When the storm of the century blankets Kentucky under several feet of snow and whiteout conditions on Christmas day, Gloria and Jeff batten down at her father’s house, counting their blessings and basking in the warmth of their love. Until they discover that eight-year-old Noah is missing. Will they find him before he succumbs to the elements, or will this day forever mark a tragedy in their lives?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Blizzard in the Bluegrass set in a small Kentucky town. Gloria’s son, Noah, is on the autism spectrum. Noah’s father walked out on them when they received the autism diagnosis. Gloria is a hard working vet and single mother who lives on a farm with her father. Jeff is a doctor who inherits the farm next door to Gloria and the medical practice in town.
A beautiful friends-to-more romance develops as Jeff gets to know Gloria and Noah. Jeff lost his wife and young daughter in an auto accident, and he continues his healing journey in the story. The faith element in the story is realistic, and the characters wrestle with various issues. Parenting a special needs child isn’t easy, and I loved the authenticity and honesty in Gloria’s close and complex relationship with Noah. I liked how Gloria and her dad had created a functional and stable family environment for Noah.
Noah is adorable and we gain a unique insight into his thoughts and how he interacts with the world. I recommend Blizzard in the Bluegrass for readers who are interested in reading a contemporary Christian romance that doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges of parenting special needs children. The author has kindly included bonus material with recipes from the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
Blizzard in the Bluegrass is available in the When Snowflakes Never Cease box set.
Repeated heartbreak has convinced Jen Andrews she’s unlovable. When the groomsman she’s paired with at her best friend’s wedding shows interest, she wonders how long it will be before he realizes his mistake.
David Pak is ready to settle down with the right woman. After a disastrous first date with Jen, he’s determined to look elsewhere. But he’s haunted by the wounded look in her eyes.
How will David set aside his hesitations and see past Jen’s barriers to find love? And if he tries, will she let him?
A Handful of Hope is the fourth book in the Taste of Romance series of contemporary Christian romance novels set in the metro Washington, D.C. area. If you like stories of love and hope in the fast-paced modern world with realistic characters and heartwarming romance, then you’ll love Elizabeth Maddrey’s latest journey with this beloved circle of friends.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading A Handful of Hope (A Taste of Romance Book 4) and journeying with Jen and David in their friends-to-more romance set in metro Washington D.C. area. Jen and David are paired up at a friend’s wedding and the initial spark of attraction is there. They also work for the same company on different floors. Their work connection provides opportunities to see each other around their busy jobs.
Jen and David’s romance is unique and challenging for a couple of reasons. David has Korean heritage and his family expects him to marry a nice Korean girl from their church. Jen’s struggles with depression impact her ability to socialise. She does her best to hide her symptoms, but there are times when it becomes too much. We’re given an insight into what’s happening in her life when she retreats to her home with her adorable dog, Tribble, for company.
I also empathised with Jen when she had to cope with the careless words and opinions of people in her circle of family and friends who lacked insight and understanding of her mental illness. I loved how Jen didn’t take on board the unhelpful comments made by Christians who just didn’t get it. The stigma of mental illness is handled with sensitivity and the story has a strong Biblical foundation.
I loved how David didn’t give up on Jen. He took the time to understand the why’s behind Jen’s words and actions. The easy option for David would have been to let Jen push him away. Instead, he makes the heroic decision to choose the road less traveled. And he shows he cares for her by doing things like cleaning her kitchen without being asked.
I recently reread this book and remembered why I haven’t read book 5 in the series – A Tidbit of Trust. The heroine in book 5, Sara, is one of Jen’s best friends. I was so mad with Sara for what she did to Jen in this story that I couldn’t bring myself to read Sara’s romance story. While rereading A Handful of Hope, I remembered why I was cranky with Sara for saying things to Jen that were mean and insensitive, especially considering Jen’s struggle with depression.
Elizabeth Maddrey has encouraged me to give A Tidbit of Trust a chance after I mentioned my issues with Sara during our StoryChats @ Inspy Romance episode #20 on Mental Illness with Jaycee Weaver.
I highly recommend A Handful of Hope to readers looking for a contemporary Christian romance that handles the issue of depression with sensitivity and Biblical truth.
Bridging the past to the present in three time periods—the French Revolution, World War II, and present day—The Lost Castle is a story of loves won and lost, of battles waged in the hearts of men, and of an enchanted castle that stood witness to it all, inspiring a legacy of faith through the generations.
