Blog Tour: Double Play by Ranee S. Clark

Review * Giveaway

Double Play by Ranee S. Clark

Book Description:

Sophie Pope is devastated when she hears the news: her former boyfriend, college football star Anthony "Rocket" Rogers, is engaged to be married. Determined to win him back before he says I do, Sophie hatches a foolproof plan to stop the wedding. But when Rocket's best man, aspiring baseball player David Savage, thwarts her plot, she realizes the game is up. For David, though, it's just beginning . . .

David knows that Sophie is just another pretty face, and he's more than happy to save his best friend from her shallow advances. She's not his type at all, so he's baffled by his response to an awkward encounter with Donovan, another of Sophie's former flames. Despite himself, David feels driven by an inexplicable need to protect her. Pretending to be Sophie's new fiancé leads to unexpected sparks between the pair, and soon they're searching for excuses to spend time together. But when a curveball threatens to send them in opposite directions, will Sophie and David step up to the plate for the possibility of true love?

Andrea's Review:

I got this book confused with another book blurb I'd read, and it took me a bit to realize the character I was expecting was not going to make an appearance. Even after I straightened that out, I was still a bit thrown that the focus was on Sofie. She'd been the "bad guy" in the first book (well, one of them). She was so shallow and so . . . opposite of everything I like in most human beings. ;) However, throughout the book the reader really gets to know her a lot better. Some of those shallow traits come across differently as we learn more about her. She started using her talents for good instead of evil, and became quite likable.

Luckily I did like David (he was great in Playing for Keeps and I'm glad he was given his own story), and his likability helped get me through the first part of the book. His character was sort of opposite of Sofie. He seemed perfect initially, and as the story went on we came to see some of his faults. But, that made him somewhat more relatable. I was pretty invested in seeing him make choices that would lead to happiness in his life.

It took some time to draw me in, but after awhile I didn't want to put it down. I liked that there was a lot less focus on BYU and athlete worship than in the first book. This is a clean, fast read.

Rorie's Review:

Before I started reading this book, I didn't realize it was a spin-off of "Playing for Keeps," which I read a few months ago. It took me a few chapters before I remembered what happened in the previous book, and after that, it was easier for me to get into the story. That being said, this book stands on its own pretty well. I don't think you need to read "Playing for Keeps" first. (But that was a good book too, so I do recommend it.)


Let me just say that I could not relate to Sophie at all. I am so much the opposite of her when it comes to fashion. I frequently have to ask my husband if what I'm wearing matches, and he wears red shorts with an orange t-shirt. ;) At any rate, Sophie definitely comes across as pretty shallow for a good portion of the book, but I still couldn't help but start to like her after awhile. She is very insecure based on an incident in her past, and had built up a pretty thick wall to shield herself from more hurt.

I did really like David's character. He seemed to be the perfect guy, but as we come to find out, even he had a few issues that he needed to work through. All in all, I really enjoyed this book. :)

Tarah's Review:

I'll admit that starting out, I wasn't too excited about reading this. I liked David in Playing for Keeps but I didn't like Sophie at all. At all. And the first few chapters were the same Sophie. In fact, in this book she's referred to as a "Mean Girl".  But I kept reading, and I'm really glad I did. I enjoyed this book quite a bit.  It was a light, easy, fast read, but it had a number of things that I enjoyed. I was surprised at the turn this book took.  I was expecting more football, and more BYU, but instead I got baseball and topics like modesty and judgment. These themes really got me thinking. I know people like Sophie, and it became easier and easier to relate to the things she was going through. And honestly, what's not to love about David? He's pretty awesome. Whether you read the first book or not (this one can stand alone) I'd recommend giving his one a try.


Tour Schedule:

Jan. 18th: http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/
Jan. 19th: http://fireandicereads.com/, http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/, http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/
Jan. 20th: http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/
Jan. 21st: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/index.html, http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/
Jan. 22nd: https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/

Tour Giveaway:
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Title: Double Play
Author: Ranee S. Clark
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Published: January 2016
ISBN: 1680478974
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for a review. 

