About the Book
Author: Melody Carlson
Genre: Christmas Christian Fiction
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She's been working hard to put herself through law school and now that the end is in sight, she's determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she has been found through a DNA registry to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V, the ruler of a small Eastern European principality called Montovia. She's understandably skeptical. This is the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.
Although the pieces of this surprising family puzzle seem too good to be true, curiosity gets the best of her. At the king's invitation, Adelaide embarks on a Christmas break trip that is chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament--and the chance at a real fairy tale romance with a happily-ever-after ending.
Spend this Christmas with bestselling author Melody Carlson as she whisks you away to a royal holiday you'll never forget!
Although the pieces of this surprising family puzzle seem too good to be true, curiosity gets the best of her. At the king's invitation, Adelaide embarks on a Christmas break trip that is chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament--and the chance at a real fairy tale romance with a happily-ever-after ending.
Spend this Christmas with bestselling author Melody Carlson as she whisks you away to a royal holiday you'll never forget!
My Thoughts
Although it is way too early for me to start thinking about Christmas and the holiday season this was a cute read and a good escape from the weather that currently doesn't feel like fall! Reading this novella definitely reminded me of the Princess Diaries or those cutesy Hallmark movies.
I really enjoyed Adelaide and her zest for adventure! She finds out she is related to the King of Montovia and sets out to meet him before he dies. This story definitely has some interesting characters. Adelaide encounters a kind father, a very wicked stepmother and a stepbrother who is clueless at what is happening around him. For being such a short story this book does have a little bit of mystery and a very light romance. I think if this was a full length novel these two elements could have been developed a bit better. At times it felt flat for me, especially the romance. I knew it was coming but it felt rushed towards the end.
Overall this is a cute story and will definitely put you in the Christmas mood!
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About the Author
She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.
Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Finding Their Christmas Home by Donna Gartshore, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Finding Their Christmas Home
Author: Donna Gartshore
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
A holiday homecoming
Could lead to a second chance…
After years away, Jenny Powell returns to her grandmother’s home, known as “Christmas House,” only to find her ex already there. A household emergency left David Hart and his twin daughters with nowhere else to go, and he enlists Jenny to help him give his daughters a Christmas they’ll never forget. But with the past standing between them, could this holiday season bring the gift of a happily-ever-after for them all?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book | Bookshop |BookBub
Also Available
My Thoughts
If you are looking for a sweet second chance at love story look no further. In this sone Jenny and David reconnect after being apart for fifteen years. These two have quite the past. They were best friends and dated when they were teenagers. They both carry different burdens. David still holds anger towards Jenny for the way she left not only him but the whole town. I always love a book that involves kids and this one was very realistic. They have dealt with a lot in their short lifetime and Jenny was caring and empathetic to that which I appreciated it.
I enjoy reading the Love Inspired Collection because they are short and sweet so you can easily read them in one sitting. I have never read anything by this author before and I not only enjoyed her style of writing but really appreciated the faith thread throughout the story. The theme of forgiveness and second chances in evident throughout the story.
Overall I thought this was a great story and puts you in a little Christmas mood in the starting of fall!
About the Author
Donna Gartshore lives in Saskatchewan, Canada. Along with writing inspirational romance for Love Inspired, She has also published several short stories and poems with various literary publications and writes devotions. Donna loves family time, walks, coffee and movies with friends, serving in various capacities at the church she attends and talking about books and writing with her friends and the writing community
Connect with Donna by following her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Tour Giveaway
(3) winners will win a print copy of Finding Their Christmas Home, Finding Her Voice and a devotional!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 25, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 2, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
About the Book
Author: Kimberley Woodhouse
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Series: Treasures of the Earth, Book 1
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Anna Lakeman has spent her life working alongside her paleontologist father, drawing intricate sketches at every dig. When they find dinosaur bones near their home in Wyoming Territory, they're swiftly caught up in the era known as the Bone Wars. But when her father becomes sick and an old beau, Joshua Ziegler, returns for the summer, Anna's world is upended and the practical, orderly life she has made for herself shatters.
Medical student Joshua Ziegler left his hometown to forget the one woman he truly loved and deeply hurt--Anna Lakeman. But when he returns, time hasn't erased the feelings they've always had for each other. When Joshua's nephew goes missing--just like his sister did years ago--and Anna's job is threatened, tensions mount and dangerous secrets are unburied. How can they keep the perils of the past from threatening their renewed affection?
Medical student Joshua Ziegler left his hometown to forget the one woman he truly loved and deeply hurt--Anna Lakeman. But when he returns, time hasn't erased the feelings they've always had for each other. When Joshua's nephew goes missing--just like his sister did years ago--and Anna's job is threatened, tensions mount and dangerous secrets are unburied. How can they keep the perils of the past from threatening their renewed affection?
My Thoughts
What a great start to this series! From the very start of the book you are captivated and want to know more. While the story does revolve around paleontologist and dinosaur bones there truly is SO much more to this story. The "Secrets Beneath" takes on a whole new different meaning than what you expect as you start getting deeper into the story and I was ALL for it!! This is a page turner for sure.