Ellie Carver arrives at her grandmother’s bedside expecting to find her silently slipping away. Instead, the beloved woman begins speaking. Of a secret past and castle ruins forgotten by time. Of a hidden chapel that served as a rendezvous for the French Resistance in World War II. Of lost love and deep regret . . .
Each piece that unlocks the story seems to unlock part of Ellie too—where she came from and who she is becoming. But her grandmother is quickly disappearing into the shadows of Alzheimer’s and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family’s history. Drawn by the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty—a castle so named for Charles Perrault’s beloved fairy tale—Ellie embarks on a journey to France’s Loire Valley in hopes that she can unearth its secrets before time silences them forever.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading The Lost Castle and learning more about the history of France. Ellie travels to the Loire Valley in France to learn the context of a photograph of her beloved grandmother standing outside a castle known as The Sleeping Beauty. Three strands of the story intertwine as we learn the secrets of the historic castle and the people who lived there during the French Revolution, the French Resistance during WW2 and the present day family who tend the vineyards in the castle estate that produces award winning wine.
The characters are charming and courageous and took many risks to protect and save their loved ones and their beloved country. Ellie, her grandmother Vi, and the lost princess, Aveline, are strong women who aren’t afraid to seek the truth and open their hearts to love as they struggle through difficult times. Ellie’s grandmother’s memory is fading, and the old photograph is the key to unlocking the secrets of the past.
I enjoyed learning the connections between the characters in the three parallel storylines and piecing together the puzzle of what happened at the castle during those monumental moments in French history. I also loved being transported to the different worlds and discovering the history of the beautiful castle through the eyes of the characters. I recommend The Lost Castle to readers who like split time romance stories that transport them to different worlds with a compelling common story connection.
The Jam and Jelly Nook by Amy Clipston — In the final installment of Amy Clipston’s bestselling Amish Marketplace series, a young widow struggling to raise her son dreams of one more chance at love. Over time Emory and Leanna become closer friends, discovering how much they have in common. As single parents, they struggle with the limits of what they can provide for their children and feel somewhat responsible for what happened to their respective spouses. The two eventually realize they have feelings for each other-but when they try to date, their children resist. Will God pave a way for them to build a family together, or will hurdles block the path to a second chance at happiness? (Amish Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))
Contemporary Romance:
Stealing the First Mate by Tabitha Bouldin — Sometimes, happily ever after is as elusive as a pirate’s treasure. Darcy Riggins dove headfirst into the online dating pool and sank. Every time. Her lifelong dream of becoming a wife and mother becomes more elusive every year. So, taking the lack of a Mr. Right in her life as a decided “No!” from God, Darcy gives up altogether. Being single and content turns out to be tougher than Darcy imagined, and when she begins doubting everything she’s ever known, Nigel decides it’s time to admit his mistakes, tell the truth, and trust God for the outcome. (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit Publishing)
Royally Confused by Jill Boyce — Will this doctor trade in her stethoscope for a tiara? Claire must decide by the night of the Royal Gala if she will accept her place on the throne as the Queen of Amorley–even if she might have to give up medicine or love to do so. Will she return to Boston and pursue her passion for surgery and turn her back on her newfound family, country, and the love of a lifetime? Will Claire trade in her stethoscope for a tiara? Does light overcome darkness? Can Claire learn that her worth does not reside in what she does, but who she is–the daughter of her heavenly Father and part of a royal priesthood. (Contemporary Romance from Winged Publications)
Once Upon a Summer by Toni Shiloh — Embrace the enchantment of summer with these contemporary twists on timeless tales. Let these five sweet contemporary Christian romances take you away this summer. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
General Contemporary:
Shelter in the Storm by Laurel M. Blount — In this moving Amish romance, two broken hearts find hope in each other after a terrible loss. Unspeakable tragedy strikes the Amish hamlet of Johns Mill when an unstable Englischer opens fire in the Hochstedler’s General Store. In the aftermath, and under the media’s spotlight, Joseph Hochstedler struggles to hold his shattered family together, drawing unexpected comfort from a faithful childhood friend. Born with a serious heart defect, optimist Naomi Schrock has always longed to live a life of service. She rolls up her sleeves, determined to help Joseph cope with this terrible crisis. But dare she hope that his friendship will finally deepen into love? (General Contemporary from Berkley Penguin Random House)
