Wednesday, April 23, 2014

FOUR WEDDINGS AND A KISS by Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton, Margaret Brownley


FOUR WEDDINGS AND A KISS
 
by Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton,
Margaret Brownley


Title: Four Weddings and a Kiss

Authors: Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton, Margaret Brownley

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (June 10, 2014
 
Pages: 400

 
 
SPITFIRE SWEETHART by MARY CONNEALY

Admittedly, this is the first story I’ve read by MARY CONNEALY, and I loved the storyline in SPITFIRE SWEETHART.

Rylan Carsterns has never noticed how pretty his annoying neighbor, Maizy Place is, until he was placed in an uncompromising position.

Maizy Place new she was in trouble when she is caught on Rylan Carstens property. If she thought that's the worse of her problems, she only needed to look around to discover how untrue it was.

LOVE LETTER TO THE EDITOR by ROBIN LEE HATCHER

Again, another first for me. LOVE LETTER TO THE EDITOR by ROBIN LEE HATCHER is a cute story, well written, with a good pace. I have a feeling I’ll be reading more by MS HATCHER in the future. She did a fine job of creating a well-rounded story in so few words. Not an easy feat, as any writer knows.

Molly Everton, the town newspapers daughter, is not happy when she discovers he father hired an editor. Why hadn’t she been given the job? After all, she knew the paper better than any other in the office, and certainly better than some stranger that wasn’t even a local.

Jack Ludgrove is optimistic about his new position at the newspaper, about moving to a new town, even if he only plans to stay for a shot while.  

A COWBOY FOR KATIE by DEBRA CLOPTON

If I was honest, and I do try to be in all I do, A COWBOY FOR KATIE by DEBRA CLOPTON is the reason I was most excited to receive FOUR WEDDINGS AND A KISS. I have been a HUGE fan of MS CLOPTON since day one. I can honestly say, I can’t get enough of her stories.

If I’m not mistaken, A COWBOY FOR KATIE, is MS CLOPTONS first historical, and I have to say she did an amazing job. I’m a huge fan on historicals, as well as anything with a cowboy in it. It wasn’t until I read this story, that I put the connection together. There’s something about cowboy ways, that holds similarities to characters of the past.

As typical of MS CLOPTON, she drew me in right away with characters and a storyline that pulls you in from the first word to the last. She did an amazing job with a historical story, as well as a novella. One of the hardest things to accomplish. It takes a skilled writer to be able to pull off a short story from start to finish, and not just accomplish it, but do it really well.

Katie Pearl has no interest in a husband, only in hiring someone to fix the damage done to her property. When she spots a wandering cowboy coming through town, she ropes him in just long enough to complete the job and move on.

Treb Rayburn only plans to stay in the town he wandered into long enough to earn enough to buy a horse. At the pretty ladies offer as a hire hand to earn a few bucks, and a horse to boot, Treb can’t resist. What he hadn’t planned on was getting to know Katie in a way that had him rethinking packing his bags and leaving.

COURTING TROUBLE by MARGARET BROWNLEY

COURTING TROUBLE is not the first book I’ve read by, MARGARET BROWNLEY, and another reason I wanted a copy of FOUR WEDDINGS AND A KISS. Love MS BROWNLEY’S writing, both fiction and non-fiction.

Grace Davenport’s reputation is not one to be desired. In fact, if you were a man, you’d do best to run in the opposite direction.

Attorney Brock Daniels is confronted by a potential client – a very young one at that – to take on a case he had no intentions of taking. That is until he meets the boys, mother. Brock changed his direction of law practice for a reason, but looking into Grace Davenport’s eyes through the cell bars, has him rethinking his decision.

*Please see my profile for more information on this review.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

PINE COUNTRY COWBOY by GLYNNA KAYE



Title: Pine Country Cowboy
Author: Glynna Kaye
Publisher: Love Inspired (March 18, 2014)
Pages: 224

And the story goes like this …

First thing you should know, I have more books waiting on my bookshelf to be read then any person has a right to have. So, when I went to the store with my daughter, and I stopped in the book section to see if one of my favorite authors new books had arrived, I had no intentions of purchasing any others. Sadly, they didn’t have the book I was looking for.

My first mistake, spotting a LOVE INSPIRED book with a cowboy on the front cover. That gets me every time. Second mistake, I picked it up. Third mistake, read the back cover. Fourth mistake, opened it up and began to read.

Doomed. Done for.

Not done, as in no longer interested. Done, as in I couldn’t stop reading. Knowing full well I didn’t need to purchase another book, especially by an author I had yet to read, I slowly pushed my cart away from the book section – with the book in my hand, eyes focused on the words.

Yeah, I was done for.

Abby Diaz got in her car and drove to Canyon Springs, the small town her father and brother lives in. A town she has not been in for more years then she cares to admit.

Brett Marden has it all together. A ladies man, self-assured, carefree. Well, at least that’s what those around him believe. Not many know the deep dark secrets he carries, and he plans to keep it that way.

As cliché as it sounds, PINE COUNTRY COWBOY by GLYNNA KAYE, had me from the very first page, right to the last word. It now sits on my shelf of keepers. Those are the books I’ve read that are so good, there’s no way I’m giving them up.

MS KAYE is an amazing writer. PINE COUNTRY COWBOY is well thought-out, believable, engaging, the ideal pace, and superb writing. Her characters are well thought-out, likeable, with distinct personality. The storyline unique, diverse, with humor, and surprises that will have your jaw slack.

If after reading my review if it is in question if I will be reading more by MS KAYE, then I have not done my job in writing it.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

LOVE REDEEMED by KELLY IRVIN



Title: Love Redeemed
Author: Kelly Irvin
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (March 1, 2014)
Pages: 352

I have to start with a couple of confessions. First, I’m not an Amish fan. Second, I have read few Amish authors or Amish books. Now that you know the facts, I can reveal LOVE REDEEMED by KELLY IRVIN is the best Amish fiction to date I’ve read!

No other Amish novels I’ve read have come close to LOVE REDEEMED. They didn’t keep my attention the way it did. In part, that had to do with the storyline. They were mystery centered, rather than romance, and the plot - for me - weak. I also had a hard time with the use of “Amish words”.

Phoebe Christner desires to have a family of her own, but the boy she has her eyes on doesn’t seem to be interested.

Shy, Michael Daugherty, is in love with Phoebe Christner. When he decides to make his feelings known, tragedy strikes, tearing Michael and Phoebe apart. 

LOVE REDEEMED is a light romance, with a heavy dose of forgiveness. The faith element is subtle, yet strong. The writing superb. Though there were words associated with the Amish, it didn’t overpower or pull you out of the story. The plot was unique. The pace, just the right speed to keep you turning the pages, wanting more. There was a sense of romance throughout, without taking over the story.

I loved what MS. IRVIN did with the characters. They’re three dimensional, and likeable. So many things happened, yet woven together in a believable and natural way. MS IRVIN takes the story to places you wouldn’t expect. As an aspiring fiction author, I tend to rewrite lines in my mind as I read. With LOVE REDEEDED, there was no cause to do so.

MS IRVIN might just make an Amish fan out of me after all.

*Please see my profile for more information on this review.