Genre: Clean Romance

Pride and Politics by Brittany Larsen~Blog Tour

21 May, 2016 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Covenant in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Pride and Politics

by Brittany Larsen
Published by Covenant on May 5, 2016
Genres: Clean Romance, Contemporary, LDS
Pages: 272
Format: Paperback
four-stars
Source: Covenant
Buy the BookGoodreads
As the daughter of a well-known senator, Summer Knight is all too familiar with the nasty side of politics. She’s always stayed out of the drama, until an incident involving her fellow Mormons drives her out of her hometown—and out of the Church. What she needs is a change of scene, and sunny California seems like just the place. Enter Benson Hardy. He’s just her type—until she finds out who he is. Not only is Benson a nephew to her father’s political rival, he’s also a devout member of the Church. The last thing Summer wants is to be mixed up in politics—or religion. But Benson challenges her like no one else, asking the tough questions about her inactivity. Though their incompatibility is clear, their connection is undeniable, and soon Summer finds the embers of her faith reigniting. Just as it seems that the pair might be on the road to romance, a series of embarrassing misunderstandings—and the appearance of a handsome charmer determined to sweep Summer off her feet—knock the couple completely off course. As Summer finds herself at a crossroads, she must decide if she’s willing to set her pride aside for a shot at true love.

Review

Pride and Prejudice meets politics in Brittany Larsen’s clean LDS romance. It has hit shelves at the perfect time– during campaign season!

Summer is “taking a break” from church as she’s seen way too much hypocrisy as a Democrat Senator’s daughter. Her Sundays consist of paddle boarding and avoiding the constant meeting invitations of her visiting teacher. All of this changes, however, when she runs into a campaign manager for her family’s nemesis. Benson is an active churchgoer, kind, a Republican and someone she really should no be seen with. Miles apart on social issues and agendas, these two find common ground on friendship.

There’s plenty of witty banter to keep you flipping pages. Pride and Politics was a treat to read and is clean for teens and adults. Both characters are college aged, so the best target audience is the new adult crowd. I thoroughly enjoyed this modern twist on a classic.

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Autumn Masquerade Blog Tour

16 Oct, 2015 by in autumn masquerade, josi kilpack, timeless regency Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Autumn Masquerade Blog Tour

Autumn Masquerade

by Donna Hatch, Josi S. Kilpack, Nancy Campbell Allen
Series: Timeless Regency Collection
Published by Amazon Digital Services on October 1, 2015
Genres: Adult, Clean Romance, Historical Fiction
Pages: 235
Format: eBook
four-stars
Source: Publisher
Buy the BookGoodreads
Amazon Top 100 in Regency Romance**
**Amazon Top 50 in Victorian Romance**

From the publisher of the #1 Amazon bestselling A Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean Romance.

Join three bestselling Regency romance authors, Josi S. Kilpack, Donna Hatch, and Nancy Allen, for three new Regency romance novellas in AUTUMN MASQUERADE.

A MERRY DANCE by Josi S. Kilpack. When Lila overhears her uncle talking about a man coming to look for property in the county, she doesn’t think twice, until her uncle says he hopes Lila will find enough interest to marry the man. How can she marry someone named Mortimer Luthford, not to mention that his advanced age of thirty-three, and especially since she’s already in love with her absent cousin Neville? But when Mortimer arrives, Lila has to try every trick known to women to act not interested in the rather fascinating man, which proves a very difficult façade to maintain.

UNMASKING THE DUKE by Donna Hatch. The last thing Hannah Palmer wants to do is flirt with men in a crowded ballroom, but when her sister throws a Masquerade Ball, Hannah can’t say no to the invitation and takes comfort behind a mask. She dances with a charming masked man, matching him wit for wit. When the glorious evening culminates in a kiss, and the two remove their masks, Hannah is horrified to discover the man she’s been flirting with all night is her most despised neighbor, the Duke of Suttenberg. No matter how charming the duke was at the ball, and how wonderful the kiss, he is the last man she’d ever accept.

