Thursday, March 14, 2024

If the Boot Fits (Texas Ever After #2) by Karen Witemeyer Reviewed

 



About the book:

Title: If the Boot Fits

Series: Texas Ever After #2

Genre: Christian Fiction Fairytale Re-telling Romance

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Determined to prove that cattle king Eli Dearing has no justification for evicting his stepmother and half brothers, Asher Ellis uses the cover of a fancy ball to break into the Three Cedars ranch house to search for proof of wrongdoing. On the verge of discovery, he flees, but a boy's cry compels him to make a daring rescue.

Spunky and independent, Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting in her honor is nothing more than a matrimonial ambush. Taking a break from her unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the stranger ends up saving her brother's life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind--his boot--and resolves to find him herself.

But when Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. And although Asher tries to keep his distance from Samantha for reasons of his own, a series of suspicious accidents befall her, and his protective instincts flare, no matter the cost to their future.

This Western reimagining of the classic Cinderella fairy tale is an enchanting story of courage, family, and the power of true love.



My Thoughts:

I haven't read a Karen Witemeyer book in years and I've missed her fun historical stories. This is a fun Cinderella re-telling. I loved every minute of reading this story. 

Ash and Samantha are a kick as are the two little kiddos woven into the story. Mama Bess has to be one of my absolute favorite characters and the spin Ms. Witemeyer puts on her character is perfect.

The faith element is woven into the story in such a way that's not overbearing. 

This book is a fun romp in Texas with a spin on Cinderella, along with Ms. Witemeyer's humor and faith-based plot. I loved this book! Maybe because I'm married to a cowboy.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.



About the author:

Karen Witemeyer

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers’ Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she’s on deadline.

You can connect with Ms. Witemeyer on the following platforms. Facebook || Instagram || Website




Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Top Ten Tuesday Favorite Illustrated Covers

 


Happy Tuesday! Welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday. Today's topic is Weird or Funny Things I've Googled Because of a Book. I Google stuff a lot but I couldn't think of anything or anything book-related so I thought I'd do a cover love one. Illustrated covers have become popular so I thought I'd grab some already published and going to be published this year.
















I love these covers! I think they're not only fun and eye-catching, but they also add a little fun to Christian fiction. 

Are you reading one of these now? Waiting patiently for the release date? Let me know in the comments. 

Friday, March 1, 2024

First Line Friday Featuring My Lucky Charm (Holidays With Hart #2) by Courtney Walsh

 

Happy Friday and welcome to First Line Friday! Today, I am featuring My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh which seems perfect given tomorrow is March 1st.


First Line

I've never kissed a stranger in my life. Not in high school. Not in college. And certainly not as an adult.




About the book:

A humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger. 

What could possibly go wrong?

It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . .

So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I'm all in.

I have to be. After my last job went up in flames, I have something to prove.

It turns out that the player, Grayson Hawke, is the rudest, most off-putting, reclusive guy I’ve ever met.

It also turns out that he is the beautiful stranger I kissed on New Year’s Eve.

I can do this job. I can do this job. I can do this job.

And I can. Really well.

I can make Gray’s life easier, show him all the reasons to fall in love with this city, and in the process, hopefully completely forget that the amazing kiss ever happened.

How hard can it be? We’re total opposites anyway.

I love people . . . and all their stories. Gray loves hockey . . . and nothing else.

I love to talk. Gray only stares.

I’m happy-go-lucky. Gray’s all work and no play.

There’s just one problem. The more time I spend with Grayson Hawke, the more I start to see that underneath his bristly, standoffish exterior, he’s nothing like the man everyone thinks he is.

And suddenly, all the reasons for keeping my distance, staying professional, and not falling for someone again. . . are impossible to remember. My Lucky Charm is a grumpy/sunshine, sweet hockey romance with all of the sizzle but none of the steam. It's the second in the Holidays with Hart series, but My Lucky Charm can be read as a stand alone.


Currently this book is free to read on Kindle Unlimited

About Courtney Walsh


Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theatre director, and playwright. She writes small-town romance and women’s fiction while juggling the performing arts studio and youth theatre she owns and runs with her husband. If For Any Reason is her eleventh novel. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category, and her contemporary romance Just Let Go won the Carol Award in 2019. A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children and a sometimes naughty Bernedoodle named Luna.

