Choosing His Family

Three reasons to ask her to stay…

Will offering a helping hand

open the door to forever?

Rescuing a single mom and her triplets during a snowstorm lands rancher Finn Brightwood with temporary tenants in his vacation rental. But because of his past, Finn’s reluctant to get too involved in Ivy Darling’s chaotic life. When he starts falling for the three rambunctious little girls—and Ivy—he can’t help but wish this family would stick around for good.

From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Colorado Grooms

Book 1: The Rancher’s Surprise Daughter

Book 2: The Rancher’s Unexpected Baby

Book 3: The Bull Rider’s Secret

Book 4: Her Hidden Hope

Book 5: Raising Honor

Book 6: Choosing His Family

My Rating: 5 Stars

 I LOVED this story! This was my first read by Jill Lynn and it will not be my last. I was thoroughly charmed by the three adorable munchkins on the cover and Ivy and Finn were the icing on the character cake. I loved the humor sprinkled throughout the story and watching Ivy find her strength and happiness was great. Just a perfect sweet light romance with tons of heart and humor. Super read.

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Tidewater Bride

Selah Hopewell seems to be the only woman in the Virginia colony who has no wish to wed. True, there are too many men and far too few women in James Towne. But Selah already has her hands full assisting her father in the family's shop. And now she is in charge of an incoming ship of tobacco brides who must be looked after as they sort through their many suitors.

Xander Renick is perhaps the most eligible tobacco lord in the settlement. His lands are vast, his crops are prized, and his position as a mediator between the colonists and the powerful Powhatan nation surrounding them makes him indispensable. But Xander is already wedded to his business and still grieves the loss of his wife, daughter of the Powhatan chief.

Can two fiercely independent people find happiness and fulfillment on their own? Or will they discover that what they've been missing in life has been right in front of them all along?

My Rating: 4 Stars

What a compelling story! Laura Frantz's novels always are always captivating and immersive. Her colonial stories always make me feel as if I am right there in the middle of it and this one was no exception. I enjoyed the storyline of Tidewater Bride, it captured my attention early on and held it throughout the novel. I enjoyed the bit of mystery within the pages and seeing how the villain's would be found out. The characters brought a lot to the story and made it come alive. A very well crafted historical novel that shouldn't be missed!

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

 

Dreams Of Savannah

 

Cordelia Owens can weave a hopeful dream around anything and is well used to winning the hearts of everyone in Savannah with her whimsy. Even when she receives word that her sweetheart has been lost during a raid on a Yankee vessel, she clings to hope and comes up with many a romantic tale of his eventual homecoming to reassure his mother and sister.

But Phineas Dunn finds nothing redemptive in the first horrors of war. Struggling for months to make it home alive, he returns to Savannah injured and cynical, and all too sure that he is not the hero Cordelia seems determined to make him. Matters of black and white don't seem so simple anymore to Phin, and despite her best efforts, Delia's smiles can't erase all the complications in his life. And when Fort Pulaski falls and the future wavers, they both must decide where the dreams of a new America will take them, and if they will go together.

My Rating: 5 Stars(plus more!)

This was truly the BEST story! I adored Cordelia and her storyish personality. She is going to be one of my favorite characters ever. Part of what I also loved about her as well as Phin was the character growth through the book. I really appreciate Roseanna writing them the way she did and how their beliefs changed and grew throughout the book. Truly excellent writing. I also really enjoyed the character of Luther. He was a great addition to the story and I loved the banter between Phin and Luther, it was humorous while helping show Phin growing as a character. The story is completely immersive and just flat out wonderful. It will definitely be on of my absolute favorite 2021 reads. Don't miss this one!!

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my honest opinion. 

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

Blog: https://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/
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https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Savannah-Roseanna-M-White-ebook/dp/B08CJC8XJN/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1605915783&sr=8-2

The Black Midnight

Two Series of Murders Seem Mysteriously Connected
Step into True Colors -- a series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

Could a series of murders in London in 1889 be related to unsolved murders in Austin, Texas, 1884? Queen Victoria wants to know and asks her granddaughter—who left the queen’s good graces by going off to America to become a Pinkerton agent—to quietly look for any connection. The catch is the queen doesn’t want her to do it alone. Alice Anne must find her former Pinkerton agent partner—now an attorney in Austin—and enlist him in the hunt. As the pair get closer to finding their suspect, their lives become endangered, but they refuse to be intimidated. Can this case be solved?

My Rating: 3 Stars

This was an interesting read. Obviously I have heard of Jack The Ripper but I was unfamiliar with the murders that took place a few years before in Austin Texas. Bringing those cases together made for a fun read. Annie and Isaiah were great characters and I really enjoyed the character of Hattie. The story was good and kept me interested. It's quick and easy, perfect for a weekend read. 

I received this book through NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own. 

 

Marriage, Melodies, and Rewritten Conclusions

 

Kaylee McGrurd feels like life has left her behind. Her best friends have all moved out, married, or are in the process of matrimony. Meanwhile, she’s lost another job, and her daily diet consists of noodles that are better suited as packing material.

Then Kaylee’s ex, Gabe Sanders, enters the equation.

Gabe walked out on Kaylee without warning or explanation nine years earlier, but now he’s been brought back to the area for the unforeseen future. And he’s in need of new lead vocalist for his wedding band.

A dwindling account balance calls for desperate measures, and Kaylee reluctantly accepts Gabe’s offer. While the former couple works together in the midst of happy marriages and heartfelt melodies, secrets and the need for forgiveness highlight the strife between them…and the hope that maybe God’s rewriting the conclusion to their story.

My Rating: 5 Stars

This is my first book by V. Joy Palmer but it will not be my last! What a beautiful story of overcoming one's past. I loved all the references to pop culture stuff-that made the book super fun for me. Also there were a couple of scenes where I literally laughed until I couldn't breathe-chapter 13 was HILARIOUS! And don't even get me started on the ending...it was adorable. I will be reading the earlier books by Joy that feature some of the characters in this book super soon. This is a great book. I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own. Bio ~ V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com! Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VJoyPalmer/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/VJoyPalmer Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vjoypalmer_author/ Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15367051.V_Joy_Palmer Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/vjoypalmer/ Website - https://vjoypalmer.com/ Author blog - V. Joy Palmer - http://vjoypalmer.blogspot.com/ Snack Time Devotions Blog - http://snacktimedevotions.blogspot.com/ Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/author/vjoypalmer

Active Defense

 

As a former field surgeon in Afghanistan, Heather Fontaine is used to life-or-death situations. She just didn't expect them to follow her home. When she returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house--and threatened her friends--she assumes it is the stalker who has been following her and creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble has followed her even there.

Luckily, a stalker isn't the only one watching Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it's what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead--and why--before it's too late.

Bestselling and award-winning author Lynette Eason will have you looking over your shoulder as you dive into this fast-paced, suspense-filled story about losing control and finding something even better.

My Rating: 4 Stars

This was a solid suspense read from Lynette Eason. After meeting Heather and Travis in the earlier books in this series, getting their story was super fun. The mystery was very good and the excitement level of the book kept a great pace and was a page turner. Heather and Travis's growing relationship was easy and believable and didn't move too fast which I appreciated. I really liked the addition of Ryker, he was a fun character that I'd like to see more of. This was a quick, easy and an enjoyable read. Looking forward to book 4 in the series later this year. 

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

A Cowboy For Keeps

Greta Nilsson's trip west to save her ailing little sister, Astrid, could not have gone more wrong. First, bandits hold up her stagecoach, stealing all her money. Then, upon arriving in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns the man she was betrothed to as a mail-order bride has died. Homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta and her sister are worse off than when they started.

Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to get his new ranch up and running and is in town to purchase cattle when the mayor proposes the most unlikely of bargains. He'll invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt's ranch if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying and starting a family. And the mayor, who has promised to try to help Greta, has just the candidate in mind for Wyatt to marry. 

My Rating: 5 Stars

This is going to rank as one of my favorite Jody books no question. I adored Wyatt, what a cowboy hero! Astrid was a hoot and Judd was a great secondary character. The story line was really good and I enjoyed the story watching Greta and Wyatt find their happily ever after. All in all, a fantastic start to the Colorado Cowboys series and I can not wait for the rest of the series!! 

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own. 

A Future For His Twins

Will these children get their greatest wish?

A battle over a building

could lead to a mother for his twins.

Tomás Santos and Faith Latham both want to rent the same building in town, and neither is willing to give up the fight. But Tomás’s young twins want a new mom—and they’re sure Faith’s the perfect fit. Can these little matchmakers inspire Tomás and Faith to put their differences aside and become a family? 

My Rating: 4 Stars

What a sweet story with the most adorable kiddos ever! Nora and Logan are a sweet set of twins and Faith and Tom made for a great couple to root for finding happily ever after. The story moves well and kept me interested. The ending was perfect and I am looking forward to more stories about Faith and Tom's friends. If you like sweet Hallmark type romances, this is one you are sure to enjoy!!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own. 

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A Deadly Edition

 

"Til death do us part" could be closer than the bride realizes in Victoria Gilbert's tantalizing fifth Blue Ridge Library mystery.

The pursuit to acquire a rare illustrated book turns deadly, and on the eve of her upcoming wedding, library director Amy Webber is drawn into a web of treachery and betrayal that could derail her happy day—and maybe just claim her life.

Planning a wedding can be murder—sometimes literally. At a party celebrating their upcoming nuptials, Taylorsford, Virginia library director Amy Webber and her fiancé Richard Muir discover the body of art dealer Oscar Selvaggio—a bitter rival of their host, Kurt Kendrick.

Both had been in a heated battle to purchase a rare illustrated volume created by William Morris's Kelmscott Press, so suspicion immediately falls upon Kurt. Amy knows that Kurt has a closet-full of skeletons from his past—but she can't believe he's guilty of murder.

Amidst an avalanche of wedding preparations, Amy begins an investigation with the help of her aunt Lydia Talbot and the new mayor of Taylorsford, Sunshine "Sunny" Fields. Much to Lydia's dismay, her boyfriend, art expert Hugh Chen, becomes convinced of Kurt's guilt and launches an investigation of his own. As the case hits painfully close to home, the stakes become impossibly high—and the danger all too real.

My Rating: 4 Stars

Another interesting mystery featuring Amy and her friends. I enjoyed seeing Amy finally marry Richard in this book and the mystery definitely kept me guessing as I read. Another solid installment from a likable cozy series.

I received this book through NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

All of You, Always

 

Going undercover is Bella’s only hope.

Her mission?

Convince Ben to sell his inn, and she’ll get the information needed to locate the family she’s never known.

Should be simple, right? After all, he’s behind on his mortgage, and a recent earthquake has rocked the town—and his finances. His beachfront property is ripe for the picking.

But the big-city executive didn’t count on him being so stubborn. So rooted in family and tradition and everything that small-town America stands for.

She also didn’t count on him being so attractive and wounded and … good.

And Bella has to wonder if the ends really justify the means.

But more than that—can love survive a lie?

My Rating: 5 Stars

This was a charming love story. Ben and Bella are great characters that each have an interesting back story and you can't help but want them to find a happily ever after. Bella has a bit of a mystery and that made for a fun addition to the story. I am hoping we see more of the mystery in the future. A fun light read perfect for curling up for a good escape read. Don't miss it! I am looking forward to the rest of the series!!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts posted are my own honest review.

The Dress Shop On King Street

 

Harper Albright has pinned all her hopes on a future in fashion design. But when it comes crashing down around her, she returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, and to Millie, the woman who first taught her to sew. As she rethinks her own future, secrets long hidden about Millie's past are brought to light.

In 1946, Millie Middleton boarded a train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever . . . and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future.

Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston and the man who may hold the answers they seek . . . and a chance at the dress shop they've both dreamed of. But it's not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what frayed between the seams.

My Rating: 5 Stars

A really lovely story! Ashley weaves the dual timelines beautifully and gives readers a fantastic story. I loved how all the threads wove together and the ending was perfect. The characters in this book-are great especially Millie, she was quite a character with all of her back story. This was an unusual story and just wonderful. If you want a great Christian Fiction read that isn't your run of the mill story, give this one a try!


I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

The Malt In Our Stars

 

There's some shady business in Shady Creek, Vermont, this spring—in the third mystery by USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox featuring pub owner and amateur sleuth Sadie Coleman . . .

Sadie is delighted to have booked famous romantic suspense novelist Linnea Bliss for an event at The Inkwell, her literary-themed pub, housed in a renovated grist mill. The author and her personal assistant Marcie are staying at Shady Creek Manor, a grand historical hotel that was once a private mansion and is rumored to still hold hidden treasure somewhere within its walls.

But the hotel's storied past is nothing compared to its tragic present when Marcie plummets to her death from an open window on the third floor. After Sadie discovers signs of a struggle in the room, it's clear that someone assisted the assistant out the window. But Marcie is new in town—who would have a motive to kill her?

In between pulling pints and naming literary-themed cocktails, Sadie takes it on herself to solve the case, wondering if the crime is connected to the vandalized vehicles of a film crew in town to do a feature on local brewer Grayson Blake, with whom Sadie shares a strong flirtation. Or could the poor woman's defenestration have anything to do with the legendary treasure? As Shady Creek Manor prepares for a May Day masquerade ball, Sadie is determined to unmask the killer—but when she uncorks a whole lot of trouble, will she meet a bitter end?

My Rating: 5 Stars

This is fantastic mystery with great characters, a budding romance and an exciting ending!! Literary Pub has firmly cemented its place among my favorite cozy series and my must read pile. Sadie and crew are likable characters and the mysteries of this series so far have all been excellent. Can't wait for #4! I purchased the audio version of "The Malt In Our Stars' from Audible and the narration was very good. Don't miss this series if you are a cozy mystery fan!!

Courting Misfortune

 

Calista York needs one more successful case as a Pinkerton operative to secure her job. When she's assigned to find the kidnapped daughter of a mob boss, she's sent to the rowdy mining town of Joplin, Missouri, despite having extended family in the area. Will their meddling expose her mission and keep Lila Seaton from being recovered?

When Matthew Cook decided to be a missionary, he never expected to be sent only a short train ride away. While fighting against corruption of all sorts, Matthew hears of a baby raffle being held to raise funds for a children's home. He'll do what he can to stop it, but he also wants to stop the reckless Miss York, whose bad judgment consistently seems to be putting her in harm's way.

Calista doesn't need the handsome pastor interfering with her investigation, and she can't let her disguise slip. Her job and the life of a young lady depend on keeping Matthew in the dark.

My Rating: 4 Stars

This was a fun read and a great start to my 2021 reads. I really enjoyed Calista and Matthew as well as Calista's family and the other supporting characters. The storyline was interesting and had a few hilarious moments. A solid opening to Regina's new Joplin Chronicles series. Looking forward to more stories in this set.

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Jocelyn

 

WWSOD—What would Scarlett O’Hara do?

Anything to survive, that’s what. But instead of a man-eating Southern belle in hoop skirts and big hats, my version of existence looks an awful lot like a financial conglomerate employee staring blankly at budget analysis spreadsheets. Either way, the motto has served me well most my life. Until now, that is. The corporate retreat location has just been announced, and this city girl is headed to a dude ranch in the country. How will Scarlett help me survive that? No, this time I’ll turn to the sage advice of preteen YouTubers and their ponies to keep me from making a fool of myself.
But who’s going to help me navigate the kind yet reticent cowboy in the black Stetson—the cattle ranch owner who’s slowly claiming corners of my heart?

My first review of 2o21 is actually from my last fiction read for 2020. I loved this one!!

My Rating: 5 Stars

This was a PERFECT way to end my 2020 fiction reads. I absolutely adored this book, from Jocelyn and Malachi to the animals on the ranch, the ranch/cowboy premise of the book, the humor(including an Oregon Trail computer game reference) and the way Jocelyn and Malachi's relationship developed. This book was absolutely perfect. It's for sure going down as one of my most favorite reads of 2020. It was adorable!!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.