Review: A Longing for Christmas by Chalon Linton, Jennifer Moore, Tuft Karen, Alene Wecker

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

About the Book

Settle in by the fireside and savor stories of unexpected romance, second chances, and lifelong love. Featuring four novellas from some of your favorite authors, this historical Christmas romance collection is sure to capture your heart. 

Memories of Christmas by Chalon Linton—Judith Benson despises Christmas and has no interest in the festivities of London Society. But when she catches the attention of a handsome viscount, her holiday humbug is put to the test.

A Home for the Holidays by Jennifer Moore—As Captain Edgar Bryant nurses his wounds from his time in the army, he finds unexpected relief in creating Christmas cheer alongside the sparkling Winnie Larsen. 

Lady Walmsley and Foster by Karen Tuft—The holidays are approaching, and longtime widow Lady Walmsley turns to her staff for company—much to the dismay of her very proper butler, Foster. But what begins as friendship just might end in love. 

A Gretna Green Christmas by Alene Wecker—Since sharing a bumbling first kiss beneath the mistletoe years ago, Charles and Maria have been star-crossed. But this Christmas, love might finally be within their reach.

My Review

Another wonderful collection of heartwarming stories from four authors of Regency romance! I enjoyed reading these stories over the holiday season, but I think they are perfect for any time of the year. There is a good variety to the stories, and I felt like I was able to get to know the characters and their situations quickly. Frustrations and trials are overcome with sweet romance combined with the special spirit of winter and Christmas, making each story a pleasure to read.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

 

 

Review: Pretending to Be the Mountain Man's Wife by Misty M. Beller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

Determined to find his missing brother and catch the elusive mastermind behind the theft of his family's precious sapphires, Gil Coulter embarks on a solo mission to the remote town where the criminal is rumored to reside. As Gil scours the surrounding wilderness for the thief's hidden lair, he crosses paths with a captivating young woman who harbors secrets of her own.

Jess McPharland has spent her life hidden in the mountains, doing her best to stay separate from her family’s business. Yet the secret she’s just discovered will change her life forever. She offers a silent prayer, pleading for a man to help her conceal the truth she’s only just discovered. As if in answer, Gil Coulter rides through the trees, seeking the very criminal Jess calls Father. Now she must find a way to ask this stranger for the ultimate favor—to pose as her husband and shield her from the consequences of a change she won’t be able to hide much longer.

As Gil and Jess navigate the treacherous landscape and the greater danger from her father and his cronies, they find themselves caught in a web of danger, deception, and unexpected attraction. With each passing moment, the stakes grow higher, and the line between pretense and truth blurs. Will the love growing between them be enough to protect Jess's secret and lead them to the justice Gil seeks, or will the truth shatter everything they've risked their lives to build?

My Review

The suspense and action ramps up in this installment of the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch! Gil goes right into the heart of danger as he pursues his brother and the investigation of the stolen sapphires. He and Jess instantly connect, and I loved how he showed her the way a true gentleman treats women. Jess didn't have any loyalty to her father and his crew because of how badly they treated her. It was important that Gil had an ally in his quest, and Jess appreciated Gil's protection as her husband. The caves and tunnels brought variety to the landscape and it was fun to picture them in the adventurous setting. The story has plenty of suspense and action, as well as a strong theme of faith.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

The Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series 

Review: The Amish Quiltmaker's Uninvited Guest by Jennifer Beckstrand

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

About the Book

Esther’s distant cousin, widower Menno Eicher, needs to be hard-headed and practical. Swamped by family and farm responsibilities, he must find the perfect wife as quickly as possible, so he’s shown up in Colorado—with “finding a wife” on his To-Do list! Esther’s community has many women who could match his ever-growing requirements. Yet after a chance meeting, Menno keeps coming back to baker Joanna Yoder. Hard-working, honest, and forthright, she’s distracting Menno from his search, opening his heart—but refuses to believe he’s falling hopelessly in love with her . . .
 
