The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz

About the Book
The American Revolution is finally over and Sophie Menzies is starved for good news. When her closest neighbor, General Seamus Ogilvy finally comes home to Tall Acre, she hopes it is a sign of better days to come. But the general is now a widower with a small daughter in desperate need of a mother. Nearly destitute, Sophie agrees to marry Seamus and become the mistress of Tall Acre in what seems a safe and sensible arrangement. But when a woman from the general's past returns without warning, the ties that bind this fledgling family together will be strained to the point of breaking. When all is said and done, who will be the rightful mistress of Tall Acre?

My Thoughts
I tend to forget how amazing this author truly is until I pick up another one of her books and get blown away by her talent! Due to busyness I lost track of the days and suddenly realized I had a little over twenty-four hours to get this book read and reviewed! Thankfully it was so amazing that I probably would have devoured it in a similar length of time regardless of a looming deadline! The second I heard about this book I knew I would love it! After all it was written by a fabulous author, was set around one of my favorite time periods in history, and had a marriage of convenience which is a plot line that I love. Needless to say it was next to impossible that I would have anything but good things to say about this book!
I loved both Seamus and Sophie's characters! Seamus may have seemed gruff on the outside but all it took was one scene with his daughter to see that he had a kind and caring heart. Sophie was an amazing heroine, I admired her strength through all of the hardships she'd faced and how she never let her circumstances change who she was. Lily Cate was a precious child and it was so sweet to watch her blossom under Sophie's care and as she got to know her father.
I was completely engrossed in this story and there were several unexpected turns I didn't see coming. In short this book was absolutely amazing from start to finish and I highly recommend it!!

Meet the Author
Award-winning author Laura Frantz is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century, and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.
According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California.
Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.net

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Waiting on Wednesday #181: The Golden Braid

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson
Thomas Nelson-November 17, 2015

About the Book

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel, in turn, rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to him than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery are about to be revealed after seventeen years. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

Why I Want It

I have loved every one of this author's books and I cannot wait to read this one!

The Vow by Jody Hedlund

About the Book
In this ebook historical romance novella by Jody Hedlund, young Rosemarie finds herself drawn to Thomas, the son of the nearby baron. But just as her feelings begin to grow, a man carrying the Plague interrupts their hunting party. While in forced isolation, Rosemarie begins to contemplate her future—could it include Thomas? Could he be the perfect man to one day rule beside her and oversee her parents’ lands?

My Thoughts
This was an extremely short little prequel and so this review will also be rather brief! I sadly I either didn't realize this was a prequel or didn't find out about it until after I finished the book but either way I read these out of order. That being said I loved this glimpse into the events leading up to what happened in An Uncertain Choice and I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and I definitely recommend it!

Meet the Author
Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults.
As a busy mama-writer, she has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes. When she's not busy being a mama, you can find her in front of her laptop working on another of her page-turning stories.

She loves reading almost as much as she loves writing, especially when it also involves chocolate and coffee.

Top Ten Books/Authors to Read if You Like...

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

If you like...The Christiansen Family Series by Susan May Warren 
You should try...Chapel Springs Series by Denise Hunter

If you like...Julie Klassen
You should try...Sarah E. Ladd & Carrie Turansky

If you like...Karen Witemeyer

You should try...Cathy Marie Hake

If you like...Laura Frantz

You should try...Lori Benton

If you like...Diary of a Teenage Girl Series by Melody Carlson

You should try...Hollywood Nobody Series by Lisa Samson

If you like...Melanie Dickerson

You should try...Dina L. Sleiman

If you like...Irene Hannon

You should try...Lisa Harris

If you like...Mary Connealy

You should try...Jen Turano

If you like...The Heart of San Francisco Series by Julie Lessman

You should try...The Golden Gate Chronicles by Karen Barnett

If you like...Lynette Eason

You should try...Patricia Bradley

Always on My Mind by Susan May Warren

About the Book
After a failed dig in Honduras, aspiring archaeologist Casper Christiansen heads home to Minnesota to face his unresolved feelings for Raina Beaumont, the woman of his dreams. But when he arrives unannounced on her doorstep, he receives the shock of a lifetime: Raina is pregnant with someone else’s baby.
Heartbroken, especially when he discovers the identity of the baby’s father, Casper tables his dreams and determines to be dependable for once, helping his older brother, Darek, prepare the family resort for its grand reopening. Casper longs to be the hero of at least one family story, but a never-ending Deep Haven winter and costly repairs threaten their efforts―and the future of the resort.
Worse, one of Casper’s new jobs constantly brings him into contact with Raina, whom he can’t seem to forget. A tentative friendship begins to heal fresh wounds, but can they possibly overcome past mistakes and current choices to discover a future together?

