Summer in the Spotlight

Levi was young when he was told by his father that his words didn't matter.  This impacted his whole life.  He kept to himself and said very little.

Kelsey had much to say.  She adored the theatre and performing on stage.  She felt connected to her deceased grandmother there.  Together they were very active in the community theatre in

Prince Edward Island. 

Disaster strikes the theatre she loves.  Kelsey is determined to save it.  Kristy felt that by saving the theatre she would gain her grandmother's approval.  This almost impossible task becomes more of a reality with Levi's help. 

Can Levi and Kelsey escape their hidden demons? Will the theatre survive?  Can they risk their vulnerability for a chance of love?

#SummerinheSpotlight

#LizJohnson

#Revell

I received complimentary copy from Revell.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Liz Johnson

Liz Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including Beyond the Tides and The Last Way Home, as well as the Georgia Coast Romance and Prince Edward Island Dreams series. She works in marketing, makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona, and daydreams of returning to PEI. Learn more at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com.

On Moonberry Lake

Cora didn't have plans to return to Moonberry Lake any time soon. She had many fond memories of spending her childhood there.   She also had questions of what really happened so many years ago.

She was completely taken by surprise when she inherited Moonberry Lake Lodge.  

Cora met some quite interesting people in town.  How can you not love Kitty and her care for others?  Or Widgy and her dog?  As you read this wonderful book, the residents of Moonberry Lake become family.  I loved getting to know them. You will, too.

I hated to say goodbye when I finished this delightful book. It was touching.  It was funny.  If I could,  I would move to Moonberry Lake. How about you?

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Revell. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Holly Varni is a native Minnesotan of strong Norwegian descent, who was raised in the Lutheran Church that Garrison Keillor made a career depicting. Between the lutefisk, grumpy grandparents, and crazy neighbors who mowed their lawn wearing pajamas, the seed to becoming a storyteller was planted. Though she, her husband, and their three sons live along the Central Coast of California, her beloved Midwest roots continue to haunt everything she writes. She hosts the Moments from Moonberry Lake podcast where she shares more stories of her beloved characters. Learn more at www.hollyvarni.com.

Melody Carlson - A Royal Christmas

One day you are going to college and hardly making it payday to payday.  The next you are a Princess.  Unreal.  

Adelaide wasn't so sure but she made the journey to a country called Montovia to meet a man who said he was her father.

A new country.  A new family.   Danger was threatening her very existence.  

A cute holiday story that was full of surprises.  

I wish the story didn't end so fast.  I wanted to know a little more about Adelaide's future.  There is room for a sequel.  I hope so.

#ARoyalChristmas

#MelodyCarlson

#Christmas

I received this from Revell to review.

 

Into the Fire

I was sitting on the edge of my chair as I finished this book.  A brand new series by Irene Hannon was just what I needed this week.  I knew I was going to enjoy this one right away.

Bri, an arson investigator, was called in to investigate a mysterious fire that resulted in the death of a former co-worker. Marcus was an ATF Agent who was also assigned to the case.  Was this meeting by chance or was it GOD'S plan?

I loved the relationships they both had with their families.  Marcus was raised by his wise and loving  grandmother.  I would love to have a relationship like that when my grandchildren get older. Bri had a very close connection to her siblings.  They had each other's back.

Bri was determined to solve the case. With Marcus' help they were getting closer to getting the answers they needed.  But Bri and Marcus were starting to feel the heat.

I received this early copy to read from Revell Books.  

Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 60 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA's elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work.

The Prayer Jar Devotional: Forgiveness

 

This is a new devotional written by one of my favorite authors.  This is the second of Wanda Brunstetter's devotionals from The Prayer Jar.

Forgiveness is a challenge for many.  The hardest is to forgive yourself.  I was part of a 7 day Forgiveness Challenge.  It gave me much to think about. 

 This quote is from Wanda Brunstetter 's new devotional : The Prayer Jar Devotional Forgiveness

I am praying to forgive the ones who have harmed me in the past.  I don't want or need to carry that load.

“One of the most important things we can do to help forgiveness flourish in our lives is to pray.” ~Wanda E. Brunstetter, The Prayer Jar Devotional Forgiveness. 

 #forgivenesschallenge #devotionals #forgiveness #wandabrunstetter.

