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Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts

Like Never Before: A Novel by Melissa Tagg Book Review






Like Never Before is the second novel in the Walker Family series. One of the main characters is Amelia Bentley who lives in Maple Valley. She works for the local newspaper as a reporter. The owner of the paper recently passed away and the paper is suffering from financial hardship. It is about to be shut down unless the new owner decides to save it. Logan Walker becomes the new owner of the paper. He is a former reporter that moved away to become a political speech writer and he married his wife Emma. Emma is tragically killed in a car wreck. They have a three year old, Charlie who won’t speak a lot of words yet. Everyone is concerned about Charlie and they think something is wrong. He travels back to Maple Valley where he can meet with a highly trained speech therapist. He is also trying to decide if he should sell the newspaper. Amelia is determined to convince Logan not to sell the paper. Amelia is also trying to solve a mystery and reveal the truth to the community. She needs Logan’s help in order to try and solve the mystery. Along the way a budding romance begins to happen but both are afraid of falling in love again. 



I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who enjoys reading books that contain romance and faith. This was the first book in the Walker Family series that I have read. I was able to easily get caught up on the storyline and I wasn’t confused or lost. I liked how descriptive Melissa Tagg was in conveying the plot. I especially liked how Logan was portrayed as being a caring father and how he struggled with trying to make all of the right decisions. I liked how Melissa explored his journey with losing his faith after losing his wife and I think people will be able to relate to the storyline. If you’re looking a new book to read during the nice summer weather, check this one out!



“I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House Publishers/ Chosen book review bloggers program.”     





If you would like to purchase a copy of Like Never Before, check it out on Amazon.com:






When I Fall In Love By Susan May Warren Book Review


 
My Review:

 

Susan May Warren has written another awesome book filled with romance. This book is the three book in the series A Christiansen Family. I haven’t read the other two books but I was able to follow along just fine. I read the book during vacation on the beach and I loved how the setting of the book was placed in Hawaii. I enjoyed how relatable the characters were and how Max and Grace both avoided falling in love at all costs. They seemed to be too terrified to let someone in and let themselves to be loved. This is something I personally struggle with myself letting someone get close enough and perhaps even falling in love with them. Yes, love could end but it also could last! Very eye-opening messages! I also liked how the book had a Christian message that was spread throughout the novel.

 

My favorite character was Max Sharpe and I connected with how he held onto the guilt of accidentally injuring Owen and ending his hockey career. The book had a great lesson about dealing with the truth and forgiving yourself and others when they make mistakes. This book also touched on Max’s family background and I liked how Susan described in details everything Max felt. Max didn’t feel like he deserved happiness because of Huntington’s disease that runs in his family. Max didn’t want another person having to suffer from seeing him going through the effects of the disease. I loved how she intertwined this facet of the novel and I thought it prominently enhanced the character dramatics. I liked how she added a minor character, Raina to the storyline and her story portrayed the importance of choosing our actions carefully. I would have liked to see more of her story played out more in another novel. If you’re looking for a romantic novel, then this one is for you!

 

“I received a review copy of When I Fall In Love from Litfuse for this review.”

 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEinRUqUKEhNv2TBw8VqR86R086fDEIZ5pil4QnMa6tzOCZ4BU9pR82TC4dH5BAC3WufR15LGnPQKKnS5ugIeH9xFA9C9TMORn8bsb6EzOWg8zL3y8S6caOZ6nHNvIowI5GX3MgpSMQInzds_9RuOwtuzZ3ZS1ZvcBZ1NOXhR5VDhqeVvFoT-R6vX66oW9P0WAUzZJE7yA=s0-d-e1-ftAbout the book: 
 
Hawaii was the last place Grace Christiansen ever imagined she'd vacation, much less fall in love. But when her family surprises her with a cooking retreat in paradise, she is pulled-or maybe yanked-away from her predictable, safe life and thrown headfirst into the adventure of a lifetime.
Max Sharpe may make his living on the ice as a pro hockey player, but he feels most at home in the kitchen. Which is why he lives for the three-week culinary vacation he takes each year in Hawaii. Upon being paired with Grace for a cooking competition, Max finds himself drawn to her passion, confidence, and perseverance. But just when Grace dares to dream of a future beyond her hometown, Max pulls away.
Wrestling with personal demons, Max fights against opening his heart to a love he knows he should never hope for. And as his secrets unfold, Grace is torn between the safe path in front of her and what her heart truly desires. If love means sacrificing her ideal happily ever after, Grace's faith will face its toughest test yet.
 
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/z5Ijj
 
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEickBpMn490O6knDO53ASERxb3QIWTQBtIbxFNgVBhaT__qqFcVxcZ8m-VNtcuzCRsZ2lFjjEMVzMIViN_QxIOyEYU6ssVYFuuKi3h_CsHjvhWvfhW1TWPQzuCPG6VLO5dOexwtBgzMW_YuCVHz4OTFYRvNUm6Eaa6r=s0-d-e1-ftAbout the author: 
 
Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award-winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women's events about God's amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors.

Find Susan online: website, My Book TherapyTwitter, Facebook

 

Read what others are saying:






Susan May Warren's newest book in the Christiansen Family Collection, When I Fall In Love,  has won over readers' and critics' hearts alike. With critical reviews like, ". . . an exquisite romance. Profoundly touching on the topic of facing fears, this book is a true gem," and more than 60 five-star reviews at Amazon, When I Fall in Love is sure to please.

Susan has teamed up with some amazing food bloggers for a fun food challenge and a KitchenAid Mixer giveaway!
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  One grand prize winner will receive:
Grab your aprons and wire whisks and buzz on over to the When I Fall in Love website to learn more and enter the Hawaiian Chef Showdown! Susan is challenging you to make a Hawaiian-inspired dish using coconut, mango, or one of the other ingredients mentioned in the book. You’ll get extra points for creating your own recipe—plus she might share it on the When I Fall in Love site! Or if you're not up for an adventure in the kitchen just click one of the icons below for easy entry.

Hurry, the giveaway ends on August 10th. All winners will be announced August 13th at Susan's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Susan's blog on the 13th to see if you won!

Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska By Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss Book Review


 
Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska is about the journey of a famous singer, Ginny Marshall. Ginny is pursuing her singing career full speed in Los Angeles, California. Music producer, Danny Kingston decided to surprise her with a new recording contract from a label to record a new album. Ginny is torn on if she should accept or not so she decided to travel to Alaska to meet an old lover. She fell in love with Brett Miller and got engaged but she broke it off. She chose to follow her dream of a recording career and move to LA. She hasn’t spoken or seen him since the break up and she mailed back his engagement ring.

 

When she arrived in Alaska, Brett is off on a wildlife adventure to clear his head. Ginny meets Brett’s Grandma, Ethel and stays at her house until Brett comes back. Grandma Ethel reveals and tells Ginny to read these love letters. These letters contain a written love story between Ellie and Clay. Ellie became Clay’s children governess and she watched over the children daily. Love and friendship eventually begin to develop between Ellie and Clay but the trials and conflicts of life initiate to come against them. You will have to read the book to see if Ellie and Clay fall in love.

 

Brett returns from his trip and they have a choice to make will they heal and let forgiveness happen or will they go their separate ways.

 

I would recommend this breathtaking fiction novel to anyone who enjoys romance and the thrill of falling in love. The novel was very descriptive in displaying how Alaska looked and the community that existed in the rural area. I immensely enjoyed how this one book had two different stories tried together to convey that love still exists and is possible to find. No matter how far or how long the expedition to love may take for someone to find their true love, it’s viral to keep believing. The novel was a true complexion of forgiveness and having the courage to mend and move forward despite your heart from being broken. I especially loved how the story had a major decision to be made. Would Ginny choose a career or love? I believe everyone at some point has to choose which one they care more about. This story will inspire you to give love another chance and to never give up on finding it!

 

Summerside Press has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for being a part of Tricia Goyer 2013 Launch Team.

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska check it out on Amazon.com:




Check out the behind the scenes trip to Glacier Bay:


 

Gustavus Inn at Glacier Bay Recipe: Halibut Caddy Ganty