Category Archives: Romance

April 28, 2022 · 12:01 am

Review: An Amish Bride by Rosalind Lauer

Title: An Amish Bride by Rosalind Lauer
Publisher: Zebra Books
Joyful River Series Book Two
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In Joyful River, Pennsylvania, the faith-filled Amish community lives side by side with the English world, healing problems and overcoming hardship with compassion, love, and abiding trust in Gott’s plan.

For Sam Lapp, every day spent working on his family’s dairy farm is a reminder of Gott’s bounty and goodness. And he’s found the person he wants to share that life with. Sam remembers the exact moment he stopped seeing Sadie Beiler as just his sister’s best friend, and saw instead the graceful, loving woman she’s become. If only he had seen it before Sadie began courting someone else . . .

When Sadie first caught the eye of a handsome auctioneer, she felt blessed, hopeful that marriage would provide an escape from her troubled home. But as months stretch on without a proposal, Sadie discovers a worrying new side to her beau—and a growing kinship with Sam. Thoughtful, hardworking, kind to his visiting English cousins and to her, Sam shows Sadie that real love is just a stone’s throw away. But when an unexpected obstacle forces a separation between them, can steadfast faith make Sadie an Amish bride at last?

Review:

An Amish Bride by Rosalind Lauer is a sweet Amish romance with a thought-provoking storyline.

Sadie Bauer and Mark Miller have been courting for quite some time. She hopes he will propose to her soon, but she is discovering things about him that are troubling. Sadie feels obligated to continue the relationship but will an eye-opening Christmas celebration change her mind?

Sam Lapp recently started viewing his sister Essie’s best friend Sadie in a romantic light. After she begins dating Mark, he is afraid he has lost his chance to court her. Sam also knows unsavory information about Mark but he is reluctant to tell Sadie because he does not want to spread gossip. Is his chance to reveal his feelings for her truly gone?

Sam’s Englisch cousins Megan Sullivan and her sisters have been staying with the Lapp family for a few months now. She and her twin sister Serena have adjusted to the drastic change in their lives but their younger sister Lizzie still wants to move back to Philadelphia. Megan and Sam have become close and she hangs out with him and his friends. She is especially drawn to Isaac who is very different than the other Amish people she knows. As they play hockey together, he and Megan begin to grow close but is there any future for them since they are from different worlds?

An Amish Bride is a heartwarming Amish romance with engaging story arcs. The characters are multi-faceted with many of them undergoing tremendous growth as they deal with their respective situations.  Sadie realizes she has made a mistake with Mark, but can she end their relationship?  Sam finds himself in a very unhappy situation as he wonders whether or not he and Sadie will find their way to each other.  The Sullivan sisters’ visit with their father in the city is a turning point for them as a family and for Megan and Serena individually.  Isaac is at a crossroad as he makes a decision about his future. With unanticipated complications to overcome, Rosalind Lauer brings this meaningful romance to a gratifying conclusion. Old and new fans of the Joyful River series are sure to enjoy this endearing second installment.

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Filed under Amish, An Amish Bride, Contemporary, Joyful River Series, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Rosalind Lauer, Zebra Books

April 26, 2022 · 12:01 am

Review: Mulberry Hollow by Denise Hunter

Title: Mulberry Hollow by Denise Hunter
A Riverbend Romance Book Two
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 333 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

When a handsome handyman faces a medical emergency on the Appalachian trail, his sudden appearance in town challenges an ambitious doctor’s plan to remain single for life.

Avery Robinson decided to be a physician after helplessly watching her mother lose a battle with a terrible disease. Now at risk of developing the same illness, Avery guards her heart from love. She’s driven to protect her loved ones as a workaholic doctor in the tiny mountain town of Riverbend Gap, North Carolina.

Contractor Wes Garrett is hiking the Appalachian trail, in memory of the man who died saving his life, when an illness racks his body. After an agonizing fifteen-mile hike to Avery’s clinic, he collapses on her doorstep. He recovers to find himself in debt again—but this time to a beautiful doctor.

When he decides to help her renovate a rundown carriage house, the obstacles to their attraction sprout like weeds—starting with the woman waiting for Wes at the end of the trail. Will he be able to relinquish the debt he owes his best friend? And will Avery find the courage to risk everything for love?

This second book in Denise Hunter’s popular Riverbend Romance series explores what it might be like to live fearlessly and free.

Review:

Mulberry Hollow by Denise Hunter is a thought-provoking, faith-based romance.  

Dr. Avery Robinson returned to Riverbend, NC to set up her practice and be near her family. She has accomplished many of her goals by her thirtieth birthday but she is looking for another doctor to join her clinic. Avery’s single-minded focus on medicine has helped her maintain her no relationship decision. She has also avoided her friends’ attempts to set up her with eligible men. Avery’s family health history is the reason she does not plan to marry or have children but her family has a difficult time respecting her wishes. Will her unexpected patient Wes Matthews change her mind?

Wes is thru hiking the portion of the Appalachian Trail that in honor of his deceased friend, Landon. As soon as he completes the hike, he plans to keep the promise he made to Landon to take care of his sister Lillian. But an unanticipated illness brings him to Avery’s doorstep. Short on money, Wes works off his debt to her by renovating her carriage apartment. Wes is surprised by how much he enjoys Avery’s company, but will he change his plans to move to Lillian’s hometown in order to honor his promise?

Wes and Avery have an immediate connection and their time together is a welcome reprieve for the usual solitary evenings. Wes keeps in touch with Lillian as his time in Riverbend lengthens. Avery continues to remain resolute in her choice to not marry or have children. Underlying their growing friendship is a simmering attraction they work hard to ignore. Avery’s reason for remaining single is understandable but will love make a difference? Wes has a strong desire to repay Landon’s sacrifice by caring for Lillian, but is there another way to fulfill his promise?

Mulberry Hollow is a heartwarming romance with an idyllic setting. Wes is an honorable man whose choices are dictated by guilt. Avery is a caring and compassionate woman but her fears are preventing her from living life to its fullest. The storyline is engaging and easy to relate to. The secondary characters are well-developed and quite appealing. Wes and Avery’s future together is far from certain as Denise Hunter brings this delightfully charming romance to a heartfelt conclusion.  A Riverbend Romance series can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend book one as well.

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Filed under A Riverbend Romance, Contemporary, Denise Hunter, Mulberry Hollow, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Thomas Nelson Publishing

April 25, 2022 · 12:01 am

Review: The Bookseller’s Promise by Beth Wiseman

Title: The Bookseller’s Promise by Beth Wiseman
The Amish Bookstore Novels Book One
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In the first novel of Beth Wiseman’s new Amish Bookstore series, a rare, old book may hold answers to a present-day romance.

Yvonne Wilson arrives in Montgomery, Indiana, determined to purchase a rare book on behalf of a client willing to pay her an absurd amount of money for her efforts. Engaged to be married in a few months, Yvonne is thrown off guard when she finds herself attracted to the handsome bookstore owner, Jake Lantz—and now she’s asking herself unexpected questions about her future.

Jake Lantz made a promise to his grandfather to never sell the book Yvonne wants to buy, and it’s a promise he plans to keep. Jake begins to read the book with Eva, one of his employees, and Eva sees this time together as a way to get Jake to see her in a new light. Eva’s loved him for years but senses Yvonne’s attraction to Jake right away—and she wonders how Jake feels about Yvonne, an attractive English woman determined to stay in Montgomery until she convinces Jake to sell the rare book.

As Yvonne’s, Jake’s, and Eva’s individual paths merge into something more than they could have imagined, each must face decisions they never anticipated. Will Jake ultimately break his promise to his grandfather? Will Yvonne leave the quaint life she’s been living in Amish Country to go back to her fiancé? And will Eva be able to get Jake to see her as more than a friend? The answers just might be buried within the pages of a rare book.

Review:

The Bookseller’s Promise by Beth Wiseman is a heartwarming Amish Romance.

Thirty-two-year-old Yvonne Wilson is a book broker whose search for a rare book leads her to an Amish Bookstore in Montgomery, IL. Although twenty-five-year-old Jake Lantz has already told her the book is not for sale, she decides to visit him in person to try to change his mind. Yvonne’s fiancé Trevor Adams has to go elsewhere on business, so she travels to Indiana on her own. When meeting with Jake for the first time, he again informs her the book is not for sale. Undaunted, Yvonne remains in town where she gets to know Jake and his employee, nineteen-year-old Eva Graber.  Acting completely out of character, she makes an impetuous decision that initially unnerves her.

Although she loves Trevor, Yvonne is a little leery of losing her independence. She does not want to lose herself after their wedding so she is relying on getting Jake to sell the book her buyer is looking for. Yvonne is surprised by how much she likes him and Eva but she worries she might lose her client if she fails to make the acquisition for him.  Deciding to see if time will change Jake’s mind, she instead enjoys sightseeing and giving Eva advice for letting Jake know she is interested in him.

Jake knows that his friend John Yoder is interested in Eva so he ignores any feelings for her other than friendship. He is not looking forward to hiring someone to replace her if things work out for her and John.  Jake is less than happy when Yvonne shows up at the bookstore, but he refuses to consider breaking his promise to his grandfather to never sell the book. He has not read the book so he surprised by Yvonne’s reaction to it.

