On My Kindle ~ His Most Suitable Bride by Renee Ryan

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About the book~
No one in Denver knows how close Callie Mitchell once came to ruin. Dowdy dresses and severe hairstyles hide evidence of the pretty, trusting girl she used to be. Now her matchmaking employer wants Callie to help find a wife for the one man who sees through her careful facade. 

For his business's sake, Reese Bennett Jr. plans on making a sensible marriage. Preferably one without the unpredictable emotions that spring to life around Callie. Yet no matter how many candidates she presents to Reese, none compare with the vibrant, intelligent woman who is right under his nose—and quickly invading his heart. 

Sharing my thoughts~
When attorney Reese Bennett Jr.'s client and perpetual matchmaker points out that his law firm would suffer from his continued bachelor status and offers to help find him a suitable bride, he decides to allow her. But when Mrs. Singletary suddenly claims she's too busy and turns that task over to her companion, Callie Mitchell, his ex-fiance's sister, he debates withdrawing his permission. 

Docile one moment, bold the next. Plain one day, jaw-droppingly beautiful the next. Boring. Then exciting. Demure and shy. Then confident and determined. Who is Callie Mitchell and why is she hiding under dull shapeless clothes? Intrigued, Reece determines to find out, and accepts Callie's offer to help him with his bride search.

Callie Mitchell refuses to forgive her past indiscretion over a man and believes that if she dresses plainly, no man will show interest and therefore she couldn't repeat the mistake. But when gentle, handsome Reece looks past the dowdy dresses and begins to unravel the real Callie, her facade cracks. Her past did not have to define her future. She was a child of God, forgiven and loved...She could either spend the rest of her life feeling shame over her lapse in good judgment, or accept the Lord's mercy. The past was the past. The future, hers for the taking.

While His Most Suitable Bride was an enjoyable read, I really appreciated the underlying theme of letting go of our past. I struggle with this myself, so I could relate to both Callie and Reese, and understood how their attitudes affected their decisions and relationships. Little gems like this were sprinkled throughout the book:

"Today is a new day, meant to be lived under grace." ~Pastor Beau

"One must never focus on the ending when the story has yet to fully begin." ~Mrs. Singletary

Whether you're looking for a book to curl up with for a long evening, during a carpool line, or to take on vacation, you'll want to include His Most Suitable Bride!

Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to Harlequin Love Inspired Historical and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reviewing His Most Suitable Bride and for the free copy I received in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. This opinion is my own, and I received no compensation.

Relaxing!

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Sugarplum Homecoming
by Linda Goodnight

Nothing relaxes me more after a stressful day than curling up in front of a glowing fireplace with a great book. Sugarplum Homecoming by Linda Goodnight fit the bill this week. Check it out...

About the book:

Widower Davis Turner doesn't need to hear his children's whispered wishes for a new mom to recognize that new neighbor Lana Ross is a beautiful woman. But he worries that his feelings for the former bad girl could put his family at risk for small-town scandal. Lana knows she should steer clear of Davis. Yet she can't resist spending time with the handsome single dad, even if the truth might soon tear them apart. Though Lana has turned over a new leaf, her secrets have followed her to Whisper Falls. Secrets that could destroy her hope for a future with Davis.

My thoughts:

"The jig was up. She'd prayed to get settled before her tainted past charged in with all guns blazing. Apparently, God, Who'd brought her this far, expected her to face her fears head-on."

Sugarplum Homecoming features a reformed bad girl, and I enjoyed the twist from the typical bad-boy hero in most inspy's. Lana has returned to Whisper Falls hoping to give Sydney a stable home, but she worries that the small town won't let the past stay there. And Davis? Considering his children's welfare, the single dad's not all that happy Lana moved into his neighborhood. And he definitely doesn't welcome the tug of attraction to the beautiful singer, the one that left his small town, hoping to make it big in Nashville. But she's changed.

"You're not Lana Ross, the drunk party girl. You're Lana Ross, child of the Most High, cleansed by a sacrifice far greater than singing in front of hundreds of people."

Don't you just love that? You see, Lana suffered from stage fright, believing that the only way she'd been able to sing on stage in front of an audience was after downing a bottle of gin. When an opportunity arises to raise money for a surgery that Davis's nephew needs, she must decide if God is bigger than her fears.

Sugarplum Homecoming is a fast read, the perfect size to curl up with on a lazy evening after holiday shopping or a stressful day on the job. The plot's not too complicated, and the gentle message warms you all the way to your tummy. In one word, relaxing. :)

Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to Harlequin Love Inspired and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of Sugarplum Homecoming. The opinions expressed here are my own, and I received no compensation.

