“The Gentleman Spy” by Erica Vetsch -a Read with Audra Tour with Giveaway

“The Gentleman Spy” by Erica Vetsch

Book Two in the Serendipity and Secrets Series

Review copy from the publishers through Read with Audra Tours

My rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

He only wanted a duchess for a day–but she’s determined to make it a marriage for life

When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she’s meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life–as a secret agent for the Crown.

But his bride has other ideas. She’s determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society–the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she’d remain in the background as he ordered.

Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?

 

My Thoughts:

 

 

I have been eagerly anticipating this book ever since finishing the last pages of the first book in this series, The Lost Lieutenant. And oh my did it not disappoint! I vastly enjoyed this novel, and found myself absorbed into its pages immediately.Marcus and Charlotte are so marvelous, on their own and together. They just really came to life, and I enjoyed seeing their stories play out and intertwine.I really do love the trope of marriage-of-convenience, and discovering how the characters fall in love afterwards. They’re so sweet.The mystery thread in The Gentleman Spy was well done, and the pace of it all moved along splendidly. I loved Charlotte’s heart for the downtrodden, and Marcus’ full-support. Really, this was a great story, and I once again eagerly await the next book in the series. :)

 

 

Giveaway!

To enter this lovely giveaway, either click the image above, or go HERE!

 

 

 

About the Author:

 

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

“An Appalachian Summer” by Ann H Gabehart ~ Book Review

“An Appalachian Summer” by Ann H Gabehart

Review copy from the Revell Reads

My rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

In 1933, most people are focused on the Great Depression but all Piper Danson can think about is how to get out of being a debutante and marrying Braxton Crandall. In an act of defiance, Piper volunteers as a frontier nursing courier in the Appalachian Mountains where adventure awaits.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this story, set during the 1930’s in the Appalachian mountains. Piper was a likeable character right away, as was Jamie. I loved their relationship throughout, even in the ups and downs that it took to get them to the end. Very sweet.

Piper undertakes quite an adventure as she forgoes her debutante season for a summer spent in the Appalachian Mountains, volunteering with the Frontier Nurse Service as a courier.

I loved being able to follow along this adventure, and experience this world alongside her. The story kept an even pace, and gave wonderful glimpses into the mountain life.

I also really like how Piper’s aunt Truda had a bit of her own story – that was really sweet, and added a great touch to this novel.

An Appalachian Summer was a truly sweet and delightful novel that I would definitely recommend!

*I received a copy of this book from the publishers. I was not required to give a positive review.

“Window Fellow” by Faith Potts

Faith Potts has released a new short story, and I’m pleased to be joining in the celebration, and sharing my review of this sweet story! :)

 

 

 

 

Short Story

My rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

What can you hide through a window? 

 Annalyse never expected to make a friend through a window, but her talks with the guy who lives next to the bus stop have become a favorite part of her day. But when a sudden schedule change reveals a secret he hadn’t meant to share, is there anything she can do to make things right? Or is their window friendship broken beyond repair?

My Thoughts:

 

This was a very sweet story! It was only about 13 pages long, so very easy to read in one sitting, yet it is not so short that there isn’t a story you can be fond of. The two main characters were both very endearing, and I loved their little exchanges. I would’ve loved to see how their story continued ;) Very well written, and well-developed especially for its length!

 

 

You can add it on Goodreads Here.

Two Reviews: Miss Tavistock’s Mistake by Linore Rose Burkard, and The Foolish Things by Rebekah Tyne McKamie

I’m going to be posting two reviews in one post today just because I can. ^.^

 

Miss Tavistock’s Mistake by Linore Rose Burkard

Regency romance fiction

My rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

Young Miss Tavistock is promised in marriage to Captain Rempeare by the wish of her dearly departed papa. But the captain’s been at sea for a decade. When she finally meets him, tempestuous sparks fly, and she impulsively adopts a daring false identity. Going by “Lady X,” she vows never to marry such an infuriating man.
Captain Gabriel Rempeare is prepared to fulfill his duty and marry Miss Tavistock—if only he can clap eyes on her. One circumstance or another keeps them apart, though he cannot seem to avoid the beautiful, maddening, Lady X. When fate throws them together in London, Miss Tavistock discovers the real nature of the captain, and regrets her subterfuge. But can such a noble man forgive deceit? Or has her mistake already cost her everything?

 

My Thoughts:

 

This book takes place primarily in London, England 1811, and tells the story and mishaps of  a Miss Feodora Margaret Tavistock. The beginning was a bit slow, but the pace did pick up a bit more towards the middle. The ruse Miss Tavistock goes through to disguise herself from Captain Rempeare was amusing at first, though I admit that I found the lie to continue much too long. There were entertaining parts of the story, and the setting/time felt realistic, but Miss Tavistock was definitely very immature in my opinion, and sometimes her desire to continue the lie, and her behavior as a whole wore on me.I liked the Captain very well – he was very kind and understanding. Miss Tavistock’s companion, Mrs. Filbert was also a very good character.Just because I couldn’t really connect to Miss Tavistock and her story doesn’t mean that others won’t. This book might become a favorite of many, especially those who like light-hearted, sometimes silly, regency stories. I am glad to have had the chance to try it. :)

This book was provided courtesy of the author/publisher, through Interviews & Reviews.

 

 

 

“The Foolish Things” by Rebekah Tyne McKamie

Contemporary fiction

My rating: 2 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

Sharon Mehlmann’s obesity, emotional weakness, and pessimism have caused her close-knit family to rearrange their lives to encourage her. But with Self-Doubt relentlessly persecuting them all, Sharon and her family may ultimately succumb to their weaknesses – leaving plenty of opportunity for God’s glory.

“…For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10

 

My Thoughts:

No matter how much I do or  don’t enjoy a book, I always love trying new authors. I deeply appreciate the work, heart, and effort they put into their novels.

I personally had a hard time getting into this book and feeling any depth of attachment to it.  While the blurb given on the back of the book doesn’t disclose much at all, the story itself seemed like it was a strong concept. And perhaps if it was told a different way, I might have been more engaged. But it is told through the perspective of Self-Doubt, which states itself as being neither a demon or a spirit but a tool. I understand that we need to be weak so that God can be strong, but how the story was told felt kind of creepy, more like from a demon’s perspective and that really threw me off, to be honest. There would be a couple times where I’d forget it was written this way, but then it would end a sentence in something like “And that’s where I came in.” etc. I just don’t think that the story’s concept was best displayed through this vehicle of perspective.

By the back cover blurb, I also assumed it would be primarily about Sharon. However, the story gravitates more so towards her friend, LD/Georgie and her brother Sean, who had an odd start to a relationship but got where they needed to be in the end. Sharon’s story came more towards the end, and I liked parts of it, but I struggled with how much it was stressed that she was SO overweight and morbidly obese, and then they name a number  – in my opinion, when talking about weight problems, numbers shouldn’t be mentioned because every body type is different and the number on a scale can read the same for two people but show totally different. We understood from words alone how she struggled with her weight, but to name a number felt overdone. As someone who has struggled with weight myself, I’ve had to realize that the scale tells a different story for each person and what may be overweight for someone might be considered healthy on another body type.

In conclusion, it was an interesting read, just not personally a hit for me.

  This book was provided courtesy of the author/publisher  through Interviews & Reviews.

 

“What Momma Left Behind” by Cindy K Sproles ~ Book Review

“What Momma Left Behind” by Cindy K Sproles

Historical Fiction

Review copy from the publishers through Revell Reads Program

My rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

Worie Dressar is seventeen years old when influenza and dysentery ravage her Appalachian Mountain community in 1898, leaving behind a growing number of orphaned children with no way to care for themselves. Worie’s mother has been secretly feeding a number of these little ones on Sourwood Mountain. But when she dies suddenly, Worie is left to figure out why and how she was caring for them.
Plagued with two good-for-nothing brothers–one greedy and the other a drunkard–Worie fights to save her home and the orphaned children now in her begrudging care. Along the way, she will discover the beauty of unconditional love and the power of forgiveness as she cares for all of Momma’s children.

Storyteller and popular speaker Cindy K. Sproles pens a tender novel full of sacrifice, heartache, and courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

 

My Thoughts:

 

This is a unique story! It takes place in the late 1800’s, in the Appalachian Mountains, and it is written in what felt like a very authentic way. I was very impressed. The whole story moved along smoothly, and I really liked the main character, Worie. Right away we are taken with her plight.

There was a lot of sorrow in her story, but the lessons she learned were heartfelt and true. And all the children…how precious. I also really like Justice – Worie’s brother. He had his own trials and struggles, but I love how they pulled together towards the end.

This whole story is very well written, engaging, and sweet. As I said, it has its sorrows and trials, but it is a uniquely beautiful story that reaches the heart.

Looking forward to reading more by this author!

 

 

*I received a copy of this book from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review.

“The Heart of a Hero” by Susan May Warren ~ JustRead Tour, Review

 

“The Heart of a Hero” by Susan May Warren

Book Two in the Global Search and Rescue Series

Review copy from publishers through JustRead Tours

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

Rescuing Aria Sinclair is just what former SEAL Jake Silver needs in order to redeem his past mistakes. Keeping her distance from Jake is what Aria needs to protect her heart. As a hurricane turns paradise into peril, they must save themselves and others in this story of second chances and survival–and the cost of both.

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

The first book in this series had me already wanting to read Jake and Aria’s story, so I was so glad when I got the chance to dive into The Heart of a Hero! I really like these two characters. Especially Jake. He’s complex, and wounded, but a very strong character. Same can be said for Aria.

Once again, they are put through some very dire circumstances, this time trapped in a hurricane. The danger was abundant, and the action continuous, though my favorite part was seeing how their relationship grew and worked together. They each had to face some inner battles, and there was a lot of running from each other at times. I will say that I feel like there were a couple too many “trauma’s” right after another. I know books like these don’t really have to be realistic, and usually I’m not a stickler for all novels being completely realistic, but especially towards the end in this book, it was just one more thing after the other and it didn’t really feel natural. It just felt like the typical story line of the trick happily-ever-after then something bad happens again to separate the characters and make them question each other – they make up and almost get their happily-ever-after but then some big event happens again.And I know that this isn’t a problem for a lot of people, and many will love the nonstop occurrences. I just felt for myself that the end few things weren’t really necessary to the story.

The ending of this novel was very good, though it didn’t really feel as much as Jake and Aria’s ending as it was the beginning of Ham’s story. Which I now need to read even more! Looking forward to the next book’s release for sure!

There was a good faith message in The Heart of a Hero that I did appreciate. It was really good to see Jake and Aria both come to a place of healing. The characters were all well-written, as usual, and I enjoyed seeing more of all of them!

If you like action packed books, you’ll love this one. :)

 

 

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion

“On a Coastal Breeze” by Suzanne Woods Fisher ~ Book Review

 

 

“On a Coastal Breeze” by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Book Two in the Three Sisters Island Series

My rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

 

About the Book:

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.

 

My Thoughts:

Second book in the Three Sisters Island series, “On a Coastal Breeze” focuses primarily on middle daughter, Maddie Greyson. She’s finally set up her own counseling practice on the Island, and is doing quite well at it, getting a good handle on life…or so she thought, until a person from her pasts shows up.

I really liked the dynamic between Maddie and Rick. It wasn’t a simple relationship, but it was unique and growing. Though really, the romance wasn’t actually as prominant a theme in this book as I expected. The theme was more on forgiveness, and overcoming fear and anxiety. The plot was really well written, and I very much enjoyed getting a glimpse into Maddie’s counseling practice as well.

As with the first book, this story continued to show pieces from each daughter as well as their father, which was a nice touch. Cam could be a little hard for me to relate to at times, but she did grow in this book. And Blaine – she is a likeable character who faces some of her own trials in this book. Looking forward to seeing more of her story!

