Review: Becoming Bea by Leslie Gould

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Beatrice Zook knows God wants her to learn patience toward others. When assisting a family overwhelmed by triplets proves surprisingly successful, her confidence in dealing with others, both young and old, grows.

One person she’ll never be able to find peace with though is Ben Rupp. They’ve known each other forever, and Ben understands precisely how to antagonize her. What neither she nor Ben will admit is that beneath all their bickering, attraction awaits. When friends decide to try and bring the couple together, will the pair be able to find true love? Or will they damage their relationship beyond repair?

My Review

Leslie Gould's characters are far from perfect, but that's what makes them so realistic and easy to relate to. I had a hard time understanding Bea in the previous books in this series, so I was glad to read her perspective and watch her grow as she chose to go outside her comfort zone and serve others in need. Her love/hate relationship with Ben wasn't overly emotional since she would repress her feelings and avoid acknowledging them, which made it difficult as a reader to clue in to what her true emotions were. A cute quirk is their habit of spelling words out to each other and defining them since their rivalry stems from the schoolhouse spelling bees :) Much Ado About Nothing is one of my favorite Shakespeare works so it was fun to keep an eye out for scenes and themes based on the play.

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

Review: A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing!

Synopsis

Willowgrove Hall is full of secrets, but soon everything hidden is brought to light.

Cecily Faire has a secret—and she intends to keep it. But when she arrives at Willowgrove Hall to serve as a lady’s companion, she comes face-to-face with the only person who knows the truth about her past.

As the steward of Willowgrove Hall, Nathaniel Stanton is dedicated to serving those around him. Nothing escapes his notice—including the beautiful new lady’s companion. He is certain the lovely Miss Faire is hiding something, and he determines to uncover it. But Nathaniel has a secret of his own: he is the illegitimate son of Willowgrove’s former master. Falling in love was not part of his plans . . . until he meets Cecily Faire.

When Willowgrove’s mistress dies, everything changes. Fear of exposure forces Cecily to leave under the cover of darkness, embarking on a journey to finally find her long-lost sister. When the will is read, Nathaniel’s inheritance makes him question his future plans. Cecily and Nathaniel are forced to make decisions that will change the course of their lives. Is their love strong enough to survive?

My Review

This book not only has a beautiful cover, but it is a beautiful story. I loved so much about it, but especially Cecily's insights and perspective. She is a strong character in unfortunate circumstances, but that does not hinder her compassion, courage, and loyalty. I think that is why she is a perfect match for Nathaniel since he exhibits the same qualities. The social restraints of the time period are definitely felt as they affect the circumstances of each character's past, present and future. It was interesting to see how each individual accepted the hand that they were dealt and made the best of their situation. Mrs. Trent was an enigmatic character as she is viewed by several as a bitter recluse, but through Cecily we  learn more of her life's experience and witness the sweet theme of forgiveness.

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

Extras

Read an interview with main character Cecily Faire at the Litfuse blog!

Connect with author Sarah E. Ladd:

Blog

Facebook

Twitter 

Gratitude Giveaway Hop! Enter to win The Daughter of Highland Hall!

One of the things I am grateful for this holiday season is the wonderful people who follow this blog! It has been a fun year of reading amazing books and finding fabulous deals on e-books! I love interacting with you all :)

So this giveaway has only one requirement- be a follower of Heidi Reads... and let me know your favorite way of following! Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky, which I really enjoyed- you can read my review here.

Entry-Form

Follow the Gratitude Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am a Reader, Not A Writer for more book related giveaways!

Free e-book: Trouble in Store by Carol Cox

Freebie alert! Get Trouble in Store by Carol Cox on e-book for free!

(Sale price is scheduled to end on Saturday November 15th)

Synopsis

Fired from her most recent governess position, Melanie Ross must embrace her last resort: the Arizona mercantile she inherited from her cousin. But Caleb Nelson is positive he inherited the mercantile, and he's not about to let some obstinate woman with newfangled ideas mess up all he's worked for. He's determined to get Melanie married off as soon as possible, and luckily there are plenty of single men in town quite interested in taking her off his hands.
The problem is, Caleb soon realizes he doesn't want her to marry up with any of them. He's drawn to Melanie more every day, and he has to admit some of her ideas for the store unexpectedly offer positive results.

