Love on the Line by Deeann Gist

Welcome to the blog tour for Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist! See below for a great contest opportunity from the tour coordinators and author. 

Let's begin with the back cover copy:

Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man's world ... which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.

Dashing Luke Palmer is more than he appears though. He's a Texas Ranger working undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang of train robbers. Repairing telephones and tangling with this tempestuous woman is the last thing he wants to do. But when his stakeout puts Georgie in peril, he realizes more than his job is on the line.

And now my review:

It’s been a while since I’ve read one of Deeanne’s books. From the enjoyment of reading this historical romance, I can tell you it’s been too long. What a fun read! The story moved along quickly with just the right blend of romance and adventure between this telephone operator and Texas Ranger.

Luke Palmer is on a mission to track down a train robber, but he has to go undercover as a sort of telephone repairman (troubleman) to accomplish it. And where is the telephone operator’s office? In the heroine’s home, of course. But Gist keeps things clean. Georgie could never be with a ranger and Luke (Lucious) could never settle down. But Georgie can’t get enough of “luscious Lucious,” and he’s becoming enamored too.

I loved how protective the ranger was, even when, in the line of duty, he had to put the heroine at risk (clever!). And how interesting to run into a train robber with a conscience. The author’s attention to detail made the story read as if it were a retelling of an actual relationship. After reading about all the wires and inconvenience of calling then, not to mention lack of privacy, you’ll be grateful for your cell phone!

Great read!

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Deeanne is thrilled to introduce Georgie and Luke to the word in her latest novel, Love on the Line. To celebrate Deeanne's publisher, Bethany House, is hosting the Love on the Line iPad2 giveaway an Author Chat on Facebook! Enter today and follow the link below to RSVP for Deeanne's rip-roarin' Facebook Party!

One fortunate winner will receive: 

• A Brand New iPad2 
• An Autographed Hardback Copy of Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 7th. Winner will be announced at Deeanne's Author Chat Facebook Party. Deeanne will be wrapping up the Love on the Line celebration by chatting with friends new and old! So grab your copy of Love on the Line (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might could win one!) and join Deeanne on the evening of November 8th for a rip roaring book chat, a little trivia and lots of giveaways (books, and Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates)!

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends. Hope to see you on the 8th!

Smitten by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter

How delightful to receive the ARC (advanced reader copy) for this book during a recent writers’ conference. Smitten is a novella compilation with four novellas written by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter. It releases December 20, 2011.

Let’s begin with the back cover copy:

Four friends devise a plan to turn Smitten, Vermont, into the country's premier romantic getaway—and each finds her own true love along the way.

With Smitten Lumber closing, residents wonder if their town can stay afloat. Then four friends and local business owners—Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese—decide the town is worth saving. How will they do it? They'll turn Smitten into a honeymoon destination!

As Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese work to save the town, each discovers romance in her own life. Meanwhile, the faith of a little child reminds the whole town what it means to have real faith in the God who is the always and forever Love.

Discover a novel written by four of Christian fiction's most popular romance novelists- friends in real life who've drawn an amazing story of four friends! Includes a Reading Group Guide as well as "Conversation over Coffee with the Authors."

And now, my review:

In the authors’ note for this book, we learn about how the project came together. One of the things the authors mention is that they each wrote a character who was a lot like themselves. So, in reading the novellas, you get a glimpse of both their relationship with each other as well as their own personalities. I loved that aspect of this book. The authors are a group of dear friends. What a thrill to see the photographs from the same writers’ conference (a year earlier) when they signed the contract for this book, and then to see the close-to-final product last month.

These four best friends (the characters, not the authors *smile*) are gearing up to save their small town from financial ruin following the lumber mill’s closing. Along the way, they each fall in love. The stories overlap, so you’ll probably want to read them in order. I began with the first story (read most of it, though I didn’t finish it), tried the second and third stories and couldn’t get into them, then skipped ahead to the fourth story which I really enjoyed! (You could blame this on my love for Denise Hunter's books. *wink*) I laughed aloud, related with the heroine, loved the hero, and delighted in the twists of this reunion romance. The fourth novella made the book for me.

