Review: Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher

My rating: 2 stars / it was okay

Synopsis

Diana Brennan came west on the orphan train and was given a home with a loving couple who cherished and spoiled her. At 17, she fell hard for Tyson Applegate, the son of a wealthy mine owner. After a whirlwind courtship and marriage, Tyson took off for adventures around the world, including fighting with the Rough Riders in Cuba. Receiving no word of him for seven years, Diana's infatuation with her dashing husband died an ugly death, and she is ready to move past the old pain and marry again, just as soon as Tyson is declared legally dead.

But when her husband returns, supposedly a changed man, he wants to reunite with his wife and run for the senate. While Diana suspects the election is his real reason for wanting her by his side, she agrees to maintain his home and to campaign with him, but when it is over, win or lose, she wants her freedom. He agrees with one condition- she must give him a chance to change her mind about him.

My Review

The premise was interesting... the book, however, was not. I really enjoyed the first two in the series so it was a let-down to not connect with the characters in this final book. There are flashbacks to the past throughout the story, but the basic content of the flashbacks had already been explained in the present-day text, so I felt it was repetitive and slowed the story down in a major way. It also brought Tyson's selfishness and indiscretions into the limelight, as well as Diana's hurt and role as the victim. It was difficult to feel compassion for Tyson when such a great deal of the novel was spent rehashing his mistakes, and his redemption was explained rather than shown. I found the romance lacking as well- Tyson was afraid to pursue his wife so he wouldn't scare her off, and Diana spent the majority of the novel keeping him and her feelings at arm's length (not that I blame her). The overall theme of forgiveness is an important one, and it was most compelling in the relationship between father and son. The story could have delved so much deeper if not for the bulkiness of the unnecessary flashback scenes.

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

Check out the first two books in Robin Lee Hatcher's Where the Heart Lives series

Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher
My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

In the high desert town of Frenchman's Bluff, Idaho, Felicia Kristoffersen has set out to create a future for herself that is better than her painful past. Alone in the world with only her faith to sustain her, she must prove herself as this tiny community's new school teacher. She cannot, must not, fail. But, there are those who never wanted her there to begin with.
Five years after the death of his wife, local merchant Colin Murphy cares about just one thing: raising his daughter, Charity. Colin wants to give her the educational advantages he never had. The new schoolmarm's inexperience doesn't sit well with him, and if this teacher up and marries like the last one did, Charity's heart will be broken once again.
A woman who hasn't known love. A man who lost the love he had. In the midst of the wide, sage-covered plains, each is about to discover that life's bitterest circumstances truly can work together for good.

Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher
My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

It's the turn of the twentieth century and drifter Hugh Brennan is a man well acquainted with betrayal. Hugh finds himself drawn to the attractive widow, Julia, yet when he looks into her eyes, he recognizes the same hurt that haunts him. Julia Grace has little reason to trust men, but she's going to have to trust someone if she's to keep her ranch from the clutches of her dead husband's half-brother. Is it possible God had a hand in bringing Hugh to her door? The latest historical romance from award-winning author Robin Lee Hatcher and the second book in the Where the Heart Lives series, Betrayal will take you to the high desert of western Wyoming, through the crags of the Rocky Mountains, and into the hearts of two seekers learning to trust God's love no matter the circumstances. 

Review: Stuck Together by Mary Connealy

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Tina Cahill, newly arrived from the East, is determined to get the saloon in Broken Wheel, Texas, closed for good. To that end, she pickets outside the place every afternoon. Unfortunately, so far no one has paid any attention.

Vince Yates earned the nickname "Invincible Vince" because of his reputation for letting absolutely nothing stop him. Not his tyrant of a father. Nor the injuries he suffered in the Civil War. Nor the fact that he is Broken Wheel's only attorney and sheriff yet has no law degree.

But Vince is about to face his biggest challenge yet: his past has just caught up with him. His father, mother, and the sister he didn't know he had show up in Broken Wheel without warning. His father is still a schemer. His mother is suffering signs of dementia. And his surprise sister immediately falls for one of Vince's best friends. Vince has a lot of people to take care of, and Tina doesn't approve of how he's handling any of them. But with almost all the other men in town married off, Vince finds himself stuck with feisty Tina over and over again. Of course, Tina is the prettiest woman he's ever seen, so if he could just get her to give up her causes, he might go ahead and propose. But he's got one more surprise coming his way: Tina's picketing at the saloon has revealed a dark secret that could put everyone Vince loves in danger.

My Review

Another fun western adventure from Mary Connealy! I always enjoy the humor that makes her characters so likeable. Although it can be read as a stand alone, I'd recommend reading the previous novels in the series since they are just as wonderful and the group of men that are "closer than brothers" from their experiences in the war prison camp each take their turn as the lead character. The author does do a good job of making sure the reader knows who everyone is and how they are important.

The initial attraction between Vince and Tina isn't very romantic- kind of like they were each the only ones left to pick from- but as they each accept the others quirks and begin to depend on one another, the relationship blossoms and the chemistry has a foundation to build on. What they have in common is that they both put up a strong front in spite of their vulnerabilities, and they come to admire that in each other.

Vince's sweet mother and her dementia was a unique twist to the story, and had everyone pulling together to support her. I was struck with how the perception of mental illness was so extreme back then, and makes me understand a little more the roots of the social stigma there still can be found today.

(Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review)
  
Check out the other books from the Trouble in Texas series by Mary Connealy!

 

Synopsis

Swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing, Ruthy MacNeil isn't all that upset at being separated from the family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. She prayed for a chance to get away, and then came the raging flood. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone... so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future.
 

Luke is heading home to reclaim the ranch stolen from his family. But the men who killed his father are working hard to ensure Luke doesn't make it alive. He has no choice but to keep moving. Still, he can't just abandon Ruthy, so she'll have to come along.

His friends—a ragtag group of former Civil War soldiers—take a fast interest in the pretty gal. Luke thinks that's rather rude—he's the one who found her. And the more time he spends around the hard-working young woman who is a mighty good cook, the more he finds himself thinking beyond revenge and toward a different future. For the first time in a long time, Luke is tempted to turn from his destructive path and be swept away by love.

 

Synopsis

Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can't let his guard down for a moment, which is a challenge, since right now he's trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.

Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she's determined to care for her son and daughter on her own. She wants to believe Dare Riker is as decent as he seems, but she's terrified to lock herself into another marriage. She plans to support her small family by opening a diner—never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent. The men in Broken Wheel, Texas, are so desperate for home cooking that they seem willing to overlook dried-out beef and blackened biscuits.

Glynna can't help but notice that danger follows Dare wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And then the fire. But things really get out of hand when someone plunges a knife from Glynna's diner into Dare's back. Are Flint's cronies still plotting revenge? Is Glynna's son engaged in a misguided attempt to protect his mother? Is a shadowy outsider still enraged over past injustices? And can Dare survive long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?

Synopsis
It's NOT a romance. It's not very funny, there just wasn't much comedy to be mined for me in Andersonville Prison. It's not even a real story.

It's NOT a romance. It's not a comedy.
It's not a western. No ropin' and ridin' anywhere.

13 episodes of how my heroes from Trouble in Texas met and how they became so loyal to each other.

Read Closer Than Brothers for free at Mary Connealy's website!

Wordless Wednesday

(http://refulgence.tumblr.com/post/3907501018/pure-perfection)

E-book sale: The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer

Download The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer for only 99 cents!

Synopsis

Every year, 30-40 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. Sarah Shelter has lived in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love.and be married. Since the tragic death of her best friend, she carries her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she's also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Now she's met a kind and gentle man who may be able to break down the wall. But can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?

