Review: A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Art restorer Emily Price has never encountered anything she can’t fix—until she meets Ben, an Italian chef, who seems just right. But when Emily follows Ben home to Italy, she learns that his family is another matter . . .

Emily Price—fix-it girl extraordinaire and would-be artist—dreams of having a gallery show of her own. There is no time for distractions, especially not the ultimate distraction of falling in love.

But Chef Benito Vassallo’s relentless pursuit proves hard to resist. Visiting from Italy, Ben works to breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s faded restaurant, Piccollo. Soon after their first meeting, he works to win Emily as well—inviting her into his world and into his heart.

Emily astonishes everyone when she accepts Ben’s proposal and follows him home. But instead of allowing the land, culture, and people of Monterello to transform her, Emily interferes with everyone and everything around her, alienating Ben’s tightly knit family. Only Ben’s father, Lucio, gives Emily the understanding she needs to lay down her guard. Soon, Emily’s life and art begin to blossom, and Italy’s beauty and rhythm take hold of her spirit.

Yet when she unearths long-buried family secrets, Emily wonders if she really fits into Ben’s world. Will the joys of Italy become just a memory, or will Emily share in the freedom and grace that her life with Ben has shown her are possible?


My Review

Some books I devour, some books I savor. This is an absolutely lovely book to savor. It took me a few days to read it because I was feeling every word. The writing flows with a beautiful cadence that was soothing even with some of the drama and heartache the characters were experiencing. I found that the two settings of Atlanta and Italy, the descriptions of Ben's Italian cooking, and the details of Emily's art restoration and painting fascinated me and brought a unique vibe of contrasts that complemented each other and created metaphors within the story. They especially spoke to the creative side of me and I connected with those parts of the book just as much as with the characters, if not more so. Reading this book felt like a therapeutic experience!

Emily serves as a catalyst for change in the dynamics of Ben's family and provides a way for secrets to be revealed. By coming to light, repressed emotions are released and while sometimes painful, it allows healing to take place. Simultaneously her own family dysfunction undergoes a transition and the uncertainty all around her takes a toll on her confidence and stability, but also releases her from the need to be in control. I loved how her relationships affected her art and ability to reach another level.

I have to say that I love that the level of romance increased in this book from the author's last one. Ben is the consummate charming Italian heartthrob, but it was pointed out that unlike his brother, he was unaware of his appeal. Which made him all the more appealing, of course ;) The genuine connection between Emily and Ben was a pleasure to read, especially since it was so unexpected for both of them. The focus shifts when Emily meets and becomes involved with his family, but my interest never waned since the author takes flawed characters that are raw and real, and shares the emotional and introspective journey of their life-changing experiences.

This is not a book to miss! Highly recommend!!!

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)

Review & Giveaway: From Cairo, With Love by Nancy Campbell Allen

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Valentine Baker longs for adventure, so when the opportunity comes to travel to Venice and be a companion for the unconventional Contessa, she takes it--but they don’t stay in Venice long. Valentine finds herself on a ship bound for Cairo so the Contessa can hunt down a thief at one of her archaeological digs there. Before they ever get close to the coast of Egypt, however, the ship is threatened by a violent storm and someone has an ulterior motive for sticking close to the Contessa and her traveling companions.

Mr. Maxwell is assigned to protect the Contessa and the charming Valentine. He tries to keep his distance, but her warm nature and easy laugh draw him in. He soon comes to cherish their time together, until someone attempts to drug him, and the aftermath reveals serious consequences for Valentine. He’ll do anything to keep her safe and her reputation intact, yet with treachery on board and his heart at stake, Mr. Maxwell must make a choice that will change his life forever. Can he win the woman of his dreams or will whoever wants to hurt them get close enough to take away his one chance for love?

