It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #275

Hosted by: The Book Date

Here is what I finished last week:

First two official books of 2018!! Both wonderful books!

What I am currently reading:

Two non-fiction books I'm working through one chapter a day-both are very good!

What I hope to read this week:

It's the Bout of Books Read-a-thon this week and I'm hoping to finish at least 5 books but we'll see!

Blog Posts
17 Best Books/Series I Read in 2017
Top Ten 2018 Releases I'm Excited About
2017 End of Year Book Survey
One Enchanted Noel by Melissa Tagg
For Love of Liberty by Julie Lessman
Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer
Troubled Waters by Susan May Warren

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!

Bout of Books 21: Sign-Up

"The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 8th and runs through Sunday, January 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 21 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog."
 - From the Bout of Books team

I've missed the last few of these but I've been in a bit of a reading blitz and thought this would be a good way to kickstart the new year! I'm hoping to finish at least 5 books this week but we'll see how it goes!

Holding the Fort by Regina Jennings

About the Book
Louisa Bell never wanted to be a dance-hall singer, but dire circumstances force her hand. With a little help from her brother in the cavalry, she's able to make ends meet, but lately he's run afoul of his commanding officer, so she undertakes a visit to straighten him out.
Major Daniel Adams has his hands full at Fort Reno. He can barely control his rowdy troops, much less his two adolescent daughters. If Daniel doesn't find someone respectable to guide his children, his mother-in-law insists she'll take them.

When Louisa arrives with some reading materials, she's mistaken for the governess who never appeared. Major Adams is skeptical. She bears little resemblance to his idea of a governess--they're not supposed to be so blamed pretty--but he's left without recourse. His mother-in-law must be satisfied, which leaves him turning a blind eye to his unconventional governess's methods. Louisa's never faced so important a performance. Can she keep her act together long enough?

My Thoughts
Regina Jennings has a talent for creating unusual circumstances for her characters that result in a bit of hilarity and create a unique backdrop for the romance. This book was no different and had many amusing moments as well as a sweet love story.
Louisa definitely didn't have it easy growing up but she's doing the best she can. I admired the way  she never shirked away from the hard work. When she was fired she immediately sought more work and when she was mistaken as a governess she worked tirelessly to learn what she needed to help teach the girls. She may have been one of the world's most unconventional governesses but she was exactly what Daniel and his girls didn't realize they needed.
Daniel was as by the book as they come but he also had a bit of an adventurous side, and a soft side where his daughters were concerned. He was also very astute and didn't let puzzles go unsolved for long.
On paper Louisa and Daniel may not have made sense but they complimented each other and made a well matched couple.
Caroline and Daisy, Daniel's daughters were entertaining and definitely added a fun element to the story. I also liked Louisa's brother Bradley and Daniel's second-in-command Jack, I'm hoping we get more of their stories in the coming books.
Overall this book was a wonderful book that had me reading non-stop and staying up till almost 1 AM to finish it!

Meet the Author
Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She is the author of numerous novels, including For the Record, A Most Inconvenient Marriage, Sixty Acres and a Bride, and Caught in the Middle, and contributed a novella to A Match Made in Texas. She has won a National Readers' Choice Award and been a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.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.

Troubled Waters by Susan May Warren

About the Book
Billionaire Ian Shaw can have everything he wants--except a happy ending. Or at least that's what it feels like with his fortune recently liquidated, his niece, Esme, still missing, and the woman he loves refusing to speak to him. In fact, he doubts she would date him even if they were stranded on a deserted island.
Despite her love for Ian, Sierra Rose knows he has no room in his life for her as long as the mystery of his missing niece goes unsolved. The only problem is, Sierra has solved it, but a promise to Esme to keep her whereabouts secret has made it impossible to be around Ian.
When the PEAK chopper is damaged and Sierra lacks the funds to repair it, Ian offers a fundraising junket for large donors on his yacht in the Caribbean. But the three-day excursion turns into a nightmare when a rogue wave cripples the yacht and sends the passengers overboard. Shaken up and soaked to the bone, Ian finally has a chance to test his theory when he and Sierra do indeed find themselves washed up on a strange, empty shore.

It will take guts and gumption for the PEAK team to rescue the duo. But it will take a miracle to rescue Ian and Sierra's relationship.