WHAT’S IN A NAME by Nancy Campbell Allen. Penelope Timely has a terrible secret. She’s been writing letters to the Duke of Wilmington, pretending to be her ever-proper twin sister, Persephone. Now, the duke has written that he’ll be coming for the Autumn Masquerade Ball and Festival. Penelope will have to continue the charade while the duke is in town in order to protect her sister. The Duke of Wilmington isn’t fooled for a moment, but instead of confessing that he knows about the deception, he finds himself utterly charmed by Penelope and jumps into the game of deception to see how far the twin sisters will take it.

Other Timeless Regency Collections:
A Midwinter Ball (Coming December 2015)
Spring in Hyde Park (Coming March 2016)
Summer House Party (Coming June 2016)
A Country Christmas (Coming October 2016)

The timing of the release of Autumn Masquerade is perfect. Pick this one up for a reading by the fireplace with some mulled cider. The setting: Regency Era, the season: Fall, the characters: all dressed up for a Masquerade ball. Each of these stories is unique, clean and well written. They are long enough to give the reader a full taste and the plot line has time to fully unfold. I loved that they are short enough to digest in one sitting and that this time there are only three stories in the anthology so you don’t feel rushed. Well-known, experienced authors offer up historical fiction at its finest.

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Always Will Blog Tour and Giveaway

06 Oct, 2015 by in Uncategorized 1 comment

I received this book for free from Covenant in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Always Will Blog Tour and Giveaway

Always Will

by Melanie Jacobson
Published by Covenant on October 5, 2015
Genres: Adult, Clean Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 256
Format: Paperback
four-stars
Source: Covenant
Buy the BookGoodreads
Handsome twenty-eight-year-old Will Hallerman has finally had enough of the dating world he s ready to find a wife and settle down. This announcement is catastrophic in Hannah Becker s world. After knowing Will her entire life and adoring him from afar since junior high school, she realizes her chance at love with him is in grave danger. Hannah' s problem? To Will, she will never be more than his best friend s little sister. Determined to open his eyes to her charms, Hannah sets out to sabotage Will s wife hunt by placing nightmare dates in his path and taking his search on a wild goose chase. Her plan is risky, but she s willing to take a chance to catch the eye of her soul mate.
Despite her crazy schemes, nothing seems to be working. Hannah can t help but wonder if it' s time to set aside this childhood crush to move on and settle down herself. She s ready for a fresh start with a great guy. If only Will weren' t suddenly changing the rules of the game . . . And how can Hannah move on when Will just won' t let her forget?
always will

Always Will is a really cute contemporary read about two post college, career born friends who have known each other since childhood. Will was appointed to watch over Hannah after she and her brother lose their parents in a car accident. He takes his role very seriously and moves in right across the hall from his best friend’s little sister. There is lots of friendly banter, noogies, wrestling and shenanigans until Will announces he is ready to step up his game and get married. He’s on the look out for his perfect companion using algorithms and logic, as well as an online dating site. Hannah is panicked. Time to sabotage the game!

I enjoyed Will and Hannah’s dynamic, but the self-talk and dialogue about Hannah being fat got a little tedious. I also had trouble believing Hannah had a career in computer coding, as it didn’t seem to fit her character at all. The circumstances of the ending will take some suspension of disbelief. That being said, I read this one fast and furious. Always Will has a feel good vibe, a strong female and some laugh out loud moments. Melanie Jacobson is always a great choice for contemporary, clean romance.

 

About the AuthorMelaniepic

Melanie Bennett Jacobson is an avid reader, amateur cook, and champion shopper. She consumes astonishing amounts of chocolate, chick flicks, and books. After meeting her own husband on the Internet, she is now living happily married in Southern California with her growing family and a series of doomed potted herbs.http://www.melaniejacobson.net/

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Simply Anna Blog Tour and $25 Giveaway

18 Sep, 2015 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Covenant in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Simply Anna Blog Tour and $25 Giveaway