The ending almost came too soon – I would’ve enjoyed having it go longer! – but it certainly gives us readers something to look forward to in the third book. I’ve grown quite fond of the Greyson family and their little Maine Island. :)

  This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group (Revell), through Interviews & Reviews.

“The Lost Lieutenant” by Erica Vetsch ~ I Read With Audra Book Tour, book review and GIVEAWAY

 

 

“The Lost Lieutenant” by Erica Vetsch

Book One in the Serendipity and Secrets Series

Review copy from the publishers

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

 

 

About the Book:

He’s doing what he can to save the Prince Regent’s life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well? Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero–he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn’t think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.
Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn’t have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there’s something he can’t quite remember. It’s important, dangerous–and if he doesn’t recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone’s very life.

 

 

My Thoughts:

I love a good Regency story, and this one was a lovely tale indeed. The story moved along at a decent pace, and kept me intrigued the entire duration, leaving me a little sad to leave its pages upon completion. And the snippet for the next book only left me wanting more too. ^.^One of my favorite ‘tropes’ in novels are marriage of convenience stories, and this one rather fit that bill. It was really great to get to know the characters and watch how they grew despite being thrown together in a manner they didn’t necessarily wish. How it all drew to conclusion was quite satisfying as well, and I liked seeing everything tied up in the end!  The whole story was delightfully done, and I am eager to continue with the series!

 

 

Giveaway!

 

Click on the photo above to go to the giveaway or click HERE.

 

 

About the Author:

 

 

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Twitter (@EricaVetsch), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

 

 

 

 

 

 

*I received a copy of this book from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review.

 

 

 

“Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish” by Bethany Turner ~ Review (and MBTI mention!)

 

@vikinglady10

 

 

Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish by Bethany Turner

RomCom: Releases Tuesday, May 5th (TODAY!!!)

Review copy from the publisher/author as apart of Launch Team

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanaugh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel’s other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.
When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he’s sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public’s good graces is to work alongside Hadley.

As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.
Fan-favorite Bethany Turner serves up a heaping helping of humor and romance with this thoroughly modern story centered on cooking, enemies, and second chances.

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

I don’t cook or bake. At least, I don’t particularly enjoy it. So one might ask, why are you reading a very Foodie Novel? And the answer to that, besides the fact that the story itself sounds amazing obviously, is because Bethany Turner wrote it. As soon as I read her debut novel, The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck, I was hooked on this author’s writing style. It is so unique, and fun, and witty. So of course I could not miss out on another book by her!

And of course, I utterly enjoyed this one too. Surprise! ;) The story plot was really good, and the characters fabulous. The dynamics were a joy to see played out, and seeing Max transform was especially nice. Hadley was a sweetheart of a character, and I could relate to her on many levels (except the cooking/baking… haha). Max was detestable at first, and I really wondered how we would grow to love him. But we did, we really did.

I will say that I wish there was a bit more emphasis on faith. It was very subtly present, and I still feel that the author was respectful of that, but I think Max’s transformation could have had a lot more ‘oomph’ had the emphasis been more on God’s tranformation in us.

Still, I vastly enjoyed this book, and I’m sad to see it’s over. That just means I have to wait AGAIN for another Bethany Turner book…and that is quite difficult.  I guess I will just have to appease myself with rereads of the authors three published novels so far. ;)

I don’t actually know if I’ve mentioned here on my blog yet, but I’ve been studying personality types for a while now, and am in the middle of a series on my Instagram where I type characters from books and movies every Monday (God-willing, of course!). It’s been a lot of fun, and yesterday I typed Hadley and Max from this wonderful book! You can check that out on my Instagram – my username is @vikinglady10 . :)

 

“Desert Willow” by Patricia Beal ~ CelebrateLit Blog Tour/Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Book:  Desert Willow

Author: Patricia Beal

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 12, 2020

After a failed engagement, Captain Andrew Lee James has focused on building a career in the Army he loves. That commitment includes helping a feisty, out-of-work ballerina whose devotion to her grandmother’s dying wish immediately grabs his heart. She’s the one, but will he be able to win the heart of a woman who has vowed to never be involved with a soldier?

