romance

Sharing my Review of GROOM WANTED by Debra Ullrick

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments

The Blurb:
It’s a perfect plan—best friends Leah Bowen and Jake Lure will each advertise for mail-order spouses in the papers, and then Jake will help select Leah’s future husband, while Leah picks Jake’s bride-to-be! Surely the ads will find them what they seek: a wife who’ll appreciate Jake’s shy charm and a groom who’ll take Leah away from the Idaho Territory she detests. When the responses to the postings pour in, it seems all Leah’s and Jake’s dreams will soon come true. But the closer they each get to the altar, the less appealing marrying a stranger becomes. Is it too late to turn back—or to turn around and find the happiness they truly seek together, at last?

My Review:

Leah rejected best friend Jake’s “marriage of convenience” proposal, intent on finding a husband from New York so she could leave behind the awful nightmares of her father’s death. She didn’t consider that those bad memories would follow her. Jake’s ad garners more responses, but Leah figures she hit the jackpot when wealthy Fitzwilliam Barrington and his sister arrive to determine if Leah is suitable marriage material. Jake and Leah’s friendship evolves into something stronger and deeper as they recognize and appreciate the endearing qualities in one another.

Historicals aren’t typically my genre of choice, but Debra Ullrick’s turning me into a historical lover. I enjoyed getting to know Leah and Jake, real next-door-neighbor-type characters, and journeying with them as they discovered who their hearts belonged to. At times, I wanted to have a serious talk with Leah. How could she be so willing to marry a snobby, arrogant Fitzwilliam when sweet Jake was right there in front of her? Ms. Ullrick crafted a book with great conflict and a powerful, timeless message, that God’s plans are so much better than we could ever imagine. I would have liked more physical tension throughout the book, but that’s just me. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one!

Purchase Link ~ Love Inspired Historical Available August 2012

Debra Ullrick is a multi-published, award-winning author. For years, Debra has lived on a working cattle ranch in the Colorado Rocky Mountains with her husband of thirty-seven years and her daughter, which brings authenticity to her books that are set in the country and in the historical West. Besides following Christ, her passions include: reading, writing, drawing Western art, feeding wild birds, animals, and watching Jane Austen movies, COPS, Little People, Big World, and Castle. She is also a ginormous fan of classic muscle cars, mud-bog racing and monster trucks.

Debra loves to hear from her readers. You can find her online at: Facebook, Twitter and Shoutlife. Or you can contact her through her website at http://www.debraullrick.com. While there, check out Debra’s other available titles.

Disclosure: I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.

Sharing my review of BRENNA’S CHOICE by Mary Manners

/ Dora Hiers

The Blurb:
When Brenna Langdon reluctantly returns to Collins, Oklahoma for her best friend’s wedding, the last person she expects to run into is Luke Morgan…the rancher who befriended her years ago following her parents’ sudden death. Luke is strong, gentle, and impossibly handsome…just what Brenna needs. Except for one thing–he loves his ranch…and the slow-paced solitude of Collins. Painful memories of her parents’ death and the agony of living in Collins with a cruel aunt and uncle have made Brenna vow to never return…except for the wedding. Three days, and she’s out of there–back to her high-powered, fast-paced marketing job in Chicago. But Luke has other plans…to chase painful memories away and bring Brenna home to Collins, for good.

My Review:
Short, sweet, and a perfect pick-me-up!

A short read packed with great sensory details, like Brenna’s impatience as she waits to exit the plane (we can all relate, right?) and the smells you’ll find on an Oklahoma ranch. Brenna only remembers the bad times in the small city she left behind, but Luke helps her rediscover the gems in Collins. At 23 pages, you may feel the romance is a bit rushed, but it’s the perfect size to pack a happily-ever-after into your lunch hour!

Purchase Link ~ White Rose Publishing

Disclosure: I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.

My Review of THE DOCTOR’S DEVOTION by Cheryl Wyatt

/ Dora Hiers

The Blurb:
When he fled Eagle Point years ago, former air force trauma surgeon Mitch Wellington left only broken dreams behind. Now he’s back with a new dream—opening a trauma center in the rural area and saving lives. He hopes to hire the quick-thinking nurse who impressed him during an emergency. But Lauren Bates lost her faith and doesn’t believe she deserves to help anyone. Mitch knows firsthand what loss feels like. And it’ll take all his devotion to show Lauren that sometimes the best medicine is a combination of faith, community—and love.

My Review:
A hefty loan for a startup sewing business chains former nurse Lauren Bates to Texas, far from the grandfather who raised her. On a break before her new business officially opens, Lauren visits and finds her grandfather’s once undivided attention riveted on someone else. Dr. Mitch Wellington. Her grandfather even calls Mitch “son.” With so little time before she must head back to Texas, Lauren doesn’t intend to share her grandfather’s time or love, if she can help it. But, Mitch loves her grandfather, too, and shows his devotion by tackling a long to-do list and buying groceries. Soon, Lauren longs for faith, and Mitch, to be a permanent part of her life, too.

Jealousy is an ugly emotion, but the author crafts it into a powerful tool of conflict between Lauren and Mitch, taking us on their journey from jealousy to love in believable steps. The beautiful imagery Ms. Wyatt paints makes me long to visit Illinois again with fresh eyes. You’ll enjoy so many great aspects in The Doctor’s Devotion~from the cover to the plot and the totally sweet ending. Don’t miss it!

Disclosure: I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.

Meet Cheryl Wyatt~
Cheryl Wyatt’s closest friends would never dream the mayhem she plots during announcements at church. An RN-turned-SAHM, joyful chaos rules her home and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room. This award-winning author is convinced that having been born on a Naval base on Valentine’s Day destined her to write military romance. Her first two novels received Top Picks from Romantic Times, and her debut novel also received the high honor of being one of Eharlequin’s Top-Ten-Most-Blogged-About-Books. Visit her on the Web at http://www.CherylWyatt.com. Sign up for her newsletter there for news and chances to enter contests with great prizes. Hang with her in the blogoshpere at http://www.Scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com. You can also find her skittering around Steeple Hill’s message boards as “Scrollsquirrel” at http://www.SteepleHill.com. Cheryl loves to hear from her readers. You may contact her at Cheryl@CherylWyatt.com