My Thoughts
After the way we left Casper and Raina at the end of When I Fall in Love I absolutely could not wait to read this book and see how their story would play out!
As is often the case with Susan May Warren novels this book had me on an emotional roller coaster! Both Casper and Raina had some very difficult things to deal with in their lives and it was a bit hard to watch on occasion as they went through everything, but it was also beautiful to see how God work everything out in the end.
I have loved Casper since book one, his tender heart and adventurous nature made him such a fabulous hero. Raina was a little harder to get to know due to the walls she had up but I did like her too! And it was nice to catch up with the other Christiansens-I really love this family! The mystery aspect was totally intriguing and I was completely into solving it!
Every aspect of this book was brilliantly written and I loved every second! Cannot wait to read the next Christiansen book!!

Meet the Author
With over 1 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA and Carol award-winning author of over forty-five novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com and Christmas novellas.
With books translated into eight languages, many of her 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. She's a three time RITA finalist and an eight time Christy Finalist.

Susan is also a nationally acclaimed writing coach, teaching at conferences around the nation and winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year award. She loves to help people launch their writing careers and is the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com and www.LearnHowtoWriteaNovel.com, a writing website that helps authors get published and stay published. She's also the author of the popular writing method, The Story Equation.

It's (Not) Monday! What Are You Reading? #192

 Hosted By: Book Journey

Here is what I finished last week:

Fantastic read! Sadly the only one I finished this week.

What I am currently reading:

Loving all of these!

What I hope to read this week:

Looking forward to both of these! Will definitely get to the first one since it's due for review by Wednesday!

Blog Posts
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #191
After A Fashion by Jen Turano
Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR
In Good Company by Jen Turano
Waiting on Wednesday #180: The Bronte Plot
The Chase by Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky
Can't Let You Go by Jenny B. Jones
Friday Memes 9/25
My Apologies (Why I Haven't Been Around)
Four by Veronica Roth
You're Made For a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth
To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!

Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!

To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander

About the Book
Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts an invitation from "Aunt" Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Harding's head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth's husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a Southern man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman.
Branded a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn "the gift" that Belle Meade's head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives.
As Ridley seeks to make peace within himself for "betraying" the South he loved, Olivia is determined to never be betrayed again.

My Thoughts
It is sad how long it took me to read this book! I loved the first book of the Belmont Mansion series and could not wait for this book to release. But then it took me a bit to get a copy and review books kept getting in the way but I finally found the opportunity to read it when my copy of the second book in the series arrived. Thankfully I'm able to report that this book was worth the wait and I loved it! I absolutely love all of the research that this author does and it really shines through in her books. Every chapter is filled with rich historical detail but it never overtakes the story, just enhances it.
I loved Ridley and Olivia's characters and I really enjoyed all of the banter between the two of them. It was so much fun to watch their relationship play out.
The other characters were great too especially Bob Green!
I also really liked getting to visit Belle Meade through this book and it made me want to visit the actual plantation someday.
I'm sorry this is a short review but since I read the book a few months ago it's hard to remember all the details! I do know that I loved it and definitely recommend it to all fans of this era!

About the Author
Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville, Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. And don't forget Jack, their precious---and precocious---silky terrier.
For more about her books, please visit www.TameraAlexander.com or join her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TameraAlexander or on Twitter @TameraAlexander

You're Made For a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth

About the Book
If you have a desire in your heart that just won't disappear...
If you don't want to let fear get the best of you...
If you're not sure what to do...
Help is on the way.
We all long to live with more purpose, passion, and joy. Yet in the middle of our hectic lives, the God-sized dreams that have the potential to lead us into all God has planned for us are the ones that tend to get lost. With her intimate, approachable style and constant encouragement, Wall Street Journal bestselling author Holley Gerth invites women to rediscover the desires God has given them--and then dare to pursue them.

With the enthusiasm and honesty that we all want from our closest friend, Holley encourages women to overcome excuses--too busy, too late, too far out of my comfort zone--and believe that their God-sized dreams can become reality. She takes readers by the hand and says, "Yes! You can do this! Let's go!" then guides them forward with grace and wisdom. A licensed counselor and certified life coach, Holley insightfully combines inspiration with practical application in this powerful, positive book.

My Thoughts
I have loved every Holley Gerth book I have read and this one was no different! She always presents things in a deep but easy to understand way and I always learn so much from her books! In this book Holley addresses dreams and plans and how they affect our lives. She shows how God gave us those dreams for a reason and when we pursue Him, He will guide us to where we should be. And as we surrender to Him that is where we will find our greatest successes. She also talked about not letting fear stop you from chasing your dreams. The one thing that really stuck with me from this book was being content where you are even as you dream for the future, because God may have something for you here that will help you later in your journey. All in all this was a fantastic book and I highly recommend it!

Meet the Author
Holley Gerth is a best-selling writer, licensed counselor, certified life coach and speaker. She is cofounder of (in)courage, an online destination for women, which received more than one million page views in its first six months. She also reaches out to readers through her popular blog at www.holleygerth.com and a partnership with DaySpring. Holley lives in the South with her husband, Mark.

Four by Veronica Roth

About the Book
Fans of the Divergent trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by Four: A Divergent Collection, a companion volume that includes four pre-Divergent stories plus three additional scenes from Divergent, all told from Tobias's point of view. This collection also makes a great pick for fans of the blockbuster movies who want to delve deeper into the character played by Theo James.
Readers first encountered Tobias as "Four" in Divergent. His voice is an integral part of Allegiant. Readers will find more of this charismatic character's backstory told from his own perspective in Four: A Divergent Collection. When read together, these long narrative pieces illuminate the defining moments in Tobias's life. The first three pieces in this volume—"The Transfer," "The Initiate," and "The Son"—follow Tobias's transfer from Abnegation to Dauntless, his Dauntless initiation, and the first clues that a foul plan is brewing in the leadership of two factions. The fourth story, "The Traitor," runs parallel with the events of Divergent, giving readers a glimpse into the decisions of loyalty—and love—that Tobias makes in the weeks after he meets Tris Prior.

Also includes three additional scenes from Divergent, told from Tobias's point of view!

My Thoughts
I really enjoyed the Divergent series but for the most part we only got Tris's side of the story. When I heard that the author was planning to release some of Tobias's point of view I thought it was genius and couldn't wait to read them! I did end up waiting until they were all put together as a hard copy before reading it. And it was worth the wait! It was fun to see Tobias's first days as Dauntless and to get his thoughts during some key Divergent scenes! In short if you love this series and this hero then I highly recommend you read this book!

Meet the Author
Veronica Roth was born in a Chicago suburb, and studied creative writing at Northwestern University. She and her husband currently live in the city that inspired the setting of the Divergent Trilogy.

My Apologies (Why I Haven't Been Around)

Hey all!
So you may have noticed a lack of posts lately and I promise I have a good explanation. My laptop died on me. Yeah it's kind of tragic and I am completely bummed. Unfortunately my kindle and phone don't work all that well for blogging and I haven't been home enough to take my sister up on the offer to use her's until tonight. So this post is kind of a warning post that you are about to be bombarded by a bunch of catch up posts and an advance sorry! Hope you all are having a great week!

Friday Memes 9/25

Hosted by: Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

The Question:

Do you belong to Shelfari, Goodreads, LibraryThing, and other similar sites? If so, can you list all off the book sites you belong to so others can take a look at them?

My Answer:

The only one I'm a part of is Goodreads though I do use a nifty app called Libib to catalogue my books!

Hosted by: Rose City Reader

"Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name."

They say the best things in life are free. Well, whoever "they" are, they obviously never tried to walk out of a Wal-Mart with one of those cool Duck Dynasty shirts-with Uncle Si's beard plastered from top to bottom like a follicular monument to rednecks everywhere-without paying for it. Don't say the customer is always right if you don't mean it.
Diary of a Jackwagon by Tim Hawkins

My Thoughts
Tim Hawkins is one of the funniest people ever and the beginning of this book has me laughing out loud! Seriously, if you like to laugh you have to check this book out!

