On My Kindle ~ Celtic Cross by Tammy Doherty

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The Cover Story~

A stranger arrives on the Donovan ranch just one breath away from dead. Matt Donovan does not hesitate to help, despite her unknown past. What happened to this woman? Who is she? Will the man who shot her come riding down the trail after her, shattering peaceful Glenpark, Colorado?

When Cristeen wakes, she can remember nothing of her past. Only one thought haunts her day and night: trust no one. Matt fears Cristeen's fierce independence will lead only to tragedy. Can he help Cristeen see the need to trust the Lord before it is too late? Can Cristeen overcome her belief that loving can only bring heartache?

Then a madman bent on revenge tracks her down. Matt cannot rescue Cristeen this time. Only the Lord can save her now...if she has enough faith to trust. Can she overcome the past and learn to trust?

My Thoughts~

I must confess I was reluctant to pick up this book because of the title, but I needn't have hesitated. Cristeen rarely speaks Celtic, just a couple occasions, but the title comes from her constant fiddling of a Celtic cross, a gift from her mother. Fiercely independent but lacking self-esteem, she grew up trying to be the son her father wanted and is more comfortable in the barn hanging out with the horses than inside a kitchen. Matt Donovan watched his mother wilt and die on the ranch and vowed never to marry a woman who didn't love the secluded ranch life as much as he did. 

I enjoyed the unusual way the author segued into new chapters, and that this was a love story from beginning to end. But while Matt and Cristeen are drawn to each other, both must overcome internal obstacles.

"I can hire a housekeeper. That's not what I was looking for. I want a 'heart-keeper.'" ~Matt

Don't you just love that? I appreciated the gentle faith thread weaved in this sweet romance. In some areas, head-hopping had me a little confused, but overall, Celtic Cross kept me turning pages because I cared about the characters and wanted them to have their happily-ever-after. 

Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of Celtic Cross. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Whisper Goodbye by Myra Johnson ~ Sharing My Review

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About the book~
Crippled both physically and emotionally by his war injuries, First Lt. Gilbert Ballard struggles to find himself again in civilian life. After breaking his engagement to Annemarie Kendall, he has found solace in the arms of Mary McClarney, a spunky Irish immigrant nurse he met at the Army and Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Yet Mary’s love for Gilbert goes unreturned.

If it’s not Gilbert’s insane jealousy over his former fiancée’s new marriage, it’s his addiction to pain killers and gambling that thwarts Gil’s own happiness. Worse, Gilbert’s mother, Evelyn, continually reminds him of what he lost when he pushed Annemarie away. Under Evelyn’s critical eye, Mary fights to believe in her worth, wondering if she will ever be enough.

As Mary longs for the day when Gilbert will finally let go of the past and learn to love her as she loves him, she realizes that the only way to open Gilbert’s heart is to whisper her goodbyes . . . and pray God will bring them back together.

Sharing my review~
After being introduced to both Gilbert and Mary in When the Clouds Roll By, the first book in Myra Johnson's Till We Meet Again series, I couldn't wait to get my greedy hands on the second book, Whisper Goodbye. Wounded war veteran First Lt. Gilbert Ballard was a character I couldn't forget after finishing When the Clouds Roll By. He'd treated his former fiancee and best friend dreadfully, but it was so hard to be upset with him. He was a casualty of war, broken and bitter, floundering without purpose, minus a leg, and nursing a morphine addiction for constant pain. See what I mean?

If he could drive far enough, fast enough, he might outpace the unrelenting emptiness that had haunted him since the war. ~Gilbert

Without the morphine, sweet Mary's soothing touch was the only way to relieve the blinding phantom pain cursing his missing leg, but Mary soon tires of Gilbert's obsession with his ex-fiancee and refuses to be second choice. Toss in Gilbert's mother, Mrs. Ballard, who reinforces Mary's sense of unworthiness, and you have one unhappy heroine. When it seems like Mary and Gilbert will never find their happy place, Gilbert finally acknowledges that he can't mend his broken spirit on his own and determines to win Mary's affections with a job and hard work, but even that came at a cost. I appreciate how each of the characters had to find their own way, to their faith and to each other.

With a sweet secondary romance to savor, characters you can't help but cheer for, and nuggets of historical tidbits tucked inside, Whisper Goodbye is sure to please historical and contemporary readers alike. Another 5-star worthy book by Myra Johnson!

I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the series, Every Tear A Memory, starring Gilbert's brother, Thomas. If you missed my review of When the Clouds Roll By, you can read it here, but trust me when I say you'll definitely want to read these books in order. :)

Disclaimer: Sending a big thanks to Myra Johnson and Abingdon Press for sending me an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion. This review is my opinion, and I received no compensation.

Head In The Clouds by Karen Witemeyer ~Sharing My Review

Purchase Link~B&N

About the book~

Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.

When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon--and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.

When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the child--and her inheritance--Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?

Sharing My Review~

Adelaide Proctor abandons her teaching position to follow the man she believes will provide her with the family she so desperately longs for. Not that Henry Belcher makes her heart race, but she's waited a long time for him to propose. When she finally catches up to him, she accepts that there won't be a proposal. Grieving the loss of the family she'd dreamed of, she applies for a governess position, determined to follow God's cloud, just like the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness. I love how the title was such an integral part of the story. 

The plot dragged a bit during the narration regarding Lucinda's journal, but for the most part, I was glued to the pages and couldn't wait to get back into the story whenever I had a chance. Head in the Clouds is sure to make you consider some deep topics like...why God doesn't always intervene to prevent suffering. 

I especially appreciate how Gideon and Adelaide come to love each other without the snippy dialog that's common in many historicals, but rather, from a mutual admiration and respect for one another that develops into something deep and genuine. Adelaide's inherently clumsy,  creative, stubborn and loyal, and when she tugs a smile from sweet little Isabella, Gideon can't help but fall for her. As I have come to learn, Karen Witemeyer books never disappoint! Head in the Clouds is another awesome read that will keep your head in the pages. Pure enjoyment!

Disclosure: I scooped up Head in the Clouds while it was offered free on Amazon. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Have you read FIRED UP by Mary Connealy?

Fired Up
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About the book~Fired Up, Trouble in Texas Book 2

Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can't let his guard down for a moment, which is a challenge, since right now he's trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.

Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she's determined to care for her son and daughter on her own. She wants to believe Dare Riker is as decent as he seems, but she's terrified to lock herself into another marriage. She plans to support her small family by opening a diner--never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent. The men in Broken Wheel, Texas, are so desperate for home cooking that they seem willing to overlook dried-out beef and blackened biscuits.

Glynna can't help but notice that danger follows Dare wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And then the fire. But things really get out of hand when someone plunges a knife from Glynna's diner into Dare's back. Are Flint's cronies still plotting revenge? Is Glynna's son engaged in a misguided attempt to protect his mother? Is a shadowy outsider still enraged over past injustices? And can Dare survive long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?

My summary~
Feeling like a fraud because of his lack of schooling, Dare Riker isn't convinced he's supposed to be a doctor. Glynna and the rest of the town know that he's the closest thing to a doctor Broken Wheel will ever have. Dare saved Glynna from the rough treatment of her deceased husband, and his heart's set on marrying her, but Glynna promised her son she'd not marry again without his blessing. When danger strikes Dare more than once, he can only hope it's not Glynna's son intent on killing him.

My opinion...

Glynna wasn't the typical Connealy heroine: headstrong, gun-toting, and a 'save the hero from himself' kinda gal, but she wasn't weak, either. After surviving her second husband's abuse, she was determined not to marry again and to make it on her own. She opened a diner, but couldn't cook, and I enjoyed a twist from the normal stereotype.

I also loved how the author set up the chemistry between Vince and Tina, secondary characters. I'm hoping that's because Vince and Tina's story is up next in the Trouble in Texas series. :-)

Sparks always fly in a Connealy novel, and you're guaranteed a few laughs. This one was no different. A theme of forgiveness weaves throughout the book so naturally, it's seamless and as essential to the plot as the romance. I enjoyed a few hours reconnecting with Glynna and Dare, and I can't wait to read Connealy's next Romantic Comedy with Cowboys. Will it feature Vince and Tina?

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Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to Bethany House Publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy of Fired Up. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Have you read Fired Up? 

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