romance

ACFW August 2012 New Releases

/ Dora Hiers
I can’t wait to sink into my recliner with a few of these! What about you? See any books that you have to squeeze into your summer reading schedule?
Words in the Wind (Gateway to Gannah #2) by Yvonne Anderson — Marooned in a desolate canyon half a planet from home, a lone survivor struggles to separate reality from illusion. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy from Risen Books).
Her Good Name by Ruth Axtell — When a girl from the other side of the tracks does everything to get the attention of the town’s leading citizen, she finds out too late it means little if she doesn’t have his heart. (Historical Romance from River North (Moody).
Avenir Eclectia, Volume 1 by Grace Bridges, Pauline Creeden, Kat Heckenbach, Keven Newsome, H.A. Titus, Fred Warren and more — A human colony in the constellation of the Whale struggles to survive on an aging orbital station peopled with bureaucrats, wizards, beggars and cyborgs, and a violently unstable planet overrun with giant bugs and telepathic sea creatures. (Speculative Fiction from Splashdown Books).
Something Blue by Dianne Christner — Life is going well for Megan Weaver. She has the job of her dreams working with Chance Campbell, a charming and daring missionary pilot. Then Micah Zimmerman moves into her parents’ home as a pastoral candidate for the Big Darby Conservative Mennonite church. It wouldn’t be so bad, except Megan remembers her unkindness to Micah as a gawky young man who once had a crush on her in college. But even though Micah has improved, he’s nothing compared to Chance. Micah finds that his heart for Megan hasn’t changed, but he’s having to battle to keep the single… (Romance from Barbour).
Over the Edge by Mary Connealy — Seth Kincaid survived a fire in a cave, but he’s never been the same. He was always a reckless youth, but now he’s gone over the edge. He ran off to the Civil War and came back crazier than ever. After the war, nearly dead from his injuries, it appears Seth got married. Oh, he’s got a lot of excuses, but his wife isn’t happy to find out Seth doesn’t remember her. Callie has searched, prayed, and worried. Now she’s come to the Kincaid family’s ranch in Colorado to find her lost husband. (Historical Romance from Bethany House).
Living in Harmony by Mary Ellis — Amy King must reconcile her past relationship with a shunned aunt before she can become any man’s wife and take her place in a new and alien community. (Contemporary Romance from Harvest House).
Hearts in the Mist by Elizabeth Goddard — While Artisan Sela Fox runs her gift shop, she creates rare and beautiful guitars from redwood burl just as her husband had until his death. When land developer Evan Black shows up on her doorstep, using his humor and good looks to try and persuade her to sell the small slice of heaven she owns, she refuses to give up the only reminder she has left of her husband. But Evan is even more stubborn than the lovely Sela, and he has plans of his own. When he shares his talent for classical guitar using one of Sela’s creations, he’d not intended to woo her, but she responds to his serenade. (Contemporary Romance from Heartsong Presents (Barbour). 
Walks Alone by Sandi G. Rog — A Cheyenne warrior bent on vengeance. A pioneer woman bent on fulfilling a dream. Until their paths collide. (Romance from White-Fire Publishing).
Lethal Legacy by Irene Hannon — When Kelly Warren discovers a new piece of evidence that she believes proves her father’s “suicide” was really murder, she takes it to Detective Cole Taylor. He doesn’t put much credence in her claim, and nothing in his review of the case suggests foul play. Yet when he digs deeper, he discovers a startling secret that links her to a long-ago crime-and a deadly killer. Is history repeating itself? And if not, then who wants her silenced? (Romantic Suspense from Revell). 
Lakeside Family by Lisa Jordan — The one man she never wanted to see again is the only one who can save her daughter’s life. (Romance from Love Inspired). 
Central Park Rendevous by Dineen Miller, Ronie Kendig, MaryLu Tyndall and Kim Sawyer — Experience the beauty of Central Park where four heroes dare to risk their hearts once more for a timeless love. (A romance novella from Barbour).
Angel of the Cove by Sandra Robbins — In 1894 a young woman spends the summer apprenticing to a mountain midwife in Cades Cove, a remote valley deep in the Smoky Mountains. (Historical Romance from Harvest House).
Rodeo Ashes by Shannon Taylor Vanatter — A young rodeo widow must overcome grief for her husband and find new love. (Contemporary Romance from Heartsong Presents (Barbour).
You can find out more about these books here > ACFW Fiction Finder website.

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.