My Bookshelf: The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson

After inheriting his title from his brother, the margrave has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise?

        The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble-born ladies from around the country to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

        Avelina has only two instructions: keep her true identity a secret and make sure the margrave doesn’t select her as his bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

        Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences.

Beach Reads Week

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about the perfect beach reads since summer is finally upon us! When I think beach reads, I think lighthearted stories that are less suspenseful, and less likely to make you emotional, than some of your regular reads. However, because those make-you-cry, touch-your-heart books are my favorite I’ve had a bit of a difficult time making this list. I’ve tried my best to keep them light, but some of them might fall a little bit more into the other category. Such as the Denise Hildreth book, but that couldn’t be helped because they’re actually at the beach and I couldn’t not add it to this list. Anyway, these are some books I would highly recommend reading as you lay out on the beach! And if you want to see my full reviews of any of them, just click on the coral titles!

Must-Have June Releases

        How is it already almost June? Although part of me almost feels like I’ve been on summer break forever—now don’t get me wrong I didn’t say I wanted school to start back, I just miss my school friends—the other part of me feels like I was just leaving school and going on vacation, but that was a month ago and I’m not sure how that’s possible. Anyway, I’m really glad that it is almost June because that means I’m going to the beach, and it means all these wonderful books I’m excited for are finally going to release! Take a look at this great list! And, if you want to see any of my full reviews of any of the already-released novels mentioned here, just click on the green titles!

My Bookshelf: Justified by Varina Denman

A rebellious young woman seeks redemption for her sins, but can she forgive herself?

        In a small Texas town ruled by gossip, Fawn Blaylock believes other are justified in condemning her untimely pregnancy. Stifled by guilt, she yearns for the grace she has never been willing to bestow on others. Hope begins to stir when the local football coach offers gentle strength to help Fawn reawaken her heart and redeem her past.

        Justified perfectly captures the rhythm and romance of life in a small town, chronicling the life of a woman searching for renewal, a man looking beyond what others see, and a community torn between judgement and love. It is the unforgettable story of broken dreams, second chances, and relentless hope.

My Bookshelf: Someone Like You by Victoria Bylin

        Julia Dare is trying to run her own business, raise her young son, Max, and help her widowed mother. Her biggest worry, though, is keeping Max’s father from being a bad influence while still allowing the boy to spend time with his dad. When an account from her event-planning business sends her to Caliente Springs resort, she’s shocked to encounter Zeke Monroe, her college sweetheart.

        Zeke is determined to keep Caliente Springs running despite financial trouble. When Julia walks back into his life, he’s surprised at the feelings she stirs up. As they work together on an important client’s wedding, the fate of the resort soon depends on their success. With Zeke and Julia both pushed to their limits, will their history put up walls between them or bring them together?

My Favorite Series

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is actually all about ten books that I feel differently about after time has passed, but that topic just didn’t resonate with me, as I usually just think of books the same way as time passes, other than the fact that my love for them grows stronger. So today, I thought I’d write about ten of my all-time favorite series. I’m a huge proponent of series—don’t get me wrong I love stand-alone novels almost as much—because I just really love getting to know a group of characters over the course of that many pages. Some of my favorite books are parts of a series, so I thought it fitting to focus on them today. I’ve only added series that I’ve finished reading, and have loved each book, so that I could narrow it down a little. And if you want to see my full reviews of any of the titles I’ve actually reviewed, just click on the coral-colored titles!

Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury

Before you take a stand…you got to take a chance.

        Holden Harris is an eighteen-year-old locked in a prison of autism. Despite his quiet ways and quirky behaviors, Holden is very happy and socially normal—on the inside, in a private world all his own. In reality he is bullied at school by kids who only see that he is very different.

        Ella Reynolds is part of the “in” crowd. A cheerleader and star of the high school drama production, her life seems perfect. When she catches Holden listening to her rehearse for the school play, she is drawn to him…the way he is drawn to the music. Then Ella makes a dramatic discovery—she and Holden were best friends as children. Frustrated by the way Holden is bullied and horrified at the indifference of her peers, Ella decides to take a stand against the most privileged and popular kids at school. Including her boyfriend, Jake.

        Ella believes miracles can happen in the unlikeliest places, and that just maybe an entire community might celebrate from the sidelines. But will Holden’s praying mother and the efforts of Ella and a cast of theater kids be enough to unlock the prison that contains Holden? This time, friendship, faith, and the power of a song must be strong enough to open the doors to the miracle Holden needs.

My Bookshelf: Her One and Only by Becky Wade

        Gray Fowler, star NFL tight end, is being pursued by a stalker, so his team hires a protection agency to keep Gray under the watch of a bodyguard at all times. When Gray meets Dru Porter, an agent assigned to him, he’s indignant. How can an attractive young female half his size possibly protect him?

        But Dru’s a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt. She’s also ferociously determined to uncover the identity of Gray’s stalker. And she’s just as determined to uncover the identity of Gray’s stalker. And she’s just as determined to avoid any kind of romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past. But the closer they get to finding the stalker, the closer they grow to each other. As the danger rises, can Dru and Gray entrust their hearts—and their lives—to one another?

Ten Books I Picked Up On a Whim

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about books that I have picked up on a whim. Since I tend to plan out what I’m going to read based on my New Releases posts—I like to read as many as I can of the previous books in a series when I’m mentioning a later book in a post—so I don’t really pick things truly on a whim, but I do just give books a chance in a way that is somewhat a whim. For instance, I see a book on Goodreads or something, and I decide to give it a chance even though I know nothing about the author, or I get the opportunity to influence for an author I’m not familiar with and I jump at the chance no matter my lack of knowledge about their writing. So now that I’ve established that’s the type of “whim” I’m talking about, let me get to those books! Oh, and if you want to see any of my full reviews, just click on the coral titles!

My Bookshelf: The Magnolia Duchess by Beth White

As the War of 1812 rages across the newly formed United States, another war rages in Fiona Lanier’s heart—one that threatens to tear her family apart.

        Fiona can scarcely take in the news of her brother’s capture and imprisonment by the British Navy. It is almost as unbelievable as the half-drowned British sailor who is washed ashore on the beach of Navy Cove.

        Charlie Kincaid claims to have no memory of his life before being discovered by Fiona, but in a world that seems saturated with treachery, she cannot be sure he is telling the truth.

        As Charlie’s memory returns in agonizing jags and crashes, he and Fiona discover that falling in love may be as inevitable as the tide. But when political allegiances collide, they’ll each have to decide where their true loyalty lies.

The Love Letters by Beverly Lewis

Marlena needed time to let things sink in. it was beyond her how all this could possibly work out—adding the care of an infant to her daily routine. Fortunately, it would just be until Luella returned home from the hospital and was stronger. No more than a couple of weeks, surely.

        Marlena Wenger’s life takes an unexpected turn on the day she learns she must care for her estranged sister’s baby. Spending the summer in Brownstown, Pennsylvania to assist her Mennonite grandmother, and miles from Marlena’s Old Order Amish beau, she feels out of her element in nearly every respect. Yet Marlena determines to do her best and stay focused on her future, even as those hopes become drastically altered.

My Bookshelf: Sister Dear by Laura McNeill

All Allie Marshall wants is a fresh start. But when dark secrets refuse to stay buried, will her chance at a new life be shattered forever?

        Convicted of a crime she didn’t commit, Allie watched a decade of her life vanish—time that can never be recovered. Now, out on parole, Allie is determined to clear her name, rebuild her life, and reconnect with the daughter she barely knows.

        But Allie’s return home shatters the quaint, coastal community of Brunswick, Georgia. Even her own daughter Caroline, now a teenager, bristles at Allie’s claims of innocence. Refusing defeat, a stronger, smarter Allie launches a battle for the truth, digging deeply into the past even if it threatens her parole statues, personal safety, and the already-fragile bond with family.

        As her commitment to finding the truth intensifies, what Allie ultimately uncovers is far worse than she imagined. Her own sister has been hiding a dark secret—one that holds the key to Allie’s freedom.

Ten of My Most Recent Not-So-5-Star Reads

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is actually all about the ten websites that I love that aren’t about books, but there’s one little problem. I don’t actually visit that many websites. I love Google, but other than that, I don’t really have any other ideas for this post. So, I decided to pick another topic. I feel like I do that way too often, but I’d much rather do that than not post at all, so I’m going to do it again this week, and I’ve decided to do something a little different. A while back, we had a post all about ten of our most recent 5 star reads, but this week I decided to post about ten books I’ve read recently that I didn’t give 5 stars. (Oh, and if you want to see any of my reviews to see why I didn’t give a book 5 stars, just click on the coral-colored titles!)

Love’s Rescue by Christine Johnson

Can a girl enamored with the adventurous seas ever be content with the tame life of a Southern belle?

        When her mother dies, Elizabeth Benjamin heads home to Key West, determined to transform herself into the perfect Southern belle her parents always wished her to be. But nothing goes according to plan. Her brother resents her, the servants do not obey her, and Rourke O’Malley, the dashing man she vowed to forget, refuses to relinquish his hold on her heart. Worst of all, it becomes painfully obvious that her father is not the man he appears to be.

        As family secrets come to light, Elizabeth is faced with a difficult choice: to perform her duty and abandon her dreams, or to leave her life of privilege behind to chase the man her father sees as little better than a pirate.

Join Becky Wade for a Facebook Party May 5

It's time to party! Becky Wade, one of my favorite authors of all time, is hosting a Facebook party tomorrow in honor of her new release, Her One and Only! Check out this information!

 

A female bodyguard plus her star NFL client plus danger equals a great recipe for romance! Her One and Only, book four in Becky Wade's Porter Family novels, releases May 3. To celebrate, Becky is hosting an author chat party on her Facebook page on May 5 at 5 PM PDT/8 PM EDT. Join Becky for an evening of book chat with other bookworms and prizes.

Plus a portion of all pre-sales and sales the release week of Her One and Only will be donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. For more details on how to purchase a copy, click here.

About the Book

After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt–none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives — and their hearts — to one another.

Learn more and purchase a copy.


This post was made possible thanks to the Litfuse Publicity Group.

Currently—May

        I can’t believe it’s already May! Although I am so glad that it is, it doesn’t feel possible that it is already this late in the year! It feels like it was just New Year’s, and yet, here we are, with summer fast approaching and warmer weather upon us. Here’s what I’m currently up to this May!

Celebrating: I’m celebrating that I’m finally on summer break! I’ve worked so hard on homework and class assignments for what seems like forever, so I’m so glad to finally have a lengthy break stretching before me. There are no limits to all of the things I can accomplish!

My Bookshelf: Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti

        Lucy and Charlie Tuttle agree on one thing: they’re committed to each other for life. Trouble is, neither of them expected life to look like this. While Charlie retired early, Lucy is devoted to a long-term career…until the day she has no choice.

        Forced to retire from her position as music educator in a small Midwestern K-8 school, Lucy can only watch helplessly as the program her father started years ago disintegrates before her eyes. As the music fades and a chasm separates her from the passion of her heart, Lucy wonders if her faith’s song has gone silent, too. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes.

        When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and hears—everything.

Who Doesn’t Love a Classic?

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is actually all about the ten childhood characters I would love to revisit as adults, but every character I thought of already had another book featuring him/her as an adult. Take Anne for example. I absolutely love Anne of Green Gables, so I thought of Anne immediately, but then remembered that there are seven other books—Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne’s House of Dreams, Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, and Rilla of Ingleside—all featuring Anne as she grows up, and her growing family. Anyway, I couldn’t come up with a very good list, but it got me thinking all about classics, so I figured I would list some of my favorite old classics instead.

The Photograph by Beverly Lewis

He studied the picture more closely, finding it curious that the young woman looked so boldly into the camera while wearing a white prayer Kapp shaped like a heart—the characteristic head covering for the Lancaster County Old Order Amish.

Why would a devout girl have her picture taken?

        When her sister Lily disappears only months after their widowed mother’s passing, Eva Esch fears she has been wooed away from the people. Yet Lily’s disappearance isn’t Eva’s only concern: she and her sisters must relocate once their older brother takes over the family farmhouse. Then Jed Stutzman, an Amish buggy maker from Ohio, shows up in Eden Valley with a photo of a Plain young woman. Eva feels powerfully drawn to the charming stranger—but the woman in the forbidden photograph is no stranger at all.