I think fans of each of the authors will enjoy this book as well, for the same reasons. And the other authors may gain new fans as people pick up the book due to a certain name on the cover. I’ve always liked reading novella compilations because each story is “bite-sized” if you will. Same’s true for this Thomas Nelson offering. If I’d had more time, I may have finished all of the novellas. As it was, I had several books awaiting me so I felt rushed. Most readers will probably be able to relax and lose themselves in the lovely setting.

I’ve heard mention there may be a Smitten 2 (with a different title, probably) coming next year. I’ll be watching for it.

Hello, Hollywood! by Janice Thompson

Welcome to the blog tour for Janice Thompson's latest romantic comedy, Hello, Hollywood!

Let's begin with the back cover copy:

Athena Pappas is the head writer on one of the most popular sitcoms in television history. But when Vegas comedian Stephen Cosse is brought in to beef up the show's suddenly sagging ratings, she starts to worry about her job. Sparks fly as the competition--and attraction--between the two writers heats up. Athena has never had a problem scripting the romances of her characters. So why is her own love life so hard to script?

With humor and a Hollywood-insider viewpoint, Hello, Hollywood! delivers lots of laughs as the characters discover that not being in control of the plot of their lives might just be the best thing that ever happened to them.

And now, my review:

I missed Book One in this series, but this story stood alone.

I loved the great insider feel of the sitcom writing scene (sorry) in Hollywood. Readers get a backstage pass onto the lot, into the room with the writers as they come up with hilarious scripts.

The story moved a little slow for me, but it was enjoyable. And for those looking for a lighthearted read, it’s the perfect choice. No burdens here. That in itself is a ministry, am I right?

And you’ll find hope here too. I liked how Janice demonstrated the truth that God writes the scripts of our lives.

And most fun of all—the Greek family. And the Greek food. Somebody, please pass the souvlaki!

Loved Stephen, our story’s hero. He’s a believable, loving father who is willing to take a chance on love with our heroine, Athena. Throw in the nostalgia of the Dick Van Dyke show and I Love Lucy, and you’ve got a whole lot of fun.

This is an enjoyable romantic comedy. I’ll be watching for the next book in the Backstage Pass series.

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Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman

I enjoy Julie Lessman’s writing. I’ve read all her books and couldn’t pass up the chance to read the latest in her Winds of Change series, A Heart Revealed. 

Let’s begin with the back cover copy:

Ten years ago, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston as a battered woman, escaping the husband who scarred her beautiful face. The physical and emotional wounds have faded with time, and her life is finally full of purpose and free from the pain of her past. But when she falls for her friend Charity's handsome and charming brother, Sean O'Connor, fear and shame threaten to destroy her. Could Sean and Emma ever have a future together? Or is Emma doomed to live out the rest of her life denying the only true love she's ever known?

Filled with intense passion and longing, deception and revelation, A Heart Revealed will hold readers in its grip until the very last page.

And now, my review:

How fun to revisit characters Julie’s readers have gotten to know over the past several books. She includes everyone, and it’s a great compilation of love stories, from the singles to the marrieds. Julie’s main writing message is “Passion with a purpose.” And in A Heart Revealed, she often includes passionate interactions between her characters, but she also points to the passion God has for His people, to His love. I adore that about her fiction.

The hero in A Heart Revealed was magnificently well-drawn. He is the sensitive type, but with deep zeal for what he believes in, and a fiery passion to protect those he loves. Our heroine, Emma, was a beautifully drawn servant of God. Scarred by life, she’s a victim of shame and fear. But Julie brings hope to the toughest situations.

Julie is unafraid to tackle deeply emotional issues. She dove into deeply painful areas, but she also offered plenty of triumphant moments—similar to life. 

I’m looking forward to the next book in the Winds of Changes series by this master of the craft of romance writing.

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Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.