I'll Be Yours by Jenny B. Jones

Book Description:
She’s the coach’s brilliant daughter, clueless about love. He’s the dethroned football star, ready to teach Romance 101. When dark secrets and sparks collide, there’s no playbook for what happens next. 

The day Andrew Levin arrives at Washington High, Harper O’Malley knows he’ll make the perfect starter boyfriend. The school’s newest band geek is totally in Harper’s league, yet completely out of this late-bloomer’s reach. Between fitting in with a new family, scoring the first chair in band, and rescuing dogs for the local animal shelter, Harper’s never had the opportunity to hone her dating skills. But even though Harper’s love life is far from perfect, she’s got the perfect plan. 

Harper knows she’s insane to agree to tutor Ridley Estes, a notorious heartbreaker and the star of her high school’s football team—but in exchange, he’s offered to school her in the game of love. Just when she sees promise with her crush, a football scandal rocks her family, her town, and Ridley’s entire future. Harper suddenly has everything to lose—her family, friends, and even her heart. When the dust of the scandal settles, nothing will be the same. Including the girl who asked the most popular jock to teach her about love. 

Award-winning author Jenny B. Jones returns to YA with a sweet, funny novel about first love and the power of letting go.

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Jenny B. Jones has hit a home run with this novel! I laughed, I cried, and I absolutely loved this novel. I"ll Be Yours is hard to put down and hard to stop thinking about, even long after you have turned the last page. This is a story I would absolutely read again and recommend.

Have you ever read a story that was just so compelling that you had to speed through it? Well, this is one of those novels for me. The situation with Harper's family and her past, not to mention her love life will have you all tangled up and it feeling all too real. Harper will steel your heart, along with Ridley and a few others.  There was a sweetness to their friendship and relationship. There were tingles too! Jones brought truths to life in a very organic way; making the themes of fear, overcoming, loving, forgiving all too real and relatable. I did not want this story to end!

A Daring Sacrifice by Jody Hedlund

Book Description:
In a reverse twist on the Robin Hood story, a young medieval maiden stands up for the rights of the mistreated, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. All the while, she fights against her cruel uncle who has taken over the land that is rightfully hers. Forced to live in the woods and hide with the poor people she's grown to love, she works to save and protect them, but she never anticipates falling in love with the wealthy knight who represents all she's come to despise.

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Completely delightful! This spin on the Robin Hood fable brings us into the life of Juliana Wessex, a medieval maiden who moonlights as the Cloaked Bandit. Juliana is of the nobility but has been ousted by her cruel Uncle; fearing for her life she hides with others in the woods of her family's land. Much like Robin Hood she takes from the rich to feed the poor. Things take a turn when she runs into a wealthy and noble knight.

While there are aspects to the story that mimic the Robin Hood tale, Hedlund makes it her own and does a wonderful job of winnowing out truths, as well as a delightful tale. This story engaged me early on but really wowed me in the last half of the story. The romance was sweet and clean, and without giving too much away, a wonderful example of true love. There are a few kisses but nothing inappropriate for the age level. And while young adults will enjoy this story, I believe adults will be equally swept up into the tale.

This novel can be read as a stand alone, however, it does have characters from Hedlund's previous novel, An Uncertain Choice. My recommendation would be to read them in order, but as I said you do not have too! For those of you who did read the previous novel, you will be delighted to know that the noble night in this story is Collin or Lord Goodrich! Yay! Not only that but it looks like there is in the works a 3rd novel for Sir Bennet!

To wrap it all up, this one is definitely worth the read! It left me with some good truths to chew on, a grin on my face and a smile in my heart!

Remnants: Season of Glory (A Remnants Novel, Book 3) by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Book Description:
In the third and final volume of the Remnants series, the power of the Remnants and their people are growing, threatening Pacifica’s careful plans for domination. Among the Trading Union, village after village, outpost after outpost, and city after city are drawn to people of the Way, and agree to stand against those who hunt them. But Pacifica intends to ferret out and annihilate the Remnants—as well as everyone who hasn’t sworn allegiance to the empire—setting the stage for an epic showdown that will change the course of a world on the brink … forever.

