When she hears that the small town of Heritage, Michigan, is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a storage closet stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.
All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished so he can do right by the family business and then extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town’s new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints–and possibly even his heart?
Novelist Tari Faris invites you back to the small town with a big heart in this second book in the Restoring Heritage series.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Until I Met You (Restoring Heritage, Book 2) and visiting with the characters in Heritage from book 1, You Belong With Me. Libby is looking for a new start and moves to Heritage to be closer to her brother, Luke. Her new librarian job in Heritage is not what she expected. She’s staying in Luke and Hannah’s home, and they unexpectedly need to go away due to Hannah’s hospitalisation for her high risk pregnancy.
Libby struggles with trust issues and anxiety from her past, and as a result she questions her ability to accurately discern the true character of the people she meets including Austin, her new next door neighbor. Libby’s dog escapes from the backyard, befriends Austin’s dog, and disrupts Austin’s plans to earn money from breeding his female pedigree dog.
Austin has moved to Heritage to complete the landscaping project of the town square, and use the funds to save the family business. His father has moved to a care facility, and it was his dad’s declining mental health issues that contributed to the family business experiencing financial stress. Austin feels like he’s second best and lives in the shadow of his brother. Nate is the beloved pastor in Heritage and the prodigal son who their father forgave and welcomed home. Austin knows the real Nate, and the secrets from Nate’s past, and their sibling relationship is difficult because Austin believes Nate is unreliable and can’t be trusted to be there for him. They present a united front and portray a good relationship for the media who are following the town square project.
Libby has to work with Austin to create a solution for the location of the town’s new library, and they both struggle with how to manage their growing attraction due to being hurt by past romantic relationships. Olivia is Libby’s new friend who wants to find a paid journalism job. She picks up freelance article work that leads her into hilarious situations in the name of research.
The romantic subplot with Nate and Olivia is a fun addition to the story. They have been friends for years, but Olivia can’t convince Nate to act on his feelings. Nate has his secrets, and he’s aware that his congregation doesn’t know the sordid details from his younger years.
I recommend Until I Met You and the Restoring Heritage series to contemporary romance readers who like friends-to-more romances with a strong faith element that deals with real-to-life issues. The story can be read as a stand-alone, but I do think I enjoyed it more because I’d already read You Belong With Me.
Leah Williams is back in the quaint town of Heritage, Michigan, and ready to try again to make her business a success. But blank slates are hard to come by, and a piece of her past is waiting for her there. Heir to the Heritage Fruits company, Jonathan Kensington is the guy who not only made Leah’s past difficult, he also seems determined to complicate her present as well.
Jon is trying to prove to the Heritage Fruits board that he, not his manipulative uncle, should be running the business. The board insists Jon find a new owner for the building that will house Leah’s business. To avoid forcing a buyout of Leah’s part of the building, Jon strikes a compromise with Leah, and the two go into business together. With her vision and his know-how, it might work. And Leah might realize he’s loved her since high school. If only he didn’t keep on shooting himself in the foot by boxing her out of important decisions.
Sparks fly in this romantic story of two people who must learn to trust both each other and the one who called them to this journey.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Since You’ve Been Gone, the third book in Tari Faris’ Restoring Heritage series. The story can be read as a stand-alone, but I’d recommend, if possible, to read the books in order. The series story arc follows the restoration of the town and the creation of a town square.
We finally meet Leah again, who has returned from Costa Rica where she was doing mission work with her brother. She is the last of her close group of friends to still be single, and she’s wistfully watching them move on to the marriage and babies stage of life. Caroline is Leah’s twin sister who we’ve met in earlier books in the series.
Jon has had feelings for Leah since high school. He’s a professional basketball player who recently returned from Spain, and he’s had custody of his seventeen year old sister since they lost the parents. He’s determined to save his late father’s business in Heritage, and help Leah revive the family retail business that Leah and Carolyn closed down a few years ago.
Leah has trust issues, and believes Jon hated her in high school. She’s a bit prickly at times when he’s around, and their romance has hurdles from their shared past to overcome. Jon is patient with Leah, and their romance follows an enemies-to-more story arc.
I loved the romantic subplot with Madison and Colby. Madison was engaged to Thomas in book 1, You Belong With Me, and she left town after she split up with Thomas. Madison returns to Heritage after her father passes away. With a reputation as a wild child, Madison wants to hide her unplanned pregnancy and impending single mother status from both the judgmental townsfolk and the means girls in the clique friend group that includes Leah. Colby is a Christian music star who’s hiding out in Heritage with his friend, Nate, to avoid the spotlight from a scandal connected to his band.
