Tucker | Excerpt

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hope springs eternal in this enchanting Texas town.

Meet Gillian Thacker. Her business: Bliss Bridal Salon. Her passion: Weddings. Her own wedding: It’s complicated. Life isn’t turning out like she’d planned. The last thing she wants is for a real-life hero to ride to her rescue but when an unexpected event puts her entire future in Redemption, Texas, at risk. So what’s a broken-hearted bridal expert to do? Maybe a new set of survival skills is exactly what she needs…

Tucker McBride has been proud to call himself a U.S. Army Ranger. But now that his days of service are over, he’s decided to put his expertise to use by founding a wilderness skills training school. He sets up shop in Redemption, next to Bliss Bridal, and so begins life: Part Two. Marriage has been pretty low on his agenda, but as soon as he meets Gillian, Tucker can’t help but contemplate the ultimate challenge: Convincing the reluctant bride to take his hand and leap into the adventure of a lifetime. . .until death do they part.

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: February 25, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Jackson

Mercy House | Book Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Never underestimate the power of a group of women. Fierce, thoughtful and dramatic—this is a story of true courage.” —Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author

She would stop at nothing to protect the women under her care.

Inside a century-old row house in Brooklyn, renegade Sister Evelyn and her fellow nuns preside over a safe haven for the abused and abandoned. Gruff and indomitable on the surface, warm and wry underneath, little daunts Evelyn, until she receives word that Mercy House will be investigated by Bishop Hawkins, a man with whom she shares a dark history. In order to protect everything they’ve built, the nuns must conceal many of their methods, which are forbidden by the Catholic Church.

Evelyn will go to great lengths to defend all that she loves. She confronts a gang member, defies the church, challenges her own beliefs, and faces her past. She is bolstered by the other nuns and the vibrant, diverse residents of the shelter—Lucia, Mei-Li, Desiree, Esther, and Katrina—whose differences are outweighed by what unites them: they’ve all been broken by men but are determined to rebuild.

Amidst her fight, Evelyn discovers the extraordinary power of mercy and the grace it grants, not just to those who receive it, but to those strong enough to bestow it.

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: February 11, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | HarperCollins

An Unexpected Role | Book Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

The devastation of a ruined summer.

The gift of a second chance.

Can Josie learn the lessons she needs in order to discover her true self?

After a humiliating event and overwhelming peer pressure, 16-year-old Josie flees her home to spend the summer with her aunt on a South Carolina island. Her fresh start turns into the summer of her dreams as friendships grow, romance blossoms, and a series of thefts surround her with excitement. However, when tragedy strikes someone close to her, Josie realizes there are more important things than her reputation. As she sets out to solve the mystery she has become entangled in, she not only realizes the importance of relying on her faith but along the way also discovers who God wants her to be.

Publisher: eLectio Publishing

Release Date: October 11, 2016

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Cold Case Connection | Book Review, Guest Post + Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hunting down old leads

puts a murderer on their trail.

Convinced his sister’s death wasn’t an accident, private investigator Sergio Ross is determined to catch her killer. But with all the clues hinting at a connection to another unsolved murder, he has to join forces with Helen Pike—a woman linked to both deaths—to find the truth. Can they follow the cold evidence trail to get justice…before they become the next victims?

Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense

Release Date: February 4, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Danger on the Ranch

Deadly Christmas Pretense

Hometown Healing | Book Review + Giveaway

JustRead Publicity Tours

ABOUT THE BOOK

She’s home again, but not for long…

Unless this cowboy recaptures her heart.

Returning home with a baby in tow, Paige Cordell’s determined her stay is only temporary. But to earn enough money to leave, she needs a job—and her only option is working at her first love’s dinner theater. With attraction once again unfurling between her and Jed Gilbertson, can the man who once broke her heart convince her to stay for good?

Publisher: Love Inspired

Release Date: August 20, 2019

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly | Waiting on Wednesday

Hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine 

to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

(Similarly, Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings.)

Happy Wednesday!

Not only do I love A Knight's Tale, but I also grew up going to "a cheesy medieval-themed restaurant in the Chicago suburbs," so I can. not. wait. for this book. 

No Chance Meeting | Guest Post + Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Alex Jennings is done with life. After losing her brother in Afghanistan, everything has collapsed around her. Getting laid off from her day job and failing in her art career, she has nowhere left to turn. She once had faith to believe that all things would work together for good, but that faith died with her brother. Now she just wants the pain to end.

Riley Conrad served thirteen years in the military until three bullets sent him home. After a year and a half of physical therapy and scraping together a living, all he wants is to live a simple life and perhaps even open the coffee shop he dreams about. However, the weight of failing his parents’ expectations doesn’t make it easy, and working as a bartender isn’t getting him anywhere fast.

Could a “chance” meeting between Alex and Riley set them both on the path God always intended?

Publisher: Living Sword Publishing

Release Date: February 11, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Love Overboard | Excerpt + Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Forced to share a stateroom with her ex-fiancé, Caitlyn fakes amnesia to stay on board her dream Alaskan cruise. Torn over deciding his future, Cruise Director Gregory tumbles into helping her. As they grow closer, unspoken secrets threaten to rip them apart, for good.

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

Release Date: February 24, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #89

Hosted weekly by The Book Date.

Happy Monday!

A solid week of reading for me.

The Fifth Avenue Story Society | Book Review + Excerpt

ABOUT THE BOOK

An invitation to join The Fifth Avenue Story Society gives five New York strangers a chance to rewrite their own stories.

Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.

Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be a fraud.

Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.

Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.

Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.

When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to bear their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.

Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: February 4, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book

Her Homecoming Wish | Excerpt

ABOUT THE BOOK

She’s ready to shed her good-girl ways…

“You’re all about following the rules now?

“Pity.”

Mackenzie Wallace hopes there’s still some bad boy lurking beneath single father Danny Adams’s upright exterior. Being the proverbial good girl left her brokenhearted and alone in the past. Now she’s back in town and wants excitement with her high school crush—not love. Dan knows their connection runs deep, despite Mackenzie’s protests. But will their new personas work together—especially when Dan’s secret is exposed?

Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition

Release Date: January 21, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Promise in Pieces | First Line Friday + The Friday 56

First Line Friday is hosted weekly by Hoarding Books.
The Friday 56 is hosted weekly by Freda's Voice.

Happy Friday!

This is one book that's been sitting on my shelf for too long. I'm not sure how much reading I'll get done this weekend, but I'm hoping I'll have time to squeeze it in.

Three on Thursday | Quick Reviews

Saints by Addison D. Bevere

Austin Bevere explores what it means to be a saint, a word commonly used to describe followers of Christ in the New Testament. It is a word with a rich meaning and context—not the perfection and elitism often ascribed to it today—and it offers an incredible invitation toward understanding God-given purpose, identity, and love more fully. A challenging, insightful, uplifting, wise exploration, this book left me full of hope and with a lot to ponder.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book

In Want + Plenty by Meredith McDaniel

Meredith McDaniel’s book takes readers on a journey with the Israelites in the desert, relying on and trusting in God’s provision. It is not always easy to depend on Him and recognize this provision, taking unwanted or unexpected forms, and yet, it can be incredibly beneficial to do so. It felt freeing to read McDaniel’s words of reminder and encouragement and delve into the deeper considerations she prompts. For me, it definitely proved a worthwhile read.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book

Managing Worry and Anxiety by Jean Holthaus

Therapist Jean Holthaus blends her expertise, research, and faith to deliver exactly what the cover promises: practical tools for dealing with worry and anxiety. She writes in an easy-to-read way meant to heighten understanding and facilitate application. As I read, everything she explains felt useful and relevant. I had a lot to consider as I finished, and I intend to revisit this book in the future. It is easy to recommend this book to readers struggling with worry and anxiety, as well as those simply hoping to understand the issues better.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book

I received complimentary copies of these books and the opportunity to provide honest reviews. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Witness Protection Widow | Excerpt

ABOUT THE BOOK

Can the witness protection program keep her identity secret?

After Allison James finally escapes her marriage to a monster, she becomes the star witness in the case against her deceased husband’s powerful crime family. Now it’s up to US Marshal Jaxson Stevens, Ali’s ex-boyfriend, to keep the WITSEC widow safe. But as the danger escalates and sparks fly, will Jax be able to help Ali escape her ruthless in-laws?

Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue

Release Date: January 21, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

In Self Defense

The Dark Woods

The Stranger Next Door

The Safest Lies

Before He Vanished

Resistance Women | Book Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

One of BookBub’s best historical novels of the year and Oprah magazine’s buzziest books of the month.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, an enthralling historical saga that recreates the danger, romance, and sacrifice of an era and brings to life one courageous, passionate American—Mildred Fish Harnack—and her circle of women friends who waged a clandestine battle against Hitler in Nazi Berlin.

After Wisconsin graduate student Mildred Fish marries brilliant German economist Arvid Harnack, she accompanies him to his German homeland, where a promising future awaits. In the thriving intellectual culture of 1930s Berlin, the newlyweds create a rich new life filled with love, friendships, and rewarding work—but the rise of a malevolent new political faction inexorably changes their fate.

As Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party wield violence and lies to seize power, Mildred, Arvid, and their friends resolve to resist. Mildred gathers intelligence for her American contacts, including Martha Dodd, the vivacious and very modern daughter of the US ambassador. Her German friends, aspiring author Greta Kuckoff and literature student Sara Weitz, risk their lives to collect information from journalists, military officers, and officials within the highest levels of the Nazi regime.

For years, Mildred’s network stealthily fights to bring down the Third Reich from within. But when Nazi radio operatives detect an errant Russian signal, the Harnack resistance cell is exposed, with fatal consequences.

