Jane Austen fans will love An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter

If 'melting' and 'awwing' are two of your favorite reactions to have while reading then you need to put An Uncommon Courtship (Hawthorne House Book 3) on your list.

I sped through this book in a matter of days. Ms. Hunter reels readers in from page one with Lord Trent Hawthorne and Lady Adelaide Bell's hasty and forced marriage. Accidently, getting trapped in ruins; overnight and unchaperoned...honor stipulated that he propose to her to save both of their reputations.

Can Trent and Adelaide discover love in their avant-garde marriage, all the while battling their own doubts and the pressures of London society?

Being the 2nd son of the Duke of Riverton, Trent is not expected to marry a woman of high social status; he is able to marry for love. Those dreams are dashed he's bound by principle to Adelaide, a woman who is a stranger to him.

Likewise, Adelaide is the 2nd daughter and middle child of an affluent family. Her mother spent her entire life ignoring Adelaide focusing solely her oldest daughter Helena, always trying bolster her station in society. Adelaide is accustomed to being ignored and invisible. Despite being raised by an indifferent mother, she remains sweet-tempered, ladylike, and well-read. I liked Adelaide's character and sympathized with her. She "[was] rather unconventional...unique in appearance, with thick hair so dark it was nearly black and enormous blue eyes that would have appeared even larger if she had been wearing her spectacles." (Hunter, 16).

At first, Trent initially resisted his marriage and for a time ignores Adelaide, but he eventually realizes he wants to be married and he wants to be a good and godly husband. I really admired this character trait in Trent, the way he diligently searched the scriptures and sought counsel from fellow godly men about how to be a good husband and love his wife.

I loved that Ms. Hunter choose to have the hero and heroine married at the beginning of the story rather than the end as is typical of most period romance novels.

My favorite part of An Uncommon Courtship was Trent and Adelaide's slow building,  and romantic  relationship. I found myself at times audibly sighing over this book and rooting for Trent and Adelaide to realize they are made for each other. Ms. Hunter really captured the feeling and time period of the Regency era.

There was one minor flaw of the Adelaide's that drove me a little nuts. She blinks a lot, but that fact that Trent found it adorable caused me to see it in a different light and by the end of the story I was fine with it. Besides this slight fault of Adelaide's, I liked everything else about her.  I especially liked that she wears glasses. Maybe it's because I myself wear glasses that made her that much more relatable.   

After reading An Uncommon Courtship, it made me to want to read books one and two in the Hawthorne House series. (A Noble Masquerade and An Elegant Façade)

Ms. Hunter is making a name for herself in the regency-era genre. I look forward to reading more of her books.


~~ An Uncommon Courtship was provided to me by Bethany House in return for my honest opinion. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, for which I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone ~~

On the record....For The Record is a Fun and Fast Read

Finally! Betsy Huckabee's story is told in For The Record! I have been waiting somewhat impatiently to know more of this character's fate. After reading about Betsy in Ms. Jennings' Ozark Mountain Romance series (A Most Inconvenient Marriage and At Love's Bidding); I was particularly curious to find out what happened to her.

Betsy is at a crossroads in her life. She's been living with her uncle since she was 12 helping him raise his children and assisting him with his newspaper since the passing of his wife. Her uncle has since re-married and Betsy now age 24, feels it's time to assert her independence.

Native Texan, Deputy Joel Puckett feels like a fish-out-of-water when he's appointed by the governor to be the new deputy of Pine Gap. He receives a less-than-cordial reception from the Missouri residents and has an uphill battle trying to maintain law and order in the small town and gain the respect of the citizens.

The arrival of the easy- on-the-eyes deputy inspires Betsy to write a series of somewhat embellished stories about his heroics, building him up, and trying to make him seem irresistible to ladies  hoping a larger newspaper will snatch up her story, publish it and then she'll be able to pursue her dreams of living in the big city and ultimately freedom.  However, the more time that Betsy spends with Joel she begins to respect him and sees what her ambition could cost her. Her world of fiction and reality blur the lines.

For The Record had all the elements I gravitate towards as a reader: humor, mystery, and amusing wordplay between the hero and heroine. My favorite part of the book was the relationship between Betsy and Joel. I liked how Ms. Jennings built their relationship from initially not liking one another, then transitioning into a solid and respectful friendship and ending with romance.