It can be purchased here:

https://www.barbourbooks.com/the-prayer-jar-devotional-forgiveness/?fbclid=IwAR1ZdAn9mHQp0DDI8SDj3PbAahzseV8i6_iK0PC_fMpCqFCswB_vLqgcoj0

Amish Harvest Time

 

I was excited to read this new book in the The Amish Bonnet Sisters Set.  The family has become like friends.  I don't want them to end.  Samantha Price knows how to write her characters like they are family.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of the characters showing more of their sensitive side. With time, people sometimes will change.  

I live in Michigan where apples are being harvested.  We plan on going this coming week. I wish that their orchard and shop were close by and not just written in a book.

Wilma has a new friend.  It was unexpected but she realizes that Red has become very important to her.  Of course, Red is a dog that keeps Wilma company.

I'm glad the series is not other yet.  I look forward to the next chapter.

I received this ebook to review from Samantha Price.

Lost and Found

Birdwatchers Micah finds himself in a dilemma.  He goes against the Amish community rules to rescue a friend in trouble.  But was she really?

Trudy thought she was Micah's best friend.  She had her doubts.  She is a clever young woman.   She was a independent thinker and a great birdwatcher.

I loved how the book was written.  There are sections where discovered birds were described in detail.  Trudy's interpretations and descriptions are the best.  Her personality shines through. 

Micah is making a big mistake if he doesn't take notice of what is right in front of him.  We often takes things for granted. It could be too late.

There are a familiar characters if you have read any previous books about this community.  I enjoyed Hank and Billy with his fainting goats. They have their quirks but they are loveable. 

Really enjoyed this!!

I received this book to review from Revell Books.

#RevellReads

#SuzanneWoodsFisher

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 books, including The Moonlight School, Anything but Plain, The Sweet Life, and The Secret to Happiness, as well as the Three Sisters Island, Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop's Family, The Deacon's Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She lives in California.  

Christmas Bells and Wedding Vows

 I had to read this.  A book about Christmas!  A book that is written by my favorite writers!  Even though it is summer when I read this, they took me the most wonderful time of the year.

Jody Hedlund is from Michigan, my Home State.  She knows something about winter.  Her story - Claiming the Cowgirl- contains characters I am already familiar with in her previous books. I loved that.

Lacy Williams' book is titled Doctor's Snowflake Bride.  What a great title!  How can you not love a lawman with the name Jed?  I did.

Misty B. Beller always delivers a story that captures my imagination and heart.  Marrying the Mountain Man's Best Friend had me a little nervous at times.  Heidi found herself in a dangerous situation that only Two Stones can get her out of.

A great collection for any time of the year.  

I received this advanced copy to review from Celebrate Lit.

About the Book

Book: Christmas Bells and Wedding Vows – A Marriage of Convenience Anthology

Authors: Jody Hedlund, Lacy Williams, and Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 26, 2023

From bestselling and award winning authors, experience Christmas on the rugged western frontier with three novellas filled with unforgettable adventures, enduring romance, and the timeless message of hope found in the Savior’s birth.

Claiming the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund

Serena Taylor is hiding in Colorado’s high country to keep her son safe, and she knows the best way to protect him is by marrying again and giving him a father. Weston Oakley needs a wife by Christmas to placate his meddling family, but after being spurned one too many times in love, he’s reluctant to give his heart away again. When they agree on a marriage of convenience, both of them get much more than they bargained for.

Doctor’s Snowflake Bride by Lacy Williams
Minnie steps off the train ready to become a mail-order bride, but she finds the well-dressed man waiting for her isn’t her intended husband. The protective oath Jed took when he became a doctor doesn’t cover stranded women, but he can’t leave the beautiful stranger alone in a building blizzard two days before Christmas. When circumstances force them into close proximity, Jed and Minnie find that their growing feelings aren’t convenient at all.

Marrying the Mountain Man’s Best Friend by Misty M. Beller

Two Stones, a Salish warrior accustomed to navigating between tribes and miners, unexpectedly finds himself summoned to the side of a dying friend in Virginia City. Sworn to honor the miner’s last wish, Two Stones agrees to marry his daughter, Heidi, but plans to take her to live with his parents. He’ll provide all her needs, make sure she’s safe, and visit her on occasion when his path leads him that direction. As they set out on the journey, their path is fraught with challenges that defy Two Stones’ plans and reveal a surprising depth to Heidi’s character. As they near the end of their trail and join the Christmas festivities at the Coulter Ranch, Two Stones begins to realize this inconvenient marriage might really be a Christmas gift he’ll always treasure.

About the Authors

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle.

USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams is devoted to bringing her readers heartwarming love stories about cowboys and the women that tame them.

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

More from Misty

When Friends Join Forces…Magic Happens!

For me, joining with my good friends Jody Hedlund and Lacy Williams resulted in Christmas magic!

Ever since I was young, Christmas stories have held a special place in my heart. The charm and warmth they exude, coupled with the enchantment of the holiday season, are a captivating combination I find irresistible. Can you relate?

I’ve also long been a HUGE fan of Jody Hedlund and Lacy Williams. I’ve read so many of their books over and over!

Joining them for this Christmas novella collection has been a dream come true for so many reasons. And not only are these three marriage of convenience stories set on the Rocky Mountain frontier (my favorite place!), each of these novellas is an exciting extension of the current series we’re each writing.

Jody’s novella is the finale to her Colorado Cowgirls series. We meet both the hero and heroine of this Christmas story back in book 4. You don’t have to have read Jody’s series to fall in love with them here though!

Lacy’s novella tells the story of a character from a new mail order bride series she has coming soon. This prelude is a fantastic taste that will have you swooning as you eagerly await the rest of the books!

My own contribution features Two Stones, the Coulter family’s best friend from the Brothers of Sapphire Mountain Ranch series. I love having the chance to tell his story, even though he’s not ‘officially’ one of the brothers. 

If you’ve read any of these series—or if you just love Christmas books like I do!—you’ll definitely want to read the novellas in Christmas Bells and Wedding Vows. It’s our collective holiday gift to you, the readers—intertwining familiar settings and characters with the joy and love that the festive season brings. We hope these tales bring you the same warmth and joy we’ve felt while penning them.

 

Blessings!

Misty

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 6

Alena Mentink, September 6

Texas Book-aholic, September 7

Mary Hake, September 7

By the Book, September 8

She Lives To Read, September 8

Vicky Sluiter, September 9

Melissa’s Bookshelf, September 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 10

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 11

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 12

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 13 (Author Interview)

Connie’s History Classroom, September 14

Blossoms and Blessings, September 15

Britt Reads Fiction, September 15

For Him and My Family, September 16

Labor Not in Vain, September 16

Holly’s Book Corner, September 17

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 17

Books You Can Feel Good About, September 18

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, September 18

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Misty, Jody, and Lacy are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/28138/christmas-bells-and-wedding-vows-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

The Bad Penny

 

I absolutely love historical  fiction.  I was thrilled that this was available to read.

I didn't realize that I read a previous book with the same characters.  You could read this as a stand alone but I recommend that you read The Ragged Orphan first.

I really enjoyed the story.  What  wonderful characters!  I came to love Jared, Alice, Tobey and Sam.  They were family even though they were not blood related.  

I hated the idea of any of them being hurt.  I held my breath until the very end.  I won't give anything away but WOW!

The Bad Penny

If you're born with nothing you have to make your own luck.

When Jared Johnson first meets Clarice Connaught he saves her from the hands of her father, who is brutally beating her in the street. Never one to walk past someone in distress, Jared doesn’t hesitate to help. But who is this girl and what is her story?

Jared Johnson started with nothing. At just twelve-years-old he was orphaned and homeless, but eight years later, Jared is a success. Running McGuire’s Rag & Bone Yard and surrounded by friends, all Jared needs now is to find the perfect girl to settle down with.

Nothing has come easy for Clarice but still she has dreams of a grander life and the finer things. And if her father isn’t willing to provide them then Clarice will do anything to find someone who is.

Jared and Clarice have one thing in common – they are survivors – and in Queen Victoria’s Birmingham you need your wits about you to keep the wolf from the door. But Clarice isn’t everything she seems, and like a bad penny that always shows up, she brings more trouble for Jared and his friends than they could ever have imagined…

Lindsey Hutchinson, the top 10 bestseller, Queen of the Black Country Saga, is back with a page-turning and heart-warming story perfect fans of Katie Flynn, Val Wood and Lyn Andrews.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/TheBadPennysocial

Author Bio – 

Lindsey Hutchinson is a bestselling saga author whose novels include The Workhouse Children. She was born and raised in Wednesbury, and was always destined to follow in the footsteps of her mother, the multi-million selling Meg Hutchinson.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lindsey-Hutchinson/100031928935691/ 

Twitter https://twitter.com/LHutchAuthor 

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/LindseyHutchinsonNews 

#rararesources

#blog tour

#LindseyHutchinson

 

Christmas Nights at the Star and Lantern

 

Yes, I am reading Christmas books already.  A small town, Christmas and Romance.  A winner to me!

