An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter

Lord Trent and Lady Adelaide are complete 100% strangers... Is it possible to learn to love each other during their uncommon courtship? 




Hey Readers,
What makes you read a book that is not something you would normally read, Is is the cover, the information on the back of the book, Online reviews , an Author that you are familiar with ?
So I had the opportunity to review a book that was little bit outside of my comfort zone. I recognized the author because I have read some of her books. But as I was reading the book, I realized that this book was 100%  a romance novel ( should have known that by the title... Right?!) But anyways, I just finished Kristi Ann Hunter's newest book An Uncommon Courtship and here is what it was about.

An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter is the story of Lord Trent Hawthorne and Lady Adelaide Bell unusual relationship. Lord Trent always had his idea of marriage, He would meet a girl, fall desperately in love and sweep her off her feet and then marry her,  But his plan as often happens with our plans was not what God had in mind. ( This event happens before the book starts) So Trent heard a noise in an old stone ruins and his curiosity got the better of him. When he went to investigate, the floor fell out from under him, trapping him and the reason for the noise, Lady Adelaide Bell. Trent and Adelaide were not able to be rescued until the next morning and to save Lady Adelaide's reputation, Lord Trent proposes to her and this is where the book starts. Lord Trent is unsure how to proceed with his relationship with Lady Adelaide because he never had any kind of relationship with a girl. So he first decides that he will ignore her by putting all of his work first and then by hiding away in his study. Unfortunately all that did was make Adelaide upset because all she heard from him was a note that he would leave her each evening , asking various things, like did she need anything, what time was dinner, that kind of thing so she felt like he was going to leave her without giving her a chance . So when that did not work, Trent decides to court Adelaide figuring that if they were to get to know each other , they eventually would fall in love. So he moves in with his brother and comes to "court" Adelaide every afternoon. At first it is incredibly awkward. They both cannot find anything to say to each other. But slowly they start to warm up to each other and find small things to talk about.
 Adelaide has no idea how to run a household because her Mother only gave lessons to her older sister Helena and Adelaide is beyond confused.  Thankfully the Lord sent Trent's family , ( His Mother Lady Blackstone and his two sisters, Lady Georgina and Lady Miranda) to help her with anything she needs help with.  As Trent and Adelaide  seem to make a bit of progress,  Something happens between the two and now they are almost back to square one. Trent is afraid that he hurt his wife that he believes he is starting to love and Adelaide is afraid that Trent feels like she is an obligation.  Will Trent and Adelaide grow to love each other as a husband and wife should?  Trent says that this was God's plan for him and Adelaide, but does he actually believe in his heart that it is true or does he say it to make the situation seem better then it is?
You would have to read the book to find out!

What did I think about the book? 
So this is the third book in the Hawthorne House Series (fourth if you include the prequel Novella).
I have read all three books prior to this one and they were not as romantic.
This book although part of a series can be read as a standalone.
So though the book was great as a whole and I thoroughly enjoyed the witty relationship that Trent and Adelaide had towards the end of the book, there were several romantic scenes that were described not inappropriately but were moments that were awkward for me to read as a unmarried single young lady because they were private moments to be shared between a husband and his wife.  *Again, Nothing was described explicitly or inappropriately though it was implied.*
What I did love was the fact that when Trent needed advice about his marriage, He went to the best source possible, the Bible for guidance. Overall I liked the book and the storyline but wished that it did not have such private romantic moments. Overall I give it 3.5 stars. ***


So although this one was not one of my favorite books, I thoroughly enjoyed her previous ones, You can check it out by going to her website by clicking on this link :
http://www.kristiannhunter.com/bookshelf

You can also get the Prequel, A Lady of Esteem ebook FREE!
Here is the links
Barnes and Noble : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-lady-of-esteem-kristi-ann-hunter/1121700660?ean=9781441228796

Amazon Kindle : https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Esteem-Hawthorne-House-Novella-ebook/dp/B00VQR2NOW


Happy Reading :) 


  I would like to thank Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy. I was not asked to write a favorable review, Just a honest one.

A Moonbow Night by Laura Frantz

In an uncertain time, 
              Tempe faces a choice,
One that will change her life forever...