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Deseret Book

Review: The Billionaire Bride Pact

Review * Giveaway  

The Passionate One by Jeanette Lewis

As the creator of the Billionaire Bride Pact, Erin Parker is determined to see it through. And now that wealthy, gorgeous Brennan Avery has been cast as her costar in a play destined for Broadway, things couldn’t be better. But Erin’s best friend, Matt Walters, isn’t ready to give up on her. He has a plan to escape the friend zone and prove to Erin that there are more important things than money and fame.

Available now for only $2.99 or free for Prime members - Amazon

The Resilient One by Cami Checketts

Alyssa Armsworth, a world-renowned photographer, has no intentions of honoring the Billionaire Bride Pact she made as a teenager to avoid getting her bra hung from the camp flagpole. Marriage is the last thing on her to-do list and when her father forces his wealthy friends on her, she runs to Maui.

She plans to lay low, take some great pictures, and eat fresh fish--until Beckham Taylor arrives. Stuck in the same hotel and spending days on the white sand with the handsome ex-NHL star wouldn't be all that bad except Alyssa's done something in the past that Beckham could never forgive. Before she can confess, her misdeeds are thrust onto the front cover of a well-known magazine. Alyssa must overcome her fears or live without Beckham.

Available now for only $2.99 - Amazon or free for Prime and KOLL members.

Review:

I've read books by both authors of The Billionaire Bride Pact before, and this sounded like an interesting new series (with great covers-well done). The pact came about while playing M.A.S.H. at a summer camp, and that actually brought back some fun memories. I can't tell you the number of times I played M.A.S.H. growing up.

That said, I was a little put off by the whole idea of the pact. Sure, it sounds innocent for girls at a summer camp, but the idea that adults would still be focused on that seemed very shallow. This was very much the focus in The Passionate One. I can understand Erin feeling that she had a responsibility to the pact since it was her creation, but it made her very difficult to like. She was so awful to Matt, and I just wanted him to move on and find someone else who would appreciate him. He was a wonderful character! Thankfully, Erin grows up through the story and sees the light. I was happy for the change of heart.

The Resilient One didn't focus on the pact. Alyssa had no desire to see it through, so she was a much more likable character. She was also strong, and worked hard to overcome obstacles in her life. At times the story really pulled me in and held my attention. At other times it sort of dragged on, and was a little unrealistic, but overall I liked the characters, and granny was a hoot.

Both stories are clean and worth the read if you have the time.

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Book Review: Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Gray

Book Description:

Lydia’s job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

Book Review:

I've got to say that out of all the Chicago World's Fair Mystery series this was by far and away my favorite.  It's been awhile since I've read the others, but I think this one wasn't quite as dark and didn't have such rough topics.  I've also got to admit that Sebastian reminded me a lot of Elizabeth Camden's main character Bane. Sort of the bad boy turned good story. And it's a good story. Personally, I'm not much for the bad boy image, but I do love a good happy ending :) This ending seemed a little weak to me. Don't get me wrong. It definitely ended and it was a good ending, but it all just kind of happened. There was a lot of stuff going on in the first three quarters of the book and then, BAM it all just got resolved and finished.

While liked the main characters, (Lydia has a great job, what's not to love about being a librarian?) I really enjoyed the minor characters. Mr. Hunt and Bridget were great and I wanted more from them. Maybe that's why this ending didn't satisfy as much as I was hoping.

If you've read the other two books, you definitely need to finish with this one. And if you haven't read the other two books, this one can actually stand alone. Some characters are the same, but they are minor minor and it wouldn't affect the story at all if you didn't know their back story.

This is a clean story with some religious elements thrown in (which I really loved, they were well written and actually fit into the story) but nothing that would be considered preachy.



Title: Whispers in the Reading Room
Author: Shelley Gray
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: November 2015
ISBN: 0310338492
Source: I received an ecopy from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Blog Tour: Broken Things to Mend by Karey White

Blog Tour Schedule

Book Description:

Celia is in desperate need of a change--a change of scenery, a change of pace, and a complete redo of all relationships. Not knowing what else to do, she opens a map, closes her eyes, and lets fate decide her future. Then she packs her meager belongings and buys a one-way ticket to a little town on the fringes of Oregon's Deschutes National Forest called Sisters. She's wanted a family for years. Will she find one in Sisters? What Celia doesn't plan to find is a strange Chinese woman whose meddling ways keep throwing her in the path of a handsome, but reserved, forest ranger. But no matter how kind or dependable Silas seems to be, there are some things in Celia's past that neither of them can escape, and this time, the damage might be too much to mend.

