A Cowboy's Touch by Denise Hunter

A Cowboy's Touch by Denise Hunter

Published: 2011

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Series: A Big Sky Romance(Book 1)

Goodreads Summery: Four years ago, rodeo celebrity Wade Ryan gave up his identity to protect his daughter. Now, settled on a ranch in Big Sky Country, he lives in obscurity, his heart guarded by a high, thick fence. Abigail Jones isn't sure how she went from big-city columnist to small-town nanny, but her new charge is growing on her, to say nothing of her ruggedly handsome boss. Love blossoms between Abigail and Wade--despite her better judgment. Will the secrets she brought with her to Moose Creek, Montana separate her from the cowboy who finally captured her heart?

Abigail is an investigating reporter and works for her moms magazine in Chicago. She is suffering from hypertension(high blood pressure) and so her mom sends her to Montana to visit her aunt for 3 months so she can rest and heal. She soon befriends a little girl named Maddy. Who she also finds out needs a nanny for the summer. With little to do she takes the job.

Wade was once a famous rodeo cowboy but after his wife’s death he left the spot light and moved to Montana with his daughter to run his ranch and raise his daughter. So far his past has not found him but will the new nanny expose his past or will he find love once again?

This was a sweet little romance story. I enjoyed reading it. I did find the story line to be a bit predictable though. The daughter Maddy was probably my favorite character. She was just such a sweet little girl and she brightened all the pages she was on. Wade was your typical cowboy with a past. He was still feeling some guilt about his late wife and so he planned to never marry again.

Abigail being the reporter she is soon figures out who Wade is and plans to write a story to save her moms magazine but starts to feel guilty about it as she falls for Wade.

This is a fun romance but for me it was very predictable which made it a little boring at times. This is a great book if you just want a light Christian romance. The book was well written and I look forward to reading the next book due out next year.

Book Rating

Steamy Rating

 

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Love on Assignment by Cara Lynn James

Love on Assignment by Cara Lynn James

Published: 2010

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Series: Ladies of Summerhill(Book 2)

Goodreads Summery: While Charlotte is focusing on uncovering sordid information on columnist Daniel Wilmot, her heart leads her into uncharted territory.During the summer of 1900 Charlotte Hale, a native Newporter and secretary for the Rhode Island Reporter, accepts an undercover assignment as temporary governess to Daniel Wilmont's children in order to secretly gather evidence against him. As he helps her rediscover God, Charlotte learns that Daniel is an honorable man.They unexpectedly fall in love despite their different backgrounds and social positions. Charlotte soon realizes she must defend Daniel against the forces set against him-a willful student with a romantic crush and the newspaper editor determined to destroy his reputation.

Charlotte is a secretary working at a news paper. She wants to be a journalist. Her boss calls her into his office and gives her a opportunity she can’t pass up. She will go undercover as a governess to get the goods on Daniel. Daniel is a professor at a Christian college. He also writes a column in the rival news paper that many business men don’t like and they want him to stop at any cost. Will Charlotte follow through to bring Daniel down or will she find out the truth and will she be willing to risk it all to tell it? Will Daniel’s faith be strong enough to get him through this challenge or will he give in to social pressures?

I liked this book a little better then the first one in the series. I found the story was interesting and I kept holding my breath to see if Charlotte was going to be found out. I did feel the climax was kind of drug out. She would start to tell Daniel but something would happen and she would not. By the time he finally did find out it had lost its punch. I also found the ending to be a little unbelievable. I liked the happy ending but it seems to just all suddenly work out.

Over all it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. I look forward to the 3rd book due out this summer.

Book Rating

(3.8)

Steamy Rating

 

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Love on a Dime by Cara Lynn James

Love on a Dime by Cara Lynn James

Published: 2010

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Series: Ladies of Summerhill(Book1)

Goodreads Summery:

In age of elegance and excess, Lilly Westbrook longs for a love both true and eternal.

