Book & Audio Review: The Runaway Pastor's Wife by Diane Moody

The Runaway Pastor’s Wife by Diane Moody

Publisher & Release: OBT Bookz, February 9, 2011

Time and setting: Present Day, Florida & Colorado

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Length:  436 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

What could possibly drive a pastor's wife to run away from home?

After years of frustration from life in a church fishbowl, Annie McGregor walks away from it all and boards a plane for Colorado. She has no way of knowing her college sweetheart is headed to the same cabin in the Rockies, terrified and gravely wounded. Their unexpected reunion couldn't have come at a worse time. Or could it? Bewildered that God would allow Michael Dean to walk back into her life, Annie pleads with Him to keep her heart true to her husband and her family. God answers her prayer, but in a way she would never expect.

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/Runaway-Pastors-Wife-Diane-Moody-ebook/dp/B004N6379S

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10550151-the-runaway-pastor-s-wife

Vikki’s Musings

I really did not know what to expect with this book. I do enjoy Christian literature, but I tend to go with inspirational romances. This is not a romance although it does have strong romantic elements and a beautiful and incredibly strong love between Annie and David.

While Annie is deeply in love with her husband David, she is worn down by the hypocrisy of his parishioners. They ridicule her husband's decisions, they give her children a hard time and demand all of his time. She just has to get away to think.

She leaves without telling her family and flies to Colorado to stay at her college friend's cabin in the woods. There she tries to get in touch with her feelings. She finds she is actually angry at God for allowing the problems in her life to happen.

Snowed in with a badly sprained ankle, she is surprised when an injured man shows up at her door. She's even more surprised when she discovers it's her college boyfriend, Michael Dean, a man who broke her heart.

What could God have planned for her? As she nurses Michael, she will she find the answers she is seeking and end up even more confused?

At first, I was not sure about this book. It seemed to jump around a bit, bringing in quite a few characters with many points of view, but I was intrigued and continued to read. As the story unfolds the many characters mesh together and the story pulled me further into the book.

Annie faces questions that I believe many Christians have asked. I know I have. I found her search for answers compelling. She only wants to find her closeness with God. A closeness she feels she has lost. I enjoyed her journey toward the truth. I wept a few tears along the way.

Michael is a very confused man and has allowed his life to go in a direction where he has been so driven to succeed, he has forgotten what is truly important in life. I enjoyed his realization that he had made a great many mistakes in his life and needs to change his ways.

David has allowed his church to so totally control him, he has neglected the very people he loves most. When Annie leaves it’s a huge wake-up call for him. He is determined to change his ways and prove he is the same man Annie fell in love with and the same husband and father. He goes to great lengths to prove this to her and his children.

I listened to the audio version narrated by Jennifer Hille. She gave a credible performance. Her reading is smooth and unintrusive. She reads with a good amount of emotion without becoming overly dramatic. I would definitely listen to other books performed by her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this spiritual journey for not only Annie, but David and Michael. If you like Christian-based fiction, then you will love this book. It touched my heart and enriched my faith as well. Ms. Moody is a gifted story teller and I will definitely look for other books by her. Happy reading!

This week is all about Susanne Matthews

All for Love by Susanne Matthews

Publisher & Release Date: Anaiah Press, May 26, 2015

Time and setting: Present Day, Vermont, USA  

Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Suspense

Length: 257 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

To overcome your fear, you must first face it. 

Someone is out to destroy Greg Simmons and everyone he has ever loved. After an accident leaves his teenage daughter depressed and distraught, Greg will do anything to make her happy again, including hiring a bodyguard to protect her. 

Olivia Marshall lost both her fiancé and her cousin in a deadly avalanche. She has vowed never to set foot on a ski hill again. But now, working as a bodyguard with Anderson Security, Olivia must face her greatest fears to save Greg and his daughter. 

Something about Olivia’s determination strikes a chord in Greg, but will she be the salvation he needs, or will he be her destruction? 

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/All-Love-Susanne-Matthews-ebook/dp/B00VP3TO94/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1435419745&sr=1-1&keywords=all+for+love+susanne+matthews

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24388222-all-for-love

Vikki’s Musings

I am a huge fan of Susanne Matthews. Once I read Echoes of the Past, I was hooked, and searched for her entire back list and read all of them. All For Love is a bit of a departure from her usual writing style. Normally she writes sensual romantic suspense. This book is still a romantic suspense, but it has overtones of an inspirational story. While this is not my favorite book of hers, I did enjoy it.

