Review: A Cowboy Unmatched

A Cowboy Unmatched by Karen Witemeyer
My rating: 💛💛💛💛💛

The Archers were a dedicated, loyal bunch, it seemed.

I 100% enjoyed this novella about Neill.

There was a sweet, sort of fast (but I didn't even care) sweet romance, the threat of danger, suspense, a fight, spiritual revelation and off course, the Archers!

Clara was a strong female character and I enjoyed the mamma-bear that came through in her thoughts and actions.

Clara Danvers was no fragile flower. She was a coyote who’d learned to scrape and scavenge and protect what was hers.

And Neill - not sure who met this youngest brother and not feel just as charmed by him as Clara

But it was his boyish half smile that did her in. Her heart did a foolish little flip in her chest.

This was fun and a joy to see all the brothers together again.

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About the book:

Neill isn't sure who hired him to repair Clara's roof--he only knows Clara desperately needs his help. Can he convince this stubborn widow to let down her guard and take another chance on love?

Amazon link to buy

Related book reviews:

Short-straw bride

Stealing the preacher

Review: An Ivy Hill Christmas

An Ivy Hill Christmas by Julie Klassen
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

This novella did not feel short at all. I really loved Richard and how he tried to find his way and overcome a bad reputation. It was also great to visit Ivy Hill Again.

I listened to the Audiobook. I will probably listen to it again sometime and might even rate it higher. There was a few times I was a bit distracted and found myself missing a something so will definitely want to either listen to this again or read the novella. I think it was more in the beginning before Richard's character growth where I felt a bit disengaged from the story. But by the end of the book I was definitely engaged and loved the lesson about forgiveness.

The narrator however is a favourite and again produced a great story!

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About the book:

Richard Brockwell, the younger son of Ivy Hill's most prominent family, hasn't been home for Christmas in years. He prefers to live in the London townhouse, far away from Brockwell Court, the old family secret that haunts him, and the shadows of his past mistakes. But then his mother threatens to stop funding his carefree life--unless he comes home for Christmas. Out of options, he sets out for Ivy Hill, planning to be back on a coach bound for London and his unencumbered bachelor life as soon as the festivities are over.

But Christmas in the country presents unforeseen surprises, including encounters with an orphaned apprentice, the first love he disappointed years ago, and Arabella Awdry, a young lady who is far more appealing than he recalled . . . and determined to have nothing to do with him.

Will Christmastime in Ivy Hill, with its village charm, kissing boughs, joyous songs, and divine hope, work its magic in his heart . . . and hers as well?

Amazon link to buy

Weekend Wrap-up: December 6

  

  

I'm joining Christian Bookshelf Reviews in this weekly weekend wrap-up idea which I first saw on her blog.

See which books I've read this week, currently reading and planning to read.

Books I've finished this week

I've finished two good books this week.  I just loved catching up with both the Archer brother and Walker family.

Review to be posted soon!

Currently reading

My reading was quite slow last few due to tiredness from sleep deprivation, so hopefully I will be able to catch up a bit this week.

What is next:

I'm looking forward to continuing and finishing this series:

What books are you reading or have finished which you really enjoyed?

Review: Keep Holding On

Keep Holding On by Melissa Tagg
My rating: 💛💛💛💛 

“She’s my best friend. Even after all this time, she’s still my best friend.”

Melissa Tagg has a way of capturing you from the first few words on the page with her dashing heroes, sweet heroines and a plot you just know has a whole lot more to it. Beckett just grabbed my interest from the first moment in this story and he won over my heart with his wild, passionate and jump-in-the-moment personality. The reserved Kit was sweet and I just felt her struggles through every thought and conversations with her friends and families.

“Kit, when God calls us to something, it doesn’t mean we’re never going to have setbacks. And if we go doubting his direction every time we face a challenge, we’ll end up stagnant and frustrated, tied up in knots.”

Both Beckett and Kit had past hurts and struggles, but Beckett's struggles and that one moment with his dad just pulled at my heartstrings.

I really loved Beckett and Kit together. They just complemented each other so well. And a letter from someone important in Beckett's life described him so well, it just made me love him more.

A God who never promised perfect circumstances, but who did promise his love.

There was also so many supporting characters to love and I hope would feature in future books. Lucas with this very very intriguing and sad history top of my list. Megan the barista was also a favourite.

