Brings unexpected gifts!A second chance. That’s what former navy SEAL Damon Woods asks for when Zuri Habib comes to Turtleback Beach with a nephew who looks just like him. After her sister’s death, Zuri believes Caden deserves to know his father—even if he did break her teenage heart. Can Damon and Zuri forgive each other and give a grieving boy the family he needs this Christmas?
My thoughts:
For my blog readers this is NOT a Christian romance, but it is clean. However I do have one complaint, which you will see below.
This is a clean romance with a wonderful Christmas theme with a great setting. Rula is a good writer who developed a great story with interesting characters. She accurately displayed the mind of a twelve year old boy and the struggles he might face.
My one complaint is the pollical statements or issues that were subtly and not so subtly made. When I read book I don’t want to be reminded of the things that divide our country and Rula hit on many things that are hot topics right now and didn’t add more the story, for me it took away because it distracted me from just wanting to relax and enjoy the book.
Overall, I did enjoy the story I just felt the issues she wrote into her story were not necessary.
When she finds the perfect place to hide from one past, another finds her.
Naomi McIntosh is running from her family’s oppressive expectations and the despicable man her father has demanded she marry. Renaming herself to live incognito, she takes a housekeeping job at the Inn at Falls Creek and promises God this false identity will be her last.
When shepherd James Roberts goes home to the Inn at Falls Creek for his sister’s wedding, he doesn’t expect the woman who once broke his heart to be working there. No matter how much he wants to be with Naomi again, he can’t go along with her charade, especially since he is trying to persuade his father to make him the heir.
Though Naomi yearns for a future with James, if she confesses her deception to everyone, her estranged fiancé will find her. And the longer James goes without telling his family the truth about Naomi—and their growing relationship—the further he jeopardizes the inheritance. But just when their relationship looks promising, the inn proves to be a poor hiding place from Naomi’s past.
Meanwhile, in Good Springs… Connor Bradshaw wrestles with the overseers’ decision to preserve the Land’s pacifist ways. His desire to build a defense system for the Land keeps him up at night, secretly scanning for radio transmissions from the warring outside world. His training to be a village overseer will require him to lay down his weapons, but a voice over the radio waves ignites his worst fears.
My thoughts:
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. I love the uniqueness of it. It reads like a historical yet it is taking place in the future.
Naomi and James’s story is sweet yet I knew things were going to go wrong at the end (of course, all books have to). I enjoyed seeing characters from the past books and how they are doing now. It also took place around Christmas which was perfect to read right now.
The tension of the outside world discovering the Land is always there and makes the reader anxious because we want these characters we have come to love to remain safe and this book ends with some great tension built up.
If you haven’t read this series yet I say what are you waiting for? Give it a try.
our soul will remember… As a woman who wasn’t born to wealth or privilege, Abigaia has mastered the art of thievery. And she’s come to hate it. Not only is she plagued by guilt, but her shadowed upbringing and silent ways cause most of her town to question her sanity.
Yet, Abigaia’s eccentric father always taught her to be proud of her heritage. Her ancestry lies across the sea, in a prominent realm she’s read about but has never seen.
The man who desires Abigaia’s hand in marriage doesn’t share her hope of seeing the Eubeltic Realm. But disaster erupts in their path, and Abigaia’s dream may have a greater purpose—if that famed domain of her ancestors is now in crucial need of her.
This book is inspirational historical fantasy: fictional history that takes place in a completely fictional world.
My thoughts:
Nadine’s books are always so unique. I never know what to expect but I am always pleasantly surprised by her stories. This book was no exception. Abigaia’s story is actually very beautiful.
This book is also a quick read. Nadine is an excellent writer, creating a story world that you will easily fall into and not want to walk away from.
I loved the characters that we get to meet in this book, Daun and Valerie. Wonderful additions to this story.
Something else I appreciate about Nadine’s books is that her characters are not perfect, that is refreshing to read.
If you are looking for something different that I recommend this read.
Inspirational Regency romance with a Christmas twist from three best-selling authors
In Joy to the World, three popular authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas in one book have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness.
“Heaven and Nature Sing” by Carolyn Miller Two music lovers, deeply devoted to each other, were on the brink of engagement when family circumstances drove them apart. How can they ever overcome their obligations and fears to find their way back into each other’s arms?
“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt One winter night, a woman struggling to provide for her illegitimate child encounters a scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars on the streets of London. Can love conquer the darkness of two broken pasts?
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch A Scots portrait painter with a hidden identity finds work at a noble manor house over the holidays. He never imagined he’d fall in love with the emotionally frozen widow there. Now he wants nothing more than to thaw her heart.
My thoughts:
This is one of the best, if not the best, Christmas collections I have read.
One thing I enjoyed was that I have read all of Carolyn’s books and I have read Erica’s current series so I got read about or see again characters from the other books. That was especially true of “Wonders of His Love”.
