The Hesitant Heiress by Dawn Crandall ~ Celebrate Lit Tour, Review, Giveaway

About the Book

 

Book:  The Hesitant Heiress

Author: Dawn Crandall

Genre: Christian Historical  Romance

After being unjustly expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amaryllis Brigham sees her dreams of founding a music academy in her hometown of Seattle, Washington, disappearing before her very eyes. Now, the only way to achieve her goal comes with high stakes for someone set on avoiding men as much as possible: Marry within the year to inherit the immense fortune of her estranged grandmother. Amaryllis reluctantly moves in to her aunt’s Boston home and rubs shoulders with fashionable society. Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself quickly falling in love with the most unlikely of men–Nathan Everstone, the envy of every eligible female, whose father has haunted her dreams for the decade following her mother’s tragic death. However, Nathan turns out to be much more than he seems…and everything she never knew she wanted. But just as everything Amaryllis has recently hoped for comes to fruition, it all falls apart when she finds that the real culprit who has been managing her life isn’t who she thought at all.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 Review:

Amaryllis Brigham's life has been fraught with secrets, the last few years of her life she has been shuttled from boarding school to boarding school, she has a dream of starting a music academy, when her dreams are derailed by widespread slander on her reputation. The only hope for her to get her dream back on track is to meet the requirements of her grandmother's will, which means that she must marry within the year.

Told from the first person point-of-view, we follow Amaryllis as she is swept into Boston society. She finds herself torn between two suitors, one safe, the other mysterious with a flirtatious reputation. I liked the mysteriousness of this story, it is slow to start but picks up speed as we get to know the characters and the relationships are better established, the pieces start to fall into place. 

Overall, this was a enjoyable read, that sets the stage well for forthcoming books in the series, introducing many intriguing characters. I didn't liked Nathan at first, but liked how his character was developed and my understanding of him grew over the course of the book as we got to see who he really is. A sweet romance with a gothic feel, as layers of the past are revealed, this story grew on me as did their characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the Author

Dawn Crandall’s debut Gilded Age Victorian romance, The Hesitant Heiress, was a 2015 ACFW Carol award finalist in the debut category and received the 2015 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the 2015 Write Touch Reader’s Choice Award and the 2015 Romancing the Novel Reader’s Choice Award. Her follow-up novel, The Bound Heart, received the 2016 Laurel Award from Clash of the Titles. Dawn earned a BA in Christian Education from Taylor University. She’s been balancing books and babies lately as her two sons were both born as the four books of her Everstone Chronicles series were being released from Whitaker House from 2014 to 2016. Dawn lives with her husband and two young sons on a hobby farm in her hometown in northeast Indiana.

 

More from Dawn

Some things just float your boat, you know? What are some of yours? I’m thinking, for many of you, having piles of awesome newly released novels to read is one of those things. Do you remember what it was that you loved to do more than anything else… when you were a kid? Well, for me, at least, it hasn’t changed much. I remember being in third grade and KNOWING that I was meant to write books. But having ADD in the 80’s and feeling like I was a pretty lousy student through most of my school years sort of put my dreams of being a published author in the category of “pipe dream”. Then during my senior year of college, I had one glorious spring break week of creative thinking, and I came up with the name of the heroine I would (hopefully) write someday—Amaryllis Brigham. And I also came up with the last name of the hero, and the family I would write a series about—the Everstones.

Five years after I graduated from college, I got married. And because I had lots of extra time at that point, I decided to check out some books about character development from the library. Which was the first clue to my husband that I wanted to write a novel. Yes, I hadn’t even told him! Then another five years went by while I worked full time at a daycare. I had definitely thought more about writing it by then, but I didn’t really know how to start.

