The Laws of Attraction

Author: Mary Connealy

Series: Wyoming Sunrise #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: June 20, 2023

A great story with vivid details that readers will find enticing and enriching!

Nell Armstrong and Brand Nolte are thrown together through a series of unfortunate events. Brand is a widower and has three girls that he is struggling to raise on his own and Nell is a seamstress that is tired of making chaps for cowboys in her tiny Wyoming town. Nell’s first husband was a lawman and the skills he had rubbed off on her as she and Brand must investigate a robbery of a stagecoach when the survivor ends up at their little town. The mystery deepens as they try to figure out who the bad guy is before anyone else gets hurt.

This second book in the Wyoming Sunrise series is more captivating than the first with a rich array of scenery and characters. I loved the way Nell is portrayed as a strong female character even in this historical romance where female characters are not typically portrayed. The way Nell and Brand are brought together is normal for a novel of this genre, but it didn’t bore readers the way some historical fiction books can. With the way this story held my attention, I can’t wait to see what the next in the series brings.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A great story with vivid details that readers will find enticing and enriching!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous

Author: Misty M. Beller

Series: Sisters of the Rockies #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: June 6, 2023

A sweet romance set in the beautiful backdrop of the Rocky Mountains makes for a compelling read.

Juniper Collins and her sister are trying to fulfill the last wish of their father as he passed away and they travel to return a set of beads to a Plegan Blackfoot woman. The girls encounter trouble along the way and must work together to achieve their goal. Riley Turner came West to find a quiet life and is doing that until he encounters the sisters and is compelled to help make sure they stay safe. A task that turns out to be harder than he expected as they encounter danger with every step they take.

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous is the first in a new series that looks to be another easy quick read. The setting is beautiful and makes the story what it is. I see the characters being set up for a series with each sister getting their own book and love interest. For me, this was a typical Historical Romance with characters that play out the scenes just as I would expect from them in this genre. Anyone that is a fan of historical romance will enjoy this read.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Her Only Wish

Author: Shelley Shepard Gray

Series: A Season in Pinecraft #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: June 6, 2023

A clean romance that fans of Amish fiction will not want to miss.

Betsy Detweller wants more from life than what she has been getting from living in Kentucky. Most people have a bucket list, but Betsy has created a life list that leads her to Pinecraft Florida where she meets August Troyer. August is a golf instructor at Snow Bird Golf Course and is immediately taken at the sight of Betsy. They start to enjoy each other’s company more and more and don’t want to set things aside and play it safe, sometimes the best things in life are worth fighting for.

Her Only Wish is a quick, clean Amish fiction read that is rare in this day and age. So many novels, even ones that are supposed to be considered clean, have some hidden agenda trying to sneak its way in. A good, clean book is hard to find and I’m happy to say this one will be good to recommend in that way. This is just a great story for people who love to read. I would recommend this to fans of Amish fiction and those that have read the first in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Swindler’s Daughter

Author: Stephenia H. McGee

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: May 2, 2023

An exciting historical romance that exceeded my expectations!

Lillian Doyle is a high-society girl who thought her father died when she was a little girl. She learns that he only recently passed and now she is becoming the heir to all he is leaving behind. She has to go to take possession of her father’s house and when she arrives in Georgia she finds another woman saying it belongs to her son, Jonah. In the struggle to figure out where to go from there, Lillian finds out more about her father, their past, and the not so simple family business left to her.

This is the first book by McGee I have read and after a long string of historical romance novels on my list, this one went in with the rest of the stack. The problem for me with historical romance is they tend to blend together and seem the same after a while. The story was a quick read and full of wholesome content that is great for anyone looking for a clean read without any of the bad stuff so often included in books. I would recommend this to readers that want a historical romance that can be read quickly and easily.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Engaging Deception

Author: Regina Jennings

Series: Joplin Chronicles #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: December 13, 2022

The third book in the Joplin Chronicles is a great addition to the series that readers will not want to put down.

Olive Kentworth loves architecture but has kept it to herself for years. She gets offered a job for a home expansion which isn’t going to keep her love of architecture a secret, except her cousin poses as the builder. On top of that, she takes a position as a nanny for Joplin’s top architect Maxfield Scott who is a widower. It doesn’t take long for Maxfield and Olive to have a connection with each other as she helps with his family and his work unbeknownst to him. With each passing day, Olive’s involvement becomes harder to keep others from finding out and messing up all she has dreamed of.

As the third book in the Joplin Chronicles, it is not necessary to read the first two to enjoy this one as a good clean read. This is a nice easy read, like most of the historical romance I’ve read recently. The romance was woven in with the tension of Olive wanting to pursue her dream, or what she thought was her dream, until she met Maxfield and her view of what her future could be changed. I enjoyed the dynamic of the characters and what they were going through and how it affected them. I recommend this book to those that have read the series and even if they haven’t read the previous in the series this will still be a fun read.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

In This Moment

Author: Gabrielle Meyer

Series: Timeless #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: May 2, 2023

A very different historical romance that was entertaining and captivating.

Maggie Hollingsworth is not your typical girl, she is able to live three separate lives at once, 1861 in Washington D.C., 1941 in Pearl Harbor and 2001 in D.C. Every night she goes to sleep she wakes up at a different time period, which continues until she turns twenty-one when she will have to pick two of the lives to give up along with everyone she knows in those timelines. Each timeline has a different set of people in her life and dreams to try to fulfill. She doesn’t want romance until she knows where she will end up, even with a man in each century trying to win her heart. Based with the hardest decision of her life Maggie, isn’t sure what the right time is for her and her future.

