Review: The Curiosity Keeper by Sarah E. Ladd

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

“It is not just a ruby, as you say. It is large as a quail’s egg, still untouched and unpolished. And it is rumored to either bless or curse whomever possesses it.”

Camille Iverness can take care of herself. She’s done so since the day her mother abandoned the family and left Camille to run their shabby curiosity shop on Blinkett Street. But when a violent betrayal leaves her injured with no place to hide, Camille has no choice but to accept help from the mysterious stranger who came to her aid.

Jonathan Gilchrist never wanted to inherit Kettering Hall. As a second son, he was content working as a village apothecary. But when his brother’s death made him heir just as his father’s foolish decisions put the estate at risk, only the sale of a priceless possession—a ruby called the Bevoy—can save the family from ruin. But the gem has disappeared. And all trails lead to Iverness Curiosity Shop—and the beautiful shop girl who may or may not be the answer to his questions.

Curious circumstance throws them together, and an intricate dance of need and suspicion leads the couple from the seedy backwaters of London to the elite neighborhoods of the wealthy to the lush, green Surrey countryside—all in the pursuit of a blood-red gem that collectors will sacrifice anything to possess.

Caught at the intersection of blessings and curses, greed and deceit, two determined souls must unite to protect what they hold dear. But when a passion that shines far brighter than any gem is ignited, each will have to decide how much they are willing to risk for their future, love, and happiness.

My Review

This is an intriguing tale with a variety of characters, each with ulterior motives that Camille can only guess at. I loved the setting of the gritty London streets since that's not the norm in Regency romances. Even though Camille can hold her own there, she is not comfortable in her surroundings and I was happy to see her take control of her future. The countryside is a stark contrast and Camille does not take it's beauty and freshness for granted. Jonathon and Camille are a perfect match for each other with their guileless gentility. I didn't feel like their romance had much passion, especially with their hesitancy to trust each other, but there was a definite feeling of hope, that they wanted to trust and love.

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

 About the Author

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

Visit Sarah online:   

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Review: Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?

My Review

My husband wants to be a storm chaser when he grows up. Thankfully, we live in California and he is a teacher... for now :) Vanessa and Logan are both in periods of transition when they unexpectedly reconnect. The perilous circumstances heighten the emotion and while they struggle in the here and now, several flashbacks share the sweetness of their love story and the tragedy when it went wrong. The book started out kind of slow for me with Vanessa an Ted planning their wedding, but it effectively contrasted with the energy of Vanessa and Logan's relationship once their paths collided. There is plenty of angst as Logan is filled with regret and seeking for a second chance, only to be shut down repeatedly by Vanessa. I had a hard time with how she felt their problems were Logan's fault, yet the flashbacks show how her refusal to communicate or compromise contributed to the disintegration as well. She does relent to spend some time with Logan, but instead of closure, their deep feelings are reawakened. The last part of the book moved in a direction I didn't anticipate, and it was interesting to see how things were resolved. The secondary cast of characters was well-rounded with Vanessa's high school friend Mindy (who was great), some elderly neighbors, parents, siblings, and Logan's storm chasing team members. Each served to help Vanessa and Logan in their pursuit to follow God's plan for their lives and find peace.

(Thank you to Howard Books and Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

About the Author

Beth K. Vogt believes God's best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher's Weekly's Best Books of 2014. In 2015 she introduced her destination wedding series with both an e-novella, Can't Buy Me Love, (May) and a novel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love (June).

Visit Beth online:   

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Book Tour: The Turnaround Treasure Shop by Jennie Jones

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Fall in love in Swallow’s Fall with

The Turnaround Treasure Shop

by bestselling Australian romance author Jennie Jones!

Introduction and Exclusive Excerpt

By Author Jennie Jones

Looking for a delightful, warm story about family and second-chance love? The Turnaround Treasure Shop follows the adventures of the heart for Lily Johnson. Everyone has the right to at least one dream coming true, and Lily is determined to achieve her goal on her own. But things are tough on the financial front and if she doesn’t take the chance offered to her by ex-Navy Captain Nick Barton, she might find that “one day” never comes.

The Turnaround Treasure Shop is book #4 in the bestselling Swallow’s Fall series. But each book in the series can be read alone and frequently are – Jennie’s had plenty of readers buy book #3 and then go back for books #1 and #2. 

