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Showing posts with label Denise Hunter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Denise Hunter. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Book Review: Secretly Smitten Anthology

Four delightful stories that tie mystery and love together beautifully.
Secretly Smitten Anthology
Colleen Coble (Author, Contributor), Kristin Billerbeck (Contributor), Denise Hunter (Contributor), Diann Hunt (Contributor) 
 
  • File Size: 939 KB
  • Print Length: 383 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 140168713X
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 8, 2013)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Genre: Inspirational Romance
My Overall Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Individual ratings listed with the stories.


Book Description
Publication Date: January 8, 2013

Summer, fall, winter, spring—Smitten, Vermont, is the place for love . . . and mystery!

There’s a secret in Grandma Rose’s attic—a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?

The mystery intrigues Rose’s three granddaughters—Tess, Clare, and Zoe—and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?

Join popular romance novelists—and real-life BFFs—Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for four delightful intertwined tales of mystery and sweet intrigue.


Review:
Dog tags of a man who supposedly died in Korea are found in the attic. The dog tags belonged to David who was the first love and fiancĂ© of Rose. Rose’s granddaughters, Tess, Clare and Zoe, decide to investigate even though their mother Anna warns against it. Each story tells a new love story while moving the investigation forward another step, exposing long hidden secrets and betrayal.

Love Between the Lines by Colleen Coble. Rating  4.25
Tess has a few extra pounds and doesn’t expect there will ever be a man who would choose her. She is attracted to Ryan, the owner of the local dairy, ice creamery. But Tess is nothing like Ryan’s first wife and sister-in-law who are beautiful fashion mavens. Unknown to Tess, Ryan is attracted to Tess too. She is down to earth, real and natural which he finds refreshing after his first wive’s compulsive perfectionism.

Ryan owns the home that used to belong to David’s family. Tess offers to help Ryan clean his attic which will allow her to search for clues about David but also brings Tess and Ryan time together. Ryan’s daughter, Sophia, is fond of Tess too. She loves how Tess, who owns the local book store, is willing to dress up and make voices when reading stories to the children.

I enjoy Ms. Coble’s clear, real-to-life characters, settings and plots. The romance grows slowly and sweetly, with the added warmth of a young child. The dialogue is very real and natural.

Make Me a Match by Kristin Billerbeck. Rating 4.25
Zoe is the younger, vibrant sister who loves helping the seniors in Smitten. She’s decided to sink everything she has into a new business: Cupid’s Arrow Matchmaking Services. Zoe believes the business fits in with Smitten’s efforts to become a tourist attraction as a romantic get away.

As Zoe prepares her new storefront for an opening singles event a handsome man walks into the ladder she is using. She doesn’t need trouble before she even starts but it seems trouble may have found her in the form of the new town manager, William.

William is a trouble shooting, rule-making and enforcing manager.  He’s been brought in to help get the town selected for a new rail station which would really help the town economy. William likes Zoe but he sees code violations in her building that make it unsafe. He wants to help Zoe but if he doesn’t take a hard stand he’ll be risking his own job.

The conflict between these two is fun as impulsive Zoe immediately takes a defensive stand in opposition to William’s concerns. There is good humor as the family keep trying to match-make the pair.  I enjoyed the faith based references of trust that the author slips into the story.

Knit One, Love Two by Diann Hunt. Rating 4.5
The girl’s mother, Anna, lost trust in men and love after their father left her and the girls behind to start a new family with another woman. Anna managed to help make ends meet with her knitting shop, The Sit ‘n Knit. She loves the colors and textures of the materials and loves helping other women in the community with their projects. She is reluctant to trust the interest of Michael, who is the handsome son of Emma, a customer who is suffering from cancer. Besides, Michael is a retired, career officer who he has been a loner for a long time and is struggling with an estranged son.

A skiing injury lands Michael cabin bound and Anna offers help. When Anna decides to raise a herd of sheep to supply wool for spinning Michael is there to help her.  Slowly a friendship edged with desire builds.

I enjoyed the vulnerability of these characters as they learn to release their fears and begin to trust. The warm, mature romance is very lovely. I also liked Anna’s firm faith and willingness to seek guidance from the Lord.

Love Blooms by Denise Hunter. Rating 4.5
Clare is the middle child and a lady with a green thumb. She is the one who keeps to routine; steady and practical.  She has recently lost her boyfriend who decided that she was just too predictable and ‘boring.’ It is a surprise when she hires a drifter to help at the nursery that she manages.

Ethan lost a buddy in war and has lived from town to town following where he feels God directs him to help. He was desperate for work when he arrived in Smitten and now is looking for God’s meaning in bringing him to this charming town. He is attracted to Clare but he doesn’t want to start something since his visit is only temporary.

