Category Archives: Christian

May 18, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter

Title: Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter
Bluebell Inn Romance Series Book Two
Publisher:Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A jilted bride. A struggling innkeeper. And a romantic mountain getaway that changes everything

Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup and celebrity scandal, and she finds it in the lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina—the location of her canceled honeymoon. She wants nothing more than to hide and wait for the tabloids to die down.

Soon after her arrival at the Bluebell Inn, Mia meets Levi Bennett, who runs the inn along with his two younger sisters. Drawn to one another from the start, Mia trusts Levi to keep her location from the press, and Levi confides in Mia about the precarious financial state of the inn—a secret he’s been keeping from his sisters.

When Mia and Levi discover an old journal that hints at a rare diamond necklace hidden in the inn, they set off on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost heirloom. What they don’t expect to surface are feelings they thought were safely locked away. Mia and Levi must decide if falling in love again is too big a risk—or if it will uncover a treasure of its own instead.

Review:

Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter is a sweet contemporary romance. Although this latest release is the second installment in the Bluebell Inn Romance series, it can be read as a standalone.

Levi Bennett and his sisters Molly and Grace are in the their second year of owning a bed and breakfast. The siblings are working hard to make their business a success so they can follow through with their plan to sell the business once it becomes solvent. Levi is handling the marketing and accounting along with manning the front desk and taking care of maintenance. He longs to return Colorado, but he cannot go back on the promise he made to take care of his sisters.  Levi is a compassionate man but he is a little overzealous  when it comes to his sisters.

Actress Mia Emerson wants to put as much space between her and Hollywood as possible following an unexpected scandal.  While not enthused about honeymooning alone, her room at the Bluebell Inn is paid for so that is the logical place for her to escape the media attention. She is a little wary of trusting Levi’s promise he will not try to cash in on her celebrity. But as they spend time together, she gradually trusts him to keep his word. Mia has a family tie to the B&B so she is excited to learn as much as she can about her estranged grandparents.  Her easygoing friendship with Levi slowly turns into an unanticipated romance, but will Levi’s sense of responsibility and Mia’s insecurities ruin their chance for a future together?

Carolina Breeze is a charming romance with appealing characters and interesting storyline. Levi and Mia’s respective issues are realistically portrayed and easy to relate to. Their relationship is heartwarming and a true joy to watch unfold.  The tranquil setting is atmospheric and vibrantly springs to life.  Denise Hunter brings this delightful romance to a heartfelt conclusion that is quite uplifting. Old and new fans are sure to love this newest addition the Bluebell Inn Romance series.

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Filed under Bluebell Inn Romance Series, Carolina Breeze, Christian, Contemporary, Denise Hunter, Rated B, Review, Romance, Thomas Nelson Publishing

May 10, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: Unveiling the Past by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Title: Unveiling the Past by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Bringing Maggie Home Series Book Two
Publisher: WaterBrook
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Women’s Fiction, Mystery
Length: 343 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Mysteries, family secrets, and the love of a true Father are found at the heart of this gripping novel from the bestselling author of Bringing Maggie Home

Newlyweds Sean Eagle and Meghan DeFord are no strangers to pain and loss. As cold-case detectives, they know intimately the anguish family members endure after the murder or disappearance of a loved one. But when a new case hits too close to home, it threatens to pull loose the fragile cords of their young marriage.

Sheila Menke was just a girl when her father left for work and never returned. An investigation revealed he had embezzled enough to start a new life elsewhere, but Sheila could never accept the court’s criminalization of her father. Meghan reluctantly takes the case, secretly fearing it will stir up buried feelings about her own biological father. And while Sean investigates the mysterious death of two young brothers, he longs to start a family. But Meghan worries that with a negligent mother and an absentee father as her parenting examples, she might never be fit for motherhood.

As they delve deeper into the past, both Meghan and Sheila must choose to either stumble along the road of bitterness and resentment or walk the difficult path toward forgiveness and healing. When the cases begin to break wide open, these young women are poised to discover that while earthly fathers may fail, there is one in heaven who is a father to the fatherless.

Review:

Unveiling the Past by Kim Vogel Sawyer is an engaging Christian novel with a mystery element.

Sean and Meghan Eagle work together at the Cold Case Investigation Department in Little Rock, AR. They are also partners on cases and they cannot imagine working with anyone else.  But when their boss assigns a new case before they finished with their current case, Sean elects to remain on the old one.

