Review: Kiss Me in Christmas

Kiss Me in Christmas (Christmas Colorado - Book 6) by Debbie Mason

Publication Date: 02/23/2016
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Imprint: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 1455588067
ISBN-13: 978-1455588060

(Received for an honest review from Forever)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Debbie Mason on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Excerpt from Kiss me in Christmas, courtesy of

Books in the Series:

Christmas, Colorado

1. The Trouble with Christmas
2. Christmas in July
3. It Happened at Christmas
4. Wedding Bells in Christmas
5. Snowbound at Christmas
6. Kiss Me in Christmas

Coverart: Click on the photo for a larger, clearer picture of the titles in this series

Synopsis:

It's always been you
Actress Chloe O'Connor has become America's sweetheart, but back in little Christmas, Colorado, she's still remembered as a shy, awkward schoolgirl. And there's no one she dreads (and secretly wants) to see more than her high school crush, Easton McBride. Just one look from the former star quarterback and it's like she's instantly transformed from daytime drama queen to tongue-tied teenager. She's kissed Hollywood actors and famous cover models, so she can certainly play it cool while turning up the heat, right?

After an injury ended his military career, Easton McBride built a good life in the rugged countryside of his hometown. And the last thing he needs is his quiet solitude shattered by a high-maintenance temptress who isn't anything like the sweet Chloe he misses. While he enjoys the flirtation with this new bold and beautiful woman, he can't help but wonder whether a kiss could have the power to bring back the small-town girl he's grown to love.

Thoughts:

Debbie Mason brings readers the sixth book in her Christmas, Colorado series, Kiss Me in Christmas. Fans of the series will love watching Mason transform the character everybody loves to hate into the heroine in this one. With great storytelling and a lot of humor this story comes alive. Mason's ability to balance Chloe's diva like behave against Easton's rugged charisma will have the reader enchanted. A new story from a great author.

What I liked:

There is a lot to like with this one. It was my first title by this author and from this series. Going in at book six I was a bit skeptical that I would be able to dive into the series and feel comfortable. Mason has created a community of characters for this series that intertwined, whether they are family or friends. Though there are six previous books it was easy to fall into the pattern of the relationships in this small town saga. Christmas is a real gem! I loved the small town charm and the hijinks of several of the inhabitants. 

Humor abounds in this book. I was not expecting that and it really made the book for me. Chloe is a diva to be sure. She is overdramatic, hyper sensitive and gets herself in one mess after another. Her relationship with her parents and most of the town in strained to the point of breaking. Just because she is an actress, doesn't mean she gets an recognition in her own hometown. But she has a very good friend in Ty and they are just hilarious together. I wanted to read more about them even after the book ended. A great friendship, full of surprises.

The romance between Chloe and her high school crush Easton started out rough and got worse. But eventually they get past Chloe the actress and finally get back Chloe the small town girl. The romance was balanced so well against all of Chloe's issues. Apparently readers have loved to hate Chloe in past books in the series. The author does a great job turning her into a girl that readers want to root for. Easton is a little hard to love in the beginning, he has some jerk worthy moments to be sure. But in the end these two were great with each other.

What I didn't like:

I wanted to like Easton right off the bat. I need a good strong hero to make a romance read come alive for me. When I read the synopsis, I thought... Wow, former military, hometown boy... I'm going to love him. Well in the beginning I really didn't lol. He came off as a jerk and a bit shallow. He was willing to flirt with the new Chloe, maybe even take it a little further, but he had no intentions of it being something real in the beginning and that kind of irked me. But he redeems himself later on. Flaws are good in a hero, the author just has to make sure they can bring them back from the brink of the reader not liking them. Mason does it. Not all of them can.

Bottom Line:

Great series. I look forward to going back and catching up. I loved the humor in this one. It made sense to me. Chloe has a lot to overcome. She never really felt good enough. I felt sympathy for her even early on. Easton was harder for me to warm up to, but I got there. A good romance, with lots of small town charm. I'll have visit Christmas again sometime soon.

