REVIEW: That was FUN! Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey was laugh out loud funny. I don’t often giggle when I’m reading but, I couldn’t help it with this book. A word of caution, if you don’t like sex scenes, this book won’t be one for you. I think they were handled with care. They weren’t what I would call vulgar. This is after all a Rom-Com.

If you like to watch fixer uppers, design shows and whatnot, you will be drawn to this book like I was. Her characters were flawed and wonderful at the same time. I got a kick out of Wes. He called Bethany Baby and Darlin. His nod to being from Texas and living and working in Long Island, NY. Bethany is a messed up perfectionist. The two were partners in a TV flip show. There were lessons to be learned from her characters. It wasn’t all fun and games for them. 

This was the third book in a series and I didn’t realize it when I picked it up. There were a couple of spots I wondered if I missed something but, when I finished the book, I noticed it was part of a series. That explained everything. It didn’t really detract from the book. Read the whole series if you have time. I think it will be worth while. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review. 

SYNOPSIS: In Tessa Bailey’s latest rom-com, two enemies team up to flip a house… and the sparks between them might burn the place down or ignite a passion that neither can ignore! 

Hair, makeup, clothing, decor… everything in Bethany Castle’s world is organized, planned, and styled to perfection. Which is why the homes she designs for her family’s real estate business are the most coveted in town. The only thing not perfect? Her track record with men. She’s on a dating hiatus and after helping her friends achieve theirdreams, Bethany finally has time to focus on her own: flip a house, from framework to furnishings, all by herself. Except her older brother runs the company and refuses to take her seriously.

When a television producer gets wind of the Castle sibling rivalry, they’re invited on Flip Off, a competition to see who can do the best renovation. Bethany wants bragging rights, but she needs a crew and the only member of her brother’s construction team willing to jump ship is Wes Daniels, the new guy in town. His Texas drawl and handsome face got under Bethany’s skin on day one, but the last thing she needs is some cocky young cowboy in her way.

As the race to renovate heats up, Wes and Bethany are forced into close quarters, trading barbs and biting banter as they remodel the ugliest house on the block. It’s a labor of love, hate, and everything in between, and soon sparks are flying. But Bethany’s perfectly structured life is one kiss away from going up in smoke and she knows falling for a guy like Wes would be 

REVIEW: I’M STILL LOVING THIS SERIES! Christmas Wishes by Tammy L Grace is the third book in the Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge series. I love all of the books I’ve read by her so, I expected I would love this one too. I did! 

This book is about Jo. She was the oldest girl that Maddy adopted. Again this book starts 15 years after their first Christmas together. We learn about Jo’s journey in life and what kind of person she has become. I really like that the books are from the same time when they are at the Cedar Mountain Lodge together but, they have time to themselves and that is where each book becomes different. Plus, the times they have together is told from a different perspective. It is a great premise for a series.

I have fallen in love with each of the characters all over again as adults. Some of the characters from the town weave in and out of the books and you learn a little more of them along the way. If you like to read at least one Christmas story, why not try this series? It is so full of holiday spirit. 

I recieved a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. Thank you Tammy. What an awesome opportunity! 

SYNOPSIS: Random circumstances brought them together. Love made them family.

With Jo O’Malley’s busy career as a lawyer in Chicago, she rarely gets home to Idaho, but this year is different. Her little sister is getting married on Christmas Eve and she has two whole weeks to spend in the snow-covered mountains, with the three foster sisters she loves and Maddie, the woman who made them a family fifteen years ago.

Things get off to a rough start when the wedding is canceled, but Maddie asks them to enjoy their holidays together at the festive lodge as planned, in order to console their sister. It’s straight forward enough until Jo, through a chance encounter with a gorgeous golden retriever, runs into Luke, a boy she knew from her early childhood when she spent all her time at the local library.

Jo’s not sure how to handle the unexpected attraction and her new feelings for Luke, who is all grown up now, handsome, and as kind as ever. He’s set on staying close to his family in Granite Ridge and she has a plane ticket back to her life in Chicago after the new year. Are the sparks between them merely due to the nostalgia of the season, or will Luke open Jo’s heart to the prospect of passion for something beyond her career?

If you’re a fan of small towns, heartwarming holiday stories, and second chances, along with a few furry friends, you’ll fall in love with Jo and her soul sisters in CHRISTMAS WISHES, Book 3 of Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge, from USA Today bestselling author, Tammy L. Grace. 

REVIEW: I LOVE THIS SERIES! Christmas Kisses by Judith Keim is the second book of the Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge series. It follows the free prequel Christmas Sisters. This story is from Hailey’s point of view. I’m just going to tell you right now, if you liked the prequel, you will love the series.

