"The Wonder of You"

I absolutely loved the latest book in Susan May Warren's Christiansen Family series!  This book focused on  Amelia, the youngest of the Christiansen siblings.  Amelia has also been watched over by her siblings whom all feel like they need to protect her and make decisions for her.  Amelia returns home feeling like a failure, yet also confused as her heart is being pulled in two different directions and by two different men.  While "The Wonder of You" is Amelia's story, it also continues on with what is going on in all of the other siblings' lives.  I am so looking forward to the next book in the series, yet also I am sad as it will be the last one in this series about this family whom I have enjoyed spending so much time with. 


*Thanks to Tyndale Blog Network for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

"Love Arrives in Pieces"

Book info

About the book: Love Arrives in Pieces (Zondervan, June 2015) For so long, Stella was known for her beauty. Now, with her heart stripped bare, she must discover who she really is. Former pageant queen Stella Varland doesn't trust beauty anymore after her divorce. Her appearance betrayed her and led to brokenness, so instead of being beautiful, now she tries to make beautiful things, but she always falls short. So she keeps her passion for art to herself and focuses on her interior design work. But if she doesn't get another job soon, she'll be stuck living with her parents. Contractor Chase Taylor is determined to live a life of no regrets after losing his fiancée. Now he lives life at full speed, striving to see how much he can accomplish. He knows if he slows down, he'll fall apart. So he returns home to Bayou Bend to renovate the town's old theater and is shocked to discover that the designer for the project is his old flame, Stella. Forced to work together, Chase and Stella battle their chemistry and past as they struggle to compromise and work together on a vision for the theater. Their wills clash as they attempt to hide their brokenness---and their unresolved feelings for each other-until Chase discovers the hidden parts of Stella, while losing her trust in the process. A near catastrophe, a fire, and a small-town gossip mill finally force Stella and Chase to realize that they have a choice---to hold on to the shards of their pasts, or surrender their fragmented pieces to the One who makes a beautiful masterpiece from their brokenness. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1NfxL7S  About the author: Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana with her young daughter and has a heart for sharing the amazing news of God's grace through her novels. A freelance journalist, Betsy is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she's not reading, writing, or singing along to a Disney soundtrack with her daughter, Betsy enjoys inspirational speaking and teaching on the craft of writing. Find Betsy online: website, Facebook My Review: I really enjoyed this latest book from Betsy St. Amant.  Betsy has done an incredible job with sharing a powerful message through this story, the message that God can make broken things beautiful.  There are so many moments that we may feel defeated, broken, discouraged, things are not going right, but then other moments that show us that God is in control and things are good.  This was a sweet love story as Stella's fairytale did not turn out to be a happily ever after and she does not believe she will ever end up with that, but then things change.  However, secrets get in the way and trust is broken.  This is a powerful story with relatable characters.  To read other reviews included on this blog tour, go here! *Thanks to the Litfuse Publicity Group for including me on this blog tour and for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

"Summer's List"

Book info

About the book: Summer's List (River North, June 2015) A dying wish alters the course of a young woman's life. Life hadn't been easy for Summer Snow. In acts of selflessness---caring for her ailing parents and running her grandmother's bookstore---she had forfeited her youth and dreams for the needs of others. And the only tries she had at love . . . didn't turn out. She had the bookstore, she had her beloved granny, but she was missing something---or someone. Opportunity strikes when Granny sends Summer on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer's past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way? Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1GKqprL About the author: Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends. Find Anita online: website, Twitter, Facebook My Review: "Summer's List" is a sweet, touching read. Summer set aside her own dreams to care for others and although she did this she has been content with her life and how it is turning out.  However, one night her life is completely turned upside down - Summer is suddenly single, she finds out devastating news from her grandmother and she is given a list on gold paper.  I realty enjoyed this book, the storyline, the characters, how nicely the story flowed and everything that was woven into the story.  This is a quick read as you are not going to want to put it down as you will become completely immersed in the story and in Summer's life and fulfilling the list.  To read other reviews included on this blog tour, go here! *Thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for including me on this blog tour and for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

"The Little Paris Bookshop"

"The Little Paris Bookshop" appealed to me with the blurb that I read as I love books, bookshops, everything books.  However, there was so much more to this story than I initially thought and I was drawn right into the story and into the book world.  Psychology is a big part of this book as well and I have a degree in psychology so this made the book even more so appealing to me.  The characters each have their own quirks, and this with the love, secrets, guilt and forgiveness make it an irresistible read.  I was caught up in the story and transported to a different part of the world and into the minds of these individuals and into the lives that they have built for themselves and also into the world of books.  This would be a great book to lose yourself in this summer while lounging on the beach or relaxing in the shade at home or anywhere you enjoy to read. 

For more information about this book, go here!

And you can even read chapter 1! http://www.readitforward.com/book-apothecary/

** "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

"Two Roads Home"

Book info

About the book: Two Roads Home (Abingdon Press, June 2015) What if it's too late for dreams to come true? Minor---but-nagging setbacks continue to sour Grant and Audrey Whitman's initiation into the world of innkeeping, but larger challenges brew when an innocent flirtation leads to big trouble for the Whitmans' son-in-law, Jesse. Jesse Pennington's friendly, outgoing personality has always served him well, especially in a career that has earned him and his wife Corinne a very comfortable lifestyle. But Corinne and Jesse are both restless---and for similar reasons, if only they could share those with each other. Instead, too many business trips and trumped-up charges of harassment from a disgruntled coworker threaten their marriage and possibly put their three precious daughters at risk. With their life in disarray, God is tugging at their hearts to pursue other dreams. Can Corinne and Jesse pick up the pieces of what was once a wonderful life before it all crumbles beneath them? Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1BdaEcG About the author: Deborah Raney's books have won numerous awards, including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas-the setting of many of Deborah's novels-for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita, where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies, and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away. Find Deborah online: website, Twitter, Facebook

