Love's Sweet Beginning (Sisters at Heart #3) - Ann Shorey

I've enjoyed the first two books in this series, Where the Wildflowers Bloom and When the Heart Heals.  It was an easy choice to finish out the series and read this one.

Cassie is devoted to her mother.  Maybe a little too devoted.  When the two return to Noble Springs, they descend on Rosemary (heroine from book 2), and it seems that Cassie's mother has no intention of leaving.  Cassie sees that their presence is affecting her friend's marriage and vows to get out of there.  Throwing herself on the mercantile/restaurant owner's mercy, she begs for a job.

Jacob's not sure what possessed him to agree to hiring Cassie, but after a time, she becomes indispensable.  Cassie turns his head, but he's significantly older than her and isn't sure that he wants to risk his heart.  Also, Jacob's past is coming back to haunt him. Between his past and Cassie's mother, will they be able to find happiness?

I did enjoy this story.  The only thing I felt was missing was Cassie's reaction to learning Jacob's past.  I don't want to give away details, but I wished that particular element had been addressed.  Other than that, it was a well written book and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.  These books are okay to read out of order, even though you read about both Faith and Rosemary in this one.  Good Book!

Bittersweet (California Historical Series #2) - Cathy Marie Hake

It's been quite a while since I read Letter Perfect, the first book in this series.  I've also had the chance to read most of the Only in Gooding series, which consists of Fancy Pants, Forevermore, Whirlwind, That Certain Spark, and Serendipity.  I've really enjoyed everything I've read by this author, so I was anxious to find out what happened in the other book of this series.

Laney has been in love with Galen for most of her life.  Everyone keeps telling her to give up on him, he has never encouraged her and only sees her as a pesky little sister.  Laney just can't give up, though, and still hopes for a future with him.

It has occurred to Galen that it might be time for him to look for a wife. He has started seeing Laney as more of a woman and partner, but there is a stumbling block to their love. Galen has given the Grubb family a chance and has shown them Christian charity.  In return, he is accused of fathering a baby and gets a wife he doesn't want - shotgun style. Laney doesn't believe it of Galen, but what can she do about it now?

I hated 96% of this book.  I was getting closer to the end and was beginning to despair of getting that happy ending that I require in my books.  I just didn't see how it was going to be possible.  In the end, I got it, but the way it came about was a little morbid.  I felt bad for Laney, even though I liked her character progression through the book.

There were only two books in this series, and it is safe to read them out of order.  I'm on the fence about my overall enjoyment of the book.  Most of the time, if I hate 96% of a book, it's a miss for me.  BUT, with this book, it was well written and I got my happy ending. Ultimately, it gets a Good Book! review.

Beauty for Ashes (Hickory Ridge Romance #2) - Dorothy Love

I was able to read the first book in this series, Beyond All Measure, a while ago and enjoyed it and put the rest of the series on my watch list.  This is the second book in the series.

Carrie is a widow who is struggling to find her place in the world.  Her life is being turned upside down now that her brother is getting married to one of the most incorrigible women Carrie has encountered.  One day, she decides that she's had enough and moves to town.  Now she's going to have to find a way to support herself.  She's expected to marry a local bookseller, but when he marries a woman he hardly knows, Carrie is on her own again.  Except a horse tamer has caught her eye...

Griff came from a prominent Southern family.  Since the war has ended, he has broken ties with his family and lived his life as a free spirit.  He stops in Hickory Ridge to collect a debt, but ends up feeling more connected to the small town than he ever could have imagined.  He contemplates a different life, but what of his dreams to start a ranch in Australia?

This was a pretty good book, but it had a lot more depressing moments in it than I was expecting.  It wasn't so much that it bothered my overall enjoyment, but I got to the point where I was wondering what could go wrong next.  I guess you have to have ashes to make beauty from though, huh?  I felt that the characters could have been a little more developed.  I wished there had been more key interactions between Carrie and Griff.  I would get to the end of a chapter looking for more continuation, but more times than not, there had been several days or weeks pass.