Each story is well done and didn’t feel rushed at all.
Whether you are looking to extend the Christmas “feels” or looking for a book for next year I highly recommend this one.
The music we listen to, the movies we watch—they’re all telling us to keep chasing love, and that we’ll finally be happy when we find it.
But is love really all we need?
The love that the world tells us to pursue is all about self, about following your heart’s desires. But what is the Christian worldview on love? When we follow Jesus, we realize that he invites us to reorient the focus of our lives, so instead of chasing love primarily for our own happiness, we are first and foremost to give love—to God and to others.
In Chasing Love, Sean McDowell will invite readers into Jesus’ radical, upside-down approach to love, and in doing so, he’ll answer some of the toughest questions we’re asking about love today: How does Jesus speak to singleness? What does the gospel say about LGBTQ issues? Can sexual sin truly be forgiven? What if I’m not happy in my marriage?
My thoughts:
I passed by this book many times until I heard the author speak on a podcast I listen to and realized this wasn’t your typical “wait until you get married” lecture. The author does a great job giving reasons why you should keep sexually pure beside “the Bible tells you so”. Which should be a good enough reason but why does the Bible tell us so? And that is where this book fills in the gap.
Not only would this book be great for teens and young adults, but parents should read this book so we can have real conversations with our kids.
Harper Dupree 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 how to sew. As Harper rethinks her own future, long-hidden secrets about Millie’s past are brought to light.
In 1946, Millie Middleton–the daughter of an Italian man and a Black woman–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 to find 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 thoughts:
This is Ashley’s debut novel and I have to say I can’t wait read her next. This book is beautifully written. So rich in narrative and she paints such vivid pictures.
Harper and Millie’s story is so powerful and so woven together. A story of forgotten dreams and dreams restored.
I will say there were times my mind kept trying to wrap itself around what was going on and who was related to who and how the generations lined up. But I eventually got a grasp on it.
If you like women’s fictions with some romance I highly recommend this book
When a quilt shop ownerfinds a former Marine’s journal,she longs to heal his heart…
When Sophie Davis sorts through a box of donated books to her church, she’s surprised to discover a soldier’s journal. As the daughter of a veteran who watched her father struggle over the years, she feels a deep connection to the man who wrote the emotional entries.
Former Marine Cole Aaron battled to find peace after returning to civilian life. He’s always needed to protect others. Now, fighting fires in Pine Hill, Kentucky helps him put out the demons within him. When Sophie shows up at the fire hall with his journal from when he’d first returned stateside, Cole can’t believe it was in the box he’d donated. Not wanting to face painful memories, he tells her to trash it.
Sophie and Cole are drawn together as they both volunteer for their community, but it’s hard for Cole to let down his guard, and he doesn’t need anyone’s pity. After all he’s been through in the past, can he find faith in a more hopeful future…one touched by joy?
This heartwarming romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Dilly Duchess Potatoes.
My thoughts:
So I will admit it. I love watching all the cheesy Hallmark movies at Christmastime, even more so this year because I just need something predictable and that I don’t have to think about. I know they are not well written pieces of work, but I love them nonetheless.
I will say, though, I thought this book was well written. It has so much more depth then the movies have, which is typical for books.
The books are even better then the moves for the reason above and because you get to become fully immersed in the town the story takes place. It’s like wrapping a warm blanket around you.
If you are still looking for a cozy Christmas story this one might be right up your alley,.
Book 9 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History
Fiction Based on Strange, But True, History
In 1907, shy but loyal Ingrid Storset travels from Norway to support her grieving sister, Belle Gunness, who owns a farm in LaPorte, Indiana. Well-to-do widow Belle, who has lost two husbands and several children, provides Ingrid with enough money to start a small business. But Ingrid is confused by the string of men Belle claims to be interviewing for her next husband. When Nils Lindherud comes to town looking for his missing brother, who said he was going to marry Belle, Ingrid has a sinking feeling her sister is up to no good.
Liz Tolsma is a popular speaker and an editor and the owner of the Write Direction Editing. An almost-native Wisconsinite, she resides in a quiet corner of the state with her husband and is the mother of three. Her son proudly serves as a U.S. Marine. They adopted all of their children internationally, and one has special needs. When she gets a few spare minutes, she enjoys reading, relaxing on the front porch, walking, working in her large perennial garden, and camping with her family.
More from Liz
This story was so much fun to write, and the research was so interesting. It has to rank up there with one of my favorite books to write. That’s what makes my job the best around.
There are a great number of characters in The Gold Digger who are historical. Many of the places I mention are also historical. I had the pleasure of spending a day in LaPorte, Indiana, to research the book and take some pictures they had in the museum there. Research is one of my favorite aspects to writing. I could have spent much, much longer losing myself in the museum and in the archives. Good thing my cousin, who I was staying with, called me to let me know that it was getting dark and she had dinner ready, otherwise who knows how long I would have been there. Probably until they kicked me out!