Two people who can't and won't forget a short encounter years ago.  

I enjoyed the story.  I visited England at Christmas once.  I loved the atmosphere and going to the local pub.  It was cozy and welcoming.  That's what Quinn and his brother want when they purchase The Star and Lantern.    But Quinn has  an additional idea as he knows Celeste runs a bakery in town.

Celeste tries to stay away from Quinn.  But she is drawn to him.  What must happen for them to have a second chance of love?

A cozy story to read on a cold night even when it is in September.

#BoldwoodBooks

#HelenRolfe

A Courageous Betrothal

A short novella that leaves you wanting more.  I loved the main character- Jenny White.  She was spunky and one whom you want with you in times of trouble. 

But Jenny doubted herself.  She wasn't pretty enough.  How could anyone pick her compared to her sister?

An exciting story with action packed adventure during the American Revolution. I loved the heart throb of the story.  Highlander Caylan says the right things in his Scottish brogue to make any young or old woman swoon.  Jenny and her sister, Hannah, were not an exception. 

I received this novella to review from the author.

Denise Weimer holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University. Represented by Hartline Literary, she writes historical and contemporary romance and romantic suspense set in her home state of Georgia. She's also a managing editor for Smitten Historical Romance and Heritage Beacon Historical Fiction, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. A wife and mom of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

Website

https://deniseweimerbooks.webs.com

Twitter

https://twitter.com/denise_weimer

The Best is Yet to Come

Loss and grief.  Two things Cade and Hope know very well.  

Hope appears to be just doing fine.  But internally she is a mess.  Cade shows his grief and suffers the consequences for his actions.

They met because they both volunteered at a dog shelter.  This brings them healing.  

Hope was a teacher.  She was compassionate and wanting to help.  Many times her hands were tied but she did what she could.  I could relate as I worked with teenagers before I retired.

An enjoyable book.

#DebbieMacomber

#Grief

#GriefRecovery

Captivated by the Cowgirl

Felicity was the youngest sister of three.  She witnessed both of her sisters finding the loves of their lives.  But she was convinced that it would never happen for her.  Of course, she had her suitors but she didn't feel anything more than friendship.

She never expected to meet the new stranger in town, Philip Berg.    He was there every time she needed that extra shoulder to lean on.  You can tell there was an attraction between them. But  they both had reasons to keep it hidden.

What Felicity did not know was Philip's secret.  Would this make or break their chance of being together?  

 

This was a quick read for me.  I love Jody Hedlund's books.  

This is Book 4 of the Colorado Cowgirls Series.  Each one of these books have beautiful covers.  

I received this copy to review from the author,  Jody Hedlund.

AUTHOR:

Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of The Doctor's Lady and The Preacher's Bride. Jody has received much industry recognition, most recently being awarded an ACFW 2014 Carol Award in the Historical Romance category for her novel, 'A Noble Groom'.

In addition to this, Jody has also received the 2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award; the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers; and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards.

Currently she makes her home in Michigan with her husband and five busy children.

Wooing Gertrude

Gertrude thought she had a plan.   But she didn't expect her new groom to be a criminal.  

Gertrude was discouraged.  She felt that God was not there for her.  He wasn't listening.  Have you ever felt like this?  I  can remember a time where I felt alone.  Failed relationships made me doubt any chance for future happiness.

It wasn't until I turned to GOD and prayed that my life changed.  I asked him to guide my steps and keep me safe from harm.  And if I was to remain single, to give me peace about that.  Not long afterwards I met my future husband.  

Gertrude met Enoch and unexpectedly her life changed.  With prayer and the help of her guinea pigs,  Gertrude found the happiness she was looking for.

I loved the story.  A great read.  

I received an advanced reading copy from the author to review.

About the Author

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHL) and has been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Live the Adventure Letter. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. In addition to writing, Jodie sings in her church choir and is a voracious reader. You’ll often find her praying for snow in Pennsylvania. :)

Look for Jodie on her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and MeWe.