The meet cute between Madison and Colby is fun, and their romance is one of my favorite pairings in the series. I loved Madison’s journey to faith in the story. I recommend Since You’ve Been Gone to readers who like enemies to love romance stories with a relevant faith element that addresses real-to-life issues.
I received a complimentary ebook copy. Many thanks to Revell and Net Galley.
The Gathering Table by Kathryn Springer — Winsome Lake, Wisconsin, is postcard pretty, but for personal chef Jessica Keaton it’s also a last resort. Fired from her dream job, Jess is starting over as a live-in cook and housekeeper. When she arrives, she finds her new employer is in rehab after having a stroke, and Jess expects she’ll be all alone in Elaine Haviland’s quaint house. A chef with no one to cook for. Instead, she encounters a constant stream of colorful visitors who draw her back into the world. (Contemporary/Women’s Fiction from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
Contemporary Romance:
The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston — When Brianna Porter’s father unexpectedly dies, Brianna is steeped in grief and guilt—then left alone to clean up the mess. To make matters worse, a constant stream of real estate brokers begins marching through her property, offering to buy the family land. In particular, she keeps running into handsome real estate mogul Scott Gibson. As Brianna struggles to keep it all together, Scott finds his way into her heart. And as the two fight against their feelings, they just might find themselves forging a surprising and exciting new love at Splendid Lake. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))
A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano — All theater romances are tragedies. Ella Blythe knows this. Still, she cannot help but hope her own story may turn out different than most–and certainly different than the tragic story of the Ghost of Craven Street Theater. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))
Historical Romance:
Brides of the Old West by Amanda Cabot — Four unlikely couples. Four unexpected chances at happiness. Four unforgettable stories of love and faith in the Old West. The Christmas Star Bride – Can a bakery owner who lost her one true love at Gettysburg twenty years ago and an itinerant artist who lost more than love during the war find a second chance at happiness, or is love only for the young? The Fourth of July Bride – She needs money to pay for her mother’s desperately needed eye surgery. He needs a way to stop his meddling mother from choosing his bride. Can the answer be a temporary courtship? The Depot Bride – Can a cattle baron’s daughter who’s practically betrothed to another man and a struggling writer who fears he has nothing to offer her find happiness as they create a commemorative book to celebrate the creation of the new Union Pacific depot in Cheyenne? The Unmatched Bride – When a confirmed spinster matchmaker accepts an unusual assignment and helps a wealthy widower choose the right mate for his daughter, can more than one couple have a chance at true love? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Daria’s Duke by Linda Shenton Matchett — After the death of her father, Daria Burke is thrust into the role of a servant by her stepmother. Locked in her room one night, Daria watches as the woman and her daughters sashay from the house wearing her mother’s gowns and jewelry. Realizing she’ll never be accepted as family, she flees the house and applies to be a mail-order bride. Then the sheriff arrives on the eve of her wedding with an arrest warrant. Can she prove her innocence or will she go to jail and lose her one chance at happiness? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
Hers to Love by Sherrinda Ketchersid — Fiona McGowan, a beautiful Scottish widow without hope for a family of her own, travels to St. Mary’s Convent to become a nun. In route she is kidnapped by handsome Highlander Adam MacIntosh in a case of mistaken identity. Adam, laird of the MacIntosh clan, is attempting to free his brother held captive by the rival Fergus clan. The failure of his plan leaves him reeling with betrayal, death, and a wee babe in sore need of a healer. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Mystery:
The Notorious Noel Caper by Sally Carpenter — Nothing brings a couple together like murder. Former pop star Sandy Fairfax and his girlfriend, Cinnamon, find themselves sleuthing when bodies start dropping like snowflakes at the soon-to-open Santa’s Magic theme park where Sandy is the emcee for the televised Miss North Pole beauty contest–er, scholarship pageant. But will the beautiful contestants make Cinnamon jealous? The deadly Christmas season begins at a celebrity bowling tournament when a pinsetter plops down a body instead of the pins. Throw in surfing Santas, a seductive executive’s wife, a sleazy tabloid editor, an egotistical movie rival and a gift-wrapped death trap, and it’s the most wonderful time of the year. (Mystery/Cozy from Cozy Cat Press)
The Secret of Emerald Cottage by Julie Lessman — Twenty-five-year-old Molly Stewart—ex-Navy nurse and former evidence technician for the Charleston Police Department—has been burned by love. So when her friend, Pastor Chase Griffin, begs her to move to scenic Lake Loon to be a nurse and companion for Miss Lilly, his elderly landlady, she jumps at the chance. The secluded and cozy cottage on a clear mountain lake seems the perfect place to heal from her fiancé’s betrayal as well as indulge in one of her greatest passions—cozy romance. First with reading them by the bookcase and then hopefully, if dreams come true, writing and solving them one day as an author and detective. But when Miss Lilly’s estranged great nephew shows up, it’s no mystery as to why he and Molly butt heads. Because it only takes one stolen kiss—while she’s sleeping, no less—to discover he’s an even bigger player than the ex-fiancé who broke her heart. (Romance/Mystery, Independently Published)
