Christian Romance

Where Hope Begins by Catherine West

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Book Look in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Where Hope Begins by Catherine West was one of the best books that I have read lately.  First, I want to let everyone know that this book deals with quite a few hard topics such as losing a child, affairs, suicide attempts and terminal illness so be aware that this book might be hard to get through from time to time.  Right from the first page of this book I was hooked, and I couldn’t put I down until I was finished with the book.  I loved this book because I liked all the characters right from the start of the book.  I felt bad for Savannah because I can’t even imagine how hard things had to be for her but everyone in this story had major things that they were all dealing with.  The author did a great job of making me feel like I was right there with the characters throughout the entire book which I am sure is the reason I read this book so quickly.  I spent a lot of this book going back and forth on what I wanted to happen in this book because I loved all the characters even the ones that were harder to love because of their choices.  This is one book I could go on and on about because it is my stand out book so far this year.  I would recommend this book to just about anyone who is looking for a story of growth but also knows that there are hard parts but pushing through those parts is totally worth it.

About The Book

In the aftermath of her husband’s act of adultery and abandonment, Savannah must finally face the ghosts that haunt her and discover for herself whether authentic faith, grace, and ultimate healing really do exist.

When her husband of twenty-one years leaves her, Savannah Barrington believes she’s lost almost everything she’s ever loved. With her daughter in college and her son in boarding school, Savannah retreats to her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, where hope and healing come in the form of an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, a touch of magic, and a handsome man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove she’s still worth loving.

But when her husband asks to reconcile, Savannah is faced with the hardest challenge of all: Forgiving the unforgivable. Somehow she must find freedom from the chains of their past and move forward, or face an unknown future without him.

About The Author

Catherine West writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband have two grown children and one beautiful granddaughter. Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award (The Things We Knew). Her most recent novel, The Memory of You, released March 2017. Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com

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Dancing In The Rain by Jennifer Slattery

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Dancing In The Rain by Jennifer Slattery was a sweet story.  I fell in love with this book right from the start.  This book has a different plot from books that I usually read in this genre, so I really enjoyed this book.   I loved watching as both Loni and Michael grew throughout the book and where they ended up by the end of the book.  This book also reminded me that we can’t judge people because of their disabilities.  I was also reminded that even though things may be hard for me I need to keep pushing forward because we all capable of more than we know.   All in all this was a super sweet story and I can’t wait to read more books by this author in the future because so far I have really enjoyed both of the books I have read by this author.

About The Book

On the verge of college graduation, Loni Parker seeks employment as a music teacher, but no one will hire her since she’s blind. Or so she thinks. To take her mind off her troubles, her roommate invites her to spring retreat at Camp Hope in the gorgeous North Carolina mountains. Unbeknown to Loni, Michael Ackerman, the director, is an ex-con responsible for the accident that caused her blindness. When Loni warms up to camp and wants to return as a summer counselor, Michael opposes the idea, which only makes Loni want to prove herself all the more. Though she doesn’t expect to fall for the guy. Still, her need for independence and dream of teaching win out, taking her far away from her beloved Camp Hope . . . and a certain director.

Camp director Michael Ackerman recognizes Lonie instantly and wants to avoid her at all costs. Yet, despite the guilt pushing him from her, a growing attraction draws him to the determined woman. She sees more with her heart than the average person does with his eyes. But her presence also dredges up a long-buried anger toward his alcoholic father that he’d just as soon keep hidden. When circumstances spin out of control, Michael is forced to face a past that may destroy his present.

About The Author

Jennifer Slattery is the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, and in that capacity, helps women embrace and live out who they are in Christ, find healing and restoration in His unfailing love, and enjoy the deep emotional and spiritual freedom only He can provide. (Go HERE to learn of upcoming Wholly Loved events.) She loves interacting with women and women’s group on a personal level and speaks locally and nationally on topics pertinent to women juggling all the demands and uncertainties in today’s fast paced, ever-changing culture. (You can find out more about her speaking endeavors HERE.)

Read her latest blog post HERE. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

As a multi-published author, Jennifer also has a deep love for story and has five novels out with New Hope Publishers with a sixth releasing independently this summer. She’s also a regular contributor to Crosswalk.com where she writes Christian living, parenting, and marriage articles and functions as one of their featured bloggers. (You can find and follow her Crosswalk Blog HERE.) As the managing and acquiring editor for Guiding Light women’s Fiction, an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, she loves working with writers to help them strengthen their manuscripts and grow in their gifting. When not writing, you’ll likely find her at one of Omaha’s many coffeehouses.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

Buried Secrets by Barbara Cameron

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Gilead Publishing in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Buried Secrets by Barbara Cameron was a sweet Amish fiction story.  I have read so many books in this genre, but I don’t know that I have read a ton of books by this author.  I really enjoyed this story, but I do wish that they would have put the list of Amish words that are used in the book at the start because I know what they all mean but people new to this genre won’t know what the words mean.  I would never have thought to look at the back of the book for the list, so I would have put it right before the first chapter of the book.  I fell in love with Rose and Luke right from the start and I spent the book hoping that they would end up together in the end.  I was also able to read this book in a couple days because it is an easy read and not one that takes awhile to get through at least it wasn’t for me.  If you love Amish fiction than I would recommend this book to you because I am sure just about everyone will enjoy it.

