Second Chance at Love by Alexa Verde

May 11, 2020 in sump'n speshul

Get ALL three stories for JUST 99 cents!

Three fun, feel-good, uplifting romances where childhood or teen sweethearts encounter each other and second chances when they least expect it! Be prepared to be swept up by these heartfelt stories into the world where past wounds can heal, humor is abound, and love is found again. This set includes a reunion romance, a single dad and best friends romance (previously published), as well as a never published before fairy-tale retelling.

SEASON OF JOY. A successful travel reporter returns home for the holidays, and sparks fly between her and her first crush, now a single father. When his youngest son writes a letter to God asking for a Mom for Christmas, she agrees to help him find the right woman. But can this reunion be a second chance for these best friends?

HOLD ME. Can she win the heart she shattered?
Divorcee Aileen McKenzie only wants to have a fresh start in her hometown with her son and their pets and to see her fledgling pastry store thrive. When she nearly drowns in a flood and her house and store are damaged, her first love-and the man she’d left over two decades ago-Roman Vela comes to the rescue. Old feelings resurface.
Over the next days, Aileen and Roman grow close until she might have to leave town-and Roman-again. Will a once-shy, risk-averse girl choose a safe life with guaranteed income or risk it all for love?

NOT YOUR CINDERELLA TYPE. Run away or claim her prince… what will she choose?
Once heartbroken and abandoned, Allie Reyes watches her former childhood sweetheart and the head of the corporation, Rodrigo Garza, from the shadows of cleaning the offices. Blackmailed to go to a masked ball, she meets him incognito and has the best evening of her life… until she leaves in haste. When she is later accused of a theft she didn’t commit, will she have the courage to stay and claim the love she didn’t hope for?

I adored all these stories, and the bonus is a fairy tale retelling of Cinderella – beautifully done by Alexa! Honestly, you cannot go wrong with anything Alexa has written, but the chance to get three entire books for only 99 cents is a Sump’n Speshul indeed!!

About Alexa Verde

Alexa Verde writes feel-good small-town romances with a smile. She’d love it if you subscribed to her newsletter http://www.alexaverde.com/contact.html#newsletter (every subscriber gets a free Christian romance after confirming the subscription as a thank-you gift). She penned her first literary masterpiece, a rhymed poem, at the ripe age of eight, and since has had twenty books and 200 short stories, articles, and poems published in the five languages that she speaks. She has bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish, a master’s in Russian, and enjoys writing about characters with diverse cultures. She’s worn the hats of reporter, teacher, translator, model (even one day counts!), caretaker, and secretary, but thinks that the writer’s hat suits her the best. After traveling the world and living in both hemispheres, she calls a small town in south Texas home. The latter is an inspiration for the fictional setting of her popular series Rios Azules Christmas and Secrets of Rios Azules. She hopes and prays that her stories will bring joy to her readers. Heartfelt thanks for interest in her books!

Alexa is being so incredibly generous as to offering this ebookfor FREE, but she also giving away a $5.00 Amazon gift card!! Please comment on this post and tell us what your favorite fairy tale is to enter!

This contest will run through 6pm EST 05/25/2020 and winner will be notified via email!

my point of view of Atoning for Ashes by Kaitlin Covel with a print giveaway!!

May 7, 2020 in my point of view

Kaitlin Covel has so generously offered an autographed, paperback copy of this story one of readers! See below to enter!

Atoning for Ashes: A Novel by Kaitlin Covel

Josie Chadwick dreams of marrying for love in Cornwall, England, but with her father’s debt threatening to destroy all she holds dear, her romantic options are dwindling. When her elder sister Delia is disowned, Josie finds herself heiress of Chadwick Park, torn between dreams and duty. After sacrificing her heart to atone for Delia’s sin, Josie clings to the hope she will learn to love a distant husband, whom she fears is incapable of requiting her affection.

Charles Radcliffe’s heart has been scarred and hardened by rejection. He fears hurting his new bride, but his fears of betrayal and rejection are stronger, making it impossible for him to trust her love―let alone the love of her God.

As Josie and Charles face their new life together, ominous events warn of dark family secrets that could shatter them both. More than a loveless marriage is at stake if they cannot stand as one. Will they learn to trust God and each other before it’s too late?

my point of view:

What a wild ride this story will take you on! I am always down for a fun romance, a historical timeline and a suspenseful mystery – but to get all three in one amazing novel is such a treat! This story starts off as being a story of obligation by a young woman who feels like her entire family’s survival depends upon her. This is a huge burden for one young girl to carry, but Josie feels like she is up for the task. Willing to sacrifice any dreams she may have of a future in order to secure her father and sister’s fate, Josie manages to get herself married in order to save their family’s home.

She always dreamed of marrying for love, and she is not ready to give up on that chance with her husband. They must go through some very serious personal journeys – and many twists and turns – and the surprises just kept coming! The adventure gets quite scary, and some may even say “dark” but I wouldn’t take it that far…I mean, we all go through difficult times in our lives, and I, for one, enjoy reading how others can face the struggles and come out on the other side! What I truly loved most about this story is the faith element, even when the characters faith gets tested to the very limits, they still manage to come back stronger in their beliefs. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great faith based historical romance – with a good dose of suspense thrown in!

About Kaitlin Covel

Kaitlin Covel has a thirst for adventure much like the heroines of her stories and resides in her beloved state of Maine. She is an old-fashioned romantic, and if she could time travel to any historical period, it would be the Regency Era. Kaitlin is a certified Nutritional Therapist Technician, but writing is her passion.

To win your own autograped paperback copy of this amazing story, simply comment below and tell us what your favorite time period for historical novels is! Winner will be notified via email.

34 Comments

my point of view of When The River Runs Dry by R. Marshall Wright

May 1, 2020 in my point of view

We return to the strange little town of Glencoe with another story of redemption, grace, and second chances. God’s grace flowed forth like a raging river. Lives were touched, and families were changed, and one man was at the center of it all. Did the grace of God suddenly stop flowing when tragedy struck Glencoe? And what do Reagan Lamb, Kyle Shaw, Marisa Fields, and Jenny Wade have in common? All of their lives had been devastated in some way. Each of them watched their dream of living happily ever after disappear into the mess of their lives. Although feeling alone and abandoned, God was still at work in their lives, intertwining their lives to the lives of other Glencoe residents we’ve already met. As one chapter of their lives ends, a new one begins if they are open to God’s leading. God shows each one of them that He’s still writing their stories.

my point of view:

I admit I was quite impatient waiting on this sequel to Grace Like a River Flows – an amazing book you really should read! (You can visit mpov on that story here:)

http://fictionfulloffaith.com/my-point-of-view-grace-like-a-river-flows-by-r-marshall-right/

I was so impressed with the deep faith and story telling by this author that I was wanting more almost immediately! Thankfully, he has provided us with this amazing follow up story that will take your breath away. Not only do we get to return to Glencoe and revisit these amazing people, but we see how even the most faithful of God’s kingdom suffers from life’s struggles. This story will break your heart, have you crying and grieving with the characters, and cheering them on while shouting for joy at God’s faithfulness to each of His children.

All of the characters have their own journey of faith, but they all come together when one of their own is hurting. The way they lift one another up is truly beautiful.The author shows us how God can reveal Himself to us in the smallest and most powerful of ways….and brace yourself from falling in love with Beasley, he is a true treasure!

This writer truly takes you on an emotional journey, and his style of writing is – as he likes to say – truly ‘story telling’. I have had the pleasure of reading all of his novels, and am blessed to be able to help launch this newest novel’s release! I am thrilled to bring you all this amazing book and hope you will take a ‘chance’ on a new to you author!

About R. Marshall Wright

Richard Marshall Wright writes under the pen name of R. Marshall Wright. He graduated from the University of Maine in Orono, Maine in 1969 and Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey in 1972. He is a retired evangelical pastor, and a retired U.S. Army Chaplain with 23 years Active and Reserve service to our country.

He has been married to his wife, Lynn, for fifty years. They are blessed to be able to spend summers on a lake in Michigan and winters in Sebring, Florida. They have two children and five grandchildren. Marnie is married to Arick and is the eldest and has been a stay at home mom rearing three active boys…Luke, Levi, and Loden. She holds a Masters degree from Northwestern in communications and is a writer. Trevor is married to Lori and is a successful pastor in Findlay, Ohio. And he too writes. His two are Emma, who is the oldest grandchild, only girl, and her brother Cole. They are extremely proud of everyone in the family.

Coffee with Valerie Comer today!

April 27, 2020 in coffee with paula marie

PM: Thank you so much for joining me a second time here on the blog, Valerie, and allowing me to ‘pick your brain’ for another Coffee with Paula chat! You are without a doubt one of my most favorite authors – and a dear friend now as well!

VC: I’m delighted to be back! And now that we have met in real life, we really are friends. Although online friends are real friends, too, of course. It’s just different. Never mind. I think I might be talking myself into a corner here…

PM: I completely understand, i felt close to you even before we met in person – that was a blessing and a bonus, and I treasure it!

I just adore reading your books, I fell in love with my very first one – Raspberries and Vinegar – and just knew when I came to the end of Jo and Zach’s story that I had to find more books by you! I have read everything you have written and feel as if I came to know you through your writing. Do you feel as if you “leave” a part of yourself in every novel?

VC; I’m sure that’s true to a certain degree. Even the characters that are as different from me as possible still have something that I can identify with. It might be a hobby, maybe, or a relative like one of mine! Either way, I know my (strange) sense of humor and my worldview shine through regardless.

PM: I believe we have become friends over the years of knowing each other, and you continually surprise me in every book you write. You have told me that you your writing style is giving it over to God and letting him lead you, which is one more thing I love about you! I know you have told me that the characters have actually surprised you with their stories, can you elaborate on that a little so your readers can better comprehend?

VC: Writers tend to classify themselves as either plotters or pantsers. Plotters think through a story and have a good understanding of the high and low points of the story before writing it. Pantsers don’t. We write “by the seat of our pants,” which is just as messy as it sounds!

I do quite a lot of setting and character work before starting a story and have a general idea of the themes, since these often come from the title. But the details of the plot come to me as I write, and I’m very aware of the lack of road signs ahead. It’s vital I remember God knows the story, knows what the readers will need, etc, and I just need to be faithful to show up and put my hands on the keyboard.

This means I don’t always know what makes my characters tick. What childhood trauma may come back to haunt them, or that sort of thing. I usually don’t know what the black moment will be about until I get close to writing it. (The black moment is that part of the story toward the end when everything seems lost.)

I hate to give specific examples because they contain spoilers, but I’ll say I had one character who owned a health food store. Through the course of the story, amid the black moment with the heroine, he decided to sell the business. At first, I thought he would only think about it but something would come up to deter him.

When I realized the sale would, in fact, go through, I spent a couple of hours pacing my office railing at him. While it seemed inevitable and necessary, it surprised me, and I didn’t know where the story went from there! Since then, I’ve come to realize that if I don’t see it coming, probably the reader doesn’t, either. So maybe it’s a good thing.

PM: Your many novels have a running theme of locally sourced food…the “farm to table” movement, if you will. Can you tell us how you have become so passionate about this and why?

VC: A little family history. Both my husband’s parents and mine were self-sufficient farmers. Both of us were raised with gardens and home-canned fruit and meals from scratch and bread fresh from the oven. Our parents didn’t have money for eating out or fancy ingredients. We didn’t, either, as newlyweds or young parents. In fact, cash wedding gifts bought us our first deep freezer! We grew a garden from the very first summer – I think we have missed twice in 40 years. So, at first, our lifestyle was a combination of necessity and what we knew.

But as time went on, we began to realize we ate much better than many folks who had a bigger budget. It became a bit of a crusade to source the freshest ingredients! In the early 2000s, we became involved in a local food coalition, and I sat on the board for two years. Around that time, our son and his wife graduated from university, and our daughter-in-law was hired as the manager of our local farmers market. I was astonished to discover that their friends were jealous they were moving out of the city to live on a farm and grow their own food!

That’s about when I began writing. They say to write what you know, and with my newfound knowledge that urban twenty-somethings were eager to connect with their food sourcing, the Farm Fresh Romance series was born.

PM: In a lot of your stories the characters have a close relationship with Jesus, sometimes they have veered off the path a bit, but they always come back around. How hard is it for you to write a character that has not had any sort of Christian background? Do you struggle with the character’s journey just as they do?

VC: Since I can’t control the story’s plot… sigh… I do my best to make sure the characters are unique so that each story will have an arc I haven’t written before. So I really try to mix up their backgrounds and their faith experience. I just think it is more realistic to have characters who struggle with faith or, in some cases, haven’t been exposed to it much before, rather than write only believers.

Is it hard to write? I do my best to get inside my characters’ heads. Their education, their family, their personality, their belief system, everything. So I wouldn’t say the faith journey is harder to write, specifically.

And yet, the outcome of that journey is a deal-breaker in Christian fiction. I can’t, in good conscience, write a cheerful happily-ever-after without the couple both confessing their faith and desiring to follow God’s will. So that additional story arc needs to come to an unforced conclusion before the final chapter or two.

PM: The ever powerful community in your books is another running theme – something I truly wish I had in real life – is this something you have in your everyday life, or do you write it from a position of longing for that type of environment?

VC: You’re going to hate me. It is not something I have in my daily life, and it’s not something I would enjoy. I’m an introvert through and through, and having so many people in my business would drive me crazy!

I can see the appeal of living in community. I can see why my readers are drawn to it. Sometimes I think it would be cool, and then I remember who I am and that I need far more solitude than that.

PM: Hahaha – I could never ‘hate’ you! Most everyone knows about your health scare in 2017, I am pleased you are recovering so well, can you tell our readers what changes you have been through since then?

VC: Sure. For those who don’t know, I had a near-fatal heart attack in October, 2017. I’d been having undiagnosed health issues for two and a half years at that point, and my energy levels were way down. I was writing (that doesn’t take too much physical stamina!) but I’d drawn a lot into myself just to survive.

After the heart attack, it took a few months to begin feeling like a normal human being again. By then, I’d been out of the loop for nearly three years, and it was hard to relearn how to market books with all the changes on Amazon and other retailers.

But I’ve also really worked hard on work-life balance. I tend to be a workaholic, which isn’t healthy. But more importantly, my family and my church need my full attention at times, too. I can’t run on business fumes alone.

PM: Your family is so important to you, and I love the closeness you have with your children and grandchildren. Working with your son and daughter-in-law daily on the farm must be challenging, just as working long distance with your daughter, who happens to be your cover artist. How are you able to balance the working relationship and the personal parent / child dynamics without issues?

VC: Yes, our son and his wife have lived on our forty-acre farm for the past eight years. It has been far more of a delight than a challenge to have them next door and to see our seven-year-old granddaughter nearly every day. They have gone through phases of raising pigs and chickens – we just let them have at it when they want to!

Due to a variety of circumstances, our farmland is leased out to a neighbor at the moment, so there are few conflicts. Everyone has day jobs off the farm except me – my day job is at home! Of course, right now with the pandemic, things have changed in our family dynamics, and I’m thankful my DIL offered to be my personal shopper. A couple of weeks ago I taught her how to make sourdough bread via Facetime. We have a good relationship.

Right now it seems forever since I’ve seen our daughter’s family, but in reality it was early March. They live a couple of hours away, so it’s not unusual to go a few weeks. I definitely miss grandgirl hugs! But they will happen again.

My daughter has done all my covers except the cowboy series. We have a good relationship, too. I enjoy having unique covers with her illustrations, and it’s impossible to know whether (ultimately) they’ve helped or hindered sales. Some readers comment they love them, while others say they look like kids’ books. We talk shop about sales and conversions and trends, and I know my daughter wants my books to sell well whether she has a hand in them or not. I think it works out.

PM: What would be the one (main) thing you would like for your readers to take away after reading one of your novels?

VC: The main thing? I hope and pray each reader finds something that speaks to her deep in her heart, whether it’s a major revelation or a little nugget that resonates.

PM: I always find something in your stories, and they stay with me forever! Here’s a tough one – if you weren’t a writer, what would you see yourself doing day in and day out?

VC: If I could talk to Past Valerie, the high school graduate, I’d encourage her to become an architect specializing in alternative construction like straw-bale houses. But, you know, I met my husband in high school and we married three years later. Then we lived in a small town, far from a university, so higher education didn’t happen. I can’t bring myself to be too sad about that. I like my life.

So… I don’t have an answer!

PM: I adore the unusual homes you create in story land, especially in the Farm Fresh Romance series! I have so enjoyed getting recipes and food tips in your novels – to this day I drink my Sunday coffee with honey and mocha, mmm, yes! I also know you have some amazing recipes on your website – have you ever entertained the thought of writing a cookbook? I’d be your first buyer, just so you know, lol!

VC: I’ve thought of writing a cookbook. I’ve also thought of half a dozen other ideas for related nonfiction. But then, every time I finish writing a novel, I start writing the next one, so I’ve come to accept that I’m a novelist. Maybe someday a nonfiction project will demand to be the next thing on my list, but so far, they’ve been easy to brush aside.

PM: I love how you have different series in your writing – but what some people may not realize is your characters will pop up in other series, cross-over style, if that sounds right. I, for one, get so tickled when I come across them – it’s like finding a hidden treasure! What I am curious about is how in the world you keep them all straight?

VC: I only hope I actually do keep them straight! But the real answer is, I have one spreadsheet to rule them all. I have a timeline that is color-coded by series with the major events marked on them, both the months that each story covers, but also all relevant births, marriages, and deaths, as well as other major events that might be significant to other books or other series.

