Review: Courting an Amish Bishop by Mindy Steele

This was such an enjoyable slow burn romance. I loved that these two people were ones who thought that they had lost any chance at a future with love and family in it. Their reasons for feeling this way came from different situations and backgrounds. It was great to see their eyes begin to be opened to the possibility that God was calling them to each other.

Even though both Simon and Stella felt a connection and attraction to each other, they both pushed back a bit at the possibility. This is what gave the story a slow build up. These two were both so scared to step into something new and both battled feelings of not being worthy of the other. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and begin to open up to each other. Yet, reluctance to completely admit their feelings almost messed everything up for them.

This was a sweet story that I had trouble setting down because I was enjoying it so much. The one thing I wish this book had, though, was an epilogue. If ever a story was crying out for one, it was this story. With all of the inner thoughts that both Simon and Stella had, as well as some spoken conversations as well, where they both wondered if love and children could possibly be in their future, it would have been so fun to see an epilogue showing them married and expecting. Perhaps a future book will show what is going on in their lives as side characters. That would be fun, too.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

No One Is Ever Too Old to Love Again

Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.

Simon Graber became a widower and a bishop early in life. His focus is solely on his very close-knit Old Order Amish community—not entertaining the idea of marriage, despite what many of the elders think. When sickness comes to Cherry Grove, Kentucky, Simon reaches out into the next community for help. But help is beginning to look a lot like a second chance when Stella Schmucker agrees to offer her vast herbal knowledge to the sick. Can it be that these two, who have been too busy serving others to entertain the idea of love, have met at just the perfect time for an unlikely courtship?

The Heart of the Amish Series Also Includes:
The Flower Quilter by Mindy Steele
Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise by Anne Blackburne
The Quilt Room Secret by Lisa Jones Baker
Mary’s Calico Hope by Anne Blackburne

PURCHASE YOUR OWN COPY HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Raised in Kentucky timber country, Mindy Steele is a 2022 Readers Choice winner, and a best-selling author who writes in favor of her rural surroundings. Her books are peppered with humor, and sprinkled with grace, charming all the senses to make you laugh, cry, hold your breath, and root for the happy ever after ending. A storyteller at heart, she enjoys coffee indulgences, week end road trips, and researching her next book. 

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Review: Muskoka Promise by Carolyn Miller

This Muskoka Shores series is such a good one! The characters in this community felt like real people as I read all of their various stories. I have enjoyed all of these books.

I believe that you could pick up Muskoka Promise and enjoy it on its own, however, you will notice that the main character, Anna, has quite a grudge and some deeply hurt feelings toward her former friends for a good portion of the story. The author did a good job of showing the reader what Anna’s perception of the events were that led up to Anna separating herself from her closest friends, however, you will get the full stories and understanding of the build up to Anna’s melt down if you get to know her as a side character in the earlier novels.

I have to admit that I did not like Anna very much in the other books. It was easy to be frustrated with her. She was very needy and desperate to find a man and then resentful toward her friends when they fell in love. However, I did feel badly for her as it seemed that she had her focus in life on all of the wrong things for awhile. But, reading this story, I appreciated that Anna’s eyes began to open to the fact that she had reacted badly to her friends’ joys. She was still resentful for quite a bit of the book, but she did begin to have a heart change as the story moved forward. I was impressed with her emotional and spiritual growth and also impressed that the author created that growth in a believable way. Anna was not immediately selfless or able to keep her heart attitude in a better space. She struggled and she had set backs and she felt like she was failing in changing her focus to God. Her struggle to change her attitude was exactly that…a struggle.

I really liked Tom and felt for him and all that he had gone through. I liked that he was attracted to Anna because of her humor and snark and the many things they seemed to have in common. I also liked that he thought she was beautiful as she was, even as she was struggling with her weight. He had hard choices in this story and he tried to make the right decisions, even when they went against what his heart wanted.

I’m excited to see that there is supposed to be at least one more book in this series! I am looking forward to it.

