men. When the Aid and Cultural Society proposes a letter-writing program, Jane signs up, hoping she can find a friend across the miles. But the program doesn’t run as smoothly as expected.

Unbeknownst to her, Thomas Allred from town becomes her writing friend. Thomas has always known quiet Jane—or thought he did—but reading her letters addressed to his secret persona opens his eyes to what an amazing woman she is. Meanwhile, Jane has no idea that the romantic letters she receives are penned by Thomas—or that he’s falling in love with her in person.

My Review

I love this sweet story! Thomas starts out just trying to be the solution to the problem of matching everyone up with a pen pal, and it's great how he is able to come to know the thoughtful and vibrant personality of the shyest girl in town. Of course, then he has another problem- how to get her to fall in love with his real self, rather than his pen pal persona. The spirit of hopefulness and discovery makes this a story to remember and one I enjoy re-reading when I'm in the mood for a quick feel-good tale!

Between the Lines was originally published in the Timeless Romance Anthology: Love Letters Collection.

(I purchased this novella as part of the original collection; this is my honest review)