Orange is the Color of Goodbye by Christina Suzann Nelson Reviewed

 

Title: Orange is the Color of Goodbye

Author: Christina Suzann Nelson

Source: Purchased

Format: Paperback

With a city deadline to abate her hoarder-mother’s yard and empty a condemned house for sale, a woman—juggling a medically fragile child back home and her own anxiety—must clear decades of wreckage and a lifetime of blame to finally see the truth.

Purchase a copy HERE

My Thoughts:

I saw an ad about this book on Instagram or Facebook and realized that it had been a long time since I'd read a Christina Suzann Nelson novel. All I remembered was that I really enjoyed the book I'd read. Ms. Nelson created an interactive reading experience when purchasing the book from her website. 

Christina Suzann created a story around estrangement. Eden and her mom are not on good speaking terms, and to make matters worse she has to take care of her mom's house. The story was real, and raw. It literally felt like my story. Beautifully, she gave Eden a village. You know that saying, it takes a village, it really does. There were also secrets hidden within the pages giving hints as to why their relationship was as bad as it was. From this reader's vantage point it seemed as though there were some assumptions and misunderstandings.

There is so much I want to say, but I don't want to give the story away. It will be on my top reads for the year!

My Bottom Line:

This book goes across generations, and it has a message to generations. Life is hard and sometimes you just want to throw up your hands and quit. But you can't, especially if someone is depending on you. This book has the ability to provide healing hope if you let it.

About Christina Suzann Nelson:

Christina Suzann Nelson is an inspirational speaker and the award-winning author of If We Make It Home,Swimming in the Deep End, More Than We Remember, and The Way It Should Be. Her newest title, Shaped by the Waves, releases February 1, 2022 .She writes and speaks about hope after dysfunction. Christina is over the top about her passion for faith, family, fiction, and foster care. When she’s not writing, she’s working with the Every Child initiative, chasing escaped steers, reading, breathing in the sweet smell of her horse, hiking with her dog, or enjoying her just-as-crazy family.

You can follow Christina on the following Social Media sites.

Facebook || Instagram || Website

Top Ten Tuesday Book Series I Need & Want To Catch Up On

 

Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday blog link-up sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl. Today's theme is book series I want to catch up on or start.

Mine is a mixture of the two.

Healing Spring Ranch by Jody Hedlund

Once Upon a Time in Texas by Karen Witemeyer

Checking Out Love by Sarah Monzon

Freddie & Grace Mystery #5 by Pepper Basham

True Blue Royal by Rachel Hauck

Home to Hearts Bend by Rachel Hauck

Tales From the Hollow by K.E. Ganshert

The Josey Series by Susan May Warren

Queen Esther's Court by Tessa Afshar

Allegiance Under Pressure by Sarah Sundin

Have you read any of these series? Are you wanting to read these, too? Please let me know in the comments. 

I'm on book two of the Checking Out Love series, book 5 of Freddie & Grace, and the last book of True Blue Royal. Outside of Horseshoes & Honeymoons from Healing Spring Ranch that I've read and reviewed, I have all of the beginning books to read. 

Top Ten Tuesday Books Thru The Decade

Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday blog link-up sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl. Today's theme is books I was reading on August 11th from 2016-2026. I went through my Goodreads and found books that were closest to that date. The last one Horseshoes & Honeymoons by Jody Hedlund I finished yesterday.

I hope you're not living in a smoke filled area like we are. I'd love to be outside, but asthma doesn't agree with it. 

2016 

 

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

 

2025

2026

 I hope you guys have a great Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by.

Horseshoes and Honeymoons by Jody Hedlund Reviewed

 

Title: Horseshoes and Honeymoons

Author: Jody Hedlund

Series: Healing Springs Ranch #4

Source: Publisher

Format: E-Book

Pages: 238

He thought he’d experienced the McQuaid legacy of love with his childhood sweetheart. But he’d been wrong. Or had he?

