Thursday, February 9, 2017

Review: Love's Eternal Breath by Naomi Rawlings


Heidi Reads... Love's Eternal Breath by Naomi Rawlings

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Lindy Marsden once dreamed of having a husband, a house, some children, and maybe even a sewing machine. But since she grew ill five years ago, those dreams have become too much to hope for. Now she just wants to provide for herself and help the abandoned children she found living in the woods until their father returns… and avoid doctors for the rest of her life. Their medicine never leads to any good, and she has the scars to prove it.

Seth Harrington loves being a doctor, but treating patients in the small town of Eagle Harbor is nothing like working at a prestigious Boston hospital, especially with the other doctor in town trying to steal Seth's patients. When he's called to treat a reluctant woman, Seth finds Lindy Marsden's fiery dislike for him rather insulting. He has the ability to help her, but she wants nothing to do with him. Until she shows up on his doorstep one night...

When the plight of a young abandoned boy brings Seth and Lindy irrevocably together, Seth finds himself in the most difficult situation of his career. His expertise can help him heal the sick, but will his love be enough to soothe Lindy's wounded soul?


My Review

Love's Eternal Breath is a wonderful marriage of convenience story full of heart and themes of compassion, mortality, and faith. Lindy had been a minor character in the previous books, so I loved learning her full story, even though it's heartbreaking. She seems to have lost all hope in her dreams, yet is using whatever energy she has to earn money to help feed an impoverished family hiding deep in the woods. Seth shares her characteristic of being selfless in the service of others with his passion for doctoring. I loved his earnestness even though he has had some experiences in his past that jaded him. When the reasons for Lindy's phobia of doctors comes to light, Seth does all in his power to earn her trust and eventually her love. There are some difficult obstacles, including internal ones, but the strength of Lindy and Seth shines as they turn to God and each other for support. I loved the setting and could really get a feeling for the era and the harsh conditions, as well as the beauty of the wilderness. Highly recommend this book and the entire Eagle Harbor series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Don't miss the other books in the Eagle Harbor series

Heidi Reads... Love's Unfading Light by Naomi Rawlings


http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Tressa Danell is finished with men—from the wastrel who left her a widow, to the smelly trapper who keeps proposing, to the banker who wants to repossess her bakery. Every hour is spent working to pay off her late husband’s debt and keep a roof over her son’s head, though it’s doubtful she can do both for very long. But one thing’s certain—she’ll never be beholden to a man again.

Tired of living in a small town that blames him for actions his father committed ten years ago, Mac Oakton is scheduled to leave Eagle Harbor. So why does the pretty widow at the bakery keep tugging at his heart? He can’t get involved in her predicament when he’ll only be around for two more weeks.

But when Tressa’s burdens overwhelm her, they both face a decision. Can Mac set his own plans aside to help? And can Tressa accept his support if that means giving up her independence . . . and being obligated to a man again?

Heidi Reads... Love's Every Whisper by Naomi Rawlings


http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Victoria Donnelly is, as always, a failure. With five years of failed courtships behind her and the calendar inching closer to another birthday, Victoria's determined to redeem herself and snag a proposal from a wealthy childhood acquaintance, Gilbert Sinclair. But returning to Eagle Harbor stirs up long forgotten memories. And worse, old affection for her betrothed's enemy.

Elijah Cummings has loved Victoria for fifteen years. But fishermen's sons don't marry shipping barons' daughters. He knows it. She knows it. The entire town knows it. Resolved to keep his distance from Victoria, Elijah focuses on establishing a much needed life-saving station, risking his own life by rescuing sailors stuck aboard shipwrecks.

He knows how to save drowning sailors, but how is he to save a woman from the biggest mistake of her life—without destroying both their hearts in the process?

Heidi Reads... Love's Sure Dawn by Naomi Rawlings


http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

No matter how hard she tries to help, Rebekah Cummings always ends up causing more problems than she solves. This time, though, things will be different. She'll find a way to pay her family's debts, even if doing so requires leaving Eagle Harbor. Maybe then they'll start treating her as a capable woman who makes her own choices.

Gilbert Sinclair is going to marry an heiress. With his latest business venture sunk at the bottom of Lake Superior, he needs money to replace the steamship he lost, so he heads to Chicago where his father's business connections should land him a suitable wife. Like most things in his meticulously planned life, everything goes as expected—until he discovers Rebekah Cummings working as the new cook on his ship.

