Love, Faith, and Tender Kisses ~ Review

Love, Faith, and Tender Kisses

By Lisa Renee, Milla Holt, Meredith Resce, 

Lorana Hoopes, Narelle Atkins, Carolyn Miller, 

  and Autumn Macarthur

Love, Faith, and Tender Kisses is a collection of seven novellas that offer a mix of contemporary romance reads. 

In the Fake Engagement Mistake, we are offered a fake romance that may not be as fake as it was supposed to be. Becca just wants her parents to let her make her own decisions about her life and asks her brother's best friend Paul to be her fake boyfriend/fiancee. There is just one little thing she doesn't know Paul has always had a crush on her and he isn't about to let this chance at something more get away from him.  This a sweet story with an ending that you just have to read.

In the Last Flight Home Macey has just had her hopes of romance blow up and now she finds herself on a nine-hour flight home to England with the fiancee she broke up with five years ago. Talk about awkward. Caleb's heart was broken when Macey ended things between them and to be on a flight with her couldn't have been more unexpected. Can the issue that tore them apart be breached or will Macey stubbornly hold onto her anger. Or will Caleb's reasoning finally make sense to Macey? Is this a second chance at romance or just additional heartbreak? 

In Falling for Maddie Grace an on-the-field collision knocks umpire Maddie Grace out and brings her back into the life of one of her father's former players. Zac has had no problem avoiding romance and holding true to his morals but when he knocks out Maddie Grace everything is about to get muddled up. Before Maddie had always been just one of the guys and coach Jimmy's daughter but now that he's injured her and she needs his assistance he starts to see her differently. Could they have something more and not become just another sensational-rumor-filled headline?

In The Billionaire's Impromptu Bet a bet between "friends" to get a random guy to propose within a month takes an unexpected turn when entitled Brie Carter is given an ultimatum by her father. Get a job or get married within a month or you are on your own. SWAT Officer Jesse Calhoun isn't impressed by spoiled little rich girl Brie. But when Brie gets a job at the local coffee place and starts spending time with him he realizes he may have misjudged her. But with a secret bet between them do they even have a chance of a happily ever after? 

In His Perfect Catch Mia Radcliffe takes an extended break from her life in Sydney, hiding out in Sapphire Bay to avoid the social fallout of her ex's fall from everything amid a political scandal. What she never expected was to connect with her cousins' next door neighbor. Pete McCall has been flipping properties and has bought a beach house in need of a major over-all but he has a promise to keep where Mia is concerned. But keep an eye out for Mia isn't a problem as the two connect over missing keys and coffee. But when their life plans seemingly lead them in opposite directions is there hope for what might be? Or has their chance at romance ended before it truly has a chance to start?

Originally Yours is set in Wisconsin just as Christmas break is getting ready to start. Gloria has been planning on returning to her family home in Georgia when a winter storm disrupts her plans. But Gloria has a personality that finds her always in an upbeat helpful frame of mind. But missing Christmas with her family brings to light some of her past issues and may be behind her avoidance of any romance in her life. Josiah doesn't have time for romance - he has a plan and it is set in stone. Unfortunately for him he didn't check with God first. This Christmas just might find two people not looking for romance with an unexpected gift - but it may take a nudge or two from their friends to see the possibilities.

In Imperfectly Proverbs 31 we meet Daniel who is forced into investigating a blogger Samantha (Sam) who seems too good to be true. Sam feels that she has to put a perfect persona out there, that she needs to be the woman of Proverbs 31 (don't we all at times). But Daniel is against any hint of untruth and sets up a potentially tense situation for the two of them. 

Overall this is a great collection of novellas and a perfect introduction to seven distinct authors. Looking for clean reads and romance with a faith based foundation? Well. you will want to pick up this set. It is perfect for when you want to enjoy a quick story (think at the most  two or three hours of book relaxation per story). 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Boy meets girl. Man meets woman. Sparks fly. All good love stories start here and usually face a myriad of challenges before the young couple find that together they are better. This set of Contemporary Christian romance stories come from writers across both sides of the pond and Downunder, proving that romance is not only a sweet thing, it's global. Here's a set of stories to inspire, encourage faith, and meet all the warm-fuzzy expectations.

