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Romance! Okay, I have strong views on romance... I don't always share them, or give voice to them, however I read lots of romances. Why? I really don't know except maybe I'm a romantic type of person, yeah, nope, not it, lol. I do however love reading a good romance... Unless it's super cheesy then I'm liable to chuck it across the room.
About Before I Called You Mine
Lauren Bailey may be a romantic at heart, but after a decade of matchmaking schemes gone wrong, there's only one match she's committed to now--the one that will make her a mother. Lauren is a dedicated first grade teacher in Idaho, and her love for children has led her to the path of international adoption. To satisfy her adoption agency's requirements, she gladly agreed to remain single for the foreseeable future; however, just as her long wait comes to an end, Lauren is blindsided by a complication she never saw coming: Joshua Avery.
Joshua may be a substitute teacher by day, but Lauren finds his passion for creating educational technology as fascinating as his antics in the classroom. Though she does her best to downplay the undeniable connection between them, his relentless pursuit of her heart puts her commitment to stay unattached to the test and causes her once-firm conviction to waver.
With an impossible decision looming, Lauren might very well find herself choosing between the two deepest desires of her heart . . . even if saying yes to one means letting go of the other.
Review
I saw the beauty of the cover. The adorable name. The pretty flowers. Then I scrolled down to the blurb... My, oh, my!
I was in love! The sweetness of the story drew me in and that was just from the description.
Starting to read Before I Called You Mine, I was pulled into the bound-up bit of heartbreak and love, being my first book from Nicole Deese I was not sure what I would find. I fell in love with the way she showed a character who was not perfect, and she wasn't boring, I was somewhat worried that Lauren would be a dull and maybe cliche character, but I couldn't have been more wrong!
With so many feelings, so many emotions, and just so much heart clinching love, I adored every minute reading Before I Called You Mine, and the adoption journey! I have not gone through anything like what Lauren went through but that didn't stop me from feeling like I was right there beside her, the imagery was incredible, the way Deese pulled you into her carefully woven literary artwork was a delight to behold.
Joshua … He is a sweetheart! He reminded me of my brother, really, the dinosaur love, the care of others, and just his sweetheart-ness. I loved his character; I did at times wish we saw his thoughts, but it was all right.
The arc of Lauren and Joshua's relationship and characters were done in a slow, subtle way that made them feel even more real.
Now, Jenna, she was interesting! I loved how she was like another part of our heroine, and they were so hilarious at times. She and Brian were such a cute addition, I loved their support of Lauren and how they added to the story.
I am not saying that this book wasn't painful at times … It was! And though I can't say what happened it nearly had me in tears, so saddening and yet it made the story even more real and raw!
The whole of this book was wonderful and I loved how everything made a good plotline, everything Lauren did somehow reflecting the love she had for her future child and how she loved them already.
I cannot wait to see what Nicole Deese writes next, I am so glad she wrote this book, and that I read it!
Nicole Deese's passion for adoption shone through every word, giving readers a bit of passion too.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About Since You've Been Gone
Leah Williams is back in the quaint town of Heritage, Michigan, and ready to try again to make her business a success. But blank slates are hard to come by, and a piece of her past is waiting for her there. Heir to the Heritage Fruits company, Jonathan Kensington is the guy who not only made Leah's past difficult, he also seems determined to complicate her present as well.
Jon is trying to prove to the Heritage Fruits board that he, not his manipulative uncle, should be running the business. The board insists Jon find a new owner for the building that will house Leah's business. To avoid forcing a buyout of Leah's part of the building, Jon strikes a compromise with Leah, and the two go into business together. With her vision and his know-how, it might work. And Leah might realize he's loved her since high school. If only he didn't keep on shooting himself in the foot by boxing her out of important decisions.
Sparks fly in this romantic story of two people who must learn to trust both each other and the one who called them to this journey.
Review
Some books have a lesson that touches you.
Then, there are other books, books like Since You've Been Gone, where the lesson just reaches out with each smooth turn of the page with a brush of love from the author's heart to paper and then into a reader's touch. The way she wove such a careful story of redemption, healing from wounds inflicted by those who should be the ones you can always go to, and that each and every person is special was one not easily forgotten.
Tari Faris is an auto need to read, where is my copy, kind of author. She's been that way since I read You Belong with Me when it first came out. The way that the characters come to life, the town becomes a piece of your heart, and you never want to stop reading it makes me wish there was more.
Jon, oh, okay, Jon! He's just so close to stealing Nate's place as my favorite of the guys, but so are Luke, Grant, and Colby, oh, and I can't forget Chet! They are just such sweet guys that I loved reading about. The girls are also so awesome, can I just be Hannah when I grow up? Yeah, and then there's of course Leah. Yikes, it was crazy relating to her about things but not being able to imagine what happened to her and her family in the past. And, sweet Jimmy! I loved finding out what happened with him though I totally called it. Abby is somebody I really want to see more of in the future.
The sibling relationship/guardianship and raising a little sister for Jon and Abby were so bittersweet... I worried there for a bit that there wouldn't be an outcome I liked. Did I like it? More than I can say but you need to find out for yourself if you agree on that ending!