College graduate Clara Malone swore to never love anyone in the military again but when her dying grandmother asks her to deliver a love letter to the general who broke her heart decades ago, she agrees and finds herself escorted by a handsome Army captain whose kindness challenges her beliefs. Surrounded by desert willows that shower her path with pretty pink flowers and sing with the buzzing of hummingbirds, Clara enjoys the wild beauty of El Paso—and her time with Andrew—more than expected.

Can she deliver her grandmother’s last love letter without losing her heart to a man who represents everything she fears?

Click HERE to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Patricia Beal is a 2015 Genesis semi-finalist and First Impressions finalist. A Season to Dance is her debut novel (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, May 2017). Her second novel comes out in February of 2020. Patricia graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati in 1998 with a B.A. in English Literature and has worked for the U.S. Army as a writer and editor for many years. Patricia writes from Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and two children. You can find more info about Patricia on her website here.

 

More from Patricia

Desert Willow: A Love Song to the City of El Paso, to Family, and to Prince Harry

I enjoy this story so much! It’s great to finally get to share it with you.

Desert Willow started as a NaNoWriMo project in 2015 and has a lot of my grandma’s history in it—life in the German colonies of the south of Brazil, the beginning of the shoe industry there, and the story of the most influential man her town has ever known, my great-grandfather.

And what does that have to do with El Paso and Prince Harry?

Well, my Prince Harry lookalike, a young Army captain named Andrew Lee James who lives in El Paso, is helping the protagonist deliver her grandmother’s last love letter, a letter she was urged to write all those years ago after what happened in Brazil.

The contemporary story of Clara (protagonist) and Andrew was fun to write too because I’ve been around the Army since the nineties. We moved to Fort Bliss/El Paso in 2012 and lived there for six years. I thought I was going to hate it, but I loved it, so I just had to write an El Paso story.

Now I think that what I enjoyed the most about writing this novel was making all the connections and showing how the actions of a distant past affect and inform the modern story so deeply.

Some of you have journeyed with me for a while and know that my debut, A Season to Dance, was my salvation process. What comes after salvation can be hard. What’s that? Well, looking at past mistakes through God’s eyes and realizing just how wrong we were, for starters.

We know how quickly God forgives us, but can we forgive ourselves and each other as quickly?

Desert Willow deals with all that. And with Prince Harry… 😊

 

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

This was a well written story about Clara Malone, a ballerina, and Andrew James, a Captain in the Army. Despite their initial background hesitations to start a relationship, they are undeniably drawn to each other upon first meeting, and this story follows their relationship as they each deal with their own struggles, and forgivenes.

There’s, of course, more to their story than that, but I figure you can read the description to get a better understanding ;)

I enjoy the author’s writing style, and it’s easy to stay interested. I didn’t really connect with either character, but I still enjoyed seeing their story play out. There were a couple instances where their actions bugged me (not their past decisions…), but I was glad to see them resolved. The message of faith was accomplished in a delicate but meaningful way and I appreciated that being the end goal of the story.

I also enjoyed the ballet aspect – I’ve never been in or around ballet, but it’s interesting to read about.

 I received an electronic copy from the publishers through Celebrate Lit. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate her tour, Patricia is giving away the grand prize of a Kindle Fire 7 (https://amzn.to/37TEN21)!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f8de/desert-willow-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Texas Book-aholic, April 17

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Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 18

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The Christian Fiction Girl, April 19

Rebecca Tews, April 19

Emily Yager, April 20

Simple Harvest Reads, April 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Hallie Reads, April 20

Inklings and notions, April 21

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 21

Reflections From My Bookshelves, April 22

Godly Book Reviews, April 22

For Him and My Family, April 23

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, April 23

As He Leads is Joy, April 24

God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae, April 24

A Reader’s Brain, April 25

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Pause for Tales, April 26

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