Kiss Me in Christmas is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Debbie Mason is the bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series. Her books have been praised for their "likable characters, clever dialogue and juicy plots" (RT Book Reviews). She also writes historical paranormals as Debbie Mazzuca. Her MacLeod series has received several nominations for best paranormal as well as a Holt Medallion Award of Merit. When she isn't writing or reading, Debbie enjoys spending time with her very own real-life hero, their four wonderful children, an adorable grandbaby, and a yappy Yorkie named Bella.

Review and Giveaway: A Churn for the Worse

A Churn for the Worse (Amish Mystery - Book 5) by Laura Bradford

Publication Date: 03/01/2016

Publisher: Penguin Group

Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 304

ISBN-10: 0425273032

ISBN-13: 978-0425273036

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Laura Bradford on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Excerpt from A Churn for the Worse, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Books in the series:

Amish Mystery

1. Hearse and Buggy
2. Assaulted Pretzel
3. Shunned and Dangerous
4. Suspendered Sentence
5. A Churn for the Worse

Coverart: Click on the photo for a larger, clearer view of the titles in this series

Synopsis:

The national bestselling author of Suspendered Sentence returns to  Heavenly, Pennsylvania, where shop owner Claire Weatherly and Detective Jakob Fisher must put on their thinking kapps to solve a string of robberies and a murder in the Amish community...

When an Amish farmer is found dead in his barn, his family accepts his death as God’s will. But Detective Jakob Fisher knows the farmer didn’t hit himself in the head with the shovel lying beside his body. And when it comes to light that a stranger appeared at the farmer’s home and now money is missing from their milk can, Fisher suspects robbery as the motive—especially when another Amish family is victimized.
 
Getting to the truth proves difficult, however, since Fisher has two strikes against him in the eyes of the Amish—his chosen career, and the Amish roots he left behind. Desperate to stop a murderous thief, Fisher turns to Heavenly Treasures shop owner Claire Weatherly for help. The trust she’s earned from the Amish community enables her to go where the detective cannot—straight into the path of a killer...

Thoughts:

Laura Bradford returns to the Amish Mystery series with her fifth book, A Churn for the Worse. Bradford's portrayal of the Amish community is both heartfelt and forthright and readers who like a little mystery added in will love this one. With strong, multi-layered characters and a love for family and community this story will speak to many different kinds of readers. Readers looking for a great mystery need not look further. A dead Amish farmer, missing money and a missing racehorse, add up to a great cozy read from Laura Bradford.

What I liked:

I always love returning to Heavenly with each new addition to this series. Bradford has a way of bringing this Amish community to life. The characters are so well drawn that they seem like real people a reader might meet on the street. Where I live in Kentucky there is actually a thriving Amish and Mennonite population and I can't help but compare the characters in Bradford's books to Amish people I have met in my own backyard. She does such a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life and exploring their issues and problems without being judgement or having a bias for or against the Amish people. Very well done on that aspect of the book.

As always with any cozy. The mystery has to take center stage. In A Churn for the Worse, readers get a two for one experience. Not only do they get the main mystery of the story involving a stranger, some missing money and a dead farmer, but they also get a great side mystery involving a missing racehorse. Readers get their money's worth with this book and then some. The mystery aspects of the story are well written and entertaining. I thought I had it figured out early on, but I was totally wrong. I love it when that happens. It means the author was very good and letting the clues add up to more than one culprit.

Claire and Aunt Diane end up in the middle of this mystery for several reasons. Detective Jakob Fisher needs some help. He isn't everybody's favorite policeman. He was once Amish and he is not trusted among the community members. Claire however has won a lot of trust because of her past attempts at amateur sleuthing and she is able to garner a lot more information than Jakob. I love how these two characters work together and are able to solve the crime and put the community at ease. I also enjoy all of the interplay between Claire and Jakob and hope that it eventually leads to more. 

What I didn't like:

There wasn't too much to dislike about this one other than the fact that I think Bradford needs to diversify a bit. Her stories in this series have all been different of course, but they are sometimes a bit predictable. This one wasn't and I believe that makes it the best of the series so far. If Bradford continues to change it up a bit I think this series could be a very long lived one, with a great following.