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A sweeping, engaging and long awaited conclusion to the Remnants Series! I had to go back and skim through the end of Book 2 to refresh my memory. I have to say, this is a series I really wish I could have read the books back to back! Still, even without the previous novel fresh on my mind, I was quickly swept up into the continuing saga.

Bergren has not only managed to write an engaging story, filled with light and truth but one that gives you some deeper personal truths to linger upon. These characters struggle, fail and rise again, just as we all do. None of us, perfect; all of us sinners. And yet, we are called, chosen and when we surrender, supernaturally empowered to live beyond ourselves by our Maker. I love how organically Bergren wove these truths through out the story, as well as those of forgiveness, grace and true love.

The story, the characters, the action and suspense, and the romance were all top notch! A thrilling and delightful series, that will keep you on the edge of your seat and one not to be missed! Highly recommend this one!

The Goodbye Bride (A Summer Harbor Novel Book 2) by Denise Hunter

Book Description:

She only remembers loving him. But he can’t forget the way she left.

Lucy Lovett can’t remember the last seven months of her life. She doesn’t remember leaving her fiancé Zac Callahan weeks before their wedding or moving to Portland, Maine. And she sure doesn’t remember getting engaged to another man. All she remembers is loving Zac more than life itself.

Zac was just beginning to get his life back on track after Lucy left him with no explanation. And now she’s back—vulnerable, homeless, and still in love with him. Has he been given a second chance with the only woman who stirs his passion and haunts his dreams?

Lucy knows she must unlock those missing months and discover why she threw everything away. And Zac knows that if he follows his heart he’ll win back the love of his life—but if Lucy’s memory returns, his would-be bride might say goodbye forever.

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I have been eagerly anticipating the release of this novel, and couldn't wait to start it once it was downloaded! The Goodbye Bride, was everything I hoped it would be! I was glued to the story every time I had a chance to read it. The mystery of why Lucy left and in the way she did, not to mention what happened during the 7 months she was gone, had me guessing and anticipating the final reveal.

Zac and Lucy's story was overall wonderful! I felt for both of them as they were struggling with their feelings for each other. Hunter really did a wonderful job of showing the conflict from both points of view. She also had some nuggets of truth planted here and there, that felt organic to the story and hopefully, will hit home with readers.

Really looking forward to the next installment of this series - Just a Kiss (Due out on September 6, 2016)!

Mist of Midnight: A Novel (The Daughters of Hampshire) by Sandra Byrd

Book Description:
In the first of a brand-new series set in Victorian England, a young woman returns home from India after the death of her family to discover her identity and inheritance are challenged by the man who holds her future in his hands.

Rebecca Ravenshaw, daughter of missionaries, spent most of her life in India. Following the death of her family in the Indian Mutiny, Rebecca returns to claim her family estate in Hampshire, England. Upon her return, people are surprised to see her...and highly suspicious. Less than a year earlier, an imposter had arrived with an Indian servant and assumed not only Rebecca's name, but her home and incomes. 

That pretender died within months of her arrival; the servant fled to London as the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. The locals believe that perhaps she, Rebecca, is the real imposter. Her home and her father's investments reverted to a distant relative, the darkly charming Captain Luke Whitfield, who quickly took over. Against her best intentions, Rebecca begins to fall in love with Luke, but she is forced to question his motives—does he love her or does he just want Headbourne House? If Luke is simply after the property, as everyone suspects, will she suffer a similar fate as the first “Rebecca”? 

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Mist of Midnight, drew me in from the very beginning. Byrd has masterfully written a very intriguing and compelling Gothic Romance novel. The characters come to life right off the page and keep you on your toes, guessing as to who you can and cannot trust. Hope battles doubts, and the story comes to ahead wonderfully at the end. A very satisfying read and conclusion! I look forward to Byrd's next novel Bride of a Distant Isle.

