$1.99 ebook of To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

 

Aaaaah! This is my absolute favorite Karen Witemeyer book, and it is easily in my top 10 favorite books. I just love the characters and the chemistry and little moments between them are great. Definitely worth full price, but a discount is even better :) The sale is only Feb 17-23.
Get it at Amazon here

Free e-book *2 days only* Five Days in Skye

February 17th and 18th Five Days in Skye will be free for download! I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. You can read my review here.

Get it at Amazon or go to David C Cook eBooks for links to other retailers

Review: The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer

My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

Every year, young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive “resident” status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides!
In The Promise Box, the second book of best-selling author Tricia Goyer’s Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series, Lydia Wyse, a book editor from Seattle who grew up Amish, returns to the small community of West Kootenai to give comfort to her father after her mother’s death. She is drawn back to the familiar Amish ways after finding her mother’s most precious possession, a Promise Box of prayers and scripture. What her publisher sees, though, is an opportunity for a sensational “tell-all” book about the Amish.
Lydia soon finds herself falling in love with Amish bachelor Gideon Hooley. She wants nothing more than to forget her past and look forward to a future as an Amish bride. But will the pain of her childhood---and her potential betrayal of her community---keep her from committing her whole heart?

My Review

This book was so much more than a sweet Amish romance. The powerful themes of grief, remorse, faith, adoption, unconditional love of a parent, and community brought a depth of emotion to the story. As one who doesn't enjoy being brought down by heavy themes, I'm appreciative that there was an underlying message of hope and promise throughout.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

e-book sale - My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade

This one is on my to-read shelf, but I wanted to share the great deal with you- it's on sale through February 22nd for only $2.99! Get it at Amazon here.

Synopsis from Amazon.com

Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When Kate's grandmother asks Kate to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance.

Yet, she discovers a different kind of project upon meeting the man hired to renovate the house.  Matt Jarreau is attractive and clearly wounded -- hiding from people, from God, and from his past.  Kate can't help but set her stubborn heart on bringing him out of the dark and back into the light... whether he likes it or not.

Review: The Invention of Sarah Cummings by Olivia Newport

My rating: 2 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

Sarah Cummings has one goal in life--to break into Chicago's high society. Desperate to stop serving dinner and to start eating at society tables, Sarah alters cast-off gowns from the wealthy Banning women to create lustrous, flattering dresses of her own. On a whim at a chance meeting, she presents herself as Serena Cuthbert, weaving a fictitious past to go with her fictitious name. But as she gets closer to Simon Tewell, the director of St. Andrew's Orphanage, Sarah finds that she must choose between the life she has and the life she dreams of. Will she sacrifice love to continue her pretense? Or can Simon show her that sometimes you don't have to pretend for dreams to come true?

My Review

The main character Sarah was materialistic, self-absorbed, deceptive, judgmental, and thoughtless. I'm sure we all can be at times, but it didn't make her much of a heroine, since I was rooting the whole time for her to be discovered and wanted to warn Simon away from her. Her change of heart would have been more redemptive had it not happened after her other options ran out. Too little, too late.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

Review: Swept Up by the Sea by Tracy & Laura Hickman

My rating: 2 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

Determined to seek his fortune, Percival Taylor leaves behind his sleepy hometown and sets out to become a legendary pirate. The only problem is, no one at the rough-and-tumble seaport of Blackshore will allow him anywhere near a ship!

Percival must find other means to win the heart of the beautiful Tuppence Magrathia-Paddock, who has mistaken him for a pirate rogue out of one of her romantic books. She is entirely willing to swoon into his arms if he can prove his buccaneer soul—and she will even arrange her own kidnapping to prove it.

Percival eventually find himself captain of a broken-down ship, complete with a crew of reluctant pirates, a jilted fiancee, a reclusive master shipwright, and an old professor with a magical secret that could kill them all. Join the strangest assortment of characters you'll ever meet on the Nine Seas as they set sail for treasure and romance!

My Review

This book would be probably be enjoyed by fans of The Princess Bride. For me, the descriptions were overwhelmingly wordy and trying so hard to be charming and clever, it detracted from the story and I didn't feel any connection to the characters. It was a struggle to maintain interest.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

Review: Traces of Mercy by Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley

My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

At the war’s end, a young woman suffers an accident that leaves her unconscious and alone. Waking with amnesia, she takes the name Mercy and wants more than anything to find out the truth of her past. But then a handsome stranger arrives, who may hold the key to everything she has forgotten. What he knows could devastate her future, and even end her life. 

