EmpowerMoms

“Christmas on the Coast” (The Off Season #3) by Lee Tobin McClain

This was a good story but it honestly wasn’t one of my favorites with all the complicated drama and negative characters.

The main characters Paul and Amber both have alot of emotional baggage and medical issues that they try to work thru during this story. All the while trying to help each other but fight the growing “forbidden” attraction. Meanwhile Paul’s inlaws keep coming into town sabotaging his friendship with Amber and complicating things with his young son.

Also throughout this book, Amber’s bookstore owner friend Mary has complications as a person from the past tries to bully and manipulate her. Mary tries again and again to help her and forgive, but it seems to escalate the abuse more.

This story deals with complicated life issues like infidelity, cancer, murder, bullying, guilt and abuse. These are real life situations so this book is definitely not as “light hearted” as I would have hoped or wanted. But elements like love, forgiveness, acceptance and God’s grace are also portrayed.

This book was nicely written and I have read several other books by this author that I have enjoyed more.

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

About the Book:
Former police officer Paul Thompson has come to the little town of Pleasant Shores to heal his PTSD. The prescription involves volunteering, therapy and, most of all, a stable routine for his young son. Falling for Amber Rowe, however, would make that stability impossible. Even though she immediately bonds with little Davey, Amber’s future is filled with uncertainty, and Paul can’t bear to see his son love and lose someone else.

Amber got to know Paul’s late wife while writing a book about cancer. In doing so, she learned a secret that could tear Paul’s world apart. Keeping her distance is the best way to avoid unwittingly causing turmoil for a man she’s come to care about more than she ever intended. But as Christmas draws near and their joint volunteer project develops, so does the depth of their feelings. And soon, Amber will have to choose between keeping a promise and committing to a risky love…

About the Author
USA TODAY bestselling author Lee Tobin McClain watched Dr. Zhivago way too young and developed a lifelong passion for angsty romance. When she’s not writing, she’s probably FaceTiming with her college-age daughter, mediating battles between her goofy goldendoodle and her rescue cat, or teaching aspiring writers in Seton Hill University’s MFA program. She is probably not cleaning her house. For more about Lee, visit her website at www.leetobinmcclain.com.

“The Cowboy’s Christmas Blessings” by Jill Kemerer

This was such a fun, sweet book to read! I really loved it! Judd and Nicole were great characters and I loved reading how they worked together to help each other with the triplets and with baking. The cover of the book only shows 1 baby which I think is the baby girl who seemed to bond with Judd the quickest. Isn’t it such a cute cover? I highly recommend this sweet holiday story about love and second chances.

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

About the Book:
The most memorable Christmases are the ones you don’t expect…

Will welcoming them for Christmas

have him wishing for more?

Judd Wilson lives a solitary life…until he learns Nicole Taylor and her infant triplets need somewhere to stay. The cabin on his ranch is the perfect solution, but now his quiet Christmas alone feels a lot more crowded. Recently widowed, Nicole questions her swiftly developing feelings for Judd, even if the older man is wonderful with her babies. Is she ready to take that leap again?.

About the Author
Jill Kemerer writes contemporary inspirational romance novels with love, humor and faith. Besides spoiling her mini-dachshund and keeping up with her busy kids, Jill enjoys magazines, M&Ms, fluffy animals and nature walks. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Jill loves connecting with readers, so please visit her website, www.jillkemerer.com.

“The Price of Valor” Global Search and Rescue by Susan May Warren

Ham and his story about his daughter and missing wife begin in earlier books so we finally get to discover what happens to Signe and why she is always running away from Ham and her family.
Throughout the book we get glimpses into Ham and Signe’s life and relationship. This story had non stop action, drama and heartache. I read this book in one day because I didn’t want to stop reading and I had to find out what was going to happen next!

I loved how all the characters from previous books were mentioned at the end of the book as this series comes to a close. I highly recommend reading this series in order to get the full benefit of character development and their individual stories.

I have been reading Susan May Warren’s books for many years and every time I think her books and series can’t get any better-she proves me wrong! You will love this series!

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

About the Book:
Former Navy SEAL Hamilton Jones thought that the love of his life was dead. But when a girl claiming to be his daughter shows up with a dire message from his wife, Ham knows he will stop at nothing to find her and bring her home.

