Where She Belongs by Johnnie Alexander (Review)

Series: Misty Willow (Book 1)

Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: Revell (January 5, 2016)

ISBN-13: 978-0800726409

Shelby Kincaid is ready to move on from her grief. With high hopes for the future, she longs to purchase her family's ancestral homestead so she can raise her young daughters in the only place she ever truly belonged. She plans to transform the abandoned house into the perfect home of her memories. But she'll have her work cut out for her.

AJ Sullivan never wanted the homestead. Inherited as a punishment from his grandfather, it has sat empty for fifteen years and fallen into ruin. He's glad to finally unload it. But a clean break isn't possible when he can't get the young widow Shelby off his mind.

Welcome to Misty Willow, a place that will have as great a hold over the reader as it does over its inhabitants. With writing that evokes a strong sense of place and personal history, Johnnie Alexander deftly explores the ties that bind us to home--and the irresistible forces that draw us to each other.

My Review:

I enjoyed reading this contemporary Christian romance book. It is the first in a new series Misty Willow. This is my first book by this author and I love her writing. I felt like I was in the story. Shelby Kincaid is moving back to Misty Willow to recover from her husband's death. She wants her two girls to grow up in a place she loved. She comes back and the place is trashed. A J's grandfather left it to him as punishment so he did not take care of it. Shelby was really upset at him but they also connected at that first meeting. She does not immediately forgive him. It was a gradual development in the relationship. He is great with her girls and they love him too. There are a few twists to the story that adds some drama. Her grandfather died in the barn and there is a sense of mystery surrounding it for one. A J just might have some competition too. The characters and plot were well developed and unique. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Recommended.





Johnnie Alexander is the award-winning author of Where Treasure Hides. Johnnie is an accomplished essayist and poet whose work has appeared in the Guideposts anthology A Cup of Christmas Cheer. In addition to writing, she enjoys reading, spending time with her grandchildren, and taking road trips. She lives near Memphis, Tennessee.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

On Lone Star Trail by Amanda Cabot (Review)

Series: Texas Crossroads (Book 3)

Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: Revell (February 2, 2016)

ISBN-13: 978-0800734336

If there's one thing Gillian Hodge never wants to see again, it's a man on a motorcycle. Her last encounter with one left her right hand crushed, ending her promising career as a concert pianist. But as she heads to Rainbow's End Resort, a sudden thunderstorm causes a motorcycle to crash in front of her.

When TJ Benjamin's wife died, he lost more than his best friend; he lost his faith. He's spent the past year wandering the country on a motorcycle, trying not to think about his future. When he finds himself stranded with a busted bike and a reluctant rescuer, he has to wonder about God's sense of humor.

Can this woman without a future and this man running from his past find romance in the present? Or are they too tied to the way life used to be?

My Review:

I loved this book. It is book three in the Texas Crossroads series. The setting and characters are the same with the addition of T J Benjamin. You do find out more of what happened to the main characters in the first two books so if that bothers you read the series in the order. I enjoyed reading all three of them. The main two characters in this story are Gillian and T J. They had good chemistry from the beginning. I liked the plot line and the author did a good job developing it and the characters. The setting was unique and I liked it. Rainbow's End Resort is an interesting idea. Overall a good contemporary Christian romance book.



                     

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With both parents avid readers, it's no surprise that Amanda Cabot learned to read at an early age. From there it was only a small step to deciding to become a writer. Of course, deciding and becoming are two different things, as she soon discovered. Fortunately for the world, her first attempts at fiction, which included a play for her fifth grade class entitled "All About Thermometers," were not published, but she did meet her goal of selling a novel by her thirtieth birthday. Since then she's sold more than thirty novels under a variety of pseudonyms. When she's not writing, Amanda enjoys sewing, cooking and - of course - reading.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Your New Money Mindset by Brad Hewitt and James Moline (Review)

Paperback: 272 pages

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (October 20, 2015)

ISBN-13: 978-1496407801

Your New Money Mindset is a new way of thinking about the role money plays in our lives. Many of us live with ongoing, and often unexamined, tension related to money. Few of us have really escaped the credit-card trap or freed ourselves from worries about having enough for the future. Co-authors Brad Hewitt, CEO of Thrivent Financial, and James Moline, licensed psychologist, believe we haven’t spent enough time examining our fundamental attitudes toward money and aligning those attitudes to our core values. Before you can remake your money habits, you need to start with your heart. In Your New Money Mindset, Brad and Jim guide you through the Money Mindset Assessment, which will help pinpoint what attitudes about money you could work on in order to develop an openhearted attitude to life. The goal is to cultivate a surplus mindset that allows you to enjoy what you already have and be generous toward others. Discover today how to free yourself from the money trap and create a healthy relationship with money.


