Review: A Match for Addy by Emma Miller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Spinster Addy Coblentz fears she'll never marry. So her parents hire the new matchmaker who's moved to their Amish community of Seven Poplars. But Addy doesn't just want a match. She wants love. While some of her potential suitors are perfectly fine, only one man catches her eye. Gideon Esch is everything Addy's looking for: strong, kind—and handsome. But he's only a poor hired hand who can never give her family the stability they want. With her future happiness at stake, will Addy follow the rules…or follow her heart?

My Review

I liked the twists in this book. While Addy wants her own family, she is horrified that her parents hired the matchmaker to help her, especially when she is attracted to newcomer Gideon. She has lots of people giving her advice and trying to refine her rougher edges. I had a hard time with her mother who is sharp and seems to be acting in self-interest when she insists Addy marry for wealth so they will be taken care of in their old age. Gideon's thoughts are funny as he doesn't think he's ready to settle down or find a bride... until Addy slowly gets under his skin. They are sweet and fun together, even in their hard moments. A well-rounded story with a nice ending.

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

Review & Giveaway: Heart's Journey by Kristen McKendry

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Adventure is in her blood, so when wealthy eighteen-year-old Rachel Hamilton’s treasure hunting father disappears in the wilderness of British Columbia, she considers only one course of action: she will embark on a quest to find him. But for a well bred woman with little understanding of the world beyond her upper class existence, the harsh realities of the trail quickly become apparent. Woefully unprepared for the hardships of crossing a wild and unsettled continent, Rachel is hungry, lost, and distraught when handsome frontiersman Peter finds her in the middle of nowhere. Taking pity on the downtrodden young woman, Peter promises to escort her to the safety of civilization. Little does he realize he’s taking on a naïve and foolishly brave girl who will test the limits of his patience. But he also discovers the same naïve girl will blossom into a strong, competent, and captivating woman as they undertake an epic journey that will forever alter both their lives.

My Review

Heart's Journey is a wonderful book with characters that come alive and a well-paced adventure through the wilds of Canada. There are some harrowing moments, but what I loved was how Rachel slowly grew as she is exposed to a whole new world and the people in it, both good and bad. Peter is essential in helping her on this journey, not only physically but mentally as she learns to see things from a new perspective and reconsiders the quick judgements she makes based on her limited upbringing. The families they interact and bond with are endearing and create an excellent cast of secondary characters. The various terrains they travel across are easy to visualize and appreciate in their wild beauty, even through their desperate circumstances. I loved how Rachel came to prefer the freedom of the great outdoors after her body grew acclimated to the tough conditions. The book has the vibe of an epic pioneer trek but with a more unique setting and a variety of interesting subplots. The romance was perfect and enhanced the tale of Rachel's journey rather than becoming the focus of the book. There are great moments between she and Peter as their relationship also undergoes a journey of its own. Highly recommend!

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

Blog Tour Schedule

September 21st 

Rockin' Book Reviews

Heidi Reads...

My Book a Day

September 22nd

Bonnie Gets a Say

LDS and Lovin' It

I am a Reader

Literary Time Out

September 23rd

Fire and Ice Reads

A Transparent Mom

September 24th

Getting Your Read On

I Love to Read and Review Books

Bookworm Lisa

September 25th

Katie's Clean Book Collection

Singing Librarian Books

Bloggin' 'Bout Books

Books Are Sanity

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Review: Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

It is 1814 and the British have taken hold of Mackinac Island and its fort, forcing American residents to swear an oath of loyalty to the British crown in order to retain their land. Pierre Durant is a voyageur--a fur trader who left his family home to find freedom and adventure. He's been gone five years and when he returns, his family's farm is at the mercy of the British invaders.
Torn between the life he's grown used to and guilt over leaving his brother and mother, he's drawn back into the loyalist fight against the British--and into a relationship with Angelique Mackenzie, a beautiful local girl who's been befriended by the daughter of the British commander. As tensions mount and the threat of violence increases, both Angelique and Pierre must decide where their loyalties rest, how far they will go to find freedom, and how much they will risk to find love.

My Review

This novel is set in an amazing place and time. I felt like I learned so much about a part of the country and a period in history that was glossed over in my education (I had a horrible history teacher- so tragic!) The characters in this book made it come alive and it was so easy to envision every aspect. My attention was held throughout and didn't feel as though the story was predictable. Because the island is somewhat isolated and caught between two sides in a war, there is a feeling of tension and loneliness and apprehension. Angelique lives in circumstances that elicit pity, yet she is strong, brave, and compassionate. I admired her sacrifice as she kept the mother of Pierre alive through the harsh winter in depraved conditions. Pierre was a bit too cocky for me yet he is undergoing a humbling change as he turns from the ways of his past and moves towards God. Even though the future is uncertain and full of danger, Pierre and Angelique have a camaraderie and banter that make falling in love easy, even though they fight against it for various complicated reasons.

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

Review: Her Christmas Guardian by Shirlee McCoy

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Former army ranger Boone Anderson immediately senses danger when he spots Scout Cramer and her precious little girl while holiday shopping. Then two cars suddenly give chase in the parking lot—kidnapping the child. His worst suspicions are confirmed, and professional instincts propel him into action. Having lost his own infant daughter years before, Boone is determined to reunite the beautiful single mother and her missing child. But when a secret from Scout's past finally catches up to her, she must work with her self-appointed guardian to save her daughter. Before the kidnappers cancel Christmas for all of them… permanently.

