Review & Giveaway: A Place for Miss Snow by Jennifer Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Miss Diana Snow is everything a British chaperone should be—she finds satisfaction in order and depends wholly upon the rules of decorum as she negotiates the isle of Greece with her young charge. But Miss Snow's prim and proper exterior masks a disquieting past: orphaned and alone in the world, she has only her stiff upper lip to rely on. When a brief encounter with a handsome stranger challenges her rules of propriety, Diana is unwittingly drawn into an adventure that will turn her ordered world upside down.

Alexandros Metaxas is a Greek spy working to recruit individuals to the cause of revolution. His mission seems to be going perfectly until he encounters Diana Snow, a captivating—if slightly cold—beauty. When their paths cross again, the ill-fated reunion threatens all Alex has been fighting for. But more importantly, it places Diana's life in jeopardy. There is only one way to save her: they must put themselves at the mercy of the most powerful pirate family in the Mediterranean. Soon, Diana is plunged into a fantastic world of gypsy curses, blood feuds, and unexpected romance. But when a bitter vendetta places her in mortal danger, will she have the courage to fight for life and love?

My Review

I read this entire book in one sitting. It was that good. It also helped that everyone in the house had gone to bed ;) I love Regency romance, but I especially love this kind of Regency romance- the kind that takes you out of the parlors and ballrooms and lets you experience what the rest of the world is experiencing at the time. Diana's circumstances as an orphan allow her to fully embrace the lifestyle in Greece and the overwhelming sense of family she yearns for. The politics of the clans, the British and the Turks in Greece is fascinating, and my eyes were opened to the oppression and abuse the Greeks endured from the Turks for 400 years. The bright spot in Diana's new life is Alex, who is an enigma to her because he shows interest in her when she is used to being thought of as insignificant. While each character in the book is vividly portrayed and the story is told from both Alex and Diana's points of view, Diana is the character I came to know the most. She has distinct mannerisms and methods of coping through the pain she feels- or avoids feeling. I loved that Alex gently showed her that processing her emotions is important. Her strength and intelligence attracts him to her and their love steadily blossoms, even though they know that a future together is too dangerous. The members of the family that take Diana in enrich the story and I loved every sweet, suspenseful, thoughtful, and heart-wrenching moment that I read. Highly recommend!

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

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Review: A Rancher of Convenience by Regina Scott

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Fill-In Father…and Husband  

Sweet mail-order bride Nancy Bennett can't believe it when her husband is exposed as a cattle rustler—and killed. And when the banker holding the ranch's mortgage questions whether she can run the ranch on her own, the pregnant widow has nowhere to turn. Until steady foreman Hank Snowden proposes marriage…

Wracked with grief about his role in Lucas Bennett's death, Hank resolves to do right by the man's wife and child. So it's natural for him to step in as Nancy's newly minted husband. But the marriage of convenience may become more than a mere obligation…if only Hank and his bride can brave the first steps toward elusive true love.

My Review

I enjoyed the twist of a former mail-order bride entering a new marriage of convenience. Nancy and Hank already admire each other from working together on the ranch, but both have a fear of trusting their heart to another again. Their affection grows to stronger romantic feelings gradually as they unite purposes to save the ranch as an inheritance for her baby. Together they face the threat of foreclosure, more rustlers, the truth of Lucas' death, and demands from Hank's family. The other ranch hands and their friends in the small community provide support and help them see that a true marriage is something of value that is worth striving for. I loved the sweetness and respect in Nancy and Hank's relationship. They helped each other recognize that they deserved love and that they could find it together. While the overall pace was somewhat slow, the descriptions of the setting and details of the time period made it easy to envision, and the romance between Nancy and Hank didn't feel rushed, but had time to develop naturally. The strongest theme of the story is the importance of family.

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

Review: Chasing Fireflies by Taylor Dean

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

My sisters think I’m crazy.

