Review: The Marriage Agreement by Renee Ryan

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Promoted to Wife?

Always the dutiful daughter, Fanny Mitchell surprised everyone when she broke her engagement. Now she's working at the fancy Hotel Dupree--and falling for the mysterious, handsome owner, Jonathon Hawkins. But when she and her boss are caught in an unexpected kiss at a ball, will her reputation be tarnished forever?

The son of a woman of ill repute, Jonathon knows that gossip can destroy lives in an instant. And he won't allow sweet, lovely Fanny to suffer the consequences. When he proposes a marriage of convenience, Jonathon believes he can keep his heart to himself. But the more time he spends with Fanny, the more he realizes he may just be in love--with his wife...

My Review

I enjoyed the premise of the story, with an unexpected marriage between two people who secretly admire each other in order to save their reputations. However, there is just so much unnecessary drama, especially when it goes against what the characters repeatedly think to themselves. That disconnect removed me from understanding the motivations of Fanny and Jonathan, and their early chemistry dissolved in the midst of the angst. The importance placed on society and society's opinion made Fanny seem shallow, but then she suddenly seemed to not care what society thought, but married in order to prevent her mother from suffering. Jonathan is the one who went through the biggest transformation as he struggled to overcome the stigma of his origins in his own mind. Being the last book in the series, there were plenty of previous characters that were drawn into the scenes, which readers who read the books in order would appreciate.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Check out the previous books in the Charity House series . . .

Review: The Rancher's Texas Match by Brenda Minton

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

A Rancher's Mission

As a volunteer at the Lone Star Cowboy League Boys Ranch, Tanner Barstow helps the troubled young residents turn their lives around. When a local rancher dies and leaves his large property to the boys ranch, Tanner finds himself spending a lot of time with Macy Swanson, whose orphaned nephew, Colby, lives at the ranch. Tanner's attracted to the newcomer, but she doesn't fit his plans. Macy longs to have Colby come home with her, but the former city girl worries she won't be the mother he deserves. Can Tanner help her see that the future she and Colby need is right here—with him?

My Review

I loved the setting of a ranch where boys get the chance to learn how to cope with their trauma and heal. Macy and Colby are working toward reunification, and Tanner becoming more involved in their lives is a catalyst to help them move forward. It's heartbreaking that children go through such tough situations, and I'm thankful to the people who work in the industries that help them. Since this is the first book in the series, we are introduced to various characters at the ranch and in the community that will be featured in the following books. The subplot of suspicious trouble making which is blamed on the boys at the ranch by the local cantankerous lawyer isn't resolved but seems that it will be an overarching plot connecting the books. The healing and faith that Macy and Colby experience brought depth and sweetness to the story and I enjoyed their happily ever after.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Check out the other books in the Lone Star Cowboy League series . . .

Review: Healing the Cowboy's Heart by Ruth Logan Herne

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

A perfect match...or sworn enemies?
Only time will tell at Shepherd's Crossing.

Horse breeder Isaiah Woods can't believe his only ally in helping a neglected mare is the descendant of his family's bitter enemy--veterinarian Charlotte Fitzgerald. Despite the feud, Charlotte risks everything to save the horse. But as she falls for Isaiah--and the orphaned niece and nephew in his care--the mare isn't the only one who needs saving.

My Review

Isaiah and Charlotte have amazing chemistry which bumped my rating to five stars! I felt connected with their emotions, and loved their journey as their relationship progressed in the midst of familial and community strife. The themes of grief, redemption, and forgiveness are strongly portrayed in the lives of the characters. It was interesting to learn about equine care with Charlotte's occupation as a mobile vet, and the horses they rescue. Isaiah's Native American heritage also provided details that brought depth to the story. Great setting, great characters, great plot. Loved it!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Check out the other books in the Shepherd's Crossing series . . .

Review: An Amish Proposal for Christmas by Vannetta Chapman

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Her deepest Christmas wish will bring more than she imagined… in this novel by USA TODAY bestselling author Vannetta Chapman.

The only way she’ll find home is by leaving it…

The one thing Becca Yoder loves more than Christmas is her dream of leaving her Amish community and traveling the world. Becca has her father’s reluctant permission to leave—if she trains Gideon Fisher to run the family’s enormous outdoor market. But Gideon is homesick for Texas. Can Becca make him fall in love with her hometown…without falling for the handsome bachelor herself?

My Review

This was a fun story with grumpy Gideon feeling like a fish out of water in a new state with a new job. I didn’t expect him to struggle as much as he did, and Becca is in limbo with her plans for adventure and travel depending on Gideon’s decision to stay or go back to Texas. The large Amish market is a great setting, and really kept them busy. I loved the way Gos worked on their hearts to reevaluate and give things a chance, opening the door for friendship and more. The sweet romance has some bumpy roads as Becca feels conflicted over her dreams and her love of home and family. We get to know all the sisters in Becca’s family with their unique personalities; this was a great introduction to them and I’m looking forward to reading more in the series!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Review: The Bachelor and the Bride by Sarah M. Eden

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

London, 1866

Dr. Barnabus Milligan has always felt called to help people, whether that means setting a broken bone or rescuing the impoverished women of London from their desperate lives on the streets as part of his work with the Dread Penny Society.