Andrew Gregory Robertson is an author of hugely successful spy thrillers. When his daughter is almost killed in a car explosion that does kill her mother, a movie star and his ex-girlfriend, he turns to his cousin to protect Sheena. When Olivia Cummings is assigned as his daughter’s bodyguard, because she was once an Olympian skier and his daughter wants to try out for the team, he is immediately attracted to her. He will not find it hard to become her husband in name only to provide cover for his daughter. His problem will be keeping it in name only.

Olivia hasn’t skied in five years, ever since the avalanche that claimed the life of her fiancée and cousin, leaving Olivia alive. Her guilt over not perishing with them is almost more than she can bear.

Will Olivia be able to maintain her distance from her new husband and protect her charge from the maniac who is determined to end her young life, or will she give into her feelings for the man she has fantasized over for years?

While the overtones of an inspirational are definitely in the book, it is not overdone at all. It is refreshing to read a romantic suspense that does not have a sexually driven romance. The romance between Greg and Olivia focuses on their growing love and plays done anything sexual, but the romance is very fulfilling, and I enjoyed it a great deal.

Olivia is a great character. She is fearless in her desire to protect Sheena. She has strong ties to her family and it’s obvious that her loved ones are central to her life. Although she never planned to sky again, to protect her charge, she faces her fear.

While Greg has never had a close relationship with his daughter, his love for her come through loud and clear. He will do whatever is needed to ensure Sheena’s safety, even if it means putting his own life in danger. It’s refreshing to have a male character in tune with his spirituality for a change, a man whose honor is part of his very being.

 I am glad I have the opportunity to read All for Love. If you enjoy a tale with a sweet romance and a touch of faith intermingled in, yet with plenty of action and suspense, then you will enjoy this great book. Happy reading!

Westward Winds by Linda Bridey

Publisher & Release: Beldene Publishing, June 24, 2014

Time and setting: 19^th century, Montana

Genre: Western Romance

Length:  166 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweetheart

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Bored socialite Tessa craves adventure, and finds it when she becomes a mail-order bride to Montana rancher and widowed father Dean Samuels. Can this pair — as different as night and day — find love?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Mail-Order-Bride-Westward-Historical-ebook/dp/B00LA2QDBM

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Mail-Order-Bride-Westward-Winds-

Audiobook/B01BX28M9Y

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25731097-westward-winds

Vikki’s Musings

While searching for offers where the book is FREE and the narration is $1.99, I came across Westward Winds. The premise sounded interesting so I thought I would give it a read. While there are many things I like about the story. I think it is not the best book to listen to. I think if I had read it, I would have enjoyed it a bit more.

The story is solid and has very likable characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the brothers, and the romance between Tessa and Dean is fulfilling. The pacing is excellent, making it a quick read.

Tessa is a fantastic heroine. The perfect mix of independence and femininity. For a woman of her times, she is quite forward-thinking, and I totally understood why she chose to become a mail order bride. While I also understand why she became so upset with Dean, I do think she is a bit hard on him. I know I’m being vague, but to go into detail would give away a plot point. You’ll need to read this story to decide if you agree or disagree with my opinion.

Dean is your typical clueless male hero. Since he married so young the first time, he does not have anything to compare to this woman except his late wife. He expects Tessa to react as she would have, but that does not happen because Tessa is a completely different type of woman. I thoroughly enjoyed his bewilderment as to why Tessa becomes so upset. I had a lot of sympathy for his character.

I listened to the narration by J. Scott Bennett and thoroughly enjoyed his narrative. He reads with an easy pace and articulates extremely well. He does an excellent job with the various character, especially the female ones, which is rare for a male narrator. I will definitely look for other books by Mr. Bennett. 

I mentioned above that I did not think this books worked well as an audiobook. The reason I feel this way is because Ms. Bridey used the dialogue tag, said, a great many times, well over five hundred. When I read, I can skip over that, but when I’m listening, it becomes annoying. That is in no way the narrator’s fault.

I truly liked this couple, and I’m glad I found this book. If you enjoy a great love story in an authentic historical setting, then you will love Westward Winds. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. Happy reading!