But, I’ve never forgotten the mysterious woman from my childhood who told me Paul is the name of my one true love. She told me to search far and wide for him. I haven’t stopped looking ever since.

When I stumble across an article about a successful American entrepreneur named Paul who lives and works in China, I’m intrigued. When the opportunity to teach English in China presents itself on the same day, I know it’s not a coincidence. It’s destiny. 

My sisters say I’m chasing a dream. Just like the fireflies we tried to catch on the warm summer evenings of our youth, the dream seems beyond my grasp. Will my quest for the elusive Paul always be just short of fulfillment?

My sisters tell me it’s a fool’s errand. Until I remind them of the day we saw the Red Bird. The memory silences them. The Red Bird Incident remains inarguable—and proves my search for Paul is not a silly fantasy.

I will find Paul . . . I will.

My Review

Despite my misgivings over some of Savannah's choices, this story grabbed me and drew me in. It's told in first person perspective so I felt like I was really in her head as the story progresses. There are still surprises along the way as Savannah alludes to significant events in her life that are fully revealed later in the book. I related to her shyness and struggle with socializing, and admired her attempts to reach beyond her comfort zone to more fully experience life. She meets and befriends a wide variety of people on her adventure in China, and they all create a colorful palette as she searches for her one true love. The romantic moments are oh-so-romantic, well-described and drawn out enough to savor, which I absolutely loved! This novel is definitely one of my favorites from the Power of the Matchmaker series!

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

Review: One Small Chance by Lucinda Whitney

* Sale Alert * 

The e-book of One Small Chance is currently only 99 cents! (And free on Kindle Unlimited)

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Isabel Antunes is content with her life as director of the English Academy in Lisbon. Then she’s hit by a man on a bike—a man her boss just hired to be her assistant. Despite Simon Ackerley’s repeated assurances to the contrary, Isabel believes he’s after her position, but she won’t hand it over without a fight. As if dealing with him all week is not enough, he shows up at church as well. Her only solace is in writing to the pen pal she knows as “Elliot”.

Simon Ackerley told his father that he was moving to Lisbon for the job. But that isn’t the only reason. Simon is looking for Amélie, the pen pal he’s written for fifteen years. A woman he knows everything about—except her real name and address.
 
When the biking accident reveals that Simon’s prickly co-worker Isabel is the elusive Amélie, he knows he has to win her trust before he can confess his true identity. If only he could tell her the actual reason why he’s come, he’s sure Isabel would treat him differently. But she’s not ready for the truth.

One Small Chance is a standalone novella of 43,000 words and it’s set in Lisbon, Portugal. It’s a clean and wholesome contemporary LDS romance.

My Review

I loved this sweet story with a "You've Got Mail" theme. The characters are well-fleshed out and the story and plot has a full arc. It didn't feel too short like novellas often do and when I finished the last page I just had to sigh in satisfaction. The setting of Portugal played a huge part in making the story stand out. It was so fun to imagine the foreign location and accents and the vivid descriptions were subtle without taking over the narrative. I was able to connect with both Isabel and Simon and felt the emotions they were experiencing as they grew closer together in spite of the struggles they face. Highly recommend!

(I purchased a copy of this book; this is my honest review)

New Release & Giveaway: King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt

I am so excited to read this book! Her previous two contemporary romances both earned 5 stars from me. I'll be reading and reviewing it ASAP!

