Reviewing Pretending to Wed by Melissa Jagears

...from the publisher...
It’s a match made in heaven…as long as they don’t fall in love! The ranch Nolan Key has spent decades working for, even lost a leg for, is now his—or at least it should be. But an absurd clause in his father’s will means he’s in danger of losing the place to his lazy, undeserving cousin. Nolan finds himself scrambling to save his home—by proposing marriage to the town laundress.

Corinne Stillwater’s hands have betrayed her. Numb from hours of doing the same work over and over, her hands will only heal, according to the town doctor, if she gives up the laundry and marries. But she’s been stung repeatedly by love before, so that is one remedy she can’t swallow.

When Nolan offers Corinne a marriage in name only, how can she refuse? Such a partnership could give them the security they seek, but what if the ranch isn't as secure as they believe, and their lives—and dreams—aren't quite as compatible as they thought?

Pretending to Wed is the second book in the Frontier Vows Series by award-winning Christian romance author Melissa Jagears. If you like marriage of convenience stories that deal with the nitty-gritty of making a relationship work, you’ll love this authentic romance set in a time gone by that tackles issues still relevant for today.


...my thoughts...
Melissa Jagears is a pro when it comes to writing about marriages of convenenience on the old frontier.  Pretending to Wed, book two in her Frontier Vows series is no exception.  Her style is entertaining and her characters are steadfast in their convictions.  Nolan and Corinne Key both have reasons for not marrying so their arrangement is suitable to them both.

Nolan had a mere three months to wed or lose the ranch to his dandyfied cousin Matt.  Corinne suffered with constant pain from doing the only job available for a woman alone to subsist on. Pain slowed her down and she was behind on the rent for her laundry business. She was in danger of losing everything.  It seemed natural that the two join forces and wed from a business standpoint.  No need for romance. No entanglements. A visit from greedy Mat and his finacee Lilith  was all it took to push Matt to a proposal.

Corinne had been thwarted in her past relationships and after warding off several proposals from the single men in town she gained the reputation of being against marriage.  She met her match in Nolan, a man who supported her uncanny ability to create marvelous inventions.  She kept pace with him on the ranch, working side by side while keeping up with the house and her tinkering projects.  It would be hard to keep a partnership like this purely business.

I enjoyed this book. Instead of a lonely man and a wilting female, we have Matt and Corinne.  Following their journey, with its twists and turns was as entertaining as it was in showing what determination and faith can lead to for a good marriage.  This is the stuff that settled the west.  This is the type of story that our great grandparents might have told if we turned back time.  

Reviewing: Before I Called You Mine

...from the publisher...
Lauren Bailey may be a romantic at heart, but after a decade of matchmaking schemes gone wrong, there's only one match she's committed to now--the one that will make her a mother. Lauren is a dedicated first-grade teacher in Idaho, and her love for children has led her to the path of international adoption. To satisfy her adoption agency's requirements, she gladly agreed to remain single for the foreseeable future; however, just as her long wait comes to an end, Lauren is blindsided by a complication she never saw coming: Joshua Avery.

Joshua may be a substitute teacher by day, but Lauren finds his passion for creating educational technology as fascinating as his antics in the classroom. Though she does her best to downplay the undeniable connection between them, his relentless pursuit of her heart puts her commitment to stay unattached to the test and causes her once-firm conviction to waver.

With an impossible decision looming, Lauren might very well find herself choosing between the two deepest desires of her heart . . . even if saying yes to one means letting go of the other.

...my thoughts...
Before I Called You Mine is a heartwarming story of one woman's determination to adopt a child from China. On her own.  A single woman.  The process was rigorous and it would be quite an experience for  a married couple united in love and support for each other.  I admired  her determination but she didn't even have the support of her family, which would have lightened her burden somewhat.

Joshua was my favorite character.  His personality and sincerity was the right balance for Lauren.  I cheered him on as Lauren strived to remain true to the guidelines of the adoption requirements.  His patience was incredible and his love stronger enough to let her be. 

Before I Called You Mine is a book of firsts for me.  My first Nicole Deese book and the first book I have read with such an up close and personal experience with adoption.  It is an engaging story of resilience, courage and love.  Lauen and Joshusa's faith is intertwined in this book, and it is part of the determination both have as their love grows.  It is a funny, serious book and will have you laughing and crying on the same page.  I received my copy from #BethanyHouse to review but my opinions are most definitely mine.

