My Foolish Heart + Giveaway

Unknown to her tiny town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley spends her nights as Miss Foolish Heart, the star host of a syndicated talk radio show. Millions tune in to hear her advice on dating and falling in love, unaware that she’s never really done either. Issy’s ratings soar when it seems she’s falling in love on-air with a caller. A caller she doesn’t realize lives right next door.

Caleb Knight served a tour of duty in Iraq and paid a steep price. The last thing he wants is pity, so he hides his disability and moves to Deep Haven to land his dream job as the high school football coach. When his beautiful neighbor catches his eye, in a moment of desperation he seeks advice from My Foolish Heart , the show that airs before his favorite sports broadcast.

Before he knows it, Caleb finds himself drawn to the host―and more confused than ever. Is his perfect love the woman on the radio . . . Or the one next door?

My Review:

published in 2011

My Foolish Heart is pure romance and it was refreshing to read a story where the plot focused on just that — the romance between Caleb and Issy. This doesn’t mean the story is shallow or lacking in any way. In fact the simplicity of it allowed Warren to go deeper into the hearts and lives of two people struggling to overcome past tragedies. She does it so well that I can totally see this play out on the big screen — it’s the kind of feel good, triumphant story with a  mega football game ending that would move you to tears in the theater. Honestly, it would be a hit at the box office.

Football? I HATE football. I don’t understand it, don’t want to and have absolutely no interest in anyone who does…until Caleb…and Issy. I actually read the football talk! I actually got the football jargon!  That in itself is a miracle!

You will meet the most endearing furry, four-footed beast in the pages of this book. Roger/Duncan provides humour and comfort and a major goosebump moment. And secondary characters who steal the spotlight at times as they struggle…and conquer…their own troubled pasts.

And then there’s Issy. Warren approached her condition with compassion and understanding and somehow got into Issy’s heart and then shared it with her readers. I was really touched by Issy’s struggle and paralleled it with some of my own. Not that I have ever suffered from a full blown panic attack, but I have certainly experienced selected ‘mini’ ones. Haven’t we all? And being able to connect with that and watch Issy’s battle somehow made me feel stronger too.

A wonderful, inspiring read that packs quite a few surprises…just to keep things interesting!

A Hopeful Heart + Giveaway

Dowryless and desperate, Tressa Neill applies to the inaugural class of Wyatt Herdsman School in Barnett, Kansas, in 1888. The school’s one-of-a-kind program teaches young women from the East the skills needed to become a rancher–or the wife of one. Shy and small for her twenty-two years, Tressa is convinced she’ll never have what it takes to survive Hattie Wyatt’s hands-on instruction in skills such as milking a cow, branding a calf, riding a horse, and cooking up a mess of grub for hungry ranch hands. But what other options does she have?

Abel Samms wants nothing to do with the group of potential brides his neighbor brought to town. He was smitten with an eastern girl once–and he got his heart broken. But there’s something about quiet Tressa and her bumbling ways that makes him take notice. When Tressa’s life is endangered, will Abel risk his own life–and his heart–to help this eastern girl?

My Review:

published in 2010

This is such a fresh look at the mail-order bride trope. I love the whole concept of a Herdsman School. How brilliant is that?! And ‘Aunt’ Hetty nearly outshines the hero and heroine. She’s just such a solid, comforting, no-nonsense but compassionate woman, and her faith is unshakeable. She’s the anchor in this story.

Tressa Neill is a heroine after my own heart. She starts out so timid, cowed by emotional events from her past which have made her lose sight of God. Her lack of confidence makes her a scapegoat for some of the other young women at the school. Her redemption story adds emotional depth and just the right amount of faith to inspire without overwhelming the rest of the story.

Abel Samm’s prejudices against the Eastern women and reluctant attraction to Tressa is infuriating, funny and endearing. He has solid reasons for not being interested in an Eastern bride — or any woman for that matter — as he struggles to hold onto his ranch. And that includes foiling cattle rustlers which adds a bit of mystery to this historical romance.

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a mainstay in Christian Fiction and this kind of storytelling is exactly why.