Can't Let You Go by Jenny B. Jones

About the Book
An old love whose kisses make her weak, but whose secrets threaten to destroy all she holds dear...
Fresh out of college, Katie Parker had it all—a charming romance, a role in a famous stage production, and an idyllic life in London. Until she found her boyfriend cheating and got herself fired from the play. Leaving everything behind, Katie hops a plane home, only to run into her first love, Charlie Benson. As the couple returns to In Between, Katie questions everything she ever thought she wanted—including a renewed romance with her high school flame.
While she attempts to rebuild her life, Katie's plan to manage the family’s theater meets a devastating obstacle, dragging her into a legal battle that will rock her small town. And the boy who once broke her heart seems to have the power to do it again. As Charlie’s secrets unravel, Katie must make a choice. Can she overcome her past and trust Charlie with her heart again?

My Thoughts
I have been a huge fan of Jenny B. Jones from the moment I read the first sentence of one of her books. I was instantly hooked and went on to read every book she had released. Then came the waiting, the agonizingly long three years without a new book from one of my favorite authors. I literally squealed with delight when I discovered that she not only had a new book coming out but that said book was a continuation of one of her previous series that I loved! It's literally every reader's dream to have another book in a series that ended years ago! Needless to say, my expectations were high and they were all wonderfully exceeded! All of the characters that I loved were back and just as hysterically entertaining as ever! I was a little wary about the fact that Katie wasn't with the guy she was dating at the end of the previous book (a guy I really liked) but instead was rekindling her relationship with Charlie who she liked at the beginning of the series. I wasn't always Charlie's biggest fan but I should never have doubted Jenny! She made me love Charlie's character and he became the perfect guy for Katie and I couldn't imagine her with anyone else! I loved Charlie's determination to win Katie back and it was quite fun to watch it all play out! I laughed so much during this book and I had a dopey grin on my face long after I read the last page! I definitely recommend this book but you should start with the first Katie Parker book because this series is pure awesome!

Meet the Author
Award-winning author Jenny B. Jones writes romance with sass and Southern charm. Woefully indecisive, she writes YA, New Adult, and women's romance. Since she has very little free time, Jenny believes in spending her spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits, such as watching bad TV, Tweeting deep thoughts to the world, and writing her name in the dust on her furniture. You can find her at www.jennybjones.com.

The Chase by Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky

About the Book
Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky couldn't have dreamed a better love story for themselves had it been scripted by a bestselling novelist like Kelsey's mom, Karen Kingsbury. In fact, if you asked them, Kyle and Kelsey would name God as the author of their story. And they're glad they trusted him to write it for them.
Unfortunately, too many girls hoping for their own happily-ever-after have taken matters into their own hands, chasing after boys when they should be chasing after God. And that inevitably leads to heartache, low self-esteem, and poor choices as girls give in to pressure from media and peers to look and act a certain way to attract guys.
Kyle and Kelsey want girls to know that it's never too late to trust God with their love lives, that wherever they are, there's always hope for the future. Through their own story and the stories of others who long for love, they show girls how to put God first, how to value and protect their purity, how to deal with loneliness and bullying, and how to see themselves as God does--a one-in-a-million girl who deserves no less than God's best.

My Thoughts
I've been a fan of Kyle's music since he was part of the group Anthem Lights and I thought he and Kelsey were an adorable couple. So when I heard that they were writing a book about relationships I jumped at the chance to read and review it! And let me just tell you that this book should be read by young adult girls everywhere. I completely agreed with everything that Kyle and Kelsey had to say and it was awesome to see how God worked to bring them together. Growing up in the church and in a Christian family many of the truths in this book were things I have heard many times over the course of my life but I loved the way that the Kupeckys presented them and I highly recommend it!

Meet the Authors

Kyle Kupecky is a Christian recording artist who has toured with Lecrae, MercyMe, and Steven Curtis Chapman. His self-titled debut album released in 2014 and his Christmas album, Snowed In, debuted in the Top 10 on the iTunes Holiday Chart. Through his soulful pop music and speaking with his wife, Kyle is passionate about sharing Jesus with today's youth.

Kelsey Kupecky is a designer and an actress who has appeared in several faith-based films, including the Emmy-nominated The Heart of Christmas. She is the designer of Possibilities, a DaySpring greeting card and gift line, with her mother, #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury. Through acting, designing, and speaking with her husband, Kelsey's dream is to encourage girls to chase after God, allowing him to write their happily ever after.

Kyle and Kelsey live in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit kyleandkelsey.com.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Waiting on Wednesday #180: The Bronte Plot

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay
Thomas Nelson-November 3, 2015

About the Book

When Lucy’s secret is unearthed, her world begins to crumble. But it may be the best thing that has ever happened to her.