Jennie’s fictional town of Swallow’s Fall is set in a remote country area in the Australian Snowy Mountains and boasts 100 residents. Lots of them falling in love, some of them longing for dreams to come true, some of them scheming or creating mayhem with their matchmaking plans – but all of them leaving a mark on this small country town.

Jennie has a great rapport with her readers all over the world and recently asked them if they’d read a new series: Daughters of Swallow’s Fall – and the resounding answer was – Yes! But before that, the next book in this series (#5) The House at the End of the Street is releasing on July 27th.

Read on for the excerpt...

“Good morning.” Lily Johnson didn’t look at Nicholas Barton, instead skimming her smile in the direction of the top of his head and off it again as fast as politely possible. Not that he noticed.

“Morning, Lily,” he said, dark head bowed to the breakfast plate she’d put on the table in front of him.

He wore a dark green crewneck with a white T-shirt beneath, the sleeves of his sweater pushed up his arms, the way they always were. How he got through the Snowy Mountains climate without a coat, Lily didn’t know. Even summers weren’t exactly drenched in heat in this part of Australia, and autumn always had a nip in the air. He was hardly ever out of dark green or bark-brown colours. A throw-back to his armed-forces days, probably. The strong silent type — but not mean or standoffish — just reserved. Which suggested a caring nature, Lily had always thought.

She moved to an empty table next to him and picked up a cruet set and a tomato sauce bottle, reminding herself to tell the young girl who’d worked Saturday night’s restaurant shift that she needed to make sure every table was set for the next day before leaving work.

“There.” She fussed with the salt and pepper, and straightened the napkin holder. “Enjoy,” she said, wiping her hands onto her white apron and hoping the salutation sounded the way it did when she said it to every customer she served breakfast.

“Thanks,” he said, in the same low-toned, unruffled manner he’d used to thank her for his weekend breakfasts for the last year.

He picked up his knife and fork. His forearms were thick and toughened with muscle. Those muscles wouldn’t stop at his elbows, they’d go right up his arms to support his heavy-duty shoulders. It was all that muscle which probably kept his body temperature warmed.

He looked up, his hooded leaf-green eyes holding an enquiry. “Everything all right?”

Lily stumbled over her laugh. “Sorry. Daydreaming.” Ouch. Daydreaming about Nick was taboo, and she didn’t want him knowing any of her taboo thoughts.

She turned for the kitchen of Kookaburra’s Hotel, and fanned her blazing face. Nicholas Barton made her tremble. He’d been making her tremble for 12 months and no matter how hard she tried to put the moment behind her, the recollection of the awkward position she’d put him in at last years’ Easter Bunny Ball fried her brain every time she saw him. Like a splash of hot oil on the scalp.

This year’s Ball was happening in two weeks’ time. Would he remember last year’s and stay clear? Or had he wiped the incident from his memory the way she wiped her hands on her apron? He was too much of a gentleman to have referred to it since, but sometimes Lily had the sense that behind his unflappable exterior, there was a zing of anticipation in the air between them. That was the bit that made Lily tremble.

The Turnaround Treasure Shop

(Swallows Fall, #4)
by Jennie Jones
Adult Contemporary Romance

Ebook, 142 pages
May 22nd 2015 by Harlequin MIRA

Fatalistic, long divorced and doing her best to give her children a good life, Lily Johnson works two jobs in her hometown of Swallow’s Fall, saving every spare cent for the day she can lease the empty corner shop on Main Street. She longs to open it as Turnaround Treasures, a second-hand shop bursting with rescued country curios — but there aren’t enough spare cents and Lily’s dream is slipping away.

Ex-Navy diver Nick Barton arrived in Swallow’s Fall a year ago to quietly reunite himself with civvy life. Recognising an instant attraction to Lily, Nick backed away fast. Given his track record of an unhappy ex-wife and the baggage that comes with a Special Forces career, Nick doesn’t think he stands a chance with shy, reserved Lily. He can’t be with her – but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t see her.

Lily has spent her whole life cheerfully giving to others. When Nick offers her the ultimate chance for a turnaround, will Lily’s fear of being ‘second hand’ ruin the opportunity of forever love for both of them?

