With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden

I picked up this story and at first I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not.  Once I started reading it, I was eager to find out why different things were happening.  Who was behind all the mishaps that were going on?  About half way through the book, I had a person who I thought it might be, but I wasn't sure how it was all going to come together.  I was right in my prediction and part of the motives behind it.  I totally missed one of the people involved until it all came out in the open and then I could see how all the pieces came together.

About the book:

In the shadow of the nation’s capital, Kate Livingston has a respectable job as a government statistician when she encounters a rival from her past, the insufferable Trevor McDonough. A Harvard-trained physician, Trevor never showed the tiniest flicker of interest in Kate, so why did he track her down after more than ten years apart to recruit her onto his medical team? In a daring move, Kate agrees to Trevor’s risky proposal to work side-by-side in a quest to rid the world of tuberculosis, a disease so deadly it could kill anyone coming too close.

As Kate begins to unlock the mysteries of Trevor’s past, she begins falling in love with this fascinating man…but she soon learns his terrible secret. Meanwhile, a while a shadowy enemy lurks in the background, threatening to destroy everything they hold dear.

A story of courage and betrayal, triumph and redemption, Kate and Trevor will risk everything to overcome the barriers between them.

A May Bride by Meg Moseley

This was a short, easy read and I enjoyed it.

About the book:

She thinks she has prepared for her wedding all her life . . . but it seems she may have forgotten the most important part.

Ellie Martin, a country girl in Atlanta, has dreamed of a traditional wedding all her life-a wedding just like the one her younger sister is planning back home. Their single mom will pay for Alexa's wedding, but Ellie started her own wedding fund years ago. She only needs to find a groom.

At a wedding at her church, Ellie bumps into a man who's one of the guests. She's noticed him around the neighborhood, but today he introduces himself as Gray Whitby. They embark on a whirlwind romance, but her mother doesn't trust freewheeling men like Gray.

When Ellie risks her own future for her sister's sake, Gray feels betrayed. Will he always play second fiddle to Ellie's family?

Will Ellie and Gray reconcile their differences so her dream wedding can come true, or will the romance they've begun come crashing down?

The Heart's Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher

I have enjoyed pretty much every Robin Lee Hatcher I have read and this one was certainly a keeper as well.  I loved seeing Silver take charge and try to protect her family.  In the process, she convinces Jared to help her.

About the book:

A jilted bride desperate to save her family from ruin.
A bounty hunter seeking vengeance for a ravaged past.
An arduous trek toward justice—or redemption.

Silver Matlock and Jared Newman know traveling together is a bad idea. Bad for Silver’s already tarnished reputation in her small Colorado town. Bad for bounty hunter Jared’s secret, single-minded mission for revenge. But Silver is determined to track down the rogue who left her at the altar and stole the last remnant of her father’s fortune. And Jared’s in a hurry to hunt down the murderer who destroyed his family—even if Silver is too distractingly beautiful for comfort.

The pair takes off over mountain and desert, past bleak homesteads and raw mining towns, hot on the trail of the two villains who took what wasn’t theirs to take. Soon supplies dwindle, secrets emerge, and suspicion leave Silver and Jared at odds when they need each other most. To confront an enemy deadlier than desert rattlesnakes and rocky cliffs, Silver and Jared must learn to forgive and trust and face the question they haven’t dared voice: What happens next?

A February Bride by Betsy St Amant

In A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant, history repeats itself when this bride runs out of the church on her wedding day---in the same dress that had been passed down for generations and worn by her mom, grandma and great-grandmother who also ran out of their weddings. The heroine struggles to break destructive cycles of the past. Can this bride shuck expectation and discover who SHE is as a bride and in the Bride of Christ? And if she finally walks down the aisle, what dress will she be wearing? Readers will enjoy this novel of redemption centered on a winter wedding.

A Match of Wits by Jen Turano

I've enjoyed all of Jen Turano's books in this series.  All of the characters cross over from one story to the next, but the main character is different in each book.  You can read each book on it's own or you can read them in order and get more of the story.  I'm pretty sure that this is the last book in this series, but I could wrong.  This book centers around Agatha Watson who always is in the midst of some crazy thing.

About the book:

After his departure from New York two years ago to meet up with his almost-fiance, Zayne Beckett is the last person Agatha Watson wanted to stumble upon in her travels as a reporter with the New York Tribune. Quite pathetically bedraggled, he clearly needs to be taken in hand and sent back East to his family. Although she no longer has feelings for him, Agatha realizes, by hook or by crook, she’ll have to be the one to get the obstinate man home.

Zayne has no desire to be taken anywhere and is prepared to drag his heels all the way home… until he finds himself slipping back into the familiar banter of his former friendship with Agatha. Once they arrive in New York, Zayne realizes Agatha’s determined nose for news has earned her a few enemies, and he hopes to repay her help with some help of his own. When she rebuffs all his attempts to prove himself a knight in shining armor, the lengths to which they’ll go to win this battle of wills lead to some memorable antics.

Everyone else may think them a match, but nothing could be further from the truth–until Agatha finds herself in real trouble. Have these two stubborn, too-smart-for-their-own-good people been meant for each other all along?

A Healer's Touch by Lori Copeland

I've always enjoyed Lori Copeland's stories.  This one was a short, fun read.  The light in the story is based on a true light seen in Missouri.  I enjoyed how she used some of the stories people believe about the light and its existent in the story.