Meghan and fellow detective Greg Dane travel to Ft. Smith to begin their investigation into the long unsolved disappearance of banker Anson Menke. His now adult daughter Sheila never believed her father abandoned the family or embezzled funds from the bank.  Already uneasy with working with someone other than Sean, Meghan has reservations about Sheila tagging along on the case but she does feel protective of the younger woman. Sheila provides helpful details and  Greg and Meghan are beginning to get a sense for a suspect in the case. Will they uncover the truth about what happened to Anson? And will Sheila and her brothers be relieved once the truth is revealed?

Sean is paired with Tom Farber who is more antagonistic than usual during their investigation into the unsolved deaths of twin brothers. Sean feels like he is getting close to unraveling the mystery but he is a little frustrated when he hits a bit of a dead end. Despite his abrasive attitude, Tom is a tenacious investigator whose fresh eyes on the case prove to be invaluable. Unfortunately Sean is struggling to maintain his patience with Tom’s angry outbursts. He is also troubled by his temporary partner’s after work activities. Will these problems interfere with their ability to solve the case?

Meghan and Sean have been married for three years and since both are in their thirties, Sean is ready to start a family. Due to her childhood, Meghan is not sure that she is mother material. Deciding the time is finally right, she is ready to look up the father she has never met.  Talking over her decision with her mother, Diane, Meghan gladly allows her mom to run interference with the man who left before she was born. Diane is surprised by her ex-boyfriend Kevin’s next move.  Will Diane finally forgive Kevin for abandoning her when she needed him most? Will Meghan finally meet Kevin?

Unveiling the Past is a touching novel of healing, forgiveness and redemption. The storyline is well-developed with a strong Christian element. The two cold case investigations are interesting and the resolution of both cases is quite satisfying. The subplot with Diane and Kevin is fascinating and the outcome is a little predictable but uplifting.  The main characters have a strong faith and they are not shy about discussing their respective relationships with God with others.  Kim Vogel Sawyer brings this engrossing novel to a heartwarming conclusion.

Although this newest release features characters from Bringing Maggie Home, it can be as a standalone.

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Filed under Bringing Maggie Home Series, Christian, Contemporary, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Unveiling the Past, WaterBrook, Women's Fiction

January 20, 2020 · 11:57 pm

Review: A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate

Title: A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

How far will a girl go to win back a guy she can’t stand? This funny, sweet, and romantic story proves that opposites do attract—and that God has a sense of humor.

Samuel Payton is a passionate youth pastor in Virginia, but below the surface, he’s still recovering from the blow of a failed business and insecurities he can’t shake. His coworker, start-up expert Kimberly Foster, is brilliant, fearless, and capable, but years of personal rejection have left her defensive and longing for a family. Two people have never been more at odds—or more attracted to one another. And every day at work, the sparks sure do fly.

When Kimberly’s ambitious plans for Sam’s ministry butt up against his risk-averse nature, Sam decides that obligations to family trump his work for the church. He quits the ministry and heads home to Australia to help his sister, Jules, save her struggling farm. As Kimberly’s grand plans flounder, she is forced to face the truth: that no one can replace Sam. Together they strike up a deal: If Kimberly comes to work on Jules’s dairy farm and lends her business brains to their endeavor, then maybe—just maybe—Sam will reconsider his future with the church.

As Kimberly tries her hand at Australian farm life, she learns more about herself than she could’ve ever expected. Meanwhile Sam is forced to re-evaluate this spunky woman he thought he already knew. As foes slowly morph into friends, they wonder if they might be something even more. But when disaster strikes the farm, will Sam find it within himself to take a risk that could lead to love? And will Kimberly trust God with her future?

Review:

A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate is a delightfully charming Christian romance.

Kimberly Foster and Samuel “Sam” Payton always seem to be at odds. Kimberly is a business expert who is quite passionate about expanding the ministry Sam founded. Just as they clash over her latest business plan, Sam abruptly returns to Australia to work with his sister, Julia “Jules”, on their family dairy farm. With their business on the verge of going under, Jules convinces Sam that Kimberly is the only person who can come up with a plan to save their dairy.  The scheme perfectly coincides with the news that the ministry is in danger of closing unless Kimberly can convince Sam to return and help find and train his replacement.  With the holidays approaching, Kimberly knows it is the perfect time to travel to Australia to devise a financial plan for the Payton family farm and ask Sam to return to America to help the ministry.  Will spending so much time in one another’s company bring Kimberly and Sam closer?

