Monday, April 30, 2018

The English Son

The English Son is the first of six books in The Amish Millionaire Series by Wanda & Jean Brunstetter. All six books are currently available and you can buy them individually or in a complete volume. I bought mine one at a time, as they were released and had the excitement of waiting and finding each new volume in the stores.

Joel Byler has big dreams, he has a beautiful fiancee, Kristi Palmer, and even though he hasn't given her a ring yet they are looking forward to a happy future together. He works as a contractor and loves to buy and restore old cars. When Joel makes a costly purchase at a car auction he puts all his big dreams in jeopardy. He has to find a way to pay his sub contractors, hid the car, and stay a float until the next big job comes in.

Kristi loves Joel with all her heart. She isn't even worried that he hasn't bought her a ring yet, he proposed and she said yes, case closed. They're planning a great future together and each have put money into a joint account saving up for their life together. Kristi's mom isn't fond of Joel. For one thing, he isn't a man of faith and he seems to always put his needs before Kristi. They say love is blind and for Kristi that's true.

Joel strikes me as a very selfish person. He bought a car using money he didn't have and hides it from Kristi so she won't know he used funds set aside for something else to get what he really wanted. He has determination and drive, unfortunately he sometimes uses it on selfish things. He's very guarded for a man supposedly in love. He won't tell Kristi anything about his family except she wouldn't like them. She has no clue who Joel really is or what he really wants.

Kristi is like most people in love. Willing to see the best and forget all the rest. She listens to her mother's concerns, but I'm not sure she takes them to heart. She loves Joel, but she wishes he would open up to her more. She thinks given a little time these hiccups will work themselves out, but will they? I wonder if she would feel that way if she knew all of Joel's secrets.

I know it's only book one but I am hooked on the series! Each book is relatively short making for a quick read. They're each like a mini series and once you start reading you will not want to put them down. I feel sorry for Kristi because she has pinned all her hopes and dreams on one man without really knowing anything about him. I'm hoping Joel can overcome his selfish ways and open up to Kristi about who he is and where he comes from. I'm excited to see how this story ends and can't wait to read the next book of the series.

You can grab a copy here:The English Son
Or the complete series here:The Amish Millionaire Series

Thursday, April 19, 2018

The Innkeeper's Daughter

The Innkeeper's Daughter isn't a book I would typically read. I do like historical fiction, but I'm not always a fan of espionage. When I read the back cover; the story seemed promising so I decided to give it a chance. Let me just say, best decision I ever made! Little did I know how much I was going to love The Innkeeper's Daughter.

Johanna Langley is determined to keep her family Inn, The Blue Hedge Inn, at all cost. It's all her family has left. Her gambling father died and left them in such a financial bind they've had to borrow money from some very unsavory characters. Still, Johanna shoulders more than her fair share of the burden determined to take care of her aging mother and ailing brother along with doing most of the work at the inn. Johanna doesn't mind she just wishes sometimes her life was easier. She believes her luck may be turning around when Alexander Morton shows up along with Mr. Quail and his band. Things aren't always what they seem however and Johanna will have to learn quickly who to trust and who means more harm than good.

Thomas wants to make his sister, Johanna, proud. She's had a rough go of it since their dad died but it seems no matter what Thomas does Johanna finds fault with it. It gets on his nerves and he often accuses her of not knowing how to have fun. When he runs into Mr. Quail and his band mates he takes it upon himself to convince the men they need to stay at The Blue Hedge Inn rather than the nicer inn in town. Then when he meets Mr. Morton who not only agrees to pay him for carrying his bag but also helps him get back money he lost playing a rigged game Thomas just knows Jo will be proud of him this time.

Alexander is one of the best at what he does. His only allegiance is to the crown and Magistrate Ford, the man who rescued him from a life of crime and who knows what. The Magistrate Ford set him on the path of a law man. When Ford sends him on an assignment to figure out who means to betray the crown, Alex has no doubt that he will bring the traitor to justice. He's not thrilled about staying at the Blue Hedge Inn but he's willing to do whatever it takes. With the Inn filling up quickly and the pretty Johanna to serve as a distraction Alex may have taken on more than even he can handle. For the first time in his life he's considering a life outside of law enforcement, but thoughts like that can get a man in serious trouble when he should be focusing on finding the traitor before it's too late.

The Inn Keeper's Daughter is one of the best books I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time. The plot is so well written it will keep you guessing until the very end. It's not so drawn out it gets boring and it's no so intricate you can't follow. The characters have so much depth that I truly forgot they weren't real! Out of all the characters I would have to say Lucius Nutbrown was my favorite. He didn't necessarily have a major role in the story but he was definitely the comedic relief! I wondered if Ms. Griep's named him Nutbrown because he really was a nut! What grown man walks around with a puppet talking to it like it's a real person and expecting others to do the same?! I love how you weren't able to figure out who the traitor was until the end. I had changed my mind several times thinking "okay I finally have it figured out" only to change my mind when someone else did something shady.

I don't want to give too much away because the book is really that good! I do want to encourage you to grab a copy and give The Innkeeper's Daughter a try. Even if it isn't something you would typically read I truly believe you will enjoy it and love it as much as I do!

You can grab a copy here:The Innkeeper's Daughter

* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review*

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

A Loyal Heart

About the Book

Title: A Loyal Heart

Author: Jody Hedlund

Genre: Adult medieval romance

Release Date: March 6, 2018

He’s taken her as his prisoner. But she’s holding his heart captive. In gaining their freedom, will they lose what matters most?

When Lady Olivia’s castle is besieged, she and her sister are taken captive and held for ransom by her father’s enemy, Lord Pitt. Loyalty to family means everything to Olivia. She’ll save her sister at any cost and do whatever her father asks—even if that means obeying his order to steal a sacred relic from her captor.

As Lord Pitt’s commander, Sir Aldric is in charge of the beautiful but feisty new prisoner. He has his hands full attempting to keep Lady Olivia out of trouble. When Lord Pitt throws her in the dungeon and threatens to hang her for stealing, Aldric conceives a plot to save Olivia’s life—betrothal to him

Can Olivia give up the prestigious match her father has arranged with a wealthy marquess in order to marry a lowly knight like Aldric? And can Aldric move beyond his past mistakes to embrace love again? When loyalties are tested, they’re thrust into danger that could cost them their love and their lives.

My Thoughts: I absolutely love Jody Hedlund books! She has a unique ability to make scenes come alive in your minds eye. The characters come to life and you feel like you're a part of the book instead of merely reading it. I highly recommend A Loyal Heart to anyone who's looking for the next great read!

*I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

About the Author

Jody Hedlund is the author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the

winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

Guest Post from Jody Hedlund

The Growing Need for Sweet Young Adult Romances

By Jody Hedlund

This past year my youngest daughter turned twelve and entered seventh grade. And she decided that she wanted to read my books.

Of course I was thrilled that she was taking an interest in my writing. But since my adult historical romances are more intense and contain some mature themes, I handed her the young adult series I’ve written.

As she started the first book, I peeked in her room a time or two to ask her how she liked it.

“It’s the best book you’ve ever read, right?” I teased.

“It’s okay,” she replied, teasing me right back.

The true test for how much she liked the series came when she couldn’t put the book down. She hid away in her room and read all day. Then she read the second book the next day and the third book the day after that.

She never did gush over the series. But she didn’t need to. Her serious reading marathon told me all I needed to know! Then when I was writing the fourth book in the series, she asked me if she could read it early before it was published which was another testament to how much she enjoyed the series.

“As long as you promise to say that I’m your favorite author,” I said, teasing her again.

I’m happy to say that she finished A Loyal Heart just as quickly as the others. Although I’m not sure that I’m her favorite author, I’m satisfied that she loved the series.

Even more, I’m thrilled that I could hand her sweet romances full of chivalrous qualities—like courage, sacrifice, honor, and loyalty. As she’s being entertained, she’s learning lessons about character traits that are important in relationships.

My daughter, like other young teens I’ve talked to, really enjoys medieval settings and stories. In some ways, those kinds of stories connect them to the princess fairy tales they used to love when they were little. Let’s face it, even adult readers still love stories about knights and castles and daring damsels!

In a book market for teens that has grown increasingly dark, jaded, and sexual, I only wish I had more to offer my daughter and other young women. It’s my passion to continue providing wholesome, clean romances for teens, books I know will encourage and uplift as well as entertain.

How about YOU? Is there a teen reader you know who needs an alternative to what’s available in the market? I encourage you to gift them with A Loyal Heart. And make sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win the entire series that you can read, pass along, or even gift to your library.

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award. She lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!). When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.