A Time To Bloom (Leah's Garden book 2) by Lauraine Snelling and Kiersti Giron

 

Lauraine Snelling has teamed up with Kiersti Giron to write Leah's Garden book 2, A Time To Bloom. This book follows the adventures of the Nielsen sisters as they establish a new life in Nebraska. I loved the way the characters related to each other. I really enjoyed the storyline and the town sounds like a nice place to visit. (I couldn't live there because I like my modern comforts.) So anyone looking for an enjoyable book about frontier life should grab a copy of A Time To Bloom, a pitcher of tea, and settle in for a relaxing adventure.

I was given this book by NetGalley with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Will their dreams fall apart when confronted with all that is stacked against them?

Delphinium Nielsen and her sisters have accomplished much in the past year, traveling west and settling in Nebraska. They are on their way to building a garden in dedication to their mother and working against the forces of nature to make their farm thrive. However, none of that can mask their concern that they are quickly running out of money. Del's work teaching in their booming town offers hope, not only to support her sisters financially, but also to better her students' lives. Not all of the town sees it that way, though, with the rebuilding of the schoolhouse continually neglected and her brightest student's father demanding he work the farm instead of attend class.

When their brother Anders arrives with his war-wounded and heartbroken friend RJ, Anders sees the strength of the sisters' idea to start a boardinghouse and decides to invest in it. Del finds RJ barely polite and wants nothing to do with him. But despite Del and her sisters' best-laid plans, the future--and RJ--might surprise them all.

About the author:

About Lauraine Snelling

Award-winning and best selling author Lauraine Snelling began living her dream to be a writer with her first published book for young adult readers, Tragedy on the Toutle, in 1982. She has since continued writing more horse books for young girls, adding historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers to her repertoire. All told, she has over eighty books published with more than 4 million copies in print.

Shown in her contemporary romances and women’s fiction, a hallmark of Lauraine’s style is writing about real issues of forgiveness, loss, domestic violence, and cancer within a compelling story. Her work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German, and she has won the Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Inspirational Fiction, the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.

As a sought after speaker, Lauraine encourages others to find their gifts and live their lives with humor and joy. Her readers clamor for more books more often, and Lauraine would like to comply ... if only her paintbrushes and easel didn’t call quite so loudly.

Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a watchdog Basset named Winston. They love to travel, most especially in their forty-foot motor coach, which they affectionately deem “a work in progress”.

Kiersti Giron holds a life-long passion for history and storytelling. She has been published in Grit, Clubhouse Magazine, Clubhouse Jr., and two newspapers and is currently collaborating on some projects with Lauraine Snelling. She loves to write stories that show the intersection of past and present, explore relationships that bridge cultural divides, and probe the healing Jesus can bring out of brokenness. Her novel manuscripts set in the American West have been contest finalists and winners, including two ACFW Genesis Awards.

Much of Kiersti’s interest in Native American cultures and history comes from the relationships she has built with Native friends after living five years on the edge of the Navajo reservation in New Mexico. She has a growing passion for racial justice and reconciliation and continues to learn and grow through friendships and reading in this area. She has a B.A. in English with a writing emphasis from Azusa Pacific University and taught five years of high school English at a local Christian international school.

A member of ACFW and a close-knit critique group, Kiersti loves learning and growing with other writers penning God’s story into theirs, as well as blogging and connecting with readers at www.kierstigiron.com. She lives in California with her beloved husband, their busy little son, and two kitties.

Heiress (Daughters Of Fortune book 1) by Susan May Warren

 

This beauty has been sitting on my to-be-read shelf for five or six years. I would think about reading it, but something else would come and push it farther down the stack. Finally, the day came when I picked up Heiress!. It is a fabulous book about the Gilded Age in New York City. A story of two sisters each trying to carve out the best life for themselves in an age controlled by men. I loved the storyline and the characters. The setting was fantastic! I highly recommend Heiress!

I have the next two books on my shelf also...Baroness and Duchess which continues the story of the Price family!

Brew up a pot of tea and settle into your coziest chair for a very enjoyable read.

All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

With the wrong smile, her sister could destroy Jinx’s world.

Book One in the Daughters of Fortune series by acclaimed, RITA award-winning, USA Today best-selling author Susan May Warren

The beautiful heiress daughters of newspaper magnate August Price have been given everything their hearts desire. But what if they want only to be loved--without an enormous price tag attached?

