V. Joy Palmer: July 2023

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Review of Rocky Mountain Rendezvous by Misty M. Beller

About the Book ~

In 1837, Juniper Collins and her sisters are shocked by their father's deathbed request for them to return a special set of beads to a Piegan Blackfoot woman he credits with saving his life during his travels West. Together, the sisters set out for the trapper rendezvous to find the woman, but their mission turns more daunting when they come upon the mass of men and lodges spread out in the Green River Valley.

Riley Turner came West to find peace and quiet and live off the land, but when four unprotected women arrive at the rendezvous, he feels compelled to help them and is more fascinated by Juniper than any other woman he's known.

As their search brings only empty leads and dead ends, the sisters must decide whether to return East or stay in the mountains to continue looking--and that's if the mystery woman is even still alive. Is the risk to honor their father's last request worth the danger they find at every turn?

For more information about Misty M. Beller and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Looking to rendezvous with a historical romance that touches on obscure history? Then check out Rocky Mountain Rendezvous by Misty M. Beller!

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous whisked me to an unfamiliar part of history! I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the life of a trapper in 1837 as well as the culture of the Piegan Blackfoot tribe. While I didn't fall in love with the characters and the gendered subtext dampened my overall enjoyment, I did find myself curious to know what would and will continue to happen next in the quest to find Steps Right. Ultimately, I wasn't surprised by the plot twists, but I did find the ending twists quite satisfying.

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous' spiritual journey, though not as physically arduous, certainly had its own rocky moments that the characters needed to navigate! Family honor played a huge part in shaping the characters -- for their good and even their detriment. It was endearing to watch the different ways steadfast love broke down the lies and healed deep wounds, a lovely reflection of God's love!

Three Stars ~ Rocky Mountain Rendezvous by Misty M. Beller is a sweet story! Rocky Mountain Rendezvous is the first book in the author's new series, Sisters of the Rockies. The author also has other books in her backlist for readers to enjoy.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girls. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

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Friday, July 7, 2023

Review of With Every Memory by Janine Rosche

About the Book ~

Is the life she can't remember one she'd rather forget?

One year after her family was in a tragic car accident that killed her teenage son, Lori Mendenhall returns home with a traumatic brain injury that has stolen the last eight years of memories from her, leaving the life she has returned to unrecognizable. Her once-loving husband, Michael, is a distant workaholic she isn't sure she can trust, and her once-bubbly daughter, Avery, has spent the last year hidden away in her room.

If Lori wants to reconnect with her family, she'll have to uncover the information her brain is trying to keep secret. As her memories return and past secrets resurface, it will take the whole family to repair what's been broken and find a new future together.

For more information about Janine Rosche and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

If you're looking for an engaging, deep, heartfelt, and surprisingly funny story, then I highly recommend With Every Memory by Janine Rosche!

First things first, With Every Memory starts with a trigger warning -- and rightly so! As someone who has personally experienced some of the traumatic themes explored in this novel, I was very hesitant about what I'd encounter. However, I greatly appreciated how the author handled the trigger warning as well as including a list of resources for readers. This approach allowed me as the reader to decide if I was in a safe mental place for a story like this instead of being blindsided by the content. The care and empathy the author displayed in the trigger warning was thoughtfully layered into each and every page! Furthermore, the first person POV (my bread and butter!) pulled me into Lori and Avery's heads and kept me engaged with their stories. And for a story that dealt with such heavy themes, I didn't expect it to feel so light and... funny! I even laughed out loud while reading!

The spiritual journey in With Every Memory was akin to a wildflower growing in the charred remains of a forest fire. The messages are subtle...yet impactful! Questions that we can't help but ask after tragedy and heartbreak are explored through Lori and Avery. In that exploration, there is hope found between these pages.

Four Stars ~ With Every Memory by Janine Rosche was truly an engrossing and surprising read! With Every Memory is a standalone, but the author has other books in her backlist for readers to enjoy.