My Review

The beginning of this book is very compelling- giving the last scene from Mercy's now-forgotten memory. Waiting for the moment she would remember her past kept me in suspense. I didn't feel there was much chemistry between her and Rand, although they were supposed to be in love. It was interesting to see her try to adjust and make a new life for herself. Her actions in the last part of the book I thought were totally out of character for her new identity, but it sure did give the story a much-needed adrenaline shot. I thought the ending was fabulous- except for the fact that it was just when the story got good! I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series, but I think one year between publishing dates is too long to ask readers to wait or maintain interest. Since it's supposed to be a trilogy I hope there won't be as long of a wait for the third book.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

Review: When Mountains Move by Julie Cantrell

My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

It is the spring of 1943. With a wedding and a cross-country move, Millie’s world is about to change forever.  If only her past could change with it. Soon after the break of day, Bump will become Millie’s husband. And then, if all goes as planned, they will leave the rain-soaked fields of Mississippi and head for the wilds of the Colorado Rockies. As Millie tries to forget a dark secret, she hasn’t yet realized how drastically those past experiences will impact the coming days. For most of Millie’s life, being free felt about as unlikely as the mountains moving. But she’s about to discover that sometimes in life, we are given second chances, and that the only thing bigger than her past … is her future.

My Review

This is the sequel to Into the Free, but I decided not to read that book first since it sounded pretty heavy. I read several reviews about it so I could feel that I knew enough of the storyline to start with the second book. The author did a great job of incorporating important details from the first book in a subtle way that was natural to the characters' thoughts. Some of the themes in this book are unpleasant and gave Millie hard things to overcome which enabled intense character growth. The setting sounded amazing- in the wilderness of the Colorado mountains. I appreciated that Millie and Bump are such strong yet vulnerable people and choose each other to have this adventure with. The writing is so evocative, the story and words stayed with me for a few days after. Without giving anything away, I thought the resolution for the villain was awesome.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

Review: Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano

My Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

Hospitality consultant Andrea Sullivan has one last chance to snag a high-profile client or she'll have to kiss her dreams of promotion good-bye. When she's sent to meet Scottish celebrity chef James MacDonald on the Isle of Skye, she just wants to finish her work as efficiently as possible. Yet her client is not the opportunistic womanizer he portrays himself to be, and her attraction to him soon dredges up memories she'd rather leave buried. For James, renovating the family hotel is a fulfillment of his late father's dreams. When his hired consultant turns out to be beautiful, intelligent, and completely unimpressed by his public persona, he makes it his mission to win her over. He just never expects to fall under her spell.

Soon, both Andrea and James must face the reality that God may have a far different purpose for their lives—and that five days in Skye will forever change their outlook on life and love.

My Review

I felt like I was on vacation in Scotland while reading this book! The setting was very much a main character. I didn't have a great first impression of Andrea or James, but as their true natures and emotions were revealed and they opened up to each other they became easy to connect with. I don't know if I could trust such a whirlwind start to a relationship, but it was sure fun to read about :) The romantic chemistry was wonderful, especially with the tension of holding themselves back. Sweet ending.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

Review: The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher

My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

Rose Schrock is a plain woman with a simple plan. Determined to find a way to support her family and pay off her late husband's debts, she sets to work to convert the basement of her Amish farmhouse into an inn. While her family, especially her cranky mother-in-law, is unhappy with Rose's big idea, her friend and neighbor, Galen King, supports the decision and he helps with the conversion. As Rose finalizes preparations for visitors, she prays. She asks God to bless each guest who stays at the Inn at Eagle Hill. As the first guest arrives and settles in, Rose is surprised to discover that her entire family is the one who receives the blessings, in the most unexpected ways. And she's even more surprised when that guest decides to play matchmaker for Galen King.

My Review

Once I was able to get into this book it was a pleasure. There are several points of view that the narration switches between, but once I was able to keep it all straight I enjoyed the multiple perspectives. Each character is so different and their personalities, thoughts, and struggles were portrayed with such individual voices and had a depth of feeling. The plot moves along somewhat leisurely, which is why I think switching between perspectives helps rather than hinders the storytelling. It was interesting how each life was intertwined and the ending was wonderful and sweet.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)