Bottom Line:

Best of the series, hands down. This is a great mystery with plenty of suspects, red herrings and great interaction with the Amish community. Heavenly, is one of those towns a lot of readers will wish was real. Great characters and a great portrayal of the Amish. Bradford is on to something with this series and I think readers who haven't tried it are really missing out. 

A Churn for the Worse is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!  

About the Author:

While spending a rainy afternoon at a friend’s house as a child, Laura Bradford fell in love with writing over a stack of blank paper, a box of crayons, and a freshly sharpened number two pencil. From that moment forward, she never wanted to do or be anything else. Today, Laura is the national bestselling author of the Amish Mystery series, including Suspendered Sentenceand Shunned and Dangerous, as well as the upcoming Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery series.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of, A Churn for the Worse by Laura Bradford.

* You must be an email subscriber to participate

* U.S. Addresses only

* The deadline to enter this giveaway is, Midnight EST, March 17th.

1. Please leave a comment describing any interactions you may have had with the Amish community.

2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Welcome Back

Welcome Back (Smoky Mountain - Book 9) by Lin Stepp

Publication Date: 02/23/2016
Publisher: Kensington Books
Imprint: Kensington
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 1617732826
ISBN-13: 978-1617732829

(Received for an honest review from Kensington) 

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Lin Stepp on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Smoky Mountain

1. The Foster Girls
2. Tell Me About Orchard Hollow
3. For Six Good Reasons
4. Delia's Place
5. Second Hand Rose
6. Down by the River
7. Makin' Miracles
8. Saving Laurel Springs
9. Welcome Back

Coverart: (Click on the photo for a larger, clearer view of the titles in this series)

Synopsis:

"Lin Stepp paints a charming portrait of the Smokies, their people, and a wonderful way of life." --Deborah Smith, New York Times bestselling author

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains, Lin Stepp's sweet and touching story follows one woman's journey back to the home--and the husband--she left behind…

When Lydia Cunningham left her husband and moved to Atlanta ten years ago, it was with equal parts sadness and certainty. She loved her home in North Carolina, with its lush green hills and crisp, clean air. And in truth, she still loved John, too. But she could no longer live with her mother-in-law's constant criticism and the distance it created in her marriage. 

Now, thanks to a job offer at her alma mater, Lydia is moving back, renting the old country house where she and John lived as newlyweds. She hopes to strengthen the frayed ties with her daughter, Mary Beth, and build a relationship with her grandsons. As for John--it's clear from the moment Lydia sees him standing in her doorway that he hopes they might rekindle their bond. The spark between them hasn't dimmed--but neither have Lydia's memories of past hurts. Yet in this magnificent landscape that's always felt like home, she might find a way to forgive and begin again…

Thoughts:

Lin Stepp continues the Smoky Mountain series with the ninth book, Welcome Back. Readers who love the amazing landscape of the Smoky Mountains will appreciate Stepp's attention to even the smallest details in setting and in the customs and temperament of the area. This is a story about second chances and love that lasts even across the distance. With complex characters and even more complex family dynamics this is a book that won't soon be forgotten by any reader.

What I liked:

I live in Kentucky which happens to not be that far from the Smoky Mountains. When I found this series I was pretty sure I would love it, because I love the area. It's absolutely one of the most majestic and beautiful places I've ever been. Lin Stepp does the setting justice in this series. Description is a powerful tool in the hands of good writer and Stepp proves that if you can do it well, your setting writes itself. Not only do the mountains come alive, but so do the people. It might be easy to write about the colors and physical landscape of a place, but to write about the essence of those who inhabit it with such candor and openness is not easy. Stepp does it well.

When reading a book like this one readers have to have something to latch onto. The characters are extremely important because they usually provide that something. When I read the premise and synopsis of Welcome Back, I wasn't too sure I was going to be able to get behind Lydia and John in the way I had with previous couples in the series. Lydia struggled with her relationship with her mother-in-law and it eventually drove a wedge between her and her husband John. Lydia eventually leaves John with her daughter and takes her twin sons and moves away. I felt like from the git go, that I would not be able to support Lydia's character because she did not stay and fight for those she loved. I also wasn't sure I could support John's character because he didn't go after her. I was fully expecting to not like the book. Lin Stepp however had other ideas.

