Freebie Friday for Romance Fans

Today's Freebie Friday is a romance by Liz Isaacson called Before the Leap. I've read some of Liz's books and enjoyed them, so I'm excited to try her new series!

You can download your free Kindle copy here

Here's the back copy:

Can Jace find a way to forgive before it's too late?

Jace Lovell only has one thing left after his fiancé abandons him at the altar: his job at Horseshoe Home Ranch. He throws himself into becoming the best foreman the ranch has ever had—and that includes hiring an interior designer to make the ranch owner's wife happy.

Belle Edmunds is back in Gold Valley after she lost her job at a prestigious design firm in California. She's working for a conglomerate, but she's desperate to build a portfolio that she can use to start her own firm in Montana. She applies for the job at Horseshoe Home, and though Jace and Belle grew up together, they've never seen eye to eye on much more than the sky is blue.

The spark between them now that they're adults can't be denied, and as Jace and Belle attempt to work together, they also fight their growing attraction to each other. But Jace isn't anywhere near forgiving his fiancé, and he's not sure he's ready for a new relationship with someone as fiery and beautiful as Belle. Can she employ her patience while he figures out how to forgive so they can find their own brand of happily-ever-after?

My Grandma Passed Away

My grandmother, former Canadian senator Dr. Thelma J. Chalifoux, was laid to rest today. She was a force to be reckoned with, a fierce defender of First Nations and women's rights, and she worked tirelessly to serve others and help them wherever she could. She was the first indigenous woman ever appointed to the senate in the Canadian federal government. She won a lot of awards, including the National Aboriginal Achievement award, and I am so proud of all her accomplishments.

So, while my grandma wasn't a traditional grandma and she was a very busy woman, she was still devoted to her family. Whatever cause she was involved in, she brought the family along with her. She taught us about strength and perseverance, and she loved us all. Some of my best memories of her are just laughing together over old stories and when it was time to go, her arm would slip around my shoulders and she would say, "Love you, my girl." I will miss that laugh. I'll miss her smile. I'll miss her.

Love you, Grandma Kookum. Always.

Giveaway & Book Review: You Are Loved

 In the Non-Fiction Corner

by Lauren B.

I have read a few books by Kathryn Jenkins Gordon and I always love them, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. And it didn’t hurt that it is a topic that I think is constantly on many people’s minds, does the Lord really care about me? Am I loved? Gordon used quotes and scriptures to answer these questions in an absolutely beautiful way.

While the whole book focuses on the love God has for us, each chapter touches on a point that proves his love. He relieves us from adversity, He listens, He sent His son, He forgives, He blesses, and He lifts when we are afraid. I particularly enjoyed the chapter where she talked about that the Lord will never leave us. She cites quotes that talk about how we worship a fourth watch God, one that always comes in the darkest and hardest times. And because He helps us, we are able to help others.

This was a well written and thought out book that makes you feel like you can anything and makes you want to improve yourself. The Lord really does care about every one of us! And the perfect person to write about that was Gordon. She only talked a little about her trials, but you can tell that she has experience in this topic. She found some great quotes, some that were very common and some that I had never heard, and tied it perfectly together with her own thoughts. I was expecting more stories, either personal or otherwise, but I was pleasantly surprised about how much I still liked the book without them. Reading this was the perfect start to start conference weekend, and I will always be a Kathryn Jenkins Gordon fan.

You can purchase your copy here

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

Here's the back copy:

As you are tossed about by the challenges you face, it is easy to feel sad. Alone. Forgotten. Unloved. Those feelings are real. But they are not reality, for you are not—and never can be—forgotten. In the tumultuous journey of mortality, trials can seem both overwhelming and isolating. But it is in the darkest of moments that the light of Christ shines brightest, beckoning you to turn to Him. With words of reassurance, author Kathryn Jenkins Gordon acknowledges that tough times will surely come—but as you walk through hardships hand in hand with the Lord, there is hope for the future, and opportunity for personal growth. Through discussion of sacred scripture and the inspired words of church leaders, this volume addresses topics ranging from embracing the atonement, to believing your prayers will be answered, to applying the miracle of forgiveness in your life. It is impossible to foresee what storms will come, but amid the uncertainty, some things are sure: you are known, you are loved, and you are never alone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule:

*Sept. 25th: http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 26th: http://www.iamareader.com/

*Sept. 27th: http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://brightlystreet.com/category/book-reviews/

*Sept. 28th: http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 29th: http://thoroughlyhere.blogspot.com

Free Book For Thriller Fans!

