On Lone Star Trail - A Review

Published - February 2016, Revell Books
Series - Texas Crossroads Book 3
Author - Amanda Cabot
Title - On Lone Star Trail
Format - ebook, paper
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Concert pianist Gillian Hodge was injured by a reckless motorcycle rider. As a result, she may never be able to play professionally again. In hopes of trying to figure out what to do next, she heads to Texas and her friend Kate's resort of Rainbow's End. T.J. Benjamin lost his wife a little over a year ago. Not only did he lose his wife, his faith took a pretty strong beating. Now he's traveling by motorcycle across the country/state checking off the things on his wife's bucket list. When a sudden thunderstorm sends him and his bike crashing in front of Gillian, T.J. has to wonder at God's sense of humor. As the two work together to entertain the teens in the RV camp at Firefly Valley, they discover that two reluctant hearts can find love.

In this conclusion to the Texas Crossroads series, hope is found again. I really enjoyed this one, like the others in the series. I loved getting to know T.J. and Gillian. I also loved watching them both overcome their struggles.

It was also fun to catch up with the other characters in the series and check in with them. That's one thing that I love about most series, while the novels stand alone, they typically give updates on the characters from the previous books.

I loved seeing them interact with the teens and basically become role models for these kids. When one of the girls runs away, even though TJ and Gillian's relationship is at a rocky place, they both drop what they are doing and join forces to find the girl.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of women's fiction, contemporary romance, Irene Hannon, Susan May Warren

Rating - 4 stars

Note from Dawn - I have several reviews that must go up today, so I'm going fill your inboxes today. 

In Firefly Valley - A Review

Published - May 2015, Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Series - Texas Crossroads Book 2
Author - Amanda Cabot
Title - In Firefly Valley
Format - ebook, paper
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When Marisa St. George left the small Texas town she grew up in, she never dreamed that she'd return. Yet she is forced to when the company she works for cuts her job and she is left with no option but to return and to accept the position as business manager at the Rainbow's End resort. The only thing she sees as good in coming out of this move is a new guest, Blake Kendall. He helps Marissa believe in love at first sight. Blake is stuck. He's got a serious case of writer's block and nothing will help break through it. When he shows up at Rainbow's End, he's hoping the quiet lakeside resort will help him overcome the writer's block. But when he meets Marissa, all thoughts of his newest story vanish as he spends time with the lovely young lady. He wants to help her. She's struggling with the way her drunken father abandoned them years ago. But when Marissa finds out who Blake really is, will she let fears get in the way of happiness and love?

I enjoy stories that are pure fluff. You know stories where I don't have to think while I read. Just ones that I can sit down with and enjoy. For me, I found that in this book. Yes it's book 2, but it stands alone and while characters from the first book are mentioned, it is not necessary to read it prior to reading this one.

Blake and Marissa. Both are strong characters. Both have issues that they are dealing with. Marissa's go back to her father and Blake's to his grandfather. And they each have to learn how to trust in God and to not only let go, but to forgive.

Like the first book, there was a secondary romance in this one too. This was between Lauren, Marissa's best friend, and Drew, Greg's old partner. I enjoyed their story as much as the one between Blake & Marissa.

If you're looking for something deep and thought provoking, then this is not the book for you. However, if you want an enjoyable summer read, this is a book for you. The journeys the characters go on made it a fun read for me. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of contemporary romance, Becky Wade, Katie Ganshert, Susan May Warren, Denise Hunter

Rating - 4 stars

At Bluebonnet Lake - A Review

Published - October 2014, Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Series - Texas Crossroads Book 1
Author - Amanda Cabot
Title - At Bluebonnet Lake
Format - ebook, paper

Kate Sherwood is on the fast track to a partnership with the advertising agency she works for in New York. When her grandmother asks her to take a month off and take her to the resort Rainbow's End in Dupree, Texas, Kate can't say no to the woman who raised her. Kate's not sure how she will manage to relax when she is in the middle of no where. Yet arriving at the resort, Kate discovers that the resort is in need of a lot of help. It's there that she meets Greg Vange, a man she assumes is the resort's handyman. Yet there is more to Greg than meets the eye - billions more in fact. Greg's at a crossroad himself. He is trying to figure out where to go next, and he feels called to Rainbow's End. Why he doesn't know. He also senses the sparks that fly between him and Kate every time they are together. But with Kate's career on the rise on New York and Greg wanting to slow down, will these two figure out what is in store for them?