Hello Readers,
I cannot believe we are halfway through January 2017!
I have found out about some fantastic books coming out this year that I cannot wait to read and tell you guys about, Is there any books that you are looking forward too?
Well, while we wait for some new books, I wanted to let you know about an amazing new book that I just finished, ( I think it was the first book I read completely in 2017) It is called A Moonbow Night by Laura Frantz.

A Moonbow Night by Laura Frantz is the story of Temperance Grace Tucker (aka Tempe) whose family runs the Moonbow Inn next to the Shawnee River. Tempe is a smart young women with a broken heart. On the day before her wedding, her fiancé James was killed during an Indian ambush that also crippled her brother and damaged his mind.  Not a single day goes by that she does not think about James and what their lives could have been like, So when she meets the rugged, tough Surveyor Sion Morgan she is not in the least bit interested in him, except to find out what he is doing there and how long he plan to stay.

Sion Morgan is in charge of a small group of men surveying the Kentucke wilderness. He is also writing a field book about the trees, wildlife and land that they come across. One day he feels someone watching him and when he looks behind him all he can see is an indigo skirt. Since people out there in the middle of the wilderness was uncommon he gave chase and was surprised when his mysterious stranger disappeared into to the fictional Moonbow Inn. Sion later learns that the" doe-eyed girl in the indigo skirt" name is Tempe. He tries to talk with her but she is very closed off, very guarded.  So he just goes back to his group and continues to press forward until one of his men gets bit by a venomous snake. He knows the only way to keep his friend alive is to get some medical help so they both return to the Inn. It is not long before Sion realizes that he needs a guide, Someone who knows the lay of the land and could help them arrive safely ( no guarantees) to their destination.  He has heard that Tempe knows everything about the land and requests her help as their guide but Tempe does not want to go with the group not only because it would be awkward, but it would not be proper for one woman to travel with a group of men . But after her father's insistence that she lead the men away from the Inn, She reluctantly becomes their guide. The small group continues forward and as they continue, Tempe finds herself oddly attracted to Sion even though he is not someone that she would normally befriend and because she is not willing to let go of James. Can God help her get past the buried feelings of despair and hurt because of the death of the one she loved so that she can love another ? Will Sion be able to love someone again after what happened to his family?
Will the group be able to safely make it through the dangerous wilderness with Indian Warriors close behind them?
I suggest you read the book to find out!


What did I think of the book?
Wow, I have never read any books by Laura Frantz but I was intrigued by the cover so I decided to read this one and boy have I been missing out on some fantastic books!  This book was amazing! The details the author describes about the places, the waterfalls and especially the moonbow make you feel like you are there in the Kentucke wilderness with Tempe and Sion. But I am giving you a bit of warning,  If you are like me and get really into a story be careful. When the Indians attacked them I was actually on the edge of my seat, and when her Indian acquaintance, Raven had to decide if he would betray Tempe or save her life,  I was literally holding my breath until I read what happened.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction with a bit of romance, an intriguing plot and a touch of suspense. Overall I give the book 5 out of 5 Stars! *****



If you want to check out her other amazing books, Here is the link: 
http://laurafrantz.net/



Happy Reading :) 


I would like to thank Revell , A division of Baker Publishing Group for allowing me to review this book in exchange for a free copy, I was not required to write a favorable review, just an honest one.

For the Record by Regina Jennings

 
 Rather than Wait for a Hero,
Betsy Huckabee Decided to Create One


Merry Christmas Readers!   

I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday.
I know that the focus around the holidays is often getting and giving gifts but I pray that this year we remembered that Christmas is not about all of the gifts we gave or the things we received but about the tiny baby boy, born in a manger over 2,000 years ago, Our Savior who was sent down to earth. Jesus Christ was the first Christmas present to everyone all around the world.

So even though this time of year is incredibly busy and I have felt like I was running around in circles,  I was able to finish a wonderful new book by Regina Jennings. This story put a smile on my face and I hope it does the same to you when you read it.

