What's a guy to do when the girl he loves insists that love and marriage are not for her? Rachel Hauck gives you all "the feels" in this sweet small-town romance between a lonely forest ranger and a woman whose sights are set on an MBA from Wharton. Set in Tennessee, this story brims with down-home charm and lots of music in the background.
Set during the prohibition era, this story features two wealthy young people who...
For any writer who has struggled with ways to "show" rather than "tell" a story, I recommend reading Kirkley's book. This author has truly mastered that technique in such a natural way that only discerning readers will notice it as a technique. Beyond that, the characters are believable and the relationships complicated enough to keep the reader guessing how things will turn out. Adding to that, the setting is a boiling pot about to blow over, and there...
Be prepared for some strong emotions while you read this story. Denooyer captures all the vascillating internal thoughts of the primary character--a woman in an emotionally abusive marriage--and brings the reader right along with her. If you've ever known of or suspected a relationship such as the one portrayed in House of Wind, it will ring true. If not, it will open your eyes to the subtle ways the enemy invades our homes and our minds. NOTE: This book...
This historical novel features three sympathetic characters: Clara, a hardworking woman who has endured tragedy and mistreatment; Elijah, a man of mixed heritage who is loyal to and protective of his friends; and Jonah, a young boy who hasn't spoken since he was found wandering around town. Despite their animosity in the beginning, Clara and Elijah work together to protect Jonah from hostile forces and to search for the truth about his origin.
This may be the best book Pegg Thomas has written, which is saying a lot. She has included a variety of aspects among the characters: Native American, Quaker, native-born patriots of European descent, and recent immigrants, plus the class divisions that persisted due to ingrained prejudices. Readers become acutely aware of the clashing loyalties in the primary male character, a true Native American who has adopted the Quaker way. His counterpart is a...
Celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary with this anthology by ten established historical authors. Within these fifteen stories, you'll get a variety of perspectives--from those who served on each side--and learn the names of obscure, ordinary citizens who affected the cause for independence. This is a book that deserves a permanent place on bookshelves, to be read again and again.
What a sweet novel this was, with a...
Sarah Schwerin's debut novel delves into the early 1950's and the era of rampant polio infections. When one couple's daughter contracts the disease, their family fragments, with each parent pulling in a different direction. Just when things start looking up, something else pushes the couple apart. They alternately blame the other and then themselves for its failure. Only God can restore their marriage, but they must stop their struggle and turn to Him.
Romantic suspense is a extremely popular now. If you grew up with or learned to love TV shows such as Man From U.N.C.L.E., CSI, or NCIS, this book will remind you of those nail-biting episodes. Ericson's writing is superb, loaded with details and plot twists, but the romance takes center-stage, which is what I like.
Regency-era romance can be predictable, and it takes a good writer to hold my attention when I can...
Must Love Romance Novels by Lacy Williams - Contemporary Romance
This is a cute second-chance-at-love story involving older adults. Donna, a romance author with some success, has fashioned her heroes after Jacob, who broke her heart years ago. When circumstances keep throwing them together, she has to resist the pull to fall for him again. Clueless Jacob doesn't understand why she pushes him away until he reads her novels, but he's got his work cut out for...
Show Me Betrayal by Ellen E. Withers -- Dual Timeline Mystery
With two mysterious deaths sixty years apart to unravel, this story will keep you guessing. The setting involves an inherited mansion in Missouri, which serves almost as a secondary character, with its elegance and secrets. Well written with sufficient clues for the reading sleuth, the story moves at a steady pace. My only disappointment was that the possible romance didn't develop as I'd hoped,...
Project Scrooge by A. M. Heath
This is a fun, and yet touching, take on the popular Dickens story. Sandford hasn't spoken to Natalie in years, not since his fiancee dumped him, and he blames Natalie for it. Natalie misses her best friend and wishes she could set his world right again. So, with the help of his aunt and two young friends, she devises a plan to banish his Scrooge-like moods. Their crusade almost works until Natalie finds she can't hide the...
When Plans Go Awry by Denise M. Colby
In this easy-to-read story, the reader gets an in-depth glimpse into the life of a 19th century school teacher. Life takes a big downward turn when Olivia Carmichael loses her home and must learn to support herself. She finds a hero in Luke Turner, a farmer who's raising two sisters and waiting for a mail-order bride. The two are drawn to each other, but their prior commitments mean they must deny their feelings and...
Love's True Measure by Lori Dejong is an upbeat contemporary romance that drew me right into Shannon and Hunter's world. Although Shannon is sweet and cheerful, there's a depth to her that only comes from past struggles. Readers cannot help but root for Hunter who works so hard and does his best to care for his sister, Brylie. Adding to that is a cast of friends who surround them all with prayers and acceptance--friends who share their own stories of faith...
Ah, is there anything a writer loves more than a story about writers and editors? Well, yes, a well-crafted story about those people. The author paints her characters so well, the story develops like a mind-movie, certainly Hallmark worthy. Rom-com lovers will adore it, especially since it also mentions some well-known rom-coms. An easy, delightful read, perfect for the beach or wherever you go.
I hope you'll bear with me while I explore this new format. I plan to deliver the same type of content as you found on the old website.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” In other words, change is a necessary part of life, so we should expect it and adapt to it.
For those who have been following my journey—getting my newsletter or reading my reviews of books by other writers—you will notice a difference in my website starting this month. It looks different because I switched hosting platforms. The URL is slightly different, now including my maiden name,...