My Review

There was definitely a feeling of desperation in this suspense novel of kidnapping and hostage rescue. I liked the characters and the team that Boone worked with. The sense of connection between Scout and Boone helped make the light romantic feelings between them believable in the midst of a crisis. There were some plot points that felt muddled and didn't quite come together, as well as some decisions made by the police and hostage team that didn't seem realistic.

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

Giveaway! The Hesitant Heiress by Dawn Crandall in print format!

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

I loved The Everstone Chronicles series by Dawn Crandall! They were previously available in e-book only but because they are so popular, the publisher is making them available in print. Enter below to win one of five print copies of The Hesitant Heiress that Dawn is giving away!

Synopsis

After being unjustly expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amaryllis Brigham sees her dreams of founding a music academy in her hometown of Seattle, Washington, disappearing before her very eyes. Now, the only way to achieve her goal comes with high stakes for someone set on avoiding men as much as possible: Marry within the year to inherit the immense fortune of her estranged grandmother. Amaryllis reluctantly moves in to her aunt's Boston home and rubs shoulders with fashionable society. Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself quickly falling in love with the most unlikely of men, Nathan Everstone, the envy of every eligible female, whose father has haunted her dreams for the decade following her mother's tragic death. However, Nathan turns out to be much more than he seems...and everything she never knew she wanted. But can she ever really trust an Everstone man?

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Review & Giveaway: Simply Anna by Jennifer Moore

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Suffering from a cruel heartbreak, Lord Philip Hamilton has been driven to seek refuge from the painful memories haunting London, and his father’s Jamaican sugar cane plantation provides just the escape he needs. Philip finds solace in his hard work and takes comfort in the fact that his distance from society ensures that his heart will be protected from future entanglements. Protected, that is, until the unexpected appearance of a mysterious woman with no memory of her past. The only clue to her identity is a necklace inscribed with a name: Anna. In a matter of weeks, this gentle, intelligent, and impossibly beautiful stranger turns Philip’s world upside down. But as the bond between the pair grows, the threat of Philip losing his heart once more is only the beginning of the dangers that await. Island renegades and a ruthless band of pirates clash in a swashbuckling battle, and it soon becomes clear that these villains may be the key to unlocking Anna’s past...

My Review

A little slow to start but what an adventure! I was glad that the story began with a bit about Anna from before she lost her memory so I felt like I knew her even though she didn't know herself. The author did a wonderful job of revealing further attributes of her character through the situations and difficulties she faced on Jamaica. Phillip did not make a good first impression on me but he also had some refining experiences at the plantation which made the strength and goodness of his personality shine. The setting is one that is unique in my reading experience and I felt that I learned some history of the time, how plantations were run, the sad reality of slave labor and the perceptions held by society in Jamaica during the period. There are several friends that Anna and Phillip make which give great dimension to the story. Ezekiel, the young black boy who serves in the household is my favorite, he is just one to make you smile :) The danger and action that takes place in the latter part of the novel is well placed and makes the ending an exciting one. The romance between Phillip and Anna lacked tension but was sweet, especially as they came to rely on each other. I especially enjoyed when Phillip would surprise Anna by asking her opinion on a weighty matter and value the perspective she offered.

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

Blog Tour Schedule

Sept 14th
Rockin' Book Reviews
Heidi Reads...
Min Reads and Reviews

Sept 15th
Joy in the Moments
I Am A Reader
A Transparent Mom

Sept 16th
Getting Your Read On
Katie's Clean Book Collection
I Love to Read and Review Books
Why Not? Because I Said So
LDS Women's Book Review 
My Book a Day

Sept 17th
Bonnie Gets a Say
Singing Librarian Books
LDS and Lovin' It
Literary Time Out

Sept 18th
Fire and Ice Reads
Bookworm Lisa
Little Light Design Collective
Bloggin' 'Bout Books
Books Are Sanity

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Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon

I am excited to participate in the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon hosted by Tressa from Wishful Endings! My goal is to read and review the following books:

Review: Her Cowboy Hero by Carolyne Aarsen

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Montana rodeo star Tanner Fortier is a good man. A man Keira Bannister never stopped loving. But when he shows up at Refuge Ranch looking to have his late brother's saddle repaired in time for the championships, he's the last person Keira wants to see. For years, she's kept hidden the real reason for breaking their engagement—and Tanner's heart. But now, with him at the ranch, she's tempted to reveal the truth—one that could destroy him. But she knows that to have a future with the man of her dreams, she has to settle the past…

My Review

There is plenty of emotion in this story of reconnection and reconciliation. I was frustrated for Tanner that he never had closure after Keira broke up with him. She is obviously struggling to forget issues of the past and her vulnerability is apparent to Tanner. The way they slowly warm up to each other is realistic-it doesn't happen overnight which enhances the tension. I enjoyed their banter once they fell back into a comfortable rapport and they become sweet to each other. The reveal of Kiera's devastating secret throws everyone and creates new decisions to be made. There is definitely more than meets the eye to this story and I couldn't put it down until I finished it :)

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