My Review

I'm such a fan of well-written novellas! With how crazy life can get they are the perfect quick reading fix. From Cairo, With Love has all the elements for a successful novella- I felt like I was able to get to know the characters, the plot had a full arc, and the ending wrapped up nicely. Valentine is sweet and I loved her adventurous spirit. Her developing friendship and romance with Max was one that I enjoyed since they don't seem to be a typical match. The Contessa was fun and the action kept the story moving swiftly. A thoroughly satisfying read!

(Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book; this is my honest review)

Tour Schedule:

November 7:  Heidi Reads / Katie's Clean Reads

November 8: Lisa is a Bookworm / Maria Hoagland

November 9: Smiling Book Reviews / Literary Time Out

November 10: My Book a Day / Wishful Endings

November 11: Singing Librarian Books

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Review & Giveaway: The Promise of Rayne by Nicole Deese

*Free with Kindle Unlimited!*

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Rayne Shelby has spent her entire life trying to earn the approval of her high-powered family, with the hope of one day managing her late grandfather’s prestigious Idaho lodge. But when she makes a mistake that puts her future in jeopardy, she faces an impossible choice: defy her family or deny her dream. The only way to fix the mess she’s created is to enlist the help of her neighbor, Levi, the apprentice of her family’s greatest enemy. And if Rayne gets caught crossing the divided property lines, the consequences will be irreparable.

Levi Harding has never forgotten the August night he shared with Rayne when they were teens—or the way she later rejected him. Despite his warring instincts, he can’t ignore her plea for help or the spark that’s ignited between them. But now, as wildfires bear down on their town and family secrets are revealed, their newfound alliance might just go up in smoke.

My Review

The tale of star-crossed lovers Rayne and Levi reflects themes of family loyalty, trust, and the unconditional love of the Savior. Rayne has never made it a secret that her priorities lie with running the lodge that is her beloved grandfather's legacy. Dealing with difficult relatives makes it both hard and easy to turn to Levi when he offers friendship. I admired her compassionate and open nature, but was frustrated that she was cowed by her domineering uncle and father. The family dynamics and mysterious secrets are a huge part of what gets in the way of Rayne and Levi's relationship. I loved the fun they had as they opened up to each other despite working for "enemy" camps, and the way Levi encourages her to be herself and supports her dreams is endearing. The chemistry between them is crackling hot and the tension builds as they grow closer together yet keep their romance under wraps. The family secrets are alluded to throughout the book so I could hardly wait until they were finally revealed to Rayne so she could see everyone for who they truly were. A wonderful clean contemporary romance!

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.)

Giveaway

Go to author Nicole Deese's website to enter her giveaway celebrating the release of The Promise of Rayne!

E-book sale: Timeless Romance Anthology: Old West Collection by Carla Kelly, Sarah M. Eden, Liz Adair, Heather B. Moore, Annette Lyon, Marsha Ward

Synopsis

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Old West Collection. Readers will love this collection of six historical western novellas, all with one thing in common: Romance.

In BREAK A LEG, a charming story by two-time Rita Award winner Carla Kelly, hospital steward Colm Callahan is ready to move away from army life at Fort Laramie. His only regret is leaving behind exotic Ozzie Washington, easily the prettiest woman on the post. As a maid to the lieutenant colonel's wife, Ozzie is no wilting flower when it comes to hard work. When the post surgeon leaves for an extended week, Colm must handle several medical emergencies on his own. He pleads for Ozzie's help at the hospital. While they spend long days and nights working together, Colm, a shy man, realizes he can't hide the truth of his feelings for Ozzie. He needs a little help, though. Enter from stage left, Lysander Locke, Shakespeare tragedian on his way to Deadwood.

THE SOLDIER'S HEART, an enchanting novella by Sarah M. Eden, follows Gregory Reeves has fallen in love with a woman he’s never met. Her brother’s dying wish is that Gregory checks on his family, and after the war, Gregory is only too happy to meet the woman he’s been dreaming about. Helene mistakes him for a hired hand and sets him to work immediately. As time passes, Gregory finds it more and more difficult to reveal his true connection to her family, fearing that a woman who loathes liars will turn her disapproval on him.

HIDDEN SPRING is an enthralling novella by Liz Adair, in which Susannah Brown is just getting her life back together after becoming a widow. She still misses Wesley with a fierce longing, but when she meets his half-brother, Douglas, she learns her heart is not completely dormant. Over the next several weeks, Douglas helps Susannah with repairs on her small ranch in exchange for supper. The exchange becomes more and more meaningful as Susannah realizes that Douglas might be the one to finally heal her heart.

THE SILVER MINE BACHELOR, by Heather B. Moore, is a sweet romance between an unlikely pair. Lydia Stone has a checklist for men who qualify as the eligible bachelors in the mining town of Leadville, Colorado. Her new boss, Mr. Erik Dawson, is about to be struck off the list when she sees him coming out of the town brothel. Lydia doesn’t know that Erik Dawson’s sister has been living the brothel lifestyle for years, and he’s set on redeeming her soul. When Lydia discovers Erik’s secrets, she learns that life is not as black and white as she thinks.

In Annette Lyon’s delightful story, THE SWEETEST TASTE, Della Stafford hates being a farm girl in the tiny town of Shelley, Idaho. She’ll do anything to live in a big city and experience real city life. Her only regret is that she’d have to leave 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. Then Della takes a job as a maid in Los Angeles and must face the truth that what she thought would make her happy and what really will are totally different things.

In the captivating novella, FAITH AND THE FOREMAN by Marsha Ward, Faith Bannister is forced to travel west to earn a living as a school mistress in Arizona Territory. Faith soon learns that living the frontier lifestyle of a single woman has many harsh challenges. But when she meets Slim McHenry, she discovers that life doesn’t have to be so lonely. Unfortunately the dangerous Rance Hunter stands between her and Slim, and she must act with courage before everything is lost.

Spotlight & Giveaway: Love's Broken Road by Julie Coulter Bellon

I'll be reviewing Love's Broken Road later this month, but in the meantime I wanted to spread the news about the release and tour giveaway!

 

Synopsis

After surviving an abusive marriage, Victoria Newel needs a clean slate for herself and her son. Taking a job as a math teacher, she moves across the country to the small town of Lincoln, Utah, where no one knows her and she can start over. However, her new colleague, Drew Dalton, offers her friendship and maybe something more. But has her heart healed enough that she could trust again?

Drew Dalton lost his wife to cancer years ago and he locked his heart away, throwing himself into his teaching job. But when Victoria Newel starts working at the high school, she awakens something in him that he never thought he’d feel again. Her gentle nature and quiet strength draws him to her, but it’s obvious she’s hiding something in her past from him. Can he open his heart to a woman who harbors so many secrets of her own?

About the Author

Julie Coulter Bellon is the author of more than a dozen romantic suspense novels. Her book All Fall Down won the RONE award for Best Suspense and Pocket Full of Posies won a RONE Honorable Mention for Best Suspense.

Julie loves to travel and her favorite cities she's visited so far are probably Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. She loves to read, write, teach, watch Castle, Hawaii Five-O, and eat Canadian chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.

Julie offers writing and publishing tips as well as her take on life on her blog ldswritermom.blogspot.com. You can also find out about all her upcoming projects at her website juliebellon.com.

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Review: Walk of Infamy by Sheralyn Pratt

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Rhea Jensen has a date with destiny. A powerful, multi-national group calling itself The Fours considers her a threat. She doesn’t know why The Fours think this, only that they will destroy her life and the lives of everyone she loves if she doesn’t do as she’s asked.

Rhea knows where to be, when to be there, and that the odds are not in her favor for a happy ending. That’s it. What she’s about to learn is that the past seven years of her life were not what they seemed, and there is a 99.9% chance she will not live to see another day. Her date with destiny is rigged to become a date with infamy.

The question Rhea must ask herself is: Is she going to die on her terms, or on The Fours terms?

Her life, and the end thereof, has just become a game for the rich and powerful to watch play out live, and they’ve played this game many times before with other people more skilled than Rhea. The rules are designed so that the House wins every time. Rhea knows she can’t win—not without a miracle. But if she’s not going to get what she wants, well then, neither are The Fours. The clock is running, though, so whatever Rhea’s going to do, she needs to do it quick.

My Review

As with every Sheralyn Pratt novel, my first thought upon finishing was "wow." Walk of Infamy is a non-stop intense roller coaster ride of suspense, action, and emotion. This would make a brilliant movie giving Jason Bourne a run for his money, but how could a script even hope to include the thoughts and feelings of Rhea as she's pursued in a high stakes cat and mouse game with thousands of lives at stake, not just her own. I haven't read the previous books in the Rhea Jensen series, but was told that this final book could stand alone, and boy did it deliver! It definitely made me want to go find the book where she falls in love with her husband, who is a definite motivating factor for Rhea as she is forced to make difficult, impossible decisions. From what I understand, this book turned her story on its head and threw everything up in the air. I know that sounds chaotic, but the plot is seamlessly executed with a quick pace and like all books by Sheralyn Pratt I've read... I simply could not put it down. Rhea is pushed to her limits and beyond in the twists and turns as she fights tooth and nail to stay alive and pray that she has placed her trust and loyalties in the right hands. I admired that she allowed herself to follow her instincts and guidance from the Spirit when her choices seemed too crazy to handle. I especially loved the subtle tie-in to another book by the author, Pimpernel, and as soon as I finished Walk of Infamy (at 12:30 am) I re-read Pimpernel until 4 in the morning. Even though I was exhausted the next day, I was filled with the satisfaction of having read two supremely excellent books back-to-back ;) HIGHLY recommend, especially to suspense fans!

(Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book; this is my honest review)

Review & Giveaway: The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall

Be sure to enter both giveaways at the bottom of the post!

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their deceased parents' New England country inn into a brothel to accommodate the nearby lumberjacks; but when Violet's own reputation is compromised, the inn becomes the least of her worries. In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance; Vance Everstone. As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU. With danger stalking her and a new fiancé who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust and who to leave behind.

My Review

I've been anxiously anticipating THE CAUTIOUS MAIDEN, the newest book in one of my favorite series, The Everstone Chronicles. Dawn Crandall has a unique writing style which lends a compelling voice to her characters. Her skills are once again manifested as she expertly transforms a former scoundrel into a believable hero and protector of feminine virtue without making him into a completely different person by reducing his passionate nature. 
 
Poor Violet! In the wake of her grief she is lonely and not confident in her relationships, not feeling like she fits in anywhere. With her compromised reputation, she feels she has no other option than marriage, to whomever will take her. Her emotions and loyalties are being pulled on by various parties, and all she can do is try to follow her heart, which is difficult when she's not sure that she's wanted. It was frustrating to experience the limits of a woman's rights and choices during the time period, but Violet bore it with grace.

As much as I disliked Vance in the previous novel he appeared in (The Bound Heart), I appreciated his redemptive path and dedication to live his life on God's terms. I was skeptical at first, but as Violet comes upon him more than once studying his Bible, and witnesses his strength of character, his regrets and repentance, I began to hope that he would find happiness. His protectiveness of Violet, even against himself, is endearing and heroic.

Her brother was kind of an ambiguous character- he only made an appearance in one scene, but so much of the plot revolved around his actions- placing his sister in danger, then damaging her reputation in an attempt to protect her; the physical separation between the two doesn't reflect his continued influence on her life. Because the story is told in Violet's voice, we only receive information as she does, which gave me a feeling of uneasiness and tension over the unknown parts of the plot I could sense.

The various members of the Everstone family make appearances as they gather for special events, but I missed seeing their personalities shine through while this book was entirely focused on Violet and Vance and their passionate relationship wrought with lack of communication, self-discipline, and dangerous circumstances. 

Readers of Sarah E. Ladd and Elizabeth Camden will fall in love with this intriguing and romantic historical series!

(Thank you to Whitaker House Publishing for a copy of the book; this is my honest review)

Don't miss the first three books in The Everstone Chronicles series...

About the Author

Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which consists of four books: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, The Captive Imposter and The Cautious Maiden which released October 4th, 2016.
Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do.
Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.

Giveaways

Whitaker House has generously provided a copy of The Cautious Maiden for me to give away on my blog! Enter in the Giveaway Tools widget below. Author Dawn Crandall also has a wonderful blog tour giveaway that you can enter in the Rafflecoptor widget below.

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Review: Cole and Jillian by Jennifer Peel

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Can a few hours really change your life?

Jillian Jones knows a thing or two about the country music scene, and she wants no part of it after divorcing her country singer ex-husband. But as fate would have it, she’s seated next to country legend Cole Pendleton on a red-eye flight home to Nashville from Las Vegas. Between her emotional state, her fear of flying, and maybe a little vodka, she finds herself taking comfort in Cole’s arms and lips during their four-hour flight.

Cole Pendleton’s life changes the night he wakes up to his beautiful seatmate, Jillian. He doesn’t know what it is about her, but he’s drawn to her like no one before. As the night wears on he’s determined to do whatever it takes to get to know her better. He finds himself promising her he’ll come looking for her once they’re both ready to move forward with a relationship. But he has two problems, his profession and his past.

Jillian finds herself wanting to believe him, but can she trust his midnight promises? Or will the piano man be like her ex-husband and let his promises fade away in the light of day?

My Review

This is a fun story with plenty of emotion as Jillian is torn between her attraction to Cole and her fears of his past and career that stem from her past. I loved their chemistry and Cole's patience with her as he shows her that he can be trusted, one day at a time. I could really sense Jillian's conflict between hurt and hope... and Cole had enough hope for the both of them! I loved how he pursued her when the time was right. It was great to see Call from the previous book in the series as Jillian's best friend and the support and encouragement she gives Jillian. We also get to see Call's relationship with Beck progress and her music career begin to blossom. Rest assured that this is a clean romance- the term "midnight promises" doesn't have to do with the bedroom ;) This story seemed to move much more quickly than the first two in the series and there was a lot of Jillian rehashing her issues, but since it's written in first person it felt more like an inner monologue so it didn't bother me as much as if it had been in third person. Overall, completely enjoyable and I recommend this entire series to fans of clean contemporary romance!

(Thank you to the author for a copy of the book; this is my honest review)

Don't miss the first two Pianos & Promises novellas! 
*All three are FREE for Kindle Unlimited subscribers!*
 

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Jaime Seger has two goals in life: marry her best friend, the man that owns her heart and soul, and buy her very own grand piano. But Christopher McKay, who has no idea Jaime's been in love with him since she was eleven years old, never gets the memo and marries someone else.
​
When Christopher's wife dies, Jamie finds herself helping him raise his young daughter. A year later, she is on the other end of a very unlikely proposal, promising everything she thought she ever wanted.
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But will Christopher help Jaime finally realize both of her dreams, or will she only be left with broken promises?

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

What happens when a dashing Englishman and an almost famous pianist collide? Sparks. And lots of them.
Call’s life always seems to be on the cusp of working out, only to unravel at the last moment. For instance, when she meets the guy. The man she’s been fantasizing about from afar. The one who walks his beautiful Siberian husky around her neighborhood. Their first meeting is nothing like she hoped; in fact, she wishes she never met him.

Charles Beckett is in need of a good dog-sitter, but he gets more than he bargained for when a cheeky American bartender shows up at his house fifteen minutes late. The job interview quickly turns into a sparring match and Call leaves vowing to run him over with her truck the next time she sees him.

It’s up to their dogs now to bring the pair together.

Will Call finally have one of her dreams come true? Or will the Englishman be another checkmark in her long list of unrealized promises?