Once I started reading the book and figured out a lot of things from each of the characters point of view, it made a lot more sense to me and the second chance love story started to take shape in my mind. I could feel Lydia's misery as she dealt with the constant sabotage of John's mother. I was able to see the struggle he went through trying to choose between two people he loved dearly. What a mess! Stepp made me realize that though I might not like a particular action or point of view of character, that still doesn't mean I can't understand it and love them for seeing past it and making changes. 

This is a very good second chance love story and readers will definitely be able to get behind Lydia and John if they give them a chance. I was interested in Lydia's relationship with her daughter as well and seeing how all that played out. Her sons did not want her to move back to area. They were dead set against it and I found that whole dynamic interesting as well.

What I didn't like:

To start with I didn't think I'd like it, but Stepp proved me wrong. I still have a little bit of issue with the whole running away from your problems idea. But that's not really what this book focuses on. It's more about what you do when you realize you made a mistake. It's about the fact that love doesn't just disappear when things get bad. As I continued in the book the love story took form and bloomed.

Bottom Line:

I like it when an author proves me wrong. Stepp did that. I thought her characters would be one way, and they were not. I kind of wanted to dislike them, but I didn't. I wanted to think they were running from their problems and hiding their heads in the sand, but that wasn't the case. A great job by the author, to change my view of the premise. The setting was amazing. I love the Smoky Mountains. The descriptions and attitudes of the area were very well done. A very good book. Looking forward to the next one in the series.

Welcome Back is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Dr. Lin Stepp is a native Tennessean, a businesswoman, and an educator. She is on faculty at both Tusculum College and King University, where she teaches psychology and research. Her business background includes over 20 years in marketing, sales, production art, and regional publishing. But closest to her heart is her beloved series of contemporary novels set in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Visit her on the web at linstepp.com.

Review: Midnight Bites

Midnight Bites (A Morganville Vampires Book) by Rachel Caine

Publication Date: 03/01/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley NAL
Genre: Paranormal/UF
Pages: 512
ISBN-10: 1101989785
ISBN-13: 978-1101989784

(Received for an honest review from Berkley NAL)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Rachel Caine on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Excerpt from Midnight Bites, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Books in the series:

Morganville Vampires

1. Glass Houses
2. Dead Girl's Dance
3. Midnight Alley
4. Feast of Fools
5. Lord of Misrule
6. Carpe Corpus
7. Fade Out
8. Kiss of Death
9. Ghost Town
10. Bite Club
11. Last Breath
12. Black Dawn
13. Bitter Blood
14. Fall of Night
15. Daylighters

Midnight Bites

Coverart: (Click on the photo for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series)

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine presents a collection of stories—including six new tales—featuring the little Texas town that’s overrun by the undead.


WELCOME TO MORGANVILLE.
YOU’LL NEVER WANT TO LEAVE.
 
By day, Morganville, Texas, is just a typical college town. By night, the vampires emerge and take control.... 
 
In a town where it’s not safe to be out after dark, student Claire Danvers and her friends have had their fair share of thrills. But Morganville still has a few secrets left to tell.
 
Now, in this collection, you can venture down the town’s strange streets, revisit all the tales you’ve come to love, and experience six new stories featuring your favorite Morganville residents—both human and vampire...

Thoughts:

Hold on to your hats, Morganville fans! Rachel Caine returns with Midnight Bites. This is a collection of old and new stories from the Morganville Vampire world. Readers who couldn't quite bear to see the end of this series will be jumping for joy over this one. Twenty-two stories, six of which are all new! Some , are short, some are longer. The previous stories have all been collected from anthologies, web specials and even the authors personal thoughts on her characters. It's must read for any Morganville fan!