Kidnapped by rebels while serving as an interpreter in Ukraine, Signe Kincaid has spent the past decade secreting out valuable information about Russian assets in the US to her CIA handler. Fearing for her daughter after being discovered as an operative, Signe sends her to Ham for safekeeping. She’s ready to give her life for her country, and she can hardly expect Ham to rescue her after breaking his heart over and over.

When Ham discovers the reason Signe has kept her distance, he must choose between love for his wife and love for the nation he has vowed to protect. Will he save the many? Or the few?

Biography
Growing up in Minneapolis and attending the U of MN, I learned to love city life, although I’m a woodsy girl at heart. Or maybe I’m an adventurer — having lived and traveled all over the world, including Siberia Russia as a missionary for eight years. Probably that’s why my characters can’t sit still, and seem to get into one scrape after another — they’re too much like me! I love God, my family, my country, my church, and feel privileged every day to be able to write stories.

With over 1 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA and Carol award-winning author of over seventy-five novels with Revell, Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com and Christmas novellas.

“A Life Once Dreamed” by Rachel Fordham

Sweet, Christian romance set in the early 1880s in a pioneer Dakota territory. The story was pretty predictable but I still enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. Agnes and James were great characters and I especially liked Jame’s determination to court Agnes and figure out what went wrong in their relationship 6 years prior. I also liked reading about the small town and how they helped each other be a strong community thru sickness and health. I love reading about pioneer life in that time period.

This was an easy to read, historical romance about second chances, love and forgiveness.

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

About the Book:
Six years ago, a shocking secret sent Agnes Pratt running in search of a new start. She found it in Penance, a rugged town of miners and lumberjacks in the Dakota Territory, where she became Miss Aggie, respected schoolteacher and confirmed old maid. But the past has a way of catching up with people.

When childhood friend and former sweetheart James Harris accepts a position as the town doctor, Aggie’s pleasantly predictable days suddenly become anything but. James wants to know why Agnes left behind the life they had dreamed of creating for themselves–but he is the one person who can never know.

In the shadows of the Black Hills, can a healing light be shed on the past? Or will the secret Agnes can’t seem to outrun destroy her chance at happiness?

About the Author
Rachel Fordham started writing when her children began begging her for stories at night. She’d pull a book from the shelf, but they’d insist she make one up. Finally, she combined her love of good stories with her love of writing, and she hasn’t stopped since. She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.

Forget Me Not (The Gents Book #1) by Sarah M. Eden

I really enjoyed this easy to read, historical romance. The characters were great, story line was interesting and kept my interest from beginning to end. I did find myself annoyed at Julia alot because I felt like she was overly clingy and had too high expectations for Lucas with wanting him to be around all the time. She did have alot of loss in her life which is why she acted that way. I liked Lucas better even though he seemed clueless to Julia’s needs and her desire for his time and attention.

Lucas’s friends “The Gents” were the best part of this book! I loved all their different personalities and nicknames! I loved their friendship, camaraderie, and determination to help Lucas succeed in his marriage-now those are good friends!

Lots of laughs-really enjoyed it! I can’t wait to read more about “The Gents” in future books!

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

About the Book:
A Georgian Romance
Nottinghamshire, 1785

Julia Cummings has long been acquainted with loss-her mother, her brother, her sister, her friend, all gone too soon. But the loss that pushed her grief to the limit as a young girl was that of her best friend, Lucas Jonquil, who abandoned her without looking back. Now, eight years later, Lucas has returned to Lampton Park, and Julia has steeled herself-she will never forgive the man who broke her heart.

After losing too many of his friends and family to early deaths, Lucas vowed to live life to the fullest. And after traversing the world, he has returned from his adventures to find his family and home as he left them-except for Julia. The little girl he left behind has blossomed into a captivating lady, a lady who makes it clear she despises him. With little hope of reconciliation, the former friends are blindsided when their parents make a shocking announcement. Lucas and Julia have been betrothed without their knowledge and are to marry immediately. Now Lucas must rely on the help of his closest friends to win the heart of a lady who loathes him-a lady he s coming to love more deeply every day.

Purchase your copy here:

Biography
Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today bestselling author of multiple historical romances, including AML’s “2013 Novel of the Year” and Foreword Review’s 2013 “IndieFab Book of the Year” gold medal winner for Best Romance, Longing for Home, and the Whitney Award’s “2014 Novel of the Year,” Longing for Home: Hope Springs. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah lives with her husband, kids, and mischievous dog in the shadow of a snow-capped mountain she has never attempted to ski.

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