But then I did. At the age of 32, during January 2010, I finally started writing The Hesitant Heiress. I just dove in, half planned and half one-chapter-at-a-time. I love history so much, when I’m doing research the world as it was just comes to life in my imagination and the story possibilities are endless! And really, I wrote Nathan and Amaryllis’s story for myself—for the joy of writing! Creating story, I found, was my favorite hobby beyond reading them! I did have a dream once during the two year process of writing THH, and I very vaguely saw a cover face out on a shelf. But again, to me it seemed like an impossibility, and I just kept focused on the joy I attained from writing it. If you would have told me back then that that first novel I loved writing would be traditionally published and on the market two and a half years after I finished writing it, I would have laughed in your face! And then, when I first saw Amaryllis on the cover of that first book in my series of five… I thought back to the dream I had that one time, and she was it. The way Amaryllis Brigham is situated on the cover of my published novel was very similar to the vague book cover of my dream. God had done it; He had taken the biggest desire of my life, given me a dream even when I was too cautious to hope, and He had made it a possibility.

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 11

Worthy2Read, February 11

Inklings and notions, February 12

Mia Reads, February 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 13

Labor Not in Vain, February 13

A Baker's Perspective, February 14

deb's Book Review, February 14

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, February 15

Rachael's Inkwell, February 15

Rebecca Tews, February 16

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, February 16

Texas Book-aholic, February 17

Connie's History Classroom, February 18

Blogging With Carol, February 18

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 19

Bliss, Books and Jewels, February 19

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, February 20

Stephanie's Life of Determination, February 20

For Him and My Family, February 21

Simple Harvest Reads, February 22 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 23

Beauty in the Binding, February 23

Hallie Reads, February 24

Guild Master, February 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dawn is giving away the grand prize package of the complete Everstone Chronicles series in paperback and 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/10744/the-hesitant-heiress-celebration-tour-giveaway

Oath of the Brotherhood by Carla Laureano ~ Celebrate Lit Tour, Review, Giveaway

 

About the Book

 

Book:  Oath of the Brotherhood

Author: Carla Laureano

Genre: Christian fantasy and adventure

When evil threatens, who will find the faith to fight it?

In an island kingdom where the Old Ways hold fast and a man’s worth lies entirely in his skill with the sword, Conor Mac Nir is a musician and a follower of a forbidden faith–problematic for any man, but disastrous for the son of the king.

When Conor is sent away to a neighboring kingdom to secure a treaty, he learns that his ability with the harp is a talent that traces back to the magical foundations of a once-united Seare. But his newfound home is soon placed in peril, entangling Conor in a plot that has been unfolding since long before his birth.

Only by leaving both kingdoms behind and committing himself to an ancient warrior brotherhood can Conor discover the part he’s meant to play in Seare’s future. But is he willing to sacrifice everything–including the woman he loves–to follow the path his God has laid before him?

 

Click here to get your copy!

Review:

Leaving behind his peaceful upbringing, Conor Mac Nir is thrust into a world of politics and intrigue. The follower of a forbidden faith, and the possessor of a rare gift, Conor is the perfect target. He must make a choice to give up everything he's known in order to have a chance to save it. 

An engaging introduction to this fantasy adventure trilogy, with a Scottish flair. This was a well paced read with well balanced steady action and development. My only complaint is that I had to keep flipping to the glossary to make sure that I was pronouncing the names and geographical locations correctly, which can sometimes make the story hard to follow, but I didn't have that problem with this book, thankfully. 

Conor is an admirable protagonist, he works hard to improve himself, is humble and doesn't give up. I loved how faith was woven into the fabric of this world, with the good and evil, it felt almost Arthurian. Though the first in the trilogy, this book does a great job of laying the groundwork for future books in the series, with a full cast of characters, and both sides readying for battle. This book was hard to put down, and I'm excited to see where the series goes!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the Author

Carla Laureano is the two-time RITA® award-winning author of over a dozen books, spanning the genres of contemporary romance and Celtic fantasy. A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked in sales and marketing for more than a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write full-time. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, two sons, and an opinionated tortoiseshell cat named Willow.

 

More from Carla

How A Romance Author Came to Write Fantasy Fiction

It’s a question I get a lot from readers, assuming the reader even knows that I write in more than one genre: how did a romance author come to write fantasy?

The answer, of course, is simple: I didn’t. I was actually a fantasy writer long before I ever tried my hand at romance, so the question should really be reversed.

As a young writer, I dabbled in lots of different genres: middle grade, young adult, romantic suspense, historical romance—whatever genre had captured my imagination at the time. I loved historical romance the most, but I quickly found that I didn’t have the patience for the way that historical facts interfered with my intricately designed plot.

Then, in college, I rediscovered fantasy fiction, namely historical fantasy like that of Guy Gavriel Kay. I was enchanted, both as a reader who wanted to be swept away by tales of heroism and struggle, and as a writer who had finally found the solution to my frustrations: all the fun of a historical time period without the pesky need to adhere to reality!

My first attempt at a fantasy novel was sweeping and unwieldy. This was in the early 2000s, where to be taken seriously as a fantasy writer, you had to write long… like, seriously long. A kind and very well- known literary agent summed it up best in reply to my query: “Sounds interesting, but I just don’t have the energy for another 300,000-word work of epic fantasy at this time.” (I cringe to think about writing a book that long now.) Reading tastes were changing and shorter fiction was coming back into fashion, so I shelved that project for years. Instead, when it came time to write a new series, I pulled my favorite elements from that first attempt, set them in a world based on a historical time period (Dark Ages Ireland), and began writing the book that would become Oath of the Brotherhood.

So, how does someone go from being a dyed-in-the-wool fantasy writer to being known for contemporary romance? In one of my more dramatic moments, when it felt like the revisions to this epic story would not come together (read: I had to cut 20,000 words from it to make it saleable and had no idea how to do that) I declared that I was no longer a fantasy writer and decided to pen something quick and fun… a contemporary romance. While the fantasy novel was out on submission, I pitched the romance at a conference… and within a couple of months, received offers for both. Suddenly I wasn’t just one or the other; I was both a fantasy and a romance author simultaneously.

The genres aren’t as far apart as they may seem, though, and not just because there’s a romantic thread woven into Oath of the Brotherhood. At its core, all Christian fiction is a love story: one between God and humanity. In all of my books, regardless of genre, the characters’ foremost journey is toward an understanding of who they are in Christ. Every story is a tale of the love that God has for his creation: that He cares for us so much that he won’t let us be swept away by a storm of darkness, whether that be physical or symbolic, but provides way toward hope and salvation.

When it comes to fantasy, that rescue and salvation might just be a touch more literal.

Blog Stops

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, January 29

CarpeDiem, January 29

For Him and My Family, January 30

Inklings and notions, January 31

deb's Book Review, February 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 2

Worthy2Read, February 3

Blogging With Carol, February 3

Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting, February 4

Library Lady's Kid Lit, February 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 5

Through the Fire Blogs, February 6

Texas Book-aholic, February 7

Blossoms and Blessings, February 8

Sara Jane Jacobs, February 8

Artistic Nobody, February 9 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, February 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 11

Labor Not in Vain, February 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carla is giving away the grand prize package of a signed hardcover copy of Oath of the Brotherhood and a beautiful leather-bound Celtic knot journal!!

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/1070b/oath-of-the-brotherhood-celebration-tour-giveaway

LEO: Inventor Extraordinaire by Luke Xavier Cunningham ~ Review

My Review:

LEO is a fun-filled, fast-paced, middle-grade adventure with a prodigy protagonist with a love of science and discovery.

Leo is an orphan living at a secluded boarding school, he is known as something of a troublemaker, with inventions known to have wreaked havoc on the school. Leo and his friend Savvy discover a network of underground tunnels with secret passwords and codes needed to unlock them. Leo hopes to discover the truth about his family and how he ended up at the Academy of Florence. 

Leo finds himself swept into a dangerous world of espionage and innovation, joined by his created pets as well as new friends Beatrice and Rocky, as they fight to uncover the answers to Leo's identity. 

This is a fun read, plenty of action, with quirky characters and plenty of humor. Rocky was one of my favorite characters, as he is something of a pokey older gentleman who tells it like it is. Leo is a genius inventor, but he is still a thirteen year old boy, which I thought that the author did a great job making clear. This book has twists and turns that kept me guessing, with short chapters that kept the plot rolling steadily throughout. 