As you all know, I am a huge fan of H.B. Moore's Omar Zagouri thrillers and she is offering her new one, The Killing Curse, for free! They can all be read standalone, but really, if you haven't started reading the series, you should!

You can download your free Kindle copy here

Here's the back copy:

Omar Zagouri should have known that the hunt for an ordinary art thief in London would end up being far from ordinary. Abducted and carted across several countries until he’s locked up in the middle of Jordan’s desert, Omar becomes the target of an underground crime organization that dates back to the Crusaders era. As Omar works to uncover the deadly secrets that connect centuries of deceit, he finds himself trying to prevent an honor killing from turning into another tragedy, while exposing the ancient crime organization for generations of lethal corruption.

Book Review: All That Makes Life Bright

Josi Kilpack has written a fictionalized version of Harriet Beecher Stowe's life as a newly married woman in her new book, All That Makes Life Bright. Though the book begins in the early 1800s, some of the issues Harriet faces regarding her writing, her call to the social issues of her day, and juggling that with being a wife and mother are so poignant and pertinent to modern-day women.

The story opens with Harriet preparing for her wedding to Calvin Stowe. He's been widowed and Harriet felt like she wouldn't have the opportunity to marry, but when they connect, she feels strongly that she should marry him. Her sister, Catharine, voices her concern that Harriet will lose herself and all the good she can do with her God-given talents, if she marries and becomes a mother. Harriet assures her that Calvin supports her writing and she will be able to continue developing herself and rearing a family.

From there on, that conversation rings in the reader's head as Harriet struggles in her marriage, and she tries to to put that assertion to the test. Calvin still misses his first wife, he's away when Harriet first discovers she's pregnant, and their expectations of the other don't seem to align in very many ways. And that's just the beginning! Everything is compounded when her views on slavery and social issues start to become more pointed. Because the author did such a wonderful job of making Harriet so relatable, readers will care about her and her marriage and wonder how she will ever make this work. The setting and time period is very well done and though I had read a biography of Harriet years ago, this book really makes her come alive and what led her to write, Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Compared to the other books in the Proper Romance line, this isn't a romance of first love, or even second chance love in a familiar sense, this is more of finding a way to keep the romance alive in marriage while facing unexpected and hard realities in life. It was real and sometimes raw and absolutely riveting.

Here's the back copy:

When Harriet Beecher marries Calvin Stowe on January 6, 1836, she is sure her future will be filled romance, eventually a family, and continued opportunities to develop as a writer. Her husband Calvin is completely supportive and said she must be a literary woman. Harriet’s sister, Catharine, worries she will lose her identity in marriage, but she is determined to preserve her independent spirit. Deeply religious, she strongly believes God has called her to fulfill the roles of wife and writer and will help her accomplish everything she was born to do.

Two months after her wedding Harriet discovers she is pregnant just as Calvin prepares to leave for a European business trip. Alone, Harriet is overwhelmed—being a wife has been harder than she thought and being an expectant mother feels like living another woman’s life. Knowing that part of Calvin still cherishes the memory of his first wife, Harriet begins to question her place in her husband’s heart and yearns for his return; his letters are no substitute for having him home. When Calvin returns, however, nothing seems to have turned out as planned.

Struggling to balance the demands of motherhood with her passion for writing and her desire to be a part of the social change in Ohio, Harriet works to build a life with her beloved Calvin despite differing temperaments and expectations.

Can their love endure, especially after “I do”? Can she recapture the first blush of new love and find the true beauty in her marriage?

