Love at First book by Jenn McKinley review

Title: Love at First Book

Author: Jenn McKinley

Ch: 23 plus epilogue

Pg: 09:49:02

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Berkley

I loved this hate to love rom com. Emily and Kieran were perfect for each other even if they don’t see it. But it’s the banter between them the keeps the reader turning pages.

Though I listened to the audio book instead of reading. As the audio adds charm t Kieran’s Irish accent and not to mention proper pronunciation of the Irish names.

Now this isn’t just a cute rom com it does deal with some tough issues. There’s a trigger warning for cancer, and difficult parent adult child relationship but the author handles it all respectfully.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

A Run at Love by Toni Shiloh review

Title: A Run at Love

Author: Toni Shiloh

Ch: 43 plus prologue and epilogue

Pg: 352

Series: Love in the Spotlight book 2

Genre: Christian romance rom com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Bethany House

I never thought that anyone could write a Christian romance or rom com set around horse racing and the Kentucky Derby due to its nature. But Toni Shiloh did,and she was great at writing a story set around the culture with a Christian theme.

Piper McKinney and Tucker Hale are best friends who both grew up around horses and horse racing Piper’s a Black Woman and the transracial adopted daughter I say this because it’s important to Piper’s character and how her story plays out, of the McKinneys and the owners of the thoroughbred farm while Tucker is the son of one of the trainers.

Toni handles the storyline of transracial adoption and Piper being the only Black person in her small town as only she can with grace and truth.

As not only a Kentuckian but a  Louisvillian I’m wary of authors not from here setting their books here, but with Toni I didn’t have to worry she did her research. Even including how to say my city in the books. I also loved that she created a fictional town in a very real county as horse country is well known. But the fictional town feels like it fits. And I love that she included Kentucky’s soft drink.

In the two books I’ve read by Toni I’ve discovered that faith is a huge part of her books. Especially in the character’s life and that of the story. I know want to read the first book in the series and now can’t wait for the third book to release.  

 

 

Loyally Luke by Pepper Basham review

Title: Loyally Luke

Author: Pepper Basham

Ch: 23

Pg: 384

Series: Skymar book 3

Genre: Christian romance Christian rom com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

All I can say with Loyally Luke by Pepper Basham is finally. Not because I wanted the series to end, but because we finally get Luke’s story. And as someone who fell for Luke in the first book, I spent the second book falling deeper. But in Loyally Luke I fell head over heels, what can I say I’m a sucker for a country boy in flannel with a heart of gold. I have to say I love seeing more of Luke in this one.

I have to admit Ellie wasn’t who I pictured Luke falling for he who dislikes the rom com. It was hilarious to see him end up in one. His and Ellie’s meet cute was perfect for him. And there was more than meets the eye to Ellie.

This one gave me a bit of The Princess Diaries vibes and all the movie references. Whoever thought a country boy could charm a princess. But for me it was Luke dropping The Princess Bride quotes into normal conversation. And then accidentally creating what I thought was the perfect country song.

And like all of Peppers books faith is threaded throughout the story and plays out in the characters’ lives. And love that Luke is a man of faith that makes him the perfect hero in my book. That alone would do it but a country boy in flannel makes Luke even more realistic. And a perfect end to the series.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Song of Sourwood Mountain by Ann H Gabhart review

Title: The Song of Sourwood Mountain

Author: Ann H Gabhart

Ch: 41 plus epilogue

Pg: 354

Genre: Christian Historical fiction, Christian Historical romance

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Revell

The Song of Sourwood Mountain is the newest Kentucky set book by Ann H Gabhart. I have to say the story reminds me of Christy. In the sense Mira a teacher leaves her life in Louisville to teach in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Gordon Covington is a preacher who’s convinced Mira is the teacher the town needs.

What I love about Ann’s apart from the fact that she always gets Kentucky right is that her settings become another character in the book. The town of Sourwood the perfect name for a mountain town and even fictional fits perfectly in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. That seemed like a world away from Louisville in 1910. Heck even today it still can feel a world away.

And it was actually the secondary characters especially Ada June who stole my heart. While the book focuses on Mira and Gordon’s story. It is the secondary characters who help shape them and their story. Mira and Gordon wouldn’t be who they are without the people of Sourwood.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a blog tour  I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel review

Title: The Irish Matchmaker

Author: Jennifer Deibel

Ch: 30 plus epilogue

Pages: 320

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Revell


I have to say while not my favorite book by the author I still enjoyed it. I didn’t really like the heroine Catriona at the beginning. Sara the heroes daughter was actually my favorite character. And Donal was such a sweetheart but then I’m a bit of a sucker for the single dad troupe. But the heroine did redeem herself by the end.

I’ve seen readers saying this is a love triangle book, but I didn’t get that vibe even though there’s two guys in the story. That doesn’t mean love triangle that means the author wants to kept the readers on their toes and continuing to read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

April Wrap Up

 

  I read or listened to a total of 16   books across 4,009 pages and 17.85 hours. My average rating was And I DNF books. And my total of unread remained at 86.

 

Happily Never after by Lynn Painter 

Pronto by Elmore Leonard 

Betrothal or Breakaway by Leah Brunner (ebook)(owned) 

Matzah Ball Blues by Jennifer Wilck (own voices) 

Better Late than Never by Jess Mastorakos (Ebook)

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 

He Rule Book by Sarah Adams (owned) (audio) 

Rogue and Gambit: Power Play by Stephaine Phillips 

White House Wild Child by Shelley Fraser Mickle’s

Sandcastle Inn by Irene Hannon (owned)

Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel (owned)

Wake Me most Wickedly by Felicia Grossman

Matzah Ball Surprise by Laura Brown

The Cowboy’s Secret Past by Tina Radcliffe

The Marine’s Deadly Reunion by Loretta Eidson

On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin

Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin review

Title: Embers in the London Sky

Author: Sarah Sundin

Ch: 49

Pg: 391

Genre: Christian Historical fiction Christian historical romance

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Revell


I love how this author with each WWII novel she writes can find a new bit of history to tell. Even though Sundin writes WWII for each of her storylines it feels like a new story each time. And she never disappoints. Though I d think Hugh Collingwood might be my new favorite hero of hers. And I think it’s because he doesn’t let having Asthma stop him from doing what needs to be done. And Aledia is proof of what a mother’s love can do.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

A Groom of One's Own by Emma St. Clair review

Title: A Groom of One’s own

Author: Emma St. Clair

Ch: 24 plus epilogue

Pg: 368

Series: Appies 1

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Indie


When we first meet Eli in Just Don’t fall he comes across as a bit of a ladies man. But in A Groom of One’s Own we learn that’s not exactly the whole truth. He actually has a heart of gold and loves his mom. He wants to get married but for love not to stay in the country. Enter Bailey who also has her own problems and the solution of a marriage of convenience.

I’m a sucker for the marriage of convenience troupe and I jump for the chance to read it especially in contemporary romances and rom coms where it’s not so common. And. A Groom of one’s own doesn’t disappoint.