In this boxset, you'll receive a total of seven novellas from these popular Christian Romance authors:

Fake Engagement Mistake © 2021 by Lisa Renee
Last Flight Home © 2021 Milla Holt
Falling for Maddie Grace © 2021 Meredith Resce
The Billionaire's Impromptu Bet © 2021 Lorana Hoopes
His Perfect Catch © 2021 Narelle Atkins
Originally Yours © 2021 Carolyn Miller
Imperfectly Proverbs 31 © 2021 Autumn Macarthur

To purchase click https://books2read.com/u/mlAODA

Lady Ludmilla's Accidental Letter ~ Review

Lady Ludmilla's Accidental Letter

Merry Spinsters, Charming Rogues #1

By Sofi Laporte

Lu has been living as her aunt's companion since the death of her parents. Her long-ago season in London was a disaster that she blames entirely on Adrian St. Addington. She's given up on being anything but a spinster, spending her days in a closed-up house with her Great Aunt Mildred and letters from her secret friend Addy. Her correspondence with Addy started by accident when a letter to a friend went to the address's newest resident rather than its former. Correspondence with a man was a social no-no but Lu was not willing to give it up. And that her correspondence was with a man she had never met was even more shocking but she longed for more than a shut-in existence. What she never expected was an opportunity to actually meet Addy face-to-face.

His correspondence with a most intriguing lady has filled his days with something delightful. Unsure of her true identity, Madame "Lu" has helped him get through the last three years. But a chance to actually meet her is something he is unsure of. Could Lu want to know him if she knew who he really was? Highly doubtful with his reputation.

But what neither is aware of is that there is an incident in their past that has linked them together though no one is aware of it. Could the past destroy what was a perfectly lovely friendship by correspondence? Or could they have something more?

Lady Ludmilla's Accidental Letter is a delightful Regency read that is not to be missed. I love how Lu changes as the story progresses and how her growth helps those around her as well. There is an interesting situation as to who Addy is and as the story progresses it is even more interesting to see what a tangle results. 

This is the first book in what I hope will be a most enjoyable series Merry Spinsters, Charming Rogues. I love the idea of an accidental letter leading to a friendship that would not have been and that it was also the catalyst for a potential happily-ever-after. This is the kind of book you want to have on hand when you are having a down day because it will leave you with more than one smile on your face as you read through it. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Lady Ludmilla Windmere, spinster extraordinaire, has a dilemma. She has fallen in love with her best friend, and that cannot be. The problem? She hasn’t met him. Not once. For they have only ever corresponded by letter. When she sets out to uncover the identity of her secret correspondent, her world shatters. For Addy turns out to be none other but London’s worst hellrake.

Adrian St.Addington, hellrake extraordinaire, has a problem. He is developing a marked tendre for a spinster, and that cannot be. The problem? He suspects she is taking him for someone he is not. Or is it that she knows precisely who he is? Either possibility he finds profoundly disturbing. For he has a role to uphold, cost what may. And a depraved heart like his surely cannot fall in love…least of all with a plain, outspoken spinster.

Determined to discover the truth behind the man she loves, Lu does what she does best: she sits down and writes a letter…


Escape into the world of the Regency ton with Sofi Laporte's new series, where spinsters are merry, rakes are charming, and no one is who they seem.

The Thief and the Nobel ~ Review

The Thief and the Noble
A Robin Hood Regency
by Dana LeCheminant

Lady Marian Russell is determined to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. She's seen the stark difference between how she lives and the poor. But how to make the difference has eluded her until she learns of a thief who redistributes his ill-gotten gains among London's downtrodden. 

Can she talk this thief into taking her on as a student? Marian is determined to convince the mysterious Robin into doing just that. How hard could it be to steal from the rich? Marian is about to find out during the swirl and fuss of her first London Season.

