Book Review with Featured Author: What Remains True by Nancy Naigle

What Remains True by Nancy Naigle

 

 

 

Publisher & Release: Waterbrook, May 3, 2022

Setting:  Small Town USA

Genre: Christian Fiction

Length: 332 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweetheart

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

An uplifting novel about three months that may change three lives—and lead to love—from USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle

Working at a little shop on Main Street in a small town is exactly the break that executive Merry Anna Foster needs following her divorce. She’s made a bet with her ex-husband that she can live on the amount of money she’s giving him in alimony. If she can do it, then Kevin will have to stop complaining and leave her alone. But after three months of this new life, will she even want to leave Antler Creek? 

Adam Locklear, bull rider and owner of the local feedstore, is having the best year of his rodeo career. He’s also a bit distracted by the pretty new neighbor living in his old bunkhouse. But Adam has no time for matters of the heart. He’s got his future all mapped out, and that future doesn’t involve a woman just yet. It doesn’t involve parenting a little girl either. However, Carly Fowler still suddenly leaves five-year-old Zan—the daughter Adam didn’t know he had—in his care. 

Is it possible that the future holds a life even better than what Merry Anna and Adam had each dreamed of? One that includes both tenderness and even love—not just for each other but for Zan too.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/What-Remains-True-Nancy-Naigle-ebook/dp/B09BTVQP6N

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-remains-true-nancy-naigle/1139966213

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/what-remains-true

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Nancy_Naigle_What_Remains_True?id=nJo7EAAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/What-Remains-True-Audiobook/B09FFQVRTS?qid=1651275129&sr=1-2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=VH94M5V3YTPWQHWB96H7

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58735014-what-remains-true?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=RiQpTOf9So&rank=2

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/what-remains-true-by-nancy-naigle

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of What Remains True by Nancy Naigle. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

What Remains True is another well written novel with complex characters and a heartfelt plot. The pacing pulled me into the story right away and kept my interest until the end. The writing gives just enough description to allow my imagination the wander.

 

Merry Anna Foster is the heroine, and she has a bit of baggage from her past marriage. Her ex-husband expects her to continue to support him so he can skate by without working. This makes her distrustful of men and determined to remain heart whole.

 

Adam Locklear is a yummy hero, a cowboy who is determined to carry away the title as the best bull rider of the year. When life throws him a curveball, he must re-evaluate his goals. He accepts the arrival of Zan who he finds out is his daughter fairly well. I liked his willingness to accept the child and care for her when her mother has a mental breakdown.

 

The romance between Adam and Merry Anna is sweet as it usually is in Ms. Naigle’s romances. The couple are drawn to each other, even though each are fighting it all the way. I enjoyed their romance and wanted them to find their happy ending.

 

If you enjoy sweet, contemporary romance with engaging characters and a faith-based plot, then you will love What Remains True as much as I did. I always enjoy Ms. Naigle’s novels, and this is one of her best. Happy reading!

  

 

Author Bio:

 

USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle whips up small-town love stories with a dash of suspense and a whole lot of heart. She began her contemporary romance series, Adams Grove, while juggling a successful career as an SVP for Bank of America and life on a seventy-six-acre goat farm. 

 

Now enjoying an early retirement from the financial industry, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, cooking, trail riding on her Palomino, and the occasional spa day with friends. A native of Virginia Beach, she now calls North Carolina home. 

 

Best known for her small-town stories set in Adams Grove, Sweet Tea and Secrets leads off this small town series. Stay tuned for news about the release of Porch Swings and Promises.

 

Nancy writes romance and women's fiction for Montlake Romance and St. Martin's Press and enjoys the diversity of adding mysteries to her list of accomplishments through Crossroads Publishing House. She's also working on several projects with Hallmark. Watch for Nancy's novels, Christmas Joy, Christmas in Evergreen and Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa on Hallmark Channel, and Hope at Christmas, on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. New in 2020, The Secret Ingredient made its Hallmark Channel debut, and stay tuned for news about the movie based on Sand Dollar Cove.

​

Sign up for Nancy's newsletter at the bottom of this page to be the first to hear about the new movie.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://www.nancynaigle.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NancyNaigle

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

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nancy-naigle

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4575284.Nancy_Naigle

 

 

Book review with Featured Author: Earning Her Trust by Brenda Minton

Earning Her Trust by Brenda Minton

 

 

Publisher & Release: Love Inspired, April 26, 2022

Setting:  Small Town USA

Genre: Christian Romance

Length: 237 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweetheart

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

With a little help, she can face any challenge…

How can she move on

when the past is knocking?

