Review of The Kissing Tree Novella Collection

About the Book ~

In this Texas-sized romance novella collection, courting couples, decades apart, leave a permanent mark of their love by carving their initials into the same oak's bark.  

Regina Jennings - "Broken Limbs, Mended Hearts"

When a young man from her past returns and upends their small town with a new invention, schoolteacher Bella Eden is reminded of the heartbreak she suffered years ago under the old oak tree. When her job is put on the line, can she trust the man who disrupted her life to help her fight for a brighter future?

Karen Witemeyer - "Inn for a Surprise"

Determined to keep love alive for others, Phoebe Woodward builds an inn that caters to couples. When her father sends a property manager to help make it a success, she finds her whimsical vision thwarted by his stodgy practicality. Finding the right blend of romance and reality is a challenge, and her spinster heart may be in for a surprise. 

Amanda Dykes - "From Roots to Sky"

WWII airman Luke Hampstead found comfort in letters from the sister of a lost compatriot. When he visits Texas to thank her, he discovers her constructing a project with surprising ties to his letters . . . and that she herself is even more surprising. While a promising opportunity awaits him elsewhere, will what they've shared be enough to give their future flight?

Nicole Deese - "Heartwood"

Abby Brookshire's world is turned upside down when the historic tree she's strived to preserve as the head groundskeeper at the Kissing Tree Inn is put in danger of removal. Making matters worse, the only way to protect its legacy is to partner with the man she's been ignoring since he left town years ago. Will she have the courage to move on from the past and start a new beginning?

For more information about the authors -- Regina Jennings, Karen Witemeyer, Amanda Dykes,  Nicole Deese -- and their books, check out their websites by clicking their name!

My Thoughts ~ 

The Kissing Tree is everything I love in a novella collection! Each story is pure loveliness!

I adore when each novella continues to build on the previous stories in the collection! As we follow these four sweet stories, readers get to stay connected to the continuous generations of Oak Springs and the characters who are destined to capture many hearts! However, the detail that truly sets this novella collection apart is the Kissing Tree itself! From origin story to the bittersweet end, readers get to be part of the Kissing Tree's life in each of these beautifully crafted moments through the decades! 

Regina Jennings - "Broken Limbs, Mended Hearts"

"Broken Limns, Mended Hearts" was a wonderful story to brand the romantic oak tree of Oak Springs as THE Kissing Tree! I also really enjoyed the way new technology with respect for the past was melded into the fabric of the couple's conflict! 

Karen Witemeyer - "Inn for a Surprise"

"Inn for a Surprise" was so much fun! We join the story as the newly-built Kissing Tree Inn is being prepared for its first guests. I adored the witty banter between the couple and learning of the different couples who found their way to the Kissing Tree, thus inspiring the creation of the Kissing Tree Inn!

Amanda Dykes - "From Roots to Sky"

"From Roots to Sky" is tale with as much perseverance as there is romance! We rejoin Oak Springs and the Kissing Tree after hard financial times, war, and grief have reached their unapologetic hands into the community. I loved the way the community worked together and the poetic way the couple found both their roots and their wings in life!

Nicole Deese - "Heartwood"

"Heartwood" is the perfect balance of bittersweet, second chances, and new beginnings to close out this novella collection! The apt portrayal of how grief can affect even the sturdiest of relationships hit me in the feels! I adored the chemistry between the couple as they found their second chance at a new beginning! However, the beautiful message of how letting go -- symbolically and literally -- can never remove the legacy carved into our heartwood is what makes this conclusion so perfect!

Five Stars ~ The Kissing Tree is one of my favorite novella collections to date! Additionally, each of the authors has a plethora of novels in their respective backlists!

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 girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright

About the Book ~

Welcome to Bonaventure Circus,
where misfits go to hide.

In 1928, the Bonaventure Circus has become a refuge for many, but Pippa Ripley was rejected from its inner circle as a baby and is no longer content to leave the reason for that rejection unquestioned. When she receives mysterious messages from someone called the "Watchman," she is determined to find him and the connection to her birth. As Pippa's search leads her to a man seeking justice for his murdered sister and evidence that a serial killer has been haunting the circus train, she must decide if uncovering her roots is worth putting herself directly in the path of the killer.

Decades later, an old circus train depot's future hangs in the balance--it will either be torn down or preserved for historical importance, and its fate rests on Realtor Chandler Faulk's shoulders. As she dives deep into the depot's history, she's also balancing a newly diagnosed disease and the pressures of single motherhood. When she discovers clues to unsolved murders of the past, Chandler is pulled into a story far darker and more haunting than even an abandoned train depot could portend.

For more information about Jaime Jo Wright and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright is the perfect read for a cozy autumn night -- spooky and full of faith! 

When I saw that part of this spilt-time novel was set in the late 1920s, I knew I NEEDED to read this story as soon as I could get my greedy little hands on it -- and the author did not disappoint my Roaring Twenties heart with Pippa's side of the story! The author wonderfully balanced the glitz and glam of the Roaring Twenties with the wonder of the circus. However, the contemporary piece of Chandler's tale proved to be just as enthralling! I was immediately swept into the small town with its dark history -- which brings us to the multiple mysteries. No spoilers, but I loved how the author kept me guessing! I loved how the author surprised me even when I was sorta, kinda right...ahem, okay...I was wildly guessing. Bottom line is that I loved each reveal that shocked me to my reader core! Bravo! 

Both Pippa and Chandler struggled with their self-image and identity, and the spiritual message layered into these complicated topics gripped my heart! The author's loving approach to physical qualities that are demeaned and ridiculed, the sensitive look at autoimmune diseases, and the mental chains that hold a person captive when they hold themselves to impossible standards was froth with piercing conviction, grace, and the feeling that the readers themselves are seen, understood, and loved. Through Pippa and Chandler's journeys, readers will be encouraged to settle their identity in their heart through the One Who gives us an identity in His steadfast love.

Five Stars ~ The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright is a thrilling romantic suspense that is the perfect fall read! The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is a standalone, but the author has other suspenseful stories in her backlist.

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 girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Nine by Rachelle Dekker

 

About the Book ~

Some secrets can't stay hidden

Zoe Johnson has spent most of her life living in the shadows, never drawing attention to herself, never investing in people or places. But when a wide-eyed, bedraggled teenager with no memory walks into the diner where Zoe works, everything changes.

Against her better judgment, Zoe, who has been trying to outrun her own painful memories of the past, finds herself attempting to help a girl who doesn't seem to have any past at all. With little warning, they must follow the only sure thing they know: a woman hundreds of miles away, will either save them . . . or be the last person to see them alive.

For more information about Rachelle Dekker and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Nine by Rachelle Dekker should be on the to-be-read pile of every devoted suspense reader! I am increasingly picky about suspense novels, and Nine contains everything I look for in a thrilling novel! Bravo!

Seriously, that suspense! Okay, I promise there will be no plot spoilers -- I wouldn't want to take the thrill of this journey away from any reader. I loved the balance of pace and character development. Additionally, Nine contains an intensity that I've found in only a handful of authors. It's an intensity that pulls you into the story world, glues you to whatever seat you can find, and burns your eyeballs because you don't dare blink! 

When the suspense and mystery ends on that final page, the truths exposed in the story will stay with its readers for a lifetime! The spiritual message revolves around identity, a message the author has a gift for unveiling, restoring, and edifying within her novels. Nine explores choosing a new identity, no matter how dark, broken, or manipulated your past may be. Rewriting your program. Choosing freedom. Choosing love. Through the intense moments of testing that each character faced, readers will be strengthened for the identity battles we face every day!

Five Stars ~ Nine by Rachelle Dekker is an edge-of-your-seat suspense! Nine is standalone with ties into The Girl behind the Red Rope, but it is not necessary to read The Girl behind the Red Rope before reading Nine.

Possible triggers ~ violence, death, abuse, abduction, torture. 

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 girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham

About the Book ~ 

Where you come from matters far less than where you're going

Six years ago, a shocking secret sent Agnes Pratt running in search of a new start. She found it in Penance, a rugged town of miners and lumberjacks in the Dakota Territory. In the shadow of the Black Hills, she became Miss Aggie, respected schoolteacher and confirmed old maid--despite being only twenty-four. But the past has a way of catching up with people.

