Paper Hearts By: Courtney Walsh

Back of the Book

Abigail Pressman would never have guessed that love notes penned on paper hearts by an anonymous couple could restore her belief in love. As a business owner in a quaint town at the base of the Rockies, she’s poured everything into dreams of expansion . . . and resisting the matchmaking efforts of the Valentine Volunteers, who gather in her store to continue Loves Park’s tradition of stamping mail with the city’s romantic postmark.

When Abigail is unwillingly drafted into the Volunteers, she encounters the paper hearts, a distraction that couldn’t come at a worse time. A hard-to-read doctor has become Abigail’s new landlord, and he’s threatening to end her lease to expand his practice.

As she fights a growing attraction to this handsome man crushing her dreams, Abigail is inspired to string the hearts in her store, sparking a citywide infatuation with the artsy trend. But when a new batch of hearts reaches the Volunteers, it appears something tragic has happened to the couple. Will uncovering their story confirm Abigail’s doubts about love, or could it rescue her dreams . . . and her heart?

My thought

Oh, I am so in love!  Paper Hearts was a sweet romantic novel that is perfect to curl up with on the couch during the Valentines season.  It's the perfect balance between a hallmark movie and a christian novel that you will not be able to put down.    Abigail and Jacob (her new land lord) are both such wonderful characters and you will find yourself wanting to hang paper hearts all over your house.  I would recommend this book to anyone, it is clean with only kissing and no swearing.

For more about Courtney Walsh check out her facebook page or website.

I was given this book free from Tyndale Publishing for my honest review.

All Regency Collection : A Timeless Romance Anthology

Back of the Book

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: All Regency Collection. Readers will love this collection of six regency romance novellas. 

In THE WEDDING GIFT: A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE STORY, an enchanting novella by Anna Elliott, the story opens two weeks before Elizabeth Bennet’s wedding to Mr. Darcy. He has given her the perfect wedding gift, and now she must come up with one for him. But what do you give a man who has everything? Elizabeth soon discovers that the gift of love is more important than any one thing. 

DREAM OF A GLORIOUS SEASON, a sweet novella by Sarah M. Eden, we meet Elizabeth Gillerford who envies her sister only one thing—that she’s been intended for Julian Broadwood since they were children. The trouble is that Elizabeth is hopelessly in love with Julian too. When Julian discovers that Elizabeth has been denied a Season because her older sister is yet unwed, he undertakes his own stealthy measures to introduce her to society, only to find himself falling in love with her himself. 

In THE MENDER, a captivating story by Carla Kelly, Thankful Winnings takes a sea voyage with her cousin on the Ann Alexander, in a last adventure before she settles down to marry one of her beaus. Unexpectedly they come upon the aftermath of a fierce ship battle, and Thankful is commissioned to help in the place of an injured surgeon on one of the Royal Navy ships. Adam Farnsworth, surgeon, has been at sea for years. Tired of war, but devoted to his post, it takes a resourceful lady such as Thankful to give him the hope of love and help heal his own wounds, the ones that show and the ones that don’t. 

In BEGIN AGAIN, a charming novella by Josi S. Kilpack, Regina Weathers gives up on marrying for love the day that Ross Martin walks out of her life. Now, fifteen years later, Ross shows up at a ball and thinks he can woo Regina. But she is set on her lonely path and stitched-up heart, no matter the excuse Ross gives for his years of silence and neglect. When Ross insists he wrote many letters during his military years, Regina discovers a secret long-since buried by her father, and the revelation might be enough to thaw the coldness of her heart. 

In Annette Lyon’s endearing story, THE AFFAIR AT WILDEMOORE, Mrs. Ellen Stanhope escorts her three daughters to a ball. As her oldest flirts with a beau, Ellen is reminded of her courtship and early years of marriage with Anthony, before tragedy struck with the death of their infant son. The marriage has faded and dulled. Not until she sees Anthony dancing with a woman he courted years before does Ellen realize how much she misses him, still loves him, and yearns for him to yet feel the same way for her. 

In the delightful novella, THE DUKE’S BROTHER, by Heather B. Moore, Mr. Gregory Clark is having an awful day, and it only gets worse when he’s ran over by … a woman. Mabel Russell reluctantly visits her sister in London for the Season, even though she’d rather stay in the country cataloging insects and aphids. When she runs into Gregory Clark, quite literally, she’s afraid to show any interest, especially since he’s a member of the dreaded ton. But getting to know Gregory becomes an unexpected delight. 

My Thoughts

Timeless Romance Anthology's are a great way to read popular authors works, but in a short story form and for less money.  I have enjoyed many of the previous books, and while historical fiction is not my normal genre, I recognized several of the authors.  Each story was short enough to be read in an afternoon but still gave you a great example of the authors writing style. While many short stories seem to lack depth, many of these books had a great plot and were entertaining to read.  My main reading genre most likely wont be changing, but I did find a few authors I have now added to my reading list.  With that being said, these are true historical fiction novels and some of the dialect and conversation might lose your interest as it did mine.

I would only recommend this if you are interested in the authors works, or if you like historical fiction.

Hidden Agenda By: Lisa Harris

Back of the Book

His cover is blown. Now his enemies are on his heels and closing in.
Presumed dead by friends and family, Michael Hunt is alive--and on the run. Presumed dead by friends and family, the undercover assignment he's been working for the past eight months has just been blown. With a hit out on his life and corruption inside the Atlanta police department, Michael finds himself hunted by both the cartel and the law. His only hope is Olivia Hamilton--the daughter of the man who wants him dead.

This nonstop chase from Christy Award-winning Lisa Harris will leave you breathless.

My Thoughts

Hidden Agenda was creative and suspenseful, it starts off with a bang and never slows down.  Lisa Harris wrote an interesting, tension filled novel that kept me on the edge of my seat.  Hidden Agenda is the 3rd book in the Southern Crime series, and while you can enjoy this novel without reading the past books, there are a few references to the other novels that would ruin them if you started with this book.  So I would suggest you take a weekend and read, you will not be disappointed.

I was given this book free from Revell Publishing for my honest review.

Always on My Mind By: Susan May Warren

Back of the Book

After a failed dig in Honduras, aspiring archaeologist Casper Christiansen heads home to Minnesota to face his unresolved feelings for Raina Beaumont, the woman of his dreams. But when he arrives unannounced on her doorstep, he receives the shock of a lifetime: Raina is pregnant with someone else’s baby.

Heartbroken, especially when he discovers the identity of the baby’s father, Casper tables his dreams and determines to be dependable for once, helping his older brother, Darek, prepare the family resort for its grand reopening. Casper longs to be the hero of at least one family story, but a never-ending Deep Haven winter and costly repairs threaten their efforts—and the future of the resort.

Worse, one of Casper’s new jobs constantly brings him into contact with Raina, whom he can’t seem to forget. A tentative friendship begins to heal fresh wounds, but can they possibly overcome past mistakes and current choices to discover a future together?

My thoughts

If you have been counting down the days for the next Chrstiansen family novel, the count down is over, and it is well worth the wait. Susan May Warren did such an amazing job on this book, it was emotional, entertaining and really made you pause and ask the question "what would I do?"  As both Casper and Raina struggle with their own past mistakes they must learn to forgive each other.  Always on My Mind reminds us that we must learn from the past but find peace and joy by looking towards the future.  I would recommend this book and can't wait to start reading it again. (But I will have to wait, because I have loaned it out to family.)

I was given this novel free from Tyndale House Publishers for my honest opinion.

A Most Inconvenient Marriage By: Regina Jennings

Back of the Book

Abigail Stuart Thought She was Jeremiah Calhoun's Widow.
But Jeremiah Calhoun Is Very Handsome, Very Alive, and Very Perplexed.
Most Inconvenient Indeed.

With few options of her own, nurse Abigail Stuart agrees to marry her patient, a gravely wounded soldier calling himself Jeremiah Calhoun. They arrange a quick ceremony before he dies, giving Abigail the rights to his Ozark farm and giving Jeremiah the peace of knowing someone will care for his ailing sister after he's gone--a practical solution for both of them.

After the war, Abigail fulfills her side of the bargain--until the real Jeremiah Calhoun shows up, injured but definitely alive, and wastes no time in challenging Abigail's story. Abigail is flummoxed. After months of claiming to be his widow, how can she explain that she's never seen this Jeremiah Calhoun before? How can she convince him that she isn't trying to steal his farm? And will she find a way to stay, even though this practical arrangement has turned into a most inconvenient marriage?

My Thoughts

  A Most Inconvenient Marriage is an entertaining novel that centered around the Calhoun family farm.  Jeremiah and Abigail seem to go back and forth between her staying or going, and Jeremiah liking her or going back to the girl he left before the war.  I never felt a real connection with anyone in the story to keep me drawn into the book. The setting for the novel was the end of the civil war and I did find it interesting to see how the town was divided because of the war, and some of the issues they faced because of those divisions.  

I was given this book free from Bethany House Publishing for my Honest review.

Trading Secrets By: Melody Carlson

Back of the Book

Back in fifth grade, Micah Knight got an Amish pen pal, and over the years, they've exchanged many letters--and many secrets. At age seventeen, Micah finally has the chance to meet her pen pal face-to-face. The only problem is that because of confusion about her name when the pen pals were assigned, her pen pal was a boy, Zack Miller. And all this time, Micah's never told Zack that she's actually a girl! While she wants nothing more than to experience life on Zack's Amish farm, she's afraid he'll hate her for deceiving him all these years. But she makes up her mind to face the music--and that's where the fun really begins.

Bestselling author Melody Carlson brings young adults another fascinating tale of worlds colliding, secrets being revealed, and friendships forming. Teens will love this story of miscommunication and mishaps along the way to the truth.

My thoughts

This was a cute...hum, its not a romance or drama.  I would call it more of a snippet in the lives of Micah and Zack, where choices have to be made that will alter the directions theirs lives are going.  Trading Secrets was an entertaining book, but don't let the cover fool you, they are in High School.  I kept waiting for a large span of time to pass, because I looked at the cover picture and have honestly never seen a 17 year old look that old.  This is a clean, and enjoyable book for anyone preteen and up.

I was given this book free from Revell Publishing for my honest review.

A Matter of Heart By: Tracie Peterson

Back of the Book

Texas born and raised Jessica Atherton is a wealthy young woman whose heart was broken when the man she intended to marry wedded another. But her world is upended when two new men come into her life, and both manage to stir her heart.

Harrison Gable is a successful young lawyer with ambitions that match Jessica's dreams. His warm, attentive manner and thoughtful gifts make her feel special.

Austin Todd, a former Secret Service agent, enjoys working now as a Texas Ranger cattle inspector. But after learning of forged gold certificates and missing printing plates, he's drawn back into the world of intrigue and agrees to help solve the case. Jessica is drawn to his kind nature and the unspoken pain she sees in his eyes. 

If Jessica follows her heart, where will it lead?

My Thoughts

This was a sweet historical romance with a few twists and turns to keep you entertained.  Tracie Paterson wonderfully weaved the etiquette and innovations of the time without overpowering the story.  Harrison and Austin are such polar opposites, one an excellent choice for who Jessica is, and one for who she is trying to become, It was hard not to skip to the back and find out who wins her heart in the end. A Matter of Heart was a clean novel, and even if you don't read many historical novels you will find this book entertaining.

I was given this book free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.