Overall, this was a wholesome read, with some gross out humor, and action-movie type violence for the most part against robots. It was an entertaining read, incorporating real science formulas, and pop culture. While published by Zonderkidz it isn't an explicitly Christian book, with a couple of references to Scripture mentioned on a similar level as that of a Beatles song, a passing phrase name dropping Job, and a few vague mentions of prayer, which overall was disappointing as I was hoping for more overarching themes of faith. An exciting middle-grade adventure, it also leaves the door open for a sequel, so it will be fun to see where it goes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Things We Didn't Say by Amy Lynn Green ~ Review

My Review:

The title of this book is so fitting. Told completely through correspondence sent and unsent, as well as newspaper articles and editorials, the story unfolds just as much from what is written as what is left unsaid between the lines. 

Joanna Berglund reluctantly returns to her hometown leaving behind her language studies at the University of Minnesota to fulfill the requirements of her scholarship with patriotic service working as a translator for a German POW camp in her hometown. Joanna has a gift for language, and a passion to take her education as far as she can, she can be stubborn and blunt, which often puts her at odds with the townspeople of which her father is mayor. She writes many letters over the course of the book, but the ones that form the framework of the story are the ones between her and her dear friend Peter Ito, a second generation Japanese American, who is serving his country as a language teacher for military intelligence. 

Peter is easily my favorite character in this book, he takes things as they come, he loves his country, but struggles with how America has treated him and his family. He is the perfect temper to Joanna's flame, I loved how they both encourage each other and bring out the best in each other. I admired his hope, honesty, and strong faith in God. 

Compelling and well executed, I was skeptical when I first learned that the story would be told completely through letters, but it works well in this story, and I liked that it left parts to be filled in by my imagination. I loved how Joanna is most honest in her letters to Peter, and that this book addresses the tough questions that Joanna struggles with, like prejudice, justice, and loving our enemies. In short I liked that she had questions, and challenges the pat answers. Everything comes together with a stunning ending that had me glued to the page. 

Overall, a worthy read that stuck with me long after I'd turned the last page, with a hero and heroine that I could cheer for throughout. I will definitely be reading more books from this author in the future!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Dressmaker's Secret by Kellyn Roth ~ Celebrate Lit, Review, Giveaway

About the Book

 

Book:  The Dressmaker’s Secret

Author: Kellyn Roth

Genre: Christian historical women’s fiction

IF THEY KNEW WHO SHE WAS, THEY’D NEVER ACCEPT WHAT SHE’S BECOME.

Claire will stop at nothing to provide for her daughters. An unwed mother, she does everything possible to raise them whilst avoiding her scandalous past. Some secrets are best kept, even between mother and daughter. Alice longs for a father, especially if that means her mother will be happy. She takes matters into her own hands—but she never expected what she finds.

Despite her efforts to shelter her daughters, Claire’s ghosts rise up to haunt her, and any semblance of control over her life vanishes. If her secrets are uncovered, what will become of her family?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 Review: A unique tale of secrets and severed relationships told through the eyes of Alice and Ivy, as they watch their mother, Claire, work hard to give them a good life.

Alice is the main storyteller, she is more outspoken and bold, whereas her twin, Ivy is more sickly and comfortable letting Alice take the lead. Alice is close to her nurse, Nettie, and resents her situation as a fatherless child, so she decides to go digging for answers. 

This is a different type of story in that I assumed going into the story that it would be told more from Claire's perspective, but instead it is told mostly from Alice's viewpoint. It isn't really a romance, but has a strong faith track, with many characters who share their faith with Claire along the way, as the past is unraveled. 

Overall, this is a difficult book to explain without giving too many spoilers, at times it was hard to follow due to the time jumps, and I felt that there was a lot that was told in the background of the story that I wanted to be more in the forefront. There were aspects of this story that I really enjoyed, and I think will make more sense in the context of future installations into the series. A story told through the perspective of a young girl, holding to her faith, and searching for answers. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the Author

Kellyn Roth is a Christian historical women’s fiction & romance author from North-Eastern Oregon who has independently published multiple novels, the most notable being The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy series. You should definitely call her Kell.

Kell lives on family-owned property outside an unmemorable but historical town with her parents, two little brothers, arbitrary cat, precious border collies, a dozen cows, and lots of chickens. She also possesses a classic, vintage aesthetic which does not at all speak to her country girl side, but such is life.

When not writing, Kell likes to blog, teach writing to her various students, have day jobs which allow her to keep her car properly insured, and spend lavish amounts of money on Dairy Queen french fries.

