Deep Trouble by Mary Connealy

Deep Trouble by Mary Connealy

Published: 2011

Publisher: Barbour Books 

Series: None

Goodreads Summery:

less and Wandering. . .

Gabe Lasley left his ranch in Wyoming because of his strong feelings for a married woman, wanting nothing other than to be left alone. Then he finds a treasure hunter stranded in a mountaintop cave and offers to help her.

Fearless and Fixated. . .

A determined Shannon Dysart is on a quest to prove her father’s research isn’t the work of a madman and that he really did find treasure in the Wild West. Then she finds herself stranded with an aimless wanderer her only way out.

Now the unlikely pair is out to find a city of gold. . .together. . .with trouble hot on their trail.

When a band of villains threatens to steal Shannon’s map, will she be able to see past the gold that colors her every decision, and will Gabe accept his surprising need to protect a woman who doesn’t seem to have a lick of common sense? Or will they discover that a true treasure rooted in love and faith has been within their reach all along?

Shannon is on the search for a city of gold that her father told her about with his dying breath. She wants to find it to prove that her father was not crazy like everyone thought. She hires a team to go with her but soon finds out they are not to be trusted and she is left to die high up on a mountain.

Gabe is heading to his brothers ranch and just happens to hear Shannon scream. He saves her from the mountain and soon finds himself along for the ride as she searches for the lost city. Gabe soon finds himself losing his heart to this woman. Will they find love deep in the grand canon?

This was a good book. I love how the author makes the characters interact in this book. I found myself laughing and smiling a lot as I read. The description of the grand canon made me want to be there and see it for myself. The mixture of romance and adventure with some suspense thrown in made for a fun read.

There where parts that got a little long like when they where riding at times through the canon when I just wanted it to hurry up and see what was going to happen next.

The book also tells the side story of Buck who was Shannon’s intended back in Saint Louis and Tyra who has plans to marry Gabe. I felt this side plot fit well into the main story line and did not take away from the book at all which always worries me when more then 2 characters are telling the story.

I did not love this book as much as some of her other books but it was a fun read.

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.

A Time to Heal by Barbara Cameron

A Time to Heal by Barbara Cameron

Published: 2011

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Series:Quilts of Lancaster County(Book 2)

Goodreads Summery:

Christopher Marshall is a weary and wounded ex-soldier who just wants some peace in his life.  He met Jenny in the hospital and later corresponds with her.  When he visits her and Matthew, he envies them their happiness.  Then he meets Matthew's sister, Hannah Bontrager, and there's a clash of cultures and values between the former career military man and the gentle, pacifist Amish woman.  Yet there also is a deep attraction between them, and they fall in love.
Born and raised on a Kansas farm, Christopher finally finds peace in this simple community helping Matthew with the crops. Christopher expects resistance to his presence from the Amish but is appalled when he and Hannah experience threats. He has no fear for himself.  But to protect Hannah, he resolves to leave everyone and everything he has come to love in this place he calls "God's country."  When he discovers who his enemy is, he realizes he must stay and reveal a secret that has sent him into a different world than he has ever known.

This book tells the story of Hannah, Matthew’s sister. She is now living with Jennie’s grandma. She really wants to find the right guy and settle down and have a family but the right man has just now shown up. She tries to be patience but she struggles with waiting on God’s timing. Then one day she finds a Englishman in the barn and she finds herself attracted to him. Could this be God’s plan for her or will she just have to keep waiting?

Christopher has come to talk to Jennie. After meeting her in the hospital many months ago he wants to ask her some questions that might help him heal from his past. He did not expect to meet a spirited Amish women who starts to steal his heart.

This was a good book I think I enjoyed the story line from this book a little better then the first in the series. I really liked Hannah and how she speakers her mind and does not back down from a argument. She definitely goes against the grain of what one would expect an Amish lady to behave.

Christopher is also very likeable. He feels a connection with the area and the people and seems to find a peace as the book goes on. This book is also dropping some hints to the 3rd book due out later this year.

My problem with this book is again same idea of the first book an Amish falls for an English person and everyone just seems fine with that. As much as I wanted to love this book because I so love the characters I just can’t get past the fairytale of it being so easy to become and Amish. I almost wish the subject had been different with this book having both books deal with the same basic story line was a little boring.

I love the writers style and am looking forward to the 3rd book which looks to deal with some other issues. A great series so far though and I am enjoying this author a lot!

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.

A Time to Love by Barbara Cameron

A Time to Love by Barbara Cameron

Published: 2010

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Series: Quilts of Lancaster County(Book 1)

Goodreads Summery: War correspondent Jennie King thinks she’s just a temporary guest in her grandmother’s Amish community while she recuperates from the devastating injuries sustained in a car bomb attack that changed her world. But when she meets Matthew Bontrager, the man she had a crush on as a teenager, she wonders if God has a new plan for her. Jennie has emotional and physical scars and though she feels she has come home to this man and this place, she's not sure she can bridge the difference between their worlds.

Jennie heads to her Amish Grandma’s house to heal after being overseas as a war correspondent where she was hit in a car bomb attack. She has not been back to her grandma’s house since she was a teenager. The last summer she had been there she had a crush on an Amish boy.

Matthew is all grown up and raising his three children alone since his wife died of cancer a few years ago. His sister Hannah has been living with him and helping him with the kids. As soon as he see’s Jennie the feelings of his youth returns and he is right there to help Jennie heal from her injury’s. Will the difference between these two keep them from finding true love or will love and faith over come all?

I have not read this author before and I enjoyed this book quite a bit. She does a great job explaining the beliefs of the Amish and this would make a great first time Amish fiction read since it explains things very well. I liked all the characters. Both Jennie and Matthew where well developed. I also enjoyed Matthew’s children and I felt they where well fitted in this book. Jennie’s grandma is also a great women and your given some hints in this book that she will play a bigger part in coming books of this series.

I have a few things about this book that made me take pause. I felt the idea of a English person turning Amish came across as way to easy. I have read other books that deal with this subject and this just did not seem as realistic as others I have read. I know Jennie’s grandma is Amish but I would think there would be more of an uproar over an Amish man falling for a English lady then happened in this book. I also felt Matthew did not seem to really think about that side of it very much which seemed a little odd.

Over all though a fun book which I enjoyed. I am looking forward to the other books in this series as well. The characters are so likeable you can’t help but to want to read more about them!

Book Rating

Steamy Rating

Disclosure: I got this book for free as a Kindle Freebie from Amazon.com

Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes

Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes

Published: 2011

Publisher: Revell 

Series: The Midwifes(Book 1)

Goodreads Summery: By virtue of her profession as a midwife, Tabitha Eckles is the keeper of many secrets: the names of fathers of illegitimate children, the level of love and harmony within many a marriage, and now the identity of a man who may have caused his wife's death. Dominick Cherrett is a man with his own secret to keep: namely, what he, a British nobleman, is doing on American soil working as a bondsman in the home of Mayor Kendall, a Southern gentleman with his eye on a higher office.

By chance one morning before the dawn has broken, Tabitha and Dominick cross paths on a misty beachhead, leading them on a twisted path through kidnappings, death threats, public disgrace, and . . . love? Can Tabitha trust Dominick? What might he be hiding? And can either of them find true love in a world that seems set against them?

With stirring writing that puts readers directly into the story, Lady in the Mist expertly explores themes of identity, misperception, and love's discovery.

This book is set in 1809 in Virginia. Tabitha is a midwife. Her grandma and her mom where midwives to before they died. Tabitha is still unmarried though which makes it a little harder for her. She wishes for love and dreams of passing down her talent to her own daughter some day. She had been engaged at one point but he left her right before they where to be married. She meets a strange man in the mist one morning after a bad lying in.

Dominick is a bondsman working for the mayor due to his own secrets from his past. He finds himself drawn to Tabitha even though he should stay away. Will these two be able to over come a lot of hurtles to find true love?

I enjoyed this book. I liked learning about midwifery of the early 1800’s. I found it interesting it was called a lying in and how a midwife was not very high in society. Tabitha was a fun character. She loves her job and even when she is threated she pushes forward. Her old boyfriend shows up and wants to win her back but she finds even though she wants to get married she is not sure he is the right one for her anymore. Plus he seems to be hiding something about his past from her. She finds herself drawn to Dominick but he is only going to be around for 4 years and then he will leave and go back to England and she does not want o have another broken heart.

Dominick finds himself falling for her but must deal with his past and his current orders. He at first befriends Tabitha to try and get information out of her but soon realizes his feeling are running deeper then he expected. He is also feeling like he has to redeem himself due to his past and through out the book he learns that God is the only one who can redeem him for his sins. It was a neat way to work it into the story.

There is plenty of mystery to go with the romance plot and I liked how well the author equally told the mystery side of the plot with out over shadowing the romance and vise versa. I felt like I was on the end of my seat towards the end of the book and that made it a fun read. There where a few places the book felt kind of slow but over all a good read.

Book Rating

 

Steamy Rating

Disclosure: I bought this book from Amazon.com 

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 Remains by Kaye Dacus

Love Remains by Kaye Dacus

Published: 2010

Publisher: Barbour Books

Series: Matchmakers(Book 1)

Goodreads Summery: Every grandmother wants to see her grandchildren happy, especially when it comes to their love lives. Join five active senior ladies—and one gentleman—who take a great interest in the lives and loves of their single grandchildren and become The Matchmakers. Zarah Mitchell and Bobby Patterson become the first focus of meddling grandmothers when he moves back to Nashville to work for the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit. Will Zarah be able to forgive the man who years ago chose a military career over her—especially when she learns he is investigating the historic preservation agency for which she works?

This is the first in a series that deal with 4 grandparents(Grandma’s) who want to see their grandchildren married. This story is about Zarah and Bobby. These two had a relationship 14 years ago that ended badly. Now Bobby has moved back home to Nashville and soon runs face to face into Zarah. It does not take long to figure out that the reason for the break up all those years ago are seen differently from both sides.

Zarah likes to blend into a crowd and see’s herself as a helper. Her father never treated her very well so her self esteem is low. Seeing Bobby again also brings back a lot of memories about her father.

Bobby has never forgotten Zarah or forgiven her for how she left him. He is also working on a case that requires him to do some investigating into Zarah’s life which soon revels things that make him question how the break up happened and also how Zarah is reacting to him now. Will these two find a happy ending or will the past be to much to over come?

I enjoyed this book. I always enjoy a romance when there is tension between the couple or when there has been a past relationship. This book deals with some issues such as self esteem and parental rejection. I really felt for Zarah because her father treated her so poorly. I wish the outcome on that front has ended a little better but it was a realistic story line and pulled at the heart strings. Zarah deals with a low self esteem due to her father. As her character grows in the book you start to see her become more sure of her self which I enjoyed. I like when a character grows in a book like that.

As Bobby gets to know Zarah again he becomes aware of her self esteem issues and pushes her to over come. He really did not have any thing himself to over come other then the break up from the past. I liked him but did not feel as connected to him as I did Zarah. I also enjoyed Zarah’s friends and look forward to the books about them.

Over all a good book and I am looking forward to the rest in the series. The story line did not grab me as much as I had hoped and there where times where I kept thinking it was taking to long for Bobby and Zarah to actually talk about the past. The mystery part of the story was good and well written along with the romance. A lot of books either focus on the romance or the mystery and I felt this book did a good job of balancing the two.

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.

Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner

Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner

Published: 2010

Publisher:WaterBrook

Series: None

Goodreads Summery: Love is a choice you make every day.Content in her comfortable marriage of twenty-two years, Jane Lindsay had never expected to watch her husband,  rad, pack his belongings and walk out the door of their Manhattan home. But when it happens, she feels powerless to stop him and the course of events that follow Brad’s departure.Jane finds an old ring in a box of relics from a British jumble sale and discovers a Latin inscription in the band along with just one recognizable word: Jane. Feeling an instant connection to the mysterious ring bearing her namesake, Jane begins a journey to learn more about the ring—and perhaps about herself.~In the sixteenth-century, Lucy Day becomes the dressmaker to Lady Jane Grey, an innocent young woman whose fate seems to be controlled by a dangerous political and religious climate, one threatening to deny her true love and pursuit of her own interests.As the stories of both Janes dovetail through the journey of one ring, it becomes clear that each woman has far more infl uence over her life than she once imagined. It all comes down to the choices each makes despite the realities they face.From the Trade Paperback edition.