Just when Emery Guthrie thinks she’s put her childhood trauma behind her with the help of her beloved service dog, Beau Wilde returns to town. She can’t believe her high school bully now has guardianship of two orphaned children. But Beau has changed. And with her help, he’s determined to prove he can be a father…but can he convince Emery to become part of their family?

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Earning-Her-Trust-Inspirational-Companions-ebook/dp/B09KPX6VSY

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/earning-her-trust-brenda-minton/1140468353

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/earning-her-trust-1

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Brenda_Minton_Earning_Her_Trust?id=vnJLEAAAQBAJ

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59485025-earning-her-trust

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/earning-her-trust-by-brenda-minton

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Earning her Trust by Brenda Minton. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this heartfelt novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

Earning her Trust is a well written Christian fiction romance with delightful characters and a well thought out plot. The pacing pulled me into the story right away and kept me enmeshed until the end. The descriptive writing gives this tale and clear picture of the setting, and the appearance of the characters.

 

Emery Guthrie is the heroine, and her character has good depth. I understood her motivations and goals. Her conflict over her feeling for the hero is clear, and I felt her pain and fear. Her kind heart toward the two young girls in story, moved me.

 

Beau Wilde is the hero, and he has a past with Emery, which certainly added to her hesitance about developing affections for him. Ms. Minton does an excellent job redeeming him from the callow youth in high school. Beau is a determined man and does all he can to prove to Emery he’s a changed man.

 

The romance between Emery and Beau is hesitant, yet lovely. While it takes some time for Emery to let go of her fears, Beau is patient and kind. Since this is a clean romance, there’s no flare of passion between them. However, there is plenty of emotions going on, and I wanted them to find their happy ending.

 

If you enjoy clean romances with endearing characters with an absorbing plot, then you will love Earning her Trust as much as I did. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Minton, but I will be looking for her other books. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 

Brenda Minton lives in the Ozarks with her husband, three children and a few too many pets. She's a pastor's wife as well as children's ministry worker. 

Her hobbies include sitting on the porch drinking coffee and going out to eat with friends. 

If you enjoy her Love Inspired Cooper Creek series, you can find Brenda most days drinking coffee and hanging out on facebook.

 

Social Media:

Website: http://www.brendaminton.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brenda.minton

Twitter: https://twitter.com/brendaminton

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brenda-minton

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1144373.Brenda_Minton

 

Book Review with Featured Author: One Night in Beniton Hall by Iris Lim

One Night in Beniton Hall by Iris Lim

 

 

Publisher & Release: Independently published, April 5, 2022

Setting:  Regency England

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 162 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweetheart

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

When an arranged compromise goes awry, whom can Heather count upon to come to her rescue?

Heather Nottingham, the eldest of four daughters, has everything and nothing when it comes to making a match. When London is packed to the brim with heiresses and beauties, most gentlemen don’t bat an eye for a lady who is adequate and average in almost every single way, even if she is a viscount’s daughter.

As her second Season plods on with nary a suitor in sight, Heather’s anxious mother and overbearing aunt persuade her to set her cap for the wealthy, if untitled, young Mr. Avington. But is the flirtatious heir to the Avington fortune even ready to settle down? And what is Heather supposed to do about the quiet, searing stares of Mr. Avington’s younger brother, a man she has actually come to admire?

Iris Lim’s first formal foray into original fiction explores the fates and loves of the Nottingham sisters and the people they hold dear. Book 1 in the Avington-Nottingham Series.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/One-Night-Beniton-Hall-Avington-Nottingham-ebook/dp/B09H4D1HD8

Available for FREE in Kindle Unlimited

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60603474-one-night-in-beniton-hall?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_25

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/one-night-in-beniton-hall-by-iris-lim

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

One Night in Beniton Hall is a lovely Regency romance with endearing characters and a delightful plot. The pacing pulled into the story and kept my attention until the end. There is a lovely Regency feel to the narrative and the dialog. 

 

The heroine of this tale is Heather Nottingham, and she has many of the characteristics I look for in a Regency female protagonist. She’s a loyal daughter and sister, and her gentle manner is perfect for this genre.

 

Edgar Avington is the hero and is very much the Regency gentleman I love. He’s exemplary in every way. His tender care of Heather warmed my heart and had me in his court from the start. While Heather didn’t see his affections for her, I certainly did.