(4 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THIS BOOK

All Anna Morely has wanted since she was a child is to feel loved. All Tom Woodmore has wanted is to uphold the law without fear or favor. When a traffic incident brings these two opposites together, sparks fly. But Anna’s wealthy family has certain social expectations that a humble police officer doesn’t exactly meet. And after the death of his fiancée, Tom has his own challenges in learning to risk his heart again. And then there is the matter of whether Anna will ever reconcile with her too-persistent friends…

Join Anna and Tom as they discover the path to real love holds unexpected joys and trials, and that God’s promises can always be relied on – including in beautiful Muskoka.

PURCHASE YOUR OWN COPY HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carolyn Miller is an Australian author of inspirational historical romance, particularly that of the Regency era, and loves creating worlds where flawed people can grow in faith, hope and love.

WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM

Review: A Run at Love by Toni Shiloh

Tuck and Piper were such wonderful characters! I loved the way they had grown up together as best friends and then both began caring about each other as more than friends. Yet they were scared to risk that friendship and admit to their deeper feelings. But, wow! The moment it came to light that they were interested in each other romantically…one of my favorite scenes for sure!

These two had to deal with a lot emotionally in this story, as Piper’s parents were suddenly in the spotlight for potentially engaging in illegal activities with their racing horses. And this also put a lot of pressure and a negative spotlight on Piper and her own horse who was racing, as well.

There were many important topics covered in this story, including both the difficulties and the blessings that Piper faced as a black woman adopted into a wealthy white family in a white community, the importance of trusting God with the future, the need for forgiveness, and the importance of honesty between a couple. There were also many fun and lighthearted moments between Tuck and Piper, and some great group texts between Tuck and his two best friends from the first book of the series, The Love Script. You do not, however, have to read book one to enjoy book two.

This was a great story and I am looking forward to Chris finding his happily ever after in book three.

(5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

As a Black woman in a field with little diversity, Piper McKinney is determined to make her mark on the horse racing world. Raised on a thoroughbred farm in Kentucky, Piper’s dream is for her horse to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby. With the help of her best friend and trainer Tucker Hale, she gains national attention but must grapple with the complications that arise when a journalist delves into her past as a transracial adoptee.

In an effort to win Piper’s heart, Tucker formulates a plan to train Piper’s horse to victory, hoping to prove himself to her, her parents, and his own self-doubts. Then a shocking scandal hits the media, implicating both Piper and her parents, and she and Tucker will have to survive the onslaught to find their way to the winner’s circle–and each other.

Award-winning author Toni Shiloh makes a run for the roses with this heartwarming novel that reminds us that sometimes the greatest victories are found within our own hearts.

PURCHASE YOUR OWN COPY HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novel In Search of a Prince won the first ever Christy Amplify award and is a Parable Group bestseller. Her novel Her Christmas Redemption was a 2023 Selah Award winner. Other novels have finaled in past awards like the Holt Medallion, Maggie Awards, and ACFW Carol Awards.

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Review: Flashpoint by Susan May Warren

What an action packed and amazing introduction into a new series of books that are also connected to characters from previous series by both Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips. I have read some of the connected stories that the main and side characters come from, but there are also some previous books that I haven’t read. I had no trouble jumping in and enjoying this one. Just know that you will be introduced to many characters as a starting point in this novel and some do have connections to other books by these authors.

I loved this story! It took the level of action and adventure that I loved in Susan May Warren’s Montana Fire series, which is one of my favorites of hers, and added in what has become a favorite trope of mine…celebrity romance. And these two characters definitely connected with lots of chemistry.

Spenser and Emily ended up being a great fit for each other. I loved seeing the way they connected and the way their hearts were drawn to each other. But what happens if Spenser, who has had stalker problems in the past, discovers that Emily is a bigger fan than she let on? Will it change anything between them?

I wasn’t ready for this book to end and wished it had included an epilogue. However, I do like that the books in this series are being released very close to each other, so I am happy that I won’t have to wait long to jump into the next story!

(5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

SECRETS. BETRAYAL. SACRIFICE.

THIS TIME, THEY’RE NOT JUST FIGHTING FIRE.

An original series created by bestselling authors Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips.

