Love on a Deadline: An August Wedding Story

Love on a Deadline, written by Kathryn Springer, is the latest in the Year of Weddings novella series.  MacKenzie “Mac” Davis left her small hometown to see the world outside.  After her father experiences a heart attack, she quickly returns home to look after him.  She is able to take advantage of her journalism degree when she gets a job working at the weekly newspaper.  You will be as surprised as she is when her latest assignment brings her face-to-face with her high school crush!

Ethan Channing has come back to town to help his sister, Hollis, quietly work on planning her wedding to a famous celebrity.  This is just the type of story Mac's boss wants covered.  Mac, living next door to the Channing's "mansion" on the lake, is just the person with the ability to get an inside scoop on this story!

Mac cannot believe how much has changed will both Hollis, her high-school nemesis, and Ethan, her high school crush.  Watch and see how this tale turns out differently than Mac could have ever imagined!


I received this book from Zondervan in exchange for my unbiased review

The Sea Keeper's Daughter

The Sea Keeper's Daughter is the latest novel by Lisa Wingate.  You meet Whitney Monroe as she is heading out to North Carolina's Outer Banks in an attempt to save the Excelsior, an old hotel that is her inheritance.  This is the book for you, if you enjoying reading tales about the early history of the United States of America!

Whitney's story is set in current day; however, there are many jumps back to a story surrounding the days that her great aunt, Alice, experienced during The Great Depression.  You quickly learn that Whitney is going through her own personal struggles, while she is attempting to sort out the story and value of the Excelsior!

The beginning pages of this book were hard for me to easily read; however, during the last one hundred pages or so, I could hardly put this book down!  And boy, was it ever a great ending, full of surprises! 

Enjoy the read!


I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review

Love Takes the Cake: A September Wedding Story

Love Takes the Cake is the most recent novella by Betsy St. Amant.  You meet Charlotte, who owns the local bakery, The Dough Knot, on the opening pages.  She notices when a handsome regular enters her shop, as he seems to every Tuesday.  But this Tuesday is different.  This Tuesday his best friend enters behind him with his Bridezilla fiance!

These friends of Will's want Charlotte to provide the baked goods for their wedding; however, when the bride cannot decide which flavor she wants, they ask Will to assist with the decision needed for their big day!  As you watch Charlotte and Will manage making the needed decisions, you soon learn that they are both carrying major pain from their pasts!

This little novella is full of emotion as you see Charlotte and Will not only deal with these past hurts, but also come to terms with the reality of the feelings growing between them!

This tale is definitely worth the read!


I received this book from Zondervan in exchange for my unbiased review

 

After a Fashion

After a Fashion, by Jen Turano, is a high action tale that tells the story of Miss Harriot Peabody, a poor hat maker, making an agreement with Mr. Oliver Addleshaw, one of the wealthiest men in 1882 New York City!

Harriet's first meets Oliver when she is in the midst of a highly charged conflict with two wealthy women.  These women are acquaintances of Oliver's.  Harriet has been sent to fit one of these women with some newly purchased hats; however, the situation ends up with Harriet losing her job!  Oliver soon suggests that he hire Harriet to assist him in securing a highly sought-after financial deal with a duke.  When he next suggests that Harriet present herself as his fiance, she knows that she is in a situation that is way over her head!

Harriet gets herself in some very awkward situations while trying to fit into Oliver's world, like setting a high-end restaurant on fire!  When Harriet's aunt shows up on the scene wanting to try to blackmail some of the wealthy people that Oliver knows, you know that she will need someone to come to her rescue!

Hang on for this fun ride as you watch Harriet navigate in this world that is completely opposite to what she has known all her life!  Will Oliver protect Harriet from her aunt's vicious motives?

Hang on for a wonderful surprise at the end of this tale!

Counting on a Cowboy

The latest by Debra Clopton, Counting on a Cowboy, is a fun read.  You are introduced to Abby Knightly as she is driving down the road towards Wishing Springs, Texas.  As Abby is desperately trying to keep her eyes open and not fall asleep, she suddenly sees a huge cow and then a cowboy in the high beams of her car!

Abby crashes her car into a fence post, but she is thankful that all lives are safe.  When she meets the cowboy, Bo Monahan, she recognizes him from a TV special put on about him and his brother, Tru, by his soon-to-be sister-in-law, Maggie.  After Abby has a melt down at the sight of herself bleeding, Bo drives her to his ranch to get cleaned up.  They are both surprised to find a one-year-old child on his front porch!

As Abby begins to help Bo deal with the fact that he now has a son to raise, you quickly learn that Abby has issues of her own from the past.  And they are serious issues!  She cannot come to terms with the truth that she lost her husband and her pregnancy in a terrible car crash!

As Bo and Abby quickly are sensing feelings growing between them, will Bo be able to help Abby deal with her painful past and allow God to free her heart to love again!


I received this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my unbiased review

Stealing Jake

The novel Stealing Jake, written by Pam Hillman, is being re-released.  This novel tells the tale of Livy O'Brien, who after leaving Chicago (where she was known as Light-Fingered Livy), is trying to leave her past behind her by relocating to a small, quiet town in Illinois! 

Livy is working hard to establish an orphanage in Chestnut, Illinois.  When she notices a boy trying to pick-pocket on the streets of town, her heart instantly goes out to this young child.  It brings back memories of her former life.  When serious robberies begin occurring in town, the homeless children seen around town are immediately accused of being responsible.  Livy knows she must prove that these children are not guilty of these acts!

As Livy is trying to locate where these children are hiding, she runs into the town deputy, Jake Russell. As Livy tries to convince Jake of the children's innocence, the situation becomes complicated when feelings begin to grow between them!

As Livy and Jake try to solve the question of who is committing these crimes, will Livy let down her guard to this man who only wants to love her?

I enjoyed reading this tale and would recommend it to anyone who likes seeing an example of how God can redeem lives and lead them to walk a path that honors and glorifies Him!

 
I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest Series: A Medieval Fairy Tale

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is the latest novel in Melanie Dickerson's series A Medieval Fairy Tale.  On the opening pages, you meet Odette Menkels as she is quietly moving through the Thornbeck forest.  She is attempting to poach deer in the Margrave's game park in order to share the meat with the homeless children!

Odette is living with her uncle, a wealthy businessman in town, and they are constantly in fear of her being caught poaching.  When Odette meets Jorgen Hartman at the Midsummer's Eve festival, she only wants to learn more about him.  She finds him very attractive and likes his manner toward her; however, when she discovers that he is the Margrave's forester, she knows she must use caution around him to avoid being caught!

As Odette and Jorgen's friendship begins to blossom into something more,  you cannot help but be nervous every time Odette takes her bow and arrow and heads into the woods.  Will Jorgen finally catch the poacher he has been seeking?  When he realizes it is Odette, will he be able to save her?

This is yet another exciting tale for young readers!


I received this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my unbiased review