Dancing With Fireflies by Denise Hunter ~My Review

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments
Dancing with Fireflies
Amazon ~Pre-order Link
Releases on 3/11/14

About the book~
Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.

Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she’d never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.

The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He’s loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she’s back, his feelings are stronger than ever.

As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she’s hiding secrets from her family, and she’s strangely attracted to the man who’s always called her “squirt.” Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.


Sharing my review~
“I hate to ask another favor, but–” This one was harder than the last. More personal.
“Go on.” His voice was deeper than she remembered.
“It’s just that you know so many people, what with being the mayor and all. I was going to ask Ryan, but he tends to be, well, too brotherly, and if left up to him I’m afraid I’d never–“
“Spit it out, Jade.”
“I need a man.”

Some scenes were just laugh-out-loud funny. Other times, I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. Jade had been in love once, but after her fiance died, she vowed she’d never go down that road again. So when she discovers she’s pregnant, love isn’t included on her “list” of qualities for a husband. Daniel helps her out with a date, but inside, he’s dying, only wanting what’s best for her, but that isn’t him. At times, I wanted to throttle Jade. The perfect man for her was right in front of her face, and it took her awhile to realize that. Even then, she still makes some wrong decisions, but who could fault her for all she’d been through? I probably would have made the same choices.

Daniel’s a hero who never gives up on the love of his life, no matter how far she runs or how long she stays away, or how many times she overlooks him for somebody else. Kinda reminds you of somebody else, doesn’t it? What a gentle, intrinsic way to weave faith into the story. 


I thoroughly enjoyed A December Bride and her short piece in Smitten, and after reading this little goodie, I plan to snatch up some of her older titles! Dancing with Fireflies is a great book to curl up with in the evenings, to take on vacation, sitting in the carpool line, soaking in the tub….you get the idea. It’s perfect for any time!


Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reviewing this book. I received a free copy of Dancing With Fireflies in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. This opinion is my own, and I received no compensation.

Call for submissions: A new imprint from Pelican Book Group

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments

————Permission to forward is granted————

Pelican Book Group announces a New Adult romance imprint. Pelican Pure Amore romances will be distributed through an exclusive direct-to-reader subscription service.


Pelican Pure Amore^(TM)
Sweet Romance, Pure Enjoyment ^(TM)

Pelican Pure Amore^(TM) romances are sweet in tone and in conflict. These stories are the emotionally-driven tales of youthful Christians who are striving to live their faith in a world where Christ-centered choices may not fully be understood.

Plots should not contain overly hard-hitting or controversial subjects but should be hope-filled, enjoyable reads that don’t come with a lot of excess baggage. Stories should be written in an active, engaging style that leaves the reader satisfied and smiling. Plots should focus on the love between a man and a woman who both hold God at the center of their lives and who have never been married. The hero and heroine will exhibit traditional Christian values but also should be three-dimensional and therefore exhibit flaws as well as virtues.

  • Neither the hero nor heroine can have been married before. No divorced, separated, or widowed protagonists
  • Both Hero and Heroine should be Christians throughout. While Pure Amore^(TM) may feature subplots that include the hero or heroine rediscovering or growing to a deeper faith, these are not stories centered on conversion. Therefore, both Hero and Heroine must be Christian at the onset.
  • Either the hero or heroine, or both, must be a virgin. That means they must be physical virgin as opposed to being a “rededicated” virgin, and this fact must be addressed naturally within the context of the story.
  • These are stories of Christians living Christian lives. Characters should adhere to mainline Christianity, but should not be preachy or didactic. The Christian element and/or lesson should be inherent to the characterizations and so should come through in the protagonists’ natural actions/reactions to events and people around them.
  • Heroes and heroines must be between the ages of 21 and 33, inclusive.
  • ALL titles must be between 40,000 and 45,000 words. No exceptions.

Pure Amore^(TM) romances emphasize the beauty in chastity, so physical interactions such as kissing or hugging should focus on the characters’ emotions rather than heightened sexual desire, and any scenes of physical intimacy should be absolutely integral to the plot and/or
emotional development of the character or relationship.

At this time, we are interested in finished manuscripts only. Please do not query unless your manuscript is complete. Please visit our web site for the access to the submission form. http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ (short URL: http://pelink.us/write4pbg )

God Bless,
Pelican Book Group
http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com
http://www.facebook.com/PelicanBookGroup
http://twitter.com/pelicanbookgrp/
White Rose * Harbourlight * Watershed * Pure Amore

Head In The Clouds by Karen Witemeyer ~Sharing My Review

/ Dora Hiers
Purchase Link~B&N

About the book~

Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.

When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America’s wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn’t uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon–and intrigues him at the same time. But he can’t afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.
When Isabella’s uncle comes to claim the child–and her inheritance–Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man’s evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?

Sharing My Review~

Adelaide Proctor abandons her teaching position to follow the man she believes will provide her with the family she so desperately longs for. Not that Henry Belcher makes her heart race, but she’s waited a long time for him to propose. When she finally catches up to him, she accepts that there won’t be a proposal. Grieving the loss of the family she’d dreamed of, she applies for a governess position, determined to follow God’s cloud, just like the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness. I love how the title was such an integral part of the story. 
The plot dragged a bit during the narration regarding Lucinda’s journal, but for the most part, I was glued to the pages and couldn’t wait to get back into the story whenever I had a chance. Head in the Clouds is sure to make you consider some deep topics like…why God doesn’t always intervene to prevent suffering. 

I especially appreciate how Gideon and Adelaide come to love each other without the snippy dialog that’s common in many historicals, but rather, from a mutual admiration and respect for one another that develops into something deep and genuine. Adelaide’s inherently clumsy,  creative, stubborn and loyal, and when she tugs a smile from sweet little Isabella, Gideon can’t help but fall for her. As I have come to learn, Karen Witemeyer books never disappoint! Head in the Clouds is another awesome read that will keep your head in the pages. Pure enjoyment!

Disclosure: I scooped up Head in the Clouds while it was offered free on Amazon. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.