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.

Gunpowder Tea - A Review

Miranda Hunt, a Pinkerton detective, goes undercover as an heiress at the Last Chance Ranch in the hopes of bringing to justice the elusive Phantom. What she doesn't expect is to come to really care for the ranch owner and the ranch hands. Yet, she's determined to bring about justice and see her career be established as a Pinkerton. Everyone is a suspect. There's the new, mysterious hand, Jeremy Taggert, who not only is mysterious and intriguing, but sparks fly between the two whenever they happen to cross paths. There is more to him than meets the eye as well. He's also an undercover agent - a Wells Fargo one to be specific. Yet when they are forced to work together, neither can deny the attraction they feel for the other. But will the elusive Phantom ruin their plans for a happily ever after?

This is the third and final book in the Brides of Last Chance Ranch Series. I really enjoyed this one. I found the first to be a little slow moving at times, but this one kept me entertained through the entire story. I found both Miranda and (name) to be delightful. I think my favorite of the supporting cast of characters was the woman who was operating the telephones. She cracked me up with how she determined whether or not a person was spending too much time on the phones! Overall, I'd have to say that this particular book was my favorite of the series.

I received 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 historical fiction, Jody Hedlund, Mary Connealy, Karen Witemeyer

Rating - 4 stars - a solid 4 star rating

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

Dawn Comes Early - A Review

Novelist Kate Tenney answers an ad for an heiress on a ranch in Arizona. Once the Bostonian arrives, she finds out that ranch life isn't what she's thought it was in the novels she's written. Blacksmith Luke Adams isn't quite sure what to think of this beautiful eastern woman who knows nothing about ranch life. He causes Kate to question her own beliefs in men in general and makes her start to wonder if maybe she can have the happily ever after that she gives her characters. But she's got a choice to make - will she follow through with becoming Miss Walker's heiress which includes a vow to never marry or will she follow her heart?

This was the first book I've read by Margaret Brownley, but it won't be my last. I found Kate's struggles and her determination delightful. Add Luke's humorous matchmaking aunts to the mix and I found myself laughing at the their attempts to get Luke and Kate together. Luke didn't feel worthy of Kate because she's very educated and he doesn't have much book learning. She is determined to fulfill everything that Miss Walker wants in her heiress because of her distrust of men. Luke figures out a way to let her know that he's not like her father or the other men that had been in her life and Kate figures out a way to let him know that she's going to give love a chance. Both the main characters have to come to a point in the story that they have to let go of their own dreams and let God handle it. I think that's a lesson that everyone needs to know.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating 4 stars