Robin has perfected the art of stealing from London's finest but only from the most deserving of his unique skills. He has no time for debutants and their flighty ways. But Marian Russell is different, not flighty but with an intelligent head on her shoulders. But stealthy thief not so much. 

The Thief and the Noble is a delightful Regency twist on Robin Hood. It was fun getting to know Marian and Robin and seeing how they play off of each other. The dialogue between them is engaging and keeps the story believable. There is danger from the very act of thievery but when a copycat thief begins targeting the wrong people Marian, Robin, and their "band" have to unmask this new threat. And then there is this attraction between Marian and Robin that is proving just a tad problematic in the midst of everything - as in it is starting to become a major distraction. 

This is one London Season that won't soon be forgotten and you've been invited to take part in it.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

As the daughter of a marquess, Lady Marian Russell is poised to impress in her first London Season. She is young, beautiful, and wealthy—but catching an eligible husband is the last thing on her mind. Marian is disillusioned with how the upper-class lives while the poor of London suffer, and she is determined to right this imbalance. When she comes face-to-face with a mysterious man who steals from arrogant aristocrats and redistributes the spoils to the poor, Marian recognizes a motivation that mirrors her own. She is determined to discover the true identity of the unscrupulous hero and offer her assistance.

When she unmasks the bandit Robin, he begrudgingly agrees to train the lovely Marian in the art of thievery in exchange for her silence, quickly realizing that his heart may be stolen next. But when they discover a copycat thief operating in London, they are faced with a foe whose purpose is far from noble. Amid distracting suitors, becoming a champion of the poor, and a growing attraction Marian can’t ignore, can she and Robin expose the renegade pilferer without risking themselves—and each other?

The Blackout Book Club ~ Cover Reveal

Today I'm taking part in the Cover Reveal for The Blackout Book Club by Amy Green This WWII novel follows a group of women involved in the home front war effort in Maine. The book releases November 15, 2022, so add it to your TBR List.

Plot Description:
An impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European Front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn't be more different--a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.


At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they share more in common with each other than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.


Pre-order Link: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/431778

Now to the book cover:

Summerhaven ~ Review with Excerpt and Giveaway

Summerhaven

By Tiffany Odekirk

For years Hannah Kent has dreamed of marrying Oliver Jennings. Eight years ago, Ollie promised to marry her. But the childhood promise has seemingly meant little to him as he pursues a more advantageous match. The uneasy alliance she makes with Damon Jennings to sway Ollie's sentiments back towards her is disconcerting. But Hannah is willing to do whatever it takes to win back the love she thought was hers. 

Hannah's time with Damon allows her to see someone in sharp contrast to the young boy, the young man she remembers. Could the bane of her childhood become her greatest ally? But can she genuinely fain love for the boy she despised to win back the heart of the one she always loved? There is the only way to know, and that is to agree to Damon's plan.

I liked Damon's character; he seems to be less flighty than Oliver. Damon's behavior toward Hannah is starkly different from that of Oliver's, and to be honest, I'm not sure why Hannah preferred Oliver's. Maybe it was colored by the past and her memories of it. 

There are times when I feel for Hannah as the bleakness of what she has lost overcomes her. I feel that her friendship with Amelia is one of the high points for her, though, for a time, it appears that the web she has gotten herself caught in is about to destroy even that.

Summerhaven is a book I highly recommend for anyone wanting a gentle, clean reading romance. 

I enjoyed the audio version of this book after first reading it. The narration is good; I found the pacing a little slow, so I upped the playback speed to 1.25x and found it in sync with my average reading speed. Overall this made for a second enjoyable experience with Summerhaven and Hannah's quest for a love match.

I was provided a complimentary digital copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Hannah Kent and Oliver Jennings pledged their hearts to each other as children. Now, years later, Hannah is thrilled to receive an invitation to spend the summer at Oliver’s family’s country estate. The path to wedded bliss is clear—so long as Oliver’s highbrow older brother, Damon, has ceased his juvenile antics, Hannah’s future looks bright indeed.

But from the moment Hannah arrives at Summerhaven, nothing is as she expected. Oliver seems disinterested in renewing their acquaintance, and Damon is not the brutish boy she remembers but a man intent on avoiding marriage. Although she has loathed Damon her whole life, when he contrives a ruse designed to win them both what they desire, Hannah warily agrees. All she has to do to reclaim Oliver’s attention is pretend to be madly in love with Damon. But when Damon is surprisingly convincing in his role as a suitor, it proves difficult to discern the line between pretense and true love. 

Excerpt:

Damon stepped forward, and his watch key and seal—visible reminders of his status and self-importance—clanked together. He bowed. “Miss Kent.”

“My lord,” I returned with a shallow curtsy. 

The corners of his mouth curled into a smile. “I see someone has managed to make a lady out of the wild girl I once knew,” Damon said, and before stepping back in line with his mother, he met my eye and added, “A pity.”

My eyebrows pulled together in surprise. 

“Do try not to scowl, Miss Kent. It will crease your lovely brow.”

“Damon Jennings,” Lady Winfield scolded. “You have been taught better manners.”

“My apologies, Mother. Teasing a beautiful woman is one of few things that has yet to be lectured out of me.” 

I gaped. Never in all my life had a man spoken so casually to me. Damon may have grown into a man, but he was not a gentleman.

Giveaway:

Win a paperback copy of

Summerhaven by Tiffany Odekirk

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wishtress ~ Cover Reveal

Today we are having the cover reveal for Nadine Brandes upcoming

book ~ Wishtress

But before I reveal the cover you know you want to

learn about the book. 

About the Book:

She didn’t ask to be the Wishtress.

Myrthe was born with the ability to turn her tears into wishes. But when a granted wish goes wrong, a curse is placed on her: the next tear she sheds will kill her. She needs to journey to the Well and break the curse before it claims her life—and before the king’s militairen track her down. But in order to survive the journey, she must harden her heart to keep herself from crying even a single tear.

He can stop time with a snap of his fingers.

Bastiaan’s powerful—and rare—Talent came in handy when he kidnapped the old king. Now the new king has a job for him: find and capture the Wishtress and deliver her to the schloss. But Bastiaan needs a wish of his own. He gains Myrthe’s trust by promising to take her to the Well, but once he gets what he needs, he’ll turn her in. As long as his growing feelings for the girl with a stone heart don’t compromise his job.

They are on a journey that can only end one way: 

with her death.

Everyone seems to need a wish—the king, Myrthe’s cousin, the boy she thinks she loves. And they’re ready to bully, beg, and even betray her for it. No one knows that to grant even one of them, Myrthe would have to die. And if she tells them about her curse . . . they’ll just kill her anyway.

Doesn't this just sound like the perfect addition to your Fall TBR list?

Now here is the cover:

Don't you just love this cover?

You can preorder Wishtress now and enjoy it in September!

The Premonition at Withers Farm ~ Cover Reveal

Check out the cover for Jaime Jo Wrights's The Premonition at Withers Farm which is releasing on October 11, 2022!

About the Book:

In 1910 Michigan, Perliett VanHilton is a self-proclaimed rural healer, leaving the local doctor, George Wasziak, convinced she practices quackery. It doesn't help that her mother, Maribeth VanHilton, is a Spiritualist who regularly offers her services to help others speak to their dearly departed. But when Perliett is targeted by a superstitious killer, she relies on both George and an intriguing newcomer for help.

In the present day, life has not developed the way Molly Wasziak dreamed. Facing depression after multiple miscarriages, Molly is adapting to her husband's purchase of a new farm. A search for a family tree pulls Molly deep into a vintage web of deceptions, made more mysterious by the disturbing shadows and sounds in the old farmhouse.

Perliett fights for her life, and Molly seeks renewed purpose for hers as she uncovers the records of the dead. Will their voices be heard, or will time silence their truths forever?

Preorder link: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/433715