Simply Anna

by Jennifer Moore
Published by Covenant on September 1st 2015
Genres: Adult, Christian, Clean Romance
Pages: 224
Format: Paperback
four-stars
Source: Covenant
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Suffering from a cruel heartbreak, Lord Philip Hamilton has been driven to seek refuge from the painful memories haunting London, and his father’s Jamaican sugar cane plantation provides just the escape he needs. Philip finds solace in his hard work and takes comfort in the fact that his distance from society ensures that his heart will be protected from future entanglements. Protected, that is, until the unexpected appearance of a mysterious woman with no memory of her past. The only clue to her identity is a necklace inscribed with a name: Anna. In a matter of weeks, this gentle, intelligent, and impossibly beautiful stranger turns Philip’s world upside down. But as the bond between the pair grows, the threat of Philip losing his heart once more is only the beginning of the dangers that await. Island renegades and a ruthless band of pirates clash in a swashbuckling battle, and it soon becomes clear that these villains may be the key to unlocking Anna’s past...
simply_anna

When a young woman mysteriously washes ashore on the beach in Jamaica, a young gentleman landowner and his overseer are not sure what to think. The girl is close to dead and the only identifying piece she owns is a necklace with her first name engraved. Anna can’t remember who she is, where she came from or how she got sent to sea. While she recovers, it becomes apparent that life on this sugar cane plantation can be cruel and sweet all at the same time.

Set in the 1800’s, slavery is in full swing. I truly enjoyed all the side characters like head of the household Betty, valet Ezekial and master Malachi. I know an author has done a wonderful job fleshing them out when I can still identify and relate to them after I’m done with the book. The pacing was slow and sweet–the story line clean with little violence.

Jennifer Moore is a new go-to author for historical romance. And, there be pirates in this book! My favorite portion of Simply Anna was dedicated to buccaneers. I am hoping a new companion novel covering their adventures is on the horizon. Pretty please?

 

About the AuthorAuthor photo by Heather Zahn Gardner

Jennifer Moore is a passionate reader and writer of all things romance due to the need to balance the rest of her world, which includes a perpetually traveling husband and four active sons, who create heaps of laundry that are anything but romantic. Jennifer has a BA in linguistics from the University of Utah and is a Guitar Hero champion. She lives in northern Utah with her family.

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Love On A Whim by Aubrey Mace~Blog Tour and Giveaway

31 Jul, 2015 by in adult, covenant Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Covenant in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Love On A Whim by Aubrey Mace~Blog Tour and Giveaway

Love on a Whim

by AUbrey Mace
on July 2015
Genres: Clean Romance, Contemporary, LDS
Pages: 272
Format: Paperback
Source: Covenant
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Six months out of law school, Rachel Pearce is completely disillusioned by her job hunt. Despite pounding the pavement with her Ivy League degree in hand, her job prospects are no brighter than the day she graduated. Then in a chance meeting with a former acquaintance, eccentric young millionaire Henry Walker, Rachel finds an unexpected opportunity: Henry is looking for a personal secretary. Swallowing her pride, Rachel sets aside her law firm aspirations for what she envisions as secretarial work—mountains of paperwork and filing. But when she finds her most demanding duty to be daily cookie runs for her new boss, she’s baffled by her unconventional job responsibilities.

As she’s pulled into Henry’s delightful whims, caught in a whirlwind of private jets and fancy dinners, Rachel finds herself inexplicably drawn to this handsome and charismatic man. But reality always has a way of intruding, and logic tells her that this adventure can’t last. When real life inevitably comes calling, Rachel must decide if she’s willing to trade in her dream of success in the courtroom for a chance at love.

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Love on a Whim is not a book to read or pickup on an empty stomach. First, there are the beautiful macaroons on the cover, then the first scene takes place in a bakery, and finally several mentions of gourmet cookies throughout the plot. The yummy storyline follows Rachel Pearce, fresh out of law school and ready to land the career she’s been trained for in a prestigious firm. Times are tough and she has to feed herself, so she settles on a cafe waitress. Luckily, Henry, her best friend’s wealthy ex-boyfriend, offers Rachel a temporary job as his secretary and cookie chauffer. The two of them are so involved in their own self- doubt that they don’t notice the signs all around them pointing to the obvious…they are perfect for each other.