When childhood friend and former sweetheart James Harris accepts a position as the town doctor, Aggie's pleasantly predictable days suddenly become anything but. James wants to know why Agnes left behind the life they had dreamed of creating for themselves--but he is precisely the one person who can never know.

Can a healing light be shed on the past? Or will the secret Agnes can't seem to outrun destroy her chance at happiness?

For more information about Rachel Fordham and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham carries the beautiful tune of simpler days -- even though none of the heart-wrenching issues the author tackles can be described as simple!

Set in 1880 in the Dakota territory, A Life Once Dreamed sweeps the reader into Penance, a close community with the grit to thrive in the West. The author's writing style stirred fond memories of Catherine Marshall's Christy and any number of Janette Oke's stories -- the kind of writing that warms you from the inside out!

You can't help but root for James and Agnes' second chance at love! Very romantic! Their journey makes up the primary story, but the author included another character that I'm hoping will the hero of his own tale one day! While the author emphasizes that where a person is going in life is more important that where they came from in James and Agnes' romantic story of reconciliation, the author achieves this through the character's heart-tugging choices to love. Without giving away the plot, each of the characters has to make the choice to love, a choice that may not be convenient, safe, or without sacrifice. Additionally, the author tackles the emotionally-charged topic of unwanted, illegitimate children. Amidst poverty, class prejudice, and a scarlet fever outbreak, the fatherly heart of God shines like a beacon of love in A Life Once Dreamed, a love story that is more than apropos for such a time as this!

Four Stars ~ A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham is beautiful story of love! A Life Once Dreamed is a standalone, but the author has other stories 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 girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Vying for the Viscount by Kristi Ann Hunter

 

About the Book ~

For Hudson, the newly titled Viscount Stildon, moving to England from India where he was born and raised was already an arduous enough endeavor. When he learns the fate of the racing empire he inherited along with his title depends upon him getting in the good graces of another stable owner, he's even more at a loss.

The stable at the neighboring estate has been Miss Bianca Snowley's refuge for years, and when a strange man appears to be stealing the horses, she jumps to their protection without a second thought. Upon learning Hudson is actually the new owner, she can't help but be intrigued by the area's newest eligible bachelor.

Any thought of romance is quickly set aside, however, when Hudson proposes they work together to secure suitable spouses for each other. As their friendship grows, Hudson and Bianca begin to reconsider what they truly want in life. But will societal expectations and the weight of their responsibilities keep them from pursuing their true desires?

For more information about Kristi Ann Hunter and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Vying for the Viscount by Kristi Ann Hunter is a Regency Era tale that will delight readers as they savor each word!

I am always drawn to Regency stories because I love this era. However, the focus on horses and racing in this era makes Vying for the Viscount stand out from among its counterparts in a unique way! I loved this! If you love horses and historical romance, this is the story your heart has always wanted!

Vying for the Viscount is...well, I'll just say it. This is a funny story! Really! The author weaves wit, humor, and truly awkward situations for the characters to bumble their way through in such a natural way. I chuckled and grinned like a dork from each clever exchange among the characters to each self-deprecating poke at themselves. Additionally, the author skillfully wove in cameo appearances in a way that felt like a family reunion among characters!

Bianca and Hudson's story is definitely a slow-burn romance. Their immediate and easy camaraderie isn't insta-love. As they each struggle to find a spouse, they slowly and unwittingly fall in love! Through Bianca's journey, the author portrays the struggle to entrust God with your future with aching clarity. Through Hudson, the author shows how society's idea of a "good reputation" can come at the cost of the life God wants for you, a life of love and joy. Readers will be thoroughly invested in Bianca and Hudson's story because these struggles are universal! 

Five Stars ~ Vying for the Viscount by Kristi Ann Hunter is a must for lovers of the Regency Era! Vying for the Viscount is the first book in the author's new series, Hearts on the Heath. I'm looking forward to reading future books in the series! 

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 girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray

About the Book ~

There's a lot of irony in hitting rock bottom.

After a heartbreak leaves her reeling, January Sanders is open to anything--including moving into a cabin on her aunt's wedding-venue property and accepting a temporary position at her aunt's church despite being a lifelong skeptic of faith. Choosing to keep her doubts to herself, she's determined to give her all to supporting Grace Community's overworked staff while helping herself move on.

