Book Review with featured author: A Highlander is Coming to Town by Laura Trentham

A Highlander is Coming to Town 

by Laura Trentham  

 

 

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Press, September 29, 2020

Time and setting:  Present Day, Georgia

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 290 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

The third book in the Highland, Georgia romantic comedy series from Laura Trentham, A Highlander is Coming to Town, full of love, laughs...and highlanders!

You better watch out. . .  

Holt Pierson is dreading Christmas. His parents absconded to Florida for the season and left him to handle the family farm which will be his one day—whether he wants it or not. Driven by duty, Holt has always followed the path expected of him. But lately, he’s been questioning what he wants and where he belongs. Will assuming the responsibility of the Pierson farm make him happy or is there something—or someone—else out in the wider world calling to him?

To Claire Smythe, the Scottish lead singer of a touring band, Highland, Georgia, is the perfect place to hide . . .until a very handsome and deeply curious Holt begins to ask all the questions Claire doesn’t want to answer. As Holt draws Claire out from under and into the fabric of small-town life, can Claire put the past behind her and embrace the unexpected gifts of the season—including the new and lasting love? 

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Highlander-Coming-Town-Highland-Georgia-ebook/dp/B084M1RSS6

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-highlander-is-coming-to-town-laura-trentham

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-highlander-is-coming-to-town

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51481480-a-highlander-is-coming-to-town

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-highlander-is-coming-to-town-by-laura-trentham

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of A Highlander is Coming to Townby Laura Trentham for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

 

A Highlander is Coming to Town is a well written contemporary romance with engaging characters and a heartwarming Christmas plot. The pacing pulled me in from the first page to the last. The writing flows well and gave me a strong sense of the small town, Highland, Georgia.

 

Claire Smythe’s character appealed to me from the beginning and only grew stronger as the story progresses. She is hiding in the small town of Highland, Georgia, avoiding her obligations to her family in Scotland. Her personal desires don’t match what her family expects of her. The relationship with the sweet elderly woman she is living with in the story is touching, and she’s a wonderful caregiver for the lonely woman. The attraction to hero sets the pace for this romantic tale. 

 

Holt Pierson is a yummy hero, and I could understand Claire’s attraction to him. It’s easy to see why he wants her and why she wants him. He’s a farmer and an easy-going guy who has plenty of friends since he’s such a likable person. I fell in love with him from the start!

 

The romance between Claire and Holt is combustible from their first meeting and only grows stronger as the story develops. They make a great couple, and I truly wanted them to figure out a way for them to have a life long relationship.

 

If you enjoy contemporary romances with a Christmas theme and endearing characters, then you will love A Highlander is Coming to Town as much as I did. This is the first novel I’ve read by Ms. Trentham, and this the third novel is part of her Highland, Georgia series, and I plan to read the other books. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

I was born and raised in a small town in Northwest Tennessee. Although, I loved English and reading in high school, I was convinced an English degree equated to starvation! So, I chose the next most logical major - Chemical Engineering- and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years. Now I live in South Carolina with my husband and two children. In between school and homework and soccer practices, I love to get lost in another world, whether it's Regency England or small town Alabama.

 

Social Media:

Website: http://www.lauratrentham.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraTrentham/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraTrentham

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauratrentham/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lauratrentham/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/laura-trentham

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9802779.Laura_Trentham

 

Book Review with featured author: An Amish Husband for Tillie by Amy Lillard

An Amish Husband for Tillie by Amy Lillard

 

 

Publisher & Release: Zebra, September 29, 2020

Time and setting: Present Day, Mississippi 

Genre: Christian Amish Fiction

Length: 268 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweetheart

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

For the Amish of Pontotoc, Mississippi, all roads lead to faith, family, and tradition, even when the path is unconventional—especially at Christmas . . .
 
Tillie Gingerich is so in love with Melvin Yoder that she agrees to leave her conservative Amish home to live with him in the English world. But when the struggle to make ends meet leads to conflict, and reveals troubling weaknesses in their relationship, Tillie returns to Pontotoc—pregnant and unmarried. Her loving family accepts her, but to convince the rest of the community, they must turn to the bishop. Distraught, Tillie runs away on Christmas Eve—only to get as far as an isolated house on the edge of town.
 
Levi Yoder, Melvin’s upright distant cousin, is grieving the loss of his wife and wants to be alone. He is hardly pleased to open his door and find a pregnant woman––a painful reminder of all he’s lost. But with an ice storm approaching, he can’t turn Tillie away. Yet as morning nears, the miracle of Christmas brings unexpected challenges, opportunities—and promises for 
the future . . .

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Amish-Husband-Tillie-Pontotoc-ebook/dp/B082WS34V2

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-amish-husband-for-tillie-amy-lillard

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/an-amish-husband-for-tillie

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50994101-an-amish-husband-for-tillie

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/an-amish-husband-for-tillie-amish-of-pontotoc-by-amy-lillard

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of An Amish Husband for Tillie by Amy Lillard for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own and no one has influenced them.

 

An Amish Husband for Tillie is a lovely Amish novel with engaging character and a fulfilling plot. The pacing kept me enmeshed in the story from the first page to the last. The setting is not common for Amish fictions since it’s set in  Pontotoc, Mississippi. While I question the harsh severity of the bishop’s attitude, I’m confident other Amish communities can have different ways to handle the heroine’s situation.

 

Tillie Gingerich’s character is deeply troubled and confused when she returns to her family after living in the Englisch world with her boyfriend. She wants her unborn baby to be raised Amish, and her boyfriend refuses to return to the small Amish community they are from, so she comes back on her own. I could feel her fear for her child and the rejection of the extremely strict bishop. Her bewilderment of what she must do. Her choice is leave on her own or return to her boyfriend which isn’t what she wants for her child.

 

Levi Yoder is the hero, and he lost his beloved wife and unborn child a few months before. He dreads the Christmas season because he and his late wife imagined her having their babe on the blessed day. Seeing Tillie just adds to his misery. He tries to avoid the town, his family, and the pregnant Tillie, but his sister is determined to pull him kicking and screaming to the celebrations. His depression and need to isolate is understandable after suffering such a devastating loss.

 

When the very pregnant Tillie ends up in Levi’s barn during a violent snowstorm, that when Tillie and Levi’s romance begins. It’s sweet and believable because of the situation the couple are in. I truly wanted them to find their happy ending.

 

If you enjoy Amish fiction with characters and a plot that will touch your heart, then you will love An Amish Husband for Tillie as much as I did. I have enjoyed this heartwarming series. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

I'm a wife, mother, and bona fide Southern belle. Published author, expert corn bread maker, and Squirrel Princess.

I live in Tulsa, though I was born in Mississippi. I moved to the Sooner State when I was seventeen and met my soul mate and best friend not long after. I've retained a little of my Mississippi accent though most people think I'm from Texas. (?) Rob and I have been married for over twenty years and have a son-a mom proclaimed prodigy, of course!

I love homemade tacos, nail polish, and romance novels-not necessarily in that order. I'm a big fan of country music, a staunch proponent of saving the Oxford comma, and I'm shamefully obsessed with all things Harry Potter.

I believe that God is love. I guess that's why I love to write inspirational romances. The two go hand-in-hand for me.

I have always been intrigued with the Amish culture, their gentle ways and slower-paced lifestyle. (And I love, love, love the fact that they stay married for their lifetime.) But until recently I never thought to blend this interest with my penchant for romance. Okay, okay, I'm a bit old-fashioned and even enjoy the gender roles that are present in this culture. I love to cook and take care of my family. Yes, that's me June Cleaver with a laptop.

I dislike people trying to convince me to read the Twlight series (I'll get to it or I won't, either way I'm good with it), gratuitous violence, and strawberry ice cream. (I know I'm alone on this last one, and again, I'm good with it.)

