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)

RELEASE DAY BLITZ for A Christmas Reunion by Donna Hatch

HAPPY RELEASE DAY FOR

A Christmas Reunion, The Gift of a Second Chance
by Donna Hatch
Available FOR ONLY $0.99 in digital format everywhere ebooks are sold!

More About the Book

It's not part of a series but it might feel like to readers because I seem to be enamored with long lost lovers reuniting, and also with chance meetings at a wayside inn. I'm sure a psychologist would read something into that but hey, I don't question the muse.

I chose the heroine’s name Emily because the root Latin word is Emil, meaning rival. In A Christmas Reunion, there is a rival for the man Emily loves, but it’s not who she thinks. A secondary meaning for Emily is ‘to prevail’ which Emily does and wins back the man she loves, but not in a way she’d ever imagined.

First lines of book: Emily unfolded Bennett’s last letter, tempted to burn the harbinger of such sorrow, and read it yet again, as if some vain hope still remained in her heart that the cruel writing would magically transform into words of love.

A Christmas Reunion,
The Gift of a Second Chance
by Donna Hatch
Adult Historical Romance (Clean)
Published by The Wild Rose Press

Heartbroken that her betrothed has wed another woman, Emily is determined to pick up the pieces of her life and enjoy Christmas with her family. ​

Newly returned from war, Bennett holds a secret and will do anything to ensure Emily, his only true love, never discovers it...even if it means losing her.

Fate reunites the star-crossed lovers and reveals the truth that will either unite them or drive them apart forever.

Amazon - Barnes & Noble

About Donna Hatch

My passion for writing began at the tender age of 8 and I’ve been hooked ever since. Of course, I also wanted to be an actress and a ballerina, but one out of three isn’t bad, right?

In between caring for six children, (7 counting my husband), my day job, my free lance editing and copy writing, and my many volunteer positions, I manage to carve out time to indulge in my writing obsession. After all, it IS an obsession. My family is more patient and supportive than I deserve.

Website - Blog - Goodreads - Facebook - Amazon

Blitz Giveaway

$25 Amazon gift card and an ebook of A Christmas Reunion
- Open internationally
- Ends November 12th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

E-book sale: A Match Made in Texas novella collection

Only $1.99 for the entire novella collection from A Match Made in Texas! (Normally it's $1.99 per story). I rated this book 5 stars and absolutely LOVED three of the stories- read my review here. Definitely a great deal you don't want to miss!

Synopsis

There's a secret matchmaker at work in frontier Texas!
In the small town of Dry Gulch, Texas, a good-hearted busybody just can't keep herself from surreptitiously trying to match up women in dire straits with men of good character she hopes can help them. How is she to know she's also giving each couple a little nudge toward love?
A Cowboy Unmatched
Neill isn't sure who hired him to repair Clara's roof--he only knows Clara desperately needs his help. Can he convince this stubborn widow to let down her guard and take another chance on love?

An Unforeseen Match
Hoping to earn an honest wage on his way to the land rush, Clayton ends up on Grace's doorstep, lured by a classified ad. He may have signed on for more than he expected though--and he may have found the one woman who can keep him from moving on.

No Match for Love
Andrew can't fathom how refined Lucy ended up as the caretaker to his dotty aunt, and somehow her arrival has prompted even more bizarre occurrences around the ranch. When they join forces to unearth the truth, will the attraction between Andrew and Lucy develop into more?

Meeting Her Match
When the tables are turned and a tenderhearted meddler becomes the beneficiary of a matchmaking scheme, her world is turned upside down. As her entire life changes, will she finally be able to tell the banker's son how much she cares for him?

Review: The Bound Heart by Dawn Crandall

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

One accidental kiss. That was all it took to throw Meredyth Summercourt's world upside-down. Determined to marry the ever-elusive Vance Everstone, she simply doesn't have the time or the desire to fall for her friend Lawry Hampton. However, with Vance out of the country and Lawry constantly at her side, Meredyth can’t help but wonder if what’s holding her to Vance is nothing more than a desire to redeem herself from their unfortunate past.

When Vance comes home to stake his claim on Meredyth, will she be strong enough to break free from the tangled web she’s convinced she deserves? Or will she find the strength to accept that God’s plan for her life could include redemption... and quite possibly the love of her best-friend?

My Review

Dawn Crandall has such a unique style of writing. As I read her books I feel like I'm floating through the story, not quite grounded. That's the only way I can think to describe it! There is the sense that things can change in an instant, and I never know what the characters are going to do or are truly thinking or feeling in the beginning, but thankfully that is revealed throughout the novel. In the first book I saw Meredyth as a strong individual, but in this book we are able to understand her insecurities and vulnerabilities. It was frustrating that Meredyth didn't allow herself to enjoy falling in love with Lawry and had a misguided perception of redemption that made her feel unworthy of him. The spiritual journey she experiences shows how letting go of our own limited expectations of life will allow God to bring to pass wonderful blessings and miracles to the faithful.

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

Extras

Learn about The Everstone Chronicles! I rated The Hesitant Heiress 5 stars!

Follow the Bound Heart blog tour and enter giveaways to win copies of The Hesitant Heiress and the Bound Heart!