With a fun, light storyline, help that looks like a Muppet character, and a brooding estate and mansion, Aubrey Mace’s writing is a great escape. I finished this one in one day. My only wish was a little bit more insight into and fleshing out of Henry’s character. He was guarded, and as a result I had a hard time getting to know more as a reader. I loved the book and am happy to report it is squeaky clean!

About the Author

Aubrey Mace lives in Sandy, Utah. She attended LDS Business College and Utah State University. When she is not writing, she enjoys cooking, traveling, gardening, playing the cello (badly), and spending time with her family and psychotic cat.
Aubrey has four published novels: SPARE CHANGE, which won the 2008 Whitney Award for Best Romance, MY FAIRY GRANDMOTHER, SANTA MAYBE, and BEFORE THE CLOCK STRIKES THIRTY. She also has a novella, “The Science of Sentiment”, included in the Timeless Romance Anthology Spring Collection.

You can visit Aubrey at her website, www.aubreymace.com.

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A Timeless Collection~ Annette Lyon Collection

31 Jul, 2015 by in adult, annette lyon, novellas, timeless romance Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Timeless Collection~ Annette Lyon Collection

Annette Lyon Collection

by Annette Lyon
Published by Amazon Digital Services on July 3, 2015
Genres: Adult, Clean Romance
Pages: 279
Format: eARC
three-half-stars
Source: Publisher
Buy the BookGoodreads
The ANNETTE LYON COLLECTION contains brand new contemporary romance novella OUR SONG, as well as five hand-picked readers’ and reviewers’ favorites of Annette’s popular Timeless Romance Anthology novellas. Readers will love this selection of three contemporary and three historical romance novellas.

In OUR SONG, a charming romance novella, Cassie and Matt have been dating in the Yellowstone area for two years, and things are, well, average. When Cassie meets up with two college friends who are visiting, their love lives like sound like fairy tales: rose petals, chocolates, candles on the beach… Cassie goes home feeling like she’s missing out. After all, repeatedly watching Old Faithful erupt and walking through sulfur-smelling gases at Fountain Paint Pot don’t exactly say “romance.” Maybe things with Matt aren’t going anywhere, and it’s time to move on. Then she discovers that perception and reality are completely different things. Now she can only hope it isn’t too late to show Matt how much she really cares.

In the sweet novella GOLDEN SUNRISE, Natalie takes time out of her crazy schedule to fly to Vegas for her best friend’s wedding. Sierra and Jason, high-school sweethearts, are finally getting married. Fortunately for Natalie, her old high-school flame, Adam, has a work commitment and can’t be there as best man. But when she arrives at the wedding rehearsal—late and ragged—Adam is there. When Adam makes a wild suggestion, Natalie just may take him up on it, even though she knows he’s moved on. A single choice may mean Natalie is taking a shot at reclaiming the past—or that she's putting her heart in harm’s way a second time.

FIRSTS AND LASTS, an enchanting novella, begins with Dani’s last week in New York. She’s failed in her dreams to catch a break as an actress and is now ready to return home and dust herself off. As she visits the places on her final to-see list, she meets Mark, another New York City transplant with big dreams. Except Mark hasn’t given up on his. As they spend the day together, Dani realizes that even though she hasn’t hit the “big time” she might be living her dream after all. Only problem: she has a one-way ticket back home.

In the compelling novella WAR OF HEARTS, Anna, a journalist, is desperate to escape the magazine where Pete, her now-former boyfriend, also works. Heartbroken and still in love with him, Anna snags an assignment to cover the Winter War in Finland. She arrives at a snowy Finnish battlefront only to discover that Pete is already there—as her photographer. She’s determined to be professional about the situation until a battle breaks out in camp, putting her and Pete in harm’s way and putting their love to the test.

The captivating novella BETWEEN THE LINES follows Jane Martin, who is intelligent but extremely shy, especially around men. When the Aid and Cultural Society proposes a letter-writing program, Jane signs up, hoping she can find true friendship. The program doesn’t run as smoothly as expected, and unknown to Jane, one of the men in her city becomes her writing friend. Thomas Allred has always known shy and quiet Jane, but reading her letters written to his secret persona, opens his eyes to what an amazing woman she is. The only trouble is, Jane doesn’t know that the man who she is falling in love with through letters is also Thomas, the man who is falling in love with her in person.