The Hollywood heartthrob and the firefighter with a secret…

Rookie firefighter Emily Micah is determined to prove herself as a new recruit to the elite Jude County Hotshots wildfire team. Assigned to the film set of The Drifters, Emily’s mission is to protect the cast and crew from the special effects that could ignite the tinder-dry Montana forest and start a wildfire.

If only her favorite actor—TV star Spenser Storm—wasn’t getting in her way.

What could go wrong?

Haunted by the memory of a rabid stalker, former child TV star Spenser Storm is hoping to revive his career, but he’s torn between the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and the life of a cowboy on his family’s ranch in Montana. It doesn’t help when he sees the movie that’s supposed to launch his future is going up in flames.

And then there’s beautiful and brave Emily Micah, who not only saves his life, but seems to understand him, maybe better than she should.

As an arsonist threatens the film production, seemingly with the goal of destroying the movie entirely, Spenser realizes he’ll stop at nothing to protect his future and the woman now stealing his heart.

But Emily harbors a secret…one that could destroy the flame between them. And when it comes out, it could cost them everything, and ignite an inferno that could destroy all of the northern Montana forest.

Chasing Fire: Montana Series, Book One—Flashpoint—delivers a thrilling and emotional rollercoaster ride that will leave you breathless, yearning for more, and eager to dive into the next chapter of the thrilling series.

PURCHASE YOUR OWN COPY HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and RITA award-winning novelist of over sixty-five novels. An eight-time Christy award finalist, a three-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.

A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: The Story Equation.

She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, and Novel.Academy, a school for aspiring novelists. You can find her online at www.susanmaywarren.com.

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Review: The Mysterious Amish Bachelor by Vannetta Chapman

Even though this is the fourth book in the Indiana Amish Market series, it can be enjoyed even if you haven’t read the others before it.

Sarah and Noah were such a sweet couple together! I loved the way they found themselves falling for each other. Sarah really wanted to know where Noah had been for ten years and would try to get him to open up and share, but Noah was very good at redirecting the conversations. I really felt for both of them. My heart hurt for Sarah as she realized that Noah was hiding an important part of his past from her and that a long lasting relationship could not be made with someone who didn’t trust her with the truth. And I felt sad for Noah because he just didn’t think Sarah could still care for him if she knew what had happened.

I loved the pacing of this story, learning all that Noah had overcome, how he had changed from the person he used to be, and also seeing the honorable hearts that both of these characters had. I really didn’t want to set this book down once I started reading it!

(5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

He has a secret.

She’s set on discovering it.

After paying the price for a crime he committed ten years ago, Noah Beiler wants a fresh start—which means hiding where he’s been for the last decade from his Amish community. But Sarah Yoder is determined to uncover his past. As Noah and Sarah work together and grow close, Noah’s history is the only thing standing in their way. Will revealing the truth set them free, or are some secrets best kept buried?

From Love Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Indiana Amish Market

Book 1: An Amish Proposal for Christmas
Book 2: Her Amish Adversary
Book 3: An Unusual Amish Winter Match
Book 4: The Mysterious Amish Bachelor

PURCHASE YOUR OWN COPY HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Vannetta Chapman writes in a variety of genres for several different publishers. She writes Amish and inspirational romances for Harlequin/Love Inspired, Harper Collins Christian Publishing, Harvest House Publishers, and Abingdon Press. She also writes cozy mysteries and dystopian fiction. With over one million copies sold, she has won the Carol Award and has been a Christy Award and Carol Award finalist. She is represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency.

Vannetta has taught writing at conferences, bookclubs, writing groups, and at the collegiate level. She speaks on a variety of topics at community clubs, writing groups, quilting clubs, and reader events.

Before pursuing a writing career, Vannetta earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in English. For fifteen years, she taught at both the middle school, high school, and collegiate level. She lives in Texas where she and her husband enjoy hiking and camping. She is actively involved in her community and local church, and she writes full time.

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Review: Whispers of Truth by Valerie M. Bodden

If you have read the other River Falls novels, you will enjoy seeing many of those characters again. It is such a great series! However, even if you haven’t read the earlier stories, you can jump in and read this novel on its own. And it is a powerful story.

From the book blurb, you know that Summer’s brother, who is also Benjamin’s best friend, dies early on in the story. It is definitely heartbreaking, but is a necessary part of the plot. I thought the author handled the situation in a very caring and authentic way.

My heart hurt for these characters, not only in their loss of TJ, but also in the disconnect that they had together as a couple. And although it was clear to me that Benjamin cared for and loved Summer and wanted to be married to her, Summer just couldn’t believe it. She had been told all of her life that she was a mistake. Her mother resented her and treated her horribly. That kind of treatment really messes with people’s minds and Summer was a clear example of someone who couldn’t comprehend being truly loved for who she was. There was this moment when everything finally clicked for Summer and her eyes were opened to the way Benjamin had been showing and telling her how much he loved her all along. It was beautiful and ushered in the beginning of some true healing.

I loved the progression of this story. Once I really had a chance to sit down and start reading it, I found that I couldn’t stop reading. The author wove in some beautiful sermons that helped these characters face the things that were weighing them down. The sermons themselves didn’t solve everything, but helped both Summer and Benjamin take steps toward understanding God’s love for them and how to work through their grief. This was a captivating marriage of convenience tale that also incorporated the brother’s best friend and reunion romance tropes. It is probably my favorite of the series so far.

(5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

They may have gotten married for practical reasons—but that doesn’t make it a marriage of convenience. At least not in his eyes. Now he just has to convince his wife…

As the baby of the Calvano family, Benjamin has a reputation as the goofy, fun-loving, spontaneous one. The one who has never faced a serious test of his faith. Until the day his best friend dies. And he learns that his friend’s sister—aka the woman who broke Benjamin’s heart—might lose guardianship of her nephew. For his friend’s sake, Benjamin can’t let that happen. So he does the only thing he can think of: he proposes.

Summer’s brother was the only person who ever truly loved her. Now that he’s gone, she has one purpose: to raise his four-year-old son. Although she knows Benjamin’s proposal isn’t for real—after all, the man doesn’t know how to be serious—she can’t risk losing her nephew. She’ll just have to keep her arrangement with Benjamin strictly business—and tell her heart to stay out of it. She knows from experience that wanting more will only lead to heartache.

As they face trials and tests neither could have imagined, Benjamin is determined to prove that though their marriage may have begun impulsively, his love for Summer is real. With God’s help, can she find the courage to open herself to the possibility of being genuinely loved and wanted…this time forever?

PURCHASE YOUR OWN COPY HERE

ALSO AVAILABLE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Valerie M. Bodden has three great loves: Jesus, her family, and books. And chocolate (okay, four great loves). She is living out her happily ever after with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their four children. Her life wouldn’t make a terribly exciting book, as it has a happy beginning and middle, and someday when she goes to her heavenly home, it will have a happy end.

​She was born and raised in Wisconsin but recently moved with her family to Texas, where they’re all getting used to the heat (she doesn’t miss the snow even a little bit, though the rest of the family does) and saying y’all instead of you guys.

​Valerie writes emotion-filled Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith. Her characters may (okay, will) experience some heartache along the way, but she will always give them a happy ending.

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Audio Book Review: The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch

The FBI: Strange Crimes Unit series is one that can really rip your heart out and pull your emotions all over the place! At least that has been my experience. I’m not saying that in a bad way at all. In fact, this series is one of my top thriller or suspense series ever. The author takes very difficult and even gruesome situations, some characters who are believers and some who are not, throws in law enforcement procedural drama, some light romance threaded throughout, and sets up chilling mysteries to solve, all while showing the difference of things of the world vs the things that point us toward God. The Garden Girls got hold of me and wouldn’t let go.

I ended up figuring out who the big villain was in this story, although the author did not at all make that an easy discovery. I was thrilled that I actually guessed it! However, that being said, the author dropped in so many twists and turns and surprises, that I actually ended up shocked over and over again at some other events and reveals in the book. So, she really did actually surprise me multiple times as things wound toward their conclusion at the end. And, truly, I’m kind of gutted by this book. Emotionally wrecked! But in an intrigued way. These characters meant a lot to me. I listened to this story over a couple of days and kept thinking of these characters as real people, even though I knew they were fictitious. I was deeply concerned about the Ty’s salvation and worried about how the relationship would develop between him and the son he never knew existed.