Newport, Rhode Island, 1899, is a place of shimmering waves, sleek yachts, and ladies of leisure. Of opulent mansions that serve as summer cottages for the rich and famous. Home of railroad magnates and banking tycoons--dashing young men and the women who aspire to marry them.

But it's not the place for lady novelists. Especially not those who pen disreputable dime novels. This poses a problem for Lilly Westbrook, because that's exactly what she does.

No one in Lilly's social set knows she pens fiction under the nom de plume Fannie Cole. Not her family or the wealthy young man about to propose to her. And especially not Jackson Grail, the long-lost beau who just bought her publishing company...and who stirs her heart more than she cares to admit.

But Lilly must put aside her feelings and follow the path that will maintain her family's social stature and provide the financial security that everyone is depending on.

Now Lilly faces a double dilemma. Can she continue to protect her secret identity? And will she have the courage to choose the man who will risk it all just to win her heart?

Lilly and Jackson fell in love and planned to marry when they where young adults but Jackson ended up breaking the engagement off and leaving Lilly with a broken heart. Six years later Jackson returns to win Lilly back but is it to late?

The story line of this book sounded interesting to me. Lilly writes dime novels that have a bad reputation among the upper class that she is a part of. So she writes in secret. The difference is her books have a good message with Christian principles. She feels God is calling her to spread his good news through her books and she also helps supports a Christian ran woman’s home with her books income.

Jackson has spent the last six years trying to make enough money so that he can come back and finally ask Lilly to be his wife. The problem is when he shows up she is almost pledged to be married to another. To make matters more interesting he also purchases the publishing house that sells Lilly's books.

The story line was interesting but for me I started to have trouble staying focused about half way through it just seemed to drag on some. Lilly had to deal with her pen name and whether to tell her family and Jackson. Jackson seemed to already know so when she finally told him it seemed almost like a mute point. Also her engagement to another guy was a really week story line. One minute her family was so excited and then they seemed indifferent when it was over.

Over all I did enjoy reading it and look forward to reading the 2nd book in the series.

Book Rating

Steamy Rating

Source: I got this book as a Kindle freebie from Amazon.com.

Lilly's Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long

Lilly's Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long

Published: 2011

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Series: Patch of Heaven(Book 2)

Goodreads Summery:

She isn't looking for love. He's mending a broken heart. It will take divine intervention for these two to get together.

Local Amish schoolteacher Lilly Lapp is tired of weddings, afraid of horses, and immersed in caring for her depressed mother. But when Jacob Wyse, a handsome horse breeder from her small community rescues her from a dangerous accident, Lilly discovers a renewed interest in life and the possibility of love.

Yet Jacob has lost the one true love of his life to another man and doesn't care to expose himself to the vulnerabilities of loving again.

God works to bring this unlikely pair into a sweet romance to produce a pattern of faith, which leads to the creation and comfort of Lilly's Wedding Quilt.

Lilly is heading to Sarah and Grants wedding when a sudden rain storm hits and she seeks cover in a barn where Jacob is hiding out recovering from being shot after he stole a English mans horse. From here the adventure begins. Will Jacob over come his past feeling for Sarah and find true love? Will Lilly be able to deal with her depressed mother as well as becoming a wife? Read this great book to find out!

I loved this book! I had trouble putting it down. I love when a book starts out strong and just keeps going. With in 5 pages I was sucked into the lives of both Jacob and Lilly. There are lots of surprised in this book that I did not expect which made it even more interesting and this made it a page turner.

This book deals with a side story of Lilly’s mom who is suffering from depression. I thought the author did a great job of not letting that story line over shadow the main but at the same time it gave a interesting look into how it would be handled in the Amish community. I already can’t wait for the third book and wonder who’s story the author will tell next. I would highly recommend you go back and reading the first book of this series first. Sarah’s Garden is also a great read. You could read this book with out going back but reading the first one will better help you to understand Jacob and his broken heart.

This book will be released March 29th 2011!