What I liked:

I'm a huge fan of Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampire series. I was really sad to see it end, but I had a feeling Caine wasn't quite done with this world yet. I love the freedom that novellas and collections give authors to continue to post shorts from the amazing worlds they have created without changing the overall series. It's so nice to be able to learn more about characters and what makes them tick. Midnight Bites is one of those collections that makes you feel like you are getting a behind the scenes look at the series, through each characters eyes. It was amazing with a capital A! lol

Caine not only collects all of the Morganville stories that have appeared in anthologies throughout the years, but she also gives the reader a look at some stories that were written primarily for the web and some of her own personal sketches of characters and situations that she used in her own writing. How cool is that? I also really enjoyed the fact that there is a short little paragraph written by Caine at the beginning of each story that basically explains each one. Great insight into her process! 

Another thing that sets this collection apart is that it follows the time line of the series. Each story is in order that it would have appeared within the series, so the reader gets to see Eve in the beginning before she becomes a roommate at the Glass house, but they also get to see later on when things have been dramatically different for her. I loved the growth the reader gets to experience in all the characters due to the time line of the stories.

The main Morganville series focuses on Claire and her story is really the most prominent voice in the book. In this collection readers get stories from so many different points of view. Myrnin, Shane, Eve, even Hannah Moses. It was just a joy to see so many old stories, but also get to see the six new ones and how they meshed together. Makes a reader want to go back and the whole series again! Oh My!

Bottom Line:

If you are a fan of Morganville, you can't leave this one on the shelf. It's an amazing collection. Twenty-two stories, six of them new. Several points of view. Old stories, new stories, you name it. Anthology stories, web only stories, character sketches. When Caine decided to give readers more, she went big. I can't recommend this one enough to fans of series, and if you haven't tried it.... you don't have a clue what you are missing!

Midnight Bites is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Rachel Caine is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of more than forty novels, including The Great Library series, Prince of Shadows, the Weather Warden series, the Outcast Season series, the Revivalist series, and the Morganville Vampires series.

Winner's Post!

Hi everyone! 

First a little news:

As of today, I am back to a full blog schedule. I am going to see how this goes and if I have the time to devote to it. I will post two reviews a day. That will depend on several factors, including the amount of time I need to spend with my mom. I know you all understand and thanks again for your words of comfort and understanding. 

I'm excited about some of the reviews coming out in March. I've read some amazing books and some that fell a little flat. I look forward to sharing all of that with you. 

Here are our winner's for the February giveaways. Remember that winner's will be notified later today and publisher's no later than tomorrow. The publisher is responsible for getting these titles out to you, though I will help if I can, should you not receive your prize. All winners are picked by a random draw. Each participant has an equal chance to win.

A Turn for the Bad by Sheila Connolly
Winner: Sue Farrell

Town in a Cinnamon Toast by B.B. Haywood
Winner: Sally Schmidt

Carolina Dreaming by Virginia Kantra
Winner: Pat Lieberman

A Disguise to Die for by Diane Vallere
Winner: Barb Wiseman

Midnight Revenge by Elle Kennedy
Winner: Chris Bails






Thank-You for your participation and check my side bar regularly for new giveaways.

Review: Along Came a Rogue

Along Came a Rogue (Secret Life of Scoundrels - Book 2) by Anna Harrington

Publication Date: 02/23/2016
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Imprint: Forever
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 1455534056
ISBN-13: 978-1455534050

(Received for an honest review from Forever)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Anna Harrington on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Secret Life of Scoundrels

1. Dukes Are Forever
2. Along Came a Rogue

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Along Came a Rogue, courtesy of the author's website

Synopsis:

THE WICKEDEST SECRET . . .
Major Nathaniel Grey is free to bed whomever he wants, whenever he chooses, and that's exactly how he likes it. His only loyalties are to country and the two friends he served with-brothers he'd do anything for. So when one of them is gravely injured and asking for his little sister, Grey will move heaven and earth to bring her home. He's greeted not by the gangly girl he remembers, but a stunningly beautiful woman holding a loaded musket. And he's utterly captivated by her . . . 