But someone doesn't want the store to succeed, and what used to be just threatening words has escalated into deliberate destruction and lurkers in the night. When a body shows up on the mercantile steps--and the man obviously didn't die from natural causes--things really get dangerous. Can Melanie and Caleb's business--and romance--survive the trouble that's about to come their way?

Review: Where Treetops Glisten: Three Stories of Heartwarming Courage and Christmas Romance During World War II by Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman, Sarah Sundin

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Three siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, filled with the wonder of Christmas.

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

In White Christmas by Cara Putman, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theatre in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.

The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and God’s plan for a future?

My Review

This collection of stories was a pleasure to read and will make a great Christmas gift! Each story is very different yet connected by familial ties and common themes of service and giving. The first by Cara Putman was the sweetest with Abigail overcoming her fears and reaching out to someone with burdens greater than her own. The second by Sarah Sundin was the most dynamic since the relationship between Pete and Grace is turbulent and undergoing a change from resentment to love. The last story by Tricia Goyer brought the atmosphere of service on the front lines and the compassion that Merry has for the soldiers she nurses. Although they are not full-length novels, the stories don't feel rushed, but fully formed and well-resolved at the endings.

(Thank you to WaterBrook Press and LitFuse Publicity for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

E-book sale: $1.99 for The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander

Today only- download The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander for only $1.99!

(Be sure to check the price before purchasing since e-book sales are for a limited time)

Synopsis

An unexpected inheritance. An unknown future. An unending love.

Determined to tame her younger brother's rebellious streak, McKenna Ashford accepts her cousin's invitation to move west, and to begin again. But she quickly discovers that life in Copper Creek, Colorado, is far from what she expected. Shouldering burdens beyond her years, McKenna tries to be the parent Robert needs, instead of the older sister he resents. But an "untimely inheritance" challenges her resolve at every turn, while also offering a second chance to restore her sense of trust--and perhaps even her heart.

U.S. Marshal Wyatt Caradon is dedicated to bringing fugitives to justice, yet years of living on the trail have taken their toll. When his path intersects with that of McKenna, he comes face-to-face with a past he never wanted to relive--and the one woman who can help him find the future he's been longing for.

As McKenna struggles to let go of her independence and Wyatt considers opening his heart again, they discover an inheritance beyond imagination. But it will come at a price.

E-book sale: $1.99 for Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

Only $1.99 for the e-book of Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer! This is one of my favorite books and rated it 5 stars! Definitely worth the full price, but less than two dollars is even better :)

(Be sure to check the price before purchasing since e-book sales are for a limited time)

Synopsis

No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.

Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.

Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?

E-book sale: $1.99 for Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell

Download Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell for only $1.99 through Nov 10th!

(Be sure to check the price before purchasing since e-book sales are for a limited time)

Synopsis

Lady Celine Wexham seems the model British subject. French by birth but enjoying life in 1813 as a widowed English countess, she is in the unique position of being able to help those in need--or to spy for the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. When Rees Phillips of the British Foreign Office is sent to pose as the countess's butler and discover where her true loyalties lie, he is confident he will uncover the truth. But the longer he is in her fashionable townhouse in London's West End, the more his staunch loyalty to the Crown begins to waver as he falls under Lady Wexham's spell. Will he find the proof he needs? And if she is a spy after all, will he do the right thing?

E-book sale: $1.99 for A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander

Download A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander for only $1.99 through Nov 10th!

(Be sure to check the price before purchasing since e-book sales are for a limited time)

Synopsis


After an unwanted past, Claire strives to create something that will last as an artist among Nashville's elite society in the 1860s.

Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee her home, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe, who shows her kindness by not turning her in to authorities. But when he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged him. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville society, Claire believes her dream of creating a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her past remains hidden.

The Federal Army destroyed Sutton's home, confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.

Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.

E-book sale! $1.99 for Shattered by Dani Pettrey

Download Shattered by Dani Pettrey for only $1.99 through Nov 10th! This is the second book of the Alaskan Courage series and my favorite one so far; I rated it 5 stars.