Happily busy inventing and selling delicious desserts, Joanna has no time for someone as ridiculously exacting as Menno. After all, what sort of man thinks choosing a wife is like picking a pie at the general store? But once she sees the surprisingly kind heart, doting father, and understanding man beneath his hard-to-please ways, she has second thoughts. With faith and genuine love, might the few things they have in common overcome the differences between them—and prove precious enough to risk a future together?

My Review

Handsome Menno and lovely Joanna have a sweet meet-cute and are definitely interested in each other... until Menno proposes right away! He has a list and Joanna doesn't want to be just another can of corn. As much as Menno tries with some other nice ladies in the community, he and his girls just want Joannna. He has to overcome his habit of saying hilariously not-quite-appropriate things and putting Joanna on edge. Joanna is justified in wanting to be wanted for herself and not just a role that anyone could fill. Menno is just not great at expressing his deeper desires and emotions since he is pragmatically focused on following his bishop's counsel to find someone to fill the role of wife and mother. With plenty of angst and laugh out loud moments, they both are able to realize and understand their attraction and compatibilty... with the help of a great cast of characters from family and community. I'm loving this series!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Don't miss the other books in the Amish Quiltmaker series . . .

 

 

 

Review: If the Boot Fits by Karen Witemeyer

 

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

Determined to prove that cattle king Eli Dearing has no justification for evicting his stepmother and half brothers, Asher Ellis uses the cover of a fancy ball to break into the Three Cedars ranch house to search for proof of wrongdoing. On the verge of discovery, he flees, but a boy's cry compels him to make a daring rescue.

Spunky and independent, Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting in her honor is nothing more than a matrimonial ambush. Taking a break from her unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the stranger ends up saving her brother's life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind--his boot--and resolves to find him herself.

But when Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. And although Asher tries to keep his distance from Samantha for reasons of his own, a series of suspicious accidents befall her, and his protective instincts flare, no matter the cost to their future.

This Western reimagining of the classic Cinderella fairy tale is an enchanting story of courage, family, and the power of true love.

My Review

Fairy tale adaptations are a favorite genre of mine, and with Karen Witemeyer as a favorite author, I knew I would enjoy her Western take on Cinderella. The story elements are creative and unique, with the male lead as the one in poverty, our female lead wealthy, and a father presenting several "opportunities" for her to marry. Samantha knows her own mind and is fiercely loyal to her family. As she grows into adulthood that brings some conflict when her path doesn't necessarily align with the goals of others. Asher has some prejudice against her family, but is willing to have an open mind when sees how Samantha has a compassionate heart as she tutors his younger brother. Samantha and Asher both go through a growth arc as they come up against trials and develop their faith to get through them. The mystery kept me in suspense and the twists at the end I did not see coming. A sweet romance and I was glad that the story deviated from the original enough to feel fresh and not predictable.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

The Texas Ever After series

 

Takeover Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry by Susan L. Tuttle

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry by Susan L. Tuttle hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

  

 

Title: The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry 

Series: Treasures of Halstead Manor 

Author: Susan L. Tuttle 

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

Release Date: March 18, 2025 

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Adventure 

In pursuit of a rare book, will Natalie and Mason find each other again? 

With her twenty-plus-year marriage on the brink of collapse, bookish Natalie Daughtry immerses herself in her new bookstore job. When the mysterious Caspar gathers Natalie and her friends Everleigh and Brooke for the second time, she's ready for an adventure to disperse the turmoil clouding her marriage. Caspar enlists their help in searching for a rumored copy of Lewis Carroll's handwritten and illustrated manuscript of Alice's Adventures Under Ground. Natalie is immediately enticed--this is the perfect distraction. 

But then Mason joins the team, and suddenly Natalie and her husband are side-by-side on the search for this elusive treasure. Being forced to work together has them tumbling deep into their past, seeking answers to old misunderstandings. When they emerge from the rabbit hole, things aren't the same. Will they rediscover the love that once held the pages of their life together?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook

 

Excerpt

“There’s a book I need you to collect for me.”