Inspired by actual events, Resistance Women is an enthralling, unforgettable story of ordinary people determined to resist the rise of evil, sacrificing their own lives and liberty to fight injustice and defend the oppressed.

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: February 4, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | HarperCollins

The Love Letter | Waiting on Wednesday

Hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine 

to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

(Similarly, Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings.)

Happy Wednesday!

Joanna Davidson Politano posted the cover for her next novel on Twitter, and now, I cannot wait for October.

Welcome to Isaiah's Legacy Blog Hop! Stop #4

1 WEEK ~ 24 BLOGS ~ 3 INCREDIBLE PRIZES!

Learn a little about Isaiah’s Legacy and enter multiple giveaways while picking up CLUES at each stop. Compile all the clues, submit the final PHRASE at the last stop, and you’ll be entered to win one of three grand prizes!

What are the prizes? They’re completely unique to the winners!

Mesu will contact each winner personally to chat about what they would most like to see in Israel, and then she’ll SHOP for just the right gift while touring Israel, March 6-19! She’ll then purchase a personal and memorable gift specifically chosen for each of those three winners and ship them to each one when she returns. How fun is that?!

HOW DOES THE SCAVENGER HUNT & BLOG TOUR WORK?

Begin at Stop #1. At the end, you’ll find a CLUE and a link to the next stop. Progress to each stop IN ORDER.

Collect all the clues—in order—and submit the full phrase at the last blog stop in the Rafflecopter form. Every stop has a clue, so be sure not to skip any along the way!

You may enter the final giveaway only once and win only one grand prize.

The Hunt begins 2/19/20 at noon EDT. Deadline for entries is Tuesday, 02/25 at midnight Eastern.

For best results, hunt through our list using Chrome or Firefox as your browser (not Explorer).

There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt—you have a whole week! As you visit each blog, it’s our hope that you get to know Mesu’s BFF team and discover the heart behind Isaiah’s Legacy.

Ishmael Covenant | Book Review + Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

His marriage in tatters and his career ruined by lies, Diplomatic Security Service agent Brian Mullaney is at the end of his rope. Banished to Israel as punishment by his agency, he's assigned to guard a US ambassador and an insignificant box. Little does he know that this new job will propel him straight into a crisis of global proportions.

Inside the box is a messianic prophecy about the fate of the world. And a dark enemy known as The Turk and the forces of evil at his command are determined to destroy the box, the prophecy, and the Middle East as we know it. When Ambassador Cleveland gets in the way, his life and his daughter's life are threatened--and Mullaney must act fast.

Now agents of three ancient empires have launched covert operations to secure nuclear weapons, in direct defiance of the startling peace treaty Israel and its Arab neighbors have signed. And a traitor in the US State Department is leaking critical information to a foreign power. It's up to Mullaney--still struggling with his own broken future--to protect the embassy staff, thwart the clandestine conspiracies, and unmask a traitor--before the desert is turned into a radioactive wasteland.

Fans of Joel C. Rosenberg, Steven James, and Ted Dekker will relish the deadly whirlpool of international intrigue and end-times prophecy in Ishmael Covenant--and will eagerly await the rest of this new trilogy.

Publisher: Kregel Publications

Release Date: February 18, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Persian Betrayal

The Sheriff's Second Chance | Book Review + Giveaway

JustRead Publicity Tours

ABOUT THE BOOK

Broken things can’t be fixed…

Or can they?

Officer and single dad Mike Harrison doesn’t believe in second chances. Ever. That is, until he learns that his former best friend—gorgeous green-eyed car mechanic Georgie Bennett—is back in town. Unfortunately, she’s also a suspect in a recent break-in! But it’ll take an old classic car to show Mike and Georgie that almost anything can be restored with a little patience…and a whole lot of love.

Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming

Release Date: January 1, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Waltz in the Wilderness | Book Review, Guest Post + Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

She’s desperate to find her missing father. His conscience demands he risk all to help.

Eliza Brooks is haunted by her role in her mother’s death, so she’ll do anything to find her missing pa—even if it means sneaking aboard a southbound ship. When those meant to protect her abandon and betray her instead, a family friend’s unexpected assistance is a blessing she can’t refuse.

Daniel Clarke came to California to make his fortune, and a stable job as a San Francisco carpenter has earned him more than most have scraped from the local goldfields. But it’s been four years since he left Massachusetts and his fiancé is impatient for his return. Bound for home at last, Daniel Clarke finds his heart and plans challenged by a tenacious young woman with haunted eyes. Though every word he utters seems to offend her, he is determined to see her safely returned to her father. Even if that means risking his fragile engagement.

When disaster befalls them in the remote wilderness of the Southern California mountains, true feelings are revealed, and both must face heart-rending decisions. But how to decide when every choice before them leads to someone getting hurt?

Publisher: Wild Heart Books

Release Date: February 4, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Ribbons and Beaus

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #88

Hosted weekly by The Book Date.

Happy Monday!

It's been a week of reading mostly romances (because you know, Valentine's Day), and I loved it.