I can't tell you too much of this story without giving some things away but I can tell you that the characters are well developed, there is a huge mystery thread I was not expecting (I'm talking creepy moments and all!) There was familial love and also romance which you can never go wrong with. I can't forget to say that the faith thread throughout this story of faith and forgiveness.
I honestly don't know how she does it but Kimberley manages to write a mixture of all my favorite genres into one: historical, suspense, mystery and romance all into one book with the perfect dosage of faith being present.
Overall I really enjoyed this story and I can't wait for the next books in the series!!
I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About the Author
About the Book
Author: Carrie Turansky
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Publisher: Bethany House
In 2012, art historian Gwen Monroe travels to England's Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. While at Longdale Manor, she becomes acquainted with David Bradley--the owner's handsome grandson--who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a bed-and-breakfast. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd's staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she uncovers a connection to the father she never knew.
In 1912, after her father's death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte's grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.
In 1912, after her father's death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte's grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.
My Thoughts
I just love dual timeline storylines and this one was so good! Sometimes you fall in love with one time period over the other but I loved both of these timelines equally. The characters in both timelines were greatly written. They were all full of depth and emotions.
Immediately we meet Gwen who is in the present, 2012. She lost her mother while in university and never knew who her father was. She works for her grandfather and we see her being sent to the Lake District, Longdale Manor to be exact, to help evaluate some antique pieces for auction. You can tell that not only does she feel lonely but she feels like she is not worthy of much. While there she meets the owner Lilly Benderley and her grandson David. While showing her the estate Lilly shows Gwen the journal of Charlotte.
In 1912 we meet Charlotte whose evangelistic father passes away and she finds out that he wasn't who he claimed to be. Heartbroken she decides to keep this information from her mother to keep her from further pain. The family has to move to the Lake District due to lack of funds and stay with a family that will help them through their grief.
I'm not going to reveal much of the story because you really need to read it but I will say this. I loved the theme of forgiveness and the focus of leaning on God. This story definitely leaves you in pure contentment.
Overall I really enjoyed this story and was captivated by the scenery. You will absolutely love the story and completely get lost in it.
I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About the Author
About the Book
Author: Amanda Cox
Genre: Christian Fiction Contemporary
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Beekeeper Beckett Walsh is living her dream, working alongside her father in their apiary, until his untimely death sends her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family business--one who is looking to sell the property. Beck cannot fathom why her father would put her into the position to lose everything they built together.
When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she's never heard of, she's not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie's financial situation rather . . . precarious. She's sure she has no right to someone else's farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she's always craved.
As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets--and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.
When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she's never heard of, she's not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie's financial situation rather . . . precarious. She's sure she has no right to someone else's farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she's always craved.
As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets--and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.
My Thoughts
If you have never read an Amanda Cox book then you are truly missing out. The way she writes is so compelling and full of depth. I would not consider her stories light reads but man, they take you in this journey that truly tugs at your heart.
In this book we meet many characters but at the forefront is Beekeeper Beckett Walsh and Callie Peterson. Two very different women with very similar backgrounds unbeknownst to them. Immediately you meet Beckett. She breathes and lives the farm life especially the bees. Immediately you can tell that she suffers from extreme anxiety. She doesn't leave the farm at all and chooses to live in the bubble that her father has created for her all these years.
Callie on the other hand has different struggles of her own. She didn't have the best life and has moved multiple times. She struggles with belonging and trust in the relationships around her. Circumstances bring these two characters together and they journey and learn from each other how to trust and be courageous enough to face their circumstances. I won't divulge much because then I would be giving the story away, so you really need to read the book.
However, let's talk about the side characters. I absolutely loved Luke. He was Callie's friend. He's one of those friends that you need in your life. You can tell that he likes Callie but he was not pursuing her that way. He was just there for her and encouraging her every step of the way. Beckett had people around her too but I absolutely loved spunky Fern. She was definitely needed in the story as she provided those moments of laughter when things got too heavy.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It is definitely full of emotions and will tug at your heart. There is a light thread of faith that flowed seamlessly throughout the story. There are hints of romance but this book is truly not about that at all. If you are looking for a new contemporary fiction story I suggest you grab this one... actually grab all of her other books as well! You will love them!
I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About the Author
Amanda Cox is the author of The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, both of which were the Christy Award Book of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in the foothills of Tennesee with her husband and their three children.
About the Book
Author: Valerie Fraser Luesse
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: August 15, 2023
Two Sisters. One Single Event. A Family Changed Forever.
At the turn of the twentieth century, sisters Emmy and Callie Bullock are living a privileged life as the only daughters of a wealthy Alabama cotton farmer when their well-ordered household gets turned upside down by the arrival of Lily McGee. Arrestingly beautiful, Lily quickly--and innocently--draws the wrong kind of attention. Meanwhile, Callie meets a man who offers her the freedom to abandon social constraints and discover her truest self.