What she doesn't count on is meeting the church's handsome and charming guitarist. It's a match set for disaster, and yet January has no ability to stay away, even if it means pretending to have faith in a God she doesn't believe in.

Only this time, keeping her secret isn't as easy as she thought it would be. Especially when she's constantly running into her aunt's landscape architect, who seems to know everything about her past-and-present sins and makes no apologies about pushing her to deal with feelings she'd rather keep buried.

Torn between two worlds that can't coexist, can January find the healing that's eluded her, or will her resistance to the truth ruin any chance of happiness?

For more information about Tammy L. Gray and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

There was so much to love about Love and a Little White Lie! I'll try to sum up, but you really should just read it IMMEDIATELY! Truly, Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray is one of my favorite books this year, and it will be etched on my heart as a forever favorite for eternity! 

The setting of Love and a Little White Lie was superb! With the majority of the story taking place either at a wedding venue and revolving around a large church and its various ministries, what's not to love? The characters were fun and authentic, showing the struggles with waiting, trust, or even anger at God - all things that Christians experience. The love triangle naturally introduced characters for future books without feeling forced, showing in its aching perfection how different people can move in and out of someone's life. Additionally, the hate-to-love romance with it's Luke and Lorelai vibes made me downright giddy!

Last but not least is January! I loved January! LOVED! Why? Sooo many reasons. She was raw and real and sarcastic. I loved her first person point of view, and I loved her journey to God. I loved that the author dared to give readers an authentic character who not only didn't believe in God but also didn't make moral decisions like she'd grown up in the church. The church environment was an entirely new experience to January, and her preconceived ideas where blown out of the water as she encountered God's love in the world around her! In light of her past traumas, this made her courageous decision to trust God all the more beautiful. Furthermore, January's journey is a powerful example on how to show the love of God to someone who doesn't love God themselves! 

Five Stars ~ Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray is a forever favorite! This is the first book in the author's A State of Grace Series, and I am looking forward to 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 girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Heart of a Princess by Hannah Currie

About the Book ~

To the watching world, Princess Alina has it all—maids to serve her, a kingdom to revere her, a prince to marry her, and a wardrobe filled with enough frills, flounces, and shades of pink to rival a flower shop. But behind the smiles and designer clothes, Alina has a secret. She’s barely holding it together. 

After a moment of panic almost ends in tragedy, Alina is sent to a refuge far from the palace to recuperate. Her family claims it’s for her own good but—faced with cows, knife-beaked ducks, and far too many of her own insecurities—Alina is pretty sure it will kill her first. And Joha Samson, infuriating man that he is, will laugh as it does. 

Only there’s more to Joha than she realizes, and more to herself too. When the time comes to make a stand, will she find the courage?

For more information about Hannah Currie and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Heart of a Princess by Hannah Currie is a MUST for anyone who loves princesses, faith, relatable characters, hate-to-love romances, and did I mention princesses?

The Daughters of Peverell Series fills the void my princess-loving heart has felt since I finished The Selection Series, and Heart of a Princess by Hannah Currie exceeded all my hopes and expectations!  Truly, I hope the author never stops writing princess stories because the only thing that's holding me together right now is knowing that there's a third book in this series!

Alina is the kind of character I love in fiction! Love, love, love! She's not perfect. She can have an attitude, makes mistakes, says the wrong thing, and finds herself in a hate-to-love romance to boot! I love it when authors dare to give readers imperfect characters, characters who are raw, real, and relatable because the growth is genuine when we have that human trifecta! The author took us past the perfectly imperfect exterior to the broken, strong, and beautiful interior that made Alina who she was. Readers, I dare you NOT to laugh, cry, and be transformed alongside Alina! You'll lose.

What makes Heart of a Princess stand out from among other princess stories is the faith element. It's like The Selection Series meets the book of Daniel in the Bible! No spoilers, but Alina's faith journey will humble and strengthen her readers with God's everlasting truth: all will be well. 

Five Stars ~ Heart of a Princess by Hannah Currie is a MUST-READ! Heart of a Princess is the second book in the author's Daughters of Peverell Series. Heart of a Princess can be read as a standalone, but there will be major spoilers for the first book, Heart of a Royal, if read out of order.

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. I also purchased an additional copy, but I was not required to do this.

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 girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!