Kimberly is a headstrong and confident businesswoman who is completely devoted to the ministry. She is frustrated by Sam’s cautious approach to running the business but she can usually persuade him to see things her way. But with an unexpected failure behind them, Kimberly knows Sam will be a tough sell with her newest venture. What she does not expect is for him to completely walk away from the ministry.  Kimberly is emotionally invested in the ministry and determined to not only keep their doors open but to expand in order to aid more people. So when Sam and Jules present their offer to her, Kimberly does not hesitate to travel to Australia.

Sam does not have a theology background yet he is an immensely gifted pastor. He is genuine and sincere in his beliefs and his need to help others.  But, due to his past, Sam is reluctant to take chances. He is quick to shutdown Kimberly’s latest efforts at the ministry and he is skeptical of asking her for  business advice for their family farm. But with the very real possibility of losing their family’s legacy, Sam tries to be open-minded about Kimberly’s business recommendation.

Kimberly adjusts surprisingly well to life on the farm and she throws herself into helping Jules and Sam. She is also enjoying her unexpected friendship with Jules, who is struggling not only with the business but her continued feelings for former boyfriend, Mick Carrigan. Kimberly is also happy that her relationship with Sam turns less adversarial but she doubts their truce will hold indefinitely.  As she and Sam get to know each other outside of a business setting, they realize they harbor many misconceptions about one another.  And underneath their newfound friendship, Sam and Kimberly gradually become aware of a simmering attraction. Will their past issues prevent them from exploring their newfound feelings?

A Girl’s Guide to the Outback is an adorable novel with a beautifully developed cast of characters. Kimberly and Sam might come from different backgrounds but they both allow the wounds from their respective pasts guide their choices in the present. The spiritual messages are gently interwoven into the story in a natural, non-preachy manner and provide added depth to an already strong storyline. The Payton family farm is a wonderful setting that is vividly portrayed and easy to visualize. Jessica Kate brings this captivating novel to an emotional and heartwarming conclusion. A heartfelt and tender romance that I absolutely loved and highly recommend.

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Filed under A Girl's Guide to the Outback, Christian, Contemporary, Jessica Kate, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Thomas Nelson Publishing

November 13, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Lake Season by Denise Hunter

Title: Lake Season by Denise Hunter
A Bluebell Inn Series Book One
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The first story in a brand-new series, Lake Season invites readers to the Bluebell Inn in a small North Carolina town where a lost letter, a chance for new love, and old secrets beckon.

When their parents die in a tragic accident, Molly Bennett and her siblings pull together to fulfill their parents’ dream of turning their historic Bluebell, North Carolina, home back into an inn. Staying in town would be temporary—three years at most—then they plan to sell the inn, and Molly can get back to chasing her own dreams.

Adam Bradford (aka bestselling author Nathaniel Quinn) is a reclusive novelist with a bad case of writer’s block. Desperate for inspiration as his deadline approaches, he travels to the setting of his next book, a North Carolina lake town. There, he meets his muse, a young innkeeper who fancies herself in love with his alter ego.

Molly and Adam strike up an instant friendship. When Molly finds a long-lost letter in the walls of her inn, she and Adam embark on a mission to find the star-crossed lovers and bring them the closure they deserve. But Adam has secrets he isn’t ready to share. Past and present collide as truths surface, and Molly and Adam will have to decide if love is worth trusting.

Review:

The first installment in the Bluebell Inn series, Lake Season by Denise Hunter is a bittersweet novel of love and healing.

Molly Bennett and her siblings, Grace and Levi, decide to follow through with their deceased parents’ dream of turning their home into an inn.  With Grace finishing high school, the majority of the work falls to Molly and Levi.  Most of the renovation is almost complete as the summer tourist season is approaching when visitor Adam Bradford stops in hoping to reserve a room. Molly bends the rules a little since the inn has not undergone their inspection when she allows Adam to stay with them. After she discovers a lost letter within the inn’s walls, Molly and Adam team up and attempt to locate the letter writer and recipient. An unexpected friendship springs up between them but as their feelings for one another deepen, will their respective issues prevent Adam and Molly from giving love a chance to bloom into a lasting relationship?

Molly is a very outgoing, cheerful young woman who does not think twice about abandoning her dreams after her parents’ tragic deaths.  With one failed relationship behind her, she is not in any hurry to take a chance on another man deceiving her like her previous boyfriend.  After finding the lost letter, Molly becomes quite invested in trying to locate what appears to be a star-crossed couple.

Adam is a popular, best-selling author who guards closely guards his privacy and writes under a pseudonym. He is a quite intelligent and a little shy. Adam  has an extensive backlist but he still struggles with insecurities and low self-worth.  With a looming deadline on the horizon, he is struggling with writer’s block for the first time in his career. Since his research is not spurring his creativity, Adam instead offers to help Molly track down the author of the letter and addressee.

Chapters which flash back to the events leading up to the lost letter are interspersed with events playing out in the present.  In 1962, a local young woman and a visitor unexpectedly fall in love over the course of the summer.  Just as they are planning their future together, outside forces tear  them apart.  Is there any chance Molly and Adam will find the couple after so many years?

Lake Season is a delightful novel with a slight undercurrent of faith. Molly and Adam are charming characters whose strengths, self-doubts and shortcomings are realistically depicted. The main storyline is well-developed and will resonate with readers. The secondary story arc is poignant and tugs at the heartstrings.  I absolutely loved and highly recommend this uplifting and engaging novel by Denise Hunter.

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Filed under A Bluebell Inn Series, Christian, Contemporary, Denise Hunter, Lake Season, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Thomas Nelson Publishing

June 26, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher

Title: Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher
A Legacy of Faith Series Book Two
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Can two broken paths lead toward God’s redemption?

When Ashley Showalter and Ben Henning meet on Ashley’s horse rescue farm, they quickly discover how much they have in common. Both were raised by single moms. Both want to help where they see a need. And both work with horses in the Boise valley. Ben needs Ashley’s help and expertise after starting an equine therapy barn on his great-great-grandfather’s farm—and the more time they spend together, both Ashley and Ben have the feeling that there could be something more between them.

They also carry the burden of past experiences that may drive them apart if the truth is ever revealed. Ben is a recovering alcoholic with five years of sobriety behind him, while Ashley’s brother is an opioid addict residing in court-ordered rehab. Holding fast to the belief that addicts can never be cured, Ashley has promised herself she will never walk knowingly into the chaos created by addiction. Ben knows that with God, all things are possible—but will Ashley find it within herself to give love a chance? Or will her brother’s mistakes and the pain of her past jeopardize her future with Ben?

Cross My Heart threads together a contemporary love story with the heartwarming tale of Ben’s great-great-grandfather, Andrew Henning—reminding us that God’s Word is timeless and that His promises are new every morning.

Review:

Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher is an endearing Christian romance. This second installment in the Legacy of Faith series can easily be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend book one, Who I Am with You, as well.

Ben Hennings is a recovering alcoholic whose experiences with equine therapy have inspired him to turn his great-great-grandfather’s farm into a non-profit equine therapy center. He is relying on donations and leases to provide the horses he needs to open Harmony Barn and he is happily surprised by how many people are eager to help him. Ben’s deep faith sustains him as he maintains his sobriety and works to bring his dream to fruition.  He is quite close to his grandpa Grant, but Ben’s relationship with his mother Wendy is strained.  He continues to work through the steps in his recovery but his efforts to make amends to his childhood friend, Craig Foster, are rebuffed time and again.  After meeting Ashley Showalter, Ben enjoys their quiet friendship, but will he be able to resist his growing feelings for her?

Ashley has turned her small farm into a horse rescue but she cannot rehabilitate as many horses as she would like. She works full-time at a local store but she is hopeful she will one day be able to expand her horse rescue. Ashley is thrilled to donate two of her rehabilitated horses to Ben and she is surprised by how much she enjoys spending time with him. She is close to her mom but their reactions to her brother, Dylan’s addiction problems, are completely opposite. Ashley considers tough love to be the best approach, but her mom continues to enable him. Due to her experiences with Dylan and her former boyfriend, Ashley distances herself from romantic entanglements. But when she realizes she is beginning to fall for Ben, will Ashley take a chance on love?

Chapters from Ben’s great-great-grandfather Andrew Hennings are sprinkled amongst present day events.  Andrew and his wife Helen have survived the Great Depression, but now their lives are threatened by the looming threat of Hitler and World War II. Andrew’s faith never wavers as his oldest son Ben joins The United States Army Air Forces as a combat pilot.  His comments and observations on various passages of scripture are powerful messages to Ben who is now in possession of Andrew’s bible.