Impact by Audra Sanlyn — All Amy Morrison wants is to get out of Sabetha. From her rural hometown in Oregon, she dreams of owning a high-end fashion company, but a painful decision hinders her ambition. Amy’s life now follows two alternative paths based on how she made her choice. She enters unique challenges and romantic relationships as her two lives unfold. Along both, Amy experiences success and failure, joy and heartache. One of the most difficult consequences of her decision reveals itself years later when she receives heart-wrenching news. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)
Historical Romance:
Finding Home (Within the Castle Gates #4) by Candee Fick — Two hearts longing for home. A memorable first encounter brought them together, but then Susannah Stanley and Nicholas Pennington were torn apart by circumstances beyond their control. From the Lake District in Northern England to a Moroccan port along the African coast and the Napoleonic Wars in between, they struggle to hold onto hope they will be reunited. After being supplanted by her stepmother’s schemes and the betrayal of a friend, they finally meet again in the most unlikely of places. Now the battle is on to reclaim their rightful inheritance. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Gold Rush Bride Hannah by Linda Shenton Matchett — Hannah Lauman’s husband has been murdered, but rather than grief, she feels…relief. She decides to remain in Georgia to work their gold claim, but a series of incidents makes it clear someone wants her gone…dead or alive. Is a chance at being a woman of means and independence worth risking her life? Jess Vogel never breaks a promise, so when he receives a letter from a former platoon mate about being in danger, he drops everything to help his old friend. Unfortunately, he arrives just in time for the funeral. Can he convince the man’s widow he’s there for her protection not for her money? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
Mystery:
Three Days Clueless by Luana Ehrlich — Mylas Grey is determined to find the person who shot a politician in broad daylight. There’s just one problem. The killer left no clues behind. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Mylas gets involved in an intriguing case of MURDER . . .When Mylas arrives in his hometown to spend time with Whitney, he agrees to help his father, a local private detective, examine the files of a politician who was murdered in cold blood. Mylas gets involved in an intriguing case of murder with NO CLUES . . .The wife of the slain politician believes her husband’s murder is connected to his duties as a state legislator, but the police find no clues to his murder and no evidence to support her claim. (Mystery/Crime, Independently Published)
Romantic Thriller:
Rising Danger by Jerusha Agen — t’s up to a K-9 handler and her canine partner to stop a bomber before it’s too late. Someone’s planting explosives on dams in the Twin Cities, and Bristol Bachmann and her bomb sniffing dog must move quickly to find them before everything ends up underwater. That means relying on the dams’ supervisor—an ex-boyfriend Bristol never thought she’d see again. Hopefully Remington Jones has grown up from the rakish charmer she knew in her academy days. Because lives now depend entirely on them… (Romantic Suspense/Thriller from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
Dark Threat by Kimberly Rose Johnson — Reporter Trinity Lockhart pursues a story but then unwittingly becomes the story. Acting on a tip from an anonymous source, Trinity investigates an art trafficking ring at a high-end Seattle gallery. She turns to handsome FBI agent Kyle Richards for help after being spotted by the crooks. Kyle is drawn to the feisty reporter, but he can’t afford a beautiful distraction when lives are at stake. He must trust his friends at Protection Inc. to watch over Trinity while he investigates the gallery. (Romantic Suspense/Thriller, Independently Published)
This night not only marked the end to the drought, but also the end to the long-held secret we’d kept hidden under the magnolias.
Magnolia, South Carolina, 1980
Austin Foster is barely a teenager when her mama dies giving birth to twins, leaving her to pick up the pieces while holding her six siblings together and doing her best to stop her daddy from retreating into his personal darkness.
Scratching out a living on the family’s tobacco farm is as tough as it gets. When a few random acts of kindness help to ease the Fosters’ hardships, Austin finds herself relying upon some of Magnolia’s most colorful citizens for friendship and more. But it’s next to impossible to hide the truth about the goings-on at Nolia Farms, and Austin’s desperate attempts to save face all but break her.
Just when it seems she might have something more waiting for her—with the son of a wealthy local family who she’s crushed on for years—her father makes a choice that will crack wide-open the family’s secrets and lead to a public reckoning. There are consequences for loving a boy like Vance Cumberland, but there is also freedom in the truth.