For the Record by Regina Jennings is the story of Betsy Huckabee, a girl who dreams of living on her own, writing for a big city newspaper and being independent. The only problem with her plan? No one outside of Pine Gap, Missouri wants her articles. They like her writing style but the stories are not what they are looking for. So she decides to look for something different to write about...
Deputy Joel Puckett reluctantly left his home in Texas after some complicated circumstances made him have two options. Transfer to  the middle of nowhere or lose his badge. He decides to go to Pine Gap but is shocked when he is greeted by a gang of men on horseback wearing burlap masks, screaming and carrying bundles of sticks.  Joel immediately confronts the men and ask who they are but all they said was that they were " The Law".  The men disappear and as Joel is trying to find his way to town he runs into a young women  named Betsy. Joel has vowed to stir clear of women because of the before mentioned circumstances in Texas so he tries to get away from her but she seems to stick to him like glue. With all of these things happening on his first night in Pine Gap, Joel is beginning to wonder if he is in over his head.
Betsy cannot believe her luck! Her story just literally walked into town. The new deputy from Texas with his handsome smile and good looks is the perfect inspiration for the articles she has decided to write. So she creates the fictional character, The Dashing Deputy, Eduardo Pickett. He is a man so handsome that ladies swoon when he gets near them. He always right on time and always saves the day. So Betsy begins to follow Joel around since after all, he is her inspiration. So anytime he does something small, The " Dashing Deputy" does the same thing but a bit more dramatically.  Betsy is thrilled when she gets word that several big city newspapers want her articles so she continues to create her stories and is so excited when she receives the bigger cities newspaper, that she eagerly looks for her stories and is shocked to find them on the 2nd page news!  She wrote those stories to put in the women's "fluff " piece section, because it is fiction, not news! However Betsy decides to continue sending her stories even though the stories are not true, because no one in Pine Gap reads the bigger cities newspaper so they will never find out... Right?!
Joel is having a hard time fitting in. The townfolk are weary of him because the previous Sheriff did not do his job  and the crime had gotten bad. Joel also discovered that the gang of men he encountered on his first night were the towns "vigilantes" . They were the ones who kept the peace in the town.  He is also finding himself attracted to the quirky yet independent Betsy Huckabee who seems to follow him everywhere. but when the trouble in Texas finds him in Pine Gap, Will he lose his badge forever?

Guess you will have to read it to find out!


What did I think of the book?
 So this is the the third book in the Ozark Mountain Romance series but I read the book as a standalone. 
I thought the book was wonderful!  I love the characters and the interaction between Joel and Betsy. I loved reading Betsy writings about "The Dashing Deputy" and her very exaggerated accounts of what the Deputy was doing around town. Though there is no suspense in the plot,  the slight bit of romance and the charming characters make the book hard to put down. It was especially hard to put it down when Betsy ... Oh, I can't tell you because I would ruin the story :)
I would recommend this book  for anyone looking for a witty, historical romance novel.
  Overall I give it 5 out of 5 Stars *****




So I have not read that many of Regina Jennings books but I have enjoyed this one and her most recent Novella, Her Dearly Unintended ( You can find it in  "With This Ring" a collection of Proposals gone awry)  so much that I can't wait to check out her other books.
If you want to check this book out or her other fantastic writings, Here is the link!
http://www.reginajennings.com/for-the-record


  I would like to thank Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy. I was not asked to write a favorable review, Just a honest one.

Fatal Frost by Nancy Mehl

As the storm worsens and the forces of nature combine with a deadly enemy... Can they survive long enough for help to arrive - If help is coming at all?



Hey Readers,
I am sitting here looking out my window wondering when winter will arrive here in Virginia. It is almost 70 degrees and raining, it truly feels more like a late summer shower then the last day of November. So what do you do when you want to feel the chill of winter but it is still not cold outside?  How about reading my next "Must Read" Fatal Frost by Nancy Mehl. It is a frosty, story about what happens when the forces of nature ( snow, lots and lots of snow) combine with a deadly enemy to present an incredible challenge for the characters in the book. Really there is enough snow in the book to freeze the Sahara Desert.


So Fatal Frost is the story of U.S Marshal Mercy Brennan.  The book starts with Mercy getting shot in the shoulder by a gang member as they were raiding the house of a known gang leader. But as Mercy is recovering from being shot, she is surprised by her dad showing  up to reconnect with her.  Her dad had abandoned her family when she was ten years old ,  Because of that Mercy has hardened herself so that she could never be hurt again so she is not eager to forgive her father but she does agree to meet with him.  During their lunch meeting, she noticed that he seemed agitated and the way he was speaking to seemed like he was saying goodbye... So she was not surprised to find out that later that evening her dad was murdered by a gang in the middle of St Louis.  But she is surprised when someone breaks into her house during the funeral.
 Lieutenant Tally Williams of the St Louis Police Department, Mercy’s best friend and U.S Marshall Mark St. Laurent, Mercy’s ex-boyfriend/Partner are worried about Mercy’s safety.  It appears that she is the next target of the gang because they believe her dad gave her a USB with video evidence of something that could ruin their plans for their city. So knowing that she would never leave St Louis without a reason, Their Supervisor’s set up a simple case to send the three of them on. Mercy finds it strange that she was to check on a situation that she has not been told anything about and but stranger then that was having Tally and Mark as her partners but had learned to do as she was told. While they were on route to their destination, suddenly a horrible, violent snow storm approaches their location, leaving slick streets and blinding snow which causes them to veer off the road and crash into a tree. Now instead of keeping Mercy safe, they are stranded in the middle of a snowstorm and no one knows where they are.   When they finally get to their destination, something seems off to Mercy, She quickly discovers that the person they were checking on is not who he appears to be. Later in the evening, it appears that someone told the gang Mercy’s location.  What will Mercy do when she discovers the real reason that Tally and Mark brought her there? What will they do when they discover they are stuck in the middle of nowhere with a snowstorm that gets worse by the minute and their backup does not even know where they are?  Can they survive long enough to get help or will their mission to keep Mercy safe end up costing them all their lives?

You will have to read this book to find out!

What did I think about the book?
So this is book 1 of the Defenders of Justice series and I cannot wait for the rest of the series!
The book was full of nail biting moments and the plot grabs you from the beginning and does not let go until the end. There is a slight lag in the middle but it quickly picks right back up. The  characters were good, I loved how strong Mercy was, That she was not the "damsel in distress" type. I loved the way Mark showed his faith in a way that made it real to Mercy and Tally. He did not mention it every few minutes but they could tell by his actions and his faith was contagious. The only thing that I did not like in the story was that the ending seemed rushed. I know that if it really happened it would have probably seemed that fast but I had to read it about 3 times because I was sure that I had missed something.  The book had led up to an epic ending which it was, but I just thought that seemed rushed, cut off a bit. It may be that it will continue in the next book which would make the ending a "sort of, cliff hanger" but I guess we will have to wait and see. There are guns and some small amounts of violence but nothing graphic or descriptive. I would recommend this book to someone who wants to read an exciting criminal fiction book that has just a small bit of romance. Overall I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. *****


Hey, Don't forget to check out her other books, Here is the link!
http://nancymehl.com/books/


Happy Reading :)




I would like to thank Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy. I was not asked to write a favorable review, Just a honest one.

Another Day, Another Dali by Sandra Orchard

The World of Art Theft can be a deadly game -
                   One that Serena Jones understands all too well. 






Hey Readers,
I cannot believe that Thanksgiving was this past Thursday.
When I think about how much God has blessed me and those around me I cannot help but think that we have so much to be thankful for:
We live in an amazing country where we are free to speak and think,
We have homes, families and jobs.
 We have been saved by Grace through the blood of Jesus
And, we have wonderful, fantastic christian books to read!
Books like my next "Must Read" by Sandra Orchard!