Lyric Bolton doesn’t ask for much—just friendship and acceptance from her rural Missouri community. But her family is regarded with suspicion and fear because of her mother’s sickness—a sickness of the mind that grows worse by the day. Lyric is resigned to a life of isolation and doesn’t see any way out…but that’s before Ian Cawley bolts into her life on a runaway stallion.

As she opens her heart to Ian, Lyric dares to imagine a different life. But what will happen when he discovers the secret she holds closest of all?

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book is scheduled to be released on August 1, 2014.

A December Bride by Denise Hunter

About the book:

What started as a whim turned into an accidental - and very public - engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the facade in Chapel Springs this holiday season - for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?

Under normal circumstances, Seth Murphy, the best friend of Layla O'Reilly's ex-fiance would be the last person she'd marry. But the news of their upcoming (and phony) nuptials convinces a big client that Layla may be high-society enough to work for his agency, a coup that would put her fledgling home-staging business on the map. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, even when she was dating his best friend. Maybe she'll never forgive him for the way he hurt her back then, but he has to try. And Layla is willing to keep up their engagement farce until she's landed her client. For Layla, it's the chance to save her career. But for Seth, it's his last chance to win her heart. A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.

A Moment in Time by Tracie Peterson

This book is the second in the Lone Star Brides series.  I picked it up and started to read and was a little confused at first since I didn't remember the story line from the first book.  However, once I got into the story a little, bits and pieces of the first book started coming back to me.  I enjoyed the story and was surprised with some of the developments in the story line.  Forgiveness is definitely a theme in this book.

About the book:

Alice Chesterfield is a woman pursued. Having survived an attack that left her scarred and her father dead, she is never free from the fear and memories of the man who is responsible. Texas seems to be an answer to Alice's prayers, and when she has the opportunity to relocate to a ranch near Dallas, a new man captures Alice's attention. Robert Barnett is unlike any man Alice has ever known: He doesn't seem to mind the scar she bears, nor does he worry about the obstacles that stand in their way--including Jessica Atherton, the woman he's supposed to marry.

But there are storm clouds gathering, and Alice's peaceful sanctuary is threatened when she learns the truth about her father's dishonest dealings and the mother she thought was dead. Disillusioned, Alice must learn to place her trust in God as she seeks a measure of peace for her future...and for her heart.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

While Love Stirs by Lorna Seilstad

I really enjoyed this story.  I had read the first book in the Gregory sisters series and was looking forward to hearing who the next story in the series would be about.

Here is a description.

Take one lovely young woman.
Add two ambitious young men.
Stir . . . and stand back.

As a graduate of Fannie Farmer's School of Cookery, Charlotte Gregory is thrilled to have the
opportunity to travel, lecture, and give cooking demonstrations on the very latest kitchen revolution--
the gas stove. And she certainly doesn't mind that the gas company has hired the kindhearted Lewis
Mathis to entertain at her lectures.

Lewis encourages Charlotte's work, especially her crusade to introduce fresh, appetizing, nutritious
food to those convalescing in hospitals. But young Dr. Joel Brooks is not convinced any changes
should be made--especially by this outspoken young woman.

When Charlotte and Joel are coerced into planning a fund-raising gala for the hospital, with this
combustible pair explode?

Follow the second Gregory sister as she looks for true love and makes her way in a rapidly changing
world in this breezy, lighthearted love triangle that will keep you guessing.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Stuck Together by Mary Connealy

Before I read this book, I decided to go back and briefly glance over the previous two books to help me remember who all the characters were.  This story basically picks up where Fired Up left off.  The story definitely kept my attention.  Usually I can figure out where the story is going, however, this story had a few surprises for me.

About the book:

Tina Cahill, newly arrived from the East, is determined to get the saloon in Broken Wheel, Texas, closed for good. To that end, she pickets outside the place every afternoon. Unfortunately, so far no one has paid any attention.

Vince Yates earned the nickname "Invincible Vince" because of his reputation for letting absolutely nothing stop him. Not his tyrant of a father. Nor the injuries he suffered in the Civil War. Nor the fact that he is Broken Wheel's only attorney and sheriff yet has no law degree.

But Vince is about to face his biggest challenge yet: his past has just caught up with him. His father, mother, and the sister he didn't know he had show up in Broken Wheel without warning. His father is still a schemer. His mother is suffering signs of dementia. And his surprise sister immediately falls for one of Vince's best friends. Vince has a lot of people to take care of, and Tina doesn't approve of how he's handling any of them. But with almost all the other men in town married off, Vince finds himself stuck with feisty Tina over and over again. Of course, Tina is the prettiest woman he's ever seen, so if he could just get her to give up her causes, he might go ahead and propose. But he's got one more surprise coming his way: Tina's picketing at the saloon has revealed a dark secret that could put everyone Vince loves in danger.

I received this book for free from Netgalley and was not required to write a positive review.

Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer

I stumbled upon Karen Witemeyer when she released her first book, A Tailor Made Bride.  Since then, I've eagerly anticipated the release of each new book.  Full Steam Ahead is definitely just as good as her previous books.  The story was fun and even though I figured out quickly how the story would end, I didn't know how the characters would get there.  I'm definitely glad that I purchased this book as I'm sure I will pull it out again soon.  Here is a little glimpse as to what the story is about.

Nicole Renard returns home to Galveston and finds her father deathly ill. Though she loves him, he's only ever focused on what she's not. Not male. Not married. Not able to run Renard Shipping.