 

More from Kellyn

I’ve honestly never rewritten a book as many times as I rewrote The Dressmaker’s Secret, and I hope I never do.

 

A first draft flew out of me one November when I was fourteen, and before the next November had come around, I’d gone through twelve drafts, changed points of view multiple times, and eventually rewrote the whole thing from scratch.

 

The ending especially went through many, many versions … until at last I settled on the final. Or so I thought.

 

Not long after, some more issues were called to light, and I revised again. And again. Years passed. I went through over twenty-five drafts! And, at the time, I liked all of them. Would I ever like one for longer than a month, though?

 

Well, turns out, it was possible! I’m over a year and a half into loving my draft of The Dressmaker’s Secret – e.g. the published draft – and that’s not likely to change any time soon.

 

This book taught me a lot. It practically taught me how to write – and edit! – a good book, and it made me really focus in on quality, even when it took some humility to admit I was wrong and critics were right – or, sometimes, that my gut was right. It taught me to not give up on something I love. It taught me that the risks I always wanted to take are worth taking. It taught me that no mistake is too great to be corrected … well, in some ways, at least.

 

And it taught me that there’s a great God out there who has grace for all my delays and mistakes and learning experiences.

 

So, that’s the story of how The Dressmaker’s Secret came to be written!

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 27

Jeanette's Thoughts, January 27

Splashes of Joy, January 27

Remembrancy, January 28

Genesis 5020, January 28

Worthy2Read, January 29

Vicky Sluiter, January 29

Maureen's Musings, January 29

The Write Escape, January 30

Sara Jane Jacobs, January 30

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 31

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, January 31

A Novel Pursuit, January 31

Texas Book-aholic, February 1

CarpeDiem, February 1

Library Lady's Kid Lit, February 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 2

Inklings and notions, February 3

lakesidelivingsite, February 3

Betti Mace, February 4

Reflections From My Bookshelves, February 4

deb's Book Review, February 4

For Him and My Family, February 5

Connect in Fiction, February 5

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, February 6

Connie's History Classroom, February 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 7

Godly Book Reviews, February 7

Labor Not in Vain, February 7

Artistic Nobody, February 8 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Blogging With Carol, February 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 9

Sodbuster Living, February 9

Bizwings Blog, February 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kellyn is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of both The Dressmaker’s Secret and Ivy Introspective, as well as a $25 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/10689/the-dressmaker-s-secret-celebration-tour-giveaway

An Amish Winter by Vanetta Chapman and Carrie Lighte ~ Review

Lucie's Review: 

Two Amish couples find lasting love in the midst of a snowstorm. 

This book contains two novellas, in Caring for the Amish Baby, Leah has helped raised her siblings and is now helping her siblings raise their own children, she is thrilled to get the opportunity to go on vacation in Florida and visit her friend who has just had a baby. But when her friend and her husband take sick, she extends her stay to help care for the baby along with her friend's brother-in-law, Jonathan. 

I liked how the timing played into the story, giving them a chance to get to know each other. Jonathan doesn't make the best first impressions, 

Stranded in the Snow follows Faith Yoder and her daughter, who find themselves stranded in a snowstorm. Elijah King has decided that this is the year that he will get married, but for a bachelor there aren't many single women his age. Elijah helps Faith find a place to stay during the storm, and as he get's to know them wonders if it could be more.

This was a sweet heartwarming read, and I loved Leslie who Faith and Hannah board with, she is kind and not ready for the daadi house just yet. 

Overall, this is a sweet 2-for1 bundle, I loved how both the stories focused on an Amish couple with faith in common, and that were more mature than the typical Amish couples, and how God's perfect timing brought them together. A cozy read for winter!

 
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Someone to Trust by Patricia Davids ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

Esther is far from thrilled about her stepmother's grand matchmaking trip, deaf from the age of ten, she believes that a hearing man would be at all interested in her. 

A heartwarming story, I loved Esther from the beginning, and I liked the insights that this book brought into the complications of a non-hearing person living among the Amish. I admired how she didn't let the obstacles hold her back. 