About The Book

Family secrets could get in the way of a second chance at love

After her husband dies, Rose longs to be near her family—especially her twin sister, Lillian—so she packs up her young son and leaves their life in Ohio to move back to Paradise, Pennsylvania.

Luke Miller is ready to settle down in Paradise. He soon forms a partnership with Rose to help farm her land. He finds that he’s enjoying the company of the quiet, modest widow and she may be just the woman he’s been waiting for. But is Rose hiding a secret beneath her reserved exterior—one that could keep her from having a future with Luke?

And Rose isn’t the only one concealing something. Luke has a secret of his own, and it could threaten their partnership—and their chance at love.

About The Author

CBD, CBA, and ECPA bestselling author of 24 books (including new series upcoming for Abingdon Press in 2011/2012) including fiction and non-fiction books for Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, Harlequin, and other publishers.

I sold three films to HBO/Cinemax and am the first winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.

My two novellas won the 2nd and 3rd place in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest from the Faith, Love, and Hope chapter of RWA. Both were finalists for the novella category of the Carol Award of the American Christian Writers Award (ACFW).

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

Love Inspired Books: Primary Suspect by Laura Scott

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from the publishing company in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Primary Suspect by Laura Scott was a very predictable type book, but it was well written, and I enjoyed the characters.  This was a shorter book, so I was able read it in a few hours which I also enjoyed because I can read it fast and move on to another book.  I knew what was going to happen without knowing all the details in this book.  I wasn’t the biggest fan of Mitch through most of the book but by the end of it he had grown on me, but I loved Dana right from the start.  She seemed like someone I would get along with and I know I will check out more books by this author in the future because I enjoyed her writing.  This book would be great if you are looking for something to read that isn’t super intense and a quick read.

About The Book

Wrongfully Accused

A Callahan Confidential story

When fire investigator Mitch Callahan is attacked at a crime scene, he’s shocked to uncover the body of a slain ex-girlfriend—and realize someone’s framing him for murder. Widowed ER nurse Dana Petrie believes Mitch is innocent, and not just because he makes her feel alive again after tragedy marred her past. But is she willing to risk everything only to love and lose again?

About The Author

Laura Scott is honored to write for the Love Inspired Suspense line, where a reader can find a heartwarming journey of faith amid the thrilling danger. She lives with her husband of twenty-five years and has two children, a daughter and a son, who are both in college. She works as a critical-care nurse during the day at a large level-one trauma center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and spends her spare time writing romance. Visit Laura at http://www.laurascottbooks.com.

Also writes as: Laura Iding

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

His Risk by Shelley Shepard Gray

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

His Risk by Shelley Shepard Gray was a good book but for this first time this wasn’t one of my favorites by this author.  I always knew that this day would probably come that I read a book by her that I didn’t like, and this book is that for me.  I didn’t like this book because it seemed to far-fetched for me. This book was well written I just had a hard time believing that Calvin started out life as Amish and then ended up being an informant.  I just seemed like a huge jump and that made it hard for me to believe.  Other than that, though it was a good book and I really liked Alice throughout the entire book.  I am sure the most people would enjoy this book it just wasn’t a good fit for me.

About The Book

An undercover English DEA agent will do anything to protect the Amish girl he loves.
Calvin Fisher left the Amish community at fourteen and never looked back. Only his brother’s illness can bring him back to Hart County. Now, as Calvin works to make amends, he meets Alice, a local nursery school teacher, and falls hard for her. But he has a secret that could threaten the happiness he’s finally found.
Alice shouldn’t like-or want-Calvin. He’s English, has a questionable past, and an even more questionable job. Still, she can’t help being intrigued. Though Calvin assures Alice that he’s worthy of her, she’s torn between surrendering to her growing feelings and steering clear of him.
When a sudden surge of criminal activity alarms the community and even targets Alice, Calvin fears that his double life has put everyone he loves at risk. As for Alice, she can’t help but wonder if the brave and honorable man she’s lost her heart to is far more dangerous than she could ever imagine.

About The Author

Shelley Shepard Gray is a “New York Times” and “USA Today” bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. 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.
Find out more about Shelley at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.
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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren was a sweet story.  I love that the author made the main character’s strong independent women because it isn’t commonly done in books that happen during the 1700’s.  This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I can’t wait to read others especially more in this series.  I think I loved Verity the most and I hope that she will be one of the main characters in the next book.  Since this book is a historical fiction novel, I did get bored from time to time because I always have a hard time staying interested when books take place this much is the past.  I spent the entire book rooting for Keturah to come out on top.  If you love reading historical fiction books that have a strong female lead than I know you will like this book as much as I did.

About The Book

In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father’s estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.

Although it flies against all the conventions, they’re determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, conventions are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined-and that’s just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this harsh and unfamiliar world.

Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives.

To keep her family together and save the plantation that is her last chance at providing for them, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

About The Author

Lisa T. Bergren has published more than 40 books with more than 3 million books sold combined. She’s the author of the Christy Award-winning “Waterfall,” RITA®-finalist “Firestorm,” bestselling “God Gave Us You,” and popular historical series like Homeward, Grand Tour, and more. She’s also a recipient of the RT Lifetime Achievement Award. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and three teen-and-older children.

Find out more about Lisa at http://lisatawnbergren.com.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret