Four Weddings and A Kiss - A Review

Published - Thomas Nelson Books, June 2014
Title - Four Weddings and a Kiss.
Authors - Margaret Brownley, Debra Clopton, Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher
Format - ebook, paper
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A collection of four western novellas that center around unlikely matches.

Spitfire Sweetheart - Mary Connealy
Maizy Place is a tomboy to the extreme. When she causes an accident that seriously injures neighbor Rylan Carstens, she decides that the only way she can make amends is become his caregiver. Neither expects to fall in love.
My thoughts - This was by far my favorite of the collection. I loved the dynamics between Maizy & Rylan. I thought that they were both great. Rating - 4.5 stars.

Love Letter to the Editor - Robin Lee Hatcher
Molly Everton is outspoken and hoping her father will give her the editor's position. Needless to say, she's shocked when the position is given to newcomer Jack Ludgrove. Molly then tries everything in her power to get him to leave town. Jack's not intimated. In fact, he likes the spitfire personality she tries so hard to hide. Before they know it, they are falling in love.

My thoughts - This one was really slow moving for me. I liked the characters, but I thought that the plot really just plodded along. Still it was cute. Rating 3 stars.

A Cowboy for Katie - Debra Clopton
Katie Pearl is afraid. She lost her father and her home in a recent tornado and she's trying to survive on her own. The townspeople think she's crazy. When drifter Treb Rayburn arrives in town, she hires him to help her build her house. She doesn't expect that this drifter could teach her a couple of lessons along the way.

My thoughts - I've read a lot of Debra Clopton's books before and have always really enjoyed them. They make me laugh. This one, I didn't connect with. It had a way more serious tone than I've come to expect from a Debra Clopton book. I think that this one was probably my least favorite of the four novellas. I easily found myself putting it down and not picking it back up. Rating 2 stars.

Courting Trouble - Margaret Brownley
Grace Davenport is either a killer or just very unlucky. When her third husband is found dead, she is arrested. Her young son hires attorney Brock Daniels to help her. Brock isn't interested in the case until he meets the beautiful young woman. Then he sets out to prove her innocence. But along the way, will these two lonely hearts find love?

My thoughts - I enjoyed this one. Not as much as the Mary Connealy one, but I did enjoy this one. I thought that Grace's son was absolutely precious! I loved how Grace and Brock came to fall in love. Rating 4 stars

Overall thoughts - I loved how these four novellas were tied together in the prologue and the epilogue with the pastors telling the stories of these unlikely couples. While this collection was not my favorite of these authors, I enjoyed it.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's Booklook Bloggers program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction, novellas, Love Inspired Historicals

Overall rating - 3 stars.

The Heart's Pursuit - A Review

Published - May, 2014, Zondervan Books

Title - The Heart's Pursuit

Author - Robin Lee Hatcher

Format - ebook, paper

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When Silver Matlock is left at the altar and discovers that her fiance stole a considerable sum of money from her parents, she decides that she will set out to retrieve the stolen money. To assist her in her quest, she hires bounty hunter Jared Newman. The pair begin a trek through mountains and deserts never knowing that their quest may cost them their hearts.

I've read almost everything that Robin Lee Hatcher has written. This one was a fast read with lots of action and short chapters.

Still, I wasn't too particularly impressed with it. It was ok. The characters didn't have much depth to them. The plot did hold my attention, but it wasn't what I expected from a Robin Hatcher book. I get the fact that the book was more of an adventure than a romance, and that was fine. It made it rather entertaining. But still, I felt something was off.

This would be a book I'd recommend for the beach, or for a fast summer read. I didn't have to think much while I read it.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson/Zondervan's Booklook Blogger program for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of adventure, Robin Lee Hatcher, historical fiction.

Rating - 3 stars

Bride for All Seasons - A Review

A mail-order bride catalog whose facilitator of the ads submitted has a tendency of editing the ads admits that his "edited" ads have helped four couples find happiness. But what happens when the couples find out about the "creative editing? Four talented authors combine to write these novellas.

And Then Came Spring - Margaret Brownley - Gambler's daughter, Mary Jo Parker, arrives in town to discover that not only has her fiance died, but that he left behind an 8 year old son that was never mentioned in his letters. Yet it's the boy's uncle that finds her hoping for more.

An Ever After Summer- Debra Clopton - Widower Matt McConnell was very specific in his ad for a mail order bride - Bible believers need not apply. All he wants is a practical woman to be a mama for his daughter. When Bible believer Ellie shows up, he's so desperate for help that he accepts her as is. But will love follow?

 Autumn's Angel - Robin Lee Hatcher - Aspiring opera singer Luvena Abbott from a privileged childhood arrives in rural Idaho with her nieces and nephew in tow to answer the ad that Opera House owner Clay Birch placed. He specifically stated that widows with children should not apply. What will Clay do when Luvena takes an add out of her own?

Winter Wedding Bells - Mary Connealy - David Laramie wants a woman who will care for his children when he dies. But no young woman with dreams of her own would even consider his ad. Then Megan shows up. Seems that David's edited letter made no mention of him dying.

My thoughts

I have read books by each of these authors before. So when I saw that they were writing a novella book together, I knew I had to add it to my to-read list.

I wasn't disappointed in the book. Each author brought her own style to the book, and each story had characters that were endearing. I laughed my way through one of the stories, and sighed happily after reading others. This is a very enjoyable read. I'd have to say that my favorite story was Winter Wedding Bells mainly because I just adored Megan. I think that this book would be great for a beach, a pool side, a family vacation, or anything else going on in the summer.

I received the Kindle edition of this book for free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Mary Connealy, Debra Clopton, Robin Lee Hatcher, Margaret Brownley, fun reads, historical romance, mail order brides.

Rating - 4 stars