Showing posts with label clean romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clean romance. Show all posts

Friday, December 15, 2023

Review of Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet


About the Book ~

Samuel was back. It seemed unfair to be blindsided. And in church no less. Shouldn't there be a commandment about that? Thou shalt not step foot inside thy ex's place of worship.

Julia Monroe has just turned forty and has high hopes for a fresh start after the last decade of her life abruptly left her a young widow and a single mom. With both her boys off to college, she can finally focus on expanding her New Orleans-based cleaning business. Julia is ready for new beginnings--but God has other plans. Samuel Reed, the ruggedly handsome Green Beret who shattered her heart over twenty years ago, has returned to town and is the kind of distraction she never saw coming.

After their first interaction in years leaves her mind spinning and her emotions out of control, Julia knows she needs to avoid him if she wants any chance of preventing history from repeating itself, but her meddling best friend keeps throwing them together. And now it seems inevitable that the man who was hard to forget might just be 
impossible to resist.

For more information about Rebekah Millet and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

I love me some romcoms with fun twists, and Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet did not disappoint in the delivery of this!

Julia Monroe Begins Again was such a fun, unique story! I loved that the author wrote to a need in Christian fiction, specifically older heroes and heroines! I loved Julia's relatability from the snarky internal monologue to the stretch marks -- I'm looking at you, my dear children. I also really enjoyed the New Orleans setting. The author's familiarity with New Orleans danced across the page, never once hinting at info dumping or superiority. As a result, the author's love for the area made me feel at home in this little corner of the world.

Most of all, I loved that the author separated out Julia's forgiveness from whether or not Julia could trust Samuel again. I find that these are often conflated as the same thing, so it was refreshing to see these topics actually handled as the separate entities that they are and were. Truthfully, this approach made Julia's conclusion not to make decisions from a place of fear all the more organic and resonating!

Five Stars ~ Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet is a fun and fresh debut! It's the first book in the author's series, Beignets for Two. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book!

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!

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Review of Never Let Go by Elizabeth Goddard


About the Book ~

The case may be cold, but things are about to heat up.

Forensic genealogist Willow Anderson is following in her late grandfather's footsteps in her quest for answers about a baby abducted from a hospital more than twenty years ago. When someone makes an attempt on Willow's life to keep her from discovering the truth, help will come from an unexpected source.

Ex-FBI agent - and Willow's ex-flame - Austin McKade readily offers to protect the woman he never should have let get away. Together they'll follow where the clues lead them, even if it means Austin must face the past he's spent much of his life trying to forget - and put Willow's tender heart at risk.

For more information about Elizabeth Goddard and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~ 

Make sure you clear your calendar now because Never Let Go by Elizabeth Goddard will not let go of you until you've finished!!

The mystery, the action, and the unfolding of events in Never Let Go is just how I love it in romantic suspense - fast!!! I thought the author did an excellent job at layering the plot twists and answering all those burning questions! I didn't see the twists coming, and they felt perfectly unexpected while also working perfectly within the story!

The "Former Flames" trope is one of my favorites, so I enjoyed the chemistry and tension between Austin and Willow! But I must confess that on multiple occasions I wanted to shake them while growling, "JUST TALK AND BE HONEST!" LOL! But this angst was necessary to the story because the author was able to show that relationships take vulnerability. I also loved how the author used this to more thoroughly illustrate another pitfall to relationships: the past. Austin needed to work through the pain, regrets, and lies of his past. He needed to confront those things and let them go. He needed to share these wounds with Willow before he could fully give his heart to her. This is a powerful truth for readers to absorb for all types of relationships, romantic or otherwise!

Four Stars ~ A thrilling adventure that lives up to its name! Never Let Go is the first book in Elizabeth Goddard's new Uncommon Justice Series from Revell! I'm looking forward to the next book!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/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 is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Review of Under a Summer Sky by Melody Carlson



About the Book ~

High school art teacher Nicole Anderson is looking forward to a relaxing summer in Savannah, house-sitting and managing an art gallery for a family friend. The house is luxurious in a way that only old money could make it, and the gallery promises interesting days in a gorgeous setting. Yet it isn't long before her ideal summer turns into more than she bargained for: a snooty gallery employee who's determined to force her out, a displaced adolescent roosting in the attic, and two of Nicole's close childhood friends--who also happen to be brothers--vying for her attention.

With a backdrop of a beautiful historical city, incredible architecture, and even an alleged ghost or two, combined with the opportunity for romance . . . anything can happen!

For more information about Melody Carlson and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

How many of you have ever picked a book to coincide with a particular time of the year or a season of your life? No? Just me? ;-)

Well, for the bookish nerds who do that from time to time - because sometimes we just do - then Melody Carlson's latest novel is for you!

Nicole is a high school art teacher who is stuck in life like paint under fingernails. When her mom arranges for her to house sit and manage an art gallery for a family friend, Nicole reluctantly agrees. However, it turns out to be just what she needed! As Nicole immerses herself into Savannah life, old friends resurface and long wondered "what ifs" are finally answered. And, boy, am I a fan of answered questions!

Under a Summer Sky is a light, sweet romance sure to give you all the fireflies! This is a clean romance that is perfect for the person(s) in you're life who are new to Christian Fiction. It's clean, sweet subtleness makes it a wonderful crossover book. Also, Melody Carlson does an excellent job of catching the flavor and history of Savannah; I felt like I was there!

Four Stars - A light, summer read! Under a Summer Sky is the third book in Melody Carlson's Follow Your Heart Series, but you do not need to read the first two books, Once Upon a Summertime and All Summer Long, since the stories do not build on each other.

I received a copy of Under a Summer Sky by Melody Carlson from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. All opinions expressed are my own.

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

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer