Best Western & Frontier Christian Romance
Dear Mrs. Walters, One of my fellow clergy told me of Denver’s Benevolent Society of Lost Lambs. To do that, our men need to be united in holy matrimony, start families and thus build a town of pure-hearted, respectable citizens …. But when her father gave her the choice between marriage and jail, she decided it best to further her cause elsewhere, and Noelle, Colorado seemed just the place to do it! Twelve brides. Twelve days to save a town.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Reverend Chase, has to get it to work but is even more discouraged when his best friend, the mayor refuses his bride and disappears! She can't go back home; she was a high society girl who had been arrested 4 times, so her parents had sent her away so she would no longer be an embarrassment to them!"
"Kit Morgan's The Partridge is a well crafted story with twist and turn plot, lovable characters - Felicity Partridge has a backbone and even though well bred is not stuffy / Chase is not holier than thou and willing to admit his lies and flaws, and a satisfying conclusion."
"Introducing us to the town of Noelle and it's problem solving Reverend, Kit lays the foundation for the rest of the series and the need for such a tight timeline."
"Kit Morgan does a fantastic job kicking off this clever holiday series."
"In a great story plot with many twists and turns, I look forward to meeting all the brides and their grooms as well as the townspeople that make up Noelle."
"A great start to the12 Days of Christmas Mail-Order Brides Book Series."
"Reverend Chase Hammond and Miss Felicity Partridge were fun characters to start with."
"Kit has set the stage for all the rest of the characters to come."
The Christmas Bargain (Hardman Holidays, Book 1) When Luke Granger calls in a long overdue loan, he reluctantly accepts a bargain in lieu of payment from the shiftless farmer who barters his daughter to settle his debt. The Christmas Token (Hardman Holidays, Book 2) Determined to escape an unwelcome suitor, Ginny Granger flees to her brother’s home in Eastern Oregon for the holiday season. The Christmas Calamity (Hardman Holidays, Book 3) Arlan Guthry's uncluttered world tilts off kilter when the beautiful and enigmatic prestidigitator Alexandra Janowski arrives in town, spinning magic and trouble in her wake as the holiday season approaches. The Leisure Zone: Jacqueline Driggers Hardman Holidays Series Set in the town of Hardman, Oregon in the 1880s, this series offers a clean, romantic peek into holiday celebrations of the Victorian era.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"About five minutes into this novel I knew two things: one, I had read this novel before; two, this is such a great read."
"The Christmas Bargain is such a touching story of a young woman who’d been battered and abused by her father and through one of the most horrendous things a parent could do discovers a brand new life that includes friends, family and perhaps a man she can trust. Oh, throughout the rest of this review I’m going to use the nickname that Luke gave his wife since that more easily describes the high spirited woman she slowly became. Not only was Filly a beautiful woman but an excellent homemaker, conversationalist, horsewoman and all around delight to spend time with. Yes, there are a few setback mainly brought about by a vindictive little witch, but Luke is quick to show her that only their affection for each other and their own reasons for this marriage truly matter."
"Having finally, doggedly, and sometimes with great effort, plowed all the way through the book, I can honestly say that I am left feeling, curiously enough, both pleasantly surprised and a little disappointed. The pleasant part was that the author seems to be quite good at both setting a scene and at creating a number of very interesting and delightfully authentic feeling Victorian era characters. Oh, the overall concept of The Christmas Bargain is very good, but Ms. Hatfield simply takes much too long to get to the finish line. So in the final analysis, the biggest problem for me wasn't actually the dreamy school girl style descriptions of how much the lead protagonists long to be intimate with one another, or the gratuitous details about the color of their eyes (all of which I can only assume is standard romance novel stuff, of course), but rather that all those laboriously descriptive tidbits often seem to be there just to pad the book to achieve its apparent desired length, thereby detracting from the actual story."
"The Pastor suggested that Luke marry her in name only, give it to Christmas if it doesn't work he would help him get an annulment."
Culver Daniels spent years cultivating a peaceful, orderly existence with his blacksmith shop and livery business. He could quickly grow accustomed to staring into eyes that held such mesmerizing flecks of amber light among their glossy depths. A few more steps back and forth and Culver decided the old woman was not only a fair dancer, but also the most irritating person he’d encountered in a long while. “You, Mr. Daniels,” she said in a soft, alluring voice that melted Culver’s insides and turned his brain to mush. “You’re even more beautiful than I dreamed, Miss Mirga,” Culver said, shocked to discover his tongue joined the rebellion his heart and feet had already staged against his good sense. After spending her formative years on a farm in Eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with sarcasm, humor, and hunky heroes.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Culver did not want a wife necessarily, but when he sees Kezia Mirga, he realizes that she is everything he never realized that he wanted and missed having in his life."