You can download your copy here

Freebie Friday

Today's Freebie Friday is a YA Paranormal by Sherry D. Ficklin called Queen of Someday. I haven't read this one, but it has a lot of great reviews and sounds riveting!

You can download your copy here

Here's the back copy:

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother's quest to put her on the throne of Russia--at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress
Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family--and herself--Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she's willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

Book Review--Even This by Emily Belle Freeman

In the Non-Fiction Corner

by Lauren B.

First things first, Emily Freeman knows how to throw quite the party! To release her book, she invited quite a few bloggers over to her home where she provided desserts, live music from Mercy River, and she had a Q&A where she was able to tell more about her idea for the book. I was even more excited to read it after learning more about the background and meeting the author! I knew I was going to love the book.

And Freeman did not disappoint. Her writing style is absolutely on point. The book is fast paced, the stories are never dragged out and she makes you want to keep reading. She has a great way of telling stories, you can hear her voice and you feel like she is talking to you. Her stories about her family and her life are told in such a way that you feel like you were there. You feel like you’re sitting right there in the hospital room when her husband is having surgery on his tumors, when she is chatting with God through her hard pregnancies, and even around her family dinner table as they have a good laugh about a hole-poking washer. Her experiences are so relevant to the point she is trying to get across in the book, its like the Lord is in control and prepared her for it or something. ;)

The message of the book is phenomenal. It talks about the idea that we put limitations on God, but He is exactly what we need him to be. He is kind, loving, abundant, all knowing and a miracle worker. He is everything for everyone because we are all His children, and He can succor us perfectly. This book made me really ponder on the fact that even our trials are perfect for us. The Lord knows what we can handle. He knows what he needs us to be not only in the next life, but in this one as well and our experiences will prepare us to become. But that doesn’t mean we are left alone! He is there every step of the way. He won’t leave us comfortless. Freeman picked well-known, meaningful scriptures, but also stories that I had never pondered before. We have all heard the story of Moses, but thinking about the faith it took to step out of the ordinary and the familiar into something difficult but better was an eye-opener for me. I loved this book. I can’t wait to use the journal, to evaluate who God is to me, and to trust him with anything.

You can purchase your copy here

Here's the back copy:

In Even This, Emily Belle Freeman shares her own deeply personal experiences of feeling forgotten by God—from the fear of abandonment in a dark hospital room to the desperation that followed months of unanswered prayers. In a moment of honesty, she found herself asking the question she had been afraid to consider: “Where is God in this?”

Through biblical insight, genuine realness, and beautiful prose, Emily will help you discover how to:

• Diminish the power of doubt by coming to understand why the place of deepest asking is where the believing begins.
• Stop letting fear dictate the depth of your belief through simple daily reflections that will restore your confidence in God.
• Let go of your need to control by discovering what is holding you back from being completely vulnerable in your relationship with God.
• 
  

Trust that God may have something different in mind than you–something better.

Sweet Historical Romance Review And A Giveaway!

I'm so excited to be part of the blog tour for Rachael Anderson's new book, The Pursuit of Lady Harriet. We return to Tanglewood for the final book in this series so Lady Harriett can have her story told. And what a story it is!

Harriett has completed her first season and though it was a success, she didn't find anyone who captured her heart. She is visiting Tanglewood as she awaits the start of her second season, when Jonathon Ludlow's friend, Lieutenant Christopher Jamison arrives. He angers her, charms her, and generally confuses her. But can this man who loves a good joke ever be serious enough to capture Harriett's heart?

I enjoyed going back to Tanglewood again and glimpsing previous couples and how their lives were turning out. Harriett has appeared in the other books and I was glad to hear this was to be her story. She is such an interesting heroine who gets herself in a lot of funny situations as she tries to put the lieutenant in his place, yet he refuses to fit into her expectations. Some of those instances painted her in a petulant and immature light at first, but what will draw readers to her character is that she has a believable growth arc throughout the book that really redeemed her. I thought it was relatable that she had self-esteem issues and of course, couldn't read our hero's intentions very well which led to several misunderstandings between them. All of those misunderstandings heightened the angst of the story and made it so readers will be turning pages long into the night to see if Christopher and Harriett get their happy ending!

This was a fun, romantic, afternoon read, especially if you love Tanglewood and the world Ms. Anderson has created through this series. (Although this book can stand alone, you'll definitely want to read the other two if you haven't already!)

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

You can download your copy of The Pursuit of Lady Harriett here

Here's the back copy:

When wills clash and hearts collide, who will reign victorious?

 Termed an Incomparable during her first London season, Lady Harriett Cavendish is beautiful, spirited, and confident, capturing the attention of a great many suitors. Unfortunately, they all failed to capture her attention, and she concluded the season as unattached as she’d begun it. Only weeks prior to her second season, Harriett encounters Lieutenant Christopher Jamison while visiting Tanglewood Manor. Recently returned from war, the lieutenant is everything that Harriett's previous suitors were not. He’s arrogant, ungentlemanly, irritating, and challenges her at every opportunity. When he goes too far, Harriett decides that it’s time to turn the tables on him. But as she sets out to put the lieutenant in his place once and for all, she discovers there is more to him than meets the eye, and when it comes to matters of the heart, she has no control whatsoever.

EXCERPT 

Harriett looked at what remained of the cake. Apparently, he didn’t intend to finish it off after all, so she collected their forks and stood. “Forgive me for saying so, but you look quite done in, Chris. If you do not go up to bed now, you will probably fall asleep here. Only imagine what Mrs. Caddy might say if she discovers you here with the mostly-eaten cake. For your own sake, you ought to retire. I will do my best to tidy things up.”

Before she could move away from him, he grabbed her hand and guided her to sit back down, keeping hold of her fingers. “Not so fast, my lady. I meant it when I said that I’m in desperate need of the distraction that only you can provide. Thus far, all I have done is burden you with my troubles.”

“I do not feel at all burdened, sir.” Indeed, Harriett suddenly felt breathless and somewhat giddy. The effect this man had on her was something of a wonder.

“Sir?” he asked. “I thought we were beyond that.”

“I thought so as well, but you only just called me ‘my lady.’”

He frowned and blinked as though he hadn’t realized he had. “Forgive me, Harry. I fear my exhaustion has muddled my thinking.”

This time, she did not let the name slide. She snatched her hand free and frowned at him. “Obviously it has.”

He laughed—not a tired attempt at a laugh, but a real one filled with the richness that warmed her straight through. Only this time, it did not bother her at all. In fact, it felt wonderful, almost like a compliment. “I knew you’d come through for me,” he said, leaning close enough to touch shoulders with her. “You have no idea how much I needed to laugh or how good that felt. I could honestly kiss you right now.”

Harriett tried her best not to blush or appear astonished by the suggestion—he had obviously made the comment in jest—but when his smile widened into a devilish grin, she knew she’d failed. He leaned in closer, and his gaze wandered briefly to her mouth before returning to her eyes. She could smell vanilla and lemon and a hint of something else—leather perhaps? A delightful pulse whipped down her arm, and she was hard-pressed not to shiver.

“Admit it,” he said. “You have missed me.”

 

 

  

Author Rachael Anderson A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

Website

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 10/1/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Movie Premiere for Joseph Smith, American Prophet

I just got back from the movie premiere for the new PBS documentary of Joseph Smith, American Prophet. One was done back in 1999 and now there's a new one out. It was a beautiful production that added so much to the narrative with reenactments and interviews including experts both within and without the LDS church. They did keep the late Gregory Peck's voice-overs and I was glad. He has an amazing voice!

I took my family to the show and it was interesting to see their reactions. There were details presented that one of my children hadn't known before and it led to a wonderful discussion on the way home. We got to meet (and sit by) some of the actors, as well as listen to the men who pitched the show as well as produced and directed it---Lee Groberg and Mark Goodman.  From their speeches, it sounds like there were several miracles that took place from the idea to the actual realization of the movie.