Favorite movies-(besides HP) French Kiss, Maid of Honor, A Lot Like Love, Just Married, and Sweet Home Alabama. Oh, and Miss Congeniality, Sabrina (both versions) and a 1940′s movie called Dear Ruth. If you haven't seen it, you should! A-dorable. Anything with Doris Day and most all of Marilyn's and Audrey's.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://amywritesromance.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyWritesRomance

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyLillard918

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amywritesromance/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AmyLillard918/_created/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-lillard

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5809947.Amy_Lillard

 

Book Review with featured author: The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer

The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow 

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Publisher & Release: Waterbrook, September 15, 2020

Time and setting:  The Great Depression, Kentucky

Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian Romance

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A traveling librarian ventures into the mining towns of Kentucky on horseback—and learns to trust the One who truly pens her story—in this powerful novel from the best-selling author of A Silken Thread.
 
During the Great Depression, city-dweller Addie Cowherd dreams of becoming a novelist and offering readers the escape that books had given her during her tragic childhood. When her father loses his job, she is forced to take the only employment she can find—delivering books on horseback to poor coal-mining families in the hills of Kentucky.
 
But turning a new page will be nearly impossible in Boone's Hollow, where residents are steeped in superstitions and deeply suspicious of outsiders. Even local Emmett Tharp feels the sting of rejection after returning to the tiny mountain hamlet as the first in his family to graduate college. And as the crippled economy leaves many men jobless, he fears his degree won’t be worth much in a place where most men either work the coal mine or run moonshine.
 
As Addie also struggles to find her place, she’ll unearth the truth about a decades-old rivalry. But when someone sets out to sabotage the town’s library program, will the culprit chase Addie away or straight into the arms of the only person who can help her put a broken community back together?

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Librarian-Boones-Hollow-Novel-ebook/dp/B082S1NPSM

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-librarian-of-boones-hollow-kim-vogel-sawyer

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-librarian-of-boone-s-hollow

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53830503-the-librarian-of-boone-s-hollow

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-librarian-of-boone-s-hollow-by-kim-vogel-sawyer

Vikki’s Musings

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow is an amazing Christian fiction novel with engaging characters and a heartfelt plot. The pacing pulled me into the story from the first page to the last page. The book gave me a true sense of the backcountry of Kentucky.

Addie Cowherd’s character desperately needs a job after she learns she can no longer stay in college and finds out her parents have lost their home when her father lost his position at the bank. I loved her indominable spirit, even when faced with a new community that practically shuns her because she lives with an elderly woman that the superstitious folks of Boone's Hollow believe is a witch. My hearts went out to her when she is unable to do her job because of the townsfolk's distrust.

Emmett Tharp has finished his business degree but cannot find employment in such a depressed economy, so he ends up in Boone’s Hollow faced with taking a job in the mines with his father, something he didn’t want to do. To his surprise, he discovers the young woman he’d met at his school prior to his graduation. I enjoyed his easy acceptance of his situation as he faces what had to be a blow to his pride and ego. Then his hesitation when he at last obtains a position and the head librarian.

As with most clean and wholesome romances, the love story blossoms from the friendship that grows between Addie and Emmett as they end up working together at the library. Their affection is sweet and lovely, and I truly wanted them to find their way to each other.

If you enjoy sweet and tender romances with endearing characters and a fulfilling plot, then you will love The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow as much as I did. While this is not the first book I’ve read by Ms. Sawyer, it is one that touched me. Happy reading!

Author Bio:

In 1966, Kim Vogel Sawyer told her kindergarten teacher that someday people would check out her book in libraries. That little-girl dream came true in 2006 with the release of Waiting for Summer's Return. Since then, Kim has watched God expand her dream beyond her childhood imaginings. With more than 50 titles on library shelves and more than 1.5 million copies of her books in print worldwide in seven different languages, she enjoys a full-time writing and speaking ministry. Empty-nesters, Kim and her retired military husband, Don, live in small-town Kansas, the setting for many of Kim’s novels. When she isn't writing, Kim stays active serving in her church's women's and music ministries, traveling with "The Hubs," and spoiling her quiver full of grand-darlings.