Romantic Suspense:
Home Run by Cathe Swanson — Phoebe Schenstrom’s always been a bit bossy. After all, she’s the oldest of ten children, has worked as a nanny and run the children’s ministry at the Unity Plenkiss Community Center for three years. But when a clash – or two – with clients leads to her suspension, she needs to prove that she’s more than a babysitter. Her brother’s adventure camps for city kids might give her a chance to save her job, but he’s invited Ben Taylor to help with it, and Phoebe doesn’t want to give Ben the wrong idea… and she certainly doesn’t want thim to think he’s just her fall-back plan. It should have been a simple camping trip in the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula, but someone knew they were coming….(Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Personal Threat by Kimberly Rose Johnson — Christmas is supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but when Sally’s young daughter, Emma, becomes the target of child traffickers, and the little girl’s biological father wants Sally dead, the Christmas season takes a dark turn. Police officer, Dillon Brady, responds to a call for help at the home of his friend and Protection Inc. bodyguard, Sally Wilson. When their relationship tips beyond friendship, Dillon is determined no one will hurt Sally or her daughter again. Will his resolve be enough? (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Speculative Fiction:
The Next Fithian: An Ordinary Teen on a Strange, New World by Rick Barry — Was this a new life – or a death sentence? When Rankin Johnson boards a flight to Israel, he expects an adventure in archeology. But the airplane comes under attack and explodes in midair. Rankin shouts, “God, I’m yours!” Instantly, he’s in some other place. An angel informs Rankin the Lord is pleased to accept his offer. He dubs Rankin “the next Fithian” – a messenger from God, not to Earth, but to planet Zemna in the alternate dimension. What happened to the previous Fithian? “He was killed,” the angel says before vanishing. (Speculative Fiction/Soft Science Fiction, Independently Published)
In the first entry in the Madison River Romance series, Keira Knudsen gets the traveling opportunity of a lifetime, but when she reunites with her first love, Robbie, she learns that even a wandering heart needs a home….
No one in the quaint town of West Yellowstone, Montana knows that unassuming geography teacher Keira Knudsen moonlights as sensational travel blogger Kat Wanderfull. No one, that is, except for her first love, Robbie Matthews, who has just discovered the woman he is falling for online is the same one that broke his heart five years ago.
But Robbie has another problem: the mother of his daughter, Anabelle, has resurfaced after a three-year absence determined to rip Anabelle away from him. Robbie needs a steady paycheck for a chance at custody, and now, on the eve of a grand adventure that could give Keira a chance to flee her old, troubled life once and for all, she is in need of assistance.
With so much broken trust between them, Keira and Robbie must keep an arms-length away to make this partnership work. But the more time they spend together, exploring majestic places and sharing new experiences, the closer they get–until their secrets and dreams threaten to cost them everything.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading This Wandering Heart, set in a small town in Montana. Keira carries a lot of emotional baggage from her abusive childhood. She has returned to West Yellowstone to be closer to her long-suffering mother who is still experiencing domestic violence from Keira’s controlling father.
The story opens in Robbie’s viewpoint, and we first meet Keira when she turns down a very public marriage proposal. Robbie is a single dad who knew his ex-girlfriend and childhood friend had returned to town, but he didn’t expect to stumble upon a grand gesture wedding proposal featuring Keira and the high school principal.
Robbie has a complicated history with Keira, and it was his family who supported Keira in escaping her abusive and controlling father and moving away to college. Robbie is living on his family’s property by the river where they rent vacation cabins, and he’s now a builder who’s doing his best to support his three year old daughter, Annabelle, who was abandoned by her mother when she was a young baby.
Keira’s treading water as a geography teacher. Her dream is to turn her passion for travel blogging and her Kat Wanderfull persona into a full time career. She doesn’t trust people easily, and she is unaware the person she’s chatting with via online messages is Robbie.
A fun and messy romance develops as old feelings resurface and they both wonder if a second at love is possible. Robbie supports Keira’s dreams, but their relationship has to overcome major obstacles from their shared history. Keira’s desire to travel is at odds with Robbie’s need for stability for his daughter now his ex is taking legal action to get custody. Keira adores Annabelle and they share a close bond.