 

The romance between Heather and Edgar follows along the path of a traditional Regency, reminding of a Georgette Heyer novel, and I was a huge fan of her books many years ago and still am today. I wanted them to find their happy ending.

 

If you enjoy sweet Regency romances with characters that will pull on your heartstrings, then you will love One Night in Beniton Hall as much as I did. While recently, I’m reading historical fiction set during WWII, I’m glad I took a short break and returned to Regency England, an era I’ve loved forever. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Iris grew up reading and rereading every novel in her small family library in Southeast Asia. Her favorite authors have always included Jane Austen, C. S. Lewis, and Agatha Christie. Now, thanks to modern technology, she gets to breathe life into her own re-imaginations and forever-love for all things romance.

When she’s not writing or reading, Iris is probably wrangling her adorable twins, chilling with her husband, or burning her latest meal. She dreams every day to save up for a trip to England and to write all she can about that. She has a love-hate relationship with plot bunnies, who are alternately her greatest enemies and most beloved friends, depending on the day of the week.

Sign up for her newsletter to stay updated: http://eepurl.com/dGtZ6T

 

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006700334657

Twitter: https://twitter.com/purpleproselady

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CcYGgBWJa3y/?igshid=YTgzYjQ4ZTY=

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/iris-lim

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17452483.Iris_Lim

 

Book Review with Featured Author: Summer Nights with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews

Summer Nights with a Cowboy 

by Catlin Crews

 

 

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Publishing, March 29, 2022

Setting: Texas 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 317 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating:  Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

USA Today bestselling author Caitlin Crews returns with Summer Nights with a Cowboy, another emotional romance in her stunning cowboy series Kittredge Ranch….

He doesn’t believe in love…

Traveling nurse Janie Atwood has come to Cold River to uncover old family secrets and maybe, if she’s lucky, find a new home. That the gorgeous, glowering sheriff next door thinks her caring for his elderly neighbor is a nefarious scheme is a bonus. Having never been anything but a good girl, Janie finds Zack Kittredge’s simmering suspicion an excellent reason to try being a little dangerous instead…

She doesn’t believe in squandering it…

Sheriff Zack Kittredge is okay with being… intense. He takes his loner status as seriously as he takes his responsibilities to protect Cold River. And he thinks cheerful Janie might be a threat to the town. But the more he gets to know her, the more he faces the truth—she’s brighter than sunshine and he’s like a moth to her flame. When Janie suggests he could use a few charm school lessons, he surprises them both by accepting. He doesn’t need help. But it’s clear he might need her…

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Nights-Cowboy-Kittredge-Ranch-ebook/dp/B09FHHBJBQ

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/summer-nights-with-a-cowboy-caitlin-crews/1139656998

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/summer-nights-with-a-cowboy

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Caitlin_Crews_Summer_Nights_with_a_Cowboy?id=6itBEAAAQBAJ

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59964651-summer-nights-with-a-cowboy

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/summer-nights-with-a-cowboy-by-caitlin-crews

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Summer Nights with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Summer Nights with s Cowboy is another great addition to the Kittredge Ranch series. The pacing pulled me in from the start and kept me entertained until the end. There are several wonderful secondary characters that added to my enjoyment.

 

Janie Atwood is the heroine, and I found much to admire about her. She’s in Cold River to solve a mystery involving her family, and I loved her determination to not give up. Her care of Damaris touched my heart. 

 

Zack Kittredge is the hero and he’s the last single Kittredge in the family. His relationship with his family is fraught with tension. It’s made him rigid when dealing with others as he does his job as sheriff of Cold River. I enjoyed his character a great deal and could feel his pain when he’s with his parents, especially his father.

 

The romance between Zack and Janie is sweet and grows from mutual respect they have in each other. This is a couple that are meant to be with each other, but their path is not easy. I was so pleased they managed to find their way to one another.

