The Thornbearer (Penned in Time Book 1) by Pepper Basham

Book Description:
BRONZE MEDAL—CHRISTIAN FICTION—READERS FAVORITE BOOK AWARDS 
FINALIST—2015 GRACE AWARDS 
SHORT-LISTED—2015 INSPY AWARDS 

From the decks of the ill-fated Lusitania to the smoke-filled trenches of France, Ashleigh must choose between the forgiveness of her past, life in the present, and a Savior who can rescue her from them all. 

When her fiancé leaves her eight months before their wedding, the unexpected blow ignites a battalion of insecurities stemming from her father’s intimate betrayal. Her worst fears are confirmed – who could ever love a soiled woman? 

In an attempt to escape the shame and disappointment of her past, Ashleigh boards the ill-fated Lusitania to cross the war-torn waters of Europe. Much to her dismay, she isn’t traveling alone. 

Sam Miller is always making up for his best friend’s mistakes. Determined to help Ashleigh, he offers his compassion and protection as she ventures across a perilous sea. With the faint hope of renewing his lost love for Ashleigh’s sister, Sam never expects to find the woman of his dreams in his best friend’s former fiancé and his own childhood companion. 

As they travel across the Atlantic, neither is prepared for the life-altering and heart-breaking journey of their friendship. 

When the truth of Ashleigh’s past explodes in the middle of war and Sam rejects her, Ashleigh must decide if God is enough – or if the double weight of her betrayal and past will crush her life forever.

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As Basham's bio states, her novels are truly romances peppered with grace and humor! The Thornbearer has a good deal of family drama, there are some dark secrets and deep wounds. While Basham covers the topic of abuse, and more specifically sexual abuse, she handles it well. The reader is made aware of the situation and its' repercussions but without all the gory details. This story is focused more on grace, love, redemption and forgiveness.  There are so many truths shining through this novel; the lies we believe, the shame that binds, pride, prejudice, learning to accept grace and give it, as well as forgivness, for not only others but oneself.

This story has many layers and I thoroughly enjoyed pealing my way through every one, until I reached the heart of the story. The romance was sweet, the characters engaging and the novel engrossing.

Looking forward to Book 2!

A Twist of Faith: Will a wager against her future steal her chance at true love? by Pepper Basham

Book Description:

Will a wager against her future steal her chance at true love? 

Dr. Adelina Roseland has worked ten years in research as an accent reduction specialist to attain her dream job. But a secret wager to transform Appalachian cattle farmer Reese Mitchell into corporate material challenges Adelina in ways she never expected, threatening her new position. 

For one, Adelina didn't plan for the faith and friction of Reese, or the unexpected influence of his chaotic family. Now, drawn into a culture she'd tried to forget, Adelina finds the warmth of family, the hope of faith, and the joy of love melting away the deep wounds of her past. 

But when Reese discovers that he's a pawn in her climb up the academic ladder, will he forgive Adelina's deceit or will their miscommunication end in two broken lives? 

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I absolutely loved this novel! Which is a wonderful twist on the My Fair Lady/Pgymalion story. It was the perfect blend of whit, humor, romance, and truth; all wrapped up in one hard to put down story! A Twist of Faith, is the first novel I have read by Basham; but you can believe that it will not be the last.

The characters and plot were very well written and fleshed out. In fact, there are many secondary characters that you will fall in love with. I hope to see them get their own novel as well! But, in the mean time, you should definitely read this one!


*** Currently available with Kindle Unlimited!

Forever Safe (Beacons of Hope, Book 4) by Jody Hedlund

Book Description:
Race Point, Massachusetts, 1876 

Will she ever be able to stop running, even when she believes she’s finally safe? 

Heiress to a vast fortune, Victoria Cole has everything she wants, including the perfect fiancé. Having left two other men at the altar, Victoria is sure that now she’s found her true love and will finally live happily ever after. As her wedding draws near, however, Victoria’s life is threatened. To keep her safe, Victoria’s father hires a bodyguard. 

Tom Cushman’s number one priority is protecting his clients, which means no personal entanglements. But he’s never guarded someone as beautiful and winsome as Victoria. After a near-kidnapping, the wedding is cancelled, and Tom hides Victoria at Cape Cod’s Race Point Lighthouse until her attacker can be found. Appointed as assistant light keeper with Victoria posing as his wife, Tom believes the isolation of the lighthouse will keep her safe. 