My Thoughts
​FINALLY!!!!! Ever since I read the prequel novella to this series I have desperately been waiting for Ian and Sierra’s story! I got to meet the author (shortly after I read book one) and she talked a bit about what she was thinking of doing for their story and it sounded completely awesome. She ended up doing what she had discussed and it was as perfect as I knew it was going to be!
To anyone that knew Ian and Sierra it was glaringly obvious that they were meant for each other but they both had some things to work through before they could actually be together. Ian was a take-charge kind of guy but when things began to spiral out of control he went into self-preservation mode and pushed people away. Throughout this series I've waffled between wanting to smack Ian and wanting to give him a hug. He could be so bull-headed and stupid but you also knew that it was coming from a place of pain.
Sierra is one of the most selfless people ever, all she wants to do is help people and is willing to do whatever is asked of her. She's loved Ian forever but until he works through some things she knows they can't have a future.
Both Ian and Sierra had a lot of soul searching to do and there's nothing like being stranded on a deserted island to help with that! It was fun to leave Montana for a bit with these characters and the boat excursion and ensuing fight for survival were brilliantly written and had me reading every chance I could!
We also got more of Pete and Jess's story-can't wait to get their book-as well as getting to see more of the PEAK Rescue team. Ian's friend Dex was a new character that I loved and I think he should get his own book sometime soon!
So yes this book was everything I have been hoping for and so much more! Susan May Warren never fails to deliver amazing books that are oh so worth the wait!

Meet the Author
Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of over fifty novels with more than 1 million books sold, including Wild Montana Skies, Rescue Me, and A Matter of Trust. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT and numerous Readers' Choice Awards, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic suspense, thrillers, romantic comedy, and novellas. She can be found online at www.susanmaywarren.com, on Facebook at Susan May Warren Fiction, and on Twitter @susanmaywarren.

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.

Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer

About the Book
Grace Mallory is tired of running, of hiding. But when an old friend sends an after-hours telegraph transmission warning Grace that the man who has hunted her for nearly a year has discovered her location, she fears she has no choice. She can't let the villain she believes responsible for her father's death release his wrath in Harper's Station, the town that has sheltered her and blessed her with the dearest friends she's ever known.
Amos Bledsoe prefers bicycles to horses and private conversations over the telegraph wire to social gatherings with young ladies who see him as nothing more than an oddity. His telegraph companion, the mysterious Miss G, listens eagerly to his ramblings every night and delights him with tales all her own. For months, their friendship--dare he believe, courtship?--has fed his hope that he has finally found the woman God intended for him. Yet when he takes the next step to meet her in person, he discovers her life is in peril, and Amos must decide if he can shed the cocoon of his quiet nature to become the hero Grace requires.

My Thoughts
This is definitely one of my favorite Karen Witemeyer novels! I have loved everything she has written but there are a few that stand out a little more and this was definitely one of them! I was fascinated by the telegraph angle and thought it was really cool how the hero and heroine shared that occupation! And speaking of the hero and heroine, I absolutely loved Amos and Grace! Amos was far from your typical western macho hero but that was a big part of why I loved his character so much! He didn't carry a gun, preferred a bicycle to a horse, and spent his days inside an office. But he was kind, loved those close to him fiercely, and had a quiet strength. And when he was needed he showed up in a big way, despite not being the most qualified for the job.
As for Grace, we met her in the previous novel and novella and I really liked her so I was excited we were getting her story next. She was on the quieter side but she was also fiery and brave when the situation called for it!
I found it adorable how Amos and Grace met over the telegraph line, the historical way of "meeting online". They were perfect for each other and I loved watching them fall in love.
The bad guy was slippery, manipulative, and basically pure evil, everything a bad guy is supposed to be, and he was extremely well written.
I loved the secondary love story between Helen and Lee though I kinda wish they'd had their own book! Their story was beautiful and I would have enjoyed delving into it more!
Overall this book had me completely sucked in and every time I had to put it down (which was a lot since I was very busy) I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen next! Definitely recommend this one and all of the authors other books! You won't be sorry!

Meet the Author
Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance to give the world more happily-ever-afters. Karen makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.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.

For Love of Liberty by Julie Lessman

About the Book
A Match Made in Heaven?
Or Someplace a Whole Lot Warmer?
She’s stubborn, educated, and looking to give women the vote.
He’s bullheaded, successful, and looking to give her a piece of his mind.
But when things heat up, they just may give each other a piece of their hearts.

My Thoughts
There's usually a bit of trepidation when an author ventures into a new genre but I didn't think for a single second that Julie wouldn't deliver another amazing story despite it being a different setting. And of course I was right! I absolutely adored every second of this prequel!
The fireworks were flying of the page and it was the best thing ever! To say that Liberty O'Shea and Finn McShane butted heads would be the understatement of the century. They both had fiery tempers that seemed to come out most when they were with each other and made for some of the best (and most amusing) verbal sparring I have ever read! But underneath all their bickering with each other, they had both always had feelings for the other that they kept buried and never admitted. And when they finally did reveal their feelings there were fireworks of a whole different variety!
The secondary characters were so much fun too, especially Pastor and Mrs. Poppy, and Milo Parks (Finn's best friend and Libby's boss).
I absolutely love how this author manages to weave passion (the good kind), humor, and a strong spiritual message seamlessly into all of her books. And even though this was shorter than she normally writes everything was still beautifully written in and I never felt like it was lacking at all.
So in short this story was beyond amazing (I devoured it as fast as I could) and I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!