Overall, I did like the book, although I wasn't fond of her sister-in-law, even at the end. The final book in the series, Every Perfect Gift, is waiting on my Kindle and is about Sophie, a character we met in the first book.  These are easily read alone and/or out of order without feeling like you've missed something.  Good Book!

Valentine's Day deal - Melanie Dickerson

Today only you can get four of Melanie Dickerson's fairy tales for $0.99!  Great Deal!  The books are The Captive Maiden, The Fairest Beauty, The Merchant's Daughter and The Healer's Apprentice.  They're all good books and this is a wonderful opportunity to give them a chance or catch up.  Don't miss it!

Glittering Promises (Grand Tour Series #3) - Lisa T. Bergren

I enjoy Bergren's books.  I've had the pleasure of reading her Homeward Trilogy and also the River of Time series.  They are a little on the long side, but worth the time.  For this series, make sure you have read the first two books before diving into this one.  The first one was Glamorous Illusions and the second was Grave Consequences.

In this, the conclusion of the Grand Tour Series, we finally get to find out what happens between Cora and Will.  These two have had to go through so much.  Between the attempts to kidnap Cora, the difference in their station and dealing with the others on the tour, I was beginning to think these two would call it quits.  Misunderstandings and jealousy abound in this one, but you're rewarded with a happy ending.

All in all, I liked the series, but I admit to skimming parts of this book.  Some of the descriptions were getting a little bit tedious for me and I looked for the dialogue and action parts.  These poor people tend to deal with more kidnapping attempts than should happen, but the reasons for it change.  Both Cora and Will tend to draw conclusions without having all the facts and that makes them irritating at times, but also makes them more believable as characters.

As I said before, it is so important to read these in order.  I also recommend that you have as small of a gap between the books as possible.  I made the mistake of having a LARGE gap between reading book 1 and 2 and it really hurt me when I was able to pick up book 2.

While I liked the series, I don't think it was my favorite from the author.  I have to say that the River of Time series is still my favorite with the Homeward Trilogy coming in second. Bergren's descriptions are so involved that you feel like you're immersed in the setting and you won't be disappointed.  She is, however, an author that writes the continuous series.  She's one of the few authors that I'll read that do that.  I think next time, I'll gather the whole series before reading them so I'm not lost!  Good Book!  Good Series!

Stealing the Preacher - Karen Witemeyer

Karen Witemeyer is a great author.  This is one of the books about the Archer brothers. You can read about Travis Archer in Short-Straw Bride, and you can read bout Neill in one of the short stories in A Match Made in Texas.

Crockett Archer has left the ranch to fulfill his calling to be a preacher.  On his way to his new post, he is kidnapped off the train and taken to a ranch.  Apparently, his captor is a somewhat retired outlaw and is just wanting to make his daughter's birthday wish come true.

Joanna is mortified that her father has kidnapped the preacher and arranges his release. First, though, she enlists his help in finding a preacher for her church.  Since her mother passed away, Joanna has taken up the cause of trying to turn her father to God.

When Crockett stands up to Joanna's father, Silas, he earns some respect and raises the curiosity of the man.  Silas feels that he has a justified anger toward God and it's going to take something major to make him change his mind.

I felt like this book was as much about Crockett and Joanna as it was about her father. After a while, I was rooting for Silas and enjoyed his character a lot.  I know that the Archer brothers are named for heroes from the Alamo, but Crockett's name is especially strange for me since it was the name of my childhood dog.  But who doesn't like Davy Crockett, eh?

I admit that I can't remember if the story of Jim, the fourth brother, is told in one of the other books.  I can't find any evidence of a complete novel about him anyway.  Other novels by Witemeyer include A Tailor-Made Bride (which I read before starting my blog), Head in the Clouds and To Win Her Heart.  All great books and I look forward to her June 2014 release of Full Steam Ahead.  The Archer family makes for great reading and it's okay to read them out of order.  This one definitely gets a Good Book! review.