I loved the travel aspects in the story, especially the road trips that gave me a glimpse of the beauty in the national parks in Montana and surrounding states. Keira’s heart is torn between her desire for freedom that allows her to leave behind her difficult childhood and the prospect of a new life with love and family in the small town that holds bittersweet childhood memories. I recommend This Wandering Heart to readers who like second chances contemporary romances with a lighter faith element that aren’t afraid to sensitively address challenging emotional issues.
It started as a trip to lose old memories. It became a journey to find her heart.
Leslie Malone faces an empty, lonely summer. Her marriage is over. Her daughter is overseas, living her dream. Her students are enjoying a carefree summer break. What’s the purpose of her life if she’s not a wife, mother and teacher? The idea of a roadtrip beckons her. Aimless wandering? Or inspired discovery? A woman of faith, she asks God for His guidance, then does her best to follow His direction.
Hank Harrison is a quiet man, good with his hands, but short on words. He’s paid a heavy price for not forgiving his son for horrible mistakes made years ago, mistakes with vast consequences. Hank recognizes Leslie as an answer to his prayers, and together, they begin to mend their futures.
Neither of them plans to fall in love. Will the worst summer of Leslie’s life become the season that redeems them both?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Roadtrip to Redemption and exploring the beautiful Pawleys Island, South Carolina beach setting. The story opens with Leslie’s divorce from her cheating ex-husband being finalised. She’s a school teacher in Pittsburgh with a lonely summer ahead due to her college-aged daughter being awarded a fashion internship in Paris. Her ex-husband is a successful doctor who has moved on with his younger girlfriend, the family home is on the market, and Leslie prayerfully decides to take a roadtrip on her own and head to the beach.
The Old Gray Barn at Pawleys Island is the spacious beach house Leslie’s extended family visited for summer vacations when she was growing up. Leslie is curious to see if the beloved house with her happy childhood memories is still there, and if it has survived the hurricane seasons. Her road trip destination becomes Pawleys Island with detours along the way.
Hank is a widowed handyman with grown children who lives on Pawleys Island. His daughter, son-in-law, and adorable granddaughter run the local inn. Hank meets Leslie and she challenges him to reconsider some of his life choices. The story is told from Leslie’s point-of-view, and a lovely romance develops with a number of obstacles to overcome on Leslie and Hank’s road to happily-ever-after.
Leslie is one of those delightful characters with a sunny disposition who believes the glass is half full, not half empty. Her optimism is contagious and, instead of the circumstances of her divorce leaving her feeling bitter, she trusts the Lord to guide her to bigger and better opportunities. She makes mistakes, but she doesn’t let difficult circumstances dull her enthusiasm for life. I recommend Roadtrip to Redemption to contemporary romance readers who enjoy faith-filled mature aged character romances with a beach setting.
Rocky Mountain Restoration by Lisa J. Flickinger — Josephine Thorebourne doesn’t deserve happiness. Not after the mess she’s made. Mid-voyage, on the steamship Jameson, she learns of the tragic loss of her family’s money. Money she stole with the hopes of turning a profit. What should be a delightful voyage up the Canadian coast turns into a journey of regret. Josephine seeks the solace of the man she loves, only to find out he’s an imposter. Left with no other choice, she must return to her home town of Stony Creek and face the anger of those she’s betrayed. Owen Kelly was given the opportunity of a lifetime to steward on the SS Jameson. The work meant he could escape his difficult upbringing along the wharves of Chicago. When his heart falls for the woman in cabin eight, Owen must decide if he will continue his work on the ship or follow the love of his life to her Rocky Mountain home. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
Rescuing Her Heart by Cindy Ervin Huff — On visitation rounds as a lay preacher, the last thing rancher Jed Holt expects is to be shot at from the barn next to a burned-down homestead. But the soot-covered woman hiding inside needs protecting, and Jed is the man to do it whether she likes it or not. Delilah James’s nightmares began when she came to Kansas as a mail-order bride. Her husband was nothing like his letters. Now that he is dead, she can’t shake his abuse from her heart. Trusting men tops her never-again list, and taking a job on the Holt ranch as a housekeeper is a means to save money and bring her parents west. But her attraction to the compassionate former chaplain both angers and confuses her. Jed has his own nightmares from a POW camp and understands Delilah better than she knows. Can two broken people form a forever bond? (Historical Romance from Iron Stream Media)