It’s been a tough season, sure, but Grandpa always used to say the good thing about tough seasons is it means better ones are just around the corner. Good from bad.

I'm excited to read Bear and Reagan's story next. I loved their relationship in the first part of the series and looking forward to their HEA.

Fans of contemporary fiction will really enjoy this book and series.

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About the book:

Swoon-worthy Romance. Small-town Charm. 
Best friends reunite in Tagg's latest novel of second chances and enduring love.  
Beckett Walker hasn't stepped foot in Maple Valley in years. There's no getting past the painful memories, and there's every chance he'll be arrested as soon as he shows his face. Which is exactly what happens when he finally returns. Suddenly his dream of adventure as a military lawyer comes skidding to a halt.

Horticulturist Kit Danby has spent too much time missing home and her childhood best friend--Beckett Walker. Now she might have a shot at reclaiming both. After years of living abroad, she returns to run her family's apple orchard. She has one season to turn a profit and impress the father she barely knows. But she can't do it alone.

It should be simple: Beckett needs community service hours. Kit needs a helping hand. But there's more at stake than either of them planned. With a tangled past and futures that look nothing alike, they'll have to find a way to weather the storms of the present . . . or risk losing everything.

Finding a new author

 What do you do when you find a new author you like?

Do you just follow them and buy any new books which is being published or do you go back to their backlist and read all the books they have published? 

I used to go back to the authors' published books, and read everything they published, or at least tried to.  However, since I've discovered Goodreads, knew authors are added like monthly and I just can't keep up!

The following authors, however, is still on my backlist catch-up list and it is a nice challenge to try and meet...if only some of them could write a bit slower!

For my suspense fix, my go to authors is Susan May Warren and Lynette Eason (both who I will probably always play catch-up too), Ronie Kendig (apart from her fantasy books I still need to get too, I only have 3 of her military suspense to read - 2021 here I come), Colleen Coble and Terri Blackstock (both I'm almost caught up on...almost.)

Suspense and Contemporary: Irene Hannon (almost caught up on her suspense but loads to get too for her contemporary and Contemporary Karen Kingsbury who I will be caught up on when I finish her latest Baxter family series.

Changing tactics:

So yes, I realised it might be impossible to read all the books published by authors I newly discover, so I just try to get to their list one book at a time.  Sometimes I'm lucky to find an author with their debut and then read every book published after that.  Lynn H Blackburn, Natalie Walters, Dani Pettrey and Jaime Jo Wright to name a few.

Always hopeful:

As long as I will continue reading, I will try and conquer that backlist.  2021 is another year to try and tackle this!  Here is some authors I would like to get to:

Do you recognise some of them?  Whose list would you like to conquer in 2021?

And how comforting is it to know that while you are waiting for that next book, there is a huge variety on that backlist to choose from.😀

Review: Twilight's Serenade

Twilight's Serenade by Tracie Peterson
My rating: 💛💛💛

“love isn't about living in fear. It's not about controlling the hearts of those around you. It is patient and kind. It endures and believes the very best. It never gives up.”

There was so much to enjoy in this story of finding love and realising though even you have a past of pain and mistakes, you still deserve the best God has in store for you. The marriage for convenience plot was sweet and I enjoyed the real challenges these characters faced.

I also enjoyed the lesson of needing to release those who wronged you. Yes, you can forgive, but with true forgiveness there is this letting go of the pain they caused so that it will not have a hold on you.

“you cannot let the pain of the past destroy the happiness of the future.”

Narrator: I listened to the narrator and found it average but still a likeable telling of the story.

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About the book:

Britta Lindquist finds herself caring for the motherless children of the man she has tried to forget. But just as love's second chance begins to blossom, an English conductor asks Britta to become the first-chair violinist in his orchestra—and accept his hand in marriage.

Monthly Recap: November discoveries

 

 

I first saw this monthly reflections ideas on: Christian bookshelf reviews

What I've read:

I had a great month for reading.  I finished 9 books! And there was a few great ones!

I really read a few good books I liked this month but my 5 star read was Gold Digger:

You can find all my reviews on what I've read this month under: Book review

December plans:

There is a few books I would like to get to this month.  Some is series I would like to finish.  However, the one I'm planning on reading and most excited about is:

So, what books are you looking forward to read in December?