Lucy Alling makes a living selling rare books, often taking suspicious liberties to reach her goals. When her unorthodox methods are discovered, Lucy’s secret ruins her relationship with her boss and her boyfriend, James—leaving Lucy in a heap of hurt and trouble. Something has to change; she has to change.

In a sudden turn of events, James’s wealthy grandmother, Helen, hires Lucy as a consultant for a London literary and antiques excursion. Lucy reluctantly agrees and soon discovers Helen holds secrets of her own. In fact, Helen understands Lucy’s predicament better than anyone else.

As the two travel across England, Lucy benefits from Helen’s wisdom as Helen confronts ghosts from her own past. Everything comes to a head at Haworth, home of the Brontë sisters, where Lucy is reminded of the sisters’ beloved heroines who, with tenacity and resolution, endured—even in the midst of impossible circumstances.

Now Lucy must face her past in order to move forward. And while it may hold mistakes and regrets, she will prevail—if only she can step into the life that’s been waiting for her all along.

Why I Want It

I loved this author's debut and while I've yet to read her second book I still am looking forward to this one!

In Good Company by Jen Turano

About the Book
After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren't always well-received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position.
Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he's desperate for competent childcare.
At wit's end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance--with each other. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges, Everett focuses on achieving the coveted societal status of the upper echelons. But as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the children's parents, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?

My Thoughts
A book by one of my favorite authors, with a heroine who not only shares my occupation but also my love of books, and a secondary character named after me, um yeah sign me up! I always get excited about a new Jen Turano book but I'm not ashamed to admit that I was even a little more eager for this one! Millie and Everett were both fun characters in the first book of this series and I couldn't wait to see how their relationship would play out. Thankfully the author didn't disappoint and their whole romance was perfectly adorable and highly amusing! I loved Millie's unique approach to nannying and Everett's reactions to the things she did! I was constantly laughing out loud at the situations that they kept finding themselves in! I once again enjoyed the cast of characters surrounding the hero and heroine and all the crazy things they did. Caroline Dixon though was quite the unpleasant character and she drove me a bit mad. There was also a bit of a mystery to solve and it was intriguing to watch play out! I absolutely loved this book and I cannot wait for Lucetta's story!

Meet the Author
Jen Turano is the acclaimed author of The Ladies of Distinction Series, published through Bethany House publishers. Her second novel, A Most Peculiar Circumstance was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Romance for 2013. Her fourth book, A Match of Wits, released in July, 2014, while a new series, A Class of Their Own, will begin hitting the shelves in early 2015. She is a member of ACFW and makes her home outside of Denver, Colorado with her husband and teenage son. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

#1. The Best Gift of All by Julie Lessman

#2. The Wonder of You by Susan May Warren

#3. The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz

#4. The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

#5. At Love's Bidding by Regina Jennings

#6.  A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter

#7. Vendetta by Lisa Harris

#8. Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund

#9. The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

#10. A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

After A Fashion by Jen Turano

About the Book
Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself out of an income.
Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiance cause the hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.

Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can't make her fashionable. She'll never truly fit into Oliver's world, but just as she's ready to call off the fake relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages.

My Thoughts
I am rather ashamed by how long it took me to read this book! Especially since the author named a character in it after me and sent me an early copy! Sadly life and review books kept getting in the way, but when I received the second book for review it gave me the excuse I needed to dive into this book!
As is always the case with Jen's books, I loved this story! Harriet and Oliver were quite fun characters and I enjoyed watching their relationship humorously unfold! From the moment they met it was a roller-coaster of unexpected and often crazy circumstances that had me laughing quite often! In addition to the hero and heroine there were a whole cast of entertaining characters that made everything a bit more fun! From the matchmaking Abigail Hart, to Harriet's friends Mille and Lucetta, and right on down to Oliver's afraid-of-heights dog each and every one was fabulously written and the perfect addition to this hilarious adventure. And speaking of adventure, there was a bit of mystery throughout the book and the author kept me guessing all the way to a surprise ending that I didn't see coming! In short I loved every second of this book and it left me quite eager to start book two!