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - iTunes - Kobo

Book Trailer

Other Books in the Series

Find at Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Bestselling author Jennie Jones loves writing rich, warm-hearted and refreshing stories of adventures of the heart. She’s a self-confessed would-be small town country girl and longs for the day when she and her family can set up home in a cute country cottage in the middle of a huge field. Until then, Jennie is enjoying life a five minute walk from the beach. She can hear the ocean as she types her stories.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest

Tour Giveaway

$10 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash and a Kindle copy of The Turnaround Treasure Shop
Open internationally (as long as you can receive winnings)

Ends July 26th

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High Summer Read-a-thon

I'm excited to be participating in the High Summer Read-a-thon this week! Here are the books I'm planning on reading...

 

Review: The Wonder of You by Susan May Warren

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Mortified after her semester abroad is cut short, Amelia Christiansen returns to Deep Haven, certain she isn’t brave enough for the adventures she’s dreamed of. The last thing she expects is for the man who broke her heart to cross the Atlantic and beg forgiveness.

Heir to a European hotel dynasty, Roark St. John has trekked from one exotic locale to another, haunted by tragedy and the expectations that accompany his last name. Amelia is the first woman to give him a reason to stop running. He’ll do anything for a second chance—even contend with Amelia’s old flame, who is intent on sending Roark packing.

While one surprise after another leaves Amelia reeling, Roark’s continued presence only highlights the questions pursuing her. Like him, is she running from the life God has called her to? Could finding her new place mean leaving home behind?

My Review

The emotion that makes me connect with the characters is the biggest reason I'm in love with the Christiansen Family series! Amelia doesn't know where she fits in the world or what she wants out of life. It was hard to see her waffling between the choices she saw for herself- hometown settling or unknown adventure, Seth or Roark. She wants to follow God's will for her life, but how does she know what that is when both paths are good ones? Her questions and hesitancy are no doubt elements that many readers can relate to. Roark has his own traumatic history to overcome, and Amelia's strength and faith lead him to search for peace. It was interesting how he is initially perceived as the bad guy, but one by one the family warms up to him as his admirable qualities are given a chance to shine. Amelia and Roark share several memorable experiences in Deep Haven that remind them why they fell in love and also see hidden strengths that deepen their relationship.

A secondary plot that is incorporated is the struggles of Max and Grace from When I Fall in Love. Max's hereditary gene for an incurable disease prevents him from wanting a family, but hates to deprive Grace of that life. A Ukranian orphan finds herself in temporary custody of the Christiansens and both Max and Grace have the opportunity to glimpse the love and sacrifice children would bring into their hearts.

I highly recommend reading this series! I've rated all of the books (including novellas) 5 stars, and I while I love a good deal, they are definitely worth paying full price for! They can be read as stand alones but for full enjoyment read them in order.

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

No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop!

It's giveaway time, there's only one entry, and it's free! Enter to win a print copy of Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway! Then check out some other blogs on the giveaway hop...

Synopsis

This hilarious Southern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice tells the story of two hard-headed Civil war historians who find that first impressions can be deceiving.

Shelby Roswell, a Civil War historian and professor, is on the fast track to tenure—that is, until her new book is roasted by the famous historian Ransom Fielding in a national review. With her career stalled by a man she’s never met, Shelby struggles to maintain her composure when she discovers that Fielding has taken a visiting professorship at her small Southern college.

Ransom Fielding is still struggling with his role in his wife’s accidental death six years ago and is hoping that a year at Shelby’s small college near his hometown of Oxford, Mississippi, will be a respite from the pressures of Ivy League academia. He never bargained for falling in love with the one woman whose career—and pride—he injured, and who would do anything to make him leave.

When these two hot-headed southerners find themselves fighting over the centuries-old history of local battles and antebellum mansions, their small college is about to become a battlefield of Civil War proportions.

With familiar and relatable characters and wit to spare, Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits shows you that love can conquer all…especially when pride, prejudice, love, and cheese grits are involved!

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Review: A Bride at Last by Melissa Jagears and a $100 Memory-Making Giveaway!

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesey has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts.

Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she'd been deceived about her intended groom, she's now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she'll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony-until two men suddenly show up in town, claiming to be the boy's father.

Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

My Review

Kate and Silas are both strong, admirable characters, but have realistic flaws that show how they struggle with their past and the effect it has on their present and future. The chemistry is definitely there (my favorite parts!), they just have to overcome major trust issues and learn to discern and rely on God's will. Anthony is also a realistic portrayal of a young boy caught in the middle of two futures he wants nothing to do with. He is sweet and playful one moment, scared and taciturn the next. Much of the story involves Kate and Silas frantically searching for Anthony since his M.O. is to run away, which created a sense of urgency to the pacing of the novel. There are appearances of characters from the earlier books in the series which was fun, but A Bride at Last can definitely be read as a stand alone.

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

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Can Silas and Kate overcome their rocky start and experience healing—and possibly love? Discover the answer in Melissa Jagears' new book, A Bride at Last. Neither Kate nor Silas is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light as they attempt to prove nine-year-old Anthony's paternity to the court. Can their wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

Celebrate the release of A Bride at Last by entering to win a $100 Memory-Making giveaway and RSVPing to Melissa's August 4th author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $100 gift card to Netflix (for a family movie night), Shutterfly (to create a family memory book), or TablePlayGames (for a family game night)
• One copy of A Bride at Last

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/4. The winner will be announced at Melissa's 8/4 A Bride at Last Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Melissa and fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

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 4th!

New "Giveaway Alerts" at Heidi Reads... on Facebook

I love entering giveaways! Before I started reviewing books, it was a great way to be able to add new books to my personal library without going broke ;) I come across so many great book giveaways that I decided to share them with you! The easiest way for me to do that is on Facebook, but I know that posts with links don't show up on as many newsfeeds. If you are interested in entering giveaways and winning books, "Like" Heidi Reads... on Facebook and then select "Get Notifications". That way you won't miss a post! I'd love to hear from you and be sure to let me know if you win a book!

Review: The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs by Sheralyn Pratt

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Each weekday from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Grace and Ashton co-host Battle of the Sexes, a radio program arguing the he-said/she-said issues of the day. Their fiery debates often have listeners wondering if there’s more to their relationship than just talk, even though Grace has been dating Phillip, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Perfect, since long before she ever met Ashton Miller.

Yet when news comes that Battle of the Sexes is on the bubble for cancellation, Grace and Ashton need to step up their efforts to engage their audience to keep the show alive. When a charity organization approaches them and proposes that the two of them kiss for a fund raiser, Grace and Ash agree to kiss for a good cause. A kiss is just a kiss, right?

Or can one kiss really change everything?

My Review

I could not put this book down!!! Another 2:00 am finish for me :) Grace and Ashton are both strong, compelling characters that made me invest in the story from the get go. There is something about the attraction lurking beneath their emotionally-charged banter that takes the chemistry to a new level. They are both maddening at times, but what shines through is the compassion and caring they have not only for the friends and family they are close to, but for their listeners as well. They each take on the role of advocate for social issues in a way that is entertaining yet serious at times. Ashton's teenage niece is my favorite, wise beyond her years and the #1 supporter of an Ashton/Grace romance. The battle over social media is hilarious and there are several times I chuckled while reading. And the kiss... sigh. The lead up creates such anticipation and the description is perfection. From there the story takes a turn I didn't expect but made me desperate to find out what happens next. Highly recommend to fans of contemporary romance!!!

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

Review: Summer's List by Anita Higman

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Life hadn't been easy for Summer Snow. In acts of selflessness-caring for her ailing parents and running her grandmother's bookstore-she had forfeited her youth and dreams for the needs of others. And the only tries she had at love... didn't turn out. She had the bookstore, she had her beloved granny, but she was missing something-or someone.

Opportunity strikes when Granny sends Summer on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer's past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?

My Review

There's a kind of floating quality to the narrative in this book. It's told mostly from Summer's perspective (with some from Martin's POV), and it's as if she's slightly disconnected from her own experiences. She is not your run-of-the-mill contemporary female, in fact with her slightly formal yet fanciful dialogue, she seems to be from a much earlier era. She and Martin are both described as gentle souls, different from their peers, which is why their friendship is so timeless. I loved how after a twenty year separation, they fell right back into being best friends. The list from her Granny serves as catalyst to reunite them, but I was surprised to find that Martin's dysfunctional siblings and family secrets take center stage with an air of intrigue. Overcoming hurts from the past, forgiveness, grief, and pursuing a fulfilling life purpose are themes that make this a special book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I especially loved the scene with the hot air balloon ride since that's at the top of my own bucket list and it was described so beautifully!

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