Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman

Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman

I heard lots of buzz about this sophomore offering from Pam Hillman, so when it went on sale, I purchased it for review. The cover drew me in.

Let’s begin with the summary:

In light of her father’s death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father’s farm, the only home she’s ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father’s rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Frederick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.

With the ranch now under Slade’s careful eye, he will unearth more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal and murder threatens more than the well-being of the ranch, endangering the lives of those who hold it dear. With days dwindling until the rest of the Donovan clan arrive to the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed alters their futures forever.

And now, my review:

I enjoyed the characters and setting of this story. Though the author chose a cliché “story,” she added some elements that helped make the story fresh, and her writing was strong. Along with some predictable aspects, she included some twists and kept me reading. Quite honestly, the number of cliches distracted me from the story, but these may have simply been the way the characters all thought. I've known many, many people who use cliches in their everyday life, outside of my writer friends. So a character whose introspection and speech include them is believable. 

One of the themes of Claiming Mariah was forgiveness. God's forgiveness, but also that between characters. Outlaws abounded in this book, and their choices affected so many people around them. I liked how we watched redemption and second chances at work, as a theme throughout. And the symbolism of the cat worked well.

Sometimes, when I’m reading a novel that is not part of a series, I crave a sequel highlighting one of the first book’s secondary characters. That happened with this novel. I kept imagining the author developing a story around the hero’s brother, Buck, who was himself heroic.

Lovers of old-west-based historical romance, full of ranches and cowboys, will enjoy this novel.

Note: at the time of this review, this book is only available in e-book format.

(e-book)

A Review of Secretly Smitten

In this sequel to Smitten, each author contributed a novella. The four authors are: Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter.

Let’s begin with the summary:

Summer, fall, winter, spring—Smitten, Vermont, is the place for love . . . and mystery!

There’s a secret in Grandma Rose’s attic—a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?

The mystery intrigues Rose’s three granddaughters—Tess, Clare, and Zoe—and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?

Join popular romance novelists—and real-life BFFs—Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for four delightful intertwined tales of mystery and sweet intrigue.

And now, my review:

I like novellas because they’re bite-sized stories. They read fast, they’re romantic, and they’re satisfying. I liked this sequel to Smitten! The "intrigue" the summary speaks of wasn't a huge aspect, just enough to keep readers engaged. Well done.

The setting—small-town Smitten—is delightful. Along with the setting, the family connection ties these novellas together. Each story focuses on one of the sisters, and one tells the mom’s love story. I related with each heroine, at least in some respect. One of the other elements that tied the novellas together was the grandmother’s love story. Her granddaughters (all adults now) discovered her first love’s dog tags in the attic. But the grandmother hasn’t ever seen them. How did they get there? Hadn’t the man died in the war? This mystery kept me reading through the novellas as well. I especially enjoyed the introduction to the underlying (first love) thread in novella one, the tenderness of story two, that story three centered on a mother of 20-somethings and turned a cliché situation (not wanting to trust in love following divorce) into a believable and heartfelt storyline, and the gardening focus and mysterious hero of story number four.

Looking forward to any further Smitten books that come along. Enjoy!

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

Rachel Hauck's The Wedding Dress released in April, 2012. I have so many good things to say about this novel, I don’t know where to start!

Here’s the summary: 

Four brides. One Dress.

A tale of faith, redemption, and timeless love.

Charlotte owns a chic Birmingham bridal boutique. Dressing brides for their big day is her gift . . . and her passion. But with her own wedding day approaching, why can’t she find the perfect dress…or feel certain she should marry Tim?

Then Charlotte discovers a vintage dress in a battered trunk at an estate sale. It looks brand-new—shimmering with pearls and satin, hand-stitched and timeless in its design. But where did it come from? Who wore it? Who welded the lock shut and tucked the dog tags in that little sachet? Who left it in the basement for a ten-year-old girl? And what about the mysterious man in the purple vest who insists the dress had been “redeemed.”

Charlotte’s search for the gown’s history—and its new bride—begins as a distraction from her sputtering love life. But it takes on a life of its own as she comes to know the women who have worn the dress. Emily from 1912. Mary Grace from 1939. Hillary from 1968. Each with her own story of promise, pain, and destiny. And each with something unique to share. For woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte’s heritage, the power of courage and faith, and the timeless beauty of finding true love.

And now, my review:

I’d been hearing a lot of buzz about this book from several writer friends. So, I knew I had to check it out.

First, I’ll say I loved the prose. Rachel has a way with words that made me want to grab a highlighter!

I liked the fairytale aspect of the man in purple. At first, I wasn’t sure what to think of him, but later, I loved that she included him. There was a supernatural quality to him that really worked.