Vowing to secure a suitable husband to give her father the heir he desires before it's too late, Nicole sets out with the Renard family's greatest treasure as her dowry: the highly coveted Lafitte Dagger. But when her father's rivals come after the dagger, she's forced to change her destination.

Darius Thornton has been a man obsessed since the fatal boiler explosion aboard the Louisiana that nearly took his life. He will do anything to stop such disasters. Even hire a female secretary. Sure he can ignore the distraction of her pretty face, he's not sure how to proceed when drawn to her clever mind.

Nicole is determined not to let her odd employer scare her off with his explosive experiments, yet when respect and mutual attraction grows between them, a new fear arises. How can she acquire an heir for her father when her heart belongs to an unsuitable candidate? And worse, when her father's rivals discover her hiding place, she will have to choose between that love and her family's legacy.

I received this book for free from Netgalley and was not required to write a positive review.  I also purchased the book as well.

A June Bride by Marybeth Whalen

This book is another in the Year of Weddings series.  I enjoyed the story although I was a little disappointed with the ending.  It didn't end quite the way I wanted it to but still had a good ending.

It takes a reality TV show for Wynne to realize love isn't just a game.
Wynne Hardy never thought she'd get engaged on a reality TV show, but when she met Andy on The Rejection Connection, the two of them hit it off. Now he's asked her to marry him, much to the public's delight and fascination. They're all set to wed on live TV in a seaside ceremony at the height of the wedding season.
But just as Wynne thinks all her dreams are coming true, her ex-boyfriend walks back into her life at the worst possible time. Steve broke her heart years ago, and she's still sorting through her feelings for him. Her heart isn't as clear as her head that it's past time to move on-even though she's engaged to Andy.
At a local TV talk show appearance, Wynne meets Meredith, who won another reality TV show-Marathon Mom-proving herself nothing short of a superhero. As Wynne's beach wedding plans spin out of control, Meredith offers to help, unknowingly stepping on Wynne's secret feelings . . . and exposing some secrets Meredith has been keeping to herself. Can these two reality stars get real about their feelings? Will Wynne go through with her televised wedding and be the perfect June bride the network is looking for?

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

An April Bride by Lenora Worth

This book contained ups and downs.  My heart broke for Stella and all that she was having to go through with the man she loves.  I'm enjoying all the novellas that are apart of the Year of Weddings so far.  They each have their own unique twist.  Some are continuing stories from a previous stories.  Here is what the April one is about.

A charming wedding novella set in the spring. What will happen when love and wedding plans come together this April?

War changes everything . . . even their love.

Bride-to-be Stella Carson can't wait to marry her longtime sweetheart Marshall Henderson. But Marshall has been away serving his country and has suffered a head wound. After being diagnosed with post-traumatic disorder, he has distanced himself from Stella, asking her not to visit him in the Washington, D.C. hospital. Marshall returns to Louisiana just four weeks before the wedding, but as the big day draws near, Stella wonders if the man she's loved for most of her life has become someone else.

Can true love conquer all for Stella and Marshall? Even the tragedy of war?

I received this book for free from Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg

I have not read the first book in this series, but I didn't really feel like I was missing out on anything.  I didn't realize until half way through the book that this actually was a series.  I definitely enjoyed it and now I'm going to have to go read Made to Last to get the background on Blake.  Here is what the story is about.

Blake Hunziker has played nomad for five years and landed in his fair share of trouble too. But now he’s finally returning to his hometown–the Lake Michigan tourist town of Whisper Shore. Counting on a not-so-warm welcome, he’s surprised at not only a positive reception but also a job offer. Determined to settle down and prove himself responsible, he agrees to the catch that comes with the job offer–coordinating the annual Christmas festival–even though he has no idea how he’ll pull it off.

Autumn Kingsley, inn owner and experienced organizer of the Christmas festival, has always dreamed of traveling the world. Now she has a job opportunity in Paris and a surprise potential investor coming to town who just might take on her family’s inn and finally leave her free to go. The only problem is that she has just two weeks to whip the inn into shape.

Their families have a long history of not getting along, but when Blake comes to Autumn for help with the festival, she actually agrees…in exchange for his help with the repairs to her inn. They may have struck a simple deal, but complications are quick to pile on when the guy who’s had enough of running away and the woman who can’t wait to leave join forces.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Melissa Tagg's Site

Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin

I started out reading this not knowing what to expect.  At times, I felt like the story was moving kind of slowly but I kept reading.  Overall, I enjoyed the story and seeing how Kate dealt with the things that were going on in her life.

About this book:

When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life: “God, if you’re real, I want to know you.”

It’s Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate’s rescue. Nick is handsome, confident, and seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She’s not planning to fall in love with one of the locals.

Nick Sheridan is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn’t expect to be swept off his feet by the car’s occupant. He’s made a vow: no dating for a year. And it’s a vow he intends to keep in spite of his attraction to Kate Darby . . .

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade

I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to like this book or not.  I went back and forth about it for awhile before I finally decided to read it.  I was not disappointed!  For some reason, I just connected to Celia and who she was.  I loved the theme of forgiveness as that is something I think everyone struggles with at different points in their life.  I enjoyed the story and about halfway through realized that it was the second in a series.  I had read the first book a while ago.  When I finished this book, the story stayed with me.  I ended up sharing about it with a coworker and she looked at the book as well.  Then I went back and read Undeniably Yours just to remember Meg and Bo's story.  I can't wait to read the next story that Becky Wade writes!