It will be out on video next month, but you can request it from your local PBS station right now. It is definitely well worth your time if you ever wanted a fair and balanced peek into the history of the LDS church and more specifically, Joseph Smith himself.

Here's the teaser:

Millions of people around the world know of him. Yet this American frontier prophet of the early 1800's found little honor and eventual martyrdom at the hands of an angry mob in his own country. Who was this Joseph Smith and what was it about his remarkable life story, which inspired such impassioned rancor or unflinching loyalty and even reverence?

Using all new interviews, new footage and new historical reinactments, and infused with the classic narration of the late Gregory Peck, Lee Groberg has created a wholly new and engaging film about the life of Joseph Smith.

First Date Disasters In This Book Review & Giveaway!

Today's book review is Wish Me Love by Michele Ashman Bell. There are so many laugh out loud moments in this one, you won't want to put it down!

Charlotte Wells is trying to get through the day---what would have been her second wedding anniversary---if her best friend hadn't married her ex-fiance. Luckily, her co-worker Jack looks out for her and encourages her to put herself out there again. They strike a bargain over a wishing bracelet---Charlotte will go on fifty first dates, if Jack will wear a wishing bracelet. He agrees and I love how that wishing bracelet figures in the story for both of them. Charlotte gives out her phone number to friends and goes on so many disastrous first dates that were funny and groan-worthy at the same time.

I really enjoyed the banter and connection Charlotte has with Jack, as they're starting a business together, and trying to help each other. They are such close friends and he's so sweet, always looking out for what's best for Charlotte. Loved him. (And how respectful they were of Jack's engagement.)

When Charlotte goes to her cousin's wedding in Brazil, things start to change for her on the romance front and the author has made Charlotte so relatable and realistic that you will definitely be hoping she gets the happy ending she deserves. I loved the Brazilian setting and how the author really makes it feel like you're there, experiencing it all with Charlotte. This was such a cute romance! A fun afternoon read.

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

Here's the back copy:

Charlotte Wells does not date. After surviving a broken engagement, she’s taken a leave of absence from the social scene. So when her best friend and coworker, Jack, challenges her to get back in the game, she’s not so sure she’s ready to play. But ultimately, curiosity gets the best of her, and Charlotte accepts the daunting challenge: she will attempt to have fifty first dates in her effort to find “the one.” Unfortunately, she quickly realizes that the dating pool mostly holds clown fish as she goes on one lousy outing after another. Without a good man in sight as summer ends, Charlotte cuts her losses and sets her sights on a fun-filled trip to her cousin’s destination wedding in Brazil.

Brazil is a land of beautiful sights and delicious offerings—including Max, the charming brother of her cousin’s new husband. Max has all the makings of a Prince Charming in soccer cleats, and Charlotte’s happily ever after seems to be within reach. But love is a funny thing, and soon Charlotte finds herself wondering: could it be that her true love has been right in front of her all along?

a Rafflecopter giveaway .

Tour schedule:

*Sept. 18th: http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/, http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 19th: http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://thethingsilovemost.com/, http://empowermoms.net/

*Sept. 20th: http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://www.kindleandme.com/, http://readingismysuperpower.org/

*Sept. 21st: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 22nd: http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://fireandicereads.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

Freebie Friday For Romance Fans!

It's a rainy, drizzly day here which means I want to curl up in a soft blanket with a good book. Sigh. Maybe even have some chocolate chip cookies and a roaring fire in the fireplace? Too much?

Well, I can at least have the blanket and book part. I've read Lucy McConnell books before and enjoyed them, and she is offering her sweet romance of A Reclusive Billionaire for free today! 

If you need a new book to read, too, you can get your free copy here (and I'll give you bonus points if you can spot the typo on the back copy that made me smile just because of the context of it.)

Here's the back copy:

Lucas Scott, a world-renowned microbiologist, is desperate to find a cure for the butterfly flu before it spreads. Hounded by the media, he escapes to his houseboat in Santa Barbara where he meets a vivacious veterinarian with a penchant for taking in strays. While he searches for the key to unlocking the butterfly flu, Becca somehow unlocks his analytical heart.

