The Love Letter ~ Review

The Love Letter
By Rachel Hauck

Chloe Daschle has been typecast almost from the moment she began acting at six years old. She's known for her dying roles - she always dies. And unfortunately for her, her real-life romances seem to be going the same route always dying. Which for Chloe is awful as her dream is to find her one-true-love, her soul-mate, get married and have a family that lasts and to not die in a film. Her happily ever after isn't going too well but she may have found the perfect role in which she would live...

Jesse Gates a screenwriting newbie has created Bound by Love based on an old family heirloom - a letter written in the late 1700's but never sent - a love letter that was never finished. Jesse's screenplay is his answer to this letter and chance at love lost and rediscovered. And his female lead Esther Kingsley is Chloe's role she knows it and she's determined to convince the director that she is Esther!

But who are Esther Kingsley and the man who has captured her heart, Hamilton Lightfoot?  Esther and Hamilton grew up as neighbors and friends and though they seem perfect for one another their path to marriage is one that may never occur. Caught on opposing sides of the revolution that is sweeping the American colonies their unspoken love seems doomed from the moment the reader is introduced to them. Esther's father is a Loyalist and a peer of the nobility. Hamilton is a farmer, the nephew of a Presbyterian minister, and friend to those seeking representation. With war on their very doorstep, their loyalties to each other and to those they hold dear will be tested. Can love stay true or will it be yet another casualty of war?

The Love Letter is a story that told from the viewpoint of two times centuries apart and from the varying perspectives of four people who are most affected by this letter. I like the back-and-forth between both characters and time as the story progresses. There isn't a jarring change as the scene changes and actually helps the story flow. The book opens with Hamilton on the field of battle and it doesn't look good for him. Then we are taken further back and Esther and Hamilton's backstory unfolds. Could Jesse's story be true or was the path of love destroyed by a Revolution and family loyalties?

I've read several of Rachel Hauck's books in the past and I can honestly say I believe this is my favorite. For once I like all the main characters and am invested in their stories. I enjoyed the path of the letter and how it ties everything together and the final outcome - well you'll just have to read the book to know if anyone finds the love they seek. You won't be sorry and there may be a surprise or two just off stage.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher through TLC Book Tours with no expectations of a positive review - all opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress comes 

a story of long-lost love and its redemption in future generations.

Romance has never been actress Chloe Daschle’s forte—in life or on screen. But everyone knows who to call for a convincing death scene . . . and it might be killing her career.

When Chloe is given a peek at the script for an epic love story, she decides to take her destiny into her own hands and request an audition for the lead female role, Esther Kingsley. The compelling tale, inspired by family lore and a one-page letter from the colonial ancestor of scriptwriter Jesse Gates, just might break her out of this career-crippling rut. Jesse would rather write about romance than live through it after his past relationship ended in disaster. But once on-set together, the chemistry between Jesse and his leading lady is hard to deny.

Centuries earlier, in the heart of the Revolutionary War, Hamilton Lightfoot and Esther Longfellow wrote their saga off the silver screen. Esther’s Loyalist father opposes any relationship with Hamilton, but Esther must face her beloved father’s disapproval and the dangers of war in order to convince Hamilton of their future together. Hamilton has loved Esther for years, and on the eve of battle pens the love letter she’s always wanted—something straight from the heart.

Set in stunning upcountry South Carolina, The Love Letter is a beautifully-crafted story of the courage it takes to face down fear and chase after love, even in the darkest of times. And just maybe, all these generations later, love can come home in a way not even Hollywood could imagine.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and Noble | iBooks

About Rachel Hauck

Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower.

Connect with Rachel

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Instagram Tour:

Monday, July 23rd: @theshybooks

Monday, July 23rd: @willbakeforbooks

Tuesday, July 24th: @read_write_coffee

Wednesday, July 25th: @createexploreread

Thursday, July 26th: @thecaffeinated_bibliophile

Friday, July 27th: @hollyslittlebookreviews

Friday,  July 27th @kim_reads

Sunday, July 29th: @acozyreader

Tuesday, July 31st: @rissi006

Review Tour:

Monday, July 23rd: Write Read Life

Tuesday, July 24th: The Romance Dish

Wednesday, July 25th: Running Through the Storms

Thursday, July 26th: A Holland Reads

Friday, July 27th: Kritter’s Ramblings

Monday, July 30th: Books & Bindings

Tuesday, July 31st: From the TBR Pile

Wednesday, August 1st: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Thursday, August 2nd: Jathan & Heather

Friday, August 3rd: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Friday, August 3rd: @ladyofthelibrary

Monday, August 6th: Blooming with Books

Monday, August 6th: Fiction Aficionado

Tuesday, August 7th: A Chick Who Reads

Wednesday, August 8th: What is That Book About

Thursday, August 9th: Girl Who Reads

Friday, August 10th: Broken Teepee

Monday, August 13th: Here’s to Happy Endings

Tuesday, August 14th: Empowermoms

Thursday, August 16th: Read Eat Repeat

Dog Days ~ Thoughts and Movie Trailer

There is nothing like having a dog - I should know I've never been without one and can't imagine a dogless state. When I'm feeling down they are always ready to put a smile on my face. My dogs are my best friends.

Do they have to be puppies to find a way into my heart? No, I've opened my heart and home to dogs in their teens and they have as much love to offer as the youngest ones. Do you have a bad hair day? Everything just slightly off? Your dog won't hold it against you because they aren't judging you by how you appear to others they see you with eyes of love.

Can their hearts be broken? Yes, they mourn when a loved one is lost. They feel joy at a reunion with one long absent. And they are jealous of our affection.

When I was 10 we had a stray puppy show up at our house - no one ever claimed her so Clancy joined our family. We had her almost 14 years. She moved with us through two cross-country moves. We left our human friends behind but our playmate and childhood companion came with us. She welcomed our new puppies as they came into our home becoming the big sister or substitute mom they needed as they adjusted to their new home. Clancy was the perfect dog - patient with little hands and little paws. When she got cancer she fought against its ravages until it was time to say goodbye.

Dogs can be our champions, the heroes in our lives, and the family who loves us always and forever.

Have you heard about the new upcoming movie Dog Days? 

Check out the movie trailer below

TRAILER:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAfqqHwgI1U

SYNOPSIS:  DOG DAYS is a hilarious and heartfelt ensemble comedy that follows the lives of multiple dog owners and their beloved fluffy pals.  When these human and canine’s paths start to intertwine, their lives begin changing in ways they never expected.  This is a sweet film about the joy our furry friends bring into our lives and what they can teach us about treating people with kindness and compassion.  DOG DAYS releases in theaters in August 8.

Please leave a comment about your favorite pet memory for a chance at

a gift card that will be randomly selected on August10, 2018.

Include your email like the following example to be entered.

me (at) gmail (dot) com

You'll be contacted via email so be sure to reply within 24 hours.

Formula of Deception ~ Review

Formula of Deception
By Carrie Stuart Parks

Murphy Anderson has a secret - she's not who she says she is. Yes, she is Murphy Anderson sort of but she has distanced herself from the woman she used to be. Ever since her sister was murdered - there may not have been a body but Murphy knew. With the special bond that they shared as twins she just knew. And she was in Kodiak on a mission to find her sister and hopefully find peace herself.

But when Murphy's purse and all her identification and funds are stolen she reluctantly uses her art skills to help the local PD. Ten years ago a hunter - Vasily Scherbakov went to Ruuwaq Island but what he found was not the game he sought instead, he stumbled upon the remains of five men. For tens years he has kept this terrible secret but now on his deathbed, he wishes to unburden his soul and unfortunately for Murphy, she's the person that the Kodiak PD is tasking with creating a sketch of the scene and the victims.

Shortly after this first interview, anyone related to this cold case seems to be a target for someone who is determined to keep the past firmly and completely in the past. And when it appears that her sister's killer has found her Murphy finds herself wondering whom she can trust...