 

Ig you enjoy cowboy romances with a great cast of characters beyond the hero and heroine, then you will love Summer Nights with a Cowboy as much as I did. Out of the three books in this series, this is my favorite. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

USA Today-bestselling, RITA-nominated, and critically-acclaimed author Caitlin Crews has written more than 100 books, including Frenemies, Princess from the Past, A Royal Without Rules, and Undone by the Sultan's Touch. She's won fans with romances, Harlequin Presents, women's fiction, chick lit, and work-for-hire young adult novels, many of which she writes as Megan Crane (including the dystopian Viking romance Edge series). These days her focus is on contemporary romance in all its forms, from small town heat to international glamour, cowboys to bikers to military men and beyond. She's taught creative writing classes in places like UCLA Extension's prestigious Writers' Program, gives assorted workshops on occasion, and attempts to make use of the MA and PhD in English Literature she received from the University of York in York, England. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with a husband who draws comics and animation storyboards, and their menagerie of ridiculous animals.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://megancrane.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/megancrane

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

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/caitlin-crews

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3013309.Caitlin_Crews

 

 

Book Review with Featured Author: Home for a Cowboy Christmas by Donna Grant

Home for a Cowboy Christmas 

by Donna Grant

 

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Press, October 26, 2021

Setting:  Montana

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 319 Pages

Heat Level: 2 Flames

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

The most wonderful time of the year has arrived for this cowboy in New York Times bestseller Donna Grant's next novel, Home for a Cowboy Christmas.

Tis the season—for everyone except Emmy Garrett. She’s on the run after witnessing a crime. But when it becomes clear that trouble will continue following her, the US Marshal in charge takes her somewhere no one will think to look–Montana. Not only is Emmy in a new place for her protection, but now, she’s stuck with a handsome cowboy as her bodyguard…and she wants to do more than kiss him under the mistletoe. 

Dwight Reynolds left behind his old career, but it’s still in his blood. When an old friend calls in a favor, Dwight opens his home to a woman on the run. He tries to keep his distance, but there’s something about Emmy he can’t resist. She stokes his passion and turns his cold nights into warm ones. When danger shows up looking for Emmy, Dwight risks everything to keep her safe.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Cowboy-Christmas-Donna-Grant-ebook/dp/B08R2L9QN5

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-for-a-cowboy-christmas-donna-grant/1138664954

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/home-for-a-cowboy-christmas

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Donna_Grant_Home_For_a_Cowboy_Christmas?id=kScQEAAAQBAJ

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56421330-home-for-a-cowboy-christmas

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/home-for-a-cowboy-christmas-by-donna-grant

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Home for a Cowboy Christmas by Donna Grant. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Home for a Cowboy Christmas is another emotionally charged romance with compelling characters and an intriguing plot. There’s even a nice amount of suspense. The pacing pulled me in from the start to the finish.

 

Emmy Garrett is our heroine, and she’s gone through a terrible ordeal. She’s running for her life, and when the US Marshall takes her to the hero for protection; she’s grateful for his succor. Her fear practically jumps off the page. 

 

Dwight Reynolds is the hero, and he has many of the characteristics I most admire in a male protagonist. He doesn’t hesitate to take Emmy in, although it could likely put him in jeopardy, along with his employees, if the villain finds her. 

 

The romance develops fast but, when a male and female spend every waking moment together and the attraction between them crackles with plenty of fire, it’s not surprising. I could easily see them falling in love and having it last.

 

If you enjoy romantic suspense with engaging characters and a plot that pulls you in, then you will love Home for a Cowboy Christmas as much as I did. I always know I’m in for a sensual journey and plenty of high emotion. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her "totally addictive" and "unique and sensual" stories. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children and an assortment of animals in Texas. 

 

Social Media:

Website: https://donnagrant.com/

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

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/donnagrant1/_created/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-grant

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1141209.Donna_Grant

 

Book Review with Featured Author: The Desert Flowers - Lily by Judith Keim

The Desert Flowers-Lily by Judith Keim

 

 

 

Publisher & Release: Wild Quail Publishing, October 14, 2021

Setting:  California

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Length: 291 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Three talented women are brought together by a man they all love, becoming his Desert Flowers, who work together to save his hotel from being ruined by the company buying it…