Three years ago, he helped rescue Gemma Kincaid by secretly marrying her to protect her from her family of notorious grave robbers.

But six months after Gemma and Barnabus exchanged vows, she realized her love for her new husband was unrequited. To protect her heart, she left, telling Barnabus to contact her if his feelings for her ever grew beyond a sense of duty.

When Barnabus sends a letter to Gemma inviting her to return home, she hopes to find a true connection between them. But unfortunately, he only wants her help to foil the Kincaids, who have been terrorizing the boroughs of London, eager to gain both money and power.

Heartbroken, Gemma agrees to help, but she warns Barnabus that she will not stay for long, and once she goes, he'll never see her again.

Yet as the couple follows the clues that seem to connect the Kincaids to the Mastiff, the leader of London's criminal network, Gemma and Barnabus realize they might make a better match than either of them suspected. Perhaps the marriage that had once saved Gemma's life might now save Barnabus—and his lonely heart.

But before the once-confirmed bachelor can properly court his secret bride, they'll need to evade the dangerous forces that are drawing ever closer to the hopeful lovers and the entire Dread Penny Society itself.

My Review

Another exciting installment in the Dread Penny Society! I love how the women in their lives are becoming increasingly involved in helping, and they are looking for a way for them to officially serve, perhaps in a sister organization. Gemma and Barnabus have a complex relationship, yet it is simple enough- Gemma loves Barnabus, but won't stay with him unless he truly wants her as well. He is so focused on his career as a doctor that there is no room in his heart, or so he thinks. It takes some help for him to properly recognize and identify the feelings he has when Gemma is around, and though these two have a rocky road, especially with communication, the investigation into Gemma's family draws them closer together than ever before. The plot is intricately woven and Barnabus and the other members of the Dread Penny Society have difficulty staying one step ahead of the criminal network. There's a bit of a teaser and reveal leading into the next book and I'm so excited for it! Like the other books in the series, there is a penny novel woven into the chapters, yet I have a difficult time being drawn into those stories so I tend to skim or skip them, focusing instead on the main plot of the book.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

 

Don't miss the previous books in The Dread Penny Society series . . .

 

 

 

Blog + Review Tour for The Dark Guest by Sarah Hamaker

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Dark Guest by Sarah Hamaker, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: The Dark Guest 

Series: The Cold War Legacy #1 

Author: Sarah Hamaker 

Publisher: Seshva Press LLC 

Release Date: May 15, 2022 

Genre: Christian, Romantic Suspense 

The Cold War is over, but The Wolf is still at the door. 

When Violet Lundy isn’t cleaning rooms at Happy Hills Assisted Living Facility, she loves spending her free time with resident Rainer Kopecek. Hearing his stories of the dangerous life he led behind the Iron Curtain in East Berlin makes her own life seem more tolerable. But when Rainer is found dead and his room in disarray, Violet suspects foul play. 

Dr. Henry Silverton lives among his books, teaching and writing about the Cold War. A letter about an East German traitor known only as “The Wolf” propels Henry out of academia and into Violet’s life. Together, they embark on a perilous quest to uncover the truth about Rainer’s death and the traitor’s identity. 

Can Violet and Henry uncover the secrets of the past before one of them ends up as The Wolf’s next victim?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound

 

EXCERPT

“You have date tonight?” Rainer Kopecek smiled from his seat by the window, which overlooked the manicured lawn of the Happy Hill Assisted Living Facility.

Violet Lundy returned the old German’s smile as she removed the pillows from his bed. “Only if you’re available.”

He cackled with glee. “If I were only—”

“Forty years younger.” she finished his sentence before stripping the bed and tossing the sheets into her cart. “I don’t mind being alone.”

“Ah, you are much too young to give up on love. Too pretty as well.”

“You sound like a matchmaker.” She snapped a fresh sheet on the twin bed, then sprinkled a little lavender on it to help cover the strong disinfectant odor that permeated all the laundry. Of all the residents at the facility, she liked Mr. Kopecek best because of his optimism.

“Nothing wrong with that.” He waggled a gnarled finger. “I would like you settled before I meet my Maker.”

“I thought you were going to live as long as Methuselah.” She chuckled. “So I have plenty of time.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Life, it can be cut short. You should not wait too long to find someone.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Sarah Hamaker loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s written romantic suspense novels and nonfiction books, as well as stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes. As a writers coach, her heart is encouraging writers. She’s a member of ACFW; ACFW Virginia Chapter; and Faith, Hope and Love, as well as the president of Capital Christian Writers Fellowship. Her podcast, “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” can be found wherever you listen to podcasts. Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, four teenagers, a preschool foster child and three cats.

Connect with Sarah by visiting sarahhamakerfiction.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

 

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a copy of The Dark Guest (print or ebook, winner's choice), a 20 oz Wolf Tumbler-Stainless Steel Travel Mug With Lid And Straw, a Wolf Wristlet Keychain, an assortment of specialty teas, a The Dark Guest tote, and The Dark Guest notebook.

(1) additional winner will receive an ebook copy of The Dark Guest, a Wolf Wristlet Keychain, an 

assortment of specialty teas, and The Dark Guest notebook.

 

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 11, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 18, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

 

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!