Book Review: Beauty and the Recluse by Ellie Gray

Beauty and the Recluse by Ellie Gray

Publisher & Release Date: Tirgearr Publishing, February 12, 2016

Time and setting: Present Day, York, England

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length:  152 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Following the recent death of her father, and in need of both a job and somewhere to live, Kiya takes a housekeeping job on the spur of the moment. She soon finds herself living in a beautiful but neglected mansion, working for a strange and reclusive man.

St. John is a man scarred by the past, both physically and emotionally, and is determined to live out his life alone. They are two very different people, drawn to each other almost against their will, but can Kiya convince St. John that he is not the monster he believes himself to be?

  

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B019IUUK4I

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28666927-beauty-and-the-recluse?ac=1&from_search=1&from_nav=true

Vikki’s Musings

This is the first book I have read by Ms. Gray. When I was offered a chance to read it in exchange for an honest review, the book description intrigued me and the tile was enticing, so I agree. I’m certainly glad I did. Beauty and the Recluse is a sweet romance, and even though it is contemporary, it has the feel of a time long gone.

Still dealing with the grief from losing her father, Kiya finds out she is faced with his debt, and not only needs a job but a home. When she sees an ad for a live-in housekeeper, it sounds like the perfect solution to her dilemma.

St. John O’Neill has closed himself off from the world. His house is devoid of mirrors and he lives in his study and his bedroom. His house is in disorder and needs attention. When a young woman contacts him about the position of housekeeper, he hires her without even meeting him.

When Kiya arrives at the O’Neill estate, she finds a note and a set of keys pinned to the door. She starts work and has yet to meet her new employer. When at last she meets this reclusive man, her heart is touched by the pain she sees in his eyes. Can she find a way to bring him into the light and teach him to trust again?

The romance develops slowly between Kiya and St. John. I always enjoy this type of story. So many times with contemporary romance, the couple meets and immediately fall in love. Kiya and St. John get to know each other over a matter of months. This made their love story much more realistic for me.

However, even though the romance develops slowly, the pacing is great. The story pulled me in from the first page and kept me engaged until the end. St. John’s friend is a very nice addition to the book. I truly liked this light-hearted character.

This is a sweet romance, so there is not very much sexual tension and only a couple of kisses between the hero and the heroine, but in no way takes away from the romance. Beauty and the Recluse is all about the emotions each character feels toward the other. For St. John, it’s about learning to overcome his disfigurement and trust another human being.

If you enjoy a moving romance with great characters, then you will enjoy this sweet, traditional romance as much as I did. It’s refreshing to read a book with such a delightfully lovely story. Happy reading!

Happy Release Day for B.L. Blair, the Holton Series

Romance

Date Published: 2/5/2016

The Holton Series consists of four sweet, simple, and relatively short romance novels.

Convince Me

Anna West just wants to start over in a new town far away from her past. The only child of a mixed race couple, Anna learned about the ugly side of human behavior at an early age. After watching her abusive father mistreat her mother, Anna knows that love is not for her.

Steven Carson has always known what he wanted, and from the moment he saw her, he wanted Anna. Steven is ready for love. He is ready to settle down, start a family, and he knows Anna is the one for him. Now all he has to do is convince her.

Notice Me

Andrew Moore has always thought of Victoria as family. She is his best friend’s little sister and his little sister’s best friend, but recently something has changed. Andrew is thinking about Victoria in a completely different way. She will never fit into his quiet, conservative world. They are too different to have a future together, but he cannot stop noticing her.

Victoria Carson has been in love with Andrew since her sixteenth birthday, but Andrew never noticed her as anything other than the girl next door. She fled from her hometown so that she wouldn’t have to watch Andrew build a life with someone else. But things have changed. Andrew is now a widower, and Victoria has returned home. It is time to make him notice her.

Trust Me

Rachel Lewis hides her looks behind dark framed glasses and drab clothes. As the head librarian in Holton, she is satisfied with her life and her appearance. Rachel isn't looking for love or a relationship, but Paul captivates her. He lives in a completely different world, but she wants him more than she has ever wanted any other man.

Paul Hart is handsome, rich, and successful. As the owner of a thriving business, he is happy with short-term relationships and jaded women. Paul has been betrayed too many times to trust a woman, but Rachel intrigues him. She isn't like any other woman he has ever known. Can he learn to trust her?

Forgive Me

Growing up, Mitch Carson had always dreamed of leaving Holton, Texas, traveling the world, and writing life altering stories. As an investigative journalist, he made those dreams come true, but he left behind the only woman he ever loved. That was his greatest mistake. Mitch has returned home to see if she can forgive him for leaving her when she needed him the most.