Here's a glimpse into the story.

Ty Porter has always been irresistible to Celia Park. All through high school--irresistible. When their paths cross again after college-- still irresistible. This time, though, Ty seems to feel exactly the same way about Celia. Their whirlwind romance deposits them at a street-corner Las Vegas wedding chapel.

The next morning they wake to a marriage certificate and a dose of cold reality. Celia's ready to be Ty's wife, but Ty's not ready to be her husband. He’s a professional bull rider, he lives on the road, and he’s long planned to settle down with the hometown girl he’s known since childhood.

Five and a half years pass. Celia's buried her dreams so that she can afford to raise her daughter. Ty's achieved all of his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again into the eyes of the woman he couldn't forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.

How much will Ty sacrifice to win back Celia’s trust and prove to her that their spontaneous marriage can still become the love of a lifetime?

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Becky Wade's Site

For Love or Country by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

This is the second book in The MacGregor Legacy series.  I have read the first and I had really enjoyed it so I was looking forward to reading this one.  This story follows Tyra MacGregor and her family.  The first book focuses on how her parents fell in love and came to America.  The story here takes place during the Revolutionary War.  Here is a more in depth description of the story.

At the height of the Revolutionary War, Tyra MacGregor is successful at thwarting the British Army with her colonial spy efforts. But her sleuthing ways come to a screeching halt when Captain Donahue “Hugh” Morgan puts her under house arrest.

Hugh is intrigued by this courageous spy the natives call “War Woman.” She’s more daring than most men and is intelligent in defending her convictions. Even more impressive to Hugh is the strength of Tyra’s unshakeable faith in God.

When Tyra saves his life during an attack, Hugh vows to return the favor. Before he can intervene, however, she is caught by his superior officer and imprisoned. Soon Hugh’s honor, faith, country, and love are all on the line. Can he risk it all to gain everything?

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Caught in the Middle by Regina Jennings

From the moment I started reading, I couldn't put down this story.  I've enjoyed Regina Jennings stories before.  This one was just as enjoyable.

Here is a description:

She wants the freedom of the open plains
He wants the prestige of a successful business
And the baby just needs someone who can change a diaper.

The train to Garber, Texas, is supposed to bring life’s next victory for Nicholas Lovelace. Instead, it gets held up robbers who are thwarted by the last person Nick ever expected—Anne Tillerton from back home in Prairie Lea.

Anne’s been hiding away as a buffalo hunter. She’s only in town to find their runaway cook, but the woman flees—and leaves Anne with her infant son. With Nick the only person she knows in town, the two form an unlikely team as they try to figure out what to do with the child.

But being in town means Anne’s forced to act and dress for polite society—and it’s not going well. Meanwhile, Nick’s work is bringing new pressures, and being seen with Anne isn’t helping his reputation. Caught between their own dreams, a deepening relationship, and others’ expectations—can the pair find their way to love?

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Sincerely Yours by Jane Kirkpatrick, Amanda Cabot, Laurie Alice Eakes and Ann Shorey

I enjoyed each of these novellas.  They were short, fun reads and I'm always looking for stories that I can read quickly when I have a free moment.

In this collection of brand-new historical novellas from four outstanding storytellers, four young women find their lives altered after each receives a letter that sets her on a new path toward a changed life--and perhaps lifelong love. From a Hudson River steamboat to a lush drawing room, from a carousel carver's workshop to a remote and controversial hospital, readers will love being swept into the lives of four young women who are making their way in the world and finding love where they least expect it.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Fair Play by Deeanne Gist

Ever since I first read Deeanne Gist, I've loved her books.  This story was just as good.  It centers around Billy Tate, a woman doctor.  She is trying to make a way for herself in this predominately male profession.  She encounters Hunter Scott and there are definitely sparks.  I loved how the story begins and ends with similar situations.  I also enjoyed how the characters developed and changed throughout the story.

Here is a brief description:

From the bestselling author of It Happened at the Fair comes a historical love story about a lady doctor and a Texas Ranger who meet at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

Saddled with a man’s name, the captivating Billy Jack Tate makes no apologies for taking on a man’s profession. As a doctor at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, she is one step closer to having her very own medical practice—until Hunter Scott asks her to give it all up to become his wife.

Hunter is one of the elite. A Texas Ranger and World’s Fair guard specifically chosen for his height, physique, character, and skill. Hailed as the toughest man west of any place east, he has no patience for big cities and women who think they belong anywhere but home…

Despite their difference of opinion on the role of women, Hunter and Billy find a growing attraction between them—until Hunter discovers an abandoned baby in the corner of a White City exhibit. He and Billy team up to make sure this foundling isn’t left in the slums of Chicago with only the flea-riddled, garbage-infested streets for a playground. As they fight for the underprivileged children in the Nineteenth Ward, an entire Playground Movement is birthed. But when the Fair comes to an end, one of them will have to give up their dream.

Will Billy exchange her doctor’s shingle for the domesticated role of a southern wife, or will Hunter abandon the wide open spaces of home for a life in the “gray city,” a woman who insists on being the wage earner, and a group of ragamuffins who need more than a playground for breathing space?