(Be sure to check price before purchasing since e-book sales are for a limited time)

Synopsis

Piper McKenna couldn't be more thrilled that her prodigal brother, Reef, has returned to Yancey, Alaska, after five years. But her happiness is short-lived when Reef appears at her house covered in blood. A fellow snowboarder has been killed--but despite the evidence, Reef swears he's innocent. And Piper believes him.
Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he's also sworn to find the truth. Piper is frustrated with his need for facts over faith, but he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. With his sheriff pushing for a quick conviction, some unexpected leads complicate the investigation, and pursuing the truth may mean risking Landon's career.
With Piper waging her own search, the two head deep into Canada's rugged backcountry--and unexpected complications. Not only does their long friendship seem to be turning into something more, but this dangerous case is becoming deadlier with each step.

Free e-book! Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

TODAY ONLY! Download Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden for FREE!

(Be sure to check the price before purchasing since e-book sales are for a limited time)

Synopsis

As a child, Lydia Pallas became all too familiar with uncertainty when it came to the future. Now, she's finally carved out a perfect life for herself--a life of stability and order with no changes, surprises, or chaos of any kind. She adores her apartment overlooking the bustling Boston Harbor, and her skill with languages has landed her a secure position as a translator for the U.S. Navy.

However, it is her talent for translation that brings her into contact with Alexander Banebridge, or "Bane," a man who equally attracts and aggravates her. When Bane hires Lydia to translate a seemingly innocuous collection of European documents, she hesitantly agrees, only to discover she is in over her head.

Just as Bane's charm begins to win her over, Lydia learns he is driven by a secret campaign against some of the most dangerous criminals on the East Coast, compelled by his faith and his past. Bane forbids any involvement on Lydia's part, but when the criminals gain the upper hand, it is Lydia on whom he must depend.

Free e-book: Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin

TODAY ONLY! Download Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin for FREE!

(Be sure to check the price before purchasing since e-book sales are for a limited time)

Synopsis

Contemporary Romance to Make You Laugh, Cry, and Fall in Love
 
When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life: "God, if you're real, I want to know you."
 
It's Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate's rescue. Nick is handsome, confident, and seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She's not planning to fall in love with one of the locals.
 
Nick Sheridan is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn't expect to be swept off his feet by the car's occupant. He's made a vow: no dating for a year. And it's a vow he intends to keep in spite of his attraction to Kate Darby...

Review: The Promise by Beth Wiseman

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Mallory Hammond is determined not to let her boyfriend, parents, or anyone else get in the way of her #1 goal—to save a life. She had that chance when she was a teenager, and the opportunity slipped away, leaving a void she’s desperate to fill. Then a new friend she met online offers her the chance she’s dreamed of. But she’ll have to leave behind everyone she loves to take it.
Tate Webber has loved Mallory for years. He understands that Mallory’s free spirit has to fly, and when he gives her the space she needs, he hopes that when she lands, the two of them will be in the same place and can marry at last.
In a bold move—and with lots of resistance from Tate and those closest to her—Mallory decides to travel across the world to fulfill her dream. Tate begs her not to go, but Mallory embarks on the dangerous journey to Pakistan anyway, only to discover how swiftly and easily promises can be broken. Her new friend isn’t who he says he is. And Mallory can only pray she’ll make it out alive.
Inspired by actual events, this riveting story will take you on a wild journey and have you asking yourself: How far would I go for love?

My Review

Intense. Frustrating. Eye-opening. The author Beth Wiseman personally knows the young woman whose experience this story is based on and does an amazing job bringing the realities of the other side of the world to the page. Told from multiple points of view, the reader is able to sense that not all is what it seems. Mallory's compassionate and emotional nature overrides her common sense and she is focused solely on having an amazing "life experience" despite the warnings and red flags that she chooses to disregard. As I was reading I felt a combination of pity for her circumstances and  what-did-you-expect?!?! I appreciated that there was a subplot with Tate's side of the story of a piano student abandoned to his care which showed more dimension to his character besides the constant worrying for his relationship with Mallory and her safety. The book starts out relatively slow but momentum builds with the suspense and climaxes with an intense ending.

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