This is the story of two Jane's. One from present day and one from the sixteenth-century. Present day Jane is going through a rough spot in her marriage and is trying to figure out what when wrong and how to move forward. Jane from the 1600’s is set to be married to someone she does not love but has to marry. The story is set around a ring that present day Jane finds and she sets out to find out its past history.

This book has been sitting on my desk now for way to long. This is my first review book I have not been able to finish. I tried but I just could not get into it. I just did not find the story line overly interesting. I even read the last chapter trying to spark my interest to read it all but in the end its been on my desk collecting dust.

I think my problem was I could not connect with the characters. sixteen’s century is not an era I really enjoy reading and that plus the fact that the story of this young lady was just so sad. Present day Jane was pretty depressed and it focused on her husband leaving her and how she was trying to cope. Again I just could not get into the story I tried.

The author is a good writer she did a great job with the details of the 1600’s and explained why certain things where happening which was nice. I also felt she did a good job jumping back and forth between the two stories it fit together very well.

If you like reading about that era then you may like this book but it just was not for me.

Book Rating

(DNF)

Steamy Rating

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this book from the Blogging for Books program from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers, to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Caregiver by Shelley Shepard Gray

The Caregiver by Shelley Shepard Gray

Published: 2011

Publisher: Harper Collins

Series: Families of Honor(Book 1)

Goodreads Summery:

Two lives converge one stormy night on a train headed to cleveland

Lucy is traveling by herself via train to Jacob's Crossing to help care for her cousin Mattie, recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Trying to overcome the sudden death of her husband, she's glad to get away and focus on someone else for a while.

The only other Amish people on the train are Calvin Weaver and his little sister, Katie. When their train breaks down outside of Cleveland, Calvin and Lucy band together to face the outside world. But Calvin also carries the weight of past hurts. When an altercation brings both their wounds to light, they question whether they can trust each other.

Once in Jacob's Crossing, Lucy is occupied with caring for Mattie, while Calvin does his best to run his family's farm. But they can't stop thinking about those special hours spent together. Will the bond they formed last? And will Lucy and Calvin be able to put away the pain in their pasts to recognize the happiness that is suddenly in their grasp?

Lucy was abused in her first marriage. Her husband died a year before in a barn accident and now Lucky finders herself on a train heading for Ohio to spend a month caring for her cousin Mattie who is battling cancer and will be undergoing Chemo. On the train she meets Calvin who she soon finds out is also heading to Ohio in fact to the same small town! Calvin is traveling with his little sister and his Uncle John who is returning home after being in the English world for 20 years.

Will Lucy face her past so she can step into her future? Will Calvin have the patience to help her? Will cancer cause Mattie to turn away from God or will she grow stronger because of it? Will Uncle John who is now English find love when he finds himself falling for two women from two different worlds? You must read this book and find out!

This book well it was awesome. When I find an author like this who I just love I rave and well rave I will!! From the first page of this book I was sucked in. A lot of times it will take me some time to get into a book or I really have to force myself to get through parts but not this one. As soon as my eyes hit the words I found myself riding the train with these characters and soon getting to know Jacob’s Crossing and finding myself not wanting to leave!

This book touches on two subjects that has affected many people. Spousal abuse and cancer. Being an Amish book one would probably not think such a thing could happen. The way it was handled in this book was so real you felt Lucy’s pain but at the same time felt her hope and then peace as she healed from her past.

You also felt Mattie’s pain as she begins chemotherapy and the despair over her wondering if she really will get better. I can’t wait to read more about her in the next book! Uncle John you soon find also has a past that he is running from. He soon finds himself having feeling for an English lady and an Amish lady. He finds himself torn and I also look forward to seeing how this will play out in the next book.