T. I. Lowe’s gritty yet tender and uplifting tale reminds us that a great story can break your heart . . . then heal it in the best possible way.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
Powerful. Raw. Heartbreaking. Inspiring. I loved reading Under the Magnolias by T. I. Lowe and journeying with Austin Foster and her family in 1980’s small town Magnolia, South Carolina, USA. I read Under the Magnolias within twenty-four hours because I couldn’t put it down. I’m writing my book recommendation twenty-four hours after I finished reading because I needed time to ponder and digest the story before writing my thoughts.
Austin is almost thirteen when her loving and carefree mother passes away while birthing twin boys. The family tragedy thrusts Austin into an exhausting world of family responsibilities with six siblings, including two sets of twins, plus school work and chores on the farm. Her father inherited the family tobacco farm, and he also pastors a diverse congregation, known as the ‘riffraff’, at the chapel on his farm. He’s a brilliant man and passionate preacher who’s also struggling with grief and escalating mental health issues.
The story is written in first person from Austin’s point of view, and we experience the highs and lows of family life during her adolescent years from Austin’s witty and candid perspective. Austin is a strong and smart girl who’s loyal to her family and makes enormous sacrifices for those she loves. I admired her strength and determination to overcome problems in extraordinary and difficult circumstances. She maintained her faith despite the hardships and never-ending struggles in her daily life.
The delightful and eccentric cast of family members and misfit characters who attend the Sunday church services, and who each have deep scars from their challenging life experiences, form a close knit community. In their own unique ways they all reveal their love for Jesus and each other via actions that speak way louder than any words.
I highly recommend Under the Magnolias to readers looking for a beautiful and bittersweet coming of age story with strong faith and romantic elements that also tackles hard issues, including mental illness.
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher. Many thanks to Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley.
Poor-but-proud Kendra Forrester doesn’t need an arrogant billionaire to tell her how to raise her sister’s baby. But when handsome Zeke King arrives at her Colorado cabin demanding custody of his brother’s child, strategy dictates that she let him stick around.
Battling mountain snowstorms and the baby’s illness brings these two opposites together, but their own insecurities, their dead siblings’ secrets, and a jealous former boyfriend threaten their tentative bond.
Only their faith and the Sacred Bond Brotherhood can help Kendra and Zeke form a family for their baby.
This first-in-a-series book is your introduction to the Sacred Bond series of contemporary Christian romance novels, featuring alpha males who live to serve others, from the USA Today bestselling author of thirty Christian romances.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading His Baby Bond by Lee Tobin McClain. Kendra is independent, resourceful, and a loving aunt to Sara, her adorable nine month old niece. Kendra is dealing with grief from losing her sister and brother-in-law in a skiing accident plus the upheaval of becoming an instant parent to her niece. She lives in an isolated Colorado mountain cabin, is the winter caretaker of the surrounding cabins, and she is working hard to establish her fabric art home business.
Zeke is a wealthy and successful businessman who’s back in the US to take custody of his niece. He stays in a cabin on Kendra’s mountain to be close to his niece and sets in motion a legal case to get custody of Sara. He’s used to getting what he wants, is being challenged by God to address his materialistic tendencies, and he aspires to give Sara a better childhood than what he and his brother experienced.
Stranded together is a romance trope I love to read. Zeke and Kendra are stuck together during January on a Colorado mountain while the details of Sara’s custody and her parent’s will are being resolved. Both Zeke and Kendra have their reasons for not falling for each other. Their close proximity and shared love for Sara challenges their misbeliefs about each other, and their growing feelings complicate everything. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy fun and faith-filled contemporary romance stories.
Graduate student Bree Sanders is failing the one class she needs to get her degree. So when her professor gives her an ultimatum—ace her thesis or risk having to repeat her final semester—she knows she has to pull out all the stops. After scrambling for an idea, she decides to create her own Ghost Club, a club that blames ghosts for unsolved crimes, the same type of club originally founded two centuries ago by Charles Dickens.
What she doesn’t expect is to find an original copy of one of Dickens’ early works, or to be transplanted into Dickens’s actual ghost club meeting, circa 1870, the instant she picks it up.
