Checked Impressions

Sparks fly when a hometown hockey hero meets a classy art-loving museum guide hiding a secret...

Jai Mullins is used to being the fastest man on ice. Trouble is, his ability to find a genuine woman is tracking at glacial melt levels. He’s trusting God she’s out there, but he’s wary of getting trapped by a superfan, when all he wants is someone with whom he can be real.

Allie Davis has two great loves: impressionist art and hockey. More specifically, a certain hockey player. But between her shyness and her family, she’s convinced she’ll never meet him, let alone connect with him in a non-embarrassing way.
Until she does. And they connect. And romance sparks.

But she is hiding a big secret, and he’s about to find that first impressions sometimes need a reality check. Will they learn to trust and find a way forward, or will half-truths lead to further hurt on opposite sides of the country and lonely lives?  This Windy City romance has plenty of heart, humor, and swoon-worthy kisses in the third book of the Original Six, a sweet, slightly sporty Christian contemporary romance series.

My Review: 

The couple of Allie Davis and Jai Mullins were great together. Each of them were a bit awkward getting to know one another and tongue tied as they had a tendency to mix up what they were trying to say. Allie, because she stuttered, and Jai just got all tangled up in the words. Some the things that Jai said provided some very humorous moments throughout the book.

As two insecure people, Jai and Allie each came to gain in confidence because of their belief in one another. Jai helped Allie to see she was beautiful and completely worth being loved. Allie helped Jai to see that he wasn’t the stereotypical “dumb jock” that he believed he was, but rather was intelligent and selfless.

As a fun sports-themed contemporary romance, this makes it a great, quick read. This is perfect for those days that you want a story about trust and love and navigating the ups and downs of life with that special someone. This is the third book in the Original Six Hockey series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Thank you to the author for a copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Meet Me in the Margins

 

Book Description: 

You’ve Got Mail meets The Proposal—this romance is one for the books.

Savannah Cade’s dreams are coming true. The Claire Donovan, editor-in-chief of the most successful romance imprint in the country, has requested to see the manuscript Savannah’s been secretly writing while working as editor herself—except at her publishing house, the philosophy is only highbrow works are worth printing and commercial fiction, particularly romance, should be reserved for the lowest level of Dante’s inferno. But when Savannah drops her manuscript during a staff meeting and nearly exposes herself to the whole company—including William Pennington, new publisher and son of the romance-despising CEO herself—she races to hide her manuscript in the secret turret room of the old Victorian office.

When she returns, she’s dismayed to discover that someone has not only been in her hidden nook but has written notes in the margins—quite critical ones. But when Claire’s own reaction turns out to be nearly identical to the scribbled remarks, and worse, Claire announces that Savannah has six weeks to resubmit before she retires, Savannah finds herself forced to seek the help of the shadowy editor after all.

As their notes back and forth start to fill up the pages, however, Savannah finds him not just becoming pivotal to her work but her life. There’s no doubt about it. She’s falling for her mystery editor. If she only knew who he was.

My Review: 

Book editor by day and aspiring author at night, Savannah Cole is trying to get her own contemporary romance novel published by a different firm since hers would never publish a book like that. The fun begins as Savannah brings her forbidden manuscript to work, only to trip and have pages of it flying everywhere!   Could it be any worse than it happening right in front of her new and  imposing boss, William Pennington? The comical situations Savannah finds herself in and her developing attachment to the mysterious Will made this such an enjoyable read. 

I liked that the story had more to it than just a romantic plot. Will was vulnerable and truthful, sharing his past with Savannah and she in turn felt the freedom to do the same. Savannah grows in her confidence and knowing who she is in spite of her family’s expectations and her misperception of thinking she must be perfect.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. The funny comments left in the margins of Savannah's manuscript were fabulous.  Sometimes you can say things on paper that you can't say in person.  This is a delightful, funny and clean read that gets a five star rating from me. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Ferguson’s books. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Summerhaven

Book Description: 

Hannah Kent and Oliver Jennings pledged their hearts to each other as children. Now, years later, Hannah is thrilled to receive an invitation to spend the summer at Oliver’s family’s country estate. The path to wedded bliss is clear—so long as Oliver’s highbrow older brother, Damon, has ceased his juvenile antics, Hannah’s future looks bright indeed.