Website || Facebook || Instagram || Twitter 


Pick up the book closest to you and leave the first line in the comments and then head over to my friend, Carrie of Reading is My Super Power and read other first lines.


Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Top Ten Tuesday - Bookish Super Powers I Wish I Had

 


Happy Tuesday Evening! Today was a little crazy, to say the least. I had a Drs. appointment and we had a plumber out about our water heater. It was leaking and with my hubby being on workman's comp because of his injury my brain was preoccupied with that expense and I couldn't think about Top Ten Tuesday just the possible expense. I will post a link with my Epileptologist on the news at the end. Every person who struggles with a chronic illness needs a doctor like him!!


My top ten super powers I wish I had:

One - The ability to read a book in one day. I used to do that on the daily but those days are gone! That was pre-epilepsy. 

Two - A brain box that catalogs all of my favorite characters, not just the book boyfriends I  collect. 


Three - The ability to literally visit bookish lands while I'm reading.


Four - The ability to bring any book character to life. Book boyfriends is a no-go for this. LOL


Five - The ability to organize my books both in color and alphabetical order.


Six - The ability to create another bookcase when needed.


Seven - The ability to jump into the book and stop a fight from happening and/or fix the ending if it makes me sad.


Eight - The ability to scan pages; not to get spoilers, but to look for triggers or things I wouldn't like that would cause a DNF.


Nine - The ability to speed up publishing so I don't have to wait so long for a book to be released.


Ten - This has to be the best one!! To lose weight reading and writing reviews!!!


Sorry for the lateness. I hope you enjoyed my list!


Please watch this video of my epileptologist on our local news talking about how insurance companies don't care for patients.


https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/health/epileptologists-fight-changes-blue-cross-of-idahos-coverage/277-deb89487-fc04-48d5-bbeb-2f008af41d57?fbclid=IwAR0LvbGXBQkj3BsPLbylhMvLs8OESVgvl1D512L-2ZDeE0IdGvha31pHyKQ


I hope you have a wonderful week and enjoy my top ten.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Up From Dust; Martha's Story by Heather Kaufman Reviewed

 

                                                       

                                                        
About the book:

Title: Up From Dust; Martha's Story

Author: Heather Kaufman

Genre: Biblical fiction

No stranger to adversity, Martha of Bethany is a woman of dust, undone and unseen in her hurt and loss. After her mother's untimely death, the responsibility for raising her siblings—Lazarus and Mary—lies heavily on her shoulders. She finds solace in a new friendship and the beginnings of first love, but her father's disapproval and unforeseen hardship leave Martha broken and guarded.

Twelve years later, when her friend's husband contracts a severe disease, they send for the new rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth. Martha recognizes the miraculous Healer from a story she heard many years ago, and the life-changing encounter reawakens Martha's hardened heart, even as she faces an unknown future.

Grab your copy HERE!


My Thoughts:

Biblical fiction is one of my favorite genres and I love reading debut authors, so I got a bonus with this book! I have read three books about Martha and while I enjoyed each one I think Ms. Kaufman's is my favorite. It was clear she'd researched Martha, I liked how she showed why Mary was so frustrating to her. It made the story of Martha and Mary more realistic. I have a little brother so I could identify.

The pace of the book was perfect. I kept waiting for Jesus to arrive on the scene and was so glad when He did.

Ms. Kaufman is an author I will have on my radar and I highly recommend her. If you enjoy biblical fiction I encourage you to pick up this book. You won't be disappointed!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

About Heather Kaufman


Heather’s passion for storytelling started at an early age, from scribbled poetry at age six, to a full-length novel by sixteen. Over the years, her love of writing grew, eventually leading her to earn a BA in English from McKendree University and an MA in English, Writing Studies from the University of Missouri—St. Louis.

 

Heather is the author of multiple books and devotions and delights in highlighting the goodness of God through storytelling.

 

She is married to Andrew and together they have three adorable children and one persnickety dog. When not reading, writing, editing, or accumulating mounds of books, Heather can be found exploring new parks with her family, enjoying yet another cup of coffee, or working on a home improvement project. She and her family make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.


You can connect with Heather on the following social media accounts.


