Who I Am With You: My Review

Who I Am With You

About the Book:

Jessica Mason isn’t looking for love when she meets Ridley Chesterfield. Instead she is still reeling from the tragic, unexpected loss of her husband and daughter—and awaiting the arrival of her unborn child. Harboring the secret of her husband’s betrayal, her pain is deeper than anyone knows.

Ridley Chesterfield is hiding out in Hope Springs, Idaho, avoiding a political scandal and the barrage of false media headlines that have tarnished his good name. The last thing Ridley wants is a relationship—but when fate leads Ridley to form a friendship with his reclusive and pregnant neighbor, he wonders if this small-town hideout might be more of a long-term destination. 

When Jessica begins to read her great-grandfather’s Bible, she finds a connection with a man she never knew. Somehow the verses he marked and the words he wrote in the margins open her heart to healing. And as Ridley and Jessica help each other forgive the people who have wronged them, they must decide if the past will define them or if they will choose to love again. 

Who I Am With You weaves together a modern-day romance with Jessica’s great-grandfather’s story from the 1930s, reminding us that some truths can cross generations and that faith has the power to transform families forever.

My Comments:

There were a few years during which I read a lot of Christian fiction, mostly because the publishers were generous with review copies.  When NetGalley started offering a variety of genres I started reading different things and often skipped the Christian fiction. This one caught my eye so I gave it a try.  Unfortunately, though the basic storyline/romance was interesting, the book quickly became a sermon dressed up like a story and the characters became unrealistic.  It is one of those too good to be true, find Jesus and all will be well type books.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B-

Quick Romance Reviews

I'm sure it is no surprise to any of my readers that I enjoy romance novels. However, they are a bit like candy--sweet but not too substantial, and after a while you get sick of it.  I've read a couple lately that I enjoyed but which I cannot get motivated to review.  Still I want to say a few words to make the nice folks who let me have them happy. Both are from NetGalley.  

 

Love Without End (A King's Meadow Romance Series Book 1)

About the Book:

Chet Leonard's life was forever changed when his seventeen year old son died and then, soon after, his wife walked out on their family. Over two years later, all he wants to do is hold onto his horse ranch and raise his remaining sons to be honorable men.

Kimberly Welch, widowed mother of Tara, a rebellious fifteen-year-old, has reached the end of her finances and nearly the end of her rope. She and Tara come to King's Meadow to try to piece their lives back together again. Kimberly has no intention of become involved with the residents of this remote mountain community and certainly not with any man.

When 84-year-old Anna McKenna returns to King's Meadow and to the Leonard ranch, she becomes an agent of change and healing for the two hurting families. With her help, Kimberly and Chet's families at last discover a love without end.

My Comments: 

Can two hurting people find love?  Of course they can.  This is a Christian romance so the characters go to church, pray, and keep things chaste.  Chet is friends with a minister and they talk a couple of times but for the most part this is far more a clean romance than a religious one.  Grade:  B.

The Cowboy Earns a Bride (Cowboys of Chance Creek Book 8)

About the Book:

Wedding bells are ringing on the Double-Bar-K and Luke Matheson is determined to make his move on his favorite bridesmaid--sweet, sexy Mia Start. Though she's shared his house for more than two months, she's remained elusive. Luke's ready to cross that divide, and win her love for good. 

Mia would give anything to marry Luke, but he won't want her once he knows the truth; she's four months pregnant with another man's child. It's time to find a real home--and a real job--so she can raise her baby alone. 

When a nosy neighbor exposes Mia's pregnancy at his brother's wedding, Luke sees his chance to finally get what he wants. He lays claim to the baby--and to Mia--but their happily-ever-after lasts barely a day. When Luke's pride clashes with Mia's need for independence, Mia calls their brand new engagement off. 

Can Luke convince her to change her mind? Or will these wedding bells sound the death knell of their relationship?

My  Review:

In case you couldn't tell by the cover, this one was not a Christian romance.  As general market romance goes, I'd put it in the middle of the spectrum--not the steamiest around, but definitely not chaste either.  It is one of those Mars/Venus stories where all he wants to do is take care of her, and all she wants to do is to prove to herself, if not to everyone, that she can take care of herself.  Grade:  B.  

Litfuse Blog Tour: A Promise Kept

A Promise Kept

About the Book:

God was going to save her marriage, Allison was sure of it. But neither her husband nor her marriage had been saved.

What had become of His promise?

Tony Kavanagh had been Allison’s dream-come-true. They were in love within days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup bubbled over with joy . . . but years later, that joy had been extinguished by unexpected trials.

The day Allison issued her husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised to heal; it was clear that she'd misunderstood.

Now, living in the quiet mountain cabin she inherited from her single, self-reliant Great Aunt Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief and figure out how to adapt to small town life. But when she finds a wedding dress and a collection of journals in Emma’s attic, a portrait of her aunt emerges that takes Allison completely by surprise: a portrait of a heartbroken woman surprisingly like herself.

As Allison reads the incredible story of Emma’s life in the 1920s and 1930s, she is forced to ask a difficult question: Does she really surrender every piece of her life to the Lord? 

Drawing from her own heart-wrenching story of redemption, A Promise Kept is Robin Lee Hatcher’s emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers—in His own time and His own ways.

My Comments:

This was an enjoyable story with a lot of fodder for thought.  Allison had prayed for her marriage to be healed, but her husband walked out on her.  Does God answer prayers?  Most of us have been told that God always answers prayers--it is just that sometimes the answer is "no".  Allison is coming to terms with the fact that her answer was "no", that her marriage was not going to be saved.  It was time to live life on her own and she chose to start that life in a place she'd always loved and recently inherited, her great aunt's cabin.  While there, she learns through her aunt's journals, that her aunt had been through a similar situation.  

Later in the book Allison's husband seeks reconciliation and Allison has to grapple with what she wants and what God wants her to do.  She wants to protect her heart, yet she wants to be open to the will of God. That had to be a tough spot to be in .  

I like Allison.  She was developing a new life for herself after her old one was basically ripped out from under her.  I loved reading Aunt Emma's journals, the journals of a woman who grew from someone willing to accept less than she deserved to one who built a life and career in a time when most women's lives were defined by family.  

The book is Christian fiction and Allison's faith is definitely front and center in the book but it isn't a book where getting saves solves all the problems of life nor does it push particular beliefs on the readers.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy via Litfuse.  Grade: B+

Don't miss Robin Lee Hatcher's stunning new novel, A Promise Kept. Robin is celebrating with a fun giveaway and an encouraging Facebook Author Chat Party.

 One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• A Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 6th. Winner will be announced at the "A Promise Kept" Facebook Author Chat Party on the 6th. Connect with Robin and friends for an evening of encouraging book chat, prizes, and an exclusive look at Robin's next book!

So grab your copy of A Promise Kept and join Robin on the evening of February 6th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on 2/6!

Blog Tour: A Bride for All Seasons

A Bride for All Seasons

About the Book:

1800s mail-order bride catalogs facilitated many happy marriages. Here are the stories of four couples who owe their wedded bliss to creative editing by The Hitching Post publisher.

"And Then Came Spring"--Margaret Brownley

When mail order bride Mary-Jo Parker arrives in town she receives the shock of her life; not only is her fiancé dead, he left behind an eight-year-old son he neglected to mention. But the biggest challenge of all is the boy's way-too-handsome uncle.

"An Ever-After Summer"--Debra Clopton

Widower Matt McConnell wrote his ad with no room for misunderstanding--Bible believers need not apply. But then Bible-thumping Ellie shows up on his doorstep. Matt's so desperate for her help that he accepts.

"Autumn's Angel"--Robin Lee Hatcher

Luvena Abbott's privileged childhood didn't prepare her for the hardship she now faces as an adult, especially when it comes to being the guardian of her nieces and nephew. Marriage seems the only answer to her dilemma. Clay Birch hopes to change the hurdy-gurdy house he won in a poker game into the finest opera house in the Northwest, but he'll need help to do it. Could this unlikely couple actually be the perfect match?

"Winter Wedding Bells"--Mary Connealy

David Laramie is looking for a woman to care for his children. In exchange he'll make her financially comfortable for life. But no woman wants to marry a dying man. Then Megan responds to his ad. It seems his "edited" letter contained no mention of him dying.

My Comments:

Who would travel halfway across the country to marry a stranger?  Who would invite a strange woman into his home, particularly with kids in the picture?  People for whom the alternative was worse, that's who.  Today we see marriage as being all about love and the emotional fulfillment for the involved adults.  Our society has evolved to the point that men and women don't really need to each other economically and to where certain physical "needs" can be dealt with without a permanent committed relationship.  In the late 1800's that wasn't the case.  Men and women needed each other.  She couldn't do all the physical labor needed to run a farm.  Society limited her career options so most unmarried women had few choices but to remain in a semi-childlike position in the home of their parents or relatives.  He couldn't take care of kids and the house and still earn a living.  If no local woman was willing to marry him (and his kids), life could get very uncomfortable.  

This volume of four short stories about women who answered ads for mail order brides was a quick easy read.  Due to the length of the story, the character development was limited.  The thread tying the stories together is that each couple's letters to each other were edited to leave out important details,  or to paint a picture that wasn't quite true.  Of course each really had what the other needed, even if it wasn't what they wanted.  Of course it took a while for them to see it.  Of course they lived happily ever after.  

The stories are Christian fiction and while not preachy, the Christian elements seem more of an add-on than an integral part of the story.  In other words, these are not stories of people's spiritual struggles, they are simple, happily ever after romances.  Because of simplistic plot lines and limited character development I'm giving this one a B-, even though it was the  perfect read after my last long emotionally engaging read. 

I'd like to thank the folks at Litfuse for making a review copy available to me.

Four novellas, four brides, and four stories to fall in love with. 

Enter the world of mail-order brides with four of your favorite authors: Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton, and Margaret Brownley. In A Bride for All Seasons (Thomas Nelson) each of the prospective brides is hopeful for a second chance at love—and that second chance always seems to come in an unexpected package.
 
The authors are celebrating with a fun 12 Days of Unexpected Packages Giveaway! Between July 12-23 visit the authors’ Facebook Page to enter to win a new giveaway each day. Winners will be announced at the Facebook Author Chat party on July 23rd! Such fun!