Gabe is a fantastic hero, he is kind and thoughtful, he takes the time to make sure that Esther feels included. He isn't a fan of his cousins grand matchmaking schemes, but he is clever, he captured my heart with his thoughtfulness. 

Overall, this is a well written read with a full cast of characters, humorous moments, and faith. I loved how the author brought the difference dynamics of the family to life, with strong dialogue, and great interaction,  but my favorite part was this book's inspiring heroine. Heartwarming story, with great characters, this is Amish fiction at its best!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

On the Run by Valerie Hansen ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

A fast paced, quick read that takes off and true to the title, follows Janie and Brad as they are on the run, trying to stay one step ahead of the bad guys. Brad Benton is deep undercover, hoping to crack open a drug ring, but when things go too far he steps in to save the life of Janie an ER nurse who finds herself in the crossfire. 

Janie has a history of not being able to trust the men in her life, so she is more than a little hesitant to put her life in the hands of a man she just met and believed to be one of the gangsters. I really admired how she was able to overcome her past, her high regard for human life,  as well as her strong faith throughout the story. 

Brad is cool, calm, good at thinking on his feet, he is committed to his mission, and is a fantastic driver! I loved his great relationship with his boss and the trust between them. 

This is an engaging read, with likable characters and great plot. I especially liked Janie's dog Pixie, who was absolutely adorable! A quick read, highly entertaining!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An Unlikely Proposal by Toni Shiloh ~ JustRead Tour, Review, and Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for An Unlikely Proposal by Toni Shiloh, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: An Unlikely Proposal 
Author: Toni Shiloh
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: February 1, 2021
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Their friendship can survive almost anything…

For two best friends, marriage could be their greatest test yet…

Trinity Davis must not have heard firefighter Omar Young correctly. Did her handsome widowed best friend just suggest they get married? Omar needs a mom for his adorable little girls, and it’ll fix Trinity’s financial woes. But saying “I do” isn’t just business. Especially when the only vow they’re in danger of breaking is their promise to not fall in love…

Review: A modern-day marriage of convenience.

Childhood friends agree to a marriage of convenience after Trinity loses her job as the school librarian due to budget cuts, and the passing of Omar's mother-in-law, leaving him without someone to care for his young daughters Faith and Joy. Heartwarming, and at times humorous, this sweet romance was enjoyable from beginning to end. I loved the great character interaction, tight-knit small town community, and Omar's adorable daughters. 

Well developed characters, with a believable situation, and I admired the fact that both Omar and Trinity took their vows seriously and were in it for the long haul. I liked how supportive the towns people were of their relationship, I liked that the Fire Chief encouraged Omar to spend more time with his wife, and how Trinity's mom was so excited to be a grandmother. 

Overall, a highly enjoyable romance of convenience, I loved that they were friends first, had strong faith and were committed to their relationship no matter the outcome. Faith and Joy were well written and I liked that they had their moments of not being perfectly adorable all the time. An enjoyable love story, well worth the read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

ALSO AVAILABLE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novel, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist and Risking Love is a 2020 Selah Award finalist.

A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and of the Virginia Chapter, Toni seeks to help readers find authors. She loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. You can learn more about her writing at tonishiloh.com. 

CONNECT WITH TONI: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of An Unlikely Proposal, a Texas bluebonnet mug, and a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 1, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 8, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Courting Misfortune by Regina Jennings ~ Review

Lucie's Review: Mischief abounds in the town of Joplin. 

Calista York is determined to complete her mission and secure her job as a Pinkerton operative, she is clever and has admirable intentions, she doggedly pursues her target. 

Matthew Cook is a missionary who is determined to turn the town of Joplin around, he was hard to like with his high horsed opinions that he knew what was best for others, and while he wasn't entirely wrong, sometimes he could have gone about things more tactfully. 

This was a hard book for me to get into, there is definitely a lot going on and a fun plot, but I found the main characters hard to like, and felt that at times that it reached too hard to find the humor. I very much enjoy the supporting characters like, Granny, Maisie, and baby Howie who was adorable. 

Overall, this was my second time reading a book by this author and while I enjoyed many parts of the book, there were also parts that I found not to my personal taste, though I can see why many of my friends really enjoyed it. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.