Becca Lee isn't impressed with her new neighbor. His clothes are constantly wrinkled and he's grumpier than a cat with digestive problems. However, Luke isn't easy to brush off. He's always around, has a magnificent mind, and is full of surprises. But, what she can't figure out is why her instincts tell her to trust this rouge billionaire. It doesn't take long to realize he is the only one alive who can save the world and Becca has to make a choice--open her heart or watch Luke sail off into the sunset.

This is the first book in the Destination Billionaire Romance series. Included is a sneak peek at the next two books in the series, Almost Everything, by Taylor Hart, and The Lucky Billionaire, by Jeanette Lewis.

Freebies for Western Romance Fans!

There's a great deal being offered today if you love western romance. The first TWO books in Liz Isaacson's Brush Creek Brides romance series are free!

You can download your copy here

Here's the back copy:

A Wedding for the Widower:

Former rodeo champion and cowboy Walker Thompson trains horses at Brush Creek Horse Ranch, where he lives a simple life in his cabin with his ten-year-old son, Michael. A widower of six years, he's just trying to provide a life for Michael that his late wife would've approved of. He's worked with Tess Wagner, a widow who came to Brush Creek to escape the turmoil of her life to give her seven-year-old son, Graham, a slower pace of life. Together, they run a cotton candy stand at the town's Heritage Festival every fall, donating the money they raise to the National Widows & Widowers Foundation to help those who've suffered the way they have.

Walker's boss and best friend, ranch owner Landon Edmunds, has encouraged him to start dating, and Walker looks no further than Tess. She's interested in him too, but neither of them wants to inflict more sorrow and suffering on the other than they've already endured. So when Tess confesses that her breast cancer has flared up again, Walker backs off. Way off.

In the end, he'll have to decide if he'd rather spend even a short time with Tess and Graham than not have them in his life at all. Tess wants to feel God's love and power, but she'll have to discover and accept God's will in order to find her happy ending.

A Companion for the Cowboy:

Cowboy and professional roper Justin Jackman has found solitude at Brush Creek Horse Ranch, preferring his time with the animals he trains over dating. With two failed engagements in his past, he's not really interested in getting his heart stomped on again. But when flirty and fun Renee Martin picks him up at a church ice cream bar--on a bet, no less--he finds himself more than just a little interested.

Renee's living with her cousin in Brush Creek, having just graduated from college. She's not ready to be an adult, has no idea what she wants to do for a career, and generally wishes everyone would just let her figure things out. She starts working for Dinosaur National Park, which has an hour-long commute that she spends thinking about Justin. With a decade separating their ages, she comes to realize that they're from different generations.

His Gen-X attitudes are attractive to her; her Millennial behaviors drive him nuts. Can Justin look past their differences and take a chance on another engagement? And if he does, will Renee be mature enough and ready for a serious relationship? Justin and Renee will have to figure out how to pray and how to listen to God to find a way to their happily-ever-after.

Love Remains Review And A Giveaway!

As you all know, I am a huge Sarah Eden fan, but for her Hope Springs series, I am firmly in the TeamTavish camp. He's had a rough time of it in all the books, so I was SO happy to hear that her new book, Love Remains, is Tavish's love story. And oh, it was so worth the wait.

In the last book there was a horrific fire that injured the youngest O'Connor brother, Finbarr, and rendered him blind. That terrible night changed the O'Connor's forever, and Tavish has been valiantly trying to hold his family together at the expense of his own happiness and well-being. Nearly at the end of his rope, the family decides to hire a tutor for Finbarr that could help him navigate his new world, and Cecil Attwater arrives---only it's not Cecil, but Cecily, a beautiful Englishwoman.

Cecily has known heartache of her own as she is slowly losing her own eyesight. She wants to help Finbarr, but he is lost in self-pity and sure he'll never be able to have a life of his own. But the more she gets to know the O'Connor family, the more she comes to love them, especially Finbarr's older brother Tavish. Surprisingly, old wounds and hurts from her background as an Englishwoman and theirs as Irish surface and threaten to tear down the fragile foundation Cecily has built. Can she move past the prejudice of those she's become attached to, or will she forever be on the outside of a family looking in?