Another Day, Another Dali by Sandra Orchard is the story of FBI agent Serena Jones who is a magnet for trouble.
Serena's Grandmother ( Nana) approaches her one day after work with an "unofficial" case, Nana's best friend Gladys had a painting (a painting by Salvador Dali, worth more then a million dollars) that was stolen and replaced with a very good forgery. Gladys does not want anyone to know about her stolen painting which is why it has to be "unofficial".  Serena decides to take the case hoping to get on her Nana's good side because she feels like Nana blames her for her Grandfather's murder. So Serena decides to look into Gladys adult children first because they all have motive, and the opportunity to commit the crime. But the deeper Serena gets into Gladys's case , the more confusing it gets, Everyone may have had the means or the opportunity to have commit the crime but their records are spotless and they all seem to have solid alibis. Serena still believes it had to be an inside job because there were no signs of forced entry or anything out of the ordinary.
 Serena is determined to solve Gladys case but she also has to focus on her job, which has her working undercover trying to locate a stolen Renoir. They found a very nice forgery of the Renoir at a drug dealers house but now she has to locate the original . And as if those two cases were not enough, She was helping one of her best friends and co-workers, Tanner on a surveillance mission and is now being targeted by the Russian mob. They saw her with Tanner and now they believe that she is his girlfriend. They figure that if they threaten her, they can get to Tanner. Serena tries to juggle the two cases and watch her back but it seems like she is not getting anywhere on either case!  She is starting to wonder if somehow, the two cases may be linked but she has no idea how.
Serena must rely on her skills and her friends to escape the danger that lurks within every shadow,
But will she be able to solve the case or will it be another masterpiece that is lost forever?

This is one epic showdown you do not want to miss!


What did I think about the book?
Another Day, Another Dali is the second book in the Serena Jones Mystery series. I have read the first book ( A Fool and his Monet) but this book could definitely be read as a standalone. I love the main character Serena. I love her knack for getting in trouble, her witty responses and her courage.  I also love the relationships between Serena, Tanner and Nate. It is so funny to read about how both of the boys are in love with Serena and she is completely unaware. I also like Serena's cat, Harold.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a quirky, fun, humorous Mystery novel with a slight pinch of romance . Overall I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars! *****


Hey, Don't forget to check out Sandra's other books, She has some that look Awesome! 
Here is the link to all of her books: 
http://sandraorchard.com/my-books/


Happy Reading :) 


I would like to thank Revell , A division of Baker Publishing Group for allowing me to review this book in exchange for a free copy, I was not required to write a favorable review, just an honest one.

Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[ have been called according to his purpose.     Romans 8:28



Hey Readers,

It is almost the start of the Holiday season and the perfect time to start a new book if you can find the time to squeeze in a cute romance story with some twists and turns, especially if you have ever felt like you weren’t good enough.  You know what I mean, like you always do everything to the best of your ability but you never seem to be able to do it as good as you want to do it or someone else does it better.  Well in my latest “Must Read” Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson, the main character Caden Holt deals with these same issues and a few more... so on to the story.

When Two Hearts Meet is the story of Caden Holt, the executive chief at the beautiful Red Door Inn located near the shores of Prince Edward Island, Canada.  Caden is happiest when she is in the kitchen making delicious creations like her amazing mouthwatering cinnamon rolls. It is her “happy place”.  But she was not happy at all when a handsome stranger comes through the back door into her kitchen.  Later she learns from her boss Marie Sloan that the stranger was actually a guest named Adam Jacobs.  Marie is convinced that Adam is a journalist for a prestigious Travel magazine who was sending someone secretly to review the Inn, So Marie assigns Caden with the task of showing Adam around the Island so that he could see the natural beauty of the shores , he could meet some of the locals and hopefully fall in love with the island and give them an amazing review.

Adam Jacobs is a journalist for America Today and was on a forced vacation. He was sent there to relax and rest because he was taking it hard that an article he wrote had been a fatal mistake and he could not seem to write anymore.  He also found out that his editor put him at the Red Door Inn specifically because it was connected to a bigger story in Boston. A story of course his editor wanted him to write even though he was not writing anymore. When he inquired as to what the connection between the Inn and the article he was supposed to write was, all his editor would say was that in involved the Inn’s owner Marie.  When he arrives at the Inn,  He enters through the back door (accidentally) and is immediately struck by the heavenly smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls .  He also finds himself intrigued by the light heart-ed chief at the Inn.  At first Caden is hesitant about showing the Island to Adam but slowly she finds herself warming up to him a bit. Though she loves the Island, she always explored it by herself so showing Adam around took a lot of courage but as they starting spending more time together she found that talking to Adam was not as hard as she thought, in fact she started to look forward to it... Until she realized that Adam is not who they thought he was and the article he is writing, is not what they thought.  Caden now sees the reality of the situation that she may not only lose the job she loves but also the man who stole her heart.

