A HEART MOST CERTAIN By Melissa Jagears

What makes this a great story is how you get to see the character of the personalities grow along with love that endures.

Nicholas Lowe one of the richest men in the area runs a lumber yard and lives in a beautiful but cold mansion. A mansion built from his guilt and loveless marriage which died when his faithless wife died.

Lydia King, a member of the Ladies Moral Society from the local church, set with a task to get a donation from the miserly Mr. Lowe, approaches him and doesn't succeed, but she perseveres.because she thinks her cause is worthy and she is motivated rightly; but Mr. Lowe remains stuborn until her perseverance softens him into granted her three wishes which he will fulfill but in his own way.

Complicating matters, Lydia King is being courted by Sebastian Little a highly rspected town citizen with a likely engagement at the end.

Nicholas and Lydia find themselves embroiled in a charitable cause that society frowns upon. Nicholas bent on teaching Lydia lessons in life learns some of his own while Lydia finds trusting God for her future is far better than relying on her own abilities.

I recommend this tender tale for those who like inspiration. I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.

A MOONBOW NIGHT By Laura Frantz

A Moonbow Night

Laura Frantz is a master of historical romance. I have