Facebook || Instagram || Goodreads || Website 

Loyally, Luke (Skymar, #3) by Pepper Basham Reviewed



 
About the book:

Title: Loyally, Luke

Author: Pepper Basham

Series: Skymar #3

Genre: Clean Romance, Christian Fiction

Luke Edgewood isn’t a romantic.

Or, at least, he’s always felt certain Hallmark movies and romcoms were invented more as punishment for average guys than adding any real value to cinema. He’s a behind-the-scenes, flannel-wearing guy who lives a quiet life of obscurity and places value on working hard and being a good friend, neighbor, and brother. So when he travels to the island of Skymar to work on a few building projects, he never expects to find himself directly in the middle of a romantic trope-filled story of Hallmark proportions. From a Meet Cute that was anything but cute and an aging orphanage in need of as much tender care as the children it houses, Luke begins to wonder if he and his heart may be victims of some sort of hidden camera movie moment.

Elianna St. Claire, youngest daughter of King Alecsander and Queen Gabriella of the Skymarian Islands, is trying to earn her way back into the status of working royal after botching her public and private life with some ill-timed choices which ruined her reputation and damaged the family. Now, older and wiser, she’s determined to prove worthy of her title. Taking on a renovation of her beloved orphanage, Cambric Hall, (of which she is patron) shouldn’t be such a difficult job. Happy to escape her mother’s strong encouragement of matrimony, she finds pseudo-anonymity in the secluded mountains to oversee the orphanages renovations until her parents announce her official return as a working royal at the Wild Hyacinth Ball.

When Ellie learns the man she’d literally ran into at the coffee shop is the one who has been hired to help with the orphanage’s repairs, she’s determined to keep her royal status as secret as possible. From fundraisers to fake dates to sleigh rides and snowball fights, Ellie and Luke begin to discover that the wrong first impressions may lead to a romantic possibility with romcom flavored magic included.

But when Ellie’s true identity is revealed and royal expectations bring Luke out of his preferred anonymity into the spotlight of the royal life, will their budding relationship fall prey to a very unhappily-ever-after ending?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book | Goodreads| Bookshop


My Thoughts:

Oh-My-Gosh, Oh-My-Gosh!!! I have been waiting for Luke's story since Ms. Basham started the Skymarian series, and she did not disappoint in fact it was better than I could've ever imagined!! Luke is so against romance, especially all the princessy-ness but once he meets Princess Ellie all bets are off!! Not only does she knock his socks off, but she also shows that princesses aren't all girly.

I love this book!!! Luke is one of my favorite heroes and I hope Ms. Basham continues this series. Izzy, Penelope, and Luke are such fun siblings and I am hoping this isn't the end of their stories.


Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


About Pepper Basham




I love a good romance, whether it’s set in an Edwardian era manor house or a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Readers enjoy my fun, dramatic, heart-warming, and inspirational novels with the certainty of a happily-ever-after.

Though some of my contemporaries have a Britallachian twist, others are Mayberry-esque, while others bring about the elegance and struggles of the Downton Abbey era. If any of these story ideas sound good to you, take some time to peruse my cyber corner of the world. “Sit a spell” as we’d say in my neck of the woods and let me ‘spin you a yarn’ filled with a few of my favorite things.

You can find Pepper on the following social media sites. Website || Facebook || Instagram || Twitter 


Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Top Ten Tuesday Valentine Rom-Com Fun

 


Happy Tuesday!!! Welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday sponsored by The Artsy Reader Girl. Today's topic is a Valentine freebie so I decided to put together a list of fun Rom-Com reads. These are my favorites and there are some great ones out and soon to be released.


This releases on May 14, 2024
This beauty releases on Valentine's Day.
This book releases on March 1.
I have not read this book, but have it on good authority that it is not a sweet clean read like all of the other books listed. It contains foul language and open door bedroom scenes. So, if you are sensitive to that then you probably shouldn't read it.


This releases on March 16th. 



This releases on April 2nd.
















Have you read any of these or have them on your radar for this year? Please let me know in the comments. Have a great Tuesday!!



If the Boot Fits (Texas Ever After #2) by Karen Witemeyer Reviewed

  About the book: Title: If the Boot Fits Series: Texas Ever After #2 Genre: Christian Fiction Fairytale Re-telling Romance Author: Karen Wi...