But from the moment Hannah arrives at Summerhaven, nothing is as she expected. Oliver seems disinterested in renewing their acquaintance, and Damon is not the brutish boy she remembers but a man intent on avoiding marriage. Although she has loathed Damon her whole life, when he contrives a ruse designed to win them both what they desire, Hannah warily agrees. All she has to do to reclaim Oliver’s attention is pretend to be madly in love with Damon. But when Damon is surprisingly convincing in his role as a suitor, it proves difficult to discern the line between pretense and true love. 

My Review: 

Hannah Kent has been in love with Oliver Jennings since he proposed to her when they were twelve.  True loves wait.... After waiting for him for eight years, she finally gets an invitation from his mother to visit their estate. At last, Hannah will get her dream come true of marrying Ollie and spending a lifetime together.  But, when she arrives at Summerhaven, things aren’t as she imagined. 

Hannah’s perception of the past with Ollie and his older brother, Damon, was not really accurate. What she saw with Damon being mean and vindictive was proven to be untrue when Damon was able to explain his motives. As I learned more about him and what he does for Hannah, the more I was hoping Hannah would realize which was the better man for her. I loved the letter she receives from Damon where he shows her who he is and his feelings. I gave a happy sigh after reading it, and a “What are you waiting for? Go, Hannah, go!”

If you like Jane Austen’s stories or enemies to more tropes, you will enjoy reading this book.  Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own, freely given.

The Foibles and Follies of Miss Grace

My Review:

Would you be willing to trust your five sisters and your brothers-in-law to choose who you will marry?  At first, Grace asked just her sister and brother-in-law, but somehow, all of the family gets involved. How can you have one sister and not all of the others help? :) 

Lord Oliver Stewart, known as the “Handsome Vicar”, has always be drawn to Grace.  Her love for the parishioners, her sweet nature, and beauty are everything that he admires about her.  Just when Oliver gets enough nerve to court Grace, a prospective suitor shows up and things get verrrry interesting! It’s fun watching Oliver vie for Grace’s affection and to help her see that she can trust her heart to make the perfect choice. 

I enjoyed the last book in this series, and while it can be read alone, I recommend you read all of the books about the Standish sisters because they all have wonderful love stories.  

I received an advanced reader copy of the book and was not expected to write a positive review.  All opinions are my own. 

Book Description: 

Grace Standish is the youngest of the Standish sisters. Years ago, she became flattered by one of the men of the ton, only to find herself rescued from a carriage ride that could have ruined her forever. Since then, and watching each of her sisters marry, she isn't confident in her ability to know what would be best for her. She trusts her eldest sister June completely and knows that she and her husband Morley, will help her. But a new, young, Vicar enters the scene and she finds herself so incredibly curious about him. He's obviously handsome. But he's so much more. Is she correct in her thinking? Her family talks of titles and wealth and security. They seem to overlook the excellent Vicar until it's almost too late.

Lord Stewart has long since tired of the ton and their selfish ways. Though he's only participated in two seasons, he's watched brother after brother have their seasons. Nothing about the elaborate gowns, the entire waste of money on lavish balls, and the backbiting, gossiping ton appeals to him. And so he decides to do everything he can to steer clear of the lot of it. His family is in great need and so he takes a position as a Vicar and dedicates himself to his work. He does nothing to try to appeal to anyone socially, and even still, women are always near, their mothers, guardians and grandmothers as well as the new debutantes. As he attempts to navigate these new relationships while remaining single, he notices one woman who stands out in every way. As they find themselves thrown together, and he at last finds his heart yearning to make her his, he learns she is about to be betrothed to another in a match most anticipated by her entire family.

Enjoy this final book in the Lords for the Sisters of Sussex series and introduce yourselves to a new family of BROTHERS who might just might steal your heart.

Manor For Sale, Baron Included

My Review

The funny title of this book had me hooked and I thought it would be a fun read. I didn’t like it; I l-o-v-e-d it! So many funny things happened throughout the story that I had tears running down my cheeks.  

Lord Jonathan Farnsworth is in desperate need of cash and the only thing he can reluctantly sell is his beloved mother’s manor home. After Miss Sally Duncan purchases it, Jonathan has what he thinks is a brilliant idea to getting the manor home back, marry Sally.  It’s too bad that she has No intention of marrying him.  The clumsiness of Jonathan’s attempts to court Sally and her realization that she can trust her heart with him make this a delightful story.  

This will be a book that I will be rereading for years to come.  It has wonderful main and secondary characters, clean romance, comedy, and a marvelous storyline. 

Rating: 5/5 stars

Note: This painting is one my dad did when he returned home from England.  I think it is the perfect backdrop for this book. 