With an exquisite undercurrent of faith, a realistic storyline and genuine characters,  Cross My Heart is a marvelous Christian romance. Ashley’s reaction when she learns about Ben’s alcoholism is understandable and she finds unexpected comfort through her growing relationship with God. Ben is an incredibly likable character whose deep faith sustains him on his life’s journey.  Andrew’s story continues to reverberate throughout the generations as his Bible makes its way to his descendants who need it most.  Robin Lee Hatcher easily engages readers with her realistic storylines and thought-provoking incorporation of Scripture into everyday life. This latest addition to the  Legacy of Faith series is a wonderful story of grace, love and redemption. Highly recommend to fans of Christian fiction.

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Filed under Christian, Contemporary, Cross My Heart, Legacy of Faith Series, Rated B+, Review, Robin Lee Hatcher, Romance, Thomas Nelson Publishing

May 20, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter

Title: Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A Summer of Low Tides Could Expose Years of Family Secrets

When her grandmother goes missing from the family beach house, Maddy and her estranged sisters converge in Sea Haven, North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma in the home where their family broke apart is a struggle Maddy is not in the mood to face, especially since she’s recovering from her ex-boyfriend’s betrayal.

As the sisters wait for word of their grandmother, they begin to pack up the family belongings—and unpack memories of the idyllic summers of their childhood. But with those memories come long-buried secrets, and Maddy discovers that all was not as it appeared that last summer in Sea Haven. Meanwhile, Gram’s neighbor, Connor Sullivan, seems overly interested in Gram’s whereabouts. Maddy is drawn in by his quick smile and steady gaze in spite of herself.

Undercurrents of jealousy and resentment threaten to pull the family under again, maybe for good this time. As tensions rise, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they’ve become—and Maddy must decide if falling in love again is worth the potential heartbreak.

Review:

Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter is a heartfelt novel of family secrets, forgiveness and love.

Maddy Monroe is a low point when she learns her beloved grandmother has gone missing. Rushing to Sea Haven, she is joined by her older sisters, Nora and Emma. Their grandmother’s beach house holds a plethora of childhood memories but unfortunately, not all of them are pleasant. Twenty years earlier, their last family gathering at the beach house holds nothing but heartbreaking memories that still reverberate today. Emma and Nora have long been estranged and none of the sisters have much of relationship with their mother.  The cataclysmic events have left Maddy with serious trust issues when it comes to men.  And her latest relationship does nothing but reinforce her beliefs that her mistrust is well-founded.  All of which leaves Maddy extremely skeptical of her grandmother’s neighbor Connor Murphy. Will she change her opinion of the charming widower once she gets to know him? Or will Maddy’s fears prevent her from giving their unexpected romance a chance?

Maddy’s concerns about her grandmother are quickly laid to rest. However, instead of the sisters returning to their regular lives, they decide to stay and take care of some chores around the beach house. Maddy is tired of being in the middle of her sisters who have been unable to heal the rift between them. So when Connor asks her to temporarily fill in at his restaurant, she jumps at the chance to escape the simmering tension. Before long, Maddy realizes she has completely misjudged Connor. But does this mean she will agree to see where their unexpected attraction will lead?

Connor is no stranger to tragedy and until he meets Maddy, he has had not had any interest in dating.  Unlike Maddy, he is willing to risk his heart once he realizes how much she is beginning to mean to him. Connor is patient and understanding once he learns why she is so leery of becoming involved with him.  When Maddy continues to have doubts, will Connor give her up without a fight?

Unbeknownst to Maddy, both Nora and Emma are dealing with problems in their personal lives. Neither is forthcoming about recent developments back home nor are they willing to set aside their animosity over a long ago betrayal. When their grandmother returns home, she finally decides to set the record straight about the truth about their beloved family memories. What, if any, impact will this have on Maddy and her budding romance with Connor?

With a gentle undercurrent of faith,  Summer by the Tides is a poignant yet uplifting novel of family and love.  Each of the characters is well-developed with true to life strengths and shortcomings. The conflict between Nora and Emma is realistic and fraught with the pain of regret and betrayal. Maddy’s kneejerk reaction to protect herself from heartbreak is easy to understand but can she overcome the fears of a lifetime in order to find happiness? Denise Hunter brings the characters and their fears and hurt brilliantly to life as they each try to heal from their emotional wounds.  I truly enjoyed and highly recommend this captivating novel to readers of contemporary Christian fiction.

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Filed under Christian, Contemporary, Denise Hunter, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Summer by the Tides, Thomas Nelson Publishing