Review:

This story has a pretty sad beginning for both of the main characters, but even though they've both been through very difficult things, the focus of the story is more on the hope they find and moving forward. There are still ups and downs, but the growth of both characters is heartwarming.

Pearl's part as the matchmaker is great. Of course, no one knows that's what she does, but it was fun seeing how she was able to work her magic with two generations.

This is an enjoyable series and I look forward to the next installments. Although this one has some difficult issues, it is as clean as possible.

 

  

About the Author:


Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist. She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Blog Tour Giveaway:

$50 Amazon Gift Card or $50 in Paypal Cash
Ends 2/2/16
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Book Review: At Love's Bidding by Regina Jennings

Book Description:

After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she's accidentally sold a powerful family's prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the furious family, her grandfather tracks it to the Missouri Ozarks and makes an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house if they promise not to sell anything until he arrives.

Upon their arrival, however, they discover their new business doesn't deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its manager, ruggedly handsome Wyatt Ballentine, is frustrated to discover his fussy new bosses don't know a thing about the business he's single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more cattle than they can count--but no mysterious painting--Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and salvage a bad situation getting worse.

Book Review:

I don't know if it was the holidays, or what, but it took awhile for me to get through this book. Not once I really started reading it, but the first little bit I read with days in between, and that normally doesn't happen with me when I read.

I liked it. Cute cover, interesting back blurb, and my kind of story. There was just something missing that I can't put my finger on. Which is part of the problem. I just barely read this, and I can't really remember much about it. Even going back and rereading other's reviews I can't remember loads of details about the book.  I remember liking the overall storyline. I remember liking Miranda finding out who she is, and I remember liking what happens to Wyatt, but...I don't know. Maybe it's because the story would have moved along better if more of it took place in Miranda's home town. I do remember that it was entertaining seeing Wyatt out of his element, but how he still handled himself well.

I'll still read more from this author, and I'm not sad that I read this book. I just wish it had that something extra that made it more memorable.



Title: At Love's Bidding
Author: Regina Jennings
Publisher: Bethany House
Published: December 2015
ISBN: 0764211412
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for a review.

Review: The Secret Life of Daydreams by Lucinda Whitney

The Secret Life of Daydreams by Lucinda Whitney

Book Description:

Sometimes the dream you never planned for is the one you can’t live without.

Six years after a painful divorce, Josh Conrad is happy traveling the world as a photographer. When he arrives in Portugal, he plans to complete the assignment as quickly as possible. What he doesn’t plan for is Sofia, the girl he baptized eleven years earlier on an LDS mission, and soon he’s making excuses to prolong his trip.

Sofia Monteiro leads a structured life in Braga, Portugal, teaching high school by day and caring for her mother by night. After she reconnects with Josh through mutual friends, the memory of a failed relationship and her new graduate program are enough reasons to stay away from him.

As they collaborate on a project, Josh is wary of repeating his old mistakes and Sofia hesitates to spend time with an American who’s only passing through.

Can two people with wounded hearts bring themselves to trust their dreams to each other?

Andrea's Review:

I was intrigued by this story. I've known some people who remind me of Josh's character, and I was very curious about his reasons for leaving his religion and family behind. Josh's profession created a somewhat nomadic lifestyle for him, and as exciting as all of the traveling could be, I was saddened by how he left behind the religion he held so dear at one point in his life. I was curious about his reasons, and although that was touched on, I wished more time and details had been given to that.

Overall I enjoyed the story, even though it felt like a first book (a bit more editing would have been helpful). I was thrown a bit by the use of Portuguese words throughout the novel. You got the general idea of what was being said, but it seemed strange to include them when it appeared that most of the conversing would have been in Portuguese.

I liked the themes of the importance of family, self worth, redemption and forgiveness.

Tarah's Review:

Let's start with the cover, shall we? I'll admit, I don't love it, but I totally approve of how they got the little details right. Josh does have a beard and she has long curly hair. I appreciate when the cover matches what the story talks about in the book. Little things....little things.

It took me a little bit to get into this book, and honestly, I'm still not sure what I think about it.  Once I got into it, I couldn't stop reading, and when I had to, it made me think about the characters and what they were going through and about choices, and consequences, etc.

Josh carried this story for me, and I wish there was a bit more about his choices. We get a "this is what happened" but not really getting into the nitty gritty.

I love that this took place in Portugal. The author was able to create a very vivid image of every day life over there (so it really wasn't surprising to read about the author and find out she lived there). I was a bit thrown by the use of Portuguese in the book. It would have been helpful to maybe have a list or something in the back of the book telling us what the words meant. Most of the time you could figure it out, and sometimes it seemed similar to Spanish (not that I speak that either), but sometimes I was just a little confused.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and the things that it made me think about. Honestly, it probably isn't one I'd reread just because it was more on the heavy side (not a lot, but a little bit) and I tend to reread my fluff novels. But it definitely isn't one I regret reading.


*We received an eCopy in exchange for a review

Blog Tour: Three Little Words

Review * Giveaway

Book Description:

The road to true love never did run smooth, but a few bumps along the way make it all the more thrilling. This timeless truth is showcased in Three Little Words, a charming compilation of short stories written by a trio of popular LDS romance novelists. Readers are invited to follow the journeys of three young women as they encounter love where they least expect it.

Rescuing Bailey by Jennie Hansen

For as long as she can remember, Bailey has loved the boy next door. But despite her feelings, his schedule and his little brother keep getting in the way. Will her childhood crush finally blossom into something real, or will she discover that true love is waiting just around the corner?

Three Little Words by K.C. Grant

The bet is simple: Elizabeth, a speech therapist, has three days to teach a country bumpkin with a drawl as thick as molasses how to speak like a gentleman. But as she gets to know her charming student, it soon becomes clear that there may be more to him than meets the ear.

A Crying Shame by Aubrey Mace

Cassidy is in love with the idea of love, though after her most recent breakup, the possibility of finding Mr. Right seems hopeless. But when she meets a handsome classmate in her painting class, she may end up learning more about chemistry than about art.

Andrea's Review:

The description of this compilation of novellas was appealing, so I ignored my hesitance (I haven't been a fan of Jennie Hansen's books in the past) and I'm happy that I did. If you are looking for light, clean romances, consider Three Little Words.

Rescuing Bailey turned out to be the best Jennie Hansen book I've read, and my favorite story in this book. I liked the boy next door angle and not seeing the true feelings of someone who has been in your life for years. It made the story fun. I liked the characters and the happy ending.

I believe that Three Little Words is the first story I've read by KC Grant. It reminded me of a modernized My Fair Lady. It was cute even though it was predictable. There was a surprise or two though, and the journey was fun.

A Crying Shame is also a cute story, but super short. I haven't been to a paint night before, but it made for a fun setting. I liked the characters and the overall story, but it was over much too soon for me.

Tarah's Review:

Rescuing Bailey: I didn't love the last book I read from this author, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one (with the exception of the names, I get hung up on names, and sometimes they just really seem to affect the flow of the story).  It was just the right length and gave me all the happiness I needed for this little novella.

Three Little Words:  I was looking forward to this one the most after reading all the blurbs on the back of the book. Sadly, it fell a little flat for me. For all her teaching about how speaking can elevate your status (which I agree with) Elizabeth seemed to have difficulties speaking, and while that was a little thing, it was a little book so it just grated on me the whole time.

A Crying Shame:  I love this author and look forward to reading and re-reading her books. My only complaint with this book was that it was a novella. This definitely could have been a full length novel that I would have devoured and really gotten into, but all of a sudden it was over and I was sad to be pulled away from the story that was entertaining and fun. Since I can't read a longer version of this story I will just have to go back and re-read this one again and again :) 

Tour Schedule: 

Jan. 4th: http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/
Jan. 5th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/, http://www.iamareader.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/
Jan. 6th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com, http://fireandicereads.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/
Jan. 7th: http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/
Jan. 8th: http://littlelightdesigncollective.com/, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/index.html, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://thethingsilovemost.com/, http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/

Tour Giveaway:

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Title: Three Little Words
Authors: Jennie Hansen, K.C. Grant, Aubrey Mace
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: January 2016
ISBN: 978-1-68047-896-9
Source: We received a copies from the publisher in exchange for a review.

Purchase:  Amazon