When one daughter pursues a desirable marriage, she secures for herself a comfortable and glamorous life. But among the duties of privilege, will she also find the happily-ever-after she seeks?

Her sister rejects the trappings of wealth, choosing instead to build a new life on the still-untamed frontier. Will she find happiness in independence or discover that she's left her heart behind in New York's glittering society?

Set in the opulent world of the Gilded Age, each woman discovers that being an heiress just might cost her everything--including the chance for true love.

About the author:

Growing up in Minneapolis and attending the U of MN, I learned to love city life, although I'm a woodsy girl at heart. Or maybe I'm an adventurer -- having lived and traveled all over the world, including Siberia Russia as a missionary for eight years. Probably that's why my characters can't sit still, and seem to get into one scrape after another -- they're too much like me! I love God, my family, my country, my church, and feel privileged every day to be able to write stories.

Here's my "Official" Bio.

With over 1 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA and Carol award-winning author of over seventy-five novels with Revell, Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com and Christmas novellas.

With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award.

Of her books, Publisher’s Weekly has written, “Warren lays bare her characters’ human frailties, including fear, grief, and resentment, as openly as she details their virtues of love, devotion, and resiliency. She has crafted an engaging tale of romance, rivalry, and the power of forgiveness.”

And Library Journal adds, “Warren's characters are well-developed and she knows how to create a first rate contemporary romance…”

Susan is also a nationally acclaimed writing coach, teaching at conferences around the nation and winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year award. She loves to help people launch their writing careers and is the founder of Novel.Academy and www.LearnHowtoWriteaNovel.com, a writing website that helps authors get published and stay published. She’s also the author of the popular writing method, The Story Equation.

Malicious Intent (Defend and Protect #2) by Lynn H. Blackburn

 

My only problem with Malicious Intent is that I have finished it. Lynn Blackburn first introduced most of these characters in Unknown Threat and I was delighted to read more about them in Malicious Intent. The banter is witty and the action exciting. I loved the suspense that kept me guessing until the end of the book. Ms. Blackburn did an excellent job of weaving faith into her characters' lives. It was inspiring the way they would stop and pray for guidance. I can't wait to read book three and find out what these folks are up to next!

I would suggest you brew a pitcher of sweet tea and block off a weekend for a fabulous read.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Dr. Ivy Collins, founder and CEO of Hedera, Inc., is ready to begin clinical trials of her company's cutting-edge prosthetic. Her work has been heralded by government, medical, and advocacy groups and everyone hopes the device will be a success. Well, almost everyone. Someone is trying to sabotage Hedera and the launch, but to what purpose--and how far will they go to get what they want? 

Meanwhile, U.S. Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon can't believe he's finally been reunited with Ivy, his childhood best friend. Now that he's found her again, Gil intends to spend the rest of his life with her. But it will take all his skill to uncover the truth in time to save Ivy's life's work, her own life, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.

Perfectly balancing chilling suspense and uplifting romance, award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn delivers a story of revenge, greed, and overcoming that you won't want to put down no matter how late it gets.

About the author:

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she's a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she's sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!

Lynn’s titles have won the Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award. Her newest series kicked off in March 2021 with Unknown Threat, Book 1 in the Defend and Protect series.

She is a frequent conference speaker and has taught writers all over the country. Lynn lives in South Carolina with her true love and their three children. You can follow her real life happily ever after by signing up for her newsletter at LynnHBlackburn.com and @LynnHBlackburn on Bookbub, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Unknown Threat (Defend and Protect #1) by Lynn H. Blackburn

 

Unknown Threat is a fabulous novel about an elite group of people serving God and the US government. Luke, Gil, and Zane are still reeling from the loss of their partner Thad when they find themselves the object of a hit. Faith from the FBI is assigned to find out who is killing Secret Service agents in the Raliegh office. I love the plot. It is fast-moving and suspenseful tinged with a bit of romance. The themes of betrayal and forgiveness help to move the story forward. This book is well worth reading.

Grab a pot of tea and settle in for an exciting read.

All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He's an expert at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection.

FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she's assigned. She's been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke's life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it's hard to know how to fight back when you don't know who the enemy is.

As more agents are targeted, Luke and Faith will have to work together to bring a killer to justice and prevent any more names from joining their fallen brothers and sisters on the Secret Service Wall of Honor.