 
The King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt

Esme Taylor has an amazing fiancé, a lifelong best friend, and a problem. The problem stems from the fact that her best friend is named Hunter and, well. . . he’s kind of (totally) hot. It’s hate at first sight when her fiancé, Jon, and Hunter meet. Jon’s convinced that Hunter is in love with Esme, and that Hunter must be out of the picture if their upcoming marriage is to succeed. Esme thinks Jon is paranoid. The truth is, Jon’s not that far off. Hunter is in love with his best friend and always has been. What Jon has wrong, however, is that Hunter never had any plans of ruining Esme’s happily ever after. Hunter wants what’s best for Esme, even if that’s not him. When Jon pushes hard to end Esme and Hunter’s friendship, opposition comes from the most unlikely of places. It’s an eccentric lady with a cookie cart who suggests a different solution to Esme’s problem: Hunter and Esme should give each other a chance. They’ve both thought of the possibility over the years—of course they have. But with a ring already on Esme’s finger and a heap of hurt feelings and broken trust in the mix, there hasn’t been a worse time to explore the depths of their feelings for each other. Both Esme and Hunter think it’s time to move on and leave childhood crushes in the past. The question is: Can one woman and the taste of one cookie change their minds?

Excerpt 

While everyone around Hunter ate and drank, Hunter swirled the liquid in his glass and watched his friends and family interact with Jon. The man was suave when he wanted to be; Hunter would give him that. He wore the right suits, said the right words, and charmed the right people. What a hero. He was also several inches shorter than Hunter, which meant Esme fit neatly against his shoulder as they stood and spoke with all their guests. Esme looked so content as she reclined against Jon, and Hunter wasn’t the only one who had noticed. The last person who had commented on Jon and Esme within Hunter’s earshot had called them “two peas in a pod” as if there were awards to be won in the category. Well, there weren’t. In that moment, Hunter was very glad he hadn’t been drinking that night, because otherwise he might have gone so far as announcing that fact to everyone. There are no awards for being two peas in a pod, everyone. Oh, and by the way, you should meet this guy when he isn’t trying to impress you. He’s a bit of a prick. But, of course, no one wanted to hear that. No one wanted to hear anything from Hunter tonight except for a glowing toast endorsing the golden couple. He still hadn’t written anything, although he had googled a generic speech and printed it out. It was in his pocket now, but he hadn’t practiced it and reading the prepackaged speech was pretty much out of the question now, thanks to his dyslexia. Reading on the best of days usually didn’t go that well for Hunter, but when he was seething mad? Yeah, that wasn’t happening. So he sat and swirled and watched and tried to imagine what in the world he could say that wouldn’t earn him more frowns than his jeans had already earned him. Then it hit him: Why try? Why not be honest? There wasn’t a face at this party that he hadn’t known for the better part of twenty years—well, except Jon. His smug mug was as new as it was unwelcome in Hunter’s book. But everyone knew Hunter and they’d know if he vomited some fake, glowing speech their direction. So why should he? Why not be honest? The idea grew on Hunter as the night went on and the praise for Jon became more and more abundant. The clincher was when Jon’s best man stood up and gave a speech that proved he’d probably met Esme all of once, and everyone in attendance nodded and beamed as the guy praised Esme in the most generic of terms. According to whatever the best man’s name was, Esme was kind and compassionate and a joy to all those who met her. Seriously? The guy had clearly never been within earshot of Esme when an ice cream truck passed in July playing Christmas music. That would redefine the guy’s definition of “joy to all those around her.” Yet everyone ooohed and ahhhhed and clapped until the guy sat and Jon gave his bestie an appreciative slap on the back with a look that said, Well done. Then everyone in the future wedding party looked at Hunter expectantly. It was his turn. In that moment, Hunter had a choice to make. He could either repeat the same lame puffery the best man had, or he could give the speech that had been building up in him like a sneeze all night. Be nice now and freak out later, or let it all hang out? That was the question. And one quick glance at Jon’s arrogant face gave Hunter his answer.

Author Sheralyn Pratt
 

Some describe Sheralyn as a girl who's been around the block and worked at every shop. This isn't far from the truth. Writing is what she loves most, however. There's a magical power in stepping into new perspectives time and again, and seeing the world through different eyes. Few things increase empathy more than walking in another's shoes for 100,000 words or so. At least that seems to be the trend so far.

Some random things to know about Sheralyn: * She's a wanderer (geographically) * She can write a novel, but doesn't have the attention span for one page in a journal * She vehemently disagrees with Stephen King's stance that authors should not watch TV * She is pretty much incapable of sleeping before midnight

Website * Twitter * Facebook

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway
Ends 9/23/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Book Blitz & Giveaway: One Small Chance by Lucinda Whitney

Author Lucinda Whitney is back to join us with her newest book!

She is offering her book at a discount price right now too - you can pick it up for only 99 cents! 

And, for a short time, she is hosting a $25 gift card giveaway for those who post a review!!

See below for the giveaway options

Lucinda Whitney was born and raised in Portugal, where she received a master’s degree from the University of Minho in Braga in Portuguese/English teaching. She lives in northern Utah. When she’s not reading and writing, she can be found with a pair of knitting needles in winter, or tending her herb garden in the summer. She also works part-time as a substitute teacher.

Connect with the Author here: 

~Facebook ~ Website ~ ~ Goodreads ~

One city of two million people and only three months to find her.

What are his chances?

When Isabel Antunes is hit by a man on a bike, she doesn’t expect to see him again. But on Monday at work, she learns her boss just hired him. Despite the guy’s repeated assurances to the contrary, she feels he’s a threat to her position of director, and she won’t hand it over without a fight. As if that’s not enough, he’s a member of the same church she joined a few months ago and she can’t get away from him on the weekends either.

Simon Ackerley is in Lisbon, Portugal, as a consultant for an English-only private academy. He doesn’t speak any Portuguese but he’s enjoying the city and his new job, despite a co-worker who’s bent on treating him as the enemy.

But when he discovers a clue to her identity, Simon realizes there is so much more at stake than just a pleasant working environment. If only he could tell her the reason why he’s come, he’s sure Isabel would treat him differently. But he knows she’s not ready for the truth.

~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon UK ~ 

~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon Australia ~

Excerpt

Isabel nodded at him. “To answer your question, Mr. Ackerley, I’m not quite sure what a singles ward is. Everybody keeps talking about it, but I don’t know what or where it is.”

“Call me Simon. We’re not at the academy and we’re not at church.” 

He was persistent, she gave him that. “Simon.” 

He smiled. “A singles ward is for members of the church who are between the ages of eighteen and thirty.”

“The equivalent to a marriage mart, I’m guessing?” 

Simon tossed his head back and laughed heartily. He had an honest laugh. “Well, yes, that’s the main purpose even though nobody likes to admit it.”

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

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Review: Accidentally Me by Kim Karras

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Sabrina has been trying to be the perfect child her entire life to convince her parents that she's more than just an "accident." Now she is determined to go to her dream college, but her parents want her to stay close to home. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Sabrina must team up with an unlikely ally- a guy she hires to pretend to be her stalker- to get what she wants. But when her scheme... goes according to plan, and people believe he is really stalking her, her new feelings for him prove most inconvenient.

My Review

Poor Sabrina gets herself into quite a mess in this quirky young adult/new adult novel. Granted, she doesn't have any experience standing up to her parents, and when her underhanded way of trying to manipulate them quickly gets out of control, she only ends up making things more complicated. She has an inner sassiness that is fighting its way out, but manifests in whining and bickering with her sister. She is a little self-absorbed as most 18 year olds are I'm sure, but as she is humbled by her experiences she learns to not take her family for granted. Calvin is somewhat of an enigma, and even though he has his share of flaws, he helps Sabrina realize her true fears that she must conquer in order to claim independence. The secondary characters are vividly portrayed through the lens of Sabrina's perspective, and I loved the fun coincidences of a shy admirer popping up here and there in the story, throwing Sabrina off guard in the middle of her self-inflicted drama. There were some difficult lessons she learned but the story ends on an upswing that melted my heart.

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

Review: Told You Twice by Kristen Heitzmann

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Alexis Murphy is done messing with the wrong kinds of men. She could not be happier planning a personalized Grace Evangeline wedding with her fiancé, Jeffrey, who is so…right for her. Or is he?