One thing that the people of LaPorte would want you to know is that they really are nice people and that their town is a nice town. Lots of good people have been born there or have lived there over the years, including Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, William Mayo, who founded Mayo Clinic, and William Scholl, who found Dr. Scholl’s. They kept emphasizing to me while I was there what a great place LaPorte is. Judging by their friendliness and helpfulness, I would have to agree.
To help you better visualize the characters and setting, here are some photographs of the real people and places that appear in The Gold Digger.
This is a very good one. Although, if you sensitive to some things you might want to proceed with caution. For me this book was right up my ally, since I love shows like Forensic Files. I actually looked up more information about this book before I even finished it because I found it so interesting.
Liz did a wonderful job bringing this story to life. The characters are well developed and honestly if you didn’t know how this story turned out it would keep you guessing.
It is truly a tragedy. The senseless death of so many men and the others that were taken all because of selfishness.
If you enjoy this type of story I highly recommend this book.
Set adrift on the tides of fate by the deaths of her parents and left wanting answers, Laura Callaway now lives with her uncle and his disapproving wife in North Cornwall. There she feels like a castaway, always viewed as an outsider even as she yearns to belong.
While wreckers search for valuables along the windswept Cornwall coast–known for its many shipwrecks but few survivors–Laura searches for clues to the lives lost so she can write letters to next of kin and return keepsakes to rightful owners. When a man is washed ashore after a wreck, Laura acts quickly to protect him from a local smuggler determined to destroy him.
As Laura and a neighbor care for the survivor, they discover he has curious wounds and, although he speaks in careful, educated English, his accent seems odd. Other clues wash ashore, and Laura soon realizes he is not who he seems to be. Despite the evidence against him, the mysterious man might provide her only chance to discover the truth about her parents’ fate. With danger pursuing them from every side, and an unexpected attraction growing between them, will Laura ever find the answers she seeks?
My thoughts:
An excellent book by Julie. This story is told with rich character development and vivid narration.
I could identify with Laura and how she felt like an outsider at times and like she didn’t belong. Alex seems to bring her connection.
I enjoyed all of the characters in this book and I like the ending and a bit of surprise we get, although I can’t share it here.
If you enjoy historical romance with a flare for the sea you will love this book.
To survive her deadly homecoming, she’ll need to trust a man from her past…
Temporarily home to help at her family’s vet clinic, Grace Porter has no intentions of staying—but someone’s determined she won’t live long enough to leave. With both Grace and her sister in the crosshairs, her ex-boyfriend, Police Chief Evan Bradshaw, must protect them. But can the single dad lawman uncover the truth about why a killer’s out for vengeance before time runs out?
Rhonda Starnes is a middle school language arts teacher who has dreamed of being a published author since she was in seventh grade. She lives in North Alabama with her husband, who she lovingly refers to as Mountain Man. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Rhonda writes romantic suspense with rugged heroes and feisty heroines.
More from Rhonda
Probably the number one question any author receives is “How did you come up with the idea for the story?”
When the Love Inspired editors announced, in February 2019, they were hosting The Great Love Inspired Author Search, I knew I had to enter. After all I’d spent the last six years targeting the Harlequin Love Inspired lines. This would be my fourth time entering one of their pitch contests, my third pitching to Love Inspired Suspense. The only problem was I didn’t have anything new to enter. They’d already seen all of my manuscripts.
I follow the Love Inspired editors on social media, so I had read several posts on themes and settings they’d like to see. One editor had even mentioned Colorado as a setting she’d like to see in a book. This started my wheels turning because my husband and I lived in Colorado for a few months when we were first married. We loved our time there and have often talked about going back one day. I started researching parts of the state that we didn’t get to visit when we lived there, and then I created the fictional small town of Blackberry Falls.
I’d had an idea in the back of my head for while about a story that involved a heroine who wasn’t in law enforcement but who witnessed a crime while on video chat. That’s how I came up with Grace Porter, a veterinarian who had run away from her small-town roots. And what’s a homecoming story without a reunion romance? Enter, Police Chief Evan Bradshaw, the man Grace had left behind. Once I had the opening scene, main character, and setting in place, everything else just kind of evolved from there.
Another very good Love Inspired Suspense Romance. I really enjoyed this book and was surprised to learn in was Rhonda’s first Love Inspired books.
I, of course, loved the dog in this book, who wouldn’t appreciate that?
The author had me guessing until the end about what was actually going on and who was behind the attacks. Grace had a lot of prejudices against the small town she grew up in and I wanted her to see the good things that were happening in her town.
Overall, a sweet romance and suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Genesis 5020 