While each author has their own individual flair for writing, For The Record reminded me of stories you might read from Christian fiction novelists Karen Witemeyer and Mary Connealy. (Two of my favorite writers!)

For The Record is Regina Jennings best book to date!

~~ For The Record was provided to me by Bethany House in return for my honest opinion. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, for which I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone ~~

It's Still A Wonderful Life 70 Years Later: Film Review

70 years ago today, the now beloved Christmas classic

It's A Wonderful Life

premiered on December 20th, 1946

to mixed reviews and was not the highly acclaimed film we know today.

A clerical error by the NTA (National Telefilm Associates) in 1974

caused the film to enter the public domain and

Voila!

The film is now a public treasure in part due to local stations having gained the ability

to saturate our living rooms with repeated viewings

from Thanksgiving to Christmas every year.

Like most American families, our annual holiday traditions

included watching It's A Wonderful Life. 

Dozens of pillows and blankets would be gathered and we'd pile in the family room

to become engrossed in Frank Capra's fictional town of Bedford Falls

and the trials and triumphs of town resident,

George Bailey (James Stewart). 

Witnessing crucial scenes from George's boyhood,

following him through his dreams & ambitions of youth,

 and watching him fall in love with Mary (Donna Reed).

They wed shortly there after, raise a family

and we slowly see his daydreams dwindle and dim.

The culmination is Christmas Eve night when he's rescued by an angel

Clarence Odbody Angel Second Class (AS2)

who takes George on a journey of self-discovery to realize that

he really has been blessed with a wonderful life.

What is it about It's A Wonderful Life

that still appeals to fans and viewers
7 decades later?

On some level, there's a little of George Bailey in all of us.

We find ourselves in seemingly desperate situations,

 hungrily eyeing the greener grass on the other side of the fence,

or believing others would be considerably better off without us.

Clarence opens George's eyes

and helps him clearly see how rewarding his life truly is.

The message that life is a

gift still resonates with viewers

today.

Fun Film Trivia:

(Director) Frank Capra often said that this film was his favorite of all his films. Likewise, Jimmy Stewart has often said that George Bailey was his favorite character to play.

Jimmy Stewart was nervous about the phone kissing scene (with Donna Reed) because it was his first screen kiss since returning to Hollywood after WWII. He filmed the scene in one unrehearsed take, and it worked so well that part of the embrace was cut because it was too passionate to pass the censors.

It's A Wonderful Life was Donna Reed's first starring role.

Director's Trademark: Jimmy the Raven appeared in all Capra films after 1938 including It's A Wonderful Life.

Fatal Frost is a Thrilling, Fast-Paced, Page-Turner

Fatal Frost (Book 1 in the Defenders of Justice series) takes you on an edge-of-your-seat suspense tale following US Marshall Mercy Brennan. Recently, having recovered from a gunshot wound in the line of duty, she is sent by her boss on what she thinks is an assignment with her ex-boyfriend, fellow US Marshall Mark St. Laurent. The task is to check up on a person in their witness protection program who feels that he is in danger. What Mercy doesn't realize is that this "assignment" is a ruse to get her out of town for her protection against a notorious and controlling gang that killed her absentee, law-enforcement father.

While on route a fierce ice storm leaves the team stranded in a remote location unable to contact their office to inform them of the dangerous situation they are in.  Can they survive long enough to wait for help to arrive?

At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about Mercy's character, but as the story progressed I began to understand her more and have sympathy for her. She is deeply wounded by her father's absence in her life, but rather than wallow in self-pity she has worked hard and become a US Marshall at the young age of 26. She does tend to keep people at a distance, but I think this is in part because she's afraid she'll lose them like she did her father.  There are few people who Mercy has let into her life that get the opportunity to see her real self. Her ex-boyfriend Mark St. Laurent is one person and her best friend Lieutenant Tally Williams is the other. Mercy is also tough and extremely stubborn. I saw this as a necessity in her line of work as a US Marshall. I'm sure being a young female officer she felt that she needed to gain the respect of her fellow colleagues.

Mark St. Laurent is the type of hero girls dream of. He's brave, handsome and loyal.
It's clear when he appears on the scene that he and Mercy still have an attraction between the two. It practically leaps off the page.  Mark is a new Christian, striving to life a Christ calls him. He's still in love with Mercy, but he's continually struggling with feelings for her. He endeavors to maintain a friendship relationship with her. Mark wants more than friendship from Mercy, but sees that they can only be friends nothing more until Mercy is also a fellow believer in Christ.