Book Description

She has everything Lord Farnsworth wants, including his manor.

Lord Farnsworth would rather rot in debtor’s prison than sell the one place that feels like home to him—his mother’s manor. That is, until he meets the woman who wants to buy it. Sally Duncan is beautiful, intelligent, and as rich as a baron—a rich baron, not a cash-strapped one like Lord Farnsworth. She’s the solution to every one of his financial problems and is bewitching to boot. All he needs to do is sell her his beloved manor and then charm her to the altar, and the manor will be his again. Simple, right?

But nothing is simple when Sally starts tearing apart his ancestral home and renovating it in a way no one would consider tasteful. She is wreaking havoc on everything, but he cannot give up on owning his mother’s estate again, nor can he imagine anyone but Sally as his wife.

And so he sticks with his plan.

What a horrible mistake.

Where the Last Rose Blooms

Book Overview: 

Alice runs a New Orleans flower shop alongside her aunt, but thoughts of her mother, who went missing during Hurricane Katrina, are never far from her mind. After getting off on the wrong foot with a man who comes to the shop, Alice soon realizes their worlds overlap—and the answers they both seek can be found in the same place.

In 1861 Charleston, Clara is an abolitionist, unbeknownst to her father, who is heavily involved with the Confederacy. She attempts to assist an enslaved woman reunite with her daughter, and a dashing Union spy is just the person to help them. But things go very wrong when Clara agrees to aid the Northern cause by ferrying information about her father's associates—and her own fiancé.

Faced with the unknown, both women across the years will have to dig deep to let their courage bloom.

 My Review: 

4.5/5 Stars  In this, the third book in the Heirloom Secrets trilogy, Millie and her ancestor’s stories come to a wonderful conclusion.  Ms. Clark’s weaving of events from the past and how they connect with her and Alice in the present is told in a beautiful and masterful way.  

One theme that is portrayed in the book is that love has no boundaries and stands the test of time.  This really spoke to me and was evident in several of the character’s lives.  Clara, an abolitionist and daughter of a plantation owner, fights for the rights of both free and slave, even at great personal loss. “ The knowledge that whatever she left behind would be a worthwhile sacrifice to help other human beings…whatever that may mean.” 

While life was difficult for Millie and Alice’s family, there was always hope. I loved the imagery of the flowers and also the use of fabric that was woven throughout the book. I highly recommend reading this and the other two book in the series. 

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and author. I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions are my own. 

The Valentine Proposal

About the Book: 

Can Love Be 10 Years in the Making?

Award-winning photographer Mason Montgomery is back in Pine Valley, Kentucky. Hopefully, for good, if his business proposal is accepted. On paper, he's the perfect buyer for Forget-Me-Not Photography. Too bad the seller, Ol' Man Rowe, doesn't see it that way. He's looking for a family man to take over, and Mason's bachelor status doesn't fit the bill.

For shy Lily Anne Dawson, life has not turned out the way she'd hoped. Working at her mother's bakery and editing for the local newspaper is a far cry from her journalistic dream. She's a failure. A lonely failure worrying about infertility with no romantic prospects in sight.

That all changes when a decade-old promise to marry on Valentine's Day pushes the two together at their high school reunion. The impromptu proposal offers a solution to their problems. But marriage requires honesty--and both have secrets. Secrets that could make or break their budding love.

My Review: 

The Valentine Proposal is Beth Pugh’s debut novel and was so good! Set in small town Kentucky, everyone knows each other and the feeling of belonging was appealing to me. I felt like I could stop by The B & B Inn for a chat or the bakery for a treat. Having that kind of community helped Mason and Lily Anne in their courtship to help them see that love is worth the risk. I especially liked the pastor's counseling sessions and homework.

Mason Montgomery was my favorite character. He’d been quite the jokester in high school and coming back home after ten years was a challenge to prove he’d changed. His patience, steadfastness, and love for Lily Anne was beautiful to see.

Lily Anne was someone who I think everyone can relate to. She's been hurt, is lonely, and is a bit fearful to love. I understood how she was hesitant to commit to Mason, but someone gave her a piece of advice that I wholeheartedly with. “Maybe it’s time you start letting your heart do the thinking for you and give your brain a rest.”

I loved the sweet romance of marriage of convenience, friends-to-more story of Mason and Lily Anne. The encouraging and uplifting faith element interwoven throughout the story was just right. I hope there will be more stories about the people of Pine Valley.

Thank you to the publisher and author for an electronic advance reader copy of the book. All opinions are my own.