Gold Rush Bride Caroline by Linda Shenton Matchett — Scarred in a childhood accident, Caroline Vogel has yet to find a man willing to marry her, so she heads to the Pike’s Peak goldfields to pan enough ore to become a woman of means. When she and the handsome assistant trail boss hit it off, she begins to hope her future may not be spent alone. Then she catches wind of dark secrets from the man’s past, and she’s not sure what or who to believe. Orphaned as a teenager, Oliver Llewellyn stole to survive, then used his skills for the army during the war. Nowadays, he applies his knowledge to catch dangerous thieves for the Pinkerton Agency, so guarding a young woman during a wagon train journey should be easy. But he didn’t count on the fact she’d angered a man bent on revenge. He also didn’t count on losing his heart. (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
Hollywood is Not Home by Annmarie M. Roberts — Would you trade fame for privacy? Movie star Maggie Malone has a glamorous lifestyle with everything money can buy―except privacy. Hounded by the paparazzi and ridiculed for her faith, Maggie secretly struggles with severe anxiety and loneliness. All she desires is to be herself–southern girl by birth, ranch lover by heart. When an anonymous benefactor invites Maggie to participate in a secret project, will her hopelessness find a new direction? Or will she become another celebrity travesty? What if she discovers Hollywood is not Home? Her faith, family, love, and future hang in the balance . (General Romance from Ambassador International)
The Scarlet Pen by Jennifer Uhlarik — Enjoy a tale of true but forgotten history of an 19th Century serial killer whose silver-tongued ways almost trap a young woman into a nightmarish marriage. In 1876, Emma Draycott is charmed into a quick engagement with childhood friend Stephen Dee Richards after reconnecting with him at a church event in Mount Pleasant, Ohio. But within the week, Stephen leaves to “make his fame and fortune.” The heartbroken Emma gives him a special pen to write to her, and he does with tales of grand adventures. Secret Service agent Clay Timmons arrives in Mount Pleasant to track purchases made with fake currency. Every trail leads back to Stephen—and therefore, Emma. Can he convince the naïve woman she is engaged to a charlatan who is being linked a string of deaths in Nebraska? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)
General Historical:
If it Rains by Jennifer L. Wright — It’s 1935 in Oklahoma, and lives are determined by the dust. Fourteen-year-old Kathryn Baile, a spitfire born with a severe clubfoot, is coming of age in desperate times. Once her beloved older sister marries, Kathryn’s only comfort comes in the well-worn pages of her favorite book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Then Kathryn’s father decides to relocate to Indianapolis, and only the promise of a surgery to finally make her “normal” convinces Kathryn to leave Oklahoma behind. But disaster strikes along the way, and Kathryn must rely on her grit and the ragged companions she meets on the road if she is to complete her journey.Back in Boise City, Melissa Baile Mayfield is the newest member of the wealthiest family in all of Cimarron County. In spite of her poor, rural upbringing, Melissa has just married the town’s most eligible bachelor and is determined to be everything her husband―and her new social class―expects her to be. But as the drought tightens its grip, Henry’s true colors are revealed. Melissa covers her bruises with expensive new makeup and struggles to reconcile her affluent life with that of her starving neighbors. Haunted by the injustice and broken by Henry’s refusal to help, Melissa secretly defies her husband, risking her life to follow God’s leading. (General Historical from Tyndale House)
Romance Contemporary:
Make You Feel My Love by Robin Lee Hatcher — In 1895, Cora Anderson jumps on a cross-country train to escape New York society and her domineering father. She leaves with only some spare clothing, jewelry that once belonged to her grandmother, her cherished violin, and hopes for an uncertain future. The tiny town of Chickadee Creek is idyllic and welcoming, but it’s only a matter of time before Cora’s new friends discover the secrets of her past. More than a hundred years later, Chelsea Spencer is fleeing a dangerous situation of her own when her great aunt’s antique shop in Chickadee Creek becomes the perfect haven. At the same time, up-and-coming Hollywood star Liam Chandler has returned to the town of his ancestors to grieve some painful family losses and ponder the direction of his career. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))
A Future to Fight For by Mindy Obenhaus — Widow Paisley Wainwright’s so close to taking her Texas event-planning business to the next level by turning Renwick Castle into a wedding venue. Only one thing stands in the way: her longtime rival, Crockett Devereaux, who wants the building to become a museum. When the building’s owners insist they collaborate to implement both plans, can Paisley and Crockett put their differences aside…and fight for their dreams together? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
The Cowgirl’s Sacrifice by Tina Radcliffe — Needing time to heal after a rodeo injury, Kate Rainbolt heads to her family ranch to accept the foreman job her brothers offered her months ago. But the position’s already been filled by her ex-boyfriend, Jess McNally, and the only open job reports to him. With Jess as her temporary boss—and turning into something more—might he finally convince Kate to put down roots? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
The Yes Dare by Kathleen Y’Barbo — After spending most of her adult life as a football wife and mother to twin sons, fashionista Coco Sutton is learning how to be single and fabulous. Emphasis on Fabulous. The sports trophies, memorabilia, and heavy masculine wood furniture in the home she used to share with Ryan have been banished to the attic, and her home is now a cozy haven of plush candle-scented comfort. She’s got big plans that include owning a boutique or maybe an art gallery, but she never planned to take on the biggest challenge of her life: staying single. Then her best friend gives her a copy of a book called The Yes Dare, and all her plans are turned upside down. (Contemporary Romance from White Glove Publishing)
Romantic Suspense/Thriller:
Her Sanctuary, His Heart by Michelle Dykman — Five years ago, Braelyn Kane’s daughter died. Her marriage imploded, and Forest Hill became Braelyn’s sanctuary. She’s praying for her new life to start, but she doesn’t know where to find it. Five years ago, Drake Kane became lost in overwhelming grief, and he lost his heart to divorce. After serving in the army, Drake is looking for a new life, and he stumbles upon Forest Hill. Neither expects to find each other . . . again. During a chance meeting, Braelyn and Drake discover a poaching scheme that throws them into a spiral of overwhelming emotions and danger. If Braelyn is to survive, she must trust the one man that broke her trust five years ago. Drake wants nothing more than to woo his former wife, but as deputy sheriff, his time is torn between nabbing the poachers and protecting Braelyn. Can Braelyn find forgiveness or will she allow bitterness to ruin her sanctuary? And can Drake reclaim his heart? (Romantic Suspense/Thriller from Ambassador International)
Lethal Cover-Up by Darlene L. Turner — Some secrets are dangerous…But uncovering the truth could be deadly. Border patrol officer Madison Steele knows her sister Leah’s fatal car crash was no accident. Someone’s willing to kill to cover up a pharmaceutical company’s deadly crime of distributing tainted drugs. Now they are after Madison to tie off loose ends. But with her high school sweetheart, Canadian police constable Tucker Reed, at her side, can Madison expose the company’s deadly plan before she becomes the next victim? (Romantic Suspense/Thriller from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:
Journey to ChiYah by Kimberly Russell — JADE PEPPERDINE HAS A PROBLEM: Her life is crumbling beneath the weight of the past, events of the present, and fears for her future. Things need to change, but she doesn’t know where to start. Answers come in the form of an unexpected opportunity when Jade finds herself stuck in a mythical land. She meets Mayor Dudley, who insinuates she is emotionally broken and in need of repair … a fact she’d just as soon ignore. He offers to help her get home if she is willing to face her issues through a process of restoration. Frightened and skeptical yet out of options, Jade grudgingly agrees. And soon figures out that change is a journey, not a destination. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)
Western:
A Man with a Past by Mary Connealy — Falcon Hunt awakens without a past, or at least not one he can recall. He’s got brothers he can’t remember, and he’s interested in the prettiest woman in the area, Cheyenne. Only trouble is, a few flashes of memory make Falcon wonder if he’s already married. He can’t imagine abandoning a wife. But his pa did just that–twice. When Falcon claims his inheritance in the West, Cheyenne is cut out of the ranch she was raised on, leaving her bitter and angry. And then Falcon kisses her, adding confusion and attraction to the mix. Soon it’s clear someone is gunning for the Hunt brothers. When one of his brothers is shot, Falcon and Cheyenne set out to find who attacked him. They encounter rustled cattle, traitorous cowhands, a missing woman, and outlaws that take all their savvy to overcome. Ajs love grows between these two independent people, Falcon must piece together his past if they’re to have any chance at a future. (Western from Bethany House (Baker) Publishing)
Young Adult:
You, Me and the Stars by Michelle Dykman — He thinks she’s shallow, she thinks he’s a nerd. What happens when they are forced to work together? Polar opposites, pretty girl Willow Rysen and humble nerd Christian Blythe, find themselves forced to work together on a project for their science class at Bethel Private School. While she sees a good grade to help pass the course on her horizon, his hopes of a great grade seem to fizzle faster than a piece of calcium carbonate in a bottle of hydrochloric acid. As the two work on their project, debating the Bible versus science, Miss Popular finds her world turned upside down after a night of partying, made even worse when Christian is the only one around to rescue her. Will she find that the grace of God can overcome her past failures or will she allow the lure of the world’s ideologies to keep her tight in its grasp? You, Me, and the Stars will melt the toughest heart with its tale of young love, the trials we face, and how God can ultimately change us into the people we long to be no matter what our ages. (Young Adult from Ambassador International)
Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents. Unfortunately, selling houses in the town where her family name is practically poison isn’t one of them. When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map–and hopefully finally repay the financial debt Hannah’s mother caused the town. But at first no one supports her efforts–not even her best friend, Luke.
