Review of Bluegrass Courtship By Allie Pleiter

Ugh! I couldn't stand this book. The story is all about how a television show(like Extreme Makeover Home) comes to a small town to help this church out. The Heroine Janet, believes the hero Drew from "Missionnovation" is a fake television type who wont do what he says. Why, do you ask? Way back in the day when she was "into" God and helping others, her ex-fiance appeared to be the same way as Drew, but that creep stole all the money he was supposed to be helping others with and dumped her, so she gives up on God, and people like our loveable hero.
Drew is a good guy and all and once he meets her knows her type, and is determined to get her to believe in him and that he does best for the people he helps. Unlike Janet, Drew has a close relationship with the lord. What I hated about this book: There is no romance! To have a Courtship, like the title implies, you have to have a "loving" relationship. At least, like each other.  Even though they did have some kind of relationship, it was very negative on her side. It didn't seem like she liked him. She definitely did not trust him.  To me, they did not start officially "courting" until the very last chapter of the book.
 Drew kind of liked her and was attempting to make the first step with her, in the middle of the story when she got angry at him, he apologized for barely implying that he was! Janet was annoying, stubborn and just plain stupid to me. Drew kept being so nice to her, I wanted him to just give up! To me, this is not a romance. Most of the book was Janet being a jerk, and Drew trying to prove himself, trying to like her, but knowing he shouldn't because she didn't have a relationship with God. He didn't give up on her though, because if he did, this book would have been a failure, because Janet does not make the first move.
The only good thing I can say about this book was that Janet finally stopped being stupid and went back to church and embraced Drew and was, what do you know, "happy" after many long senseless, lonely years! Of all the reasons why a person quits going to church, and stops their relationship with God, I thought this was the lamest.
I like stories where it's clear that the hero/heroine like each other and are trying to fight it. There's always a kiss or two thrown in even if they believe it's a mistake- way before the Twenty-sixth chapter. Yeah, that's right. The first kiss happens one chapter before the very last one.
I won't be reading anymore LI books after this one. I'll stick to my favorites like Michelle Sutton, Jamie Carie, Grace Livingston Hill, etc. There's only three more LI reviews to post. Don't worry, fortunately I liked those books.

Review of Heaven Sent by Jillian Hart

A LI romance. Hope gets stranded, and who should come to her rescue? Matthew a guy she remembered from high school. Both are lonely people. He's a widower with three small boys. She's a rich man's daughter who prefers the country life.She's there to be with her grandmother, until she's well. I don't like when  his mother and her grandmother continually try to set them up. He didn't think he'd have anything in common with a rich girl. His boys want her for a mother, though and he dares to dream himself.
*sigh* Typical LI romance. I usually like  most of Jillian Hart's books, but this is one that I do not ever want to read again.  The mother and grandmother  bit was really annoying. Matthew and Hope weren't really great friends in high school and she was going through a bad time herself, so he was thinking she was "too good" for that life, etc. It seemed Hope was always trying to prove she was just the girl next door.  The ending annoyed me, too. When you admit you love someone, you run off to the airport, really? He was there at the airport to get her back, but....I don't know, it seemed the author got a little bit lazy and just tacked on an end, trying to make it seem like it was exciting. I did not like this one. Two stars, just because I actually made it to the end.

Review of Blessings by Lois Richer

A LI romance. Joshua, a doctor with a great medical practice has three daughters and he needs all the help he can get. He's a widower, just trying to keep it together. He needs someone to help him temporarily and in walks young surgeon Nicole. She comes in and the patients love her, as well as his family. Getting through to him is one tough job, that she can handle.
Once Nicole comes to Blessing she sees her future changing, but to get all that she desires will mean restoring the faith of one stubborn doctor, and his ability to love again. Joshua does not make it easy, she is going to have to fight for the man that she loves.
This was a great story. A romance with kids is always great. Nicole gets him to see who his daughters are, and get closer to them. To make things easier at work, she has to work behind the scenes because he's so unbending. The conflict was great, and I liked another part of the story of Nicole's problem with her father. Joshua was able to see it, and their father daughter relationship changed. What was annoying about this book was the doctor always reminding her that her position was temporary, and he didn't want her as a partner. That part was a bit too much. Great read though, four out of five stars.

Review of The Wedding Garden by Linda Goodnight

An LI romance. Sloan, the hero finds out he has a son. He's a boy with a bad reputation that comes back to his hometown, the only ones who care about him are his aunt and Annie, the girl that he loved and left years ago. So he returns to tend to his aunts garden, find out about his past and that Annie never did stop loving him. This was a great story. It was more than just a romance, when Sloan finds out the mystery behind his mothers disappearance. It is a little suspense thrown in and it adds great tension to the conflict.
What I liked about this story was the fact that the hero was a bad boy, and also a child that he didn't know that he had. Annie, despite their past together is willing to help him solve his mystery about his mother which turns deadly, but I don't want to give too much away but this is another real world romance. I guess you have to stick with certain authors to get a really good love story. This one, I give a full five stars with the danger thrown in. Loved it.

