EmpowerMoms

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Unexpected Champion by Mary Connealy with JustRead Publicity Tours!

MY REVIEW:
This was an intriguing, historical drama and romance book. Although this is book 3 in the High Sierra Sweetheart series, it can be read as a standalone book. If you’ve read the other books then you will recognize some of the characters mentioned but this story primarily focuses on Penny and John.

I liked how Penny and John worked together and used each other strengths to help in gathering clues and trying to capture a wanted man. This story had a good, steady pace. Lots of western action-I really enjoyed it!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

Title: The Unexpected Champion
 
Series: High Sierra Sweethearts, Book 3
 
Author: Mary Connealy
 
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
 
Release Date: March 5, 2019
 
Genre: Historical Romance / Western

They’re as Different as Could Be.
 
But They’ll Need to Trust Each Other to Survive
the Wilderness . . . and the Dangers Chasing Them.

City dweller John McCall never expected to be out in the High Sierras of 1868 on a wild-goose chase to find the Chiltons’ supposedly lost grandson. But now that he’s out here, things have gotten even more complicated, mostly due to wildcat Penny Scott. She’s not like any woman he’s ever met–comfortable in the woods, with a horse, and with a gun.

When Penny and John are taken against their will by a shadowy figure looking for evidence they don’t have, both realize they’ve stumbled into something dangerous. With their friends and family desperately searching for them, Penny and John must make a daring escape.

When they emerge back into the real world, they discover their kidnapper just won’t stop. This city man and country woman must bring a powerful, ruthless man to justice, all while fighting a very inconvenient attraction to each other.

 

Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

CONNECT WITH MARY: website, facebook, twitter, instagram

You can also find Mary at these sites: Seekerville and Petticoats & Pistols

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

 (1) winner will win

• a complete set of all three High Sierra Sweethearts books (print, US only)
• $20 Barnes & Noble gift card

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight April 8, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm April 15, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Driftwood Bay (A Hope Harbor Novel Book #5) by Irene Hannon

This was such an enjoyable book to read! I loved that the story had continuing characters like Floyd and Gladys the seagulls; and Charlie who makes the tacos out of his truck. This can be read as a stand alone novel or read in order of the series.

Dr. Logan moves to Hope Harbor and becomes neighbors with Jeanette. They immediately hit it off but they are both hesitate to have a relationship until they can work through their own personal grief and faith to be able to allow love into their life. I especially liked Dr. Logan’s niece Molly and her child-like faith, love, and acceptance of all people. I also liked reading the side story of the Syrian family who fled to Hope Harbor for refuge.

This is such a great, easy to read, Christian fiction book. I love the peaceful town and all the characters. Can’t wait to read more in this series!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the book:
After tragedy upends her world, Jeannette Mason retreats to the tiny Oregon seaside town of Hope Harbor to create a new life. Vowing to avoid emotional attachments, she focuses on running her lavender farm and tea-room–until a new neighbor with a destructive dog and a forlorn little girl invades her turf. But she needn’t worry. Dr. Logan West is too busy coping with an unexpected family, a radical lifestyle change, and an unruly pup to have any interest in his aloof and disagreeable neighbor.

Yet when both Jeanette and Logan find themselves pulled into the life of a tattered Christian family fleeing persecution in war-torn Syria, might they discover that love sometimes comes calling when it’s least expected?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites readers back to the charming seaside town of Hope Harbor, where they are sure to find peace, healing, and a second chance at happiness.

Purchase your copy here:

About the Author
Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including One Perfect Spring, Hope Harbor, Sea Rose Lane, Sandpiper Cove, and Pelican Point, as well as Dangerous Illusions and the Private Justice and Men of Valor suspense series. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, and she is a member of that organization’s elite Hall of Fame. Her many other awards include National Readers’ Choice, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers’ Choice, Booksellers’ Best, Carols, and Reviewers’ Choice from RT Book Reviews magazine, which also honored her with a Career Achievement award for her entire body of work. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.

Running Target (Coldwater Bay Intrigue) by Elizabeth Goddard
This book isn’t going to be released until May 1st but it was included in my March Harlequin Love Inspired suspense monthly subscription box so I was able to read it before the release date. (hooray!)

I was first introduced to this author when I read “Uncommon Justice Book” earlier this year. She is an AMAZING suspense author-I highly recommend reading any book she writes!

This story started off with a bang right away in chapter 1. Fast pace suspense and drama, with some clean romance.

Bree and Quinn were great main characters who worked together to try and break a drug ring all while trying to keep themselves and their family alive. I really enjoyed this story and found myself holding my breath several times as they keep escaping and then running into danger.

This story is one of those books where once you start, you won’t want to stop until you’ve finished. I absolutely LOVED it!!

About the book:
She escaped right into danger…
A Coldwater Bay Intrigue novel
A routine patrol turns deadly when marine deputy Bree Carrington’s boat is sunk by men carrying illegal weapons. Fleeing a barrage of bullets, she’s suddenly rescued by DEA agent Quinn Strand—her ex-boyfriend. Quinn’s return threatens more than Bree’s heart…because he’s the one the men are really after. As criminals hunt her to get to him, can Quinn and Bree take down a drug ring?

Purchase your copy here on May 1:

About the Author
Elizabeth Goddard is the award-winning author of more than thirty novels and novellas. A 2011 Carol Award winner, she’s a double finalist in the 2016 Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, and a 2016 Carol Award finalist. Elizabeth graduated with a Computer Science degree and worked in high-level software sales before retiring to write full time.

Distress Signal (Coldwater Bay Intrigue) by Elizabeth Goddard

This book was included in my monthly Harlequin Love Inspired suspense subscription box and was released January 1st. I was first introduced to this author when I read “Uncommon Justice Book” earlier this year. She is an AMAZING suspense author-I highly recommend reading any book she writes!

From beginning to end, this story had a great steady pace of drama, suspense, romance, and lots of twists and turns. I liked the main characters Kirk and Cora and how they worked together to figure out what Cora saw when she was attacked but had lost her memory. They continue to run for their lives through out the entire book as they try and figure out who is trying to target them and why. I read this book in one day because I couldn’t put it down and had to find out the ending and who the bad guy was.

Highly recommend! Loved the story, loved the characters!

About the Book:
Perilous reunion at sea
A Coldwater Bay Intrigue story
When shipwreck archaeologist Cora Strand is attacked and the research boat she’s on explodes, her ex comes to her rescue. Years ago, Kirk Higgins forfeited her heart, and now with no memory of who attacked her, Cora must trust him with her life. But at the risk of blowing his cover, can the NCIS agent stop a killer determined to put them both in a watery grave?

Purchase your copy here:

About the Author
Elizabeth Goddard is the award-winning author of more than thirty novels and novellas. A 2011 Carol Award winner, she’s a double finalist in the 2016 Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, and a 2016 Carol Award finalist. Elizabeth graduated with a Computer Science degree and worked in high-level software sales before retiring to write full time.