Love's Sweet Beginning Giveaway - Ann Shorey

In honor of the third book in the Sisters at Heart series, Love's Sweet Beginning, Ann Shorey is having a giveaway! This giveaway started yesterday and ends on February 20th.  Winners are selected on the 21st.

You can enter the giveaway HERE.

Prizes include a pie-of-the-month club, a timeless treasures gift pack, and signed copies of the whole Sisters at Heart series.

Here's a summary of the book itself:

In Love's Sweet Beginning, the third book in author Ann Shorey's Sisters at Heart series, 25-year-old Cassie Haddon doesn't have a single useful skill.

Until the war, she always had servants to wait on her. After the war, she and her widowed mother moved from place to place, relying on family to care for them.

When she's forced to seek work to support them both, Cassie must also reinvent herself to find her new beginning and the hope of love.

I've read the other two books in the series.  Book 1 was Where the Wildflowers Bloom, and book 2 was When the Heart Heals.  I'm watching Love's Sweet Beginning and hope to read it soon.  I've really enjoyed these and hope that you'll check them out and enter the giveaway!! 

Tamera Alexander - Timber Ridge Reflections series on sale this month!

Tamera Alexander is another one of those authors that can tell a great story.  This month, on different dates, she is putting her Timber Ridge Reflection series on sale.  I've read the first two in this series, but that was before I had started my blog, so I don't have reviews for them.  I've been waiting on the third book in the series to drop in price for over a year now and am anxious for it to drop.

Book 1 is called From a Distance.  It will be on sale for $1.99 from February 4th through the 10th.

Book 2 is Beyond this Moment and is on sale for $1.99 from February 11th through the 17th.

Book 3 is the one I'm waiting for!  Within My Heart is on sale for $1.99 from February 18th through the 24th.

Head in the Clouds - Karen Witemeyer - FREE today!

I wanted to let you know that Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer is up for free today only.  You can read my review of the book HERE.  Karen is a great author and if you haven't had a chance to read her, this is the ultimate opportunity.  Highly recommend.

Also, a notable mention on the monthly amazon deals: The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen is on sale this month for $3.99.  My review of that one is HERE.  She's another great author and this is another great book.

Valentine's Giveaway - Kindle Fire HDX and 12 novels

I wanted to make you all aware of a giveaway that is going on February 1 through the 13th.  It involves some of my favorite authors and also some I haven't read.  The grand prize is a Kindle Fire HDX and 12 novels.  The books are:

A Beauty So Rare - Tamera Alexander

Butterfly Palace - Colleen Coble

Dancing with Fireflies - Denise Hunter

Hallowed Halls - Hannah Alexander

It Had To Be You - Susan May Warren

A Match Made in Texas - Mary Connealy

Princess Ever After - Rachel Hauck

A Promise Kept - Robin Lee Hatcher

Shadowed By Grace - Cara C. Putnam

Silver Bells - Deborah Raney

Somebody Like You - Beth K. Vogt

Wildwood Creek - Lisa Wingate

I recommend going to Robin Lee Hatcher's site to sign up.  You HAVE to complete the first 12 steps to even be entered, but they aren't too bad.  The reason I recommend Hatcher's website is because I had trouble signing up for Deborah Raney's newsletter and there's a link from Robin so you can send a message to Deborah through her Facebook page.  I went ahead and did this one since I was following some of these authors anyway and didn't have to post anything.  

When you complete the first 12, another 12 steps will pop up. These include Twitter, Pinterest and posting things.  I didn't get all 24, but I did what I was comfortable with and left it at that.  I most likely won't win, the only thing I seem to be lucky at is getting jury duty letters, and I don't even want those!!  This seems like a neat contest and encourage you to enter if you're interested.  Have a great day!!