That’s the ‘when.’ The ‘where’ and ‘who’ I just keep in my head. It’s a strange place in there. So far it’s worked out. 😀

PM: I work with spreadsheets daily, i can only imagine what your’s must look like, lol! Thanks again for joining me today, Valerie, it means a lot to me! How can readers keep up with you and your new releases?

VC: Thank YOU! The best place is my newsletter, which generally releases twice a month. The next best place is Inspy Romance, where I blog monthly. The third best place is at my own website, which is actually the best place for finding all my books, all my series, all my links.

I am terrible at social media. I was better at it before the heart attack, but I’ve never quite gotten as involved as I was before. I don’t know why.

PM: Finally, coffee or tea? Cream, sugar?

VC: Coffee with cream and a non-glycemic sweetener! I’ve been completely off sugar since not long after the heart attack. My current favorite sweetener is a monkfruit-erythritol blend such as the one made by Lakanto. Try it! Tastes like sugar with none of the harmful, addictive stuff.

Erm. You didn’t invite me here to proselytize my sugar-free life!

PM: I love how you share your sugar free life, and maybe it will help others as well, thank you!

8 Comments

my point of view for All My Goodbyes

April 16, 2020 in my point of view

my point of view for All My Goodbyes By Jan Cline

Spring, 1941: Europe’s troubles were far away and not of concern to Martha Watkins. The United States was neutral, and the last war had claimed enough American lives. If war did come, Martha declared, she would never settle down with a soldier. “I’m not interested in anyone enlisting to go off to war.”Clarissa Wilding paled at the thought. “James will be of age soon. Knowing him, he would enlist, just so he could fly a plane.”Then came the day that would live in infamy, and the call to duty threatens to tear all their hopes of happiness apart.

my point of view:

I am thrilled to bring you this amazing historical story by Jan Cline. While I will be the first to admit, WWII is not among my favorite genre’s for historical fiction – this one certainly touched my heart. This is a time period that my grandparents spoke of very little, the tragic happenings in my own family were too much to talk about in everyday life, so I truly did not have much of a background to rely on other than history books. This story made the time and people come to life for me. The struggles that every American when through were many, from the young to the old, and being taken on this very personal journey by Jan will stay with me forever.

Martha is a character that knows her own mind and does not want to be forced out of her own opinions, but the times are “a changing” and she learns the difficult lesson that sometimes she just needs to follow her heart as God leads the way. Clark is an extremely engaging hero, he stole my heart the moment he fainted…lol…you will have to read the story to get the full understanding! Seeing the Wilding family again from the first two stories in the series is wonderful, and Jimmy has grown into quite the young man. You will certainly enjoy his pivotal role in this book! Getting a small glimpse in the struggles of the Japanese Americans at his time period in history is riveting as well.

I promise you will not be disappointed in this amazing look into the American history of World War II. I sincerely encourage you to read for yourselves, and if you want to see about the previous two books, well, i have reviewed them previously on this blog as well, take a look here:

my point of view: Heaven’s Sky and The Pruning by Jan Cline PLUS a ~*Giveaway*~

About Jan Cline

I’m an author and speaker from Post Falls, Idaho, eager to share some American history with you.

I write Historical fiction from events in American History and the lives of those who lived in our nation’s past. My debut novel is Emancipated Heart, a story about a family living in a Japanese American internment camp during WWII. My passion for history started when, as a kid, my father would stop at every roadside historical marker and every small town museum as we traveled on vacations. And my love of writing makes a good combination for great stories.

My latest publications is the American Dreams series set in the Great Depression era through WWII. Follow the Wildings and their friends and family as they maneuver through the trials of American’s difficult periods.
Please visit my website and sign up for my newsletter and/or blog to receive a FREE short story. www.jancline.net/subscribe/

3 Comments

my point of view for Marry Me PLUS a giveaway!

April 9, 2020 in my point of view

Please see my point of view for Marry Me by Autumn Macarthur and enter for a chance to win a $5.00 Amazon gift card!

For her ill daughter, she’ll do anything. Even marry a man she hardly knows.

Widowed Melanie Montana has spent far too many holidays sitting beside hospital beds with people she loves. But not this year. Knowing it could be their last, she’s vowed to make it the best ever Christmas for her four-year-old daughter, Alia.

With the support of the Chapel Cove townsfolk, she’ll find ways to make all Alia’s dreams come true. Lots of books and reading a story together every single night – tick. A sleigh ride – tick. Even her own pony – tick. That’s the easy part.