Formula of Deception is an intense page turning all night read! Seriously one truly is left wondering for the vast majority of this book who would be left standing at the end. And as to the murderer - well you have to read the book to wrap your mind around this twisted web of lies and betrayals. Maybe wait a year or two to visit Kodiak if, by chance that is on your list of things to do, I think they may need to do a wee bit of rebuilding.

If you are looking for a good mix of action, suspense, and whodunit that appears to be a standalone book pick up this book and dive in! Yes, there are several murders but it is not a horrendously gruesome book - I made that mistake once and have since been picker about what I read.

I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book by the publisher through their BookLook blogger program with no expectations other than that I offer my honest review - all opinions offered are my own.


About the Book:
An artist hiding from an escaped killer uncovers one of World War II’s most dangerous secrets—a secret that desperate men will do anything to keep hidden.

After the murder of her twin sister, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she’s an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man’s memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again—and back in the killer’s crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of an Alaskan hunter have Murphy drawing the five bodies he discovered on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago. But what investigators find has them mystified. Evidence suggests that the bodies were deliberately destroyed, and what they uncover in an abandoned Quonset hut from World War II only brings more questions.

As one by one the investigators who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much darker at stake. What happened on this island during the war? And who is willing to kill to keep its secrets buried?

The Windfall App ~ Review with Giveaway

The Windfall App
By Teresa Richards

Marina Berghman is about to get the opportunity of a lifetime. Having celebrated her 18th birthday with the purchase of a lottery ticket (which would total upset her father if he found out, btw) Marina and her best friend Darya Cruz are eagerly awaiting the drawing not focusing on the silent auction school fundraiser going on around them. But when Marina 's ticket wins they are beside themselves even though they have no idea what she has won.

But having the winning ticket isn't everything she thought it would be. First, her father is dead set against her claiming the prize - worse he's forbidden it. Well, Marina knows the money is needed for college and her father's business so her only choice is to go against her parents. After all, it's just money and she is totally convinced that her father is way overreacting.  Okay, maybe some of his reasons are good but it's not like she is a gambler and this is going to set her on the path of ruin. It was just one lottery ticket.

But when her father lays down the law Marina is so out of there - just one little problem she has no place to stay until her winnings are released. And that is just the start of her problems - with no one to turn to for advice she is basically on her own - and with a very small bank account and domestic skills not quite there she looking at some slim days for the next week plus. And all this while trying to juggle school and find a lawyer to help her understand all the legalese she has to sign. And she has friends galore crawling out the woodworks, bus seats, cafeteria tables - 99% of whom she's never even met before. What's a girl to do!!

But one bright spot in this whole mess is Sean the really (I mean, really) nice guy she meets on the trolley. He seems to totally get her and she's more than happy to have another person at her side who doesn't seem interested in what her new-found fortune can do for them.

But when things start to go really bad Marina isn't sure whom she can trust - and lives are at stake. Can she save the lives of those she cares about or will she totally blow it?

This is a fun read that teens will love. Marina is given the chance to get out from under the pressures and expectations of her parents. But sometimes growing up and having to make the big decisions is a whole lot harder than it looks especially without any advice from the people who loved and shaped the first eighteen years.  There is a touch of romance and a definite dose of mystery in this one. This also a journey of self-discovery and learning just what has value in one's life. News Flash sometimes the things your parents warn you against doing truly are with your best interests at heart but sometimes we need to go out and make the big mistake to realize that.

I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book with no expectation but my honest review - all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Marina Berghman is a classical piano prodigy with parents who’ve had her life mapped out since she was in diapers. But their plan leaves no room for her secret love of alternative rock, or Sean, the edgy guitarist who recently moved to town.

When Marina buys a lottery ticket on her eighteenth birthday via the new Windfall app, she expects it to be nothing more than a rite of passage. But she wins—the grand prize of five thousand dollars a day, for life. Suddenly given the means to break free from a life she never felt in control of, she’s quick to cut her family ties and turn her back on everything she knows.

But her lottery win was no lucky break. Her prize comes with strings attached, and Marina soon finds herself at the center of someone else’s life or death game. When she discovers evidence linking her dad to the intrigue, she turns to Sean for help. But he’s harboring secrets of his own.

