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