Two Seconds Too Late + Giveaway

In the stark but beautiful wilds of northern New Mexico, a luxury spa and couple’s retreat turns into a chilling nightmare when a woman vanishes without a trace, just hours after a public fight with her boyfriend. Worried something sinister has happened, her friends reach out to investigator Riley MacLeod, an expert skip tracer, for help. The assignment means going undercover at the retreat, which means pairing up with private investigator Greyson Chadwick. Their partnership ignites a tumultuous mix of attraction and distrust as Riley’s unorthodox methods clash with Greyson’s meticulous approach.

As they delve deeper into the case and a ruthless hitman is unleashed upon them, Riley and Greyson find themselves fighting not only for justice but for their very survival. Staying one step ahead of danger, the pair discovers a hidden truth that rocks them to the core. In their race against the clock, they can only hope that they’re not too late.

With her signature pulse-pounding twists, Dani Pettrey weaves a gripping tale of love and survival in the face of unimaginable danger.

My Review:

Intense. Riveting. Unputdownable.

Pettrey delivers exactly what I’ve come to expect from her – a story full of emotional depth, intriguing suspense and explosive action. And I love the way the author combines all these elements into an impeccably paced pièce de résistance. Tons of tension, not only in the suspense but especially in the romance which adds an extra thrill of anticipation. Just sublime reading all around.

And speaking of the romance…two words. Fake Relationship. Eeeeppp! Riley and Grey go undercover at a couple’s retreat so cue the sizzling chemistry and some wonderful scenes where they are forced to confront inner feelings they might have been ignoring for way too long. Cue some emotionally charged toe-curling kisses. Happy sigh!

This second book in the Jeopardy Falls series reads excellently as a standalone but also contains a wonderful ensemble of secondary characters who add to the overall charm (Riley’s brothers and their banter!) I also enjoyed (well…that’s not quite the right word) the occasional nefarious villain POV. Those scenes added a bit of a creep factor and kept me engaged in conducting my own armchair sleuth investigation. Love immersing myself in a story like this!

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Jennifer O’Donnell who did an amazing job delivering all the emotion and tension of the story. A truly gifted voice performer.

Break My Fall + Giveaway

Dr. Meredith Quinn always planned to return to Gossamer Falls to practice dentistry. Now that she’s back home, she’s made it a point to offer clinics to children and adults in nearby underserved areas. Unfortunately, those same areas are known to harbor drug traffickers, and Police Chief Grayson Ward suspects that local law enforcement is looking the other way.

After too many losses, Grayson has closed off his heart. But when Meredith enters his life, his walls crumble, and he’s left exposed and vulnerable. To keep her alive, he must keep her close, but that makes it impossible for him to retreat and rebuild. Will she be the one who finally helps him emerge from isolation? Or will this force of nature leave him shattered?

Put a Lynn H. Blackburn book in front of me and I’m in my happy place! Love the way she spins a story and the depth in her characters. This series is phenomenal on both counts – and full of thrilling surprises for diehard fans too. 🙂 This is me, still grinning.

First off, you need to know that this is the second book in her ‘Gossamer Falls’ series, though there’s also a novella in the multi-authored ‘Cornered’ collection that precedes this book as well. While you could read ‘Break My Fall’ as a standalone, I’d recommend reading the books in order for two reasons. First, this one has a major spoiler about the suspense from the novella, ‘Downfall’ and second, because there are a lot of characters and town history that is introduced really well in the first book.

It was so much fun being back in Gossamer Falls and getting reacquainted with the gang. Close friends/siblings/cousins and their meddlesome extended families bring so much heart and humour to the story. There’s banter and teasing and soul stirring heart to hearts. Relatable characters that are so easy to love including…

Meredith and Gray. This is their love story and it is equal parts infuriating and toe-curling. Honestly, I never thought they’d sort themselves out (Gray has issues) but, oh my, once he makes up his mind to pursue Meredith we venture into fainting couch territory! Consider yourself forewarned: abundant swoon alerts ahead!

I enjoyed the unusual approach the author took with the suspense. It was less investigative and more things happening around them until close to the end when action and danger spike in a breathtaking way. The threat to Meredith keeps Gray close and creates a kind of close proximity vibe to their romance throughout the book, giving lots of room for clashing wills and, eventually, lots of sparking!

A breathtaking suspense paired with an emotional blockbuster romance kept me engaged all the way through. And I do believe the author has teased us with a hint of what we can expect in the next Gossamer Falls book which we hopefully won’t have to wait long for.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time listening to the audio book narrated by Kate Forbes who does an incredible job with all these characters. Always love when she’s the narrator.

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie + Giveaway

Sometimes what you think you want and what you actually want turn out to be different things . . .

Rosie Waterman has one to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn’t been working out. When she loses her apartment and her job on the same day, she does what she always does–puts herself out there, ready to find the next big thing. But a trip home makes her realize that while she’s been struggling to make this dream come true, all her friends have become real adults with careers and weddings and babies on the way. Rosie’s been at this for years, and she has nothing to show for it. But how does she simply let go of her dream?

When she’s offered a job as the director of a regional theatre’s production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance–even though she’s only directed in college and the job is in Door County, Wisconsin, and not in New York. She has no other offers, and at least she’ll be getting paid to do something theatrical. But when she arrives, she quickly realizes that the “regional theatre” is actually in a retirement community, and the “actors” are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever.

Working on the show presents new challenges, forcing Rosie to learn how to step up and be the leader this fledgling theatre troupe needs. The more time she spends with her new cast, the more she begins to rethink what it means to dream big, especially when that big dream hasn’t turned out to be at all what she thought it would be. It’s not at all what she expected, but could it be exactly what she needs?

My Review:

Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! Funny and touching and thoughtful and inspiring! What an incredible story, made all the better by the phenomenal performance of narrator Jorjeana Marie. Yes, this is another audio book win for me. Comedy beat perfection. Inner dialogue perfection. Rosie’s personality – perfection. And all the various characters in the retirement village – yet even more perfection. This narrator is off the charts fantabulous! I could tell she was relishing the story as much as I was and that made my listening experience extra special.

Rosie is hilarious and heartbreaking all wrapped up in a cute package of insecurity. It seems like she has it all together – but that’s just what she portrays to the outside world, including her very best friends. She’s an actress more often performing a role offstage than on. And it’s tiring and stressful and even debilitating…until one summer in Wisconsin.

Cue the dashing hero, an eclectic mix of quirky secondary characters and a theatre to save before the summer’s out! And while the theatre needs some redeeming, Rosie does too as she navigates an emotionally fraught path to a deeper understanding of herself.

I’d be laughing hysterically at one point and then wiping tears from my eyes the next. The depth of emotion in Rosie’s story is stunning! Her struggles are so relatable, her insecurities all too common. A sympathetic heroine with a depreciating sense of humour that deflects from what’s really hidden in her heart.

Did I say brilliant already? Well, it’s worth saying it again. Brilliant! The kind of story that stays with a reader even after you reach the end. The kind you want to revel over and ponder on and just plain bask in the bookish afterglow. Definitely a book I will revisit over and over again!

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this copy.

Secrets Beneath the Snow

To solve this murder this K-9 must dig up buried secrets.

Suspicious of his friend’s fatal accident, ski patroller Graham McAllister is determined to unearth the truth when his friend’s long-missing sister suddenly appears…with gunmen in pursuit. Now it’s up to Graham and his K-9, Emmy, to keep Layla Quin safe as they survive the brutal mountain elements and outrun the criminals trying to silence them. Because Layla has a secret that could expose a shocking link to her brother’s death, and revealing it may come with a deadly price…

My Review:

Phew! This was a listen in one gulp kind of suspense and Lydia Lee did an amazing job with the narration. She really captured the essence of these characters and the tension of the suspense. She kept me enthralled every minute.

Brrrr – it may be April but Summers transported me back to the worst winter weather days with her descriptive action scenes. I had to check my toes to make sure they weren’t frostbitten.

The pacing is fast and furious as Graham and Layla struggle to evade a relentless killer. Lots of wilderness survival struggles but luckily they have Search and Rescue K-9 Emmy and her specialized training to back them up.

Edge of your seat suspense paired with a (kinds, sorta) reunion romance (they were friends with the potential for more so not quite full on second chance) makes for a riveting read…or listen…depending on your preference.

Pine Creek Marriage + Giveaway

Love may blossom where it’s least expected in the delightful and heartwarming Pine Creek series from Amity Hope.

Widow Amelia Baumann has sworn to never love again. She’s content to live peacefully in Pine Creek at her friend Mary’s warm, comfortable farmhouse. But then Samuel Kurtz shows up and becomes Mary’s permanent guest, making it hard to keep her feelings in check. Especially after Samuel’s six-year-old niece, Ruthie, whom he’s been raising as his own daughter, completely steals her heart.

When the bishops from another district threaten to send Ruthie to live with her distant aunt, so that she’ll have two parents raising her instead of just Samuel, he hatches a plan.

Amelia reluctantly agrees to a marriage of convenience with Samuel–only because she loves Ruthie and can’t bear to see her torn from the only father she’s ever known. Not because Samuel’s kind green eyes and charming laugh draw her in. And as long as she and Samuel are in agreement that they will simply remain friends…what could possibly go wrong?

My Review:

published in 2022

New-to-me Amish Fiction author and I am so excited to have ‘discovered’ Amity Hope. Love her storytelling style and the way she writes the Amish community and family relationships. Everything isn’t perfect and sweet all the time but folks work their way through.

Amelia and Samuel’s love story makes for an absorbing read with just enough misunderstandings to keep things interesting – the first one being the meet-cute. Such a funny introduction to them as a couple. Feisty Amelia gobsmacks Samuel into a stupefied state. Bwahahaha! It takes them awhile to get over that introduction for sure and for certain. 🙂

Loved the time the author took developing their relationship. We really get to know them both as well as Samuel’s adorable niece. And along the way there’s lovely tidbits of Amish home life and friendships and the general workings of the community.

Funny and tender and faith-filled. A charming Amish Romance.

Of note: this is the the second book in the Pine Creek series but reads wunderbaar goot as a standalone. I’m excited to read the first and third books now and, happily, my library has both so — yay — I’ll be reading them soon.

The Color of Sky and Stone + Giveaway

She is the only one who truly sees him.Which makes her his greatest threat.

Black ops undercover agent Tane Temauri—code name Vapor—has made it his life’s mission to stay out of sight. Given the dangers inherent in his job, the last thing he can afford is to step into the open and become a target. Again.

Then a letter from a mysterious stranger changes everything. Although the letter was not meant for him, somehow, on a greater, cosmic scale, it feels as though it is.

But answering it will make Tane vulnerable.

How can he emerge from the shadows to risk everything for a woman he has never met?

My Review:

published in 2023

Totally not what I expected but I loved it anyway! Not quite a suspense but it sort of is. Definitely a romance….but not totally. Not fully epistolary but there are letter writing elements. Bwahaha — kinda undefinable.

What is definable: excellent writing, deep characterization, faith-infused page-turning perfection. Oh – and Canadian author as well as a Canadian setting!

Our introduction to Tane comes in the form of a tense, action-packed scene that had me on the edge of my seat and trying to figure out how Lia was going to be drawn into his sphere. But the book starts off from Lia’s POV in a random pub with vague hints as to her involvement with a ‘team’ that about drove me crazy because we don’t figure out what she actually does for a living until well into the book. Gah, the suspense was deliciously frustrating and I had so many crazy scenarios racing through my mind!

And that’s about all I can tell you without posting spoilers. Other than Lia and Tane connect in an unexpected way and….the story evolves. I was totally engrossed all the way through and have done a deep dive on the internet trying to figure out if there’s a second book because the ending isn’t exactly all tied up in a bow but not quite a cliffhanger either. Just gives me the impression that there must be more to come.

The cover says “In the Shadows : Book One” but ‘The Color of Sky and Stone’ is listed as a standalone on the author’s website. Ack! I need more Tane and Lia!

Deadly Badlands Pursuit + Giveaway

A K-9 team has a witness to defend…and a murderer to track.