Award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn pulls out all the stops in this brand-new romantic suspense series that will have you holding your breath one minute and swooning the next.

About the author:

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she's a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she's sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!

Lynn’s titles have won the Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award. Her newest series kicked off in March 2021 with Unknown Threat, Book 1 in the Defend and Protect series.

She is a frequent conference speaker and has taught writers all over the country. Lynn lives in South Carolina with her true love and their three children. You can follow her real-life happily ever after by signing up for her newsletter at LynnHBlackburn.com and @LynnHBlackburn on Bookbub, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Veil Of Winter: A Dericott Tale by Melanie Dickerson

 

Melanie Dickerson is the queen of fairytale retellings. Veil of Winter is her version of The Sleeping Beauty and I like it much better than the traditional tale. I love the way she turns Magical stories into medieval stories that seem as though they may have happened. Her characters are strong and I adore the adaptations she makes. Ms. Dickerson proves that fairytales are not just for little girls.

Grab your favorite blanket and a mug of tea and settle in for a delightful tale of times gone by.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

She’s hounded from every side by treacherous elements and foes, but her greatest enemy lies within.

In the mountains near France, the medieval Princess Elyse is being forced to marry, thus forming an alliance that will enrich her father but enslave her kingdom. Instead, she chooses to feign her death and flee to Prague to beg King Wenceslaus to help save her people.

In England, the young knight Sir Gerard has a vision from God instructing him to help Elyse on her quest. When he arrives to find she has been near death for days, he manages to revive her. However, thinking the stranger was trying to kiss her, the princess immediately distrusts him. But her desperate situation forces her to accept his aid.

Pursued by her enemy’s guards over mountainous terrain, they must also battle the deadly winter elements. Her greatest challenge may be to overcome the voices of disapproval and accusation from her childhood. Will her emotions lead her into her true identity, or will they undermine her ability to work with Gerard and to save her people, who desperately need her help?

In this dazzling and romantic story, New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson takes the classic Sleeping Beauty fairy tale to satisfying new heights.

About the author:

Melanie is the Christy award-winning author of Regency and Medieval fairy tale romances.

Melanie’s newsletter sign-up is on her website, www.MelanieDickerson.com, and you can connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/MelanieDickersonBooks/ and on Instagram www.instagram.com/melaniedickerson123/

Growing up about 50 miles from Harper Lee’s hometown in rural Alabama, Melanie wrote stories in notebooks for her friends, who passed them around in class as soon as she finished a scene. (And no, they didn’t get in trouble—much.) These stories always involved adventure, danger, and a hero and heroine falling in love, with a happily-ever-after ending. She’s been a romantic for as long as she can remember!

Melanie lives in North Alabama with her husband and sometimes her two young adult children, who have (mostly) flown the nest. You'll find her sprint-writing with her friends on video chat, sipping hot tea at a local coffee shop, hanging out with her handsome husband, watching movies with her oddly calm Jack Russell terrier, or daydreaming about her book-in-progress.

Whatever Tomorrow Brings by Lori Wick

 

I love all of Lori Wick's books. Whatever Tomorrow brings is no exception. It is the second book in her Californian series and is Bobbie and Jeff's story. I love the gentle romance and the realistic characters. You will never regret reading a Lori Wick novel until you remember that she has retired from writing. So settle back with a cup of tea and a comfy blankie. You are in for a delightful read.

All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Lori Wick's bestselling series The Californians (more than 500,000 copies sold) has a fresh new cover design to delight avid Lori Wick fans and readers just introduced to Lori's beloved fiction.

In the midst of fresh grief and unfamiliar surroundings, Kaitlin, the Donovans' oldest daughter, must face life in rugged California. Will the men of this restless country take advantage of her innocence? Will she recognize God's unexpected gift of love? Can she keep her family safe until her father returns? Grief turns to triumph and innocence to maturity as Kaitlin lifts her heart to God for the strength to face whatever tomorrow brings.

About the author:

Lori Wick is a multifaceted author of Christian fiction. As comfortable writing period stories as she is penning contemporary works, Lori's books (more than 5 million in print) vary widely in location and time period. Lori's faithful fans consistently put her series and standalone works on the bestseller lists. Lori and her husband live with their family in the Midwest.