Calvin is getting over the pain of a broken relationship when he first meets Lucy. But soon he finds himself falling for her. Calvin is also intruding us to his brothers and planting seeds for the next two books. I liked how the author did this. We start to learn about the other brothers but she does not over shadow Calvin’s story at all. Very well done.

Honestly I can’t find a fault with this book! I had trouble putting it down and found myself thinking about the story when I was not reading it.

I read lots of books and have quite a few favorite authors and this book and author grab a top spot. I read so many books and like so many of them too that I wanted to create a special award for books that really stand out and this book gets the first mention.

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.

The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Published: 2010

Publisher: Revell

Series: Lancaster County Secrets

Goodreads Summery:

Fifteen years ago, Lainey O'Toole made a split-second decision. She couldn't have known that her choice would impact so many. Now in her mid-twenties, she is poised to go to culinary school when her car breaks down in Stoney Ridge, the very Amish town in which her long-reaching decision was made, forcing her to face the shadowed past.

Bess Reihl is less than thrilled to be spending the summer at Rose Hill Farm with her large and intimidating grandmother, Bertha. It quickly becomes clear that she is there to work the farm--and work hard. The labor is made slightly more tolerable by the time it affords Bess to spend with the handsome hired hand, Billy Lapp. But he only has eyes for a flirty and curvaceous older girl.

Lainey's and Bess's worlds are about to collide and the secrets that come to light will shock them both.

Beautifully written, The Search is a skillfully woven story that takes readers through unexpected twists and turns on the long country road toward truth. Fans both old and new will find themselves immersed in this heartwarming--and surprising--tale of young love, forgiveness, and coming to grips with the past.

Lainey finds herself once again in Stoney Ridge. She still harbors a secret that could tear a family apart. She soon finds herself friends again with Bertha who unknown to Lainey has a plan of her own as well. Bertha’s granddaughter Bess comes to spend the summer and before long her father Jonah comes as well due to Bertha’s medaling.

Will the secret destroy this family or will the truth set them free?

I will be honest this book is deep. There are so many characters I am not sure where to start. Lainey’s choice when she was but a child holds many challenges. With in a few chapters you soon learn that Lainey’s secret has many branches. I don’t want to give away any  of this book so I feel limited in how much to tell.

I loved the idea of an Englisher becoming Amish I always wondered how that might work and how the community would except it. Bess is a teenager who is at first scared of her grandma but soon finds herself loving her. She get s crush on the local boy Billy who works for her grandma. I will be honest that this part of the story could almost have been left out. I felt the ending for these two left you going Wait what?? I thought at first maybe there would be another book to properly close that story but from what I have researched that is not the case.

Bertha is so much fun she seems scary at first but you soon find yourself loving her and laughing at some of her ideas to get things done her way. The love story between Lainey and Jonah was sweet and they had a lot of challenges and you wonder up to the end if they will over come them to be together(I will let you find that out for yourself!).

The downside to this book for me was how many characters there where. I know this is the writers style and she does it very well but this book had a lot of twists and turns and with so many angles at times it just felt a little to much at times.

Over all it was a great book and the series as a whole is wonderful and I would highly recommend these books to others!

Book Rating

Steamy Rating

Over all Series Rating

Source: I bought this book from Amazon.com 

Menu for Romance by Kaye Dacus

Menu for Romance by Kaye Dacus

Published: 2009

Publisher:Barbour Books

Series:Brides of Bonneterre(Book 2)

Goodreads Summery: Cater to your craving for fabulous fictional fare with Menu for Romance, where a party planner finds herself torn between the contractor and the cook. After eight years of unrequited love, Meredith Guidry makes a New Year's resolution to find someone new and end her single status before the year's over. And when she meets a handsome contractor on New Year's Day, it seems like her prayers have been answered.Executive Chef Major O'Hara has forsworn relationships, knowing he could never saddle the woman he loves with a family situation like his. But when it seems he's about to lose Meredith Guidry to another man, he realizes he must concoct a menu for romance to win her back.

Meredith is 34 years old and has never had a boyfriend or been on a real date. She has been in love with Major for 8 years and finally vows to get over him and move on. She meets Wade and they start to date. But has hard as she tries she still loves Major. Will she finally move on or will a spark finally ignite with her one true love?