In high school, Emily Fairview had fallen deeply, madly, and completely in love with Mitch. The two of them planned a life together far away from Holton, but when Emily’s family needed her, she chose to stay. Mitch chose to leave. Fifteen years later Mitch is back and wants a second chance, but Emily doesn’t know if she can forgive him.

About the Author

B. L. Blair writes simple and sweet romance and mystery/romance stories. Like most authors, she has been writing most of her life and has dozens of books started. She just needs the time to finish them.

She is the author of the Holton Romance Series and the Leah Norwood Mysteries. She enjoys reading books, writing books, and traveling wherever and as often as time and money allows. She is currently working on her latest book set in Texas, where she lives with her family.

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Secrets and Lies by Susanne Matthews

Publisher & Release Date: Self-Published, November 16, 2015

Time and setting: Present Day, Braden, Iowa

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense

Length:  340 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

DEA agent, Emily Shepherd, is after the Chef, a crystal meth cook, who sets up labs for the Mexican cartel and walks away—the same man responsible for the deaths of her husband and unborn child. Her search leads her to Braden, Iowa, a small town just right for the Chef’s specialty. But identifying her quarry won’t be easy when she’s up against a woman who sees her as a threat, a male chauvinistic deputy sheriff, and an attractive school principal who might just be at the center of it all.

Jackson Harris has sworn off women. Life is satisfactory, if lonely until he meets a hazel-eyed damsel in distress who gets under his skin, and triggers that protective instinct of his. There's a killer in town, one who may or may not be a notorious drug lord. Finding him, and keeping his town, his students, and Emily safe may be harder than he thinks.

Love is breaking out in Braden, Iowa. Follow all the romance with this collection of stories. Secrets and Lies is part of the Hearts of Braden Series, a multi-author series Secrets and Lies stands alone for your reading enjoyment, but the story doesn't need to end there.

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/Secrets-Lies-Hearts-Braden-Book-ebook/dp/B0184FUC5U/

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27862859-secrets-and-lies

Vikki’s Musings

Once I read one of Susanne Matthews’ books, I was hooked. Her writing style flows beautifully across the page, her pacing is always superb. She pulls me into the story from the beginning and hold me enthralled until the last. When I received a request from the author to read Secrets and Lies in exchange for an honest review, I immediately accepted. As always, this book had me sitting on the edge of my seat at times and pulled at my heart strings.

DEA agent, Emily Jacobson Shepherd goes undercover to find the Meth cooker, known as the chef. It's reported that he is setting up operations in Braden, Iowa. Emily and the chef go way back. He was responsible for the death of her husband and her unborn child, along with coming close to taking her life as well, leaving her permanently disabled.

When Jackson Harris comes to the aid of a young woman, little does he know she’s the nutritionist sent to implement the Healthy Living Initiative for his school. The attraction is fierce between them, but when murders start happening, he wonders if he can protect the woman he is falling in love with, or will the chef get to her first?

 I really liked Emily’s character from the start. Her tragic backstory, which Ms. Matthews expertly weaves into Secrets and Lies, gains my empathy right away. She is a strong woman, determined to bring down the chef at all costs. She does not let the loss she suffered that left her crippled to keep her from accomplishing her goal. Ms. Matthews writing is so moving, it brought tears to my eyes when I learned what had happened to her and her family.

Jackson is a great hero. He’s strong, good looking, determined to protect his school and loyal to his friends. Even though Emily tries to keep him at arm’s length, he burrows his way under her defenses. Although he has good reason to be leery of secretive women, he looks below the surface to the loving and caring woman Emily is, and he is determined to earn her trust.

I truly loved Secret and Lies. The only thing I would have liked to have seen is a little stronger finish. While is does have a happy ending, it felt a bit rushed to me. However, the rest of the book is so strong, it deserves a great rating. If you enjoy stories with intrigue and suspense with a bit of a mystery, then you will love this book. Happy reading!

Thanks for stopping by today. Tanya is giving away 7 eBooks via Rafflecopter drawing during her tour. Don't forget to enter the drawing. The link is at the end of this post.

Granted Wishes by Tanya Vought

Publisher & Release Date: Booktrope, February 3, 2015

Time and setting: Present Day, Small town USA

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Paranormal

Length:  236 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Rating: 3 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A decision that will change her life forever.

After the loss of her husband, Gracelynn Calhoun has struggled with her life and career. Forced to take a four-week vacation or be fired from her job, she surprises everyone including herself and agrees to the vacation.

The owner of Antonetti Suites, Giovanni works hard and doesn’t have time for relationships or love. That is until he literally crashes into Gracelynn. She brings back all the feelings he thought he would never feel again.

With the odds stacked against them in every way possible, will they forge ahead together or will this be the end of the road for their newfound love? Will the whispers from above bring them together or will misunderstandings ruin what could be an amazing second chance at love?

Buy Links:

***FREE on kindle unlimited!!!***

AMAZON KINDLE US – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T5UEPYI 

AMAZON KINDLE CA – http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00T5UEPYI/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=13CER4PAWJH8HZXTY099&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2055621862&pf_rd_i=desktop

AMAZON KINDLE UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00T5UEPYI/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d7_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1GMSCV569STYFSZY9YDJ&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=577048787&pf_rd_i=desktop

AMAZON PAPERBACK – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1620157136?keywords=granted%20wishes&qid=1447439302&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23841112-granted-wishes?ac=1&from_search=1

Vikki’s Musings

I decided to give this a read this afternoon. It’s an easy and quick little romance. I liked both characters for the most part. I did struggle with the present tense in third person. Normally present tense works better with first person.

As I read along, I kept wondering about the age of the author. Ms. Vought uses quite a few outdated words, such as Giovanni calling Gracelynn doll along with a few other ones. Another problem for me was the amount of telling instead of showing. That kept me from truly getting into the story.

While this is a sweet love story with several engaging secondary characters, I like deeper emotion. Just because the characters cry doesn’t mean it’s an emotionally-charged read. I must also mention that Giovanni not only cries, he sobs like a baby on several occasions. While I don’t have a problem with men crying, when they do it every few pages, it becomes tedious, just as it would if it had been a female.

If you enjoy sweet romances with a strong paranormal element, then you may enjoy Granted Wishes. I did find myself laughing several times, so I was entertained and isn’t that why we read anyway? Happy reading!

Excerpt:

The dark, somber sky matches Gracelynn Calhoun’s disposition. Her heart beats rapidly in her chest as she grips the steering wheel of her Hyundai Accent. From her windshield, she notices the barren trees that once held her favorite fall foliage. Looking at them makes her feel just as empty as the trees in the Layton Hills Cemetery. She releases her right hand from the steering wheel, and clutches her angel necklace as tears pour down her cheeks. She closes her eyes, continuing to hold the necklace, remembering the day her beloved gave it to her. She lets go of her necklace, opens her green-grey eyes and wipes her cheeks.

                      

While walking to her beloved’s tomb, leaves crinkle under her favorite pair of black, high-heeled shoes. As she reaches the stone, tears trickle down her face and she drops to her knees. She immediately starts cleaning around his grave, removing all debris.

She stares at the gravestone, and drags her fingers over the intricately carved angel wings. She reads aloud, even though she doesn't need to. "Angelo Grant Calhoun. 11/28/1980 - 11/30/2012. "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine." More tears stream down her face.

She reaches up and touches the top of the stone, resting her hand in the middle of the stone, like she’d be touching Angelo's heart.  “I miss you so much, Angelo. How can I move on with my life…move on without you?” she cries to the gravestone. "I love you so much. I wore your favorite dress and shoes, hoping that you’d see me today. How crazy is that?" She laughs through tears, wipes her cheeks with her hand and grabs her necklace. “I still remember the day you gave me this,” she expresses to the gravestone. “How can I move on when you were my whole life?......”

Author Bio:

What started as a lifelong dream became a reality when Tanya Vought penned and released her debut romance novel, Granted Wishes. She is a hopeless romantic who loves reading, writing and singing. You may know her as blogger "Tanya - The Book Obsessed Momma", where she's been a loyal supporter of authors and an active participant in the book community for several years. You'll find that Tanya writes stories that are sweet, sassy and unique--like her. When she's not inspiring others with her kindness, she's spending time with her husband and two imaginative children. She believes whole-heartedly that anything is possible. If you can dream it, you can achieve it!

Social Media:

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WEBSITE / BLOG –  www.thebookobsessedmomma.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/TanyaTheBookObsessedMomma/

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