This book is expected to be released on May 6, 2014.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

The Heart of a Soiled Dove by Sarah Jae Foster

I picked up this book and actually really enjoyed it. I wasn't sure at first, but the story grew on me. It had its ups and downs. I was disappointed with some of the choices that one character made but not everything can be picture perfect, a lot like life.

About the book:

A new town. A new beginning. A calling to fulfill.

Aurora Young is one of the lucky ones. Her freedom from San Francisco’s Red Light District came by way of an anonymous benefactor. After coming into the knowledge of God’s love and redemption, Aurora realizes her destiny is to save sisters still working in brothels. Leaving the past behind, she heads to Montana and buys a large spread of land to house women of ill-repute. But a run-in with an infamous cattle baron threatens the plans she's put in place…and everything she’s come to love.

Donovan Ramsey owns the largest cattle ranch in the region and has plans to purchase the land adjoining his. When newcomer Aurora Young arrives and purchases it before he can, his goal is to do all he can to acquire it back, even if that means trumping the good will of his tenacious yet lovely new neighbor. He is a man used to getting what he wants and isn’t thrilled when his heart begins to soften. Donovan must decide if it’s worth fighting his growing admiration for Aurora, or taking back what is rightfully his.

I received this book for free from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

A Sensible Arrangement by Traci Peterson

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this story at first.  However, once I started reading it, I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading the second book this series, which releases in June.  Here is the synopsis from the author's site.

Marty Dandridge Olson is a widow looking for a way out of Texas. Widower Jake Wythe has secured a job as a bank manager in Denver, only to discover that the bank board wants him to be a married man. With Texas in his roots, he advertises for a Lone Star bride, and Marty answers the call. They both agree they are done with romance and love and will make this nothing more than a marriage of convenience.

Marty works to carve out a new life in high-society Denver as Jake works to guide the bank through a collapsing economy. But when money goes missing at the bank and accounting discrepancies point to Jake, he must find a way to prove his innocence. Yet all he wants to do is go back to Texas and own his own ranch. Marty, on the other hand, owns a ranch--one she's never told her husband about. She hates Texas because it represents the losses in her life. But as the couple grows closer and love begins to bloom, Marty realizes she needs to tell Jake the truth. Can she come to terms with the past and her anger toward God in order to make room for love?
I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Tumbleweed Weddings by Donna Robinson

I have never read anything by this author before.  I really enjoyed all three stories in this book.  Each story picked up where the previous one left off.  However, the main characters changed in each story, which I enjoyed.  The first centers around Callie who works in the library.  She thinks that she will never marry until she meets a newcomer to town, Lane.  The next story is about Tonya, Callie's sister.  She works at a beauty parlor and is very concerned with how she looks.  She has to learn to look past the superficial before she can find true love.  The final story centers around Callie's best friend, Cheyenne, and Callie and Tonya's brother, Derek.  Cheyenne has loved Derek since high school, but Derek feels like God is calling him to remain single.  All three of these stories were fun, easy to read love stories.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be released on May 1, 2014.

First Kisses Collection by Linda Goodnight, Janet Tronstad, Debra Clopton, Margaret Daley, Camy Tang, Lacy Williams

I enjoyed all these stories.  They were all set in different time periods going back to 1870 to present day.  I have read Clopton, Daley and Tang before but none of the other authors. They were quick and easy reads and I could read one when I had some free time.

A new anthology from some of your favorite inspirational authors. Enjoy this collection of love stories with a theme of FIRST KISSES.

The First Kisses collection includes:

The Rambler’s Bride by Linda Goodnight

In 1870’s Kansas, Widow Esther North will do most anything to save her land from her powerful cousin and the coming railroad-even kiss a stranger! The kissing cowboy, Jericho North is bent on revenge from his brother’s widow, and the will hidden in his pocket is all he needs to make it happen. But he hadn’t reckoned on a baby...and neither he nor Esther had reckoned on love.

Lovebirds at the Heartbreak Cafe by Janet Tronstad

USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling Author, Janet Tronstad, pens a brand-new Retro Café Sweet Romance starring a 1950’s truck driver (Buddy) and a waitress (Penny) who both have enough trouble without everyone in Webster’s Crossing thinking they are falling in love.

Her Mule Hollow Cowboy by Debra Clopton

Rescuing a beautiful cowgirl from being trampled has professional bull rider, Cliff Masterson, dreaming of romance, home, hearth and that first kiss...but Maddie Rose has had enough people in her life leave and she’s not willing to risk her heart on a rambling cowboy—Sparks fly when these two are near. Can the Matchmakin’ Posse of Mule Hollow help this couple find their happily ever after?

Deadly Hunt by Margaret Daley

All bodyguard Tess Miller wants is a vacation. But when a wounded stranger stumbles into her isolated cabin in the Arizona mountains, Tess becomes his lifeline. When Shane Burkhart opens his eyes, all he can focus on is his guardian angel leaning over him. And in the days to come he will need a guardian angel while being hunted by someone who wants him dead.

Necessary Proof by Camy Tang

Alex Villa became a Christian in prison, and because of his efforts to help stop a gang producing meth in Sonoma, he has been set up for the death of a cop. Can computer expert Jane Lawton find the evidence that will prove his innocence before the gang eliminates them both?

Kissed by a Cowboy by Lacy Williams

Former shy-girl Haley Carston is back in Redbud Trails, Oklahoma, to care for her dying aunt. She didn’t count on cowboy Maddox Michaels, her high school crush and the man who might just bring her dreams of marriage and family back to life…

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book is scheduled to be released on March 15, 2014.

A March Bride (A Year of Wedding Novellas) by Rachel Hauck

This is the fourth story in A Year of Wedding Novellas.  This story continues the story of Susanna from Once Upon A Prince.  I wasn't sure if I would like this story at first even though I enjoyed Once Upon A Prince.  I have to say that I was not disappointed.  Even though I knew that Susanna would end up with King Nathaniel II since I had read the follow up to Once Upon A Prince, it was nice to see how their story came together.

Here is a brief description of the story.

In this sweet romance by award-winning author Rachel Hauck, royal wedding plans are in the air, but the bride is being asked to give up so much for her new life that her groom-to-be is worried she may not return from her most recent visit home.

A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.

Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner. But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can't help but wonder if it's a sign that their love is not meant to be.

Susanna Truitt (Once Upon A Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She'll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna's heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God's plan for her.

Nathaniel would do anything for his bride-to-be. But he knows his position requires that she give up a lot to be with him. Her life will never be her own-right down to her very identity. When she travels home to St. Simon's Island, Georgia, right before the wedding, Nathaniel fears she won't return. Gathering his courage, he devises a plan to win his bride all over again, and together they seek out a kingdom to treasure above all.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Rainy Day Dreams by Lori Copeland and Viriginia Smith

This story is the second in the Seattle Brides series.  It follows Kathryn who is sent to Seattle against her will by her father to help a distant cousin in her boarding house.  She just wants to go back to San Francisco and paint.  However, her father wants her to find a husband.  When she arrives in Seattle, nothing is what she imagined.  She encounters Jason who takes an immediate disliking to her.

I loved seeing how Kathryn changes through out the book.  She finds out what she loves to do and is good at.  She also doesn't let misunderstandings get in her way but reaches out to those around her.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be published on April 1, 2014.

Willow Creek Brides by Connie Stevens

This author is new to me.  I enjoyed all three of the stories in this book.  Each story picks up where the next one leaves off so it's best to read them in order.

Here is a description from goodreads.

Journey back in time to the heartland of Iowa, where three women find healing and hope through the loves God brings to their lives. Tessa feels completely abandoned in Willow Creek, Iowa. . .until a kind man named Gideon begins healing her shattered heart. Pearl has no hopes for romantic love again. . .until Hubert comes to town and convinces her to dream once more. And Tillie knows Everett will never heal emotionally from the scars he sustained in a fire. . .until she can convince him his scars represent something beautiful to her.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be released on April 1, 2014.

The Lone Star Romance Collection by Cathy Marie Hake and Kimberley Comeaux

I had read all the stories in this book before.  I enjoyed each one as I have read them more than once.  The two stories that start out the book center around two ladies from the same town.  The last three stories center around three brothers who are immigrants headed to Texas when they lose their father on the ship coming over.

Here is the summary from goodreads.

Enjoy two series of romances under one cover from authors Kimberley Comeaux and Cathy Marie Hake. First head to Springton, Texas, where two Texas belles—a pretty outcast and a shy nurse—find rattlesnakes easier to lasso than the hearts of the men they desire. Then join the Gregor brothers from Scotland—doctor, cobbler, lawman—as they settle in the Wild West, seeking wives to help them live out a legacy of faith that their father rooted in them. Watch as God’s love unfolds a grand design into each life

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be released on April 1, 2014.

Plots and Pans by Kelly Eilleen Hake

I've read several of Kelly Eileen Hake's books before and enjoyed them. I felt like the story was a little slow in the beginning but picked up quickly once Jessie was back home at the ranch where she belonged. She and Tucker constantly butt heads while waiting for her brother Ed to return. I enjoyed seeing how Jessie turned back to relying on God. Overall, I would read this story again.

Here is a description from the author's website:

Can A Cranky Cowboy. . .

Order dictates Tucker Carmichael’s life—his orders. On a cattle drive, a moment’s hesitation can mean the difference between life and death. The Chisholm Trail is dirty, dangerous, and no place for dainty ladies. That’s just part of why he loves it.

. . .and A Clever Cook. . .

Jessalyn Culpepper’s life is perfectly ordered—by men. By her father’s mandate, she was booted from their beloved ranch for lady lessons abroad. Now Jessalyn has returned home, determined to show them all that a woman can manage everything from cooking to cattle—whether they like it or not!

. . .Stir Up More Than Trouble?

Tucker does his level best to keep his partner’s headstrong sister out of trouble—and he’s horrified when she wants to join the cattle drive. But when they lose their chuck wagon cook, the last thing Tucker wants might be the only solution. . . .

Will God lead two stubborn souls to love along a trail filled with their Plots and Pans?

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be released on April 1, 2014.

Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter

This book is the follow up to Barefoot Summer.  The main character is Jade, the sister of Madison, who was the main character in Barefoot Summer.  Jade left home for Chicago in the first book after thinking that a guy was interested in her when he was actually interested in her sister.  She is working in a cafe and playing music.  However, things go horribly wrong after she has a date with a guy she met at work.  She ends up moving back home, keeping a huge secret from those around her.  Daniel has been in love with Jade for a long time, but she views him as more of a brother.  However, he ends up figuring out something is going on and she confides in him.  He struggles to keep his feelings in check.  Eventually, everything all comes to light.

I loved this story.  I stayed up late to finish it.  I always tend to forget what the previous story was until I get a little ways into the second or third story and then I slowly remember who the characters are.  Overall, I would definitely read this story again and I'm hoping a third book in this series is in the works.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be released on March 11, 2014.

The British Brides Collection by Various

I read these stories over the course of several days.  I would read them whenever I had an hour or so to spare.  I enjoyed all of them.  The last three are all set around the same place just in different time periods.

Here is the summary from goodreads:

Explore English gardens, London ballrooms, and Scottish castles as nine brides-to-be experience all the legendary drama and epic romance that British literature is known for. Each of the nine short stories will sweep you away to a different era of time spanning over 500 years of history in the British Isles. Penned by an exclusive selection of Christian fiction authors including Kelly Eileen Hake, this collection will become a cherished favorite for fans of faith-based romance.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be released on March 1, 2014.

Reconciled Hearts Trilogy by Doris Elaine Fell

This is another book that contains three stories in one book.  Here is a description of the stories in this book.

Plunge into three dramatic stories of romance and mystery, set in beautiful cities in charming Europe. An ocean lies between violinist Kerina Rudzinski in Vienna and American Ashley Reynolds, but their destiny is intertwined with secrets. When Sydney Barrington unexpectedly inherits a mansion in the Cotswolds, she’s pulled between the love of two men. . .and the mysteries concealed within Broadshire Manor. A twist of fate propels Professor Rachel McCully to return to the home of the man who captured her heart nearly a decade before. . .but mystery swirls around him and the mansion in England’s fabled Lake District.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be released on March 1, 2014.

Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman

This book is the second in the series.  Her first book is titled Love At Any Cost.  You can read this book by itself as the main characters are not featured prominently in the first book.  However, you won't really understand all the secondary story lines without starting with the first book.  This book follows Alli McClare who is opening a school for girls with her mother and cousin.  She meets Nick and immediately clashes with him.  Alli has had her heart broken several times and Nick isn't looking for a relationship.  However, there is an attraction that exists between them.  They both have issues in their past that they need to resolve before they can even think about a future together.

I enjoyed this book a lot.  At first, I wasn't sure who was what, but as I gradually got into the story, I remembered what I had read in the previous book and so I was able to put things together.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Smitten Book Club by Colleen Coble, Diann Hunt, Kristin Billerbeck, and Denise Hunter

This book is a follow-up to Smitten and Secretly Smitten.  I've read both of these books and I really enjoyed them.  The four characters in these stories are all part of a book club.  One of the women finds a book while they are sorting old books for a sale to raise money for a friend, Molly, whose husband died.  This book contains romantic advice from a deceased citizen.  It is also suppose to contain clues to a treasure that is buried.  This treasure was supposedly buried by Molly's deceased husbands relative.  The women hope to find the treasure to help Molly.  The first one to read the book is Heather, who is still trying to deal with a past heartbreak.  The next one is Abby who stays busy taking care of her  mother and has little time for anything else because of that.  Lia is the next friend who reads the book.  She is a teacher whose mother gets involved in her love life.  Finally, there is Molly who is trying to save her deceased husbands business.  The stories were all separate but connected to each other as well.  I honestly enjoyed this book and have enjoyed all three Smitten books.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Love's Sweet Beginning by Ann Shorey

This is the third book in the Sisters at Heart series.  I was not familiar with the other books in this series so I didn't know the background of some of the characters.  I think it might have helped to understand Jacob's character a little better.  However, I did not feel like I was missing anything by reading this story before the other ones in the series.

This story centers around Cassie who moves back to Noble Springs with her mother who thinks that her brother is there.  However, when they arrive, her mother's brother is not there.  They are basically penniless and leaving with friends.  Cassie, who has never worked a day in her life, decides that she needs to find a job in order to take care of herself and her mother.  She goes to Jacob's mercantile and diner and talks him into letting her work there.  Lots of misunderstandings occur throughout the story.  One of the twists involving a central character, I didn't see coming until about 2/3's through the book.  Overall, I enjoyed the story and I think I will go back and read the first two books in this series.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be released on February 4, 2014.

Ann Shorey's Site

A Match Made in Texas by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Carol Cox, Mary Connealy

I absolutely LOVED this book!  Connealy and Witemeyer are two of my favorite authors and I've enjoyed the books that I've read by Jennings and Cox as well.

A Cowboy Unmatched by Karen Witemeyer follows Neill Archer, the last of the Archer brothers, who is introduced to us in her book, Short Straw Bride.  He ends up helping out a young widow, Clara Danvers, due to an anonymous note left for him about a job.  Even though the story is short, since its a novella, I didn't feel like it was rushed.  I loved that Neill's brothers were there for him in the end.

An Unforeseen Match by Regina Jennings is the next novella in the book.  The main character is Grace O'Malley, one of the former school teachers, who is losing her vision and so the town has set her up in the house that Clara Danvers lived in.  Clayton Weber comes to town to get money so that he can buy a claim.  He goes to the schoolhouse where the town is meeting and ends up with a newspaper article advertising for help for Grace.  There is a misunderstanding that ensues as well as some forgiveness and reconciliation that happens in the end.

No Match for Love is the story that Carol Cox wrote.  Lucy Benson decides to take a job as a companion.  She has been living with friends but she feels like she needs to step out on her own.  She travels and meets Andrew Simms who has hired her to help his Aunt Martha, who he thinks might be going crazy.  When Lucy arrives, at first, she thinks the same thing and then her opinion changes.  Lucy learns that things are not always as they appear.