Review: Out of the Ruins by Karen Barnett

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis 

While her sister lies on her deathbed, Abby Fischer prays for a miracle. What Abby doesn’t expect, however, is for God’s answer to come in the form of the handsome Dr. Robert King, whose experimental treatment is risky at best.

As they work together toward a cure, Abby’s feelings for Robert become hopelessly entangled. Separated by the tragedy of the mighty San Francisco earthquake, their relationship suddenly takes a back seat to survival. With fires raging throughout the city, Abby fears for her life as she flees alone through burning streets. Where is God now? Will Robert find Abby, even as the world burns around them? Or has their love fallen with the ruins of the city?

My Review

What an intense book! It started out somewhat slow for me as it focused on Abby's anger at God and desperate deal-making with Him to cure her beloved sister from leukemia. It's an emotional time for her, and she refuses to give up or accept that nothing can be done, even when her faith-filled sister was at peace with passing on. I admired her tenacity and it brought back similar emotions I felt when my own father was close to death- hoping and praying with everything in me that God's will was to give us a miracle. The difference between us however is that Abby is willing to cut ties with God if she doesn't get her way... and thus begins her spiritual journey that we witness throughout the book. As Robert and Abby develop a friendship during the treatment of her sister, I kept feeling anticipation and anxiety about the earthquake- knowing it was going to happen, but not knowing when! It was sort of surreal and anticlimactic when it did occur, (which is pretty realistic from my own experience with smaller earthquakes) but the descriptions of the effects on the structures were fascinating. The real intensity begins with the aftermath. How much we take for granted our ability to communicate! I can't even imagine being separated from my family with no idea where they are. The adversities Abby overcomes during the search for her family humble her to listen to the influence of her sister's memory and turn to God for comfort and recognizes His hand in many great and small miracles that day.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

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Don't miss the debut book, Out of the Ruins, in Karen Barnett's new series, The Golden Gate Chronicles. Set against the backdrop of early 20th century San Francisco, Out of the Ruins will remind readers that no matter who we are or what we’ve done, God is still as close to us as our next breath.

Karen is celebrating with a fun giveaway and Facebook author chat party!

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Out of the Ruins by Karen Barnett

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 19th. Winner will be announced at the Out of the Ruins Facebook author chat party on June 19th. Connect with Karen for an evening of fun book chat, games, and prizes. Karen will also be answering audience questions and giving an exclusive look at the next book in The Golden Gate Chronicles series!

So grab your copy of Out of the Ruins and join Karen on the evening of June 19th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 19th!

E-book sale TODAY ONLY: $1.99 for An Amish Garden novella collection

I adore reading these Amish novella collections! Each of the authors are excellent and it is a perfect way to relax at the end of a long day, without committing to a whole novel. Download An Amish Garden for $1.99 today only!

Synopsis

“Where Healing Blooms” Vannetta Chapman – Emma discovers a run-away teen in her barn, and the bishop asks her to provide a haven for a woman and her two children. Then her mother-in-law reveals a secret about her garden. Will Emma choose loneliness or learn to accept God’s gifts?

“Flowers for Rachael” Kathleen Fuller – Rachael’s garden is beautiful, but she is lonely. Gideon is in love with Rachael, but when Rachael finds her garden in shambles after a crisis, she rejects his help. Will she realize she doesn’t have to do everything on her own?

“Seeds of Love” Tricia Goyer – When a corporation shows interest in buying Sadie’s heirloom seeds, she panics. They are all she has left of her Dat and Mem. Eli believes he can help Sadie, but a misunderstanding leaves her heartbroken. Will she trust him again, and will the seeds of a new relationship take root?

“Rooted in Love” Beth Wiseman – Rosemary is doing her best to run her family’s household. She excels at all her tasks except one: gardening. Saul has been interested in her for years, but Rosemary has turned him down repeatedly. Saul begins helping with her family’s garden, but someone is sabotaging his efforts—and keeping a secret that could change their lives.

Kindle Giveaway from Beth Shriver to celebrate RUMSPRINGA’S HOPE

Don't miss the first book, Rumspringa's Hope, in Beth Shriver's new Spirit of the Amish series. Beth is celebrating the series launch with a Kindle Fire Giveaway!
One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Rumspringa's Hope by Beth Shriver

Enter today, but hurry! The giveaway ends on June 22nd. Winner will be announced June 23rd on Beth's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Beth's blog on June 23rd to see if you won.

Free e-book! Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato

Download Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato for free on e-book!

(E-book deal is for a limited time, so check the price before ordering)

Synopsis 

Massachusetts, 1815.
Will His Love Endure Once He Learns Her Secret?

Three years ago, Captain Brogan Talvis's late wife abandoned their son, leaving no clue as to the boy's whereabouts. After searching relentlessly, Brogan discovers his son was adopted by a New England shipbuilder. And the man's daughter, Lorena Huntley, acts as loving guardian to the child.

Lorena, who hides a dark truth, finds herself falling for the handsome captain and ex-privateer who's come to secure ownership of one of her father's ships. She's unaware of Brogan's own secret when another's deceit has her sailing toward Europe against her will.

Haunted by thoughts of Lorena in peril, Brogan is compelled to choose between the boy he longs for and the woman who has captured his heart.

Free e-book! Bellflower by Amber Stokes

Download Bellflower by Amber Stokes for free! It includes two short stories from her series The Heart's Spring.  

(E-book deal is for a limited time, so check the price before ordering)

Synopsis

BELLFLOWER: Short Story Prequel to Forget Me Not

Spring 1880
Annabelle knows only one way of life. Jacob knows only one way to feel secure. When their paths cross in a Western mining town, can they find a way for love to bloom? Discover the story behind two hurting hearts in this short but sweet retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

FAIRY SLIPPERS: Bonus Short Story Companion to Bleeding Heart

Spring 1888
Margaret is fragile. Zachary is tough. Both are lonely. Will a dance in a redwood lumber town bring them together - or drive them apart forever? Discover the continuing story of the cook from Bleeding Heart in this short but sweet retelling of Cinderella.

Two e-books on sale for $1.99 each from Jody Hedlund's Michigan Brides series

Download Unending Devotion and A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund for only $1.99 each!
(E-book deal is for a limited time, so check the price before ordering)

Synopsis

Michigan, 1883
In Her Darkest Hours, Is He the Man She Needs?

Lily Young longs to find her lost sister or will die trying. Heedless of any danger, she searches logging camps and towns, posing as a photographer's assistant. And then she arrives in Harrison, Michigan--and the sights of Connell McCormick.

Connell is determined to increase the fortune of his lumber-baron father and figures as long as he's living an upright life, that's what matters. But when Lily arrives in town she upends his world, forcing him to confront the truth that dangerous men have gained too much power while good men turn a blind eye.

Vexing but persuasive, Lily soon secures Connell's help, drawing them ever closer to each other. Will standing for what's right cost them both everything?

Synopsis

Recently widowed Annalisa Werner has the feeling her husband was murdered but can't prove it. Alone with her young daughter in 1881 Michigan, she has six months left to finish raising the money needed to pay back the land contract her husband purchased, and the land is difficult to toil by herself. She needs a husband. With unmarried men scarce, her father sends a letter to his brother in the Old Country, asking him to find Annalisa a groom.

For nobleman Carl von Reichert, the blade of the guillotine is his fate. He's been accused and convicted of a serious crime he didn't commit, and his only escape is to flee to a small German community in Michigan where he'll be safe. He secures a job on Annalisa's farm but bumbles through learning about farming and manual labor.

Annalisa senses that Karl is harboring a secret about his past, yet she finds herself drawn to him anyway. He's gentle, kind, and romantic--unlike any of the men she's ever known. He begins to restore her faith in the ability to love--but her true groom is still on his way. And time is running out on them all.