I ended up listening to the audio book version of this story, as I have with the other books in the series. I was, once again, very impressed with the narration. I enjoyed listening to it immensely.

(5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook, and then decided to listen to it in audio format. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

On a remote Outer Banks island, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, an FBI agent must confront his own twisted past.

FBI agent Tiberius Granger has seen his share of darkness. But a new case sets him on edge. It’s not just the macabre way both victims—found posed in front of lighthouses—are tattooed with flowers that match their names. There’s also the unsettling connection to the woman Ty once loved and to the shadowy cult they both risked everything to escape.  

Bexley Hemmingway’s sister has gone missing, and she’ll do anything to find her—including teaming up with Ty. That may prove a mistake, and not just because Ty doesn’t know he’s the father of her teenaged son. It seems the killer is taunting Ty, drawing everyone close to him into deeper danger.

As the slashing winds and rain of a deadly hurricane approach the coast of North Carolina, the search leads Ty and Bex to an island that hides a grisly secret. But in his quest for the truth, Ty has ignored the fact that this time, he’s not just the hunter. Every move has been orchestrated by a killer into a perfect storm of terror, and they will need all their skills to survive…

More chilling novels from Jessica R. Patch:

• Her Darkest Secret
• A Cry in the Dark

PURCHASE YOUR OWN COPY HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author, Jessica R. Patch is known for her dry wit and signature twists whether she’s penned a romantic suspense, a cold case thriller, or a small-town romance. When she’s not getting into fictional mischief with her characters, you can find her cozy on the couch in her mid-south home reading books by some of her favorite authors, watching movies with her family, and collecting recipes to amazing dishes she’ll probably never cook. Sign up for her newsletter “Patched In” at http://www.jessicarpatch.com. Jessica is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Management.

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Review: The Cowgirl Nanny by Jen Gilroy

This was such an uplifting story! Carrie, who began temporarily working as a nanny for Bryce, fit so beautifully into the Carter family. She was wonderful with the children, guiding them, supporting them, caring for them, and even helping to draw them out from turmoil that they were dealing with. She was also wonderful with Bryce. I loved watching these two fall for each other and the way she encouraged Bryce and his kids to talk and share about their mother, Ally.

Yet, their path to a happy future together wasn’t a smooth one. From Bryce’s inability to let go of his feelings of guilt about moving on from his late wife to Carrie’s reluctance to stand up to her parents about the life she really wanted, these two faced situations that were of their own making that got out of control.

But even though Bryce had some very stubborn moments that were aggravating, I still felt empathy for him as he navigated emotions that seemed to slam into him from out of nowhere. And even though it took him some time to figure things out, he had a good and loyal heart that he needed to fully give to Carrie. This was a sweet story that made my heart happy to read.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

He needs a nanny… 

But what about love? 

With two kids and a ranch to run, Bryce Carter needs a nanny for the summer. And professional barrel racer Carrie Rizzo might be perfect, at least until she returns to the rodeo in the fall. But while Carrie’s incredible with his kids, Bryce isn’t ready to open his family—let alone his heart—to anyone…even if she might be the perfect cowgirl for him. 

From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

The Montana Carters

Book 1: Montana Reunion
Book 2: A Family for the Rodeo Cowboy
Book 3: The Cowgirl Nanny
Book 4: A Rancher’s Return

PURCHASE YOUR OWN COPY HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo by Robin Spencer, Spencer Studio

Jen Gilroy writes sweet contemporary romance and dual timeline historical women’s fiction—warm, feel-good stories to bring readers’ hearts home.

A Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist and shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon award, Amazon named her third book, ‘Back Home at Firefly Lake,’ a ‘Best Book of the Month: Romance’ in December 2017.

A dual British-Canadian citizen, Jen lived in England for many years and earned a doctorate (with a focus on British cultural studies and social history) from University College London. Returning to where her Irish family roots run deep, she now lives with her husband, teenage daughter and floppy-eared rescue hound in small-town Eastern Ontario, Canada.

When not writing, she enjoys reading, ice cream, ballet and paddling her purple kayak.

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Review: Sandcastle Inn by Irene Hannon

With these Hope Harbor contemporary novels, the reader can hop in anytime during the series and enjoy a story set in a place where many characters have come to find a new beginning. So, even though this is book ten in the series, you can feel confident in picking up this novel even if you haven’t read the other stories.

I really liked both the main characters and the side characters in Sandcastle Inn. The main characters, Vienna and Matt, had a very bad initial meeting. Yet once they began working together on the inn, it was apparent that there was a romantic tension bubbling beneath the surface. However, these two seemed destined to not give in to that attraction. Matt carried a lot of grief and guilt, which kept him from really living life. Vienna had a plan for her future and she felt that working on the improvements for Sandcastle Inn would only be a short stop on her way to much more.

The side character love story was so sweet! Paige and Andrew arrived in Hope Harbor with desperate financial circumstances. As their backstory unfolded, I felt for these two young people who had made hard choices to be together, thrived, and then had the rug pulled out from beneath them. I loved seeing their lives begin to turn around.

Including this novel, I have read five of the Hope Harbor books: the first three in the series and then books nine and ten. I look forward to catching up on the earlier stories and for the next upcoming book in the series.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Vienna Price never intended to return for more than a passing visit to Oregon and all the bad memories she’d left behind. But when your career tanks, home is where you go to nurse your wounds and chart a new course. Only temporarily, of course–because as much as she loves her quirky mom, anything more than a short stay would drive them both crazy.

A trip to Oregon isn’t in Matt Quinn’s plans, either, until a perfectly timed appeal for help arrives from his sister. What better place to decompress after a shattering loss than a quiet, seaside town named Hope Harbor? But R&R isn’t on the agenda when he arrives to find his sister’s new enterprise on life support.

Vienna, however, may have just the skills needed to resuscitate the foundering B&B–if Matt can convince her to hang around long enough to mend an inn . . . and his heart.

PURCHASE YOUR OWN COPY HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Irene Hannon, who writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 60 novels. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romance fiction) and she is a member of that organization’s elite Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Other awards for individual books include National Readers’ Choice, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers Choice, Booksellers’ Best, and Reviewers’ Choice from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.

A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time.

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Audio Book Review: Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn

The new Gossamer Falls series has a great cast of characters introduced here in Never Fall Again. I loved the way Cal’s family took Landry and Eliza in as their own. They were brought in and shown love and care unlike anything they had ever experienced.

Landry and Cal both had emotional trauma from their pasts. Landry’s first marriage was not a good one and as her back story was slowly revealed, it was clear that she had suffered for many years both before and during that short marriage. Cal had a different sort of emotional baggage and had determined years ago to never fall for a woman with a child due to his prior experience. This man had a big heart, though, and even as he and Landry set out to be just friends, he was definitely falling for her. I loved the moment that he realized he had already fallen and was all in for making a future with Landry. It was so sweet.

There is suspense in this novel and it especially ramps up toward the end of the book. I even had a gasp out loud moment during one suspenseful scene. But what was especially beautiful about this novel was the relationships that Landry and Eliza developed with not only Cal, but with his whole family. There was also some romantic tension between a few of the side characters, which should make for future interesting stories.

I listened to the audio book version of this novel. The narrator is the same voice for the previous stories and I enjoyed listening to the audio book.

(4.5 stars)

ABOUT THE BOOK

Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven’s guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction.

Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family’s business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can’t bear to lose like that again.

Before construction on the house can begin, Landry’s pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger–but because of whom? But, after losing one relationship, he is hesitant to try again.

PURCHASE YOUR OWN COPY HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynn H. Blackburn is the award-winning author of Unknown Threat, Malicious Intent, and Under Fire, as well as the Dive Team Investigations series. She loves writing swoon-worthy southern suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters by putting them into terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home in her pajamas! She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children.

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