After Lily has a baby, Callie witnesses something she was never meant to see--or did she? Her memory is a haze, just an image in her mind of Emmy standing on a darkened riverbank and cradling Lily's missing baby girl. Only when the sisters are separated does the truth slowly come to light through their letters--including a revelation that will shape the rest of Callie's life.
Bestselling author Valerie Fraser Luesse weaves a complex and suspenseful tale dripping with intrigue, romance, and Southern charm.
At the turn of the twentieth century, sisters Emmy and Callie Bullock are living a privileged life as the only daughters of a wealthy Alabama cotton farmer when their well-ordered household gets turned upside down by the arrival of Lily McGee. Arrestingly beautiful, Lily quickly--and innocently--draws the wrong kind of attention. Meanwhile, Callie meets a man who offers her the freedom to abandon social constraints and discover her truest self.
After Lily has a baby, Callie witnesses something she was never meant to see--or did she? Her memory is a haze, just an image in her mind of Emmy standing on a darkened riverbank and cradling Lily's missing baby girl. Only when the sisters are separated does the truth slowly come to light through their letters--including a revelation that will shape the rest of Callie's life.
Bestselling author Valerie Fraser Luesse weaves a complex and suspenseful tale dripping with intrigue, romance, and Southern charm.
My Thoughts
This is my second book by Valerie and I must say that I really enjoy her writing. She brings not only the characters to life but the setting as well. She truly transported me to 1911 Alabama and made me a part of this wonderful cast of characters. This wasn't your typical story it was haunting, beautiful and full of emotions. Immediately we meet Callie and Emmy who are extremely close sisters. They are like night and day but in the best possible way. They definitely compliment each other. Their family is very close knit and I absolutely loved that despite the color of their skin they would do anything for the other family in the story. Race to them had nothing to do with it. They not only helped each other but relied on each other as well.
I'm not going to reveal too much of the story, I think the book blurb gives you enough intrigue to whet your appetite for the book, but I will say that this story is heart tugging filled with grief, heartbreak and love that will keep you turning the pages but along with that came hope, faith and healing.
There are some things that may not sit well with some readers. There is a character that has visions and can sense things. I honestly did not see this as a negative. I know God puts people in our path that he reveals things to but I also understand that is not everyones belief so just so you have a heads up. Also the title may seem as we may be reading an epistolary type of book, at least that is what I thought it would be like before I received the book but the "letters" don't come into play until closer to the end of the book. I can see now how they would relate to the title and how meaningful they were to the characters.
Overall I really enjoyed this story and I can't wait to read more from this author.
I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About the Author
Valerie Fraser Luesse is an award-winning magazine writer best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she is currently a senior travel editor. Her work has been anthologized in the audio collection Southern Voices and in A Glimpse of Heaven, an essay collection featuring works by C. S. Lewis, Randy Alcorn, John Wesley, and others. As a freelance writer and editor, she was the lead writer for Southern Living 50 Years: A Celebration of People, Places, and Culture. Specializing in stories about unique pockets of Southern culture, Luesse has published major pieces on the Gulf Coast, the Mississippi Delta, Louisiana's Acadian Prairie, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Her editorial section on Hurricane Katrina recovery in Mississippi and Louisiana won the 2009 Writer of the Year award from the Southeast Tourism Society. Luesse earned her bachelor's degree in English at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and her master's degree in English at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She grew up in Harpersville, Alabama, a rural community in Shelby County, and now lives in Birmingham.
About the Book
Author: Liz Johnson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Prince Edward Island Shores, Book 3
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: August 8, 2023
"After a devastating hurricane on Prince Edward Island, Kelsey Ahern sets out to save her beloved community theater-and her job. As she draws her friend, Levi Ross, into her plans for a benefit show, she discovers there's more to him than she expected, and that God's plans for their future are so much more important than the struggles of their pasts"-
My Thoughts
Any book that is set in Prince Edward Island is a book for me. One of the places I have been to that I absolutely fell in love with.
This is the final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series and while I have read the first one I haven't read the second one and I did not have any trouble following this one. You do see the other characters from previous books in the story but they aren't the main characters so you will be okay if you pick this one up without reading them in order. This book is all about the last brother Levi and Kelsey.
Levi is a huge introvert who shut down at age 15 due to something dealing with his dad, you will have to find out what caused this while you read it. He is a giver and has a huge heart. He has been in love with Kelsey for a long time so when she needs help due to a hurricane damaging the local theatre Levi is there to pick up the pieces and helps her come up with a plan to restore everything making a huge impact on the whole town.
Overall I enjoyed the story but I felt like it dragged in places. I completely understand the introvert aspect of it because I could relate but it was just a bit much for me during the story. Sometimes it felt like Kelsey was doing all the talking because Levi was too nervous to speak. There was a very light faith thread happening through the story.
If you enjoy contemporary romance then you will enjoy this series and book. A perfect end of summer read!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About the Author
Now a resident of Phoenix, she enjoys theater, live music, and doting on her nieces and nephews. She writes stories filled with heart, humor, and happily ever afters.
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