Now Marina must sort out who to trust and who’s pulling the strings before her prize turns into a noose.

Follow the book tour for early reviews of The Windfall App, interviews, and spotlights. And, of course, enter to win the giveaway. Here are the tour stops: 

July 27--Brookie Cowles 

July 27--Emmy Mom 

July 27--Evernight Teen

July 30--Blooming With Books 

July 31--Katie's Clean Book Collection

July 31--Writing Pearls 

August 1--My Book a Day  

August 1--Singing Librarian Books

August 1--Because I Said So

August 2--Getting Your Read On

August 3--By Robin King

August 4--Good Tales Reviews

August 6--Bewildering Stories

August 6--Alison McBain

To celebrate the release of The Windfall App (find it here), 

Teresa Richards is giving away a YA book bundle, including a copy of 

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins, 

Lois Lane: Fallout by Gwenda Bond, 

and of course The Windfall App by Teresa Richards.

The giveaway for the books pictured is open to US addresses only. 

Internationally, ebooks will be sent instead. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Called to Protect ~ Review

Called to Protect
Blue Justice #2
By Lynette Eason

What can I say, Lynette Eason has yet again created another page-turner with this - the second book in her Blue Justice series which follows the St. John family in their lives of service. Called to Protect opens six months prior to the majority of the story with sixteen-year-old Penny St. John going on a date - a date from which she would never return. And the St. John clan is convinced that their young cousin got caught up in a human-trafficking ring.

Six months have passed since Penny's disappearance with no clues and unfortunately, life must continue. When Chloe St. John and her K-9 partner Hank are called to the scene of an accident to search out drugs they find something they were not expecting. With evidence of human trafficking, the St. John family has hopes of perhaps learning something that could lead them to Penny.

Even more troubling Deputy US Marshall Blake MacCallum's kidnapped daughter more be among the trafficking victims. And someone is leveraging this against him in an attempt to take out an important government official. With his daughter's life on the line, just how far is Blake willing to go to keep her safe, especially when he's been warned against seeking help.

Someone is determined to keep their nasty little enterprise secret and they are willing to do anything to keep it operational. Even striking out at those seeking to shut them down.

Called to Protect is an action-packed book that steadily builds to a climatic peak that will leave the reader in moments of doubt as to the possibility of a satisfactory outcome. This book also spotlights the horrendous and devious world of human trafficking - something that seems to be unstoppable. Fans of Lynette will enjoy this newest offering that spotlights Chloe St. John of the St, John clan while not ignoring the other family members. As with Lynette's other works, there is romance in this suspense. And just be ready to stay up reading late into the night.

I was provided a review copy of this book with no expectations other than my honest review ~ all opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

She'll have to draw on all of her resources to 

crack the case--and guard her heart.

After being dumped by her fiancé, Chloe St. John has decided that the only male she likes is her K-9 German shepherd partner, Hank. But being over the whole romance thing has perks--like giving full attention to her job. Attention she's definitely going to need because a case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.

Deputy US Marshall Blake MacCallum is in a race against the clock to rescue his kidnapped daughter when Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man. But can she trust him? And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?

Buckle in. This fast and furious ride will have your heart pumping from the very start.

Love at Lakewood Med ~ Review

Love at Lakewood Med
By TJ Amberson

Savannah Drake is in her final year of medical school. And she should be excited there is just one little problem she's facing a month's rotation in Emergency Medicine. And she's definitely not made a great first impression on the attending physician whom she'll be working under.

For the last two years, Doctor Wesley Kent has been fighting to get funding for the Emergency Department, all while doing his best for his patients and overseeing medical students. Savannah is convinced that her attending is the worse possible match she could have gotten. He seems to be the most aloof and cold doctor she could imagine. And her first rotation with him is not one for the record books unless you're looking for disasters.

But as Savannah continues through her stint in the Emergency Department she realizes that there is more to Dr. Kent than she first observed. Working in emergency is an emotionally draining yet rewarding experience - one that has her questioning what the future truly holds.