In the charming novella A TASTE OF HOME, we meet Claire Jennings, who’s on her way to spend Christmas with her family. As she rides the train with William Rhodes, who grew up across the street, memories of the past flood her mind. He may be twenty-one now, but she can’t forget his torturous teasing from their school years. At the rail station, Claire discovers her home is under quarantine because her little brother has measles. She's stuck in town, away from her family, on her favorite holiday, with William.

This Timeless Collection is a great way to get a taste of several stories all in one sitting. Annette does a wonderful job of building the time and setting of each novella which I loved. I often struggle with novellas because I want to know more, and would recommend reading these one at a time because they are not inerrelated in any way. I truly enjoyed how unique each one is. Take this on your next trip or leave it by your bedside to enjoy. Clean with some kissing and drinking. Fun, sweet and well-written.

About the Author

Annette Lyon is a Whitney Award winner, a two-time recipient of Utah’s Best of State medal for fiction and the author of nine novels, a cookbook, and a grammar guide as well as over a hundred magazine articles. She’s a senior editor at Precision Editing Group and a cum laude graduate from BYU with a degree in English. When she’s not writing, editing, knitting, or eating chocolate, she can be found mothering and avoiding the spots on the kitchen floor.
Find her online at Annette‘s website http://www.annettelyon.com/
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Worth Waiting For Blog Tour and $25 Giveaway

16 Jul, 2015 by in adult, covenant, sally johnson Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Covenant in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Worth Waiting For Blog Tour and $25 Giveaway

Worth Waiting For

by Sally Johnson
Published by Covenant on July 1, 2015
Genres: Adult, Clean Romance
Pages: 192
Format: Paperback
four-stars
Source: Covenant
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Sophia thought she was over her broken heart, but the news that her roommate has eloped with Sophia’s ex-husband hits her like a ton of bricks. She knows she should be fine with the unexpected revelation—after all, her boyfriend, Luke, is incredible, but it would seem her heart is not as resilient as she thought. And as Luke prepares to leave for his European study abroad, Sophia’s feelings of fear and inadequacy threaten to overwhelm her. A summer with her family in Las Vegas gives Sophia the time she needs, but she still can’t shake the questions haunting her, the questions that continually threaten to put more than physical distance between Luke and her. Is she really ready to jump into a new relationship when the last one ended so painfully? Will her divorce always define her? Is she the one with the problem? As she wistfully observes others’ love stories blossoming around her, Sophia must decide whether she’s prepared to take another chance on love. Luke’s return from Europe forces Sophia to confront the decision she’s not sure she’s prepared for—will her troubled past destroy the happy ending she’s always believed is worth waiting for?
worth_waiting_for

 

Okay, what can I say about Worth Waiting For except that stuff like this does in fact happen in real life! I myself was married in the temple, to a returned missionary, and then divorced by age 19, as a sophomore at BYU. Yep. Crazy. Does happen.

Life goes on.

Happy endings are real.

So, needless to say, I enjoyed Worth Waiting For. It is believeable, likeable, fun and has a great ending. The plot was a bit slow in some parts, and the character arc took a while, as expected.

I would recommend this as a contemporary summer read with roots in Happy Valley and a great message about commitment, trust and faith.

 

About the Author

What I Love . . . My Family, Writing, Reading, Chocolate, Being Crafty, Coupon Shopping, Trying New Recipes . . . (Although anything after chocolate has been all but abandoned since I started writing again!)

I have always loved to write. I have also always had an overactive imagination, which helps ALOT when making up fictional stories. In real life there aren’t any do-overs. But in fiction there is editing, revising and good ol’ deleting. In fiction, I can make my characters be anything or do anything I want. (I think that’s called manipulating in real life). It makes me love the possibilities.
Sally received her bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University.