About the Author
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” not only underscores her intense passion for God and romance, but her staunch advocacy for sexual purity before marriage as well. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys reading what she writes -- close-knit Irish family sagas as well as both historical and contemporary religious and inspirational romance for the sweet and Christian markets.
Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and Heart of San Francisco series with Revell Publishing, Julie was named American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered 17 Romance Writers of America and other awards. She has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets.

You can contact Julie and read excerpts from her books at www.julielessman.com, or through Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, or Pinterest, as well as sign up for her newsletter. Check out Julie’s group blog, The Seekers, Writers Digest 2013, 2014, and 2015 “Best 101 Websites for Writers,” and Julie’s own personal blog, Journal Jots, voted blog of the month in the Readers’ Choice poll of Book Fun Magazine.

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

One Enchanted Noel by Melissa Tagg

About the Book
Secrets, Sparks and Second Chances…a Heartwarming Holiday Romance
Seb Pierce isn’t exactly a cowboy, but after fifteen years on a ranch in Texas, he might as well be. And he’d do just about anything to keep the rancher who took him in so many years ago from losing his land…including returning to the wealthy roots he’s long since abandoned. Seb agrees to work for his stern grandfather for one year in return for an early draw on his inheritance. But he never expected the agreement to land him in a quirky small town in Iowa at Christmas-time, renovating a dilapidated theater…and running into a woman he never thought he’d see again. She might not remember him, but he remembers her.
After too many years away from her hometown—and too many failures to count—Leigh Renwycke is finally back in Maple Valley and living the stable life she used to wish for. If only she could shake the old restlessness that used to get her into trouble. When Seb Pierce waltzes into her world and begs for her help planning the theater’s holiday reopening, it could be the solution to her discontent. If she pulls it off, it might be enough to jumpstart a new career…and to prove once and for all that the new-and-improved Leigh is here to stay.
But between old secrets and new sparks, restoring a town treasure in time for Christmas may not be as easy as it seems…especially once Leigh learns the truth about Seb.

My Thoughts
It's not at all a secret that I'm obsessed with anything and everything that Melissa writes, and her Christmas novellas have a special place in my heart. Christmas is my favorite holiday and the three things that immediately get me in the Christmas mood are putting up the tree, blaring my favorite Christmas songs, and reading Christmas novellas. I have read quite a few Christmas novellas over the years and I'm pretty sure that this one and it two predecessors are among the best of the best. I honestly adored every second of this story and was picking it up every chance I had. I saved it for the day after Thanksgiving (yes I am one of those strict no Christmas until after Thanksgiving people) but unfortunely that weekend was quite busy for me so I had to fit in snatches of this book here and there but it was so good I just couldn't wait till I had a chunk of free time.
I had loved the bits we got to see of Leigh in the other novellas but I knew there was so much more to her and I couldn't wait to discover her story. Despite a rough past full of bad choices Leigh had turned her life around and was now doing her best to provide for herself and her daughter.
Seb has been doing everything he can to earn his grandfather's favor in order to secure the funds to save the home of the man who was practially a father to him. I really admired his dedication and his willingness to do the hard work.
From the moment Seb and Leigh met the sparks and the humor were flying! Their "meet-cute" was absolutely perfect and I loved the way Seb teased her and called her "darlin'" all the time. Between their banter and that of the siblings I was pretty much smiling the whole time I was reading. And the setting of the old movie theater was so charming and fun and the perfect setting for this story!
So yeah I adored this novella and I can't recommend this and the rest of Melissa's books enough!

Meet the Author
Melissa Tagg is the author of the popular Walker Family series, the Where Love Begins series and the Enchanted Christmas Collection. She's a former reporter, current nonprofit grant writer and total Iowa girl. Her spring 2016 release, Like Never Before, was named to one of Publishers Weekly's Top Ten lists and her fall 2017 release, All This Time, is a Romantic Times 4.5-Star TOP PICK. When she's not writing she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever, watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next book. Melissa loves connecting with readers at melissatagg.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

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

2017 End of Year Book Survey

2017 READING STATS

Number Of Books You Read: 65

Number of Re-Reads: 0

Genre You Read The Most From: Contemporary Romance

BEST IN BOOKS

1. Best Book You Read In 2017?

(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2017 release vs. backlist)

Impossible to choose just one! Here's my post on my favorites from 2017

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

 Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? 

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Scotty McCreery's autobiography Go Big or Go Home

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

 Any of Melissa Tagg's books!