A Season to Love (Love in Lenox, Book 2) by Nicole Deese

Book Description:

At this point in her life, bravery is not a trait Willa Hart would readily claim. She believes her seven-year-old daughter, Savannah, who never knew her father and successfully tackled chemotherapy, is truly the courageous one. Yet after Willa has a fateful encounter with handsome young doctor Patrick McCade, her outlook—and her view of herself—begins to change.

Patrick, a thrill-seeking world traveler and temporary resident of Lenox, Oregon, sets out to show Willa the value of adventure, even within her tiny town. But just when their friendship shows signs of turning into something more, Patrick’s life as a traveling doctor calls him back. Will his last days in town signal the end of their journey, or will Patrick and Willa find the courage to transform a single season into a lifetime?

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A Season to Love - Loved it!

Seriously, Deese is gifted at writing heartwarming characters, delightful interactions and a story with heart! Open up this novel and by Chapter 2, you should be hooked good!

Let me say, I think if we are honest, all of us can find a little of Willa in us. Willa struggled with letting her fears determine so much of her life, her craving for control but in the end those things do not give freedom but become chains. I loved seeing her work through these fears and especially the sweet moments with Patrick.

This is one novel you do not want to miss out on!  I am really looking forward to Deese's next book! I am hoping to see more of these characters in the (I hope) not too distant future!

You're the One That I Want (Christiansen Family, Book 6) by Susan May Warren

Book Description:

Owen Christiansen has been in a downward spiral since an injury ended his NHL career. But a job on an Alaskan crabbing boat offers a fresh start . . . maybe even a shot at romance with Elise “Scotty” McFlynn, the captain’s daughter.

Used to being one of the guys, to never relying on anyone, Scotty doesn’t believe in happily ever after—especially with someone like Owen. Her instinct is confirmed when Casper Christiansen arrives to drag his prodigal brother home, bringing with him a truckload of family drama—and even worse, the news that Casper is wanted for questioning in connection to a crime back in Minnesota.

But Owen is more than the sum of his mistakes, a truth both he and Scotty discover when she escorts both brothers to Deep Haven as part of her new job on the Anchorage police force. Thrust into an unfamiliar world of family, faith, and fresh starts, Scotty begins to see potential for a happy ending . . . if she’s brave enough to embrace it.

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To say I have been anticipating this book would be to put it mildly. There is a fear with that, that maybe you have built something up so much in your mind, that reality can not compete. I had that moment with each book in the series, and in each and every one, Susan May Warren did not fail to write not only a well written, captivating story, but one with heart and depth that reaches you and holds on. One of the things I love about her books, is her ability to write real people, not perfect people but people with faults and the way she brings deep truths to light and teaches us lessons on faith, grace, hope, love and so much more; all the while doing it without being preachy. Her messages of faith are so woven into the fabric of the story, that it just feels natural and flows. Her characters could be us or someone we know, and every battle and victory feel real.

The other thing about her writing is... well, let's just be honest the romance is so well done! She comes at it from several different angles but no matter what it speaks to you and you eat it up! This series has been phenomenal! Seriously, I have loved it and I hate that it is now at an end. Come on, I really want more! I have loved this family, their highs and lows, the love, the grace, the romance and so much more! I love the way they love big and large, the interactions, on and on I could go.

You're the One That I Want, is Owen's story but really it is so much more. It is the wrap up story for the whole gang; especially dealing with Owen, Casper and Raina. Which is something I have been waiting to see play out for a while now. Seeing them deal with the consequences of sin, the prodigal coming home, relationships and fractures in them, on and on... this story is powerfully packed. I jumped in and could have read straight through, if life would have allowed it. I had to settle for reading it in snatches and longing to jump back in it when I was away. I did not want this one to end; maybe because it is the end of the series too. I just wanted the story to keep going. I wanted a little more time with Owen and Scotty. Warren wraps things up, don't get me wrong; I was joyful and content at the final page.

All this to say, read this book! If you haven't read the series, read it! I would read them in order.

This is some top notch storytelling! Loved it!