The biggest item on Alia’s list is more of a challenge – a daddy for Christmas. And not just any daddy. Alia knows exactly who she wants her mommy to marry. The man she calls Dr. Santa, better known as pediatrician Dr. Mark Stewart. When they’ve both been hurt before and closed their hearts to love, only a miracle can give Melanie and Mark a happy-ever-after and turn their marriage of convenience into the real thing.

But when God, as well as the determined child, seems to be pushing them together, how can they possibly resist?

A heartwarming and uplifting second-chances romance of faith, love, and pancakes.

my point of view:

I must admit I do enjoy a great marriage of convenience story. There just seems to be something sweet about the idea of finding true love through unconventional means. Add to that a story with children, and you have me sold! This incredible book has a tag line of “Have tissues handy for this small-town midlife marriage of convenience romance – clean, sweet, deeply emotional, and faith-filled!” and I promise you that you will want those tissues handy….

Melanie’s heartbreak is so real and touching i ached for her from the very beginning.I, too, was a single parent, and would have done anything for my child’s happiness. I cannot imagine what it must be like to have a seriously ill child on top of that, not to mention how she lost her husband to illness as well. I admired Melanie’s bravery and tenacity to do whatever it took to provide her daughter’s happiness.

Mark, aka, Dr. Santa, was a hero for the ages in this lovely story as well. I loved how he truly allowed God to lead him in all his decisions – don;t we all struggle with that at times? Watching how he followed God’s direction and made not just a little girl’s dream come true, but found his true love with Melanie was a journey I will definitely take again and again!

About Autumn Macarthur

Autumn Macarthur is a USA Today bestselling author of Christian inspirational romance. Originally from Australia, she now lives near London with her very English husband plus their spoiled guinea pigs and rescue cats, after a one-year working holiday turned into over twenty years!

She loves writing deeply emotional stories to make you smile and remind you how big and wide and deep God’s love and forgiveness can be. She’s thankful to be blessed with good friends and a patient husband. Most of all, she’s eternally grateful for God’s great love and mercy.

When she’s not writing or being a cat slave, she spends far too much time on Facebook. You’re very welcome to join her friendly Facebook reader group, Three Authors and a Blogger.

Sign up for her email newsletter at www.autumnmacarthur.com, and get a gift ebook, as well as news of new releases, special offers, and exclusive subscriber-only contests.

She’d love to hear from you!

Marry Me is available for just $0.99 right now, but Autumn has also kindly offerred to do a giveaway for a $5.00 Amazon gift card, just comment below and tell us why you enjoy a good marriage of convenience story!

68 Comments

my point of view of The English Proposal by Jenna Brandt

March 12, 2020 in my point of view

I hope you all enjoy my point of view for The English proposal by Jenna Brandt! Jenna is offering an ebook version to one of our readers, see how to enter below!

Surrender to destiny: a window to the heart opens, when one door closes.

To follow the heart or the head—torn between two men—which future will Lady Margaret choose? Profoundly romantic and superbly riveting, The English Proposal explores the conflict between fulfilling duties and satiating desires.

The English Proposal (Book 1). Sheltered on her family’s country estate, Lady Margaret, the daughter of an English Earl, is betrothed due to a family promise. Although Henry, the Viscount Rolantry, has been her best friend since childhood and she is expected to marry him, she never felt butterflies until she meets the Duke of Witherton. Against her father’s wishes, Margaret finds herself captivated by the forbidden duke. Caught between family loyalty and her own wishes, Margaret searches for a way to satisfy both her responsibilities and her longings. When tragedy strikes, Margaret finds herself seeking answers at church. But when she finally makes her choice, through her newfound faith, will she be able to live with the repercussions of her decision?

My point of view:

This book was a totally new author for me. I am often asked how I find new authors, and there are actually many ways – I read a lot of Christian Fiction bloggers to get ideas for new reads; I hear about them on different Facebook groups; I subscribe to many of my favorite authors newsletters and they introduce new authors at times; on a few occasions, an author will reach out to me asking if I would read their newest book, etc. But I must give credit for finding The English Proposal by Jenna Brandt to a dear friend, Kathy Danheim! So, to start with – THANK YOU, KATHY! I have definitely found a new author I intend to keep reading!