We follow each of the sisters that are in the prequel. The books start out fifteen years later so, we catch up with each of them as adults. I thought I was going to be disappointed not to see them all grow up with Maddy but, I’m not. I love that we get to know them again as grown women and see what having a loving home did for them. 

There is only one problem with this series! We have four more books and it ends. I’m hoping and praying that there will be a few more series as they age and have families of their own. They do have a family tradition to gather during the holidays…so maybe my Christmas wish will come true. 

I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. Thank you so much for letting me in on the fun! 

SYNOPSIS: Random circumstances brought them together. Love made them family.

Hailey Kirby plans to spend a wonderful Christmas holiday at the Cedar Mountain Lodge with her family, celebrating her sister’s wedding as Maid of Honor. Things go awry when the wedding is called off. Hoping to comfort her sister, her mother and three sisters decide to go ahead with their winter vacation plans at the Lodge.

Hailey works in town as the children’s librarian, and under the pen name of Lee Merriweather is secretly the author and illustrator of picture books. Young children adore the stories of Charlie and his dog, Zeke, including Regan, the niece of Nick Hensley, a rock star musician who’s recently moved back to Granite Ridge. When he reaches out to the author to seek permission to write songs to go with the stories, Hailey is forced to confess who she is and the painful reason why she’s been hiding behind a pseudonym.

As Hailey and Nick put their creative minds together, they form a friendship that quickly grows to much more. Hailey learns to trust and discovers some chances in life are worth taking.

If you’re a fan of small towns, heartwarming holiday stories, and second chances, along with a few furry friends, you’ll fall in love with Hailey and her soul sisters in CHRISTMAS KISSES, Book 2 of Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge, from bestselling author Judith Keim.

Don’t miss a Soul Sisters book – download them all today!

REVIEW:

Flabbergasted! Kiersten Modglin’s new novel My Husband’s Secret left me just that…FLABBERGASTED! I don’t know how she keeps cranking these books out. They are so unique and you never feel like you’ve read something like this before. She doesn’t have a formula. The only formula she has is to keep you guessing until she slaps you in the face at the end. You close the book and you wonder what hit you. It’s a simple as that. If you don’t believe me, try one of her books! 

A friend of mine who is also reviewing her book challenged me to message her when I was fifty percent done and tell her my guess on how it would end. Of course, I was wrong. I think I may have had ten percent correct. The book starts out with Luke’s funeral so, I knew he was going to die. That’s it. That’s the only thing I got right. What else would you think could happen to a guy who has a wife, a fiance’ and a girlfriend? 

Don’t worry. I’m not going to ruin it for you. You’re going to have to buy this book and figure it out for yourself. I’d say I was done reading Kiersten Modglin books but, I can’t. I’m anxiously waiting for the next one.

SYNOPSIS: On the day of Lucas Martin’s funeral, his wife, Naomi, learns he was hiding a devastating secret. 
One that may have cost him his life. 

When two strangers approach her, Naomi realizes they could be hiding important clues as to what actually happened the day her husband died. 

Was it an accident? Or something more sinister? 

Determined to learn the truth, Naomi initiates another meeting with the strangers, in hopes that she’ll uncover the missing puzzle piece from the mysterious last day of her husband’s life.

As more secrets and lies begin to become clear, Naomi and the strangers find out they’re in a much more tangled web than they could’ve ever imagined. If she can trust them, she may be able to find the answers she so desperately seeks. 

The only problem? Any one of them could be lying…just like Lucas was. 

The biggest question is: who?

REVIEW: SWEET! How Sweet It Is by Robin Lee Hatcher is a sweet book. I gobbled it all up and you might too. I found this book very refreshing. I didn’t know this was Christian fiction when I chose it to read. I loved it!

There was a Bible that had been passed down and there were passages and notes written from the great grandfather who originally owned the Bible. They seemed to be just what the young man needed to put his life on track. There were reminders to listen to God and He would always be there. You would never be alone. I think there were a lot of messages in this story that I needed to be reminded of during this time of the pandemic. 

I loved that the characters were so down to earth. They were good Chrstian people struggling to live the good life. They came from several walks of life and all were trying to do better. I really felt a kinship with these folks.

This book is number 3 in The Legacy of Faith series.. They are stand alone novels. How Sweet It Is was my first Robin Lee Hatcher book and i can promise you I will be looking at reading more from her. I felt so encouraged when I closed this book. Don’t we all need encouragement? 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review. 

SYNOPSIS: He lost his brother. She lost her dream. Together, they might find what they’re really looking for.

Holly Stanford is doing the best she can with the restaurant she inherited from her late uncle. But after her fiancé abandons her and the business, Holly regrets having given up her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Now a few bad financial decisions might cost her everything, including her hope for the future.