This was such a different historical romance that I found myself in love with. The way Maggie had to go back and forth between the timelines and keep it all straight was such a great story. Gabrielle Meyer is an author that continues to surprise me with her creativity. These time-slip novels are a different breed and one that I am getting more and more in love with. This story kept me glued to the pages from the very beginning until the final page. This is the second book in the series, and I am not sure if more is to come but if it is I will be first in line to read it. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a different kind of story that will be thoroughly entertaining.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Secret to Happiness

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Series: Cape Cod Creamery #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 2, 2023

Return to Cape Cod for another great story!

Callie is at the top of her career, until one mistake brings it all down crashing around her. Needing a place to hide out and determine what is next in her life, Callie flees to Cape Cod to visit her favorite aunt. But her cousin Dawn is not thrilled to see her. There has been some tension in the past that left Dawn feeling second best to Callie. But even Dawn can see that Callie is struggling with depression. To get her out of this, Dawn drags Callie to a local community college class about finding happiness. While skeptical at first, Callie discovers this class, and its instructor, might be just what she needs.

I was so happy to return to the Cape Cod Creamery for another lighthearted feel-good story. This one focuses on Dawn’s cousin Callie and her current distress. Fisher does such a great job of introducing characters who just fold right into your lap and make you want to be their friend. Callie was one of those characters who you felt for right away and just wanted to see her happy again. I also loved meeting new characters as well as visiting some recurring characters from the first book. Such a great read to start off the summer reading season!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Windswept Way

Author: Irene Hannon

Series: Hope Harbor #9

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: April 4, 2023

Another edition to the fantastic Hope Harbor series that will easily sweep readers away into the magic Hannon has created!

Ashley Scott has experienced some difficulties in life recently and decides buying a haunted house in Hope Harbor might be her next step in life. Her new neighbor is Jonathan Gray, a wounded warrior that likes to keep to himself until she must ask for his help. It doesn’t take long for Jonathan to develop feelings for his new neighbor despite his best efforts. This historic town is in for a battle as its newest arrival stirs things up in the hearts of all.

The Hope Harbor series is a fan favorite for a reason, so much to love about this cute little town and those that reside within. Nine books into this series and it is still one that I look forward to picking up and losing myself in this little beach town. Each book has a new set of main characters but also gives us a continuing look at returning characters such as Charlie, he may be the best character in the whole series. His little wise tidbits at his fish taco stand are the best nuggets in each book. Ashley and Jonathan were a good pair of main characters that had a good chemistry and way of moving the story forward. Faith is always a big element in this series and helps the characters through their difficult situations, readers will be able to pull something no matter what they are going through. I always appreciate Irene Hannon’s way of crafting characters and situations that the readers can relate with. This is a great book for those that love contemporary romance and have been following this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Remember Me

Author: Tracie Peterson

Series: Pictures of the Heart #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: March 1, 2023

The start of another great series by Tracie Peterson!

Addie Bryant was forced by her father and brothers up to the Alaskan territory when they wanted to search for gold, but she never thought that her brothers would sell her to the highest bidder just to have some gambling money. Being sold to the owner of a brothel was horrible, but fortunately for Addie the owner only wanted her for himself and took her as a wife. After he is killed in a gambling incident, Addie discovers that everything is left to her and she is a wealthy woman, much to the scorn of her brothers that want her money. She manages to slip away out of Alaska entirely and hopes to never see them again.

Years later in Seattle, Addie is working as a camera girl at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo. Her brothers were arrested for burglary but have been released for good behavior while moving pieces to the expo. They also pick up jobs as custodians at the expo and pick a few pockets while they are there, hoping to run into Addie and her money. Addie’s first true love, Isaac, also shows up at the expo with his class of children and can’t believe he has found her after years of searching. But the past doesn’t heal all wounds and Addie isn’t sure who or what she can trust.

As always, Tracie Peterson crafts a fantastic story where she brings history to light with lovable characters that must overcome hardships. Having this set up in the Pacific Northwest was a nice change and I love how she managed to bring the expo to life for her readers. I also love how she molded Addie and Isaac into who they needed to be to move past hardships brought to them. I know they may not be in the next book, but I can’t wait to see where this goes.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Second Time Around

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: March 7, 2023

A fun quick romance that readers will greatly enjoy!

Mallory Farrell inherits her grandmother’s tourist shop in Seaport, Oregon; however, she doesn’t want to spend the time and energy it would take to get the shop back up and running. That is, until her old crush shows up wanting to add the store to make a cookie cutter outdoor mall. Mallory now has the determination to make the shop what it can be. She catches the eye of a renovation TV producer who wants to feature her shop and the apartment above she has been living in. The apartment is much worse than the shop and Mallory is ashamed, causing her to almost pull out of the show all in trying to keep Grayson at arm’s length.

Melody Carlson is a great contemporary romance author that has a way of transporting readers to a faraway place in her stories. One thing I have come to love about her writing is the way the main characters interact; it is dynamic and fun and with the perfect amount of romance at all the right times. Whenever I pick up a book by Carlson, I know I am going to have a quick and enjoyable read. These are the types of books that when I pick them up, I don’t have to think too much or worry about the story.

In the way that Grayson wanted to turn Mallory’s shop into a cookie cutter shopping mall, this book is somewhat of the same thing. For me at least, contemporary romance novels are very much cookie cutter books. That’s not a bad thing as much if you are just looking for a quick read that doesn’t require much thinking. They are still entertaining, but readers don’t have to worry about a deep story. And in the world that we live in that can be great sometimes.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.