Review of Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz

About the Book ~ 

They're both too busy for love . . . but love is not too busy for them.

Selah Hopewell seems to be the only woman in Virginia Colony who has no wish to wed. True, there are too many men and far too few women in James Towne. But Selah already has her hands full assisting her father in the family's shop. And now she is in charge of an incoming ship of tobacco brides who must be looked after as they sort through their many suitors.

Xander Renick is perhaps the most eligible tobacco lord in the settlement. His lands are vast, his crops are prized, and his position as a mediator between the colonists and the powerful Powhatan nation surrounding them makes him indispensable. But Xander is already wedded to his business and still grieves the loss of his wife.

Can two fiercely independent people find happiness and fulfillment on their own? Or will they discover that what they've been missing in life has been right in front of them all along?

For more information about Laura Frantz and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~ 

Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz has the makings of a fairytale classic!

I'm one of those people who reads the author's note at the end of the book before I start reading the story. Because of that, I went into Tidewater Bride knowing how much Pocahontas and John Rolfe inspired this tale. The author's phenomenal talent at immersing the reader into the era is uncanny! From speech to dress to description, every detail surrounding this fictional James Towne scream authenticity. The romance between Selah and Xander proved to be exceptionally compelling because it was seeped with historical details. In fact, I prefer this happy ending to the one in the history books AND the Disney version I grew up with -- and I usually prefer Disney's take on a story!

Though framed in the trials and hardships of the era, I found Tidewater Bride to be a beacon of God's unchanging truths that are so desperately needed in today's world! Watching Selah and Xander navigate the unfortunate reality that evil lurks in any corner was agonizing; however, watching God bring those things to light was glorious! Selah and Xander's story proudly trumpets that God is in control, and the Gospel is for all.

Four Stars ~ Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz will charm readers with its whimsical reimagining of history! Tidewater Bride is a standalone, but the author has other titles 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 A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund

About the Book ~ 

Greta Nilsson's trip west to save her ailing little sister, Astrid, could not have gone more wrong. First, bandits hold up her stagecoach, stealing all her money. Then, upon arriving in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns the man she was betrothed to as a mail-order bride has died. Homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta and her sister are worse off than when they started.

Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to get his new ranch up and running and is in town to purchase cattle when the mayor proposes the most unlikely of bargains. He'll invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt's ranch if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying and starting a family with Greta. But when old insecurities and surprising revelations arise, can a union born out of desperation survive?

For more information about Jody Hedlund and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~ 

A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund is destined to be on the keeper shelf (or library if you're like me) of fans of Jody Hedlund and cowboy lovers alike! 

There's something about a cowboy-loaded romance that is equal parts idyllic and perilous, and A Cowboy for Keeps is no exception! From the sweeping fields to mail-order brides to danger on every side, A Cowboy for Keeps is loaded with everything a reader craves in a good western.

The author has a real talent for writing romance, attraction, and all the Godly things that entails in a way that is both sizzling and God-honoring -- just as God always intended it! While the romance in A Cowboy for Keeps between Greta and Wyatt is definitely attraction at first sight, it's not love at first sight. The love builds over time, though a fair amount of that deepening connection is alluded to happening off the page. 

I loved the deep, realistic, all-encompassing way the author wrote the manipulative lies that shaped and dictated Greta and Wyatt's lives! From the subtle to the tragic, the lies the couple had to overcome before they could truly come together as one were heart wrenching with its exceptional accuracy. Ultimately, Greta and Wyatt's victories offer a profound message of hope to their readers, showing the freedom one can take back as they start weeding out the lies from their souls.

Four Stars ~ A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund is a keeper! A Cowboy for Keeps is the first book in the author's new Colorado Cowboys Series, and I'm 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 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 Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark

About the Book ~ 

Harper Dupree has pinned all her hopes on a future in fashion design. But when it comes crashing down around her, she returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, and to Millie, the woman who first taught her how to sew. As Harper rethinks her own future, long-hidden secrets about Millie's past are brought to light.

In 1946, Millie Middleton--the daughter of an Italian man and a Black woman--boarded a train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever . . . and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future.

Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston to find the man who may hold the answers they seek . . . and a chance at the dress shop they've both dreamed of. But it's not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what frayed between the seams.

For more information about Ashley Clark and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark is the epitome of southern charm!

This beautiful story has so much going for it, so much that makes it memorable! The author's poetic writing style is an example of perfection when it comes to similes, metaphors, and personification -- all things I adore! Each detail -- large and small -- takes on a beautiful life of its own. Additionally, this split-time story is unique from its counterparts because the historical storyline slowly merges with the present day storyline. While I felt a little disconnected from the characters at times, nothing could detract from the awe of the almost divine intersecting, crossing, and overlapping journeys of the characters! The contemporary storyline is humorous and nods to pop culture, and the historical storyline pulls at you like a haunting melody. The author sensitively and truthfully depicts the heartrending struggles, injustices, and sorrows that a biracial person would have experienced in the era. From start to finish, the complex, beautiful layers in The Dress Shop on King Street will hook you! Truly, I tip my imaginary cloche hat to the author!

The Dress Shop on King Street overflows with so many beautiful lessons and spiritual truths! However -- at its core -- it's a story about never giving up on the dreams God has given you because if God has given you a dream, then He is gonna make it happen -- you just might be a little foggy on the how (or when!) of it all! 

Four Stars ~ The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark brings southern charm to a new level! The Dress Shop on King Street is the first book in the Heirloom Secrets Series, and I'm 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 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!