When Deputy US Marshal Gracie Fitzpatrick checks on a government witness, she unexpectedly walks into an ambush at Cameron Holmes’s ranch. She and her K-9 partner, Bane, fight off the assailant—but to protect Cameron, they must escape into South Dakota’s treacherous Badlands. Tracking dangerous enemies is what Gracie does, and Cameron’s life in witness protection has left targets on his back. With a killer waiting in the shadows, Gracie and Cameron must work fast to uncover the truth about who wants him dead…if they want to stay alive.

My Review:

A heart-in-throat page turner from the get go. Stover has an incredible gift of mixing intensity with humour which adds a unique zest to this romantic suspense. And Gracie’s sassy sarcasm and indefatigable spirit brings an upbeat vibe to even the direst situations.

She arrives at Cameron’s ranch for a routine wellness check and winds up with way more than she bargained for. Fighting off an unknown assailant and trying to gain the confidence of a surly and understandable, wary government witness is the ‘perfect’ way to end a long day. And things are only about to get a whole lot worse.

Loved the way the relationship develops in the midst of relentless danger. Both Gracie and Cameron have pasts that make it hard for them to trust easily which brings a bit of suspense into their romance. Will they or won’t they? How can they possibly with a future that only seems to hold uncertainties? Loved the twists and turns and the way the author wrapped things up by the end.

Goodness, I haven’t even mentioned Bane yet. Belgian Malinois and dedicated K-9 officer, there’s nothing Bane can’t track and he’s not bad to have in your corner during a fight either!

This is the second book in the Dakota K-9 Unit multi-authored continuity series but can easily be read as a standalone. There’s some great interaction with her team and now I’m excited to get to know each of them better when they have a chance to star in their own stories.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Mac Fowler who did a wonderful job bringing distinctive voices (and attitude) to every character. The ease she brings to her performance makes for a comfortable and satisfying listen.

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

Behind the Light of Golowduyn + Giveaway

She’s the keeper of Golowduyn Lighthouse. He’s the captain who shipwrecked on her watch. A marriage of convenience can save her home—if secrets don’t destroy it first.

Abigail Moore will do anything to keep Golowduyn Lighthouse shining brightly, even if she must do so alone. When a shipwreck occurs near her home one stormy evening—bringing with it a dashing captain keen to offer his aid at every turn—her days of isolation vanish. 

Captain Gavin Kendricks didn’t expect to end his naval career by crashing his ship against the rugged cliffs of Cornwall. When he’s pulled from the sea by the fearless and quick-tempered Miss Moore, a tentative friendship forms between them, and he begins to realize what has been missing from his life. 

Before either of them can explore these newfound stirrings, death and deception hit Golowduyn, and Abigail is left with a choice. Either she loses everything she has ever loved, or she marries the captain and accepts his help. Unable to give up the lighthouse, she agrees to the union, and they work together to see that the light does not diminish. But when her childhood secrets are unearthed, and their property falls victim to troubling defacement, their marriage threatens to crumble. Gavin fights to gain her confidence, but only Abigail can forget the crippling memories of her past to trust Gavin with Golowduyn—and her heart.

My Review:

published in 2019

Happy sigh. Full on swoon after swoon after swoon. I’m still a tad lightheaded and my heart is all aflutter. Regency. Lighthouse on the Cornish coast. Marriage of Convenience. Dashing war hero. Spunky heroine. I mean….could a reader ask for anything more? Just extraordinary storytelling and engaging characters along with artfully executed plot twists. Such an incredible read!

‘Behind the Light of Golowduyn’ (and I listened to the audio book so I know how to pronounce that!) is a captivating read. Emotionally satisfying with some high stakes drama and a moving theme of forgiveness that elevates the story even more.

I thoroughly enjoyed Vicki-Jo Eva’s narration. She entertained me with her varied accents from Cornish dialect to High Society enunciation. Brilliant at capturing distinctive characters and all the emotionally charged scenes as well. Definitely recommend the audio edition of ‘Behind the Light of Golowduyn’ to discerning listeners (plus you’ll learn how to pronounce Golowduyn!)