The symbolism and revelations of God’s personal care of His people blessed me too. Every once in a while, the central contemporary heroine would worship God and I loved those moments. Rachel knows the Bridegroom’s heart and how important each of us is to Him—that we’re each His favorites. So, watching the heroine relate with God was a blessing. I’ve read Rachel’s books before, but this was a deeper read to me, more flavored by the bridal paradigm (spiritually speaking, specifically, though I loved the literal wedding focus). Reading this novel fed my heart.

One of the fun elements was how Rachel included names of friends, like ACFW worship team members. I enjoyed that! (*waving at Javier!)

This novel shifts between the contemporary heroine’s love story and the historical heroine’s love story. I enjoyed that contrast and the parallels as well. I felt the balance, and how long we focused on them, worked perfectly and will satisfy lovers of contemporaries as well as those who prefer historicals. It was enjoyable to watch the modern-day heroine track down the dress’s previous owners. I liked the tie-in to the past and how those elements affected the present. Her pacing was right on, as well, made only more delightful by her prose.

This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long while.

Highly recommended!

(print)        (e-book version)

Book Review of Doctor to the Rescue by Cheryl Wyatt

Doctor to the Rescue by Cheryl Wyatt

What a privilege to read Cheryl Wyatt's latest release for review! 

Let's begin with the summary:

Combat doctor Ian Shupe returns home from overseas with his most important mission: to raise his little girl. But Ian's a single dad, and working at Eagle Point's trauma center means having to find child care. When bighearted, struggling lodge owner Bri Landis offers babysitting in exchange for construction work, Ian accepts. He vows to keep his emotional distance from Bri, yet can't deny that his daughter is blossoming under her tender care. But is he ready to believe that his heart's deepest prayer may finally be answered?

And now, my review: 

I love the combination of military personnel (stateside, for now), medical care, family, and romance. 

Poor Bri. She feels she has to do everything on her own. This community is about to prove her wrong. And Ian. Oh, he’s been betrayed and heartbroken by his ex-wife. His heart is dark and cold. He hides behind a grouchy exterior and avoids relationships. But his daughter needs a capable sitter. Bri is capable. And beautiful. And full of life—just what he needs to pull him back. 

Cheryl’s prose is delicious. Her pacing kept me hooked, wondering if these two could get together. She brought in great symbolism as Ian accepted his daughter and loved her through her tantrums while she adjusted to change. (living with him after her mother abandoned her) Another symbolic element was Bri’s handicap (physically, a broken arm; socially, pride that kept her from asking for help), which was overcome by the generous community’s outpouring of assistance to help rebuild the lodge. That speaks to trusting God to meet our needs, even when we can’t lift “an arm” to help. This changed Bri. And Ian's heart was changed as he saw forgiveness at work in Bri.

A great book! I’ll be watching for book three in this series. 

(paperback)     (e-book)

Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher

Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher

Betrayal is book two in the Where the Heart Lives series by Robin Lee Hatcher.

Let’s begin with the summary:

It's the turn of the twentieth century and drifter Hugh Brennan is a man well acquainted with betrayal. Hugh finds himself drawn to the attractive widow, Julia, yet when he looks into her eyes, he recognizes the same hurt that haunts him. Julia Grace has little reason to trust men, but she's going to have to trust someone if she's to keep her ranch from the clutches of her dead husband's half-brother. Is it possible God had a hand in bringing Hugh to her door?

And now, my review:

This was a gentle love story. Before I read the novel, I saw someone's mention about it being a tender love story, and I'd agree. The tender-hearted hero isn't an actual cowboy at the beginning of the story, which is unusual. Normally, the hero is a self-assured capable ranch hand. Not here, and I liked that originality! He's new to ranching, but willing to help nonetheless.

I liked the shorter length of this novel—just perfect.

Now, let's dig into the characters. These two have both been through so much. He'd been imprisoned, though we know he's a "good guy," from the deep point of view the author gives us. She suffered a painful marriage. They can't see themselves together for various reasons, so they fight their attraction for a long time.

For such a quick read, I was surprised we visited other POVs beyond our main hero and heroine. A bit distracting. I'd have preferred to dig deeper into the main characters' layers instead. I liked the grace theme, including the heroine's name. I liked the twists and turns, especially near the end.

At the back of the book, the publisher included an excerpt from Book Three, Betrayal. I'm already hooked!

Readers who like historicals, and/or cowboy stories, will enjoy this novel!

(paperback)                (e-book)

Waiting for Spring by Amanda Cabot

Waiting for Spring by Amanda Cabot

Welcome to Revell’s blog tour for Amanda Cabot’s latest release, Waiting for Spring!