"Shanna Hatfield's whimsical style shines in this well written page turning historical romance with delightful characters (gypsy, blacksmith, baby & Cat), believable conflicts and satisfying resolution."
"Shania Hatfield continues the 12 Days of Christmas with the whirlwind romance gypsy/circus performer Kezia and Culver, the local blacksmith of Noelle."
"A woman with a wounded heart, a child, and the prospect of a new husband..... Kenzia, and Jem travel with a group of mail order brides to Noelle."
"Shanna never disappoints with her quirky sense of humor and wonderful stories."
"I enjoyed this book as much as the first."
"What a wonderful story between a blacksmith and a former circus performer."
"I always enjoy the humor that Shanna Hatfield writes into her stories and as always the hero and heroine were perfect for each other."
Best Western & Frontier Christian Romance
Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does…the One who will never let her go. A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love. "The timeless biblical themes...are beautifully portrayed and brought to life through her unforgettable characters." "My heart and soul were profoundly shaken as I realized anew the lessons portrayed through the stories of Hosea and Gomer, Michael and Angel.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A lovely story inspired by the Biblical book of Hosea. Just like the wife in the book of Hosea she runs away many times."
"This book was recommended for our book club and we have not met to discuss it yet, but I think it will be a very interesting conversation."
"There was so much self-analyzation going on and so many lessons to learn in this book as it serves as a reflection of our own stubborn ways and shines a light on how merciful, loving, gracious and kind the Lord really is and has been to us. I can imagine as well that most girls and women who have read this book also feel a personal connection and have in some ways been impacted by Sarah. Whenever I would put the book down I'd feel empowered by her like she taught me some things; an older sister type. My prayer is that the book transforms people as it serves as a great self-checker if read with an open and honest heart especially as one longing to please the Father."
"I read this book because it was on a reading list for my school, and I really love the story of Hosea and Gomer. I really don't want to give away spoilers for anyone who hasn't read this yet, because YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!"
"This book was by far the best book I've ever read."
"Throughout the story there are several flashbacks that help tell Angel's story so you can better understand her character."
Best Contemporary Christian Romance
When fragmented images and unfocused panic force Noelle St. Claire to flee her wealthy, sheltered life in New York, she gains sanctuary on a ranch in the Rocky Mountains. Kristen Heitzmann is the best selling author of seventeen novels, including the Christy Award winner Secrets.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"While most of the book dwelt with the irrational childish actions and words of Noelle they were due to the childhood trauma she had repressed."
"The journey to forgiveness is a long and daunting one and for Noelle, the heroine of this tale, it's confusing and missing details."
"Well written and enjoyable read."
"Noelle's struggle with PTSD and all its facets was heart breaking at times."
"This was an edge of your seat book from the very beginning!"
"First time reading this author's book and she really knows how to pull you in and keep you there."
"I am not going to do any spoilers as I do not want to ruin the story for others but I found this book to be a wonderful story and I could not put the book down."
"After I had read a few chapters, I realized that I had read this book once before."
Best Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance
Without food or shelter, and only Ben’s mountain climbing gear to protect themselves, Ashley and Ben’s chances for survival look bleak, but their reliance on each other sparks an immediate connection, which soon evolves into something more. Charles Martin is the author of seven novels. The wind up here is steady, leaning against the tail of the fuselage…or what’s left of it. I guess both wings were still pretty full of fuel. There’s a wedding band, worn thin around the edges. I’ll never understand how he landed this thing without killing me, too. When we took off, the ground temperature was in the single digits. We couldn’t have fallen more than five hundred feet when Grover dipped the wing. The control panel sits dark, unlit. Every few minutes the GPS on the dash will flicker, then go black again. Makes snotty, gurgling sounds when he breathes. He’s shivering and the wrinkles around his eyes are quivering. Whenever the wind howls, he jumps up and growls at it. Grover and I were talking, he was flying, maybe banking right, the dash flashed a buffet of blue and green lights, a carpet of black stretched out below us, not a light bulb for sixty miles in any direction, and…there was a woman. Trying to get home to her fiancé and a rehearsal dinner. Right shoulder is dislocated and left femur is broken. I guess the storm finally caught us. If I don’t get us wrapped in something…we’ll freeze to death before daylight.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is quite hard to focus your story on just two characters and make it readable when you have to face the most challenging situation of an air crash but Martin doesn’t disappoint. It is not just a survival story, not just a romantic novel but much more than that, subtly hinting at the finer nuances of life, which seem less important when we have all the blessings on a platter but don't acknowledge them."