Major has cherished Meredith for so many years but because of his hidden secret of his schizophrenic mother he has not acted on his feeling for her. When she starts to date he finds himself jealous. Will he let her go or finally share his secret with her and find the love he craves?

I read the 3rd book in this series a few months ago and was not sure if I was going to like this book but I am glad I read it. It started off a little slow but once I got into it I had trouble putting it down. I always like a book that has two characters who love each other but don’t act on it at first.

Dealing with the disorder of Schizophrenic was a interesting topic and I felt it fit well into the book. Meredith also dealt with the emotions of feeling like no man wanted her as well as not feeling appreciated by her family for all the work she does. Also reading the 2nd book helped me to get a better understanding of the main male character in the 3rd book. At some point I would like to go back and read the first book. Talk about reading a series backwards!  

Over all I enjoyed this book. It has a great romance story as well as dealing with honoring ones parents and self. You might want to grab the first book and read it. You can read this book with out it but that book is talked about some in this one. If you want a good romance book then this is a great choice!

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.

Finally a Bride by Vickie McDonough

Finally a Bride by Vickie McDonough

Published: 2011

Publisher:Barbour Books

Series: Texas Boardinghouse Brides(book 3)

Goodreads Summery: Keep your eyes wide open for romance in Lookout, Texas. Noah Jeffers enters town determined to make up for past misdeeds. Reporter Jacqueline Davis is determined to nail her story. Will she uncover Noah’s secret before he can capture her heart? With nowhere else to go, ex-con Carly Payton returns to the Lookout boardinghouse. Garret Corbett is looking for an upstanding wife, not some jailbird. What will he do when overpowered by Carly’s unassuming appeal? Does love deserve a second look?

Jacqueline “Jack” is now 10 years older and all grown up. She wants to be a reporter for the big city of Dallas but first feels like she needs a big story for her small down of Lookout to get there. She is still the tomboy you know and love from the first two books but she is now a woman. She is hot on the trail of the Mayor as she feels he is hiding something for the city and she will do just about anything to get the story.

Noah finds himself back in Lookout now as the preacher not the troublemaker he was 10 years ago. The town does not know its him and either does Jack. Noah has never forgotten her and he hopes to show her and the town that he is a changed man and maybe he can even win her heart.

Carly who was the 3rd mail order bride is also back in the final book. She has served her time in jail and now wants to start her life in Lookout if the town’s people will except her. Garret is finally ready to settle down and find the right woman and he find’s himself with growing feelings for Carly but will he be able to put her past behind them both and find true love?

Its always bitter sweet to come to the final book in a series like this because you have come to know the characters very well and this is the final chapter. The book did not disappoint! Jack is such a fun character she had me laughing a lot and shaking my head at some of her silly attempts at getting the story. Jack also had to face her abuse from her first father in this book as she comes to care for Noah. I really like how the author touches on some sensitive subjects but includes humor and a realness that just makes the book great.

The side store of Carly and Garret was okay. Again this could have been its own book. These characters again seem to get short changed and never get to fully develop like the lead characters did. It was a good story though and I was glad to see everyone find happiness in the end.

Over all a great ending to a fun series. When I was done reading this book I felt the story had been fully told and did not leave me wishing for another book like some series I have read. If you like western romance then this is a great series and a must read! I am looking forward to reading more books from this author.

Book Rating

Series Rating

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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.

Second Chance Brides by Vickie McDonough

Second Chance Brides by Vickie McDonough

Published:2010

Publisher:Barbour Books

Series: Texas Boardinghouse Brides(book 2)

Goodreads Summery: Fans of The Anonymous Bride, will feel for Shannon O’Neil and Leah Bennett who are stranded in Lookout, Texas, without husbands or future plans. Thankfully, the marshal has ordered the rascally Corbett brothers to pay for the women’s lodging at the boardinghouse, but will the brothers’ idea of hosting Saturday socials really bring these women the kind of loves they long for? Will Shannon choose to marry just for security? Will Leah reject love when the challenges mount?

This book starts up at Luke and Rachel’s wedding. The book is told through the eyes of Leah and Shannon the left over mail order brides. Luke has told his cousin’s that they have to pay room and board for the ladies until they either find a job or get married. In an attempt to speed the process up the brothers organize a Saturday night social so all the bachelors can meet the ladies and hopefully marry them.

The thing Mark did not expect was to start to fall for Shannon. Will he over come his past pain to find love? Leah finds herself drawn to the livery owner. But will her promise to never have kids keep her from finding true love?

I will be honest I tend to hold my breath a little when it comes to the middle book of a series. I have found from past experience that it tends to be the one I end up liking the least. I was hoping it would not be the case for this book but in the end it was. It was a good book and I enjoyed seeing Leah and Shannon find there match. But for me I was more interested in Jack, Rachel’s daughter. She is still young but the author is laying the ground work for the 3rd book which will be her story and I found myself caring more about her then the two main characters in this book.

Since we are reading about both Leah and Shannon I felt the character of Leah was not developed as much as Shannon. We did get to hear from Mark but we did not get to hear from Leah’s love interest Dan which for me made it harder to get into that part of the story. I honestly would rather have seen this series in 4 books with Leah and Shannon each having a more developed story.

Shannon was my favorite of the two ladies. She starts out so timid and by the end of the book she is starting to see her self worth and her character really starts to shine. Mark finally comes out of his brothers shadow and starts to live the life he wants. I enjoyed watching these two fall in love!

I was disappointed with Leah. I felt her character could have been expanded more but with two story’s in this book hers got a little less attention. I also would have loved to gotten to know Dan better. I so wanted to know what he was thinking at times! Also the climax of this story held so much promise but again it was hurried a long and felt kind of flat. I really think it could have been its own book! I did enjoy these two just wished they would have been given a little more page time.

Over all it was a good book. I love series like this where the characters  intertwine through out the series. I love stepping into a new book and already knowing some of the charters as well as the setting. I highly recommend reading the first book before this one so you know the back story.

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.

The Anonymous Bride by Vickie McDonough

The Anonymous Bride by Vickie McDonough

Published: 2010

Publisher:Barbour Books

Series: Texas Boardinghouse Brides(book 1)

Goodreads Summery: Check yourself into the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series by Vickie McDonough, where you’ll meet Luke Davis, marshal of Lookout, Texas, who flippantly tells his cousin he’d get married if the right woman ever came along. When three mail-order brides are delivered to Luke a month later, he’s in an uncomfortable predicament. How will he ever choose his mate? Rachel Hamilton’s long-time love for Luke is reignited with his return to town. So when three mail-order brides appear, she panics. Will she find the courage to tell Luke that she loves him? Or take an anonymous part in the contest for his hand?

Ten years earlier Rachel had broken Luke's heart and married another man. Luke left town and joined the Calvary. Now he is returning to Lookout to be the towns marshal. Rachel is now widowed and has a 10 year old daughter. Her daughter is running all over town dressing like a boy and getting into trouble. Luke’s cousins think getting Luke a mail order bride will help him get over his past feelings for Rachel but the plan back fires when 3 brides not 1 come to town. Will Luke pick one of them or will his old feeling for Rachel relight? Will Rachel tell Luke the secrets of her past so they can move forward together or will she lose Luke forever?

I enjoyed this book. I really like series like this where you get to know quite a few characters and then get to read the stories of some of the side characters in other books in the series. In this book the main story is between Rachel and Luke. We also get to see the romance from Rachel's 10 year old daughters eyes which I thought was kind of fun. I found myself really liking Jack even though she was causing so much trouble.

The only down side was I felt the first book told the story from a few to many of the future book characters. All 3 of the mail order brides and both the cousins where told in this book and I found myself at times wanting to get back to the main story.

I found it interesting this book touched on rape, spousal abuse as well as child abuse. Lots of issues but the author did a wonderful job of working it into the story line. The ending was a good one but also left me wanting to read the next book in the series. Over all a great start to the series!

Book Rating

Steamy Rating

Source: I bought this book from Amazon.com

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.