As happy as I am that this series has ended, I am saddened to leave the world of Restoring Heritage and the characters that are now like old friends.
Warnings: 15/18+ due to romance, past abuse, mentions of drinking/drunks, unwed pregnancy before the book starts and a character knows God, etc. Mentions of attraction, sexy is used, some other focuses on attraction.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About An Unlikely Proposal
Their friendship can survive almost anything…
For two best friends,
marriage could be their greatest test yet…
Trinity Davis must not have heard firefighter Omar Young correctly. Did her handsome widowed best friend just suggest they get married? Omar needs a mom for his adorable little girls, and it’ll fix Trinity’s financial woes. But saying “I do” isn’t just business. Especially when the only vow they’re in danger of breaking is their promise to not fall in love…
From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.
Review
The very cuteness of this book was just so good!
The friends to more, the darling little girls, and just everything fell into the sweetest story that I had to start rereading my favorite parts over after I closed it.
Shiloh did a spectacular job with somewhat common tropes and turned them into a new and fresh story that I just couldn't help but love.
And, the firefighter side of the story was wonderful! There really aren't enough books out there with firefighters who you actually get to see the realness of the profession or volunteers. I loved, loved, loved that the book was so real without being telly or made to seem informative.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About Amanda
“The devil made me do it” is a phrase that will never pass my lips. Why would it when I have Delores, my undiagnosed autoimmune disorder, to make all my decisions for me? (Yes, I named her myself since the doctors couldn’t do it for me.) A get together with friends? Delores says no. I’ll have my prescheduled daily afternoon fever and fatigue at that time.
My two biggest regrets with having Delores direct my fate? One, my family thinks my illness is all in my head. And two, I set the love of my life, Peter Reynolds, free from my anchoring tether so he could fly. I never thought I’d see him again, but five years later he’s soaring in the limelight as one of the most talked-about defensive players in professional football. Oh, and did I mention he also happens to play for the team my boss just assigned me to as a social media manager?
Meanwhile, nothing much has changed for me. Delores still bosses me around, and I’m still hopelessly in love with Peter. What’s a girl to do?
Review
Insomnia, flared burning in my hands, joints tight, and a killer headache often cause restless nights during which I don't fall asleep until my eyes shut with exhaustion.
The best thing I can do not to go through the night floundering is read. So, often I will read some light book as a distraction, or catch up on reviews and wait until a "reasonable" or "normal person" time to post my reviews.
But, "Amanda" by Sarah Monzon?
I didn't want to wait to share my review. I've only gone through health things the past year and it has been crazy and hard. Well, "Amanda" was just the right amount of romance, comedy, and realness that I couldn't help nearly crying over the feeling of someone "getting it". Sure, I know others going through health things without answers as their bodies are attacked by unseen things that they are told are "in their head" but there are rarely books that show so much realness from an autoimmune disorder. Amanda and Peter are such a wonderful leading couple, I just loved them, I loved their relationship, their second chance at love, their friendship, everything! AND MOST OF ALL THE HUMOR. Plus, hey, John, he's such a sweetheart and I wanted to see more of him!
Monzon hit this one out of the park, ehhh, wrong sport, but you get the point. ;)
Anyway, even though my review is pretty much mush, I suggest that you read this book if you like rom-coms, have health issues, or if you know someone going through health issues that may not be seen all of the time.
Content: 16/18+ for romance.
About How Sweet It Is
He lost his brother. She lost her dream. Together, they might find what they're really looking for.
Holly Stanford is doing the best she can with the restaurant she inherited from her late uncle. But after her fiancé abandons her and the business, Holly regrets having given up her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Now a few bad financial decisions might cost her everything, including her hope for the future.
Jed Henning has done well with his new company despite his prodigal brother’s behavior. When Jed‘s father , the controlling member of the board of directors, temporarily suspends operations until his sons work out their differences, Jed resentfully chases his brother, Chris, to Boise. There Jed rents a basement apartment from Holly and hopes to convince Chris to get his act together before their company collapses.
Unaware that Holly is the one person who can help him get through to Chris, Jed starts the tough work of reconciliation armed with little more than a few family photographs, a stack of old letters, and a Bible that belonged to his great-grandfather, Andrew Henning. And as romance blossoms between Holly and Jed, the story of Jed’s great-grandfather highlights the power of God across the generations and the legacy of a family’s courageous faith.
Review
The end of an emotional series from Robin Lee Hatcher!
The first book in the Legacy of Faith series, "Who I Am With You" was my first read from Robin Lee Hatcher, and I was hooked on her books.
Andrew's story throughout the series has been such a wonderful historical story, and though it is sad to end the series it was done in a sweet and good way.
Holly's and Jed's story was just as sweet, and the redemption of their story was so very sweet ... This book was well named and the cover is a perfectly adorable fit for the book.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Wow, okay, this is some post... I love romances as you saw. So, thanks for stopping by again. Are you having as much fun as I am this year?
And I didn't share today's free book or the link to the giveaway here so you can head to Kate's blog here to grab your book and get your entries in!