When Bree shows up in nineteenth-century England wearing cut-offs and an old t-shirt, her only option is to hide. The London of 1870 won’t look kindly on a woman dressed like her. So, when Theodore Keyes finds her tucked behind a bookcase at the King’s College library and immediately demands to know where she came from, she knows he doesn’t belong here either. Turns out she’s right; the same book caused him to time-travel from 1947 almost three months ago and he’s been stuck in England since.
Together, the two vow to work side-by-side in their search for the lost book that will take them home. But as their feelings for one another deepen, Theo and Bree are caught between a desire to return to the lives they each left behind, and the knowledge that if they find the book, they won’t be able to leave together.
In the end, they each must decide which sacrifice is worth making—the one that will cost them their hearts, or the one that could cost them their very existence.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Before Time Runs Out, a delightful time travel romance story with fantasy elements. Bree is a Masters student at Princeton who needs to improve her grades by writing an excellent thesis. She’s a big fan of Charles Dickens, and her thesis topic is based on his literary works. While researching her thesis, she decides to start a ghost club that will meet in the library at Princeton.
Theo has landed in 1870 London, and he’s desperate to return home to 1947 and his life in Beverly Hills, California. He’s a doctor who’s struggling with PTSD from his experiences during WW2. Bree’s arrival in London in 1870 and her first meeting with Theo and Dickens, her literary hero, is hilarious.
The charm of time travel stories lies in the exploration of cultural and historic differences with characters who are lost in a strange new world. Although Bree and Theo are both Americans, they have come from very different worlds. Theo is amazed and puzzled by what he learns from Bree about life in the twenty first century. Bree, being a history student, has the advantage of knowing a little bit about Theo’s life experiences in the mid twentieth century.
Theo and Bree are worried about how their time travelling back to 1870 London will impact on the future. Are they inadvertently messing with history in their search for a way home? Bree wants to know the real ending to the book Dickens was writing when he died, and being stuck in 1870 London provides opportunities to learn the truth.
Bree and Theo are drawn to each other and a sweet romance unfolds, despite the knowledge that their lives are separated by seventy plus years of time. Can they find a way to be together outside of 1870 London? I recommend Before Time Runs Out to readers looking for a fun and sweet time travel romance story with humorous moments and a satisfying ending.
Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter — It’s finally time for Sophie Lawson to follow her own pursuits. Brother Seth has a new job, and sister Jenna is set to marry her college beau in Piper’s Cove. But the destination wedding reunites Sophie with best man Aiden Maddox, her high school sweetheart who left her without a backward glance. When an advancing hurricane strands Aiden in Piper’s Cove after the wedding, he finds the hotels booked to capacity and has to ask Sophie to put him up until the storm passes. As the two ride out the weather, old feelings rise to the surface. The delay also leaves Sophie with mere days to get her bookshop up and running. Can she trust Aiden to stick around? And will he find the courage to risk his heart? (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))
Surviving Carmelita by Susan Miura — When Josie Caruso accidentally kills her best friend’s young daughter, she runs to the Florida Keys, unaware that a trailer park pastor, a battered horse, a pregnant teen, and a mysterious beachcomber might set her on the path toward inconceivable hope and redemption. (Contemporary Womens Fiction from Crossriver Media Group)
The Amish Teacher’s Wish by Tracey Lyons — She wants her own happily-ever-after… As an Amish bachelor repairs her school… can she heal his heart? With the school damaged during a storm, teacher Sadie Fischer needs Levi Byler’s help repairing it. Levi has one condition—he won’t become a part of her search for a husband. He’s been hurt before, and love and marriage aren’t part of his plans. But Sadie might just be the perfect woman to mend his heart…and convince him forever isn’t just for fairy tales. (Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
General Contemporary:
Where Grace Appears by Heidi Chiavaroli — A contemporary twist on the well-loved classic, Little Women, readers will fall in love with the Martin family—Maggie, Josie, Lizzie, Bronson, Amie, and their mother Hannah—each trying to find their own way in the world and each discovering that love, home, and hope are closer than they appear. (General Contemporary from Hope Creek Publishers)
Second Helpings by Linda Wood Rondeau — Can her marriage be saved? Today is Jocelyn Johnson’s forty-fifth birthday. Unhappy with her marriage of twenty-two years, she has planned a noonday tryst with her talk-show cohost. A phone call from her college daughter, a peek into her teenaged son’s journal, a sick preschooler, a Goth daughter’s identity crisis, a middle-school son’s prank, and her husband’s inflamed suspicions, not only interfere with her hopeful birthday plans but throw her family into more chaos than a circus on steroids. (General Contemporary from Elk Lake Publishing)
Every Window Filled with Light by Shelia W. Stovall — Librarian Emma Baker, a young and childless widow, believes her dream to build a family is over. It’s been two years since a student accidentally stabbed Emma’s husband to death, and her grief has stifled any interest in romance—until she meets Pastor Luke Davis. But when Emma learns Luke is counseling her husband’s killer fresh out of jail, her temper gets in the way. Meanwhile, Emma discovers twelve-year-old Harley, abandoned by her drug-addict mother, hiding in the library, and takes the girl in as her foster mom. Then a young mother is made homeless by an apartment fire, and Emma opens her home again. One person and one prayer at a time, Emma begins to discover hope. (General Contemporary from Elk Lake Publishing)
General Historical:
The Storm Breaks Forth by Terri Wangard — World War I rages in Europe, and now the United States joins in. Peter Bloch heads to France with the Wisconsin National Guard, but his wife Maren is the one under attack. She’s German born, and anti-German hysteria is running high. Simple suggestions for coping with wartime measures lead Maren into an active role in the community, but her service doesn’t help deflect suspicion from her. Zealous patriots target her with a vengeance. Peter caught the eye of a major who seems intent on using him as a spy. He’s been fortunate to avoid injury so far, but these activities are likely to get him killed. (General Historical, Independently Published)
Historical Romance:
Biltmore Girl by Dawn Klinge — New York City, 1968. Elka Hansen, a former teen cover girl, is done with modeling. Now she’s a hostess for the Palm Court restaurant in the beautiful Biltmore Hotel. As she sees it, Elka’s other job is to watch out for her younger sister, Colleen, an idealistic but reckless college student at Barnard.With her sister, Elka attends her first civil-rights protest, and there, she runs into Jacob Lewis, a co-worker from the Biltmore. He’s a student at Columbia University and a friend of Colleen’s. Jacob becomes an unexpected ally when rescuing her sister from trouble becomes more than Elka can handle independently. Out of this turmoil, a romance grows between Jacob and Elka, but can it last? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Bent Tree Bride by Denise Weimer — Susanna Moore can’t get him out of her mind—the learned lieutenant who delivered the commission from Andrew Jackson making her father colonel of the Cherokee Regiment. But the next time she sees Lieutenant Sam Hicks, he’s leading a string of prisoners into a frontier fort, and he’s wearing the garb of a Cherokee scout rather than the suit of a white gentleman. As both Susanna’s father and Sam’s commanding officer, Colonel Moore couldn’t have made his directive to stay away from his daughter clearer to Sam. He wants a better match for Susanna—like the stuffy doctor who escorted her to Creek Territory. Then a suspected spy forces Moore to rely on Sam for military intelligence and Susanna’s protection, making it impossible for either to guard their heart. (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)
Rekindling Trust by Sandra Ardoin — Abandonment. Betrayal. Injustice. Two broken hearts given a second chance to mend. Widow Edythe Westin yearns for a peaceful home and independence from her controlling father. The goal seems within reach until her rebellious young son is suspected of arson and assault. With nowhere else to turn, she defies her father and appeals for help from the only man she ever loved—the man who once deserted her when she needed him most. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Mystery:
Spring Betrayal by Sally Jo Pitts — It was supposed to be a routine investigation—catch the cheatin’ spouse of a client. And the perks weren’t bad either—set up shop at a luxury resort. So yes, Robert Grey and Jane Carson from Grey Investigations are on the job. But when they discover the suspect is a princess wrongfully accused of abdicating and her companion dies under suspicious circumstances, the investigators find themselves in the middle of a Caribbean conspiracy to overthrow a monarchy. Suddenly Jane must take the place of the princess to secure the throne of an island nation. Can Grey Investigations untangle a royal mess before a revolution overtakes paradise? (Mystery/Crime from Winged Publications)
Blue Plate Special by Susan Page Davis — Campbell McBride drives to her father’s house in Murray, Kentucky, dreading telling him she’s lost her job as an English professor. Her father, Bill McBride, isn’t there or at his office in town. His brash young employee, Nick Emerson, says Bill hasn’t come in this morning, but he did call the night before with news that he had a new case. When her dad doesn’t show up by late afternoon, Campbell and Nick decide to follow up on a phone number he’d jotted on a memo sheet. They learn who last spoke to her father, but they also find a dead body. The next day, Campbell files a missing persons report. When Bill’s car is found, locked and empty in a secluded spot, she and Nick must get past their differences and work together to find him. (Mystery from Scrivenings Press LLC)
