Review of Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner

About the Book ~

Get ready for a heaping helping of humor, romance, and second chances.

Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanagh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show, To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum and is sent packing, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley. As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness...and maybe even love.

In the meantime, hide the knives.

For more information about Bethany Turner and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

There are not enough foodie words to describe how delectable Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner is!

Whether you're a brilliant culinary genius or someone who's simply proud that you've never melted a ceramic mug while microwaving a mug cake (ahem, that would be me...), we've all seen those cooking shows that draw you in with an unimaginable pairing like dragon fruit and octopus tentacles -- gag! -- but by the time the contestants' journeys conclude, you are emotionally invested in their happiness.

That is Hadley Beckett's Next Dish!

Max and Hadley's humorous, hate-to-love, second-chance story is a "signature dish" in fiction! The celebrity chef angle of the story allows you to step into the world of culinary royalty while also giving you a healthy serving of Nashville and a pinch of New York. As fun as the setting and supporting characters were, Max and Hadley's character growth are my favorite parts of the story! I loved how Max and Hadley each had to confront their public personas! This message will resonate on a heart level with readers, challenging them to look at what persona they're putting forth and when. Additionally, Max and Hadley had to confront misconceptions and fears individually. Max took a journey from believing in nothing to believing in something. A journey filled with mistakes and redemption and many second chances. A realistic journey. And Hadley had to decide if taking a chance on love was worth going through the worse, poorer, and sickness to get to all the good, wonderful, and blessed parts of love. And based on that epilogue, I'm pretty satisfied with her decision!

Five Stars ~  Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner is filled with delicious fun and savory truths! Hadley Beckett's Next Dish is a standalone, but the author has other wonderful 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 Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner

About the Book ~

After four years with her boyfriend, Cadie McCaffrey is thinking of ending things.

Convinced Will doesn't love her in the "forever" way she loves him, Cadie believes it's time for her to let him go before life passes her by. When a misunderstanding leads to a mistake, leaving her hurt, disappointed, and full of regret, she finally sends him packing.

But for Will, the end of their relationship is only the beginning of his quest to figure out how to be the man Cadie wanted him to be. With the dubious guidance of his former pro-athlete work friends and tactics drawn from Cadie's favorite romantic comedies, Will attempts to win her back. It's a foolproof plan. What could possible go wrong?

For more information about Bethany Turner and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

I don't know if I'm crying because I loved Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner sooo much, or if I am mourning the fact that this wonderful story is over! I adored each and every word, but I hated that each word I read brought me closer to the end! And that ending! AMAZING! Yeah, I'm gushing, but "you had me at hello" Wooing Cadie McCaffrey! That is, if books can say hello...

In addition to the attempted recreation of rom-com moments that make the heart happy, a deep spiritual plot, and an abundance of laugh-out-loud lines, Will and Cadie are one of my favorite literary couples! They are dorky, funny, a little clueless, and so very relatable! Their struggles with desire, miscommunication, regret, guilt, and forgiveness are so real to the average reader. (And I'm with Cadie when it comes to sports stuff, LOL!)

But what makes this novel especially realistic is how the author wasn't afraid to approach some topics that Christians tend to want to avoid. Will and Cadie make a mistake in the story...yes, that mistake. The mistake isn't glorified, but it DOES happen. Yes, even to Christians. And I love that there's a grace-filled book in Christian Fiction that shows the struggle of regret, guilt, and forgiveness with this particular topic! As Cadie's bestie Darby says to her, we all mess up in different ways and do things we swore we'd never do, but we need to figure out how to move forward after the mistake. At it's heart, Wooing Cadie McCaffrey looks at the commitment to love someone after mistakes have been made and how to move forward knowing you are securely wrapped in God's unfailing love.

Five Stars ~ Simply put, Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner is one hundred percent amazing! This is a story filled with truth, grace, forgiveness, and perfectly-timed comedy interspersed with some of the most memorable rom-com moments in history! Wooing Cadie McCaffrey is a standalone, but I also highly recommend the author's debut novel, The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck!

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. 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 is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is 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.

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 Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner!

About the Book ~

Becoming a Christian is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to Sarah Hollenbeck. Best because, well, that's obvious. Worst because, up to this point, she's made her very comfortable living as a well-known, bestselling author of steamy romance novels that would leave the members of her new church blushing. Now Sarah is trying to reconcile her past with the future she's chosen. She's still under contract with her publisher and on the hook with her enormous fan base for the kind of book she's not sure she can write anymore. She's beginning to think that the church might frown on her tithing on royalties from a "scandalous" book. And the fact that she's falling in love with her pastor doesn't make things any easier.

With a powerful voice, penetrating insight, and plenty of wit, Bethany Turner explodes onto the scene with a debut that isn't afraid to deal with the thorny realities of living the Christian life.

For more information about Bethany Turner and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

I want you all to meet my new friend, Sarah Hollenbeck.

Cause she's awesome.

Seriously, guys. Please read The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck, so we can gush about it together! There are some books you know you're going to love as soon as you see the cover. That knowledge is only strengthened when you read the description and, finally, the first paragraph. This is one of those books.

The first few chapters show us the events leading to Sarah's scandalous enterprise and her journey to God, but the majority of the book takes place after Sarah has given her life to God. Sarah's (i.e. Bethany's) narrative had me laughing to myself, yet there were surprising twists and revelations that kept me on my toes while devouring this romantic comedy.

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck is deliciously fun with a dreamy hero to boot! However, don't let the lightheartedness fool you. This story packs a spiritual punch! Bethany Turner is not afraid to be real, and she gently takes a spiritual salt stick to the open wounds found in the church and body of Christ today. Insightful and overflowing with grace, this novel will touch your heart.

Five Stars ~ An adorable, witty, romantic read! The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck is Bethany Turner's debut novel. Honestly, EVERYBODY should be a fan of this delightfully fun story that gently probes the heart! #allthefeels

I received a copy of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner 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

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.