On A Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher

...from the publisher...
For Madison Grayson, life is good. Newly licensed as a marriage and family therapist, she can't wait to start her practice. Despite the unfortunate shortage of eligible bachelors on the island--they're all too young, too old, or too weird--Maddie feels like she's finally found her sweet spot. Not even one panic attack in the last year. Not one.
And then Ricky O'Shea drops in. Literally. Floating down from the pure blue sky, the one man in the world she hoped never to see again--the one who'd been her archnemesis from kindergarten through her senior dance--parachutes into town, landing on Boon Dock, canopy draping behind him like a superhero. Ricky O'Shea. Now Pastor Rick, the new minister on Three Sisters Island.

Time to panic.

With wit and a bit of whimsy, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Three Sisters Island where family, forgiveness, and a second chance at love await.

...my thoughts...
On a Coastal Breeze, book two in Suzanne  Woods Fisher's Three Sisters Island series is a destination for your upcoming summer reading list.  All the elements for a coastal vacation are within the covers of this wonderful story.  A small island off the coast of Maine with just enough charm to have you pull up a chaise lounge and read on a sandy beach.

This series is about the Grayson family, who are in the process of finding new life after the patriarch, Paul sold the family home and bought Three Sisters Island.  This book, which can stand alone or alongside the introductory book, On A Summer Tide. The characters are well developed and could easily be one's neighbor or family member.  Memories are visited as life unfolds and we learn that what we have experienced in our  youth can shape who we are as adults.  Madison is no exception as she explores so many of her encounters with Ricky O'Shea.  He is such an engaging character and adds a lot of humor into the story.  From his grand entrance to his serious side, he is important to the story.  Yet he is still Ricky O'Shea, and she isn't sure she can move past that.

Madison, the middle Grayson daughter, has quietly made a big impact on her family. Random comments they share on occasion since moving to the island give her valuable insight on her place in the family dynamics. She never thought of herself as confident as her sisters, often feeling as though she is in the background.  It is interesting the way one touches others lives until it is shared in those odd moments, out of context, many years later.  As her family begins their second year on the island and a new camp season, the changes bring them that much closer to each other.

I enjoyed this book and the new developments in the Grayson family.  A well written story with wonderful characters, it is easy to recommend.  Thank you to Revell and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy for review.  All opinions are mine.

Reviewing: The Trustworthy One by Shelley Shepard Gray

...from the publisher...
Kendra Troyer always knew she would leave Walnut Creek the first chance she got. When she was accepted into design school, she tried her best not to look back at the four siblings she was abandoning, but ahead to Columbus, where she was determined to stay—far away from her abusive home and far away from Nate Miller, the boy she vowed to despise for the rest of her life.

Though she suffered through dark times in Columbus, Kendra found her faith in the Lord again, and years later, when she learned one of her good friends had died, she realized it was time to go home to those she left behind.

Back in Walnut Creek, Kendra has a life she never could have imagined: her own design shop, a pretty little house, and a tight-knit group of friends. After she settles down, though, unexpected visitors come knocking and dark memories begin to resurface. Complicating things even further is the ever-present Nate Miller, who now owns the hardware store two doors down and whose very presence stirs in Kendra a fierce need to turn away and hide from her past. But Nate is persistent in setting things right between them.

As Kendra tries to come to terms with the anger she holds from her childhood, will she be able to open her heart to forgiveness and find the comfort she has always longed for in Walnut Creek?

...my thoughts...
The Trustworthy One, is the latest book in the Walnut Creek series by Shelley Shepard Gray.  This is a continuing story of how seven friends unite after the death of their good friend Andy. We are touched by many in our lives, for reasons we don't know.  Sometimes we are touched even more by their deaths.  The lessons we learn as we live on are often rewarding if we look back and notice the subtle cues found in our memories.

Kendra Troyer grew up in less than normal circumstances and fled her abusive home as soon as she could get away.  She left behind cruel parents and her younger siblings, who relied on her resilience and generous spirit to see them through their tough circumstances.  As life often does, she found herself once again in Walnut Creek.  The one person she didn't want to meet again, Nate Miller is there, in her presence at every turn. As a child, he seemed to be near at every awkward moment of her young life.  For all the troubles she left behind, she encountered more out in the English world.  It is when she is back in Walnut  Creek, and faces those she left behind that she learns the value of trust and forgiveness.  Shelley Shepard Gray is a gifted writer whose books are not just entertaining but rich in human nature.  I enjoyed this book, a story of true friendship, and recommend it without reservation to anyone who likes heartwarming stories.