Monday, April 17, 2017

Review: Her Rancher Bodyguard by Brenda Minton


Heidi Reads... Her Rancher Bodyguard by Brenda Minton

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

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Synopsis

Bodyguard Boone Wilder isn't keen on his latest mission: watching over a pretty politician's daughter. Boone is from quiet Texas Hill Country, and Kayla is a showy city gal. But once safely settled at the Wilder Ranch, Boone watches Kayla enjoy cooking with his family, caring for his relatives and bottle-feeding calves. There's more to her than he ever knew. Still, the former soldier's wounds are way too deep to let Kayla close. But when he discovers that someone wants to hurt Kayla, Boone must risk his heart to protect what he cares about most.

My Review

I normally love reading books by this author, but I had a hard time getting into this one. I didn't feel a connection to the characters at all, it was like the story jumped right into the plot without any introduction to who they are. Because of that, it was hard to hold my interest. I noticed that this book is part of a series, I wonder if there is any initial character development in the previous books. Perhaps if I had started from the beginning and read them in order it might have helped.

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


Review: The Goodbye Bride by Denise Hunter


Heidi Reads... The Goodbye Bride by Denise Hunter

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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

Synopsis

She only remembers loving him. But he can’t forget the way she left.

Following a concussion, Lucy Lovett can’t remember the last seven months of her life. She doesn’t remember leaving her fiancĂ© Zac Callahan weeks before their wedding or moving to Portland, Maine. And she sure doesn’t remember getting engaged to another man. All she remembers is loving Zac more than life itself.

It’s taken Zac months to move on after Lucy left him with no explanation. He’s thrown himself into his family’s farm and his restaurant business in Summer Harbor. Now Lucy’s back, vulnerable, homeless, and still in love with him. She needs his help putting the pieces together, but letting her back into his life is a risk—and the stakes are high. If he follows his heart he’ll win back the love of his life. But if her memory returns he’ll lose her all over again.


My Review

Wow, this is one emotion-packed book! I really felt for both Lucy and Zac and the difficult situation they find themselves in. Zac's struggle to be there for Lucy despite his hurt and anger shows his character and strength. Lucy is hurt by his distance, and doesn't understand how she ended up rejecting him when she loves him so much. Zac's family is a bit protective of him even though they like Lucy, although she finds an ally in Beau's new wife Eden. There's a lot of heartache that Zac and Lucy work out, and the hope for reconciliation is strong as well as their chemistry together. There is a bit of suspense wondering when Lucy will regain her memory and find the answers to her secrets. I enjoyed the flashbacks to the early days of their relationship and seeing how they fell in love. Highly recommend to fans of clean contemporary romance!

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

Don't miss the other books in the Summer Harbor series!

Heidi Reads... Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

When the Christmas season finds Eden in Summer Harbor, Maine, she's on the run from trouble. Romance is the last thing on her mind.

Riding in a bus in the thickly falling snow, Eden Davis wonders how it ever came to this- fleeing under cover of night with young Micah sleeping fitfully in the seat beside her. When a winter storm strands them in Summer Harbor, Maine, Eden wonders if what might have been the end could be a new beginning.

Beau Callahan is a habitual problem-solver. He's recently left his job with the sheriff's department to take over the family Christmas tree farm to save it from insolvency. But he's flummoxed. During the busiest season of the year, he's shorthanded. Then Eden shows up looking for work, and Beau believes he's been rescued. Competent, smart, and beautiful, Eden's also guarded and quiet. He soon figures out she comes with a boatload of secrets. But Beau can't seem to help himself from falling for her.

As Christmas Eve approaches, Beau discovers he'll do anything to keep Eden safe. But who's going to protect his heart from a woman who can't seem to trust again?

Heidi Reads... Just a Kiss by Denise Hunter

My rating:5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

Riley Callahan’s plans to reveal his secret feelings for his best friend are derailed when his life is drastically altered in Afghanistan.

Watching the love of his life fall for his brother was enough to send Riley straight to boot camp. But over a year later, he’s officially a marine, and Beau and Paige are no longer an item. When Riley’s tour in Afghanistan is up, he intends to confess his feelings to Paige and win his best friend’s heart once and for all.

But all that changes when an IED takes the life of a comrade and leaves Riley an amputee. Now he’s heading home, injured and troubled. His plans to win Paige are a distant dream. She deserves so much more than the man that’s left. All he can do now is put some healthy distance between them. But upon his return he discovers his family has arranged for him to stay with Paige.

Paige is a nurturer at heart and happy to take care of her best buddy. By all appearances Riley is adjusting miraculously well to his disability. But as the days pass, Paige begins to see that the smiles and laughter are just a mask for the pain he’s hiding. To make matters worse, her job is in serious jeopardy. The animal shelter that she’s poured her heart into has lost its funding, and she has three months to come up with the money needed to save it.

As the weeks wear on, Paige’s feelings for Riley begin to shift into uncharted territory. Why is she suddenly noticing his arm muscles and the way his lips curl at the corners? Will she be able to deny her feelings for another Callahan brother? And will Riley let his heart heal so he can let Paige in?


Sunday, April 16, 2017

Review: The Rise of Miss Notley by Rachael Anderson


Heidi Reads... The Rise of Miss Notley by Rachael Anderson

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

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Synopsis

To escape an undesirable match, Miss Notley must give up her riches for rags.

When Miss Coralynn Notley’s father barters her off to the first titled gentleman to come along, she realizes she must flee her home or be forced to wed a despicable man. Driven by desperation, she applies for the position of housekeeper at Tanglewood Manor, the home of the handsome Mr. Jonathan Ludlow.

The moment Jonathan sees Miss Notley, he is intrigued. She is far too young and inexperienced, yet there is something about her that that inspires a certain hope within him. Does he dare offer her the position of housekeeper or will doing so result in catastrophe?


My Review

This was such a pleasure to read! I loved the Regency England setting, and the characters were fresh and really came to life. The plot was a bit predictable but that didn't detract from my enjoyment. I loved learning more about the role of a housekeeper along with Coralynn and the fascinating details- who knew that they had to grind their own sugar? Jonathan reminds me quite a bit of Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre (sans hidden wife) with his moodiness and cynicism. He admires the honesty of Coralynn above her lack of experience and the warmth she brings to the household makes him yearn for her. She is frustratingly stubborn in her stance that working will bring her more freedom than marriage and is out to prove that she can stand on her own two feet. Lots of emotion, some arguments, kissing, compromises, and surprises eventually lead the two past the obstacles preventing a union between a housekeeper and a gentleman.

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

Don't miss the first book in the Tanglewood series! (The books each stand alone and don't have to be read in order)

Heidi Reads... The Fall of Lord Drayson by Rachael Anderson


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

Synopsis

Who is he really? A high and mighty lord or a lowly servant?

When Colin Cavendish, the new earl of Drayson, informs Lucy Beresford that she and her mother need to vacate the house they've called home for the past two years, Lucy is fit to be tied. They have no money, no relations they can turn to for help, and nowhere to go. How dare the earl break the promise his father had made to the Beresfords without so much as a twinge of conscience?

Fate plays her hand when Lucy discovers the earl unconscious and injured in the middle of the road. When he awakens with no recollection of who he is, Lucy seizes the opportunity to teach the earl a much-needed lesson in humility and tells him that he is nothing more than a mere servant. Her servant, in fact.

And thus begins the charming tale of a pompous lord and an impetuous young woman, caught together in a web so tangled that it begs the question: Will they ever get out?

Friday, April 14, 2017

Hoppy Easter Giveaway Hop!


http://www.bookhounds.net

Easter is my favorite holiday. It hasn't always been, but ever since my dad passed away ten years ago, the promise of resurrection and reunification through Christ has been incredibly meaningful. The loss of a loved one is always hard, especially when you have a close relationship- the grief seems almost insurmountable. The blessing of peace that the Savior provides is indescribable- I get emotional just thinking of it. This new video is simple, touching, and provides a glimpse into the hope, relief, power, and strength that comes from turning to the Lord. It's only a couple minutes- I hope you watch it!


I have an ARC print copy of Life After by Katie Ganshert to give away for the Hoppy Easter Giveaway Hop! I thought this was an appropriate choice for an Easter-themed giveaway :) The author is an amazing writer and tackles deep and difficult topics with profoundness and grace. Check out more about the book below. It releases April 18th!

http://amzn.to/2pB9DX5

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://www.bookdepository.com/The-Elusive-Miss-Ellison/9780825444500http://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

It could have been me.

Snow whirls around an elevated train platform in Chicago. A distracted woman boards the train, takes her seat, and moments later a fiery explosion rips through the frigid air, tearing the car apart in a horrific attack on the city’s transit system. One life is spared. Twenty-two are lost.

A year later, Autumn Manning can’t remember the day of the bombing and she is tormented by grief—by guilt. Twelve months of the question constantly echoing. Why? Why? Why? Searching for answers, she haunts the lives of the victims, unable to rest.

Paul Elliott lost his wife in the train bombing and wants to let the dead rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to cause more pain for his loved ones. He wants normalcy for his twelve-year-old daughter and young son, to see them move beyond the heartbreak. But when the Elliotts and Autumn are unexpectedly forced together, he fears she’ll bring more wreckage in her wake.