 5. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?

 Series started: Shadows Over England by Roseanna M. White and Summer Harbor by Denise Hunter

Sequel: Still Life by Dani Pettrey & Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer

Series Ender: All This Time by Melissa Tagg, His Steadfast Love by Julie Lessman, and Never Forger by Jody Hedlund

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?

 Courtney Walsh and Pepper Basham

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Didn't really venture out of my comfort zone this year! 

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

 Vanishing Point by Lisa Harris

 9. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Probably won't get around to rereading (once again) but if I did it would probably be One Christmas in Winter by Bell Renshaw  

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?

11. Most memorable character of 2017?

 Conner Young from Susan May Warren's Montana Fire series

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?

True to You by Becky Wade 

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2017?

 His Steadfast Love by Julie Lessman

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read? 

Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter and Montana Fire Series by Susan May Warren

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2017?

Her heart was, very simply, set on him. Perhaps both in spite of and because of his shortcomings.

True to You by Becky Wade

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?

 Longest: Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig 473 pages

Shortest: Moonlight Over Manhattan 71 pages

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

Dangerous Illusions by Irene Hannon

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Ian Shaw and Sierra Rose from Montana Rescue Series by Susan May Warren

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

 The whole Walker family from Melissa Tagg's Walker Family series

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

 I'll Be There by Susan May Warren
Plus a bunch of others but this one made me so happy with the way it brought characters together so I had to mention it!

21. Best Book You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan (But I didn't enjoy it and stopped midway through)

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2017?

 Peter Holstein from A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

23. Best 2017 debut you read?

One Christmas in Winter by Bell Renshaw 

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

 Maple Valley from Melissa Tagg's Walker Family Series

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Just the Way You Are by Pepper Basham

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?

His Steadfast Love by Julie Lessman 

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

One Christmas in Winter by Bell Renshaw 

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

 I think my soul stayed intact this year!

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?

Then Came You by Becky Wade

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

A Langhorne Romance by Deborah Raney (I'd say annoyed more than mad though)

LOOKING AHEAD

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?

Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh and The Everstone Chronicles by Dawn Crandall

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)?

Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey

3. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?

Series Ending: Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey and Thirst of Steel by Ronie Kendig
Sequel: A Song Unheard by Becky Wade

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018?

Do more non-review posts!

6. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):

Troubled Waters by Susan May Warren (But you have to read the series in order)

Top Ten 2018 Releases I'm Excited About

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

2018 promises to be an amazing book year and these are just a few of the books I can't wait to read! These authors are all favorites of mine and I'm excited to see how some series end, some continue, and some begin! Which books are you most looking forward to reading this year!

#1. Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey

#2. Storm Front by Susan May Warren

#3. A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White

#4. Thirst of Steel by Ronie Kendig

#5. The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin

#6. Just Let Go by Courtney Walsh

#7. A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

#8. Falling For You by Becky Wade

#9. Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren

#10. More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

17 Best Books/Series I Read in 2017

I made an attempt to just pick 10 favorites but that was impossible so I tried to do 17. That too was extremely hard so I decided to cheat a little and count series as one and to list my favorite novellas as a bit of an add-on. The reason choosing was so difficult was because I read some amazing books this year! I only managed to finish 65 books but of those, 45 were 5-star and 15 were 4-star so you can see why picking favorites was hard! But without further ado, here are my favorite books I read in 2017 (in no particular order)! 

#1. Never Forget by Jody Hedlund

#2. An Uncommon Courtship and An Inconvenient Beauty by Kristi Ann Hunter

#3. Rescue Me, A Matter of Trust, and Troubled Waters by Susan May Warren

#4. Still Life and Blind Spot by Dani Pettrey

#5.  Where There's Smoke, Playing With Fire,  & Burnin' For You by Susan May Warren

#6. When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin

#7. I'll Be There by Susan May Warren

#8. His Steadfast Love by Julie Lessman

#9. Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer

#10. A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

#11. Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig

#12. All This Time by Melissa Tagg

#13. Hometown Girl by Courtney Walsh

#14. Vanishing Point by Lisa Harris

#15. Four Winds by Lisa T. Bergren

#16. Just the Way You Are by Pepper Basham

#17. Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter

Novella Honorable Mentions

You Don't Have to Be a Star by Susan May Warren

Worth the Wait by Karen Witemeyer

Titanis by Ronie Kendig

Then Came You by Becky Wade

A Maple Valley Romance by Melissa Tagg

A Sweethaven Romance by Courtney Walsh

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful by Susan May Warren

Lygos by Ronie Kendig

One Enchanted Noel by Melissa Tagg

One Christmas in Winter by Bell Renshaw

What were your favorite books you read this year? Did any of my favorites make your list?