Heart Most Certain - A Review

Published - August 2016, Bethany House Publishers
Series - Teaville Moral Society Book 1
Author - Melissa Jagears
Title - Heart Most Certain
Format - ebook, paper
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Lydia King joined the Teaville Moral Society because of her father's debts and her mother's illness. She's not from the high end of society like most of the members, but her heart is in the right place. She's given one simple task - ask the town's wealthiest man to donate to the cause of the Teaville Moral Society. Plus she's hoping to impress the politician who is courting her. There's just one problem, Nicholas Lowe, the wealthiest man in town has refused her request. Multiple times. Yet he something in Lydia that tugs at his heart. He makes a deal with her, accompany him on three different missions of charity and he'll consider making a donation. But neither one could foresee what their actions mean to the town as well as their hearts.

My Thoughts:
This book was so different than the others that this author has written, but still just as good. For one thing, it was deeper than her others. I'll admit that I didn't find it to be the fluffy read I expected, but that's a good thing.

I remember meeting Lydia in the novella, Engaging the Competition. She was still in school in that novella. In this book, Lydia is grown up. She has a tender heart, but doesn't really understand being charitable until she meets Nicholas. As they go about their missions, Lydia has to admit some hard truths about herself. I loved the fact that the author didn't make it easy for Lydia. Nicholas, too, had to face some hard truths about himself and how others see him.

This is one book that while it is a historical romance, the romance actually took a back seat. It's been a while since I've seen that happen. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author as part of her team of influencers. All she asked me to do was to help get the word out about the book, and to honestly give my opinion of the book. She did not ask me to like the book, though I did enjoy it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Karen Witemeyer, Jody Hedlund Mary Connealy, historical fiction

Rating - 4 stars

With This Ring - A Review

Published - January 2016, Bethany House Books
Authors - Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Mary Connealy, Melissa Jagears
Title - With This Ring
Format - ebook, paper
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In this collection of four novellas, four different couples find love in unusual circumstances.

The Husband Maneuver by Karen Witemeyer
About the story: Marietta Hawkins has loved Daniel Barrett for years. She loves both the man and the dime novel hero. When she hears that he may be leaving her father's ranch, she takes matters into her own hands.

My thoughts: This novella is a compliment to Karen's Worthy Pursuit. I really enjoyed getting to see Daniel again. I'd have loved for his story to be a full length novel, but this novella was still a sweet read. Rating - 4 stars

Her Dearly Unintended by Regina Jennings - When Josiah Huckabee assists Katie Ellen with ensuring that her cows are safely across the river, he doesn't expect to be stranded with her! When a stranger arrives, Josiah and Katie Ellen must pretend to be newlyweds to ensure Katie Ellen's safety. But can this pretend match become something real and lasting?

My thoughts: Having not read any books in her Ozark series, I had no idea this was connected to those books. It really does stand alone. I enjoyed this one. It's funny and sweet at the same time. Rating - 4 stars

Runaway Bride by Mary Connealy - Big John Conway has been hired by Audra Kincaid to escort her younger sister to the family's ranch in Colorado in order for her to escape an arranged marriage. When word gets out that Carrie is missing and has been spotted in Big John's company, he has no choice but to divert to Broken Wheel where his Regulator friends can help him stop this latest bit of trouble in Texas. The only thing he didn't expect is to fall for woman he's supposed to be rescuing.

My thoughts: I think that this one was probably my favorite one. I'd always felt that of all of the Regulators, Big John needed his own happy ending. I loved seeing him with his friends and with Carrie. Rating - 4.5 stars

Engaging the Competition by Melissa Jagears - Harrison and Charlotte - known as Charlie - have always been competitors. When his glasses are broken while he's checking on her safety during a strong spring storm, Charlie feels that she has no choice but to help him with his teaching. While the forced togetherness may be fine for most people, Charlie's engaged - and not to Harrison! Will these two manage to put their competitive natures behind and possibly discover love in the process?

My thoughts: This one was fun to read. I loved how Harrison kept putting Charlie's well being ahead of his own desires and that she was determined to save her family farm so that her mother could happily live where the memories of her father were the strongest. Rating - 4 stars

Overall thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, though it did take me several days to get through. For fans of these authors, you will enjoy this book. For someone who isn't sure about these authors, then I recommend trying it. The stories are all entertaining.