Review of A Cowboy's Heart By Brenda Minton

Another LI romance. Willow is tired of everyone telling her what to do, so she goes to the place where she considers home and decides to raise bucking bulls. The hero, Clint is used to always taking care of everyone, his family, friends, and his twin nephews that have to live with him. Willow is afraid to trust another man after a terrible divorce. Clint just can't let her go after he gives her his heart.
This was a nice one. Willow is hearing impaired, and with years of people treating her like she's disabled is why she acts the way she does. Clint's mother died when he was a child and his father was a drunk and he had to take care of his sister. It was Willow's aunt, who helped them both. I liked that this book wasn't the typical "Sweet" kind of story, not that it was raunchy, it wasn't, but there were real life situations in the book. Willow's hearing problem, and Clint trying to restart his career as a rodeo star, but injuring his arm in the process, and his sister having to go back to serve her country, etc. Willow always had a crush on Clint, but her always  being stubborn, standing on her own is a great conflict, and it's always hard for her when she a bit grudgingly accepts his help. Both of them have to bend in order for them to have a fulfilling life together. Good read.

Reviews Galore And A Little Bit More

Just click on my Shelfari shelf to your right
and read the following reviews:

1.It's Not About Him by Michelle Sutton
2. The Ocean Between by Lynda Coker
3. Quade's Babies by Brenda Jackson
4.Tall, Dark.... Westmoreland! by Brenda Jackson
5.His Christmas Bride by Dana Corbit
6.Together For The Holidays by Margaret Daley
7.A Will And A Wedding by Lois Richer
8.The Duke's Cinderella Bride by Carole Mortimer
9.Jingle Bell Babies by Kathryn Springer
10.Lone Star Blessings by Bonnie K. Winn
11. Faith In The Great Southland by Mary Hawkins
12.His Cowgirl Bride by Debra Clopton
The first four I really love, and especially number seven, and
number eleven, so read the reviews and let me know what you
think!

As announced before, Free Cash On The Internet is on sale
tomorrow with the truckload of bonuses as promised, but
I've changed the game. Read all about it and the contest
tomorrow.

Book Review: Her Perfect Man By Jillian Hart

Someday My Prince Will...Move In Next Door?

Rebecca McKaslin had one of those Prince Charming types before and got burned. Her new neighbor, Chad Lawson seems a bit too perfect. She worries about getting involved with anyone again, but Chad is so easygoing, a guy who goes to church and so friendly, she can't help but be near him. Rebecca thinks that maybe, God is putting them together, but should she risk getting hurt a second time?



What I Thought: Five Out Of Five Stars

Rebecca is the youngest of the McKaslin Clan, and I just love her 'No Man Clause' to avoid getting hurt. Chad is really too good to be true to her, and she makes it clear in the beginning that they can only be friends. Thats what I loved about this story was that they were friends, then good friends and best friends. Rebecca has to come to terms with how she feels about her
choices of men, and what Chad had done in his past. Great Book.

Book Review: Her Wedding Wish By Jillian Hart

Her husband Can't Remember Her....

Jonas Lowell is a police officer who was shot in the line of duty. He has amnesia and his wife Danielle McKaslin Lowell, is trying everything she can to get his memory back of their life together with their young children. He looks at her through a strangers eyes. The precious times they shared was long forgotten, dreams of the future have disappeared. They have to get to know each other again, and with faith they can have something special again.



What I Thought: Four Out of Five Stars

I really liked this book, but the fact that he couldn't remember his wife and kids, and other people he knew was really sad. Danielle wanted him to remember everything they shared: Secret smiles, and just the little things of being best friends, but they had to rebuild their relationship bit by bit. It, of course as always, ended well, but I prefer her other McKaslin series books better.

Book Review: The Duchess and The Dragon By Jamie Carie

Two Worlds, One Destiny...
Drake Weston, Duke of Northumberland, is heir to wealth prestige, and power. But when rage pushes him to a tragic mistake, he must leave everything behind. Not just his home, but England herself. Cloaked in a false identity, Drake slips aboard a ship bearing indentured servants to America.

Serena Winter lives out her Quaker beliefs tending the sick who arrive on ships in the Philadelphia harbor. Never has she met such a one as the half-conscious man with the penetrating eyes and arrogant demeanor. Though she saves his life, and takes him into her family home, there is little gratitude or humility in this man. And yet Serena is certain that beneath the brash exterior is a heart in search of peace.

What I Thought: Five out of Five Stars
I loved this story! Jamie Carie is Another one of my favorite authors. this was a very addicting read! Drake has had it hard. His father died giving him the evil eye, and he doesn't know why. It is revealed later in the story and will actually change his life forever. Serena-I just loved her character! She has a very fairytale like imagination and Drake was seemingly clairvoyant when it came to her and they just clicked from the beginning. I loved their romance and how she gave up being a Quaker to marry him. The only downer to me in this book was when Drake was trying to hold on to the past. Life wasn't fair to him, and he wanted so much, but he had to change, (as Serena had to change with her 'fairytale' dreams), and to me it was very unfair and cruel. Of course alls well in the end, but that was the only 'aww man' part in the book to me.

Book Review: His Holiday Heart By Jillian Hart

The McKaslin Clan series. A Montana Scrooge with a Secret Crush. What can make a grumpy "there-is-no-Santa-Claus" kind of man smile? The sight of quirky Lucy Chapin. Something about the woman creates warm and fuzzy feelings within confirmed bachelor Spence McKaslin. So he'll just have to ignore her. Hard to do since they're working together on a Christmas program for hospitalized children....

What I Thought:
I am definitely hooked on the McKaslin Clan series! This book has a lot of humor in it. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Spence was a Scrooge in this story but it was more like a front to keep people away. Those who knew him(his family) knew how good he really was, but he never showed it to the world that much. He has a reason for behaving that way, which when you read it you will find is understanding. Lucy wasn't on the hunt for a husband either, but is very much hooked on Spence, as he is with her. I give this one five out of five stars.

Book Review: The Cinderella Plan By Margaret Daley

From the Tiny Blessings Series.Anne has a crush on her minister Caleb Williams.
Three girls from the teen center transformed her into Cinderella. She's not sure that he would want to date someone as 'plain' as she is, and she didn't have the strong faith that he had. Still, she dreams of being with him.

What I Thought:
It was a sweet story. Anne came from a background where her parents basically ignored her, all they cared about was each other and their career. The only family member who loved her was her Grandma Rose, who taught her about God. There were also her three best friends, Rachel, Pilar and Meg who she knew from school and made life better for her when kids picked on her at school. She has a physical defect and she's shy also. The hero, Caleb had been hurt before when he tried to convert someone to God and it didn't work, so he's not trying to fall in love with her. She's not trying to fall for him, but they do anyway. A child is also involved in the story, whom they both love and are trying to help. It takes two near tragic events for Anne to come to God and put her faith in him. Out of five stars, I give it a 4.5.

More Reviews

More reviews are coming up of books that
I have read. I will try to do at least one if
not more a week. Here's what you have
to look forward to shortly.

Reviews from books by:

• Jamie Carie
• Margaret Daley
• Jillian Hart
• VeraLee Wiggins
  
  
  

Writing Updates

Still editing my first inspirational romance novel.
I should be done by tomorrow. I have to shelf
my picture book manuscript because I'm waiting
on the artist. I'll be starting my non fiction book
this week for writers, and preparing an outline for
my next romance novel which is book two of a
trilogy.

First Novel Finished

My first Inspirational Romantic Novel is complete.
I am in the process of editing it.

My First Novel...

My first novel, which is an edgy Christian romance is
a WIP. I'm already halfway through the first draft. I
don't have a title yet, but I'm at the part in the story
where there is going to be a tragic event.

During this tragic event, the heroines family finds
out who she really is(or used to be) and they are
stunned. Why would she appear to be so...____
when she used to be...._____

That's where I'll leave it. I don't want to give too
much away until it's done, because this story is
wild-in a Christian way of course.Tell me what
you think about it so far!

A Family For Luke Review

I Really, Really loved this book. The hero of the
story never had a family. A family is something
he wants more than anything. By chance or prov-
idence, he moves next door to widow, Jane Corbett
and her three children. He's starting to dream up
something possibly can happen. She has been burned
not once, but twice. She will not move forward with
him until he comes to terms with his miserable past.
Great story, I rate it 5 out of 5. This is one of my
favorite inspirational romances.

A Family for Luke: Riverbend Series #3 (Love Inspired #476)

Where Love Abides Review

I really liked this book. The greatest tension was
how the heroine, Christine Turner was attracted
to the heroine, but literally afraid of him because
of something that happened to her in her past. Dale,
was baffled, but wanted to know why someone as
nice and wonderful as her wanted to hide away from
the world. His little daughter already has chosen her
for a mom, and he wanted to make both Christine's
and his daughters dream happen. I'd rate this one
a four out of five. Definitely something to pick up.

Where Love Abides (Heartland Homecoming, Book 3) (Love Inspired #443)