I really liked Mercy and Mark's relationship. Despite being broken up they still maintain a solid working bond. It's clear that they both trust and look out for one another.

Perhaps I'm reading too much into this, but I thought it was unique that Ms. Mehl named her heroine Mercy. One dictionary definition is compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender. And I feel that Mercy does somewhat exemplify these traits. Yes, as an officer of the law she does want to see justice, but I didn't get the sense from her that she wishes harm on others rather she simply seeks to do right.

Fatal Frost was my first introduction into Nancy Mehl's work. Her writing reminded me of the suspense novels of fellow Christian fiction author Irene Hannon is best known for.  I'm intrigued to read more books in this series....hopefully we'll get to read more of Mercy and Mark's story.


~~Fatal Frost was provided to me by Bethany House in return for my honest opinion. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, for which I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone ~~

The Christmas Shoes Can Change your Christmas Shopping Forever

Amid the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season take a little time to read this tearful and heartwarming tale by Donna VanLiere. You’ll be glad you did. It will put the “reason for the season” into perspective, remind you of the true meaning of Christmas and it will revolutionize your shopping experience. I’m not saying this book will make the Christmas crowds more pleasant, but it might just change your viewpoint and perhaps cause you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

The Christmas Shoes tells the story of two families whose lives unknowingly intersect and are permanently changed.

The narrator of this tale is told through the point of view of Robert Layton, an ambitious, 80 plus hour-a-week lawyer. He works hard to provide his wife, Kate and two school-aged daughters, Hannah and Lily the type of lifestyle he thinks they want and deserve.

By contrast, the Andrews family is preparing for heartbreak. Beautiful, Maggie Andrews their beloved wife and mother, is in the final stages of an aggressive and rare ovarian cancer. This Christmas season is the last she’ll spend with her family. Jack Andrews is an honest and dependable car mechanic trying to provide for his family. Unlike the Layton family, the Andrews’ family is not well-off. They are considered lower income-middle class. Like the Layton’s, the Andrews also have two children; an eight-year-old son, Nathan and a toddler daughter, Rachel. Despite the sorrowful times the family is going through; love and laughter still abound in the home.

Christmas Eve night, Robert bumps into Nathan Andrews at Wilson’s Department Store not realizing that this little boy’s life will be forever altered. “He turned around and said, “Sir, I need to buy those shoes for my mother,” his voice shaking. I was startled to see the child talking to me. I felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. “She’s not feeling very good, and when we were eating dinner my dad said that Mama might leave to see Jesus tonight….This kid was no scam artist, somehow I knew that. I looked into his wide eyes and something happened to me in that moment. A pair of shoes to meet Jesus in. This child is losing his mother.” (VanLiere, 90-91).

This seemingly short and simple moment connects the two families and changes their future Christmases as well as the rest of their lives. It proves how connected we all are and just how powerful our actions can be. The smallest purchase can carry many layers of impact. We all have moments where we “know” something about our fellow man.  In these instances, we have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of and connect with our fellow man on a deeper level.

After reading this book, I’m certain you’ll approach your shopping differently. This book is so well-written and poignant you won’t be able to escape it!

“If we’re open to it, God can use even the smallest thing to change our lives…to change us. It might be a laughing child, car brakes that need fixing, a sale on pot roast, a cloudless sky, a trip to the wood to cut down a Christmas tree, a school teacher, a Dunhill Billiard pipe…or even a pair of shoes.” (VanLiere, 130).

** I’m extremely honored to be asked to write a special Christmas guest blog for the lovely and talented ladies of SHE Changes Everything. SHE is a wonderful and empowering movement started by two vivacious and passionate women who are dedicated to helping women life their best life- Sustainable, Healthy, and Ethical.

Fans of Downton Abbey Will Enjoy 'A Lady Unrivaled'

One of the benefits of being a Bethany House blogger is that I'm able to discover new authors that I haven't read before. A Lady Unrivaled (Book 3 in her Ladies of the Manor series) was my first foray into Roseanna M. White's work.

Enchanting Lady Ella Myerston is a delightful heroine. Despite the fact that she's the sister of a Duke she was unpretentious, fun-loving, and had a penchant for adventure and getting lost.
James Azerly, more commonly referred to as Cayton or (formally) Lord Cayton is a complex hero. As a recent widower and father he struggles with guilt over his past sins and his marriage. When he meets Lady Ella he's immediately attracted to her, but he feels unworthy of her and so he's continually struggling  against his attraction to her.

The interactions between Cayton and Lady Ella were one of the key reasons that kept me turning pages anticipating their next meeting. Ms. White has a talent for writing witty banter between the main characters.



The principle plot of A Lady Unrivaled was the Fire Eyes Diamonds which are rare red diamonds that are highly prized and sought after. Several sub-plots were scattered throughout this story and it was interesting to see how in the end the author tied in all of the sub-plots with the main storyline.

While I enjoyed this book due to the length and the many major and minor characters it took me a little longer than a month to read. As a reader, the plethora of characters was my one drawback to this novel. Thankfully, Ms. White included a list of characters in the beginning of the book. This proved to be a helpful reference guide so that I could keep all of them straight.  Other than that I liked everything else about this book. It had all the elements that make a great story. The multitude of characters didn't dissuade me from wanting to read more books by Ms. White.

I felt that I was transported back to the Edwardian era. The way that Ms. White jumps from scene to scene made me feel as if I was reading a season of the hit British TV show Downton Abbey. Being a die-hard fan of the show (I own all 6 seasons on DVD) I loved the sense of feeling like I'd traveled back in time to pre-WWI period. If you love Downton Abbey like I do, I'd urge you to check out A Lady Unrivaled.

~~ A Lady Unrivaled was provided to my by Bethany House in return for my honest opinion. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, for which I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone ~~

No Way Up by Mary Connealy....There's No Way You Won't Finish it!

Mary Connealy's latest adventure No Way Up (The Cimarron Legacy Book 1) takes you back to the 1880's New Mexican Territory where there's avalanches, new wills are read, lives changed, and danger threatens the owners of the Cimarron Ranch (CR).

Hired-hand Heath Kincaid's quick thinking rescued his boss Cimarron Ranch patriarch Chance Boden from an avalanche. Prior to boarding a train for Denver to save his leg (and his life) Chance demands that Heath read his new will to his 3 adult children and insists that it is to be enforced immediately.

 The new will states that Cole, Justin, and Sadie Boden are to all live and work at the CR for 1 year or the ranch will pass to a detested distant cousin. Both Cole and Sadie have moved into town away from the ranch. Cole successfully runs his father's mining business and Sadie works at the orphanage in town and feels that she has found her calling and purpose in life. Justin is the only Boden sibling who lives and works on the CR. A characteristic that all the Boden siblings share is stubbornness. But it was great to see how they came together despite their squabbling and differences to save their family's legacy.

I liked hero Heath Kincaid from the get-go. He is loyal to the Boden family, a man of action, equally stubborn as the Boden clan, and he's got a lot of gumption. Not only does he rescue Chance, but the family as well a few times throughout the story.

Heroine Sadie Boden can hold her own. She is the type of heroine that readers have come to expect and love from this author. Ms. Connealy manages to strike the perfect balance when it comes to her heroines. Most often, they are sassy and tough-as-nails, but they always maintain their femininity.

And of course it wouldn't be a Connealy Western without her romantic and sigh-worthy kisses between the hero and heroine.
"Heath's head dipped, and his lips met hers. A kiss. Her first kiss. It was perfect.
Lips slanted across her mouth. He raised the hands they'd joined until he laid hers on his shoulder. Then he let go and slid one arm around her waist. So gently, so mindful of where they were. But just as surely lost in the kiss as she was." (Connealy, 123-124).

Ms.Connealy maintains her fun, adventurous, Wild West storytelling that she's known for in No Way Up. The ending is gratifying, yet leaves it open-ended for more stories. I'm hoping that the Boden brothers, Cole and Justin will get their own stories because I'd love to re-visit the Cimarron Ranch.

I've been reading Mary Connealy's books for several years now and a unique attribute that I noticed is that her books and series always seem to be interconnected through her characters. She does this really well...it's seems effortlessly and seamlessly done, but I'm sure takes a lot of planning and thought.  Hero Heath Kincaid is the youngest brother of Rafe, Ethan, and Seth from her Kincaid Bride series (Out of Control, In Too Deep, and Over the Edge).

If romantic comedies about cowboys tickles your funny bone look no further than Mary Connealy's novels because this genre is her specialty.