Jed Henning has done well with his new company despite his prodigal brother’s behavior. When Jed‘s father, the controlling member of the board of directors, temporarily suspends operations until his sons work out their differences, Jed resentfully chases his brother, Chris, to Boise. There Jed rents a basement apartment from Holly and hopes to convince Chris to get his act together before their company collapses.

Unaware that Holly is the one person who can help him get through to Chris, Jed starts the tough work of reconciliation armed with little more than a few family photographs, a stack of old letters, and a Bible that belonged to his great-grandfather, Andrew Henning. And as romance blossoms between Holly and Jed, the story of Jed’s great-grandfather highlights the power of God across the generations and the legacy of a family’s courageous faith.

REVIEW: Proceed with CAUTION! Chasing Death by Lauren Lee may cause heart palpitations and possible high blood pressure. I wish I had this warning before I read this book. My heart was racing as my eyes were flying down the page and my fingers were itching to turn the pages. If you love a good detective story, you will probably want to read this book. 

I read her last book Coming Home and loved it but, this one was even better. She still uses the same writing style. She is very clear and to the point. You don’t get a lot of fluff. You get just what you need. Her books are fine tuned.

Coming Home is book one of the Detective Dahlia Series and Chasing Death is book two releasing September 8, 2020. Guess what?! Capturing Evil comes out October 6th. So, you have enough time to read the first two books before number three comes out.

I recommend these books for anyone who likes mysteries, suspense or just a good old detective story.

I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. Thank you, Lauren!

SYNOPSIS: The truth will set her free, but uncovering it could destroy her . . .

After a young woman’s body washes ashore Lake Chakatwook, her death is ruled a suicide. Crippled with doubt on her first case back to work, Detective Dahlia’s instincts tell her something’s amiss.

She investigates the new case while digging into a cold one—the murder of her fiance. A mysterious gang member sends Dahlia her first clue. The chilling note from her only suspect leads her to dig into Zac’s final undercover mission before his death, which could be the key to finding his killer.

Electrifying and chilling, Chasing Death brings Dahlia into the dangerous underworld of crime, deceit, and ill intentions—one that could change her forever as she risks her life to uncover the truth.

REVIEW: Crazy Fun! Dead Wrong by Tammy L Grace was a crazy fun read. Coop and AB are private investigators. Coop has a Golden Retriever he takes almost everywhere and his name is Gus. I loved Gus! Well…I love dogs so, if you know me, that is a given!

This book is number three in the Cooper Harrington Detective Series. It did fine as a stand alone but, Tammy says they are more enjoyable read in order. You get more of the characters background stories that way. Each book is a new case for Harrington and Associates. I will be going back to read Book one and two. The fourth book won’t be out for a while so, I’ll be ready for it. 

If you’ve read any of Tammy’s books, you know her writing style. Her books go down like honey. She always leaves you satisfied. 

I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. Thank you, Tammy! 

SYNOPSIS: A murdered business partner. A hundred million dollars. A client who claims his innocence.

Coop’s client is a renowned scientist in the pharmaceutical industry. The pending charge is the murder of his business partner, and a hundred million dollars provides the motive. As an arrest looms, the desperate client seeks Coop’s help to uncover the real murderer.

All evidence points to the mild-mannered scientist. He asserts his innocence and begs Coop to uncover the clues the police overlooked. Coop and Annabelle, his faithful sidekick, work around the clock to sift through the evidence in search of anything to clear their client. As always, Coop’s loyal golden retriever, Gus, along with the sometimes meddling, but well-meaning Aunt Camille, support the investigative efforts.

Connections are exposed, and suspects interrogated, but all the promising leads evaporate. Their determination wanes when they discover additional persuasive evidence against their client, causing Coop to doubt his instincts. With increased persistence, they unearth a damaging secret. A vital piece of evidence provides the thread that unravels the case, leading Coop to uncover the killer and the motive for murder.

Read more from award-winning author, Tammy L. Grace

COOPER HARRINGTON DETECTIVE NOVELS

• Killer Music (2016 Gold Medal Mystery Winner in the Global eBook Awards)
• Deadly Connection (2017 Gold Medal Mystery Winner in the Global eBook Awards)
• Dead Wrong

REVIEW: Charming and Comforting! That is how I felt while reading Krista Jensen’s Miracle Creek Christmas. The story is charming and it was comforting for me to read because it took place in a small town. I’m from a small town so, I felt right at home! Feeling like you’ve visited home with the holidays coming up was simply enchanting. 

Riley Madigan and Mark Rivers make a perfect couple. I loved them! The characters in this book were probably in your home town too. I’m sure you could give me a name of someone you know if I described every character in this book. They were such authentic people but, yet very typical. Cream of the crop and people you would like being around. 