Connect with the author Dawn Crandall

Website

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

 

Review: At Bluebonnet Lake by Amanda Cabot

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Marketing maven Kate Sherwood’s world is fast-paced, challenging, and always changing. The last thing she wants to do is slow down to a crawl at Rainbow’s End, a dilapidated resort in the Texas Hill Country. But she cannot deny her ailing grandmother’s request to visit the place where she and her deceased husband spent one glorious week (albeit fifty years ago). There Kate meets Greg Vange, the resort’s handyman. But there’s more to Greg than meets the eye– billions more, in fact, as he recently sold his successful software company and is at the resort in search of what’s next for his life.
Kate isn’t looking for romance, but she can’t deny the sparks of attraction that fly every time she and Greg are together. She even starts to see potential in the rundown resort. Could there be a future there? Or will Kate’s long-sought promotion take her back to the big city?

My Review

This was a simple, leisurely, and pleasurable read. The characters are well-developed and have enough individuality and quirks to be interesting. The plot is predictable and I found myself skimming through some of the paragraphs but the small moments between Kate and Greg towards the middle through the end of the book are what I most enjoyed. The subplot with Kate's grandma and a local senior gentleman as well as a cast of likeable townspeople rounded things out well. The author's note at the end of the book promises at least two more books in the Texas Crossroads series.

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

BECOMING BEA By @LeslieJeanGould | Kindle Giveaway and Facebook Party!

Leslie Gould is back with the latest book, Becoming Bea, in her Shakespeare-inspired series, The Courtships of Lancaster County. Don't miss the other books in the series, Courting Cate (retelling of The Taming of the Shrew), Adoring Addie (inspired by Romeo and Juliet), and Minding Molly (inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

Leslie is celebrating the series with a Kindle giveaway and a Facebook party on November 11th.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• One copy each of the entire The Courtships of Lancaster County series: Courting Cate, Adoring Addie, Minding Molly, and Becoming Bea.

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 11/11. Winner will be announced at Leslie's 11/11 Becoming Bea Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Leslie and Amish fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!
{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

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 11th!

Free e-book: To Have and To Hold by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller

Download To Have and To Hold by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller for free!

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

Synopsis

When Audrey Cunningham's father proposes that they move to Bridal Veil Island, where he grew up, she agrees, thinking this will help keep him sober and close to God. But they arrive to find wealthy investors buying up land to build a grand resort on the secluded island--and they want the Cunninghams' acreage.Contractor Marshall Graham can't imagine why the former drinking buddy of his deceased father would beckon him to Bridal Veil Island. And when Boyd Cunningham asks him to watch over Audrey, Marshall is even more confused. He has no desire to be saddled with caring for this fiery young woman who is openly hostile toward him. But when Audrey seems to be falling for another man--one who has two little girls Audrey adores--Marshall realizes she holds more of his heart than he realized. Which man will Audrey choose? And can she hold on to her ancestral property in the face of overwhelming odds?

Awesome e-book sale! $1.99 for new release Lizzy & Jane by Katherine Reay

TODAY ONLY! Get the e-book of new release Lizzy & Jane for only $1.99!!! Katherine Reay is the fabulous author of Dear Mr. Knightley and I am so excited to read her new book Lizzy & Jane which has been getting rave reviews.

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?

Review: A Rancher for Christmas by Brenda Minton

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Raised on the run, free-spirited Breezy Hernandez has never stayed in one place too long. But now that she has joint custody of her late brother's twin daughters, she's determined to give them a stable home. Even if it means cooperating with the twins' bossy uncle. Texas rancher Jake Martin learned the hard way that women can't be trusted. But as he and Breezy care for the orphaned girls, Jake begins to open his heart. Is Breezy ready to put down roots in Martin's Crossing, or will she run from the one thing she's always wanted: a family?

My Review

This novel had quite a bit of depth. Jake and Breezy struggle to find footing in their unconventional relationship since they both have major trust issues, but as they witness the love each other has for the girls in their care, friendship begins to blossom. The details from Breezy's past are revealed slowly layer by layer which I felt was effective as it kept me reading to find out more. The characters are dynamic as well as their interactions and the situations they are in.

(Thank you to Harlequin Publishing and Love Inspired books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Eighteen-year-old Katherine Ramsey travels to London with her family to make her debut into society and hopefully find her future husband. Her overbearing aunt insists she must secure a proposal from a wealthy young man who is in line to inherit his father’s title and estate. But Katherine questions her aunt’s plans when she gets to know Jonathan Foster, a handsome medical student and strong Christian who is determined to protect the poor and vulnerable in London’s East End. When a family scandal puts a damper on Katherine’s hopes for the season, she has time to volunteer with Jonathan, caring for children in one of London’s poorest areas, and romance blossoms. Katherine’s faith grows and she begins to envision a different future with Jonathan. But when Katherine’s work in the East End puts her in danger, Jonathan distances himself from Katherine to protect her. A wealthy suitor reappears, and Katherine must choose which path to follow.

My Review

This book is told from multiple points of view and has several plots going on. I think it worked in this case since none are too complex and they are also intertwined. Kate seemed slightly immature at the beginning but it was nice to see her character growth as she is exposed to opportunities to be of service to others. Her relationship with Jon grows slowly and steadily throughout the novel which is my favorite kind of romance- beginning with friendship. It has the feel of a Regency even though the setting is early 20th century, I think because of the setting in London and focus on Kate's debut season.

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