Ethan and Clare both have fear, control and trust issues to overcome. It is wonderful to watch them shift their views so that they can come together. This story also does a great wrap up for the mystery and the healing for the betrayal that occurred in Rose’s past.  I had tears in my eyes by the time this ended.

The book concludes with some great Reading Group Guide questions that dig a little deeper into emotions and reactions. This would make a great group read as well as a lovely read for anyone who likes inspirational romance.

I received this anthology from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley for an honest review.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Book Review and Giveaway: The Trouble with Cowboys by Denise Hunter

This is an enjoyable romance with several inspirational messages.

The Trouble with Cowboys
by Denise Hunter
File Size: 783 KB
Print Length: 302 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1595548033
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 2, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
Also available at: Thomas Nelson CBD B&N
Genre:  Christian Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: October 2, 2012
Only one pair of boots—and the cowboy wearing them—can get Annie out of the mess she’s in.

Annie Wilkerson is Moose Creek’s premiere horse trainer and equine columnist for Montana Living. Money is tight as she tries to put her kid-sister through college and provide for her young nephew. When Annie’s column is cancelled, she’s given first shot at a new lovelorn column—and she can’t afford to turn it down. Only problem is . . . Annie’s never been in love.

Always resourceful, she reluctantly strikes a deal with the town’s smooth-talking ladies’ man Dylan Taylor: She’ll work with his ailing horse, Braveheart, if he’ll help her answer the reader letters.

Working closely with Dylan is harder than Annie imagined, and she quickly realizes she may have misjudged him. But her unwavering conviction that cowboys are nothing but trouble has kept her heart safe for years. And she can’t risk getting hurt now.

The more Annie tries to control things, the more they fall apart. Her feelings are spinning out of control, and her sister’s antics are making life increasingly more difficult. Annie knows she needs to turn the reins over to God, but surrender has never come easily.

When Dylan reveals his feelings for her, Annie doesn’t know what to trust—her head or her heart. The trouble with this cowboy is that he might just be exactly what she needs.

“. . . a story filled with romantic tension . . . Hunter’s well-developed characters and plot twists make for a delightful and inspirational journey.” —Publishers Weekly


Review: 
Annie has a lot of responsibility on her young shoulders. Her father, a cowboy, left when she was young and her mother had been through several more husbands who also left. Annie works two jobs to make ends meet for herself and her younger sister, Sierra, and Ryan, Sierra’s  young son. Annie is intent on putting Sierra through college and is frustrated that Sierra can’t hold a job long and isn’t as dedicated to college as Annie feels she should be. She understands that Sierra is still young at 20 but Annie feels she shouldn’t be out partying when she has a young son at home and needs to prepare for her future.  It is clear that Sierra is beginning to resent being “mothered” by Annie.

Annie is attracted to Dylan who is a handsome, flirty cowboy. But there is no way that she is going to get involved with a cowboy. Her mother’s history says that cowboys are trouble and they can’t be trusted. Instead Annie is dating a nice, stable banker, John, even though there may not be the zing with him that she feels with Dylan.

Dylan appears to be a flirt but he had a painful experience that has left him sour on commitment. He finds Annie attractive and more stable than a lot of women he knows. Yet he knows that she isn’t the type of woman to treat lightly. Dylan really needs Annie’s expertise as a  horse trainer to help with Braveheart, an older horse who is going blind.

Although reluctant, Annie agrees to work with the horse if Dylan will help her with her new column - advise to the lovelorn. She figures he has had plenty of experience to share in the love arena. They strike a bargain even though it is clear they won’t always agree on recommendations for the column. Annie also finds it hard to decide if her answers should be consistent with God’s advise or man’s less forgiving nature.

I enjoyed the relationship between these nice characters and their pull and resistance made for good conflict and nice sensual tension.  The situation with Sierra was definitely frustrating and created a major obstacle for Annie. I like how it worked out with a few surprises. 

Annie and Dylan are both Christians so it would seem that they might have come together sooner with a bit more openness and that was annoying ... but then there wouldn’t have been the story. There are nice messages on issues of being judgmental, relinquishing fear, trusting God and allowing Him control to accomplish the impossible. The Christian issues are handled well through life style examples rather than preachiness.

The writing has a nice easy flow and the romance is sweet with enough heat to make it interesting and enjoyable. If you like Christian and sweet romances you should enjoy this read.
  
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dylan's effect on Annie:
“...Have a seat. Warm enough? I can get a fire going.”
He already had–he just didn’t know it. And if she were smart, she’d stick to the porch. Location 683.
What Annie seeks: 
She wanted security and love. Commitment and chemistry. Was that too much to ask? Location 2001
I received this title through NetGalley for  Review for Thomas Nelson.
This story is set near Bozeman, Montana for my Where Are You Reading challenge. I will also add it to my ARC and New Author challenges.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for a PRINT COPY provided by the Publisher:


For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit  the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

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