Social Media:

Website: https://kimvogelsawyer.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimVogelSawyer.Author.Speaker/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimvogelsawyer?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kim_vogel_sawyer/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kimvogelsawyer/boards/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kim-vogel-sawyer

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/236089.Kim_Vogel_Sawyer

Book Review with Featured Author: Pinnacle by Eliza Lloyd

Pinnacle by Eliza Lloyd Book 2 of The Charbonneau Twins

Publisher & Release: Self-published, September 15, 2020

Time and setting:  Present Day London

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 230 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Meet the CHARBONNEAU TWINS! Pre-order now for the special discounted price of $.99 cents, until release day on September 15th.

Financier David Charbonneau is at the crossroads of life. His ex has just dropped off his twin daughters, he's just lost millions for his firm and has started a new job that has turned into an albatross. And worse, he's lost his closest friend, his administrative assistance and financial whiz who was more than just a Girl Friday. Too late, he realizes she was a complement to him, but Veronica has her own ambitions and it isn't to work forever in the staid world of finance.

Veronica has loved David for a very long time but with her own success in reach and at the cusp of realizing her dream, she must steel herself against David's charms pulling her back into his world.

He has come to the painful realization that Veronica has been more than a friend all along. But now, for the first time in his charmed life, he can't interfere. He can't tell her that he loves her for fear he'd be the person to get in her way. And he can never do that to Veronica, not when she's about to reach her pinnacle.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B5LRQD3

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pinnacle-eliza-lloyd

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pinnacle-3

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/pinnacle/id1527811172

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54030939-pinnacle

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/pinnacle-the-charbonneau-twins-1-by-eliza-lloyd

Vikki’s Musings

Thanks go to the author and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of Pinnacle by Eliza Lloyd for the purpose of reading and reviewing. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

Pinnacle is a well-written contemporary romance novel with complex characters and a unique plot. The pacing pulled me in from the first page and kept in its thrall until the last. While I’ve read several of her historical romances, this is a contemporary novel, and Ms. Lloyd easily makes the transition from one sub-genre to the other.

Veronica’s character appealed to me in a big way. She’s a singer and determined to break into the industry. I identified with that desire because I too am a singer. She’s wicked smart as well and has a keen sense for attention to detail, which I also have. Her unrequited love for David (or so she believes) comes through strongly, and she’s willing to enter into a physical relationship with him.

David Charbonneau is a yummy hero with a soft side that comes out in his easy acceptance of his adorable twin daughters when they literally show up on his doorstep, and his selfless desire to not keep Veronica from reaching for her goals as a performer. He realizes early on in their relationship that what he feels goes far beyond the physical. 

The romance between Veronica and David is combustible and threatens to set the pages on fire. Ms. Lloyd’s love scenes are erotic and visceral, yet still have plenty of emotion, so I enjoyed them although they are a bit more graphic than what I normally like but were in no way offensive. I truly wanted both of them to achieve their heart’s desire.

If you enjoy contemporary romance with great sensuality and characters that will intrigue, along with an unusual plot, then you will love Pinnacle as much as I did. I’m so glad Ms. Lloyd reached out to me and asked me to read the first book, and this second one is just as enjoyable as Peak was. Happy reading!

Author Bio:

Getting stranded on a desert island with every historical romance novel ever written is my dream retirement. David Gandy and Henry Cavill can come along.

In the meantime, I'll happily write about the 19th century with novels featuring ridiculously handsome heroes. Oh, and there is always a heroine who is a little ahead of her time and not so sure she wants to put up with the antics of any man unless said man is madly in love with her.

The stories dancing around in my head aren't limited to the 19th Century. I also write romantic suspense espionage capers ala Robert Ludlum (except my Jason Bourne is having a whole lot of sex with the suspected bad girl,) and contemporary romance ala Susan Wiggs (with sex instead of recipes.)

Social Media:

Website: http://elizalloyd.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizalloyd.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/elloydwriting?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lloyd.eliza/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/elizalloyd/boards/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-lloyd

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4486707.Eliza_Lloyd