Book Rating

Steamy Rating

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

What the Heart Sees: A Collection of Amish Romances by Kathleen Fuller

What the Heart Sees: A Collection of Amish Romances by Kathleen Fuller

Published: 2011

Publisher:Thomas Nelson 

Series: None

Goodreads Summery:

Together for the first time, three Amish romances from Kathleen Fuller.

 

"A Miracle for Miriam" from An Amish Christmas

Miriam fell for Seth, but he broke her heart. Years later, after he's nearly killed in an accident, Miriam sees him at a Christmas party and notices something is different about him-not just how he looks, but how he acts. When Seth pursues her, she must decide whether to guard her heart or accept his love.

"A Place of His Own" from An Amish Gathering

When Josiah left Paradise the first time, he didn't even say good-bye. Now he's back, ten years later, and he's changed. Why is he so distant and bitter? Where is the boy who used to be Amanda's best friend? Amanda is learning that there are things even a capable Amish girl can't fix. But can she stand there and watch him walk away...again?

"What the Heart Sees" from An Amish Love

A tragic accident rocks a peaceful Amish community, leaving Ellie Chupp blinded and Christopher Bender's future shattered. But they find love and forgiveness in a place they least expect.

I enjoyed all three of these stories. In the first one

A Miracle for Miriam I found it interesting to read of a Amish young lady dealing with body image. Reading as these two young people fell in love was heart warming and a good reminder to be proud of who we are. Seth was learning to see everything different after an accident scared him for life and Miriam learned to love herself as she is. A great story.

A Place of His own was a little slower for me I did not feel like the characters got fully developed but it still was a fun read. Josiah had to forgive his father for the way he was treated after his mother dies and it also touched on tempers and control which is another subject one would not expect to read about in an Amish book. Amanda was a sweet girl but to me her character was kind flat. I did not feel like I really got to know her that well and the ending left me going that’s it? But I did enjoy the story over all.

I read What the Heart See’s in another collection a month or so ago. I loved is story. Ellie was blind and feared she would never marry. Christopher is still getting over the death of his girlfriend. Together they both come to better understand who they are and learn to put the past behind them and move ahead together.

Over all a great book. I enjoyed all three stories and if you enjoy Amish Romances then you should grab this book! This author is one of my favorites and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Book Rating

Steamy Rating

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this book from the publisher through BookSneeze to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

Published: 2011

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Series: None

Goodreads Summery: Former NFL star Alex Sinclair is a man who has it all--except the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancée in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn't quite what he seems, Lucy will find her heart on the line--and maybe even her life. When God asks Alex and Lucy to scrap their playbook and follow his rules, will they finally say, "I do"?

Lucy has worked hard to build and run a girls home for young ladies who have aged out of the foster care system. But with the economy in a nose dive she finds herself losing her biggest donor. With out the money her girls will be back on the streets in months.

Alex is a former NFL star who is now running for congress. He is behind in the race and looking for the key to help him win. One night at a benefit dinner, Lucy is trying hard to get her money back and Alex is asked to keep her at bay. The two soon find themselves engaged. She is the ticket to Alex’s win and he is her check for her girls home. Will these two find real love as the election draws near?

This was a fun book to read. I enjoyed the way these two characters interacted. I found the idea of the engagement a little far fetched but loved the idea. I liked how Lucy did not care he was rich she had been burned by the rich growing up and Alex was not quite used to not getting his way with the ladies all the time. He soon learned that Lucy was special. There is a side story about Lucy and her family that was interesting but felt a little weird. Lucy never knew her dad and thought he had been someone he was not. She finds out who he really was and even though it was an interesting side story I just was not that interested in it. The character that was Lucy’s grandma was a riot and she had me laughing a lot.

The whole book had lots of great humor and that helped to make it a book that was hard to put down. This is the kind of book that would make a great romantic comedy movie. This is also a inspirational romance and the characters also dealt with some faith issues which added to the greatness of the book. This is definitely a book that leaves you feeling all warm and fussy inside.

Book Rating:

Steamy Rating:

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.