Long Time Gone by Mary Connealy

Long Time Gone

Cimarron Legacy, Book 2
Bethany House, Baker Publishing Group
February 2017
9780764211829

Connealy Combines Western Action and Charming Historical Romance

The Boden clan thought their problems had ended with the death of a dangerous enemy, but have they truly uncovered the real plot to take their New Mexico ranch? Rancher Justin Boden is now in charge. He is normally an unshakable and rugged man, but with his brother, Cole, shot and in mortal danger, even a tough man faces doubts. And it doesn't help that Angie DuPree, the assistant to the doctor trying to save Cole, is as distracting a woman as Justin ever laid eyes on.

With her and the doc's timely skills, Cole looks to be on the mend, and Justin and the rest of the Bodens can turn their attention back to the dangers facing them. It's clear now that everything that's occurred is part of a much bigger plot that could date back to a decades-old secret. Can they uncover all the pieces before danger closes in on them, or is the threat to the ranch even bigger than any of the Bodens could imagine?

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My Review: This book LITERALLY picks up where No Way Out ended (therefore, I recommend reading the first book in the series before this one). From the moment Cole is shot, tensions run high. There are a myriad of dangers facing the Boden clan and Connealy had me gripping my seat, hoping to uncover the danger but knowing there’s another book in the series so it won’t end with this one!

In No Way Out we meet confident and rugged Justin Boden who understands running a ranch and remains unshakeable. Long Time Gone shows us another side of Justin. You can immediately sense that his brother’s injury really shook his faith in himself and those around him. The only part of his character that seems unshaken is his protective streak. Enter Angie DuPree! It’s hilarious to me to watch Justin bumble through his “courtship” of Angie and it definitely helped to tone down the seriousness of the story.

Their faith in God, loyalty to their ranch and family, and love for one other shines through every page of the book as we watch Angie and Justin grow together, Cole heal, and the Bodens grow closer together to face the dangers that seem to be surrounding them. From start to finish, Mary Connealy delivers another action packed historical romance that is sure to please everyone!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Mary Connealy is the bestselling author of romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner and a Rita and Christy and IRCC Award Finalist.

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Then Came You by Becky Wade

Then Came You

The Bradford Sisters
March 2017
2940157185404

A leather-bound journal. A single father. A woman in pursuit of freedom.

Garner Bradford, heir to the troubled Bradford Shipping empire, doesn’t know much about babies. But he’s going to have to learn fast because he’s just become a single father to his newborn daughter. As he confesses through his journal entries, he’s not entirely sure how to keep a newborn alive, whether or not he’ll ever patch together his shattered heart, or how to forgive himself for his mistakes.

Career girl Kathleen Burke is wholly uninterested in settling down. She has big dreams, and none of them include Garner and his small hometown in Washington State. Yet she can’t seem to get her handsome boss out of her head or her heart. There’s something extraordinarily tempting about his beautifully sad green eyes. . . .

Told through journal entries, phone conversations, and letters, Then Came You is a unique and heart-stirring romance novella.

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My Review: I loved the uniqueness of this story! It’s written entirely in journal entries, notes, and phone conversations, which I highly enjoyed. Becky Wade really broke down the characters feelings about the situations in their lives that we don’t normally get to read about. Following Garner’s love life and faith journey was not always an enjoyable experience, but his honesty was refreshing. I really enjoyed this novella! I would definitely recommend reading this novella before you begin the Bradford Sisters Series.

Becky’s a California native who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market before putting her career on hold for several years to care for her three children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. She loves writing funny, modern, and inspirational contemporary romance! She’s the Carol Award, INSPY Award, and Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, the Porter Family series, and the Bradford Sisters Romance series.

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The Boden Birthright | No Way Up by Mary Connealy

I’ve always loved Mary Connealy and her stories. They are funny, mysterious, and always provide a nice lesson I need to learn! These two are no exception. I decided to review both The Boden Birthright and No Way Up together since the novella is a precursor to the novel. Sorry for the long post!

The Boden Birthright | The Cimarron Legacy, Book 0.5 | Bethany House | May 2016 | 9781441228789

A lonely father whose grief almost cost him his son
A feisty young frontier’s woman who wants the son and may have to take the city slicker father to get him.
A little boy who needs a home.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THIS NOVELLA BEFORE READING NO WAY UP. Ok, so you don’t have to, but it provides the background story for the parents featured in No Way Up, as we as an explanation as to why the legacy is so important to Chance. It’s a quick read, with Mary’s customary witty banter and I loved it!

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No Way Up | Cimarron Legacy, Book 1 | Bethany House, A Baker Publishing Group | July 2016 | 9780764211812

When Cimarron ranch patriarch Chance Boden is caught in an avalanche, the quick actions of hired hand Heath Kincaid save him. Badly injured, Chance demands that his will be read and its conditions be enforced immediately.

Without anyone else to serve as a witness, Heath is pressed into reading the will. If Justin, Sadie, and Cole Boden don’t live and work at home for the entire year, the ranch will go to their low-down cousin Mike.

Then Heath discovers the avalanche was a murder attempt, and more danger might follow. Deeply involved with the family, Heath’s desire to protect Sadie goes far beyond friendship. The danger keeps them close together, and their feelings grow until being apart is the last thing on their minds.

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My Review: What can I even say about this book to make you understand how much I loved it? Mary Connealy takes her books to a whole new level. While the book still provides us with the customary wit and banter we have come to expect in a Connealy novel, there is an underlying seriousness that is, to me, new and exciting.

The interactions between Heath and Boden clan kept me in stitches. He certainly has a brotherly relationship with Justin and Cole! The romance between Sadie and Heath was very well spaced between the mystery surrounding the avalanche and the danger lurking in the shadows.

Overall, the legacy of love and faith Chance and Veronica Boden left their children is beautiful and I hope we see the Boden clan come together over the next few books! I can’t wait to read more!

Mary Connealy is the bestselling author of romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner and a Rita and Christy and IRCC Award Finalist.

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Shopping Tags or Golf Bags: A Gender Reveal!

What will Baby Mauney be?!

It's that time! You know, the one that I've been anxiously waiting for since I found out I was expecting in January - GENDER REVEAL TIME! What will Baby Mauney be?? Check out the pictures and video below to find out:

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!!!

Still Life by Dani Pettrey

Still Life

Chesapeake Valor Series, #2
Bethany House, Baker Publishing Group
1/31/2017
ISBN-13: 9780764212956

Blacklisted in the photography business when one of her shots causes a scandal, but desperate to somehow continue in the profession, Avery Tate answered an ad for a crime scene photographer. She fully expected to be laughed at, but crime scene analyst Parker Mitchell hired her outright–taking time to teach her the trade. Now she’s half in love with the man, half terrified to even acknowledge her feelings, and completely hooked on the job–until the next crime hits too close to home.

Avery attends the gallery opening of a new photography exhibit to support her best friend who modeled for the show. The only image of her, though, is a chilling photo of her posing dead. Only the photographer insists he didn’t take the shot, and Avery’s friend can’t be found.

As Avery and Parker, along with Parker’s brilliant friends, begin to dig into the mystery, they find themselves face-to-face with a dangerous, relentless, and deadly threat which could endanger them all.

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My Review: Dani Pettrey adds another gripping novel to her Chesapeake Valor series with Still Life. From beginning to end, this book keeps you guessing. Just when I thought I had it figured out, a new clue would surface and I'd have to reassess. I absolutely LOVED that about this book.

I'm so glad I got to catch back up with Griffin, Finley, Kate, Declan, and Tanner but I loved Avery and Parker's story. At the beginning, we see Avery and Parker both struggling with things in their past as well as their feelings for each other. In true Pettrey style, they are caught on a wild ride that brings them closer to each other and in the end, to love.

I loved that the focus of the book, besides the mystery and romance (of course), was on Avery's struggle to let go of her past. How many of you have been there? I know I have. Once we become new creations in Christ, our past is just that - the past. Avery knew God had forgiven her, wiped her sins and past clean, but she struggled with forgiving herself.

If you like thrilling stories, with spine tingling moments (even at the end..), a dash of romance, and of course a happy ending, Dani Pettrey's Still Life will not disappoint.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Read an excerpt. For more fun stuff, check out Dani's Still Life page: http://danipettrey.com/still-life/.

Dani Pettrey is a wife, mom, grandma, and the author of Cold Shot, the first book in the Chesapeake Valor series, and the Alaskan Courage romantic suspense series, which includes her bestselling novels Submerged, Shattered, Stranded, Silenced, and Sabotaged. Her books have been honored with the Daphne du Maurier award, two HOLT Medallions, a Christy Award nomination, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award, among others.

She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves—the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland, where they enjoy time with their two daughters, a son-in-law, and a super adorable grandson.

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Welcome to Faith * Love * Books 2017

Hello world! Did you miss me? I ended up taking more of a break than I anticipated, sorry about that! My life turned super hectic at the end of 2016 and I got on this Kristen Ashley kick that consumed my life (she is not a Christian author, for those of you who are curious).

So, what has been going on with me in 2017? Well, the most notable moment so far this year: THE HUBS AND I ARE EXPECTING OUR FIRST CHILD!!! I cannot even begin to tell you how excited we are. We find out the gender next Friday (well, I should say Saturday). I have a feeling it's a girl, but the hubs is FIRM on it being a boy. We'll see!!

I've been thinking about what I can do to improve my blog and keep my readers interested, as well as myself from getting burned out. When I come up with that answer, I'll let you know! In the meantime, I've got some books in the line up to read and review. I've been brainstorming other ideas for posts and hopefully will have some other content for you soon! Keep yours eyes and ears open, folks. As a friend of mine says (every year), "BIG THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN 2017!"

Becky Wade's 'True to You' Author Chat Party

Raise your hand if you're ready for Becky Wade's new series! Celebrate the release of book one, True to You, with Becky and other readers on Facebook on May 4th during a fun author chat party at 8:00 PM EDT (that's 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, & 5:00 Pacific)! Becky will be chatting about the book and answering your questions about the new series, and of course, there will be plenty of fun giveaways too!

Pre-order your copy of True to You so you're ready for a fun book discussion. Find out more about the book here.

Hope to see you on May 4 for Becky's True to You Facebook Party!