Now, as for this amazing historical, we have a great time period set in England that I truly enjoy, a good deal of mystery and suspense, and a beautiful romance between childhood friends. Margaret is one feisty young girl whom I adored from the beginning, and she continues to grow on you throughout the pages. The author takes several twists throughout the story, and once where I was ‘routing’ for one scenario, well, let’s just say it turns out I was cheering on in the wrong direction, lol! The of course, I was so sure I knew who the ‘villain’ was only to be led in another direction again!! Now, I don’t know about you, but I much prefer to be surprised when I am reading – in a good way, of course – than to read a book that I have had all the issues figured out ahead of time, lol!

Best part of the whole story, though? The characters finding their way to becoming true believers in the Lord, this by far was truly beautiful to read, and I am so happy I took a chance on a friend’s recommendation and bout this book! I hope you’ll take a chance on my recommendation and do the same thing and take your own journey into The English Proposal!

About Jenna Brandt

Jenna Brandt would love for you to follow her on Amazon. Just click the follow button. She’s an award-winning, international bestselling author who writes sweet inspiring contemporary and historical fiction with elements of romance, suspense and faith. You can find out more about her any time at www.jennabrandt.com and sign up for her newsletter at http://www.jennabrandt.com/p/newsletter-sign-up.html

She has been an avid reader since she could hold a book and started writing stories almost as early. Jenna has been published in several newspapers as well as edited for multiple papers and graduated with her BA in English from Bethany College where she was the Editor-in-Chief of her college newspaper. Her first blog was published on Yahoo Parenting and The Grief Toolbox as well as featured on the ABC News and Good Morning America websites.

Writing is her passion but she also enjoys cooking, watching movies, reading, and spending time with her three young daughters and husband who are the inspiration behind lots of her characters. She enjoys living in the Central Valley of California and spending summers on the Central Coast. She’s active in her local church where she volunteers on their first impressions team as well as in the crisis care ministry.

Thank you all for visiting with us today! To enter to win your own ebook version of The English Proposal, simply comment below and tell us how you like to learn about new authors to read! Winner will be chosen at random and notified via email!

my point of view for Legacy Reclaimed by Robin Patchen

March 5, 2020 in my point of view

my point of view for Legacy Reclaimed by Robin Patchen

She’ll risk anything to save the company her parents built. He’ll risk anything to save her. Someone will stop at nothing to make sure they both fail.

Chelsea Hamilton spent her life preparing to run the international clothing business her parents started, but she’s still caught off guard when she learns of her mother’s untimely death. Chelsea returns to New Hampshire, buries her mother, and prepares to take over the floundering business. When a stranger attempts to kill her, she realizes somebody doesn’t want her to inherit her legacy.

Private Investigator Dylan O’Donnell spends his time searching for lost teens. He doesn’t know what to think of the beautiful woman seeking his services. Hers isn’t the kind of case he’s accustomed to handling, and she isn’t the kind of client he quit his steady job to help, but something about the woman pulls at him. She’s in danger, and he can’t turn her away. But if he blows this very public case, his floundering business might not survive.

Together, they dig into her family’s secrets. The closer they get to the truth, the closer they grow to one another. Can Chelsea save the legacy her parents fought to leave her? Can Dylan save Chelsea from the enemies determined to see her dead?

my point of view:

I am so very happy I had the chance to read Robin’s books! She has quickly become one of my go to authors – I highly recommend anything she has written! This story is no exception, lol. I love a good suspense story, with romance worked into it, and Robin always delivers. The setting in a small town in New England is always a favorite of mine as well.

Dylan and Chelsea are two characters that are going to stick with me for a while, they both have such a strong, loving, and caring personality that it was fun to watch how they interacted. Their romantic journey is definitely one that will stay with you, with all the bumps and twists and turns it takes!

But the suspense will have you on the edge of your seat – literally. Just as soon as you figure you know who the ‘bad guy’ is you are changing your mind. Now, to be honest, I like to pride myself on guessing who is the culprit – but at the same time I get disappointed if I do figure it out ahead of time….lol…I know, I confuse myself at times. But seriously, I want that surprise ending where I think WOW, never saw that one coming! I don’t want to give anything away for the story, so I will just say you all need to read it for yourself and see if you have that aha moment too!

About Robin Patchen

Robin Patchen writes contemporary Christian suspense, romance, and romantic suspense. Her books are often set in New England, where she grew up. She creates strong, protective heroes and intelligent, courageous heroines.

For a free book, join her newsletter at https://robinpatchen.com/AmazonFree.

Aside from her family and her Savior, Robin Patchen has two loves–writing and traveling. If she could combine them, she’d spend a lot of time sitting in front of her laptop at sidewalk cafes and ski lodges and beachside burger joints. She’d visit every place in the entire world–twice, if possible–and craft stories and tell people about her Savior. Alas, time is too short and money is too scarce for Robin to traipse all over the globe, even if her husband and kids wanted to go with her. So she stays in Oklahoma, shares the Good News when she can, and writes to illustrate the unending grace of God through the power and magic of story.

8 Comments

my point of view for Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

February 27, 2020 in my point of view

I am excited to bring you a new to me author, Heather Day Gilbert and her book: Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing! You can enter to win your own copy, see below!

Exotic pet-sitter Belinda Blake is nervous about her new job at the White Pine Wolf Preserve, but it turns out that the care and feeding of wild carnivores may be the least dangerous part of the gig . . .

Pet-sitter Belinda Blake is no stranger to dealing with wild animals, but she’s wary when the owner of the Greenwich, Connecticut, preserve asks her to help out with her “fluffy darlings.” Her caution seems justified on her very first day, when she discovers a tour guide—dead, bloodied, and surrounded by wolves in the enclosure.

Was it death by predator or something more sinister? The body count rises, but something’s not adding up. As she gets to know the rescued wolves and wolf-dog hybrids better, Belinda realizes that her human colleagues are not above suspicion. With help from her own “pack”—her pregnant sister, Red the chauffeur/bodyguard, and hunky farmer Jonas—Belinda is hot on the killer’s tail, but if she doesn’t find him soon, he’ll do more than muzzle her to keep the truth from escaping.

my point of view:

Well, as I mentioned above, Heather Day Gilbert is a new to me author, but one I have certainly heard of quite a bit! I was thrilled to see I had actually won a copy of this story! Heather wanted me to make sure I mention that even though she IS a Christian author, this book isn’t Christian fiction, just clean fiction. She does not want anyone to be disappointed there is not a clear Christian message in the story line.

I know this is book two in the series, but do not let that scare you (leave the scaring to the wolves, lol)! I have never read the first one prior to this and I still loved every moment of it! The story is fun, Belinda is a character all right, she made me smile and laugh out loud at times. I loved her tenacity in following through with her commitments even while everyone around her told he she needed to bail out. I also found the mystery / suspense to be very enticing – I honestly had no clue who or what the killer might be, and was completely shocked at the outcome!

Another author friend of mine warned me I might be looking into a pet wolf by the end of the story, lol, and while I wouldn’t go that far – lol – it did warm me up to wanting a little fur baby again <<grins>>! Now, I do believe I need to go and check out Belinda Blake and the Snake in the Grass no worries I will ever be lured into wanting a pet snake, hahahah!

About Heather Day Gilbert

HEATHER DAY GILBERT, an ECPA Christy award finalist and Grace award winner, writes contemporary mysteries and Viking historicals. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love. Publisher’s Weekly gave Heather’s Viking historical Forest Child a starred review, saying it is “an engaging story depicting timeless human struggles with faith, love, loyalty, and leadership.”

You can enter to win your own copy of this amazing book by commenting here! Tell us what the most exotic animal you have ever seen before! One winner will win either an ebook version (International winner) or a paperback version (USA winner)! Contest will remain open for one week after post is published and winner will be notified via email, good luck!

26 Comments

Her (Not So) Perfect Love Match boxed set by Alexa Verde!

February 24, 2020 in sump'n speshul

Her (Not So) Perfect Love Match boxed set by Alexa Verde and a $5.00 Amazon gift card giveaway!

What happens when opposites attract? A recipe for romance or disaster?
Let these three sweet, feel-good small-town love stories bring you hours of reading joy. These ebooks also have an international flavor (an Italian hero in Rapsodia and heroes with Russian heritage in Season of Romance and Season of Love).

RAPSODIA/RHAPSODY.
When a control-addicted businessman meets a born risk-taker on his flight home, sparks fly. But it’s easier to earn millions than to make her open her heart again after losing her fiancé. What will it take for her to heal enough to trust in God and take the biggest risk of all-to love again?
SEASON OF ROMANCE.
When an affluent businessman becomes a single father to a sick nephew, he needs help from a shy small-town paramedic next door. But the beautiful neighbor harbors a painful secret. Will a season of romance bring them together or pull them apart?
SEASON OF LOVE.
Feuding co-chefs have to put their differences aside before Christmas to give their siblings a great reception. A ruined wedding and failed business are not on the menu. But romance just might be…

These books were also published as solos. SEASON OF LOVE is available in the set Christmas Love & Joy.