inspirational romance

On My Kindle ~ Remember Me by Lara Van Hulzen

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments
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The Cover Story~

Detective Ben Russo is in trouble.

He just can’t remember why.

When a car accident lands Ben in the hospital, he can’t recall anything about his life. What he does know is he’s enchanted by a tiny nurse named Tess, but can’t shake the feeling they’re both in danger.

After being left at the altar, Tess Jansenn moves to a new town and starts over. When her ex-fiancé, Ben, shows up in the ER where she works with no memory of her, she must decide – tell Ben who he is or let him remember on his own.

Can Tess forgive and forget what drove them apart, and when Ben remembers, will the consequences of his choices make it too late for love?

Sharing My Thoughts~
Tess Jansenn is finally moving on after ex-fiance, Ben Russo, abandoned her just before their wedding. That doesn’t mean she’s over Ben, and he surely never stopped loving Tess. When Ben shows back up mysteriously, she must choose whether to turn her back on him or help, and that wasn’t an easy choice.
I just love romances about second chances and Remember Me fits the bill! It’s also a great reminder that things aren’t always as they seem, which is especially true of this book. Not just once, but three times I slapped my forehead with a “Wow! I didn’t see that one coming!” The gentle faith thread just ratchets it up several notches for me on the “ahhh” scale. 🙂

“I believe we meet God in places that aren’t always buildings. For me, sometimes church is out there.” She motioned to the water with her chin. 

Remember Me is Lara Van Hulzen’s debut novel, and I LOVED it! I’m already tapping my foot, waiting impatiently for the next one, Get to Me, which I was thrilled to discover will feature Dane and Aimee. I dug into Remember Me at the start of a six hour drive to visit our son, and didn’t stop devouring it until the last page. It was that good!

Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of Remember Me. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

On My Kindle ~ Celtic Cross by Tammy Doherty

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments
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The Cover Story~

A stranger arrives on the Donovan ranch just one breath away from dead. Matt Donovan does not hesitate to help, despite her unknown past. What happened to this woman? Who is she? Will the man who shot her come riding down the trail after her, shattering peaceful Glenpark, Colorado?

When Cristeen wakes, she can remember nothing of her past. Only one thought haunts her day and night: trust no one. Matt fears Cristeen’s fierce independence will lead only to tragedy. Can he help Cristeen see the need to trust the Lord before it is too late? Can Cristeen overcome her belief that loving can only bring heartache?

Then a madman bent on revenge tracks her down. Matt cannot rescue Cristeen this time. Only the Lord can save her now…if she has enough faith to trust. Can she overcome the past and learn to trust?


My Thoughts~
I must confess I was reluctant to pick up this book because of the title, but I needn’t have hesitated. Cristeen rarely speaks Celtic, just a couple occasions, but the title comes from her constant fiddling of a Celtic cross, a gift from her mother. Fiercely independent but lacking self-esteem, she grew up trying to be the son her father wanted and is more comfortable in the barn hanging out with the horses than inside a kitchen. Matt Donovan watched his mother wilt and die on the ranch and vowed never to marry a woman who didn’t love the secluded ranch life as much as he did. 

I enjoyed the unusual way the author segued into new chapters, and that this was a love story from beginning to end. But while Matt and Cristeen are drawn to each other, both must overcome internal obstacles.

“I can hire a housekeeper. That’s not what I was looking for. I want a ‘heart-keeper.'” ~Matt

Don’t you just love that? I appreciated the gentle faith thread weaved in this sweet romance. In some areas, head-hopping had me a little confused, but overall, Celtic Cross kept me turning pages because I cared about the characters and wanted them to have their happily-ever-after. 


Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of Celtic Cross. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

On My Kindle ~ Jingle Belle by Delia Latham

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments
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What happens when you cross an ambitious chauvinistic Italian restaurateur with a successful ad writer? A spectacular fireworks display followed by a romance sweeter than Cannoli.

Nick Santini locks wills with jingle writer, Belle Knowles, when her catchy promo isn’t up to his standard. How dare he insinuate her work isn’t good enough! With her reputation on the line, Belle gets to work, determined to satisfy every customer, even one as stubborn as Nick. Each deals with different issues: Nick, lingering effects of a childhood trauma, and Belle, pride. 

Just like I’d savor a serving of lasagna, taking one delicious bite after another, the onions and tomato sauce, the cheeses and pasta melting in my mouth, I enjoyed peeling back the emotional layers of Nick and Belle, whose chemistry sparkled and danced from the very first page. 

With a playful cover and catchy title, three-dimensional characters, and an enchanting story weaved with a strong faith message, Jingle Belle is a fabulous book to curl up with over the holidays! 

Disclaimer: I purchased Jingle Belle. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.