The cover of this one is the one that caught my eye. It appears to be a very fun, fluffy, light-hearted read. If I'm not mistaken, this is the author's first contemporary romance. So when this one came up on the list of titles for reviewing, I immediately requested it. I wasn't disappointed in it at all.

Despite having some pretty mixed reviews, I found this book to be delightful. I loved the people of the town of Dupree and I loved how Kate started to use her advertising brain to figure out ways to market Rainbow's End. I loved how she and Greg got together and seemed to support each other. I also loved the romance between Kate's grandmother, Sally, and Roy, an elderly gentleman in town.

Sure both of the main characters have issues, but as they deal with them, they grow. I didn't have to think as I read this book. For me it was pure fluff. I look forward to the next in the series.

I read this book in about a day and a half. I started this on Sunday and finished it after work on Monday. In fact, it's already on loan to a friend of mine too.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Janice Thompson, Becky Wade, Debbie Macomber, Katie Ganshert, Irene Hannon's contemporary romances

Rating - 4.5 stars, rounding to 4

Christmas Roses - A Review

Celia Anderson is a young widow with a baby daughter and is praying that more boarders will show up to help her make ends meet. The last thing she wants is to remarry even if it means her daughter would have a father.When wandering carpenter Mark Williams arrives on her door looking for a place to stay, she doesn't expect him to work his way into her heart. After all, she'll only remarry if the man she marries brings her roses for Christmas. Mark is searching for answers and finds the small Wyoming town a good spot to stay for the winter before continuing on his quest. He sure wasn't expecting to have his heart stolen by a beautiful widow and her infant daughter. He also wasn't expecting to make peace with the God she loves. Will he figure out a way to give Celia roses for Chirstmas?

This is the first book I've ever read by Amanda Cabot. This was a really sweet story that shows how Christmas is a time of miracles. Mark learns to let go and finds that dreams can come true. Celia learns love again. This is a very sweet Christmas book and made me glad to visit the season.

I received this book for free from the publisher, Revell Books, for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Available in September 2012 at your local bookstore from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Recommended for fans of Melody Carlson, Christmas stories, Thomas Kinkade, Cindy Woodsmall.

Rating - 4 stars

Coming up in November

Happy November! I love all of the fall decorations and all of the baking and things associated with fall and Thanksgiving. Of course my favorite season is Spring, but Fall's a close second.

I've got a lot planned for this month. I'm planning on getting really busy on my Christmas gifts. I've already gotten part of my Mom's present. And most of my best friend's. Of course there are still several more I need to get or to make. Including figuring out what soup mixtures to make to give my friends.

I'll be hosting my first ever author interview around the middle of the month. I'm excited about it. Rhonda Gibson will be joining me and we're going to have a nice chat. I hope everyone will stop by and chat with Rhonda.

My monthly giveaway is planned with four of the Love Inspired Historicals.

Now for what I'm planning on reading (sorry no pictures tonight. Didn't want to take the time to find them). It's a slow month for me with one of the publishers so I can catch up on some of my other reviews.

All of these are for reviewing.

Two Christmas novellas -

Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

Christmas Roses by Amanda Cabot

Other fiction books on my list -

Lovelier Than Daylight by Rosslyn Elliot

Deposit Slip by Todd Johnson (finally getting to this)

Whispers in the Wind by Lauraine Snelling

And to read for fun.

Light in the Window - Julie Lessman

Widow of Saunders Creek by Tracey Bateman

Band of Sisters by Cathy Gohlke

For some reason, there are more books on my Kindle to read this month than paper copies.


Let me tell you about some of the Christmas gifts I'm working on. My best friend just had her second baby, so I'm working on Abi's baby blanket. I've got one that I hope to finish for my cousin's daughter she adopted last year. There's a scrapbook I'm working on. So between scrapbooking, crocheting, and the very special project for my mom, I'm going to be spending evenings being very crafty!