My Review:

This book was not quite what I was expecting. I think I was hoping for more Dave Ramsey type help. I went online and took the money mindset assessment and the results were interesting. The book focuses more on the psychological aspects of our money issues including our attitude and relationship. The spiritual aspect of the book addresses if we are truly right with God then we would have the right attitude/relationship with money. I am not sure I agree with that. I know strong Christians that struggle with money issues. Another key aspect of the book is if we give more money away then we would automatically be happier. The book easy to read and understand.







Brad Hewitt is president and CEO of Thrivent Financial, a not-for-profit Fortune 500 organization dedicated to helping Christians be wise with money and live generously. He speaks regularly on how a redefined relationship with money can help us find and live out our call in life. He and his wife live in Minnesota.

James Moline, PhD, is a licensed psychologist who also holds a master’s degree in theology (both from Fuller Theological Seminary). His lifelong passion for ministering to the homeless and the underserved has taken him around the globe both personally and professionally. He lives with his family in Minnesota.


Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Kissed by a Cowboy by Debra Clopton (Review)

Series: A Four of Hearts Ranch Romance

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 9, 2016)

ISBN-13: 978-1401690533

Cassidy was looking for a home and a place to belong . . . not for a cowboy to steal her heart.

Having lived through her parents’ endless string of “matrimonial bliss gone wrong,” Cassidy Starr knows when the odds are not in her favor. Divorced and humiliated, her faith on rocky ground, Cassidy is through with love. She’s been bucked o_ that horse far too many times. Instead, she returns to Wishing Springs, Texas, and the rundown farm she’s inherited from her great aunt Roxie. She’ll reopen the strawberry farm and a bed & breakfast and follow in her aunt’s footsteps, remaining forever-independent, happy . . . and single.

Rancher Jarrod Monahan’s hands are full running the ranch, looking after his ailing grandfather, and chasing down a group of rustlers on the loose. He’s pushed his longing for a family to the bottom of his list of priorities. Besides, he was in love once but ran scared and lost his shot at happiness. But suddenly, the biggest regret of his life has moved in next door with a wounded heart, determined to become a spinster . . . and that’s a challenge that Jarrod can’t pass up.


Jarrod sets his mind to breaking down the walls around Cassidy’s stubborn heart. How can he show her that a cowboy’s kiss lasts forever? For the good folks of Wishing Springs, falling in love has never been so much fun to witness.

My Review:

This was a great Christian contemporary romance book. It is the third in the series A Four of Hearts Ranch. The characters are mostly the same. New in this book is Cassidy Starr who has come home to Wishing Springs, Texas, to rebuild her life after a bad divorce. The other previous Monahan couples stories continue in the background of this book so read in order if that kind of thing bothers you. All the stories were good. So the main focus of this book is Jarrod Monahan, the oldest of the three men. When Cassidy was growing up she would go visit at her Aunt Roxie's house which was next to Jarrod's family ranch in Texas. They shared a kiss as teenagers then he went off to Montana. When he came back she had married another guy who turned out to be awful. She got a divorce and decided to come back to her happy place, Aunt Roxie's house. Unfortunately her aunt is deceased but Cassidy is determined to start a bed and breakfast and re start her aunt's strawberry farm. When she meets up with Jarrod again the sparks fly. I love this author for her witty, funny, and unique dialogue. The plot and characters are unique and well written. The secondary plot in all three books is resolved in this one between Rand and Pebble. I recommend this book and the whole series.

Bestselling author Debra Clopton has sold over 2.5 million books and her holiday story, OPERATION: MARRIED BY CHRISTMAS has been optioned for an ABC Family Movie staring LeAnn Rimes. Debra writes cowboy romances, inspirational, Christian romance, contemporary and western romances set in Texas. She is known for her snappy dialogue, cowboy heroes and spunky heroines. Her awards include: The Book Sellers Best, Romantic Times Magazine's Book of the Year. She's also a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Finalist, and a triple finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award.

A sixth generation Texan, Debra lives on a ranch in central Texas with her husband Chuck. She loves to travel and spend time with her family. She is the author of the much loved Mule Hollow Matchmakers series where you never know what the Matchmaking "Posse" is going to do next! She has written for Harlequin and Harper Collins Christian and now with DCP Publishing with her newest series New Horizon Ranch/Mule Hollow collection. She is currently working on her 39th novel surrounded by cows, dogs and even renegade donkey herds that keep her writing authentic and often find their way into her stories. She loves helping people smile with her fun, fast paced stories.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Always Watching by Lynette Eason (Review)

Series: Elite Guardians (Book 1)

Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: Revell (February 2, 2016)

ISBN-13: 978-0800723262

The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have more than just skill and prowess in common--they're also all women. When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians in order to protect his son.

But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap. Olivia's skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade's stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closest to him. Olivia has the feeling that she's next on the list. And to complicate things even further, she realizes that her heart may be in as much danger as her client.

Bestselling author and fan favorite Lynette Eason drops readers right into the action in this fast-paced new series with a unique twist. Readers will love these strong female characters who put it all on the line to save lives.

My Review:

This is the first in a new series called Elite Guardians. It is classified as a Christian romantic suspense book. It is unique in the aspect that the women are strong heroines rescuing the guys. It does take some getting used too though. The only bad thing is the main guy, Wade Savage, seems weak. The Elite Guardians are an all women security team founded and lead by Olivia Edwards. They are hired by Wade's father to protect him. He is a well known psychiatrist who is being stalked. Olivia and Wade hit it off from the beginning. The plot was interesting and unique. There is a big twist at the end. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice, the Deadly Reunions, and the Hidden Identity series. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A Son's Vow by Shelley Shepard Gray (Review)

Series: Charmed Amish Life (Book 1)

Paperback: 288 pages

Publisher: Avon Inspire (January 26, 2016)

ISBN-13: 978-0062337795

Three months ago, everything changed for Darla Kurtz and her family. Darla’s father was responsible for a terrible fire at Charm’s lumber mill which killed five Amish men. And though he, too, lost his life, the town of Charm hasn’t looked at her family the same since. Even Lukas Kinsinger—with whom Darla used to have a close friendship.

Now her brother’s anger at the town is spilling over onto Darla, and she has the bruises to prove it. The accident already cost five lives, but if something doesn’t change soon, Darla fears it will cost her—and her family—even more.

Lukas Kinsinger wants to mourn the loss of his father, but he can hardly find the time to breathe. Suddenly the head of his father’s lumber mill and responsible for taking care of his three siblings, he’s feeling the pressure. He has also never felt more alone—especially with the new tension between he and Darla. But when he learns of her troubles at home, Lukas knows he can’t simply stand by and watch. Someone has to help her before another tragedy occurs.

As Lukas and Darla attempt to repair their families, they discover something deeper than friendship growing between them. But will Lukas and Darla’s love be accepted after so much loss? Or will the pain of the past overcome any chance of future happiness?


My Review:

This is the first book in the Charmed Amish Life series by Shelley Shepard Gray. It is set in Charm, Ohio. The main plot revolves around the Kinsinger siblings. They lost their father who was also the mill owner in the big fire. All of them except one work at the mill. They grew up with the Kurtz siblings whose father worked at the mill until he died in the fire. The Kurtz father is blamed for starting the fire in the first place so they have endured hate and abuse from the town since. Lukas Kinsinger was good friends with Darla Kurtz before the fire and misses her friendship and maybe something more. His brother has nothing but anger toward the Kurtz family. And her brother blames the mill for the Kurtz father's death and he works there. The plot was interesting and had good subplot. The characters were okay. The subject matter and atmosphere of the book could be a little intense at times. I look forward to seeing where the series goes and how the characters develop.






Review copy provided by Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble (Review)

Series: A Sunset Cove Novel

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 12, 2016)

ISBN-13: 978-1401690281

Mallory’s mother died fifteen years ago. But her father’s last words on the phone were unmistakable: “Find . . . mother.”

Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point.

Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart and left—without a word—years ago.

When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life—and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie—their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye.

As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father’s killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.

My Review:

This was a good Christian romantic mystery/suspense book. I really enjoyed reading the first book in the series so I could not wait to read this one. It is book two in the Sunset Cove series but can stand alone. The setting and some of the characters flow into this book too. The setting is not one that I have read often. Semi Rural Maine Coast was really interesting.The plot lines for this series are unique and well written. The main focus in this book is Mallory and Kevin. They were high school sweethearts who did not work out and Mallory moved away. There was a scandal but it seemed like only his parents held it against her.  She got married, had a child, and husband passed away. Kevin got married, had a child, and his wife deserted them. They meet back up when her dad passes away under mysterious circumstances in Maine. Mallory comes home to do the funeral and investigate his death. After she leaves someone breaks in her house and scares her neighbor and daughter. They decide to follow her to Maine immediately. There is a lot of action once they get there too. Mallory and Kevin got back together like they had never been apart. This book held my attention from beginning to end. There was a few twists and turns. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I recommend starting with the first, The Inn at Ocean's Edge since I loved it too.





Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at http://colleencoble.com

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.