When an accident gets her caught up in something she never wanted Savannah is faced with a choice - betraying what she believes or seeing a life destroyed. How can she decide when surface appearances might not match what is just beneath the surface? Worse she really has no choice when it comes down to it.

At just over 240 pages this is an easy read - I will admit I stayed up late because I just had to know what was going to happen. Savannah is a most interesting person and her cell phone adds a most interesting and at times humorous note to the story.  If you are looking for a story that isn't all fluff but offers some serious scenes give it a try. This is contemporary fiction with a few touches of romance perfect for a summer read.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no requirements beyond offering my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Want to learn more about Love at Lakewood Med and author TJ Amberson checkout my previous post

Love at Lakewood Med ~ Book Blast with Guest Post and Giveaway

About the Book:

Love at Lakewood Med

By TJ Amberson

Genre: Adult, New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Publication date: March 13, 2018

Savannah Drake would be thrilled about starting her final year of medical school if it weren’t

for one thing: she has to spend a month working in the emergency room with cold, aloof Dr. Wesley Kent as her mentor. When her first day in the ER proves to be a humiliating disaster, Savannah is ready to swear off emergency medicine forever. Gradually, though, she finds that the unpredictable, emotional experience of caring for patients in the emergency room is affecting her far differently than she expected – and Dr. Kent turns out to be anything but the arrogant attending physician that she assumed him to be. But just when Savannah finally admits to herself that she is falling for Dr. Kent, she learns that things at the hospital are not all what they seem. Faced with a seemingly impossible choice, Savannah must decide between her future career and everything that she has come to care so much about.

Checkout my review of Love at Lakewood Med here

GOODREADS | AMAZON

About the Author:

TJ Amberson hails from the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband and nutty cocker spaniel. Her most recent novels include The Kingdom Of Nereth, Fusion, and Love at Lakewood Med. When she’s not writing, TJ can probably be found enjoying a hot chocolate, pretending to know how to garden, playing the piano, or surfing the Internet for cheap plane tickets.

GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | WEBSITE 

Guest Post: Love

Thank you for letting me join you on your blog today!

Question: why do we love stories about love?

There is no question that stories about love captivate us.

Perhaps there’s no better example of how much we love stories about love than the books of Jane Austen.  Her novels have been cherished, quoted, and adored by thousands – all over the globe – for over 200 years. Her books have been made into movies and stage productions, which have gathered their own unfailing fan clubs. Austen’s tales have been the inspiration behind spin-offs, modern-day retellings, and countless other novels.

And beyond Austen, we can cite equally influential and adored love stories as penned by other great authors, such as Shakespeare, Bronte, and Hugo.

Certainly, the love of love is not limited to literature. Music is driven by love, too – love has been the inspiration behind songs for as long as music has been sung. And let’s not forget artwork, which is also often dedicated beautifully to the subject of love.

It’s apparent that this love affair with love has been ongoing for centuries, and it continues in full force today. Romantic comedies abound (hooray!) in literature, television shows, and movies. Pop music fills the radio with matters of the heart. Social media posts about love are frequent. And even grocery store checkout aisles display those gossipy magazines that are filled with stories about – you guessed it – celebrities’ love lives.

Why do we love stories about love?

Frankly, I’m not sure. Perhaps it is because love is one of the basic emotional needs that we all strive to fulfill. Perhaps it is because love – with its ups and downs – is something universally understood. Perhaps it is because it is one of those ties that bind, and stories about love speak to our souls as much as they do to our minds.

We may never understand completely why, but I am immensely thankful for the love of love stories. I love reading them. I love writing them. And I am grateful for the unfailing support of those who have loved my stories. Thank you!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Checkout the rest of the tour here

Tour Schedule

July 26-
Cafinated Reads
CherylBBookBlog
Wishful Endings
Paulette’s Papers
July 27-
Singing Librarian Books
Heidi Reads...
Why Not Because I Said So
July 28-
Life Is What It's Called
Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic
​Blooming with Books