When Lily Weaver is asked to help Alec Thurston, the one man she’s ever truly loved, and to come to Palm Desert, California, she doesn’t hesitate. He’s dying of cancer and needs her help in overseeing the sale of his hotel, The Desert Sage Inn, to another hotel group. For five wonderful years, she was his assistant at the hotel until he kindly told her their relationship was getting too serious, and he helped her find other work. With her organizational skills and attention to detail, she’s his perfect choice to oversee the details of the sale to help make a smooth transition while maintaining the reputation of the upscale property. Unappreciated in her job with a law firm in New York State, she’s eager to leave it and the cold weather to head for the desert. Her only regret is leaving her sister and three-year-old niece behind. Lily arrives at Alec’s house to find two other women summoned to help him. Rose Macklin was once the social director at Alec’s hotel, and Willow Sanchez is like a daughter to him. They join forces to help him, lovingly accepting his nickname for them—the Desert Flowers, similar to the well-known Charlie’s Angels. As Lily forms her friendship with the other women, she becomes intrigued with the man the hotel company has put in control of the transition. Brian Walden is a war veteran who has never married and is someone who Lily finds, to her delight, she can talk to about most anything when they meet up for early morning walks. Disaster strikes them both as they’re falling in love. Lily ends up having to raise her niece, and Brian is left with a son he never knew he had. It seems only natural that they turn to one another for help, and Lily wonders if this is as Alec might have planned all along. A series for those who love stories about strong women facing challenges and finding love and happiness along the way. Be sure to read the other upcoming books in the series: Lily, Willow, and Mistletoe and Holly Other series written by Judith Keim are receiving a lot of love: The Hartwell Women Series, The Beach House Hotel Series, The Fat Fridays series, the Salty Key Inn Series, the Chandler Hill Inn series, and the books in the Seashell Cottage Collection.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Desert-Flowers-Lily-Sage-Book-ebook/dp/B08YB884SD

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-desert-flowers-lily-judith-keim/1138982456

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-desert-flowers-lily

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Judith_Keim_The_Desert_Flowers_Lily?id=BAEiEAAAQBAJ

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57377659-the-desert-flowers---lily

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-desert-flowers-lily-the-desert-sage-inn-series-book-2-by-judith-keim

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Desert Flowers – Lily by Judith Keim. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Desert Flowers – Lily is another well written women’s fiction book by Ms. Keim. The pacing pulled me in from the first page to the last. The author’s descriptions of the setting also helped to keep me engaged.

 

Lily Weaver is the female protagonist, and she is a strong character, which she shows throughout the story. Her love for her misguided sister is unconditional, and her protectiveness for her adorable niece is touching. When she meets the hero, I enjoyed her willingness to let it play out.

 

Brian Walton is the hero, and he has many of the qualities I want in a male lead. When he learns he has a son, he accepts the responsibility, although he’d never wanted to become a father. He’s a man I could admire.

 

The romance between Lily and Brian goes smoothly, both accept the other as they are, not trying to change them. While there are very few conflicts for them to overcome, I enjoyed their love story.

 

The central theme of this novel is the strong bound between Lily and her sister. No matter that her sister keeps making bad decisions, she never truly deserts her, even though she does attempt to use tough love. I could feel her heartbreak when Monica makes the final decision to meet her abusive ex which ultimately leaves her three-year-old motherless. Lily shows her strength when she readily accepts custody for her niece.

 

The willingness of Lily and Brian to work together as a team as they form a family for his son and her niece is heartwarming. Other readers may find the lack of true conflict less than what they enjoy, I liked the low angst between them and felt it showed the chance of an abiding love that would stand the test of time no matter what fate or life had for them.

 

If you enjoy women’s fiction with a strong romantic element with engaging characters, then you will love Desert Flowers – Lily as much as I did. Ms. Keim always delivers a novel that is sure to grab me from the start. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

I’ve loved stories and reading from the time I played “Librarian” with my sister as a young girl. Living in a relatively small town in upstate New York, reading became a way to experience the world in a way I couldn’t otherwise do.

Many a hot, summer afternoon was spent reading, sprawled on the front-porch “glider”, escaping to a time and place far from there. My mother was an avid reader, some might suspect to keep her sanity while raising three active children – especially when my brother was doing experiments with his chemistry set! 

Books were always present – being read, ready to go back to the library or about to be discovered. Information from the books was shared in general conversation, giving all of us a wealth of knowledge. Perhaps that is why I was drawn to the idea of writing stories early on.

I particularly love and write novels about women who meet unexpected challenges with strength and find love along the way. A child or dog in the story is a plus. 

As J.S. Keim, I’ve written middle-grade fantasy stories for kids. I especially like to write about kids landing in unexpected places, meeting characters real and fantastic, and learning to see the world in a different way. 

A hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes, Ms. Keim writes heart-warming stories. Her books are based, in part, on many of the places she’s lived or visited and on the interesting people she’s met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many, loyal readers love. 

Presently, I lived in Boise, Idaho with my husband and our two dachshunds, Winston and Wally.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://judithkeim.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Judith-Keim-184013771644484/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/judithkeim

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judith-keim

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judykeim/