Let’s begin with the summary:

After the loss of her husband and the birth of her baby, Charlotte has had a long, hard year. But when a notorious robber believes she knows the location of a long-lost treasure, she flees to Cheyenne and opens a dressmaker's shop to lie low and make a living. When wealthy cattle baron and political hopeful Barrett Landry enters the shop to visit her best customer, Charlotte feels drawn to him.

If Barrett is to be a senator of the soon-to-be state of Wyoming, he must make a sensible match, and Miriam has all the right connections. Yet he can't shake the feeling that Charlotte holds the key to his heart and his future.

Soon the past comes to call, and Barrett's plans crumble around him. Will Charlotte and Barrett find the courage to look love in the face? Or will their fears blot out any chance for happiness? 

And now, my review:

First off, what’s not to love about that cover?! Amanda shared that the dress was commissioned specifically for this cover! Makes sense, since our heroine is a seamstress. Simply gorgeous!

Charlotte is a shop owner and the single mother of a blind son. We see her heroism as she cares for him herself, rather than sending him away. Then, along comes the hero and questions her decisions, though he does befriend the boy. I liked the dynamics between the three of them, even while Barrett is planning to become engaged to another character. His advisors have a specific plan in mind, a plan to further his political aspirations. And it doesn’t involve marrying a shop owner with a son.

We explore several POVs in this story, which was, at first, a bit distracting. But then we see this is because the author will develop two romances in this story. And through that, she demonstrates that love has the power to change people. All of the characters were unique.

I’d recommend this book to lovers of historicals. Enjoy!

(print version)             (e-book version)

Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss

Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska

I sat in a lovely condo during a writing retreat in early 2012 with my dear friend, Ocieanna Fleiss, as she penned some of the letters of this novel. Her job was to write the historical story that Tricia and she would later weave into a modern-day woman’s love story. So, much more recently, I was thrilled to get to read the finished book and be part of the authors’ launch team. Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska releases today, January 1, 2013!

Let's begin with the summary:

Singer Ginny Marshall is one signature away from the recording contract of her dreams—a deal that would guarantee success for the former foster child, who still struggles to bury the memories of her painful childhood. But Ginny needs advice from the one person who will look out for her best interests—her former fiancé, Brett Miller. She travels to the remote town of Glacier Bay, Alaska, where the town’s colorful characters and stunning scenery provide respite from LA’s pressures.

In Glacier Bay, Ginny discovers a box of old letters and is swept up in the love story between Clay, an early missionary to Alaska Territory, and Ellie, the woman who traveled there to be his children’s governess. When Ginny is reunited with Brett in Glacier Bay, will she discover—as Ellie did—that healing and love are sometimes found in the most unexpected places?

And now, for some pix: 

Here are the authors:

Ocieanna Fleiss and Tricia Goyer

This story is set in a gorgeous locale! Below are two photographs the authors took during their research trip. Beautiful, huh? They had fun conversations with the locals and even sightings of bears, seals, whales, and eagles. 

One of the creative things their launch team members did was to pair up quotes from the book with photos of the setting to create some great pictures/cards. See below:

Mountain and water view in Glacier Bay, Alaska

Aerial view near Glacier Bay, Alaska

A quote from the historical letters of the story

A line from the hero's perspective in the modern-day tale

A quote about how Glacier Bay affects visitors

Ginny's question

And now, my review:

This was a well-woven story—actually, two stories in one novel. The letters fit seamlessly with the modern-day tale—drawing us along to learn more about the setting and the early settlers, as well as Ellie’s romance. The letters often echoed Ginny’s journey. And between the two stories, we had plenty of adventure. I was looking for more romance in the earlier portion of the story, but since we were building two of them, we had to wait a little while longer for the romances to develop. Once they did, though, we had two to enjoy. 

I liked the partnership of the authors on this book. The story wouldn't have had the depth it had without the letters. And by including the contemporary story, lovers of historicals and modern-day tales are satisfied. This is the third novel these writers have co-authored, and it's my favorite so far. 

I loved, loved, loved the setting. Reminded me so much of Washington State. Between the pictures the authors have shared (online and in the book itself) and the story, I felt like a visitor in Alaska.

The modern-day character, Ginny, dealt with abandonment issues and I felt these were handled very believably. I liked Ellie’s journey, her courage. I liked the story within a story. Some of Ellie’s tales were pretty funny. Ocieanna always includes such varied characters—like Linc, the inventor. I liked that the letter writers (the characters) all had their own voice. Really well done.

This novel delivers on giving readers a sense of setting and a feel for the history of a beautiful, unusual place. Readers of Summerside’s Love Finds You line will not be disappointed. Great book!

(print version)