Eva’s longtime crush on Jake has deepened over the years and she is frustrated he does not seem to notice she is now grown up. She is at first jealous of Yvonne, but the two soon become fast friends. Finally deciding it is time to stop waiting on Jake, Eva accepts a date with John. But is the man for her?

The Bookseller’s Promise is a poignant inspirational romance. Yvonne is a wonderful woman who eventually comes to question her long-held views on faith. Jake has always liked Eva but he worries that it might be too late for a chance to take their relationship beyond friendship. Eva is an appealing young woman whose dream of a future with Jake might be out of reach. Beth Wiseman weaves the different story arcs into a compelling and captivating novel that will resonate with readers. This first installment in The Amish Bookstore Novels series is off to a marvelous beginning that will leave fans eagerly awaiting the next installment.

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Filed under Amish, Beth Wiseman, Contemporary, Rated B+, Review, Romance, The Amish Bookstore Novels Series, The Booksellers Promise, Zondervan

April 24, 2022 · 12:01 am

Review: Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher

Title: Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Everyone else in the tiny town of Enfield, Texas, calls fall football season, but for the forty-three members of the Fighting Enfield Marching Band, it’s contest season. And for new saxophonist Anna James, it’s her first chance to prove herself as the great musician she’s trying hard to be.

When she’s assigned a duet with mellophone player Weston Ryan, the boy her small-minded town thinks of as nothing but trouble, she’s equal parts thrilled and intimidated. But as he helps her with the duet, and she sees the smile he seems to save just for her, she can’t help but feel like she’s helping him with something too.

When her strict parents find out she’s been secretly seeing him and keep them apart, Anna and Weston learn what it truly means to fight for something they love. With the marching contest nearing and the two falling hard for one another, the unthinkable happens, and Anna is left grappling for a way forward without Weston.

Ashley Schumacher’s Full Flight is about how first love shapes us—even after it’s gone.

Review:

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher is a poignant young adult romance.

Anna James is in the marching band and she is having difficulty playing her portion of a duet. She asks Weston Ryan, the other half of the duet, to help her with her part. He initially says no but Anna proves to be hard to resist. Her friends and parents do not want her spending time with the town’s “bad boy” but she knows there is more to Weston than rumors. Anna’s parents are strict and they have already made their opinion of Weston know. So, she sneaks around behind their backs in order to see him.  Weston and Anna begin to fall for each other, but what will happen to their relationship when Anna’s parents find out she has been lying to them?

Anna is refreshingly direct, sweet and used to being in the “friend zone”. She is very smart but she has not been playing the saxophone as long as the rest of the band. Her family is close and her parents keep tight reins on her and her younger sister. Anna feels bad about lying to her parents but she does not want to lose her part in the duet.

Weston is an incredibly gifted musician but he has been through a rough time recently. After his parents’ unexpected divorce, he went to a school in a nearby for a year to escape the gossip. His transfer back has not been easy since he is no longer as close to his friends, Ratio and Jonathan. Weston is smart but he does not prioritize his schoolwork until Anna begins helping him.

Anna and Weston quickly become friends but there is also a mutual attraction simmering between them. Anna does not want to get her heart broken again and Weston does not want another person in his life to disappear. But young love can be powerful and impossible to resist, so their friendship soon transitions to romance. Once Anna’s parents find out about them, will their relationship survive her punishment?

Full Flight is a heartfelt young adult romance that is utterly captivating. Anna and Weston are wonderful teenagers that are three-dimensional and incredibly life-like. The small town and high school settings are well drawn and easy to visualize. The storyline is well written and touches on a number of topical issues that will resonate with readers of all ages. With a heart-wrenching plot twist, Ashley Schumacher brings this bittersweet romance to a very emotional conclusion.

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Filed under Ashley Schumacher, Contemporary, Full Flight, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Wednesday Books, Young Adult

April 17, 2022 · 12:02 am

Review: Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson

Title: Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 319 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

You’ve Got Mail meets The Proposal—this romance is one for the books.

Savannah Cade’s dreams are coming true. The Claire Donovan, editor-in-chief of the most successful romance imprint in the country, has requested to see the manuscript Savannah’s been secretly writing while working as editor herself—except at her publishing house, the philosophy is only highbrow works are worth printing and commercial fiction, particularly romance, should be reserved for the lowest level of Dante’s inferno. But when Savannah drops her manuscript during a staff meeting and nearly exposes herself to the whole company—including William Pennington, new publisher and son of the romance-despising CEO herself—she races to hide her manuscript in the secret turret room of the old Victorian office.

When she returns, she’s dismayed to discover that someone has not only been in her hidden nook but has written notes in the margins—quite critical ones. But when Claire’s own reaction turns out to be nearly identical to the scribbled remarks, and worse, Claire announces that Savannah has six weeks to resubmit before she retires, Savannah finds herself forced to seek the help of the shadowy editor after all.

As their notes back and forth start to fill up the pages, however, Savannah finds him not just becoming pivotal to her work but her life. There’s no doubt about it. She’s falling for her mystery editor. If she only knew who he was.

Review:

Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson is an enchanting contemporary romance.

Savannah Cade is an assistant acquisitions editor for a family-owned publishing company in Nashville. Since the company does not publish romance novels, Savannah pitched the book she has been writing to an editor who works at a different publishing house. She has been polishing her romance for several months and time is running out for her to submit it to editor-in-chief Claire Donovan.

After Savannah drops her manuscript during a meeting, she hides it away in the secret room no one else seems to know about. When she later retrieves her work in progress, she is demoralized by the discovery that someone has critically edited her novel. In a moment of pique, Savannah finally sends her manuscript to Claire. Unfortunately, the mystery editor’s observations are spot on and Savannah needs this person’s assistance in order to get published.

William Pennington has recently returned to Nashville and his family-owned publishing company. He is rigid and somewhat grim at the office which is why Savannah is so surprised by how friendly and open he is off the clock. He also values her opinion and she is stunned when he takes her advice as he begins making changes at the company. As much as Savannah enjoys spending time with him, she loves the written exchanges between her and the mystery editor.

Set against the backdrop of the publishing world, Meet Me in the Margins is a funny contemporary romance.  Savannah is absolutely marvelous but she is a bit of a pushover when it comes to her family. William is doing his best to save the family business but he and his CEO mother are often at odds over some of his decisions. The storyline is engaging with an understated romance.  The cast of characters is wonderfully quirky and quite entertaining. Following a very touching dénouement, Melissa Ferguson provides a sweet epilogue that will delight readers who enjoy wholesome romances.

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Filed under Meet Me in the Margins, Melissa Ferguson, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Thomas Nelson Publishing

· 12:01 am

Review: The Arc by Tory Henwood Hoen

Title: The Arc by Tory Henwood Hoen
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Romance
Length: 344 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Can you curate your soulmate? Thirty-five-year-old Ursula Byrne, VP of Strategic Audacity at a branding agency in Manhattan, is successful, witty, whip-smart, and single. She’s tried all the dating apps, and let’s just say: she’s underwhelmed by her options. You’d think that by now someone would have come up with something more bespoke; a way for users to be more tailored about who and what they want in a life partner––how hard could that be?

Enter The Arc: a highly secretive, super-sophisticated matchmaking service that uses a complex series of emotional, psychological and physiological assessments to architect partnerships that will go the distance. The price tag is high, the promise ambitious––a level of lifelong compatibility that would otherwise be unattainable. In other words, The Arc will find your ideal mate.

Ursula is paired with forty-two-year-old lawyer Rafael Banks. From moment one, this feels like the electric, lasting love they’ve each been seeking their whole adult lives. But as their relationship unfolds in unanticipated ways, the two begin to realize that true love is never a sure thing. And the arc of a relationship is never predictable…even when it’s fully optimized.

Review:

The Arc by Tory Henwood Hoen is a unique romance that is quite enjoyable.

Thirty-five-year-old Ursula Byrne is an independent career woman who is burned out by dating apps. She is ready to give up on love when she is provided with an introduction to The Arc, a company that approaches matchmaking in a decidedly different manner. Ursula is intrigued but the price tag for the opportunity is steep. Luckily for her, she gets a side job that takes the money concern off the table. After spending seven days undergoing somewhat unusual testing, she is matched up with forty-two-year-old lawyer, Gabriel Banks.

Ursula and Gabriel immediately hit it off and their romance unfolds quickly.  They truly enjoy each other’s company and their time together is fairly free from stress. Ursula wants a relationship where she does not feel like she gives up important parts of herself. Gabriel has insecurities from previous failed romances but he has not quite given up on love. While their first few months together are blissfully happy, Ursula and Gabriel’s first disagreement is the beginning of trouble in paradise. Will they give up at the first sign of trouble?

The Arc is an interesting novel that blends romance with satire. Ursula is a likable character with a few idiosyncrasies. Gabriel’s family life is colorful and he is completely charmed by Ursula. Their romance is funny and a little silly at first. It is not until their relationship is tested that Ursula really begins to find her way. Gabriel is always a little more grounded but he also has room for to grow. Tory Henwood Hoen brings this clever romance to a heartwarming conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Rated B, Romance, St Martin's Press, The Arc, Tory Henwood Hoen, Women's Fiction