Rating - 4 stars

I received a copy from one of the authors for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bride at Last - A Review

Published - July 2015, Bethany House Publishers
Series - Unexpected Brides Book 3
Author - Melissa Jagears
Title - A Bride at Last
Format - ebook, paper
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Silas Jonesy's life hasn't gone the way he'd planned it. His mail-order bride left him after only a few months of marriage. Since then, he's fought an uphill battle to overcome addictions, and to actually become a productive member of the community. Then he receives a letter from his wife after ten years of silence. He's hopeful that she wants to reconcile and he sees the letter that his prayers have been answered. He doesn't expect to arrive in Missouri to find her dying and that she has a nine year old son. Could he be the boy's father? Kate Dawson has her own opinions regarding mail-order marriages. She was supposed to be a mail-order bride but never went through with the ceremony. Now she's a teacher.Over the past few years, she has grown to care for her student Anthony and his sick mother. She promises his mother to care for Anthony, and she intends to do that until a man shows up claiming to have been married to Lucinda ten years ago. Soon Kate and Silas must join forces to determine what is best for Anthony especially as another man claims to be the boy's father. With Silas doing all he can to prove his paternity, Kate only wants what is best for Anthony. Their tentative relationship is tested when Silas's past and Kate's fears come to light. Can they figure out their differences to be the family that all three desperately need?

This is the third book in the Unexpected Brides Series. Each one stands alone. While this one was not my favorite, I did enjoy it.

First I found that Silas had changed so much from the first book to this one. Seeing how he's changed and grown made him very believable. I loved how he struggled. I also loved how he was willing to do whatever he needed to for the sake of providing Anthony a safe place, even if he wasn't the boy's father.

I didn't really care for Kate. I didn't really like the way that she judged Silas on his past but didn't like having her own faults called out in question. I also didn't really care for how she just behaved in general. Don't get me wrong. I did come to like her, but it wasn't until much later in the book, like almost the end.

Still the book overall was a very good read. I enjoyed catching up with the characters from the other books as well.

I received this book from the author for the purpose of reviewing and promoting. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of mail-order brides, historical romance, Mary Connealy, Jody Hedlund, Karen Witemeyer

Rating - 4 stars

Bride in Store - A Review

Published - August 2014, Bethany House Publishers
Series - Unexpected Brides Book 2
Author - Melissa Jagears
Title - A Bride in Store
Format - ebook, paper
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Mail-order bride, Eliza Cantrell is so anxious to meet her future husband that she arrives a week ahead of schedule. Only things haven't gone as she planned. First the train she's on is robbed and she's relieved of her dowry. Then when she does arrive, she finds that Axel, her groom, isn't even in town. William Stanton, Axel's business partner, would make a much better doctor than store owner. When Eliza arrives, wounded, with no money and no groom in sight, Will feels responsible for her. Sparks soon fly between Eliza and Will. Matters are only complicated when Axel finally does make an appearance. What will Will and Eliza both be willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams or does God have a bigger plan in place for them?

After being delighted by the first book in this series last year, I was eager to read this one. I'd met Will in the first book and had no idea that his story would be in this one. Until I started reading it. And then I was delighted to read about Will as a grown rather than the teen he'd been in the first book.

I love the sparks that fly between Eliza and Will. I also love how even though he has no formal schooling or training, Will is the town's favored doctor. The journeys that both main characters go on shows how deep they really are. I also loved how each was willing to give up their own dream for the other's happiness.

For me, this was a quick read. The story moved along at a smooth pace and the characters were delightful. My heart broke for the family when their new baby died.

I'm really hoping that we get to catch up again with Eliza and Will in the third book.

I received a copy of this book for free from the author for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical romance, mail order brides, Karen Witemeyer, Jody Hedlund, Mary Connealy

Rating - 4 stars

Bride for Keeps - A Review

Julia Lockwood answers an ad for a mail order bride. But when she arrives in Salt Flats, Kansas, she discovers that her prospective groom, Everett Cline, didn't advertise for one. At least not this time. Everett has been hurt more times than he can count in the hopes of finding a wife. After having one girl leave him, he decided to advertise for a bride. Yet each one that answered his ad ended up not marrying him. One died in route to him. Another married a man she met on the train. A third married someone else once she arrived. So Everett feels that Julia won't be any different. Julia's determined to prove that she will be a wife that won't leave him. She's also determined to have only a marriage of convenience. But what'll happen when the pair start to fall for each other? Will they turn their marriage of convenience into a real marriage?

Mail order brides are a popular theme right now. But as long as an author makes it seem new, then for me the stories never get old. This twist on the mail order bride story is one I'd not read before, so I truly enjoyed it. Debut author Melissa Jagers does an excellent job in showing Everett's pain and reluctance at trying his hand at a marriage - again. Julia is very complex. She was hiding something, but what I didn't know. Eventually the reader finds out. I loved the secondary characters of Dex and Rachel and their family. I am looking forward to more by this author.

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

Recommended to fans of Love Comes Softly, mail order brides, Karen Witemeyer, Love Inspired Historicals, Lori Wick, Tracie Peterson, Lauraine Snelling

Rating - 4 stars - good solid debut