IS A SECRET SEDUCTION
Once upon a time, Emily would have loved nothing more than a stolen hour with her brother's best friend, the dashing officer who captured her heart and soul. But things are different now-and so is she. Gone is the eager young woman who believed in love. In her place is a widow weighed down with secrets who desperately needs to disappear before they're revealed. But Grey's sinfully sexy smile offers protection unlike anything she's ever known, tempting her to risk everything . . . even her heart.

Thoughts:

Anna Harrington brings readers the second book in her Secret Life of Scoundrels series, Along Came a Rogue. This one is quite the steamy read even from the first paragraph! It's easy to see why Harrington is quickly becoming an author to keep an eye on in the historical romance genre. Compelling characters with plenty of secrets, a touch of mystery and tons of action both in the bedroom and out. A great new book from Anna Harrington!

What I liked:

Regency romances are all about the splendor and opulence of the ton. It's about decorum and the proper way to do things. Anna Harrington's writing adheres to a lot of those norms that readers expect from a Regency author, but she isn't adverse to taking a few risks either. I thought this story showed a lot of confidence in the author's ability to sell her story to her audience. She may be writing about earls and marque's and the like, but she also writes about rogues and orphans. The balance between what the ton expects and what the ton gets was just perfect in this one. 

Emily has a big secret, that may determine her future in every way. Nathaniel has a big secret that could deter everything he has ever worked for in his life. This story is about secrets and how they define the characters in the book. Grey is a rogue that operates on the outskirts of the ton, enjoying the benefits, but not really being a part. I loved the fact that Harrington makes the reader think he doesn't really care about that, but then shows that he does. Emily is his best friends little sister. A stolen kiss sets her life in a spiral, and now her life is threatened. She is not longer the brat, Grey once knew. But a strong and capable woman. Great characters all around! Multi-faceted and intense.

Thomas is practically on his death bed and all he wants is his sister. Grey takes it upon himself to retrieve the young widow, but gets a whole lot more than he bargains for. There was plenty of action in this one, in the bedroom and out. Emily and Grey are instantly reminded of a kiss they shared when she was just a girl. The intensity of their attraction ramps up throughout the book and gives the reader a lot of swoon worthy moments. But, there is a touch of mystery here as well. Emily's husband was murdered and she is in danger. Grey wants to protect her but his station in life is nothing compared to hers. I loved the balance and the way the author was able to focus on the romance, but still keep the mystery alive, throughout.

Something to remember:

This one starts off racy from the get go. The opening paragraph is somewhat graphic even for a romance. But I think the author had to establish Grey as a real rogue right off the bat. Someone who doesn't care about the conventions of the ton or about the feelings of the women he entertains. I liked that spicy start. I was intrigued and wanted to know more about this man. I was amazed at how he went from scoundrel to attentive lover throughout the book. Even if the first page makes you blush... don't stop reading... it's a good thing.

Bottom Line:

This is a great book by Anna Harrington. I had not read the previous book in the series and still felt right at home with this one. It was engaging and a bit naughty. The hero and the heroine have a lot of secrets that could change everything for them and that makes for an intense read. The big secrets are handled well and the reader will find this one very satisfying. Great balance and complex characters. A great addition to this series!

Along Came a Rogue is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apple from my book bag!

About the Author:

Anna is an English professor in Chattanooga Tennessee and a lover of all things chocolate and coffee. She's a member of RWA and when she's not hard at work writing her next book or planning her next series, she's watching BBC and piloting her own aircrafts.

Review: The Promise of Forgiveness

The Promise of Forgiveness by Marin Thomas

Publication Date: 03/01/2016
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley NAL
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 0451476298
ISBN-13: 978-0451476296

(Received for an honest review from Berkley NAL)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Marin Thomas on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Excerpt from The Promise of Forgiveness, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

A novel of love, forgiveness, and the unbreakable bonds of family from award-nominated author Marin Thomas . . .
 