Stage star and spokesmodel, Bo Corrigan, could be the ultimate disruption. Alexis—Exi—is caught by his talent and sexual magnetism. Yet under the glow, she senses trouble, not only danger from Bo’s past mistakes, but something inside tearing him apart.

From the moment Bo sees Exi, he knows she’s special, but not only that—she’s real. Unlike the theater scene he’s been immersed in, she sees the man he is and won’t stop until she’s reached inside and brought that person from despair to life … if only they have time. With violent forces against them, can they get beyond the damage to love that heals and restores?

My Review

This is the second book in the Told You series, and I recommend reading the first book, Told You So before this one since Bo is an important character in that book and the main characters Grace and Devin play important roles in this book. The author quickly weaves in the backstory from the first book but to me it didn't feel like it was incorporated naturally. The story jumped right into the plot and I felt like some of Exi and Bo's initial development was lacking or superficial, but as I continued reading I was able to get a better sense of their depth and emotions. Although they are strongly drawn to each other, their relationship is brief before all sorts of drama starts happening. The pacing slowed for me in the middle of the book, but then Bo's path to redemption was amazingly portrayed, with realistic grittiness and finally an acceptance and surrender. I know I'm being vague but I'd hate to spoil any of the twists! There is quite a bit of change and growth experienced by Exi, Bo, and even Devin. I loved that Exi is an artist and still discovering her personal style and passion. There was a subtle theme of learning to find and seek after your own dreams, not what someone else expects or according to pressure from perceived societal standards, and it applied to both Exi and Bo on their journey and through their struggles. Definitely recommend to fans of the first book, and if you haven't read it, read it first! :)

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

Review: Dear Jane by Rachel Ward

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

The plan was to serve a mission, marry her boyfriend, and live happily ever after. But all of that changed when Quinn got a Dear Jane email. Now she's stuck at home with no boyfriend, no job, no major, and absolutely no social life. Will Quinn ever find the path that leads to her eternal happiness?

My Review

This book completely surprised me. The book blurb really doesn't do it justice. I didn't expect the depth and difficult topics it included in Quinn's transition back to normal life after her church mission. She has an idealized view of the gospel, that following the commandments will keep you safe from certain types of hardship and trials. That bubble is quickly popped when she is faced with rejection, family secrets are revealed, and loved ones deal with divorce, infidelity, and suicide. In the midst of it all she finds comfort and understanding from an unlikely source, a coworker at her current job that she served with on her mission who was an inexplicable jerk. Nick is a different person now, and they develop a strong friendship. It's obvious to the reader that he has a case of unrequited love for Quinn, but their relationship is complicated by  a rival suitor, regretful arguments, and family drama. I admired how Quinn didn't sit around waiting for life to happen, she quickly went and got a job to provide for herself and plan for an independent future. Even though she's a capable and strong young woman, her emotions at the struggles in her and her family's lives are skillfully brought to life and I was close to tears a couple times as she deals with grief and uncertainty. I felt like the spiritual thread was lacking, there's not much detail about Quinn's personal faith and relationship with God. However, I found that I couldn't put the book down as I was engrossed with the events unfolding in the lives of Nick and Quinn. So glad that I picked this one up and look forward to reading more by the author!

*This is an LDS fiction book, with some references that those unfamiliar with the Mormon faith may not understand. If you read it and have questions just leave me a message on Facebook or Goodreads and I'll try to help :)

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

 About the Author

Rachel Turner Ward graduated from Hillcrest High School after spending two years writing for the yearbook and the creative writing magazine. She then studied English at Brigham Young University­—Idaho, graduating with an emphasis in Literary Studies. She has contributed to several online publications, including Mormon Mommy Blogs and SheSteals. She has written a personal blog since 2009, Trapped Between a Scream and a Hug.  Rachel lives in Salt Lake with her six children and husband of 15 years.  

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