I loved everything about this book. The gentle teasing and witty repartee between Cecily and Tavish made me laugh, and the emotions of everything the O'Connor's have been through made me cry. Cecily and Tavish's love story was so sweet and tender, slowly coming to know each other in a way that didn't rely on looks, but sounds, smells, emotions, and touch was sigh-worthy. There were so many wonderful scenes that stood out to me, I don't think I could pick a favorite, but I loved the way that Tavish opened his heart to heal the wounds of the past and allowed himself to see a future. It was so realistic and well-written that I wanted to cry with happiness for him. And that Cecily was such a big part of that, even though she had her own demons to face, made the whole thing complete. Sarah Eden is well-known for her ability to tug at the heartstrings, and this book is no exception. It's the kind of romance that immerses you in the time and place, and makes the characters seem so real that you want to sit and visit with them yourself. This is one of my favorite stories of hers. Well, to tell the truth, the entire Hope Springs series has an honored place on my rainy day shelf. It's that good!

If you haven't read this series yet, you need to run out and get your copy right away!

You can download your copy of Love Remains here

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway.

Here's the back copy:

For nearly a year, Tavish O’Connor has carried the crushing weight of his family’s future on his shoulders. He has taken on the care of his youngest brother, Finbarr, who lost his eyesight in a terrible accident. But the lad needs more than Tavish can provide. Finbarr needs hope.

Cecily Attwater specializes in hope. As a tutor to the newly blind, she has dedicated her life to helping others overcome the obstacles she herself has conquered. Her new assignment in a remote corner of Wyoming proves trickier than usual: Finbarr refuses to learn. To make matters worse, his family—and the other Irish townspeople—are less than thrilled to discover an Englishwoman in their haven.

Cecily’s only hope lies in securing the cooperation of her pupil’s brother Tavish, who happens to be her harshest critic and quite possibly the most frustrating man she’s ever known.

For Finbarr’s sake, Tavish and Cecily forge an uneasy alliance that, as the weeks pass, tiptoes toward something deeper than either dares admit or face, and toward a future they know to be impossible. There can be no hope of a happy outcome for an Irish man and an English woman amongst a people reeling from violence and centuries of hatred between their two homelands.

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Griffin Force Series Boxed Set Is Here!

It took longer than expected, but Griffin Force series boxed set is finally here including The Captive, The Captain, and The Capture! (Say that fast three times, haha!)

I can't even tell you how excited I am to see all three of these books together. It was a long time coming. And now you can binge-read all the action, adventure, and romance all over again!

Download your copy here

My House Is Haunted Whenever I Have A Stephanie Black Book To Read (And A Giveaway!)

Well, as most of you know, I'm a scaredy-cat when it comes to reading Stephanie Black books, but they're just so good I can't resist them! So I was brave and dove into her new one called Mind Games. Oh. My. Goodness. You will not even believe what happened.

A little history, first of all. Years ago when I was reading one of Stephanie's first books that came out, it was late at night and it was at an extremely tense part of the book. I sat up in bed because I couldn't stand it anymore and there was just enough light for me to see MY ROCKING CHAIR START TO ROCK. By itself.

Yeah, I freaked out. Totally.

And then my cat walked out from behind it with no idea of how badly she'd scared me. But after that, I read the rest of the book with the lights on, I'll tell you what.

Fast forward to today. I'm at the climax of Stephanie's new release Mind Games, in the family room with my entire family and there's A HUGE CRASH IN MY BASEMENT.

We all look at each other and then send my husband down to investigate. A headboard in the storage room just fell over. By itself. A reasonable explanation, right? But I was still a little freaked out, so I turned all the lights on to finish the book. And I mean ALL the lights. But I've still been jittery all day!