"It works ok most of the time except when he starts talking about things like his wife's tan lines and her hair blowing in the wind."
"I am new to Mr. Charles Martin's writing and I am sure I will be reading more of his books."
"What I felt so compelling was how I was instantly spell bound by how the words sprang to life inside the very depth of my heart’s soul."
"Save it for the dead of winter when the snow is falling and the wind howling."
"I hope they make more movies of Charles Martin's books."
"A doctor that is physically fit, survivalist, McGyver, does not panic, get upset or ever say the wrong thing. Ashley the main female character is supposed to be a modern day damsel in distress. And do you really think after a plane crash a woman would really ask if the other survivor finds her sexy and dreams of having sex with her."
"Ben is just too perfect...an orthopedic surgeon AND trauma doctor AND a wilderness expert who can shoot a bow AND a track star with epic stamina and strength even though he is starving at high altitude?? I almost tossed the book in the fire when I read that Ashley was " frolicking in the bathtub like a dolphin" while lost in the wilderness half starved with a broken femur?"
Best Historical Christian Romance Fiction
When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans. “Two endearing heroines and their poignant storylines of love lost and found make this the perfect book for an afternoon on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.” — Karen White , New York Times bestselling author. 'Denton’s first novel charms readers with her idyllic settings and wonderful cast of characters, making Sweet Bay and the Hideaway places readers will dream about. Her exquisitely lyrical writing and character-driven story is a must-read, especially for those who loved Beth Moore’s The Undoing of St. Sylvanus.” ( Library Journal -- Starred Review, DEBUT OF THE MONTH ). In addition to her fiction, she writes a monthly newspaper column about life, faith, and how funny (and hard) it is to be a parent.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I enjoyed the parallel storylines in this book, and found these narratives to hit just the right balance of depth and lightness - illuminating the needs and desires of these two women, while revealing their quirks and - yes, even their playful sides, in a beautiful ode to the human experience."
"It isn’t maudlin, but it irritated me the way the author broke the novel into segments; usually a short part about the grandmother, and her painful life, then about the granddaughter and some difficult decisions she had to make."
"I liked the history and unfolding story of lives well lived but taking different turns."
"I enjoyed this book very much with the exception that I, personally, do not like jumping back and form in between every other chapter."
"I read this book in 2 days."
"Immerse yourself in a world where simple times, good people and family are a part of everyday life."
"The story of life in another time, with different morals and expectations."
"..which made me a little sad."
Best Amish Romance
Leaving the fame circuit behind, Alejandro returns Amanda to her family in Lititz, Pennsylvania. FIVE STAR REVIEW ON AMAZON By Dianna Bupp Sarah Price once again engages her readers in a tender drama that leaves you wondering if two very different worlds...the Amish and the English can collide and still leave us with beauty.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Realizing that she was a fish out of water in a big city, and now with a broken leg, Alejandro takes it upon himself that she receives the best care possible and personally sees that she arrives at her family farm in Pennsylvania. As the book is the first in a series, we see the early beginnings of a relationship developing but their lifestyles, not to mention religions, are vastly different from each other."
"In her stellar writing style, author Sarah Price pens an amazing story of a seemingly futile romance -- where the simple world of the Amish collides with the lifestyle of the rich and famous."
"Enjoyed very much the first book (PLAIN FAME) but it left me hanging."
"Amanda is an Amish young woman from Pennsylvania who had gone to Ohio with her sister and in her return trip home alone, she ended up in New York City and was hit by a limousine as she was crossing the street. He is allowed to staying the "granny unit" attached to their home and he spends time getting to know the Amish ways. I liked the pace of the story and way the author brought in the differences between the two cultures without passing judgement allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions."
"Although I will say Ms. Price makes this seem believable and the truth is stranger than fiction, right?!"
"A Mishap on the streets of New York City collides (literally) two unlikely worlds. More so, that I contacted Ms. Price personally to see if the next in this series, "Plain Change" was complete enough that I may obtain a review copy."
"Nice to read a book where God is spoken of with respect instead of His name taken in vain."
"I live in amish country and this story is so out of sync with the way the amish live that it was ridiculous."