She and her husband, Steve, have four children and currently live in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Playing For Keeps by Ranee’ S Clark~ Blog Tour

09 Jun, 2015 by in adult, covenant Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Covenant in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Playing For Keeps by Ranee’ S Clark~ Blog Tour

Playing For Keeps

by Ranee S. Clark
Published by Covenant on June 1, 2015
Genres: Adult, Clean Romance, Contemporary, LDS
Pages: 228
Format: Paperback
four-half-stars
Source: Covenant
Buy the BookGoodreads
Football-loving TyAnne Daws has long admired BYU's star quarterback from afar. This semester, she's determined to step away from the sidelines — and she has the perfect game plan for winning the heart of Anthony "Rocket" Rogers. When some smart moves land her in one of his classes, she finds herself in the perfect position to make her play. But as she gets to know the real Anthony, away from the lights of the stadium, Ty realizes that this is no game — she's falling in love.

Anthony takes full advantage of his all-star status, holding girls at arm's length for one reason: it keeps him from repeating the same mistakes that once led to a devastating heartbreak. When he meets Ty, his assumption that she's just another pretty face is quickly proven wrong. Though he's completely drawn in by this sweet young woman, her intriguing mix of amusing football know-how, and her quiet selflessness, he will not let himself fall in love. But when faced with the reality of losing the woman he's come to care for despite himself, Anthony's resolve is tested — and he finds it's getting harder to keep his head in the game when his heart's on the line.
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Review

 

Playing for Keeps is a super fun read for sports fans and graduates of BYU…or for anyone looking to pick up a clean romantic adult contemporary book this summer. I enjoyed the pacing of the story told from dual points of view. Ty is a football coach’s daughter attending a coaching class with her all-time favorite player and idol Rocket Rogers. She’s been happy to watch him from afar and finally has a chance to catch his eye. Anthony “Rocket” Rogers is an infamous player (in more ways than one) who is soon discovering his heart may be lost to Ty.
There are really important topics such as mental illness, social media privacy and real life stalking addressed. As a former victim’s advocate for women who volunteered near the very area this story was set, I was hoping to see more resolution with the violence against the main character and the stalking that occurs. I am glad the author mentioned the possibility of police involvement, but was hoping for a bit more follow through on conflict resolution. The story wrapped up a bit too easily in the end.
Overall, I truly loved Playing for Keeps. The detail in the characters, the banter, the witty conversation and the college campus BYU specific setting was awesome. I finished it quickly and was drawn to the uplifting tone that reminds readers to be yourself, take chances and trust in the power of prayer. The charcters are likeable and I found myself smiling in the end. I would recommend it as a clean pick for adults.

About the Author71FtKneHPgL._UX250_

Ranee` and her personal superhero, her husband, live in Wyoming where they are raising three future super-villains. When she’s not breaking up impromptu UFC fights in her living room or losing to one of her sons at Uno, she loves to read and write. She has a bachelors degree in history that is probably useless, but she had a lot of fun earning it. She blogs about writing, reading, and editing at http://raneesclark.blogspot.com.

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Trouble in Paradise by Karen Tuft Blog Tour

15 May, 2015 by in Uncategorized 2 comments

I received this book for free from Covenant in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Trouble in Paradise by Karen Tuft Blog Tour

Trouble in Paradise

by Karen Tuft
Published by Covenant on May 4, 2015
Genres: Adult, Christian, Clean Romance
Pages: 176
Format: Paperback
four-half-stars
Source: Covenant
Buy the Book
Andy Kendrick has always dreamed of bigger things than tiny Eagle Bluff, Arizona. So when the opportunity arises to shake off the dust of his hometown and move to the tropical paradise of Hawaii, he grabs it. But he never imagined that apiece of his past would follow him to his new life . . .Kimberly Briggs has lived her life on the fringes of the crowd, timid and afraid since the death of her brother, but when she learns that Andy, her lifelong crush, is moving to Hawaii, she s finally ready to step out of the shadows and take a risk.
Kimberly is the last person Andy expected or wanted to see in Hawaii. But when fate incessantly throws the pair together, there s little to be done but make the best of the situation. As the awkwardness fades and Kimberly begins to emerge from her shell, Andy realizes there s much more to her than he realized. But even as they revel in the adventures of island life, drawn together by a growing attraction, an unforeseen peril threatens Kimberly's life. Can the once-timid young woman now draw upon the inner strength Andy has helped her discover so the two of them can build a life together? Will Andy grasp that love knows no geographical bounds?

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Review

Trouble in Paradise allows reader to become fully immersed in the setting, culture and art of Hawaii. It’s a tale of unrequited love, self discovery and developing one’s own course.  The main male character Andy is hard to love at first with his self-centered and immature dialogue. Kimberly, main female has to overcome her fears and recognize true love.  Both are college student at BYU Hawaii immersed in internships, jobs & classes under the sun and surf of the beach.

I truly enjoy Karen Tuft’s writing. This book is a great summer diversion with clean romance and a tad bit of suspense. The pace and storyline were perfect. Recommended as a clean read for new adult or adult readers.

About the Author

Karen Tuft was born with a healthy dose of curiosity about pretty much everything, so as a child she taught herself to read and play the piano. She studied composition at BYU then graduated from the University of Utah in music theory as a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda honor societies. In addition to being an author, Karen is a wife, mother, pianist, composer, and arranger. She has spent countless hours backstage and in orchestra pits for theater productions along the Wasatch Front. She also has a 75 percent success rate when it comes to matchmaking and is a big believer in happy endings. Among her varied interests, she likes to figure out what makes people tick, wander through museums, and travel—whether by car, plane, or paperback.

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A Heart Revealed By Josi Kilpack~ Blog Tour and Review

10 Apr, 2015 by in adult, josi s kilpack, regency romance, Shadow Mountain Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Heart Revealed By Josi Kilpack~ Blog Tour and Review

A Heart Revealed

by Josi S. Kilpack
Published by Shadow Mountain on April 7, 2015
Genres: Adult, Clean Romance, Regency
Pages: 336
Format: ARC
four-half-stars
Source: Shadow Mountain
Buy the BookGoodreads
Amber Marie Sterlington, the Rage of the Season in Regency-era London, has her pick of men and she knows what she wants most in a husband: a title and a fortune. Why would she ever marry for something as fickle as love? And why would she ever look twice at Thomas Richards, a third son of a country lord?
But Amber's social standing is shattered by a rare disorder which causes the loss of her hair. Publicly humiliated and estranged from her shamed family, she is exiled to Yorkshire, facing a future she never expected in a circumstance far below what she has known all her life. Humbled and lonely, Amber wonders if isolation is for the best and questions what real love means until she finds a romantic path to a man who offers unconditional love.

Author Josi S. Kilpack, who is best known for her culinary cozy mysteries, tackles the difficult condition of alopecia in her latest, novel A Heart Revealed. Set in Regency Era London, this clean romance explores how a rich debutante, who was once queen of the ball, falls from social graces in battling a life altering condition.

Miss Sterlington turns heads with her fiery red hair, sparkling eyes and strong personality. She enjoys her season, coming out among the ton with many suitors falling on her every word. But when life hands her a cruel twist of fate, she is exiled to a small cottage, and a simple life she never imagined in her wildest dreams. Suzanne, her lady in waiting, has the task of following Amber Sterlington, and helping to re-shape her bratty attitude. Successful in her service and her attempts to reform her boss, Suzanne is a strong and likeable character. Sterlington’s parents on the other hand, need to go.

Readers will see a full character arc in he main heroine, as well a tiny bit of romance. Thomas Richards, gentlemen, is sick of the extravagant balls, the small hearted women he meets and the frivolity. But Miss Sterlington captures his attention. When circumstances throw them back together, he sees a change in her heart and can’t help but be even more drawn to the woman behind the mysterious disguise.

I truly enjoyed the message and the ending of A Heart Revealed. My favorite character was Thomas and I wish we could have seen more into his thoughts and actions. The kiss seemed a bit wild considering how slowly and carefully this relationship unfolded in the dark, but in the last chapters, it all comes together. I highly recommend this and the entire Proper Romance series for fans of clean Regency novels!

About the Author153344

Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and accredits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. Her novel, Sheep’s Clothing won the Whitney Award 2007 for Mystery/Suspense. Lemon Tart, the first book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series was a finalist in 2009. Josi currently lives in Willard Utah with her husband, children and super-cute cat.

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