The finally story is Meeting Her Match by Mary Connealy.  This story centers around Hannah Taylor.  She is the schoolteacher as well as acts as mother to her younger siblings.  This changes when her father marries and they end up kicking her out of the house and setting her up where her new "mother" used to live.  Marcus Whitfield has had a crush on her, but he is too shy to know how to approach her to let her know.  Due to some conspiring by some of the ladies in town, her life takes an unexpected turn.  She also learns that sometimes you just need to open up your eyes and what you are missing may have been in front of you all along.

I received this book for free from Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

A February Bride (A Year of Weddings) by Betsy St. Amant

This story is a part of a series of novellas that are being released each month electronically.  The series is called A Year of Weddings.  This is the third novella to be released.

Allie Andrews leaves her fiance, Marcus Hall, standing at the altar on their wedding day.  She was overcome with worries about having a marriage like her grandmother, mother and aunt before her so she decided to run.

You can buy this book from Amazon

I received this book for free from Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck

This is the second in Hauck's Royal Wedding Series.  It picks up the story of the long lost princess that was introduced at the end of Once Upon A Prince.  Reggie quit her accounting job to follow her heart into the car restoration business.  She finds out she is the princess when Tanner, the Minister of Culture, comes to tell her and to take her back with him so that she can claim the throne.  Reggie is thrown into a world of uncertainty and is unsure what God's will for her life is.  She struggles with what she wants to do.

Once I started reading, it took me a few minutes to remember what had happened in Once Upon A Prince.  However, after I remembered the story, I was drawn into what was going to happen with Reggie and what she would decide to do.  I loved the story and will definitely read it again in the future.

This book is scheduled to be released on February 4, 2014.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

Favorites of 2013\Books for 2014

Here is a list of some of my favorite books that I read in 2013.
The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky
The Alaska Brides Collection by Various
Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley
A Talent for Trouble by Jen Turano
A Bride for Noah by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith
A Bride for All Seasons by Brownley, Clopton, Conneally, Hatcher
The Miner's Lady by Tracie Peterson
Fired Up by Mary Conneally
Rosemary Cottage by Colleen Coble
Remember Me When by Ginny Aiken
Swept Away by Mary Conneally
The Icecutter's Daughter by Tracie Peterson
The Quarryman's Bride by Tracie Peterson
Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter
Out of Control by Mary Conneally
Trouble in Store by Carol Cox
Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer
Once Upon A Prince by Rachel Hauck

Some of my favorite authors:

Colleen Coble
Robin Lee Hatcher
Karen Witemeyer
Tracie Peterson
Ginny Aiken
Mary Conneally

Here are the books I'm excited to read in 2014.

A Match Made in Texas
Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck
The Headmistress of Rosemere by Sarah E. Ladd
The Dancing Master by
Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman
Four Weddings and a Kiss by Conneally, Brownley, Hatcher, Clopton
The Heart's Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher
Butterfly Palace by Colleen Coble
Seagrass Pier by Colleen Coble
Smitten Book Club by Coble, Hunt, Hunter, Billerbeck
A Sensible Arrangement by Tracie Peterson
A Moment in Time by Tracie Peterson

South Carolina Brides by Vicki McDonough

This book appealed to me since it is set in the state that I live in.  I love reading about places that I have been to or am familiar with even though it is set in a different time period.  I loved this book and I am sure I will read it again.

Here is a glimpse from goodreads:

Visit historic South Carolina where secrets disrupt the lives of three women. A cousin’s quest takes a drastic turn when she falls for the man she thought she despised. A young woman’s sheltered world crumbles after she finds a badly beaten stranger on a nearby plantation. And a sister’s heart is torn when the neighbor who killed her brother in a duel returns home a changed man. Between betrayal and lies, is there room for love?
I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be released on February 1, 2014.

The New England Romance Collection by Various

I love these stories and I find myself going back and rereading them again and again.  It makes it easy when I don't have a lot of time, but I want to read a good story.

A little glimpse from goodreads:

New England is not just colorful in autumn but throughout the history of its states—including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Through the trials and triumphs of the early years of American history, to the turbulent 1930s, enjoy five stories laced with history, faith, and romance. Will these couples find a place to call home among the northeastern states?

I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be released on February 1, 2014.

Sadie's Secret by Kathleen Y'Barbo

I have not read the previous two books in this series so some of the characters backstories I was not familiar with.  However, that did not keep me from enjoying the story.  I may have enjoyed it more if I was more familiar with the characters but I would definitely read it again, after reading the first two books.

A glimpse from goodreads:

Louisiana, 1890--Sarah Louise "Sadie" Callum is a master of disguise, mostly due to her training as a Pinkerton agent but also from evading overprotective brothers as she grew up. When she takes on a new assignment with international connections, she has no idea her new cover will lead her on the adventure of a lifetime.

Undercover agent William Jefferson Tucker is not looking for marriage--pretend or otherwise--but his past is a secret, his twin brother has stolen his present, and his future is in the hands of the lovely Sadie Callum. Without her connections to the world of upper-crust New Orleans, Jefferson might never find a way to clear his name and solve the art forgery case that has eluded him for years.

Only God can help these two secret agents find a way to solve their case and uncover the truth about what is going on in their hearts.
I received this book for free from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review for receiving this book.

This book will be released on February 1, 2014.

Kathleen Y'Barbo's Site