In Life After, Katie Ganshert’s most complex and unforgettable novel yet, the stirring prose and authentic characters pose questions of truth, goodness, and ultimate purpose in this emotionally resonant tale.




Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Review & Giveaway: Miss Whitaker Opens Her Heart by Jennifer Moore


Heidi Reads... Miss Whitaker Opens Her Heart by Jennifer Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/miss-whitaker-opens-her-heart?variant_id=150569-paperbackhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Australia, 1814

As a young child bound for a strange country, Sarah Whitaker dreamed of life with her father on his sprawling Australian ranch. But her hopes were shattered when she learned of his death and of her new role as heiress of the largest sheep farm in New Wales. Orphaned in a land greatly populated by petty criminals exiled from England, the future seemed grim. But now, ten years later, Sarah has defied the odds and become a successful businesswoman much to the chagrin of her male counterparts. Hardened by the dishonesty of both her fellow ranchers and the felons in her employ, Sarah has learned one important truth: no one is to be trusted.

Daniel Burton is a lucky man. Sentenced to death for his role in a horse-race scandal, Daniel was granted reprieve thanks to the influence of his wealthy relatives. Now, rather than death, Daniel faces exile in Australia an opportunity to put past mistakes behind him. But when he purchases land with the intention of farming it, he unwittingly arouses the wrath of his new neighbor, Sarah. What begins as a battle of wits, however, soon becomes a warm friendship and perhaps something more. But when Daniel's secret past is revealed, will Sarah be able forgive yet another deception?


My Review

Whenever I read a historical novel by Jennifer Moore, I'm guaranteed to be swept away to an earlier era and the location is always unique to any other book I've read! Miss Whitaker Opens Her Heart is no exception- I was completely immersed in early 19th century Australia, and the dynamics of the community and politics there were fascinating! I loved learning details about the lives and hardships of the people who relocated there from Europe. The characters are developed so well that I felt like I knew them and was invested in their decisions and hoping for a happy ending, especially for Sarah who suffered the loss of the people in her life who loved her. The themes of overcoming prejudice, compassion, and forgiveness are strong as Daniel and Sarah are confronted with life-changing decisions. I loved their friendship and budding relationship, which developed naturally over the course of the story. Highly recommend!

Review & Giveaway: The Matchmaking Game by Donna Hatch


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.


The Matchmaking Game
(Timeless Romance Single)
Donna Hatch
Adult Historical Romance
ebook, 126 pages
April 18th 2017 by Mirror Press

From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean & Wholesome Romance, comes the Timeless Romance Singles line.

THE MATCHMAKING GAME: A brand new historical romance novella from bestselling author Donna Hatch.

Rowena’s childhood friend, Evan, has returned home from war a handsome, but mysterious stranger. In an effort to bring happiness to her father, not to mention uncover the Evan she remembers from their youth, Rowena seeks to unite their parents. Who better to match a lonely widow and widower together than their adoring children? Her matchmaking game could help their parents find happiness and draw out her childhood friend buried beneath Evan’s new reserve … or it could break more than one heart.

GoodreadsAmazon

My Review

Such a great story! The characters are vivid, the setting is awesome, the conflict is angsty, and the romance is... so romantic! Seriously, Donna Hatch writes the best kissing scenes ;) This didn't feel like a novella, the characters were fully developed and the plot had a full arc. I loved Rowena's optimistic nature, compassion, and loyalty to Evan. They have one of those rare friendships that remain strong over the years and through life's trying circumstances. Evan has been through a lot and is trying to do his best- even when that means he doesn't get what he wants. His sense of honor is admirable, and Rowena supports him through it all. Things begin rather light-hearted but as feelings deepen, the mood becomes more serious as their futures will be determined by the choices they must make. I loved this Regency romance and could not put it down until I was finished!

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

About the Author

Donna Hatch is the author of the best-selling “Rogue Hearts Series,” and a winner of writing awards such as The Golden Quill and the International Digital Award. A hopeless romantic and adventurer at heart, she discovered her writing passion at the tender age of 8 and has been listening to those voices ever since. She has become a sought-after workshop presenter, and also juggles freelance editing, multiple volunteer positions, and most of all, her six children (seven, counting her husband). A native of Arizona who recently transplanted to the Pacific Northwest, she and her husband of over twenty five years are living proof that there really is a happily ever after.


Tour Giveaway

- 1 winner will receive a print copy of Heart Strings by Donna Hatch (US only)
- 1 winner will receive an ebook of Heart Strings by Donna Hatch (open internationally)
- Ends April 22nd

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