Executive protection agent Dustin McQuaid is always in control of himself and is considered the best bodyguard in his agency. But he has one Assignments to guard women are off-limits. When he’s asked to protect the woman he once loved and hoped to marry, he refuses at first, but the large bonus might be just what he needs to launch the app he’s been developing.

When a stalker begins to haunt billionaire heiress Silver St. James, she agrees to have Dustin as her bodyguard, telling herself that she won’t fall for him again—not after he rejected her back in high school. She’s happy running her equestrian therapy ranch, and she has no desire to renew a relationship with the man who broke her heart.

As the stalker closes in, Dustin concocts a plan to keep Silver safe by pretending that they’re honeymooners. But the more time he spends with her, the more out of control he feels as he falls fast and furiously for her again. Can they both let go of the insecurities of the past to embrace a new future together? Or will they push one another away once again?

 Amazon|| B&N || Audible 

My Thoughts:

Second Chance romances is one of my favorite tropes, and toss in a sexy cowboy trying not to get all tangled up in romance again and I'm in.

The last thing Dustin wants is to get tangled up with Silver again. He was fine being her body-guard, sort of, he'd much rather have his partner Isaac do it, but he knew her which would make him the better choice. 

This was a fun book with both laughable and gritting your teeth moments.

I haven't read the previous books in the series so it can definitely stand alone.

My Bottom Line:

This was a fun, and enjoyable read. I loved the title as well as Silver's name. The push and pull of the romance was perfect. A fantastic end of Summer read.

About Jody Hedlund

Winner of the 2016 Christian Book Award and finalist for the Christy Awards, best-selling author Jody Hedlund writes inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

Website || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram

Top Ten Tuesday Summer Cover Love

 

Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another blog link-up sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl.  It's been a smoky week here with all the fires here in the Pacific Northwest, I know we don't technically count, but it feels like Washington, Oregon, and Idaho are in the bunch together. It's crazy. 

Outside of the smoke, my hummingbirds have been visiting quite often. My Rose of Sharon bush is full and they are going between it and my feeder. So, fun to watch them.

Have you read any of these? Let me know in the comments. Here's a couple of Hummingbirds to brighten your day.

On Living Stone by Heather Kaufman Reviewed

 

 Title: On Living Stone

Author: Heather Kaufman

Source: Purchased

Format: Audio & Hardcopy

Series: Women of the Way #3

Pages: 368

Publisher: Bethany House

Growing up by the Sea of Galilee, Salome is restless to find her place and purpose. Because of her wild temperament and quick tongue, some claim she'll never secure a future. When Adonai gifts her both a husband and sons, Salome is determined to silence her critics and prove she can be a good mother to her boys, James and John.

Salome's dreams for her sons are challenged, however, when they answer the call to follow Jesus of Nazareth. Is this man a dangerous false teacher like some who've come before him, or is he truly the hoped-for Messiah? While James and John are drawn deeper into Jesus's ministry, Salome must count the cost of discipleship and confront her fears, even as she discovers her own worth in this most unexpected rabbi.

Amazon || B&N || Baker Book House || Audible || 

My Thoughts:

I honestly didn't know what I was in for when I started this book. I knew Salome was James and John's mother, but I had no idea the richness that Ms. Kaufman was going place within the pages of this book. It was clear that Heather Kaufman did quite a lot of research to write this book. I'm very sad to see this series come to a close.

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 

 

Books I Just Had to Have But I Haven't Even Read Yet

 

Welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday, a blog-link-up sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl. Boy, I could definitely relate to this topic. The Boleyn Traitor I saw at Costco, and I've read all of Phillippa Gregory's books I snagged it, but I've not even cracked the spine. Dolley and James was recommended by Laura Frantz, and I again had to get it. Love & Baseball and its counterpart, The Cinderella Plot, I've read bits and pieces but that's about it. I believe collecting books is as much of a hobby as reading is. 

How about you? Have you read any of these? Are these on your have-to-have list? Let me know in the comments.

Have a wonderful Tuesday, and thanks for stopping by!