Rebekah well remembers the pain she endured the last time she tried trusting Gilbert, and Gilbert can't afford to pursue the love of a working class woman. But they can't stop the forgotten feelings swirling between them—or ignore the sacrifices they'd both have to make for a future together. 








Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Can't Wait Wednesday: Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig


http://www.wishfulendings.com/2017/02/i-cant-wait-for-when-tides-turn-by.html

Author Ronie Kendig just revealed the cover for her next book in The Tox Files series, Crown of Souls! I loved the first book and I'm so excited to get my hands on this one! it's now available for pre-order and releases September 5, 2017!

http://amzn.to/2kQrPNo

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Six months after stopping a deadly plague, Cole "Tox" Russell and his team are enjoying a little rest. That peace is short-lived when a sniper shot hits Tox. The enemy is discovered to be one of their own, a rogue Special Forces team operator.

Alec King is perhaps the only person as skilled as Tox, and he's out for justice. Furious with orders that got his men killed, he intends to make those responsible pay. And he insists Tox join him, believing they are the same breed of soldier.

Afraid his old friend is right, Tox battles a growing darkness within himself as he and his team engage in another deadly encounter with antiquity. It appears Alec is cheating--he's using a mysterious artifact, a crown that history has linked to some of the worst slaughters in humanity. Racing to stop Alec before his vengeance is unleashed, Tox must fight the monster without becoming one.





Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: A Cowboy to Keep by Karen Rock


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

A Cowboy to Keep
by Karen Rock
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
February 7th 2017 by Harlequin

Can't stop running from the past

Dani Crawford has a secret…and if bounty hunter Jackson Cade finds out, he could ruin everything. The scarred yet handsome cowboy has tracked a dangerous criminal to the dude ranch Dani manages, and to get rid of Jack she'll have to help him catch his man. But the closer they get to cornering their quarry the more Dani wants Jack to stay. Spending time with him is making her long for things she can never have thanks to a past mistake. And if the truth comes out she may be spending her future behind bars rather than safe in her cowboy's arms…


Excerpt

And then he pulled back, his eyes on her, his expression a silent question she couldn’t answer. Instead, she reached up and kissed his scar, wanting him to know that it made him beautiful to her. How much he meant to her. How every atom of her wanted to be here with him.
He angled his head and kissed her once more, slowly and tenderly.
Their shallow breaths filled the space and they stared at each other, chests rising and falling, his brown eyes black in the dim light.
“Dani, I—I can’t promise you anything. I’ve got to find those guys and I’m no good to anyone until I do… I might not be, even then.”
“It’s okay. We were caught up in the storm. The moment.” She went for an off-hand tone, missed completely. When she whirled away, he turned her back gently, his tender expression making her ache.
“If there was anyone I would get involved with…”
She placed a finger on his lips, then managed to stay quiet for a dozen heartbeats as she struggled to say, finally, “I get it. I’m not interested in a serious relationship, either.” Liar.
“Let’s forget this ever happened,” she added.
He shook his head slowly. “Impossible,” he said, then pulled on his partly dried shirt, doused the fire and guided her outside, where the rain had slacked off.
Dani eyed Jack’s swaying back as he rode ahead, checking the path for obstacles or lurking strangers.
She did get it. She was the last person he should be involved with… Another wanted person, just like his brother’s killers. Worse, a criminal and a coward. She could never be with Jack, have anything permanent because she kept this big secret.
She didn’t deserve him.


About the Author

In a quest to provide her ELA students with quality reading material, educator Karen Rock read everything out there and couldn't wait to add her voice to the genre. In addition to her work as a Young Adult romance novelist, she's now an author for Harlequin's Heartwarming line and thrilled to pen stories that moms can share with their teenage daughters. She's loved Harlequin books since she spent summers going through her grandmother's Presents books that she passed along in paper grocery bags each year. As half of the writing duo J.K. Rock, Karen also pens young adult romance. When she's not busy writing, Karen enjoys scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother's family recipes, reinventing her gardens to suit her moods and occasionally rescuing local wildlife from neighborhood cats. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, her very appreciated beta-reader daughter, and two Cavalier King cocker spaniels, who have yet to understand the concept of "fetch" though they know a lot about love. For more information about Karen's upcoming books, check out her website.

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Tour Giveaway


- 1 winner will win the above Prize Pack: 7 Paperbacks & a $50 Amazon Gift Card (US only)
- 1 winner will their choice of an ebook of one of Karen's backlisted titles (open internationally)
- Ends February 14th

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Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Review: Perfectly Imperfect by Annette Lyon


Heidi Reads... Perfectly Imperfect by Annette Lyon

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

From USA Today bestselling author Annette Lyon comes a captivating historical novella. In 1905 Shelley, Idaho, Della Stafford hates being a farm girl in a tiny town. She’ll do anything to live in a big city and experience real city life. Her only regret is that leaving town also means leaving Joseph behind, the young man who makes her heart flutter. But she's convinced that moving away is for the best; her dreams and Joseph's dreams are too dissimilar. So Della takes a job as a maid in Los Angeles, where she learns that what she thought would make her happy and what really will are totally different things.

PERFECTLY IMPERFECT originally appeared in the best-selling and award-winning Timeless Romance Anthology series's OLD WEST collection, under the title A SWEETEST TASTE.


My Review

Della is perfectly starry-eyed over big city life and at first it seemed like Joseph cared more for her than she for him. It was so sad to see him disappointed when Della rejected him for the opportunity to fulfill her dream. While working in the city she can't help but compare the reality of her situation with her life back home. I thought she was a strong enough person to be able to endure the trials she encountered, but what really matters is where her priorities are. As the story progressed she focused more on Joseph and the life and love she could have had with him. I think it was important for her to be able to have the experience she did so that when she made her decision she wouldn't have regrets over what she might have missed. Either way there is risk involved, but fortunately Della was able to choose her path before it was too late for a happy ending.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)


Monday, February 6, 2017

Review & Giveaway: An Inconvenient Romance by Chalon Linton


Heidi Reads... An Inconvenient Romance by Chalon Linton

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/an-inconvenient-romance?autocomplete=true&variant_id=150408-paperbackhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis


My Review

I loved the Regency setting in this friends-to-romance story! Charles and Leah are so informal with each other as youth, there was a real contrast to how polite and civilized they must act around each other as adults. All the fun parts of their relationship are shown in the prologue when they are young, but the majority of the story is full of hurt feelings, misunderstandings, lack of communication, and heartache. Even with all the angst, there is an underlying tone of hope and perseverance that makes the characters endearing (despite their flaws) and I was rooting for a happy ending as Charles and Leah flounder from the obstacles standing in their way. Leah's father and sister were grounding and their wisdom helped Leah as she is faced with decisions that will determine her future happiness. Another secondary character that balanced out Charles' moodiness is his friend from university who is visiting and knows just how to tease him and also propel him to fight for Leah. While I would have liked to see more happy moments between Leah and Charles throughout the book, I enjoyed the plot and would recommend this book to fans of sweet romance!

Feb. 10th

Friday, February 3, 2017

For the Love of Books Giveaway Hop!


http://www.stuckinbooks.com/2017/02/for-love-of-books-giveaway-hop.html

Happy Valentine's month! I'm celebrating by giving away a romantic book I LOVE, Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter! Isn't that cover amazing?! The story is just as great. Read my 5 star review here!

http://amzn.to/2k5WAuF

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Eden Martelli is too busy fleeing the clutches of danger to realize she’s running straight into the arms of a new love.

Speeding north through rural Maine, Eden Martelli wonders how her life came to this—on the run with her mute five-year-old son dozing fitfully in the passenger seat. When a breakdown leaves them stranded in Summer Harbor, Eden has no choice but to stay put through Christmas . . . even though they have no place to lay their heads.

Beau Callahan is a habitual problem solver—for other people anyway. He left the sheriff’s department to take over his family’s Christmas tree farm, but he’s still haunted by the loss of his parents and struggling to handle his first Christmas alone.

When Eden shows up looking for work just as Beau’s feisty aunt gets out of the hospital, Beau thinks he’s finally caught a break. Eden is competent and dedicated—if a little guarded—and a knockout to boot. But, as he soon finds out, she also comes with a boatload of secrets.

Eden has been through too much to trust her heart to another man, but Beau is impossible to resist, and the feeling seems to be mutual. As Christmas Eve approaches, Eden’s past catches up to her.

Beau will go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe. But who’s going to protect his heart from a woman who can’t seem to trust again?