Until I Met You Review

 

When she hears that the small town of Heritage, Michigan, is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a storage closet stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.

All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished so he can do right by the family business and then extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town's new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints--and possibly even his heart?

Until I Met You by Tari Faris is the second book in Restoring Heritage and a great addition to the series. The story is heartfelt and touching with its strong themes of forgiveness and redemption as well as many loving characters old and new. I was happily swept into Libby and Austins story and watching them and their relationship grow.  Until I Met You is the perfect small town romance to start off your fall reading list! 

5 out of 5. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell for my honest review.

Dazzle of Diamonds Review

 

Penelope Hunter loves her job as the events manager at one of Savannah's premier historic venues--until her ex-fiancé walks into her office with his new bride-to-be. To make matters worse, a scheming social matriarch is intent on seeing Penelope fired, especially if she insists on being seen with Tucker Westbrook.

Since returning from serving two tours in the Middle East, Tucker has built a thriving security company. His work is nearly as stabilizing as his friendship with Penelope, who has been by his side since childhood. But when the lone candidate for county sheriff goads him, Tucker loses his cool and ends up on the ballot--and on the receiving end of a smear campaign claiming the Westbrooks were traitors to the South.

To clear his name, Tucker and Penelope must join forces to find the truth behind a 150-year-old lost treasure. But the more time they spend together, the closer she comes to losing her job--and falling helplessly in love.

Dazzle of Diamonds by Liz Johnson is the last book in The Georgia Coast Romance series and is does a great job concluding this wonderful series. I loved the relationship between PJ and Tucker it was great to see it start as a great friendship and develop into more. Also the setting being in Savannah lent well to this story with all the history surrounding that area. I love a good fantastical treasure hunt and was not disappointed by how this book played out. This is the perfect story for those who love their romance with a bit of mystery and treasure hunting!

I received a copy of this book from Revell for my honest review.

                                                                            5 out of 5.

Hadley Beckett's Next Dish Review

Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanagh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he's sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley.

As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.

Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner is a great escape from reality. As a food lover and cook, I enjoyed the premise from this story. I loved watching the two main characters, Hadley and Max, grow and evolve from the two bickering costars they started as. Their characters gave me a Gordon Ramsey vs a Ree Drummond vibe. (Which might not be accurate because I've never actually watched anything by Ree Drummond but when I read this book I kind of just pictured her in my mind for Hadley.) Overall the whole story from start to finish was funny, heartwarming, and real. If you love watching the food network then Hadley Beckett's Next Dish is probably the book for you!

5 out of 5.

I received a copy of this book from Revell for my honest review.

The Happy Camper Review

Home is the place to heal, right? At least, that's what Dillon Michaels is hoping as she leaves her disappointing career and nonstarter love life behind to help her grieving and aging grandfather on his small Oregon farm. The only problem? Her eccentric mother beat her there and has taken over Dillon's old room. After a few nights sleeping on a sagging sofa, Dillon is ready to give up, until she receives an unlikely gift--her grandfather's run-down vintage camp trailer, which she quickly resolves to restore with the help of Jordan Atwood, the handsome owner of the local hardware store.

But just when things are finally beginning to run smoothly, Dillon's noncommittal ex-boyfriend shows up with roses . . . and a ring.

The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson is quick read and a very light-hearted story that is a great get-away from life, one that we might all need right about now. Dillon is a character who wasn't quite my cup of tea but I did enjoy the renovation of her cute little camper and her relationships with those that surrounded her. The Happy Camper is a fast paced story of romance and restoration and might be a good read for you if you're a fan of Hallmark style stories and country life. If you've never wanted to live the camper life after finishing this story you might change your mind!

 4 out of 5.

I received a copy of this book from Revell for my honest review.

Out of the Embers Review

Ten years after her parents were killed, Evelyn Radcliffe is once more homeless. The orphanage that was her refuge and later her workplace has burned to the ground, and only she and a young orphan girl have escaped. Convinced this must be related to her parents' murders, Evelyn flees with the girl to Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country and finds refuge in the home of Wyatt Clark, a talented horse rancher whose plans don't include a family of his own.

At first, Evelyn is a distraction. But when it becomes clear that trouble has followed her to Mesquite Springs, she becomes a full-blown disruption. Can Wyatt keep her safe from the man who wants her dead? And will his own plans become collateral damage?

Out of the Embers was a wonderful way to start the new series, Mesquite Springs by Amanda Cabot. I really enjoyed the characters, main or otherwise in this story, especially Polly. That being said, I found Evelyn to be a wonderfully strong female character, who when faced with hardship does her best with the circumstances. I loved her entrepreneur spirit with how she was able to open her own restaurant, Polly's Place. With just a touch of mystery and suspense mixed in with the faith and romance, Out of the Ember is the perfect book to spend a day or two with.

5 out of 5.

I received a copy of this book from Revell for my honest review.

Star of Persia Review

In an effort to complete a war his father had planned to win, King Xerxes calls every governor, satrap, and official in his vast kingdom to his palace in Susa to strategize and feast. When they finally leave, he decides on one more week of frivolity, which ends in the banishment of his favorite wife, something he never intended to do. But when he discovers Esther, Xerxes is sure he has a second chance at happiness.

In her wildest dreams, Esther could never have imagined that she would end up as queen of Persia. Yet she knows better than to become complacent. Another of Xerxes's wives is vying for position, and his closest advisor has a deep and dangerous grudge against Esther's adoptive father. Caught in the middle of palace politics, Esther will find herself in an impossible position: risk her life or consign her people to annihilation

Star of Persia by Jill Eileen Smith is a wonderful fiction retelling of Esther's story from the Bible.  I've read several fiction retelling of Esther before and while none of them disappointed me, I think this one took it a step farther to be different. Jill Eileen Smith stays true to the biblical account but digs deeper into the history surrounding this story. I love how she brought some new characters (or honestly historical figures) into play. Being a fan of Esther I never thought to look into other historical accounts about the people surrounding her. 

Again Star of Persia by Jill Eileen Smith is a wonderful book a I recommend it to all who love biblical retellings.

5 out of 5.

I received a copy of this book from Revell for my honest review.

The Land Beneath Us Review

In 1943, Private Clay Paxton trains hard with the US Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, determined to do his best in the upcoming Allied invasion of France. With his future stolen by his brothers' betrayal, Clay has only one thing to live for--fulfilling the recurring dream of his death.

Leah Jones works as a librarian at Camp Forrest, longing to rise above her orphanage upbringing and belong to the community, even as she uses her spare time to search for her real family--the baby sisters she was separated from so long ago.

After Clay saves Leah's life from a brutal attack, he saves her virtue with a marriage of convenience. When he ships out to train in England for D-day, their letters bind them together over the distance. But can a love strong enough to overcome death grow between them before Clay's recurring dream comes true?

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin is a brilliant WWII novel with a message of grace and forgiveness beautifully weaved throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed watching both the characters of Leah and Clay grow as the story progressed. They both presented interesting points of view to the plot and the history of the war. As with her other books Sarah Sundin does a great job with her historical research and with how she includes it into her stories. I learned a lot about Rangers as well as WWII. 

5 out of 5.

I received a copy of this book from Revell for my honest review.