Speculative Fiction:
Traitor: Tales of the Mystics, Book 2 by Laurie Lucking — Princess Penelope has finally found a way to redeem her past mistakes-if only it didn’t require betraying her new fiancé. She has been the object of gossip and ridicule ever since she returned home in disgrace following her failed engagement to the Crown Prince of Imperia. When her father offers a new start in a country far across the sea, she has no choice but to accept. Even if it means another betrothal, this time to a total stranger. (Speculative Fiction/Romantic Fantasy from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing)
Thriller/Suspense:
Long Shadows by Cathe Swanson — Mona Vickers isn’t running. Not hiding. She and the girls are just keeping a low profile until she’s done with school and gets a good job. She doesn’t need charity, especially not from Roy Strough and the Unity Plenkiss Community Center, either. But when the past catches up with her, she needs to decide who she can trust. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard — Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He’s committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors. When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn–one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he’s failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts. (Romantic Suspense from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Fifty Days by Katie Vorreiter — Three days ago, Maggie Lehman’s beloved mentor and friend, Jarrett Adams, was murdered on live television. Grief stricken, Maggie traverses a Washington DC under curfew, but when she arrives at the morgue, the body is missing—and her presence is recorded on the security video. As dawn breaks over the city, Maggie encounters Jarrett on the street—and he’s very much alive. Either she’s gone mad—again—or Jarrett really is back. While the US loses its grip on democracy, government thugs eager to contain what Maggie knows hound her every step, and the good intentions of a man from her past only tighten the noose. The powerless and bewildered Maggie seeks Jarrett and the return to how things were, but finds she must give up what she wants most to gain what she can hardly imagine. (Supernatural Suspense from Elk Lake Publishing)
Shielding the Amish Witness by Mary Alford — Seeking refuge in Amish country puts everyone she loves in danger. On the run after discovering her brother-in-law was behind her husband’s murder, Faith Cooper can think of only one safe place—her Amish grandmother’s home. But when danger follows Faith to the quiet Amish community, her childhood friend Eli Shetler is her only protection. And their survival depends on outlasting a relentless killer…one who has nothing left to lose. (Thriller/Suspense/Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin)
Can a promise made as kids bring them back together as adults? In this Nantucket-set beach read, “master of the genre” (Midwest Book Review) Courtney Walsh delivers a sparkling inspirational romance about first love and second chances.
Twelve years ago, Cody Boggs and Louisa Chambers made a pact that no matter where their lives took them, they’d return to Nantucket Island’s Brant Point Lighthouse on July 30, their shared golden birthday, and continue their tradition of exchanging birthday wishes. But that was before a tragic accident upended both of their lives, irrevocably pulling them apart.
Their worlds collide just months before that particular day when Louisa’s fledgling event planning company is hired by the local Coast Guard station, where she discovers Cody has recently returned to the island as the second in command. As they plan a regatta fundraiser, hoping to promote positive PR in the community, neither can deny the fireworks each encounter ignites. But working together also brings up memories of the day Cody’s father died, revealing secrets that have Cody and Louisa questioning everything they thought they knew and felt about their families and each other.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Is It Any Wonder, the second book by Courtney Walsh that’s set during summer on the charming island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. In a similar vein to the first Nantucket book, If For Any Reason, the story is a second chances romance that reunites childhood friends who are separated by tragedy and family secrets.
Louisa’s parents and Cody’s parents were best friends who vacationed together in Nantucket every summer until the year Cody and Louisa turned eighteen. They grew up spending their shared July 30 birthday together and never dreamed their lives would split in different directions. The teens, who shared their first kiss on their sixteenth birthday, made a pact to meet up in Nantucket to celebrate their shared thirtieth golden birthday. The summer Cody’s father passed away ended the Nantucket tradition and shattered the close relationship between the two families.
Louisa is an only child who struggles with her strained and distant relationship with her parents. She is a dreamer with big ideas and she’s now living in Nantucket, building her concierge business, and determined to prove the naysayers wrong. She’s still haunted by memories of Cody and the summer his dad died. Louisa has never forgiven herself for the role she played in Cody’s father’s death.
Cody’s moving up the ranks in the Coast Guard and has been transferred to Nantucket, the one place he doesn’t want to live. He carries a load of guilt from the loss of his dad and the life changing implications on him, his mom, and his sister. Cody wrestles with his fear of the ocean and he is stunned, on his first day on the job in Nantucket, to discover the woman he dives in and rescues is his first love, Louisa.
Cody and Louisa are both weighed down by a ton of emotional baggage and unanswered questions about what really happened during that summer twelve years ago when they lost Cody’s dad. Their friendship is slow to defrost, and being thrown together through their work adds more complications and questions from the past that fuels their simmering mutual attraction.
Maggie, an old family friend in Nantucket who’s like a mother to Louisa, is a delightful character who is the catalyst to bringing about the hope for reconciliation. I loved experiencing the beach setting and the relaxing pace of life on the idyllic island with the characters. Louisa zipped around the island on her Vespa and introduced me to lobster rolls (yum!) and coconut milk lattes with stevia – a combination I’m not planning to try, lol. Each to their own.
Cody and Louisa are challenged to pull down their emotional barriers, seek forgiveness, and discover if true love can conquer all the obstacles and secrets from their shared history. I enjoyed journeying with the characters on their long and winding path to forgiveness and new beginnings. I recommend Is It Any Wonder to contemporary romance readers who like fun beach romance reads with a subtle faith element and themes of forgiveness and second chances.
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher. Many thanks to Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley.
A desperate kiss results in a fake marriage proposal from a hunky rodeo cowboy in this Montana Ranches Christian Romance.
Adam Cavanagh’s rodeo championship tastes like dirt after a competitor’s critical injury, but going home to his family’s Montana ranch isn’t much of an improvement. If not even the coveted trophy earns his stepfather’s respect, what will it take?
Riley Dunning’s quick thinking is all that’s keeping her body, soul, and principles together, but demanding a kiss from a hunky cowboy to deter the weirdo following her might be taking things too far… especially when the cowboy comes up with a risky plan that might offer them both stability. If it doesn’t backfire completely.
Will a fake engagement give Adam and Riley the leg up they each need, or will the cost to their hearts be too high? Because neither believes the other will want to marry them… for real.
About the Cavanagh Cowboys Romance series
The Cavanagh brothers might be rivals in many ways, but at their ranch? There they cowboy up, keeping the horses fresh, the cattle in tip-top condition, and their twin teenage sisters (mostly) out of trouble. Romance comes knocking at Rockstead Ranch — not once, but six times — in this Montana Ranches Christian Romance series.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading Marry Me for Real, Cowboy – Book 1 in Valerie Comer’s Cavanagh Cowboy Romance series. The story opens with Riley in the Golden Grill small town diner in Jewel Lake, Montana. She has hitchhiked a ride with a sleazy guy who lives in Jewel Lake, and the creep won’t leave her alone. She’s on her way to Missoula to see her sister, and has left behind in New Mexico an ex-boyfriend and a complicated family situation.
Riley is desperate to get rid of the sleazy guy. She impulsively walks up to Adam in the Golden Grill and says ‘Pretend you love me. Kiss me.’ Adam is a rodeo star who has just arrived back in his home town. He plays the hero by accepting Riley’s invitation. Adam and Riley end up agreeing to a mutually beneficial temporary fake engagement where Riley will work with him on the family ranch.
Fake fiancé is a fun romance trope. I enjoyed journeying with Adam and Riley as they overcame obstacles in their relationship and discovered they’d fallen in love with each other for real. I also understood why Riley thought that eating liver is gross, and it was fun to experience life on the ranch.
Both Adam and Riley feel guilty about their fake relationship status and this, combined with other circumstances, challenges their faith. The Cavanagh family is complicated, and it was great to meet the cowboy brothers who’ll be the heroes in future books in the series. Adam’s thirteen year old twin half sisters are hilarious and provided many humourous moments in the story. Highly recommended for contemporary romance readers who like fun and entertaining cowboy stories with characters who are dealing with real-to-life issues.