Meet the Author
Jen Turano is the acclaimed author of The Ladies of Distinction Series, published through Bethany House publishers. Her second novel, A Most Peculiar Circumstance was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Romance for 2013. Her fourth book, A Match of Wits, released in July, 2014, while a new series, A Class of Their Own, will begin hitting the shelves in early 2015. She is a member of ACFW and makes her home outside of Denver, Colorado with her husband and teenage son. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #191

 Hosted By: Book Journey

Here is what I finished last week:

Another slow week but this book was phenomenal!

What I am currently reading:

I haven't made it very far into Not by Sight but I'm loving it! I'm almost done with The Chase and it's so good!

What I hope to read this week:

Looking forward to this book

Blog Posts
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #190
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Top Ten of My Sister's Books I Want to Read
Girl Meets Change by Kristen Strong
Waiting on Wednesday #179: Every Girl Gets Confused
Warm Bodies by Issac Marion
The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M. White

Friday Memes 9/18
A Sugar Creek Christmas by Jenny B. Jones
Once Upon a Winter's Heart by Melody Carlson

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!

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Once Upon a Winter's Heart by Melody Carlson

About the Book
Emma Burcelli has suffered over a decade of dating disasters. But she concludes that love is officially dead when her grandfather Poppi suddenly passes, leaving her grandmother Nona devastated. To help out, Emma works in the family bookstore, which Nona insists must be decked out in sweetheart décor as Poppi would have done for Valentine's Day. Although she feels like a V-Day Scrooge, Emma quickly learns to enjoy the task with the help of a handsome family friend, Lane Forester, who shows her that hanging hearts is much more fun when done to the tune of Dean Martin. As Emma and Lane share time and memories of Poppi, she reconsiders the notion that romance is alive.

Just as Emma's heart begins to lift, however, she learns her sister has already staked a claim on Lane. Emma's mother and sister insist Lane only sees her as a future sister-in-law, but she can't help wondering if it could be something more.

My Thoughts
This was a cute, short read that was perfect for Valentine's Day. I've had this book on my shelf for almost a year now, saving it to read around February 14th. It was exactly what I was looking for and expecting, a quick little valentine's love story. I enjoyed all the characters and even though it was Poppi's passing that brought Emma home I still felt like he would have been my favorite character. I did think the romance could have been fleshed out a little more but at least it wasn't an insta-love scenario. Lane and Emma were well suited and it was cute to watch everything play out. All in all it was fun read and I would recommend it.

Meet the Author
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including Romantic Time's Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

A Sugar Creek Christmas by Jenny B. Jones

About the Book
Sometimes all love needs is a second chance. 
Morning television show darling Emma Sutton has just been fired. The only way to get her job back is to find a holiday story to warm the coldest heart. So when her hometown of Sugar Creek, Arkansas, needs a Christmas event planner, Emma moves back, sure her story lies in the town’s desire to become a tourist’s holiday wonderland. The plan is perfect—until Emma meets her new boss. Charming, handsome Noah Kincaid isn’t just Sugar Creek’s newest mayor. He’s also Emma’s ex-fiancé. Ten years ago Emma left Noah her ring and a goodbye note, but it’s haunted her ever since. The last thing Noah wants to do is work with the woman who broke his heart, but Emma’s desperate to prove to him that her bah-humbug ways won’t interfere with her work. Emma finds it’s more than the mistletoe drawing her back to Noah. Whatever they had is clearly not over, but Noah’s kisses can’t protect Emma from a past that won’t leave her alone. As the snow falls and the trees glisten, love will come to Sugar Creek. But will it come in time to make all of Emma’s Christmas dreams come true?

My Thoughts
As a long time fan of Jenny B. Jones I was ecstatic when she started releasing books again and as soon as I found out about this Christmas novella I immediately downloaded it. It was definitely money well spent as I absolutely loved the whole thing!
Emma and Noah were great characters and it was so cute watching them fall in love again. I loved how Noah was able to help Emma not only rediscover the joy of Christmas but also the love of the One who the season is all about.
The rest of the cast of characters provided some rather amusing moments that I've come to expect from Jenny B. Jones! From Emma's grandmother to Noah's secretary every character was awesome!
In short I loved this little Christmas story and I can't wait to read the rest of the Sugar Creek books!

Meet the Author
Award-winning author Jenny B. Jones writes romance with sass and Southern charm. Woefully indecisive, she writes YA, New Adult, and women's romance. Since she has very little free time, Jenny believes in spending her spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits, such as watching bad TV, Tweeting deep thoughts to the world, and writing her name in the dust on her furniture. You can find her at www.jennybjones.com.