My Review:
 Before I was even done with book #1 in the Chicory Inn series by Deborah Raney, I knew that this was a must-read series for me, meaning as soon as the next books were out I had to have them to read!  "Home to Chicory Lane" set the scene for this series as the family home is being converted into an inn as a couple is dealing with an empty nest or so they thought.  Now, "Two Roads Home" continues on with the family but focuses more on daughter Corinne and her husband and their daughters.  Jesse and Corinne are faced with challenges that result in some major life changes and really learn what it is like to be a team.  I really do not want to say too much about the storyline as I do not want to give anything away.  This book is just so good that I highly recommend it.  It ties in the country charm of a cute inn, but also the characters are so real as they are dealing with real-life issues and their lives are not romanticized in the least.  I found myself cringing and questioning some of the actions and decisions made and cheered at other moments; now I am eagerly looking forward to book #3 to see how things are going in these characters' lives once more. 


To read more reviews included on this blog tour, go here!


*Thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for including me on this blog tour and for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

Book Review - "Desperate Measures"

Kate won't be safe until all of Port Aster's secrets are revealed Researcher Kate Adams has finally pinpointed the supposed "miracle plant" that tore apart her family years ago. She's certain that discovering its secrets is her only hope of solving the mystery surrounding her father's disappearance. She's willing to risk anything to find the truth, including her relationship with Detective Tom Parker. But with so many people in pursuit of the plant, going it alone might be a fatal mistake.

Award-winning author Sandra Orchard pulls out all the stops in this breakneck and breathtaking conclusion to the Port Aster Secrets series.


What people are saying about the Port Aster Secrets series

"Romantic suspense maven Orchard plunges readers into the fray immediately. The writing is über-dramatic and the action hectic."--Publishers Weekly

"I couldn't put it down."--Margaret Daley, author of the Men of the Texas Rangers series

"A fun, sometimes quirky whodunit, full of everything a mystery lover is looking for, including a dash of romance."--Lisa Harris, Christy Award-winning author of Dangerous Passage


Sandra Orchard is the award-winning author of several books including Deadly Devotion, winner of the 2014 The Word Award for suspense, and Blind Trust. Her Love Inspired Suspense titles have garnered two Canadian Christian Writing Awards and a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award. Sandra has also received a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She lives in Ontario, Canada. Learn more at www.sandraorchard.com.


My Review:
I have been looking forward to this book ever since I finished book #2 in the trilogy and I was not disappointed at all with this conclusion.  Sandra has created an excellent series with these three books as she was able to create wonderful characters and immediately draw the reader into the characters' lives and tie in together secrets, relationships and suspense.  Kate and Tom both became so real to me as did the entire community.  I highly recommend this trilogy for those whom enjoy romantic suspense. 


*Thanks to the Revell Reads Program for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

Colleen Coble’s Melt into Summer Giveaway and ‘A Heart’s Betrayal’ Blog Tour

Emmie finds shelter in the arms of a soldier in Fort Laramie, Wyoming, but will her big secret drive them apart? Find out in book four, A Heart's Betrayal, of Colleen Coble's A Journey of the Heart series. Suddenly displaced, powerless, and ashamed, Emmie can’t stay in Wabash, Indiana. She makes a hopeful start for Fort Laramie to find her friend Sarah Montgomery and a new beginning. But when she arrives, she discovers she’s pregnant—and without a husband. The new start she’d hoped for slips from her fingers.

Melt into summer with a new giveaway from Colleen: four books (books one–four in Colleen's A Journey of the Heart series) and a box of chocolates to pair with your new books!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Heart's Betrayal
• A box of Colleen's favorite chocolate truffles from DeBrand Fine Chocolates
• A copy of A Heart's Disguise
• A copy of A Heart's Obsession
• A copy of A Heart's Danger

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 30th. Winner will be announced July 1st on Colleen's website.

Book info

About the book: A Heart's Betrayal (Thomas Nelson, June 2015) Emmie finds shelter in the arms of a soldier, but her secret could drive them apart. When Emmie Croftner answered the door to her late husband's home, she discovered an awful truth: her deceased husband was a bigamist. And what's more, the home she thought she inherited never belonged to her at all. Suddenly displaced, powerless, and ashamed, Emmie can't stay in Wabash, Indiana. She makes a hopeful start for Fort Laramie, Wyoming, to find her friend Sarah Montgomery and a new beginning. But when she arrives, she discovers she's pregnant---and without a husband. The new start she'd hoped for slips from her fingers. But then she meets Isaac Liddle, a handsome soldier with a kind heart. When he begins to court her, Emmie wonders whether she could ever really be his---and whether she dares to tell him she is carrying another man's baby. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1B65ZsM About the author: Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble's addictive brand of romantic suspense. Find Colleen online: website, Facebook, Twitter My Review: I really enjoyed "A Heart's Betrayal," the next installment in Colleen Coble's Journey of the Heart saga.  This one really dove into the personal aspects of the characters' lives and more about their family lives at the fort.  Emmie is a character whom I immediately loved and empathized with; she has not have a pleasant upbringing and thought she was living a better life until in an instant when she opened the door to a stranger and her son.  This part of the saga continues on with Sarah's life and also reunites her with her best friend as well as welcoming Emmie into her world as well.  Colleen does an excellent job with character development and also setting the scene and portraying how life must have been like for people during this time period.  To read other reviews included on this blog tour, go here! *Thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for including me on this blog tour and for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*