Blog Tour: Ray of Light

Ray of Light: The Days of Redemption Series, Book Two

About the Book:

Bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray brings inspirational romance to life in this sweet tale of love in the Amish community, Ray of Light, the second installment of her Days of Redemption series.

Roman Keim just wants a break from the family drama at his snowy Ohio home when he heads to an Amish snowbird community in Florida. There he meets Amanda Yoder and her daughter Regina who soon are warming his heart. But will Roman return to Ohio or will he stay and help the young widow embrace a second chance at love?

The author of the series Sisters of the Heart and Seasons of Sugarcreek, Shelley Shepard Gray delivers an honest, tender love story in Ray of Light, featuring the challenges of faith, family, and romance.

My Comments:

This book gave a different perspective on Amish life than what I've usually seen.  The families in this book are New Order Amish.  Amanda wears a peach colored dress; her daughter wears pink and they have a phone in the house.  I don't know what other differences exist between these New Order Amish and the Old Order Amish about whom many books are written. Also, instead of a farm in Ohio or Pennsylvania, much of this story is set in Florida.  

I enjoyed watching these two young (though not so young) people learn to love again.  Shelley Shepard Gray  brought forth how hard it must be to lose an only child in a culture that is very family-oriented (not that losing a child is ever easy).  Her in-laws are supportive of her--except when she starts to want to move on with her life.

The book is the second in a series and I have not read the first.  The  main couple makes a cameo appearance--he is a missionary to Belize and while they are engaged, she goes to visit him.  I never knew that the Amish had missionaries.  There are references to some backstory that those of us who have not read the first book wonder why are included as they add nothing to this story.  

In short, this was a relatively short interesting read about two charming people from a slightly different Amish community.

Thanks to the folks at Litfuse for providing a complimentary review copy.  Grade:  B.

Meet Shelley:

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the "Sisters of the Heart", "Seasons of Sugarcreek", "Secrets of Crittenden County", and Families of Honor series. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Learn more at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.

One Day in Apple Grove: My Review

One Day in Apple Grove

About the Book:

Caitlin Mulchahy doesn't have much time for socializing now that her sisters' handyman business is thriving. For Dr. Jack Gannon—former Marine medic—keeping the residents of Apple Grove healthy is a welcome distraction from the haunting memories of his time served in Iraq. Although the two have lived in the same small town their whole lives, Cait and Jack barely know each other. That is until a stray puppy leads them to the same place at the same time. But it will take more than one adorable canine to get these two together—it'll take a whole town.

My Comments:

I enjoyed this sweet charming small town romance.  Caitlin and Jack bond over a rescued puppy and help each other reach beyond the hurts they are experiencing in life.  It's part of a series so there are a lot of characters that seem to have little role.  I found the writing to be a bit overdone at times and the story is just a basic romance with a couple of steamy scenes but it was a fun mindless read.  Grade:  B-

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

Review: Big Sky Summer

Big Sky Summer

About the Book:

With his father's rodeo legacy to continue and a prosperous spread to run, Walker Parrish has no time to dwell on wrecked relationships. But country-western sweetheart Casey Elder is out of the spotlight and back in Parable, Montana. And Walker can't ignore that his "act now, think later" passion for Casey has had consequences. Two teenage consequences! 

Keeping her children's paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey's plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it-as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets-like Casey's desire to be the rancher's wife in every way-unravel, with unforeseen results?

My Comments:

The premise is on the unrealistic side--two times they were intimate, two times they took the normal precautions and two times it failed and kids were the result.  Walker was in the kids' lives as a family friend but now that they are living in the neighborhood he wants more--he wants to be a dad and a husband.  

Casey lost her parents when she was young and was raised by emotionally distant grandparents and loving servants.  Her music is her life and she wasn't willing to give it up to marry Walker, even if she was pregnant. However, the third time the balloon broke....

I liked the story.  Linda Lael Miller tells a face-paced fun romantic story even if it doesn't make sense and honestly, other than the fact that they were both nice people, I don't see what these two saw in each other.  Even they say they get along better in the bedroom than out--and yes,  we are in the bedroom with them.  I look forward to seeing Walker's sister married off in a future book.

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

Question:

When does "no" really mean "yes", or put another way, do actions speak louder than words?  If I tell a guy I don't want to be intimate with him, is it ok for him to physically try to change my mind, not by attacking me and overpowering me with superior strength but rather by seducing me?  Does the fact that I put myself in a situation in which intimacy is likely to happen make any difference?  At one point in this book Casey says she doesn't want to be intimate with Walker.  At that point they were sleeping together.  He managed to change her  mind.  He never forced himself on her, but by starting things (and she didn't protest) he went against her previously stated desires.  

Blog Tour: Catch a Falling Star

Catch a Falling Star: A Novel

About the Book:

Is life about accomplishing plans . . . or wishes coming true . . . or something more?

Dr. Kendall Haynes’s plans to have it all—a career, a husband, a family—are eluding her. Now that she’s thirty-six, she needs to stop wishing upon a star and face reality: Some dreams just never come true.

Air Force pilot Griffin Walker prefers flying solo in the air and on the ground—until a dangerous choice ejects him from the cockpit. His life becomes even more complicated after the sudden death of his parents makes him the guardian of his sixteen-year-old brother. There’s no way his life will ever get back on course now.

When their lives collide during a near tragedy, Kendall and Griffin must decide if they can embrace the unexpected changes God has waiting for them.

My Comments:
I really liked both main characters in this book.  Both are very intelligent professionally successful people.  Both have had some real problems in their personal lives.  Both are afraid of being hurt; both eventually...
As an older couple (late 30's) they have to work at integrating established lives and deciding whether their lives can be meshed.

While I wouldn't call the book preachy, it is definitely Christian fiction and has too much religion if you don't like religion with your fiction.

I'd like to thank the folks at Litfuse for sending me a review copy.  Grade:  B+

Celebrate the release of Catch a Falling Star (Howard Books) with Beth K. Vogt by entering to win a Romantic Weekend Getaway and RSVPing for her June 4th Author Chat Party.

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• A $200 Visa Cash Card (Perfect for a weekend stay at a hotel or B&B!)
• Catch a Falling Star and Wish You Were Here by Beth Vogt (Swoon-worthy!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 3rd. Winner will be announced at the "Catch a Falling Star" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 4th. Connect with Beth for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Beth will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Catch a Falling Star and join Beth on the evening of June 4th 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!)

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