Natalie’s interest piqued. He was speaking her language. Plus, if he wanted them looking for a book, chances were it was rare, old, or both. He wasn’t simply speaking her language—he was speaking it fluently.

“What is it?” Natalie leaned in.

“A handwritten and illustrated copy of Lewis Carroll’s first attempt at Alice in Wonderland, which he titled Alice’s Adventures Under Ground.” The thought of a handwritten manuscript by Lewis Carroll vaulted Natalie out of her seat, but before she could speak, Brooke jumped in.

“That doesn’t make sense. Carroll gave that first edition to Alice Liddell, the little girl everyone believes inspired the story. That copy is now on display at the British Museum.”

Brooke owned a pawn shop and immersed herself in antiques. In fact, she’d once been an antique runner, acquiring pieces for wealthy collectors. Her knowledge and background often overlapped with Natalie’s, but no one knew history and literature quite like Natalie. This instance was case in point.

She looked across the room as she addressed everyone. “True, Carroll did give a copy to Alice, but it’s been rumored for years that he wrote an even earlier version that’s been lost since before Liddell’s copy was given to her.”

A line formed between Brooke’s perfectly manicured eyebrows. “I’ve never heard that theory.”

“It’s not well known, and many believe it to be myth. I can send you a link to the few articles I’ve read.” Natalie had no trouble recounting the periodicals’ names, article titles, or publication dates. Her memory simply worked that way. If she engaged with something once, she didn’t forget it.

Brooke nodded, seemingly content with that answer for now. Natalie wasn’t offended by the need to prove her statement. Over the past few months, she’d come to know Brooke and her desire for concrete answers. Natalie couldn’t say she blamed her. Right about now she’d love some solid solutions to her marriage.

“Natalie’s correct,” Caspar said. “This is a rumored copy, yet it is very much real, and I have a lead on its location.”

More Books from this Series

---

About the Author

Susan L. Tuttle is a pastor's wife, mom, and the director of women's ministry at her church near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her previous work includes the Along Came Love series, and the Carol Award finalist Love You, Truly.

Connect with Susan by visiting susanltuttle.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

---

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 19, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 26, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review: Winning the Mountain Man's Love by Misty M. Beller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

As the second brother of six, Jonah Coulter has no shortage of family, yet he’s more than ready to find a woman who doesn’t see him as her second choice. Haunted by the loss of his sister Lucy and the rejection of his former fiancée, he sets out to find the aunt of a lost child his family has taken in. Maybe reuniting the girl with her only remaining family will give him the purpose he craves.

After fleeing her past and the man who killed her late husband, Patience Whitman has reinvented herself in the untamed Montana Territory. Relying on her gambling skills to survive, she’s determined to earn enough to buy the life she dreams of—a bit of land and a home of her very own, far enough away from people that she can finally find peace. But then a man shows up in town searching for her and says his family has taken in her niece, Patsy’s perfectly laid plans go awry. If Anna really is here in the Montana Territory, Patience can’t abandon the only family she has left.

As Jonah and Patsy navigate the treacherous landscape of their pasts and little Anna’s future, they must confront their deepest fears and learn to trust each other. But when Patsy's dangerous past catches up to them, they must risk everything to claim the happily ever after they both crave.

My Review

I enjoyed the journey of Jonah as he searched and found Anna's aunt. She has had a rough road of unexpected circumstances, but each time she shifts her path and plans to keep going. Jonah brings bittersweet news- the death of Anna's family members but also a niece that needs her care. Patsy again pivots and does the next right thing, reuniting with Anna and building a relationship with her. Jonah has been disappointed in love- he's a protector and rescuer with a heart of gold. I appreciated how he learns from his past and uses those lessons to develop a stronger bond with Patsy and help her with her faith. As always the author weaves in powerful messages with danger and adventure. Another wonderful addition to the series!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

The Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series