As Victoria struggles to live without familiar luxuries, her heart betrays her with growing feelings for her protector. Determined to help Tom stop fleeing from his haunted past, can the runaway bride learn to face her own fears? With the attacker closing in, will both of them ever be able to stop running and find the safety they long for?

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This book delivered the proper dose of all that makes for a good read! To be honest, the cover is not my favorite, but I loved the story inside! From the beginning, Hedlund had me hooked; and she had no trouble keeping me that way as the story unfolded. Well written characters, romantic tension, a dash of danger and threads of faith all woven together in harmony.

Bodyguard and client, ultra-rich and your regular joe, marriage of pretense themes pack a punch and I honestly enjoyed these themes and the way Hedlund wrote them. They did not seem pat but organic to the story.

The romance was sweetly passionate and I enjoyed seeing the relationship build. Not only that I enjoyed seeing both the main characters grow and face their fears. All the way around, well done!



Romance - Clean, some sigh worthy kisses
Violence- Mild
Language -Clean
Faith Message - Encouraging. Stop running in fear and run toward the One Who is your help.

A Glimmer of Hope: A Novella Prequel to Isle of Hope by Julie Lessman

Book Description:
She’s a wounded girl serving up trouble. 
He’s a pastor’s kid bent on serving God. 
But can they find a glimmer of hope for a future together? 

From the moment Jack O’Bryen kissed the sixteen-year-old tomboy next door, he knew he would love her forever. Lacey Carmichael was everything he’d ever wanted—intelligent, warm, and brimming with life, the perfect complement to his serious and sensible self. A girlfriend who not only shared his faith, but he hoped his future as well, the perfect mate for a would-be pastor. 

Eighteen-year-old Lacey Carmichael has dreamed of marrying Jack O’Bryen since she was twelve years old, the boy next door who always picked up the pieces after her father shattered her heart. But when her cousin leads her astray while Jack’s away at school and her father’s rejection soars to new heights, Lacey finds herself at odds with the boy that she loves, not only jeopardizing their relationship, but Jack’s faith and heart as well. 

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A Glimmer of Hope is the prequel novella to Isle of Hope. For those of you who have previously read Book 1, Isle of Hope, you already have some insight into what will transpire in this little novella. But don't let that put you off from reading it. I am so glad I did! In fact I wish I could have read it first.

It had just the right touch of showing you the main characters as their younger selves and the struggles they were dealing with. Lacey, was so young, hurting and VERY needy. She was definitely allowing others to influence her views and instead of sticking to her guns, she seems to tend to react and go with the emotions of the moment. Poor Jack, he is the steady rock; really trying to be strong and do what is right.

I liked also, the insight this novella gave us into the lives of their parents and other characters from Book 1. All the way a round a good novella, and a quick and enjoyable read!

Her One and Only (A Porter Family Novel Book #4) by Becky Wade

Book Description:
After ten years in the NFL, superstar Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself? 

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt--none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she's determined to find Gray's stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they'll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives--and their hearts--to one another.

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I have been looking forward to Dru's story for quiet a while! Maybe since she was first introduced, and Wade did not disappoint! In fact, Wade came up with a slam dunk of a story! I loved the premise and the story lived up to all it promised and more! Unlike her previous novels, this one had an element of mystery/suspense. She carried this through the story well, and it was the perfect dose. 

Dru is quite a bit different than your usual gal but you can't help but like her. She is tough and strong but with just the right amount of heart and vulnerability. And Gray, you will find him very easy to root for! I liked their chemistry, the banter and tension between them practically leapt off the page! Don't take that the wrong way, because  this was a clean read, unless you can't handle some steamy kisses (wink).

Wade had a theme woven throughout this novel, of letting go and trusting God. The truths she brought the characters to and through felt very organic to both their character and the story. And this was true with both Dru and Gray, as well as the secondary story of Meg and Bo (told from Meg's perspective). While I like Meg and Bo, and I enjoyed getting to visit with them again, I have to say that I sort of wish their story would have been told in a separate novella. Meg's parts would pop up right after a key point in Dru/Gray's story and I really just wanted to stick with the main story. I found myself skimming through Meg's parts more often than not, in order to get back to the main storyline. I will say that I did enjoy seeing how things wrapped up for Meg and Bo at the end. However, Dru and Gray's story was definitely the one that had me on the edge of my seat and giddy to see how it would end. 

Overall, a highly enjoyable novel and a wonderful wrap up to the series!

Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood By Melissa B. Kruger

A friend recommended this book to me and I am so glad! This 11 week devotional Bible study is full of solid foundational truths. Ones that you may know but need to be reminded of and meditate upon. Kruger does this in a way that is so encouraging and a blessing, to not only the reader but to those in the life of the reader. You do not feel like you are being preached to but rather lifted up and encouraged, strengthened, as iron sharpens iron. I truly cannot say enough good things about the study! In fact I plan on reading through it again. It is just that good! Highly recommend!

A few of the things that I think you may want to know is that this devotional study includes the scripture verses written in the book and each day's Study usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes at the most to complete. It's an 11 weeks study with five days for each week to go through. Four of the days have thought-provoking questions and the last day of the week is a devotional reading. There are other wonderful tools located in the back of the book as well. I bought this as a paperback but a friend of mine who did it with me got hers on an e-reader. She said that it was harder for her as far as doing the notes and the questions, and looking things back up for discussion purposes. If you're just doing this on your own the e-reader may work, but if you're doing this with a group, or even just for yourself and you like to write things down you may want to buy the paperback.

You Don't Have to Be a Star / Once Upon a Cowboy (2-in-1): inspirational romance by Susan May Warren, Lacy Williams

Book Descriptions:

You Don’t Have to Be a Star by Susan May Warren
A Prequel to the Montana Fire Series 
Former Green Beret Luke Alexander just wants to forget his past and mind his own business in the woods of east Tennessee. And his park ranger job seems just the solution… until a diva movie star walks into his world looking for someplace to hide. But the Cherokee forest isn’t big enough for the both of them, not if you include the trouble MacKenzie has dragged along behind her. And soon she’s stirring up his own murky past—one out for revenge. Which trouble will find them first? Is it even possible to outrun your past and start over? Luke and MacKenzie are about to find out…

Once Upon a Cowboy by Lacy Williams
Book 1 in the Cowboy Fairytales series 
A princess on-the-run finds sanctuary where she least expects it… 
After nearly dying in an assassination attempt, Princess Alessandra of Glorvaird escapes to a place no one would ever think to look for her: small town Oklahoma and a ranch staffed by a herd of wooly, uncouth cowboys. One cowboy in particular gets under her skin, until she sees his softer side. She knows this interlude can’t last forever, but that doesn’t stop her from wishing it might… 
Former Navy SEAL Gideon Hale might’ve rescued the princess from freezing to death, but the soldier doesn’t trust easily—or at all—especially when his gut tells him Alessandra is keeping secrets. But as Alessandra begins to fit into his life, he discovers another side to the princess—one that he can’t help but like. 
When Alessandra’s enemies close in, Gideon must fight to save the woman who has become so much more than a princess… 
Once Upon a Cowboy is a contemporary western retelling of the Snow White fairytale and Book 1 in the Cowboy Fairytales series.
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You Don’t Have to Be a Star by Susan May Warren 

This was such a cute novella! I really enjoyed it, and by the end I was in love! Warren does not disappoint! I am really looking forward to her new series, that this is kicking off! Yay!

This little story has the perfect wrap of angst, mystery, suspense and of course romance! Doused with truths that hit home in a completely organic way. I am not sure what more you could ask for. Be sure to pick this one up!

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Once Upon a Cowboy by Lacy Williams
Two great novellas in one sweet deal! I really enjoyed Once Upon a Cowboy, Williams's modern day twist to the Snow White story. The characters were well written, the story had a nice pace and it was a fun read! If you like sweet romances, fairytale retelling and just an overall good, quick read you should give this one a shot! I am really looking forward to the rest of this series!

*** This is currently running as a two for one deal at only $0.99!

You Don't Have to Be a Star / Once Upon a Cowboy (2-in-1): inspirational romance