When it comes to family, Ruby Baxter hasn’t had much luck. The important men in her early life abandoned her, and any time a decent boyfriend came along, she ran away. But now Ruby is thirty-one and convinced she is failing her teenage daughter. Mia is the one good thing in her life, and Ruby hopes a move to Kansas will fix what’s broken between them.
 
But the road to redemption takes a detour. Hank McArthur, the biological father Ruby never knew existed, would like her to claim her inheritance: a dusty oil ranch just outside of Unforgiven, Oklahoma. 
 
As far as first impressions go, the gruff, emotionally distant rancher isn’t what Ruby has hoped for in a father. Yet Hank seems to have a gift for rehabilitating abused horses—and for reaching Mia. And if Ruby wants to entertain the possibility of a relationship with Joe Dawson, the ranch foreman, she must find a way to open her heart to the very first man who left her behind.

Thoughts:

Marin Thomas enters the Women's Fiction ring with her new novel, The Promise of Forgiveness. Thomas gives readers a story about forgiveness and redemption. This is a book that dives into the intensity of family bonds and the courage it takes to trust those who have hurt you in the past. There is a bit of mystery, a touch of romance and a mother/daughter relationship that will have readers flipping those pages way into the night. A great read from Marin Thomas.

What I liked:

Thomas has always excelled at setting and drawing the reader into the landscape of the book, whether it's in her previous western romances or her new book. In The Promise of Forgiveness the setting was actually quite important. Unforgiven, Oklahoma is about as descriptive as you can get. This a dusty, dirty town that feels washed up and spit out. It's mostly populated by men, ranch hands, roughnecks and those who just showed up and stayed. I liked the fact that Thomas almost makes this town feel like a character. When Ruby and Mia step off the bus, it's like a breath of sunshine and their influence on this town and those in it is immediate and startling. 

Ruby is such a great heroine here. She has been through a lot when readers meet her. She was somewhat estranged from her parents, got in some trouble and ended up pregnant as a teenager. Relationships are not her strong point and her daughter seems to be following in her footsteps. They need a fresh start. When Ruby finds out shes adopted and stands to inherit a down trodden ranch an ailing father, it's not quite what she had in mind. A great premise. Readers automatically are drawn to this single mom on a quest for a new beginning. Ruby and Mia's relationship is strained and Ruby seems a little frayed around the edges. Just like Unforgiven. 

Thomas dives right in and shows readers a relationship between a woman and her father that is both tenuous and hopeful. Ruby blames Hank for abandoning her and it's spilled over into other trust issues. She runs away from every relationship that could hurt her. It was amazing to see the way her walls begin to crumble when she sees Hank become the grandfather that Mia needs in her life. This book is about forgiveness and letting go of the past and it's also about redemption and doing the things you need to, to move on. I thought Thomas gave readers some very complex characters with deep seated issues. All of them work together and grow so much throughout this one.

Women's fiction and romance walk a fine line sometimes. The author has to really make an effort to make the story about the journey and not just about a love interest. I thought I might have issues with that here but it was not as pronounced as I thought it would be. Marin Thomas has previously written several western romances which were delightful reads, but focused on the romantic aspects more so than anything else. The Promise of Forgiveness does have romance. The ranch foreman, Joe, has issues of his own to sort out and his relationship with Ruby is important to the story but not the main focus. 

Bottom Line:

This is a great book. Marin Thomas gives readers a wonderful premise, forgiveness and takes them on a journey they will not soon forget. The characters are intense and emotional. They are complex and intuitive. I loved watching them grow and change. You've got some romance here, a bit of mystery, a great setting and some familial bonds that become stronger with each chapter. 

The Promise of Forgiveness is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Marin Thomas is an award-nominated author of more than twenty-five novels, including the Cash Brothers series. She grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin, and attended college at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she played basketball for the Lady Wildcats and earned a BA in Radio and Television. Following graduation, she married her college sweetheart in a five-minute ceremony at the historic Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada. While her two children were young, Marin coached youth basketball. Now that her son has graduated college and her daughter is in graduate school, Marin writes full-time. She and her husband currently live in Houston, Texas. The Promise of Forgiveness is her first women’s fiction novel.