What about you? How do you relax during the holidays?

What book have you relaxed with recently?

Have You Read THE COWBOY'S CHRISTMAS COURTSHIP by Brenda Minton?

The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship
by Brenda Minton

About the book~

With her mortgaged farm, rebellious brother and two jobs, Layla Silver is struggling to keep afloat for the holidays. But does she need Gage Cooper riding to her rescue? Back in high school, Gage was nobody's hero. Now he's an injured bull rider home for Christmas to make amends for his checkered past. And something about the stubborn, beautiful Layla has him wanting more than forgiveness. Can a wandering cowboy turn a Christmas courtship into an everlasting love? 

Meet the Characters~

"When a guy looked death in the face, in the form of a one-ton bull, it made him think about how he'd treated the people in his life." 

Injured bullrider Gage Cooper headed back home to Dawson, Oklahoma, to recover. While he was recuperating, he intended to make things right with a few people, starting with Layla Silver. But, with his large family and a granny intent on marrying him off, he didn't plan to stay home long. Besides, he couldn't look at his blind brother without being angry at God.

"She was not a good judge of character. She was the person who kicked the dog out of the house for chewing up the shoes and then let him back in, thinking he wouldn't do it again."

Layla Silver had learned from a young age not to allow people to get too close. Her mother always hid her black eyes, and Layla assumed that's what people did: hid behind closed doors. So when her parents were killed in a car accident, she gave up dreams of college and a family of her own and assumed responsibility for her eight-year-old brother. Now he was a rebellious fifteen-year-old and she was worn out from working two jobs and feeling incredibly alone, but that didn't mean she could allow herself to fall for Gage just because he flashed that dazzling smile at her. She knew he hid a lot of anger behind that cocky grin. And besides, he never stuck around long.

"Layla was the kind of woman a man married. He made a habit of staying away from the marrying kind."

Sharing my thoughts~

What an intense opening scene between Layla and Gage. You know there's a history between them, but the author doesn't offer many details and that's just the way I like opening scenes. Gage stops to help Layla, and sees her like he hadn't before: strong, quiet, and never accepting help. Initially, he wants to help her because he feels he owes her, but somewhere along the way, his motivation changes into something deeper, something longer lasting. 

What a love story! I enjoyed the progression, from Layla's high school crush and Gage's feeling that he had to right a wrong  into something powerful and beautiful. Gage does such sweet things for Layla, and she can't help but fall in love with the changed man.

"...he wondered why all of a sudden, his life no longer fit. It felt like a favorite pair of boots that were suddenly too small."

I always like it when a romance runs deeper and treads into serious territory, and this one didn't disappoint. Gage found himself asking tough questions, like why his brother was blinded and Layla could never catch a break while he skipped through life with hardly a care.

Although this book has a holiday setting and title, I'd recommend The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship as a great read for anytime of the year!

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Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to Harlequin Love Inspired and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy of The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Have you read The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship? 

Do you agree with my review? What were your thoughts?

Have You Read NORTH COUNTRY HERO by Lois Richer?

North Country Hero
by Lois Richer

About the book~
Back home to heal, army veteran Kyle Loness can't wait to leave the town that holds such sad memories. He never expects beautiful newcomer Sara Kane to enlist his help with the town's new youth center. What does he know about helping kids? But the more time he spends with the troubled teens—and Sara—the more the jaded soldier feels his defenses crumbling. It might take Sara—and the kids—to open his guarded heart to love again. 

My summary~
Reeling from an injury and angry at God, Kyle Loness is only in Churchill, Canada, to settle things after his father's death. He plans to get the house ready to sell, and get out. Sara Kane heads to Churchill to cook for Lives Under Construction, a youth center for boys. A former foster child, she has plenty of love to go around. Determined to find her biological family, she seeks out computer savvy Kyle for help.

What I liked...
I really liked Sara. Although she suffered a rough childhood, she still managed to find the good in everything and everybody. Instead of being weak and wimpy, her experience made her strong and determined. Sara showed kindness to the wounded soldier, and although Kyle tries to distance himself, her sweet, generous spirit draws him in.

At a crucial point in the book, Sara couldn't discern God's voice or the path He wanted her to take. It took being alone, really alone, for her to recognize His will. I could relate to that. When my world clamors with noise, I need that "alone" time with Him.

and not so much...
I felt the faith element tended to be a bit on the heavy side. That said, the author tackled a couple tough topics with this book, feelings of unworthiness and struggling with why bad things happen, and I thought she handled them well. 

Overall...
I enjoyed North Country Hero and how the characters overcame their feelings of unworthiness and worked through their faith issues realistically. North Country Hero is definitely worth picking up for a nice, leisurely read. 

Disclaimer: Sending a huge thanks to Harlequin  and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

What about you? Do you sometimes worry that you can't hear God's voice or that you missed His direction? Does it take getting alone with Him for you to discern His will?

The Outlaw's Redemption by Renee Ryan ~ My Review

About the book~
Who would guess the most formidable adversary former gunslinger Hunter Mitchell ever faced would be a fiery, violet-eyed female? Now that he's served his time, Hunter intends to claim the daughter he's only just discovered. While the law is on his side this time, his daughter's devoted aunt certainly isn't. 

Annabeth Silks can't bear to let a onetime outlaw take little Sarah. As the daughter of an infamous madam, she knows the hardship of an unstable home. But every glimpse of Hunter's reformed character dares Annabeth to look beyond his past…to the family and future she never thought to find.

My Thoughts~
Hunter Mitchell, a former gunslinger fresh out of a two year prison stint, returns to the brothel where he killed a man, intent on retrieving his daughter from Mattie Silks, the brothel's owner. Reformed and longing for a chance to start fresh, he won't allow Annabeth Silks to keep him from the sweet nine-year-old girl he just discovered was his. Annabeth can't bear the thought of losing her niece, but even tougher for her to imagine, is leaving Charity House to live with Hunter as Sarah's nanny, especially when her heart longs for more.

Initially, I passed on this book, non-committal about a reformed outlaw for a hero, but I've read other books by Renee Ryan and liked them, so I scooped it up. I'm glad I did.

What I liked...

I really appreciated the way Hunter treated Mattie, the brothel owner. By treating Mattie with respect and dignity, Hunter sealed the deal with Annabeth's heart.

Relationships are complicated. I liked that the author didn't sugarcoat Annabeth's relationship with her mother. Ryan portrayed their unusual bond realistically, showing the embarrassment, the shame, the stigma. Annabeth loves her mother, but doesn't appreciate being labeled a madam's daughter or the risk of losing her reputation and home. Mattie also loves her daughter but isn't willing to give up the finer things in life for her daughter's sake.

I also admired how the author handled Hunter's past. When he arrives on scene, he's already reformed. Ryan shows us Hunter's commitment to being a better man without being preachy.

What I didn't like so much...

Hunter had actually been married twice, which I found a bit confusing in the beginning and unnecessary.

Overall...

I really enjoyed this story and getting to know Hunter, Annabeth, and Mattie, all strong characters. Great job, Ms. Ryan!

The Outlaw's Redemption releases on 7/1/13 with Harlequin Love Inspired Historical, but you can preorder it here~ Preorder Link

Disclaimer: Sending a huge thanks to Harlequin Love Inspired Historical and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review e-copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Have you read The Outlaw's Redemption? 

Do you agree with my review? What were your thoughts?

Doctor to the Rescue by Cheryl Wyatt ~ My Review

The back cover ~

Combat doctor Ian Shupe returns home from overseas with his most important mission: to raise his little girl. But Ian's a single dad, and working at Eagle Point's trauma center means having to find child care. When bighearted, struggling lodge owner Bri Landis offers babysitting in exchange for construction work, Ian accepts. He vows to keep his emotional distance from Bri, yet can't deny that his daughter is blossoming under her tender care. But is he ready to believe that his heart's deepest prayer may finally be answered?

My take ~
Stressed from overwork and frustrated with losing so much of his daughter's life while in active service, Ian's a single dad trying to build a relationship with Tia. Recently divorced, he covers for his ex-wife and determines not to make the matrimonial mistake again. Six months after ending an emotionally abusive relationship, Bri initially finds Ian's brooding temper much like that of her ex-boyfriend. Until she realizes that's just a symptom of the real hurt.

I have enjoyed all of Cheryl Wyatt's books, this one included. The characters carry around so much emotional baggage and hurt from the past, you wonder how they'll ever reach their happily-ever-after, so you stay up past your bedtime just to find out. Even little Tia, Ian's daughter, rebels against her daddy, calling him Ian and lashing out at him for her mother's abandonment. Bri helps repair the relationship between Daddy and daughter. I especially like how the faith theme weaves gently throughout this book, for example, how Bri explains to Tia how God communicates. That was such a precious conversation.

Probably the only beef I have with Doctor to the Rescue is that so much happened in the last few pages, that I felt it was a bit rushed. But that didn't detract from the story. Just made me wish it were longer. :-)

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Disclaimer: Thanks to Cheryl Wyatt for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.