Stephanie Black books do that to me. I don't ever watch horror shows or anything like that because I'm a scaredy-cat. Stephanie's books aren't scary, but they are TENSE! Just when I think I know who the culprit is, she has me thinking that maybe it could actually be this other person I really like! Turn a few pages more and it could totally be this other person. I can never guess who it is and believe me, that's hard to do. I can usually guess the villains in other books. Mind Games is particularly creepy, though, because there's this woman Heather who seems to be able to predict the future and it's never a good thing. And then there's these shocking twists that will seriously make you say, NO WAY THAT JUST HAPPENED.

I guess I better back up a little bit and tell you about the book. I'm still so rattled! (Which you can tell by the all caps. I NEVER use those in reviews.) Our main heroine Natalie has finally accomplished her dream of  providing mental health services in a newly renovated 19th century building, but things seem to be going wrong from the start. At their opening, a woman who says that the ghost who lives in the building isn't happy about what's going on, tries to jump to her death. Natalie and her friends stop her, but she seems to know where they live and a lot of information about them and doesn't ever really go away. Then there's these robberies happening at the mental health clinic employees' apartments and people getting followed, but that's just the beginning of the spooky stuff. Natalie and her boyfriend Gideon get pulled into this web of lies and murder that seems to pull them tighter and tighter into someone's plot that could leave them dead as well. (And you'll never guess who it is!) It's so completely absorbing, you won't be able to put the book down, but yeah, my advice is to keep the lights on at all times! And lock your doors!

Be sure to scroll down and enter the giveaway, IF YOU DARE!

Here's the back copy:

Psychologist Natalie Marsh’s dream is now reality: her mental health services clinic has opened and is housed in an elegant, newly renovated nineteenth-century building. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy with the clinic’s presence, including Heather Osbourne, a troubled young woman who wholly objects to the occupation of the building. Heather has spent years wandering the halls of the abandoned structure, convinced she’s communing with her ancestor’s ghost. When Natalie thwarts Heather’s attempt to leap from a window, the shaken psychologist soon realizes Heather’s failed jump is merely one piece of a disturbing puzzle. Greed and deceit are weaving a web around Natalie, and someone will stop at nothing—not even murder—to get what they want. Stretched to her breaking point, Natalie struggles to learn the truth, but only one thing is clear: nothing is as it seems.

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Book Tour Schedule:

*Sept. 11th: http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 12th: http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/, http://empowermoms.net/

*Sept. 13th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 14th: http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/

*Sept. 15th: http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://brooklynberrydesigns.com/, http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

TWO Freebies for You Today!

I'm so excited to pass along two freebies to you today!

The first one is a fantasy with fairies and mortals, war and romance, called Of Ice and Snow by Amber Argyle.

Here's the back copy:

Never bargain with the fae . . .

The fourth, throwaway son of the clanchief, Otec witnesses his faraway mountain village come under attack by raiders while all the other men are off to war. Cut off from his clan, he must trust a foreign woman stalked by a dark, mysterious magic as they race to save his people.

Dodging enemies, Otec soon discovers that what he thought was a mere raid is actually a full-scale invasion. The woman helping him—the one he’s developing feelings for—is not only one of the raiders, she’s also his best chance of survival.

You can download your free Kindle copy here

The second freebie is a regency romance by GG Vandagriff called The Taming of Lady Kate. This marriage of convenience might not be so convenient after all!

Here's the back copy:

Lady Kate Derramore and the Marquis of Northbrooke have one thing in common: In order to receive their inheritances, they must marry. Lady Kate, prevented from marrying the man she loves by her father's will, determines to marry for convenience. With the forthrightness for which she is noted, she sets her sights on Jack--aforesaid Marquis. Jack, meanwhile, has tumbled into love with Kate at their first meeting.

All might have gone swimmingly, were it not for his "other life," the mysterious job that calls him out of town at the most inopportune moments. Unwittingly, he puts Lady Kate's life in danger, and while attempting to rescue her comes up against her "reins-grabbing" nature.

Will he ever be able to master Lady Kate? Will he ever be able to oust another man from her heart? And, despite Kate's penchant for disaster, will he be able to save her life and his own?

You can download your free copy here