Wednesday, January 15, 2014

A December Bride

Book description:  "What started as a whim turned into an accidental---and very public---engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the façade in Chapel Springs this holiday season---for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?
Under normal circumstances, Seth Murphy - the best friend of Layla O’Reilly’s ex-fiancé - would be the last person she’d marry. But the news of their upcoming (and phony) nuptials convinces a big client that Layla may be high-society enough to work for his agency - a coup that would put her fledgling home-staging business on the map. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, even when she was dating his best friend. Maybe she’ll never forgive him for the way he hurt her back then, but he has to try. And Layla is willing to keep up their engagement farce until she’s landed her client.
For Layla, it's the chance to save her career. But for Seth, it's his last chance to win her heart."
My review:  I made the mistake of starting this book at 9:30 at night.  It's a good thing it is a novella, otherwise I probably wouldn't have made it to bed until the wee hours of the morning.  It is that good!  There are very few novellas that actually develop the story well enough.  A December Bride is one of those few.  Even though things move quickly in the story, Layla and Seth have enough of a background to make the story-line seem plausible. Both characters work well together in order to make the story believable.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book through the Booksneeze blogger program.  All opinions are my own.    

Sunday, January 12, 2014

My Hope is Found

Book description:  After finally finding love with his sweet bride Lonnie, Gideon's heart was torn when a woman from his past claimed to be his true and rightful wife, forcing him away from his family.  God's merciful hand saw Gideon through the heart-ache, and with Cassie's blessing, he is able to return home.  But his journey back through the Blue Ridge Mountains will hold a trial he never anticipated.

Meanwhile, Lonnie determines to seal off  her heart from Gideon, convinced he is lost to her forever.  Strengthening her resolve to move on is her growing fondness for the handsome Scotsman, Toby McKee-the young reverend she come to care for deeply.  His proposal of marriage offers a bright future for her and her young son.

Yearning to allow joy back into her life, Lonnie must put aside the broken pieced of her heart that still love Gideon.  When he returns to find her betrothed to another, he has to place his hope in God, trusting that the One who redeemed their love once can do it again.

My review:  When I requested this book, I did not realize it was book three in a series.  This is definitely a series to be read in order.  The author, Joanne Bischof, does do a good job giving enough back information so that the reader is not totally lost.  I enjoyed the first book and would most likely have enjoyed the second book, since I also enjoyed the third book.  Gideon is still one of those characters that you really don't like, but find yourself rooting for him anyway. (I say still, because this is how I felt about him in the first book as well.)  Lonnie is a weak yet a strong character, and the reader is able to feel her emotions and be pulled into Lonnie's life as the book is  read.  I did find the circumstances of Gideon having a previous wife to not quite ring true.  Having read the first book, and knowing what I do about the circumstances of Gideon's marriage to Lonnie, it just doesn't fit for Gideon to have another wife.  I guess the second book must have explained how that was possible.  If I get the opportunity I will be reading the second book in this series to help fill in the gaps.  I received a complimentary copy of this book from Multnomah Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.