You will have to read the book to find out what happens! 

What did I think about the book?

So this is book 2 of the Prince Edward Island Dreams Series by Liz Johnson and though I have read book one, you could definitely read this book as a standalone. The Characters are so likeable especially Caden. You see how even though she did not think she was good enough (in more areas then one) that she kept her faith In God and kept doing what she was doing. One thing that I love is the fact that Adam was not attracted to her because of her looks but because of her serving and joyful heart.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a book with a fantastic storyline and a bit of romance.  I would say it is like watching a really good Hallmark Movie.  Overall I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars *****

If you would like to check out more of Liz Johnson's books, Here is the Link! 

http://www.lizjohnsonbooks.com/books/ 

Happy Reading :) 

 I would like to thank Revell , A division of Baker Publishing Group for allowing me to review this book in exchange for a free copy, I was not required to write a favorable review, just an honest one.

                                        

Tangled Webs by Irene Hannon

Finn has packed away his combat instincts-
But he may need them again when danger begins
to stalk his quiet hidaway



Hey Readers,
Christmas is coming so quick and so is winter which means that I can start sitting in front of my fire place, cuddling with my cat while reading a book that I cannot seem to put down. My newest "Must Read" is one of the those books that grab you from the first page and you don't want to put the book down until the very last page.  It is a great choice for any winter reading list.
So here is my lastest "Must Read" Tangled Webs by Irene Hannon.


 In Irene Hannon's book, Tangled Webs - Finn McGregor a retiring Army Ranger, has found himself renting a cabin in the middle of the woods in  Beaumont, Mo to get some breathing room away from his very overprotective brothers. He has decided to take a month off to relax and to recover both physically and mentally after a tramatic experience that he had in the Middle East. But his tranquil retreat is interrupted by a loud piercing scream in the middle of the night. He knows that he only has one neighbor so he runs over to her house to save her... from a nightmare.
Dana Lewis a romance novel editor, is staying at her Grandparents cabin in the woods. She is staying at the cabin because it is isolated and it will give her the time to heal from a tramatic experience of her own that has left her injured . She is even more suprised when she wakes up one night to discover her neighbor had broken in to her house... to save her?
Finn is not sure why but he feels drawn to this beautiful neighbor. but it is obvious that they both feel the same sort of attraction. Both of them are starting to look forward to Finn's month of relaxation because of the time they will spend together but unfortunatly it appears some one wants Dana to leave. Finn's military training seems to kick in and he is detirmined to help her find out who is trying to scare her off her property. First her dock is vandalized, then her boat and then her shed is set on fire!  Finn is worried that the person who is trying to get Dana to leave will take more extreme measures because she has not left yet and has no current plans to. Finn decides to watch her house each night so that he can make sure that she is safe. While he was watching one night , he noticed someone getting out of Dana's lake. When Dana and Finn go to investigate, they find a buckle for scuba diving...
Dana wonders why anyone would would want or need to go diving in her lake,  Especially in the middle of the night. What were they looking for?  Was something buried in her lake?
The more Dana and Finn research these strange occurances, the more questions they seem to have.
Will they be able to untangle these strange circumstances or will they leave in order to stay safe.
The danger is inevitable but will they survive tangled web they have fallen in?

You will have to read the book to find out!

What did I think?
So this is the third and final book in the Men of Valor series.  I have read book 2 but this book could definitely be read as a standalone. I love all of the characters in the book, especially Finns brothers. I almost died laughing when I read the part when they meet Dana. It reminded me of what my siblings would do if I introduced them to a special "friend". I like that she gave you a back story for the person responsible for some of the trouble that Dana is facing. You almost feel sorry for him even though he is one of the "bad guys". Overall this book is incredibly well written and I would recommend them to anyone who likes a suspense novel with a side of romance.  Overall I rate the book 5 out of 5 Stars! *****


Irene Hannon writes some amazing suspense novels, You need to check them out by clicking on the link below.
http://www.irenehannon.com/books.html

Happy Reading :) 


I would like to thank Revell , A division of Baker Publishing Group for allowing me to review this book in exchange for a free copy, I was not required to write a favorable review, just an honest one.