Luke Johnson may have grown up in Heritage, but as a foster kid he never truly felt as if he belonged. Now he has a chance to score a job as assistant fire chief and earn his place in the town. But when the interview process and Hannah’s restoration project start unearthing things from his past, Luke must decide if belonging is worth the pain of being honest about who he is–and who he was.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading You Belong With Me, the first book in Tari Faris’ Restoring Heritage series set in a Michigan small town called Heritage. Hannah is on a mission to save her hometown from a local developer who wants to build a strip mall in the middle of town. She sold her share of the family home she inherited to her brother, Thomas. Despite being a realtor, Hannah is trying to convince her brother not to sell to the property developer and leave town with his new fiancé, Madison.
Hannah’s mother did wrong by the town before disappearing and abandoning her husband and children. Hannah wants to right the wrong by winning a small town restoration contest. She has her heart set on creating a shared community space by restoring the manor house in the middle of town.
Luke is a foster kid who’s looking for a place to belong. He’s loved Hannah for years, but they’ve never resolved their issues from high school when they attempted to date and it ended in disaster. They’re now stuck in the friends zone because Luke doesn’t believe he’s good enough for Hannah. A fun romance develops as Luke and Hannah explore the possibilities of what might happen if they could overcome obstacles to become more than friends.
The romantic subplot with Hannah’s brother, Thomas, and Hannah’s best friend, Janie, was fun and heartfelt. Thomas broke up with Janie after dating for five years but he refused to explain why. Janie returns from Paris to discover Thomas is now engaged to Madison, who he’d only dated for a few short months while she was away. Thomas and Janie are thrown together when Thomas temporarily takes over the management of the diner owned by his aunt and uncle, and Janie is employed at the diner as his baker.
We meet Pastor Nate, who provides wise counsel to the townsfolk and encourages them to open their Bibles and renew their faith. I recommend You Belong With Me to readers who like friends-to-more contemporary romances in small town settings.
From two-time RITA Award–winning author Carla Laureano comes a story of romance, transformation, and the beauty of belonging.
Los Angeles interior designer and former foster kid Kendall Green is in high demand, both for her impeccable eye and for her uncanny ability to uncover the provenance of any piece. But for all her success, skyrocketing costs have put her California home and her business in jeopardy. Then an unexpected inheritance provides a timely solution: a grandmother she never knew has left her a group of historic properties in a tiny Colorado town on the edge of ruin.
To young, untried mayor Gabriel Brandt, Jasper Lake is more than another small town—it’s the place that saved his life. Now, seeing the town slowly wither and die, he’s desperate to restore it to its former glory. Unfortunately, his vision is at odds with a local developer who wants to see the town razed and rebuilt as a summer resort. He’s sure that he can enlist the granddaughter of one of its most prominent former citizens to his cause—until he meets Kendall and realizes that not only does she know nothing of her own history, she has no interest in reviving a place that once abandoned her.
In order to save his beloved town, Gabe must first help Kendall unravel the truth of her own provenance—and Kendall must learn that in order to embrace the future, sometimes you have to start with the past.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Provenance and visiting the charming small town of Jasper Lake in the Colorado high country. Kendall was only five years old when she was abandoned at a day care center because her mom failed to collect her. She is haunted by not knowing what happened to her birth mother, which led to her growing up in the foster care system. Kendall is fiercely independent and believes she can only rely on herself. She rents an expensive home in Pasadena, California, with her interior design assistant that’s the home base for her business. Her business specialty is restoring historic homes.
Gabe is a town planner who has returned to Jasper Lake from Detroit to save his maternal grandparents’ home town. His mother sent him to live with his grandparents when he was a young teen because he was on a destructive path and needed straightening out. Gabe’s grandfather runs the Inn at Jasper Lake, and all the businesses have been struggling since a major flood a few years earlier. Gabe’s attachment to Jasper Lake inspires him to run for mayor. Now he’s the mayor, he’s determined to save the town from a ruthless developer who is intent on building a resort that would forever change the character of Jasper Lake.
Kendall is stunned to learn that her maternal grandmother passed away almost five years ago, and Kendall is the sole heir of a row of historic lakefront homes in Jasper Lake. The houses are situated in the middle of a parcel of land that a developer wants to turn into a large scale resort. The rent on Kendall’s Pasadena home is large, and the annual increases are squeezing her finances too tight. Selling her inheritance appears to be Kendall’s best solution to keep a roof over her head and her business afloat.
Sparks fly when Kendall arrives in Jasper Lake and meets Gabe. His family background is also complicated, and he’s confronted with family issues that impact on his current circumstances. Gabe assists Kendall in claiming her inheritance by the tight deadline, and she stays at his grandfather’s inn.
Kendall and Gabe are drawn to each other despite a number of complications, including Kendall not sharing Gabe’s faith. The faith element in the story is strong, and both Gabe and Kendall wrestle with faith issues. The story includes themes of forgiveness, redemption, and parallels with the prodigal son Biblical story.
I highly recommend Provenance to contemporary romance readers who enjoy small town romances set in the mountains that address problems associated with historic home preservation and urban planning.
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher. Many thanks to Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley.
When Meg Whitaker’s father decides to sell the family’s lobster-fishing business to her high school nemesis, she sets out to prove she should inherit it instead. Though she’s never had any interest in running the small fleet–or even getting on a boat due to her persistent seasickness–she can’t stand to see Oliver Ross take over. Not when he ruined her dreams for a science scholarship and an Ivy League education ten years ago.
Oliver isn’t proud of what he did back then. Angry and broken by his father walking out on his family, he lashed out at Meg–an innocent bystander. But owning a respected fishing fleet on Prince Edward Island is the opportunity of a lifetime, and he’s not about to walk away just because Meg wants him to.
Meg’s father has the perfect solution: Oliver and Meg must work the business together, and at the end of the season, he’ll decide who gets it. Along the way, they may discover that their stories are more similar than they thought . . . and their dreams aren’t what they expected.
Bestselling author Liz Johnson invites you back to Prince Edward Island for a brand-new series about family, forgiveness, and the kind of love that heals all wounds.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
There’s lots to love in Beyond the Tides, the first book in Liz Johnson’s Prince Edward Island Shores series. The historic seaport setting of Victoria on Prince Edward Island in Canada is quaint and pretty. I loved reading the Anne of Green Gables series when I was younger, and I’m drawn to stories that share the Prince Edward Island setting. I also enjoyed learning more about the everyday workings of a family owned lobster fishing fleet business. We meet a cast of interesting characters who live in the small and tight knit seaside community.
At times I found Meg’s stubbornness a little frustrating, especially her grudge against Oliver from a decade ago when they were at high school. That said, I know in real life that many people are like Meg and struggle to forgive and let go of long held grudges. Oliver was patient with Meg, and prepared to apologise, take responsibility, and right the wrongs from the past. The importance of forgiveness was a strong spiritual theme in the story.
The ‘I hate you’ romance trope isn’t my favourite, but I did empathise with Meg and her concerns for her mother’s health, and I understood why Oliver was keen to buy the family business from Meg’s father.
I recommend Beyond the Tides to contemporary romance readers who like the enemies-to-more romance trope with childhood friends reuniting in a small town seaside setting.
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher. Many thanks to Revell and NetGalley.
At an after-party for the reality series, Love Atlanta Style, hotel empire heiress Grace Adams has an epiphany. Love isn’t a game and neither is life. It’s time to find a job and prove she doesn’t need Daddy’s money.
Waiter, Justin Walker, is biding his time working for the rich crowd who thinks they’re owed everything. But his service pays off when he meets the beautiful Grace Adams. He asks her out, oblivious to the fact that she’s a hotel heiress.
When they find out they are competing for the same job, Grace and Justin try to maintain their budding friendship and romance, until Justin discovers the truth. Grace represents all he tries to avoid. Will Justin’s view of high society stand in his way of finding love? Will Grace’s heart shatter as she finds love only to lose it? Or will time-honored truths show Grace and Justin the beauty of everlasting love.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Uptown Heiress, and I read the short novella quickly in one sitting. The story is set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia, and opens at a celebrity party at Grace’s father’s hotel for former contestants of a reality tv dating show. Grace has been looking for love in all the wrong places, and the party reminds her of her failures. She’s attracted to Justin, their waiter, despite knowing he’s from a different world. Grace throws caution to the wind and hides her heiress identity from Justin.
A fun romance develops, and Grace experiences life as an everyday person with aspirational career goals. I liked how Grace was down-to-earth and not the stereotypical spoilt heiress. Justin is hard working, and he holds a bias against wealthy people due to a tragic accident from his childhood.
I wanted to see Grace and Justin overcome the obstacles from their different backgrounds to achieve their happily-ever-after. I liked experiencing the urban Atlanta setting with the characters. I recommend Uptown Heiress for readers who like contemporary romance novellas with a light faith element in the story.