If you are like me and love a good Christmas story with morals and a lesson or two to be learned, you will absolutely fall in love with this book like I did. I always love to read something like this during the holidays! 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review.

SYNOPSIS: Broken hearts and lives are mended as the town of Miracle Creek comes together to celebrate a Christmas to remember.

When Riley Madigan moves to the sleepy mountain town of Miracle Creek, she hopes her new job as a high school art teacher will help her mend her recently broken heart. A little peace and quiet would be a gift this Christmas season. The last thing on her mind is love.

Former firefighter Mark Rivers has spent the last year recovering from burns sustained during a rescue operation. He’s been trying to piece his life back together but still struggles both emotionally and psychologically. When he meets Riley, he finally sees something that might bring some light back into his life.

When Mark asks Riley to work on a special nativity project, he finds himself falling for her quirky, unaffected ways. Riley doesn’t seem bothered by his scars, but is her affection for him real, or is this just another act of charity? One thing s for certain, in a small town that views Mark as a fragile hero, it’s hard to pursue a relationship without everyone in his business. And although Riley has sincere feelings for Mark, is she ready to risk her heart?

The FREE prequel to the SOUL SISTERS AT CEDAR MOUNTAIN LODGE, a connected series from five bestselling authors

REVIEW: LOVE! Love, love. I loved this book, I loved the characters and I loved the individual stories of each of the girls including Maddie. I love the covers and I love that I will get to read some new authors to me! What’s more to love?

Maddie Kirby is a woman with the biggest heart I’ve ever experienced. She has been through her own heartbreak but, rises above the heartbreak to take in 4 abandoned girls from separate circumstances. What better time than at Christmas!

I can’t wait for the series! It is going to be so good. The prequel is available on Amazon for free. So, why are you still reading this review? Head on over to Amazon and get your free copy. 

SYNOPSIS: Random circumstances brought them together. Love made them family.

When a terrible accident takes Madeline Kirby’s husband and only child, the school guidance counselor is sure she can’t go on. Left behind with nothing but her work and an empty heart, she vows to survive Christmas by reaching out to comfort someone else who knows similar pain.

Fostering four motherless children for the holidays is supposed to be temporary, but as Maddie tends to defensive Stevie, distrustful Jo, delicate Alissa, and frightened little Hailey, the ache in her own heart slowly becomes bearable. And before the season of giving comes to an end, it becomes clear that life intended for them to find each other.

Enjoy these soul sisters’ first Christmas together in Christmas Sisters, a free prologue novella – then catch up with each of them individually, fifteen years later.
Don’t miss a Soul Sisters book!
Book 1: Christmas Sisters – perma-FREE prologue book
Book 2: Christmas Kisses by Judith Keim
Book 3: Christmas Wishes by Tammy L. Grace
Book 4: Christmas Hope by Violet Howe
Book 5: Christmas Dreams by Ev Bishop
Book 6: Christmas Rings by Tess Thompson

REVIEW: Heart-wrenching. Dignity and Grace by Alison Ragsdale is a beautiful story of the love between a mother and daughter and her daughter’s struggle after her mum’s death. I am a softie for stories about the loss of a mother since I lost my mom. So, I have to tell you that I shed a bucket or two of tears and you better make sure you have plenty of tissues before you start this book. 

Iona, the daughter received a birthday card from her father on her 21st birthday with a letter enclosed that her mother had written to her ten years before when she knew her life was coming to a close. My tears started rolling down my checks and continued on and off the rest of the book. Her mom’s name is Grace.

I loved the characters in this story. From Grace’s husband, her aunt, her best friend and her professor. All of them were such lovely people. Oh! Iona had a pretty nice boss too. I was very happy to meet all these people and learn their stories and I enjoyed my visits with them.

Alison wrote such a beautiful story and I’m happy I finally got to read this one. This was my first book by her. I also own “The Art of Remembering” and now I can’t wait to read that one. You have to read this book! This is a book you don’t wan’t to miss.

I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. Thank you! 

SYNOPSIS: From the bestselling author of The Art of Remembering comes a tale about secrets that tear a family apart, of loss, and courage, and the strength of a gifted young woman to face the past, heal and move forward. 

On her 21st birthday, gifted cellist Iona Muir receives a package from her estranged father containing a letter from her mother, Grace, a talented musician who tragically died ten years earlier. Reeling from what she reads, Iona soon discovers a mysterious, faded photograph of Grace, hidden inside her cello case.
Honoring her mother’s request, Iona visits Grace’s beloved music teacher, taking the first step on an emotional trail of discovery that has been left for her. As Grace’s story unfolds, Iona gains a deeper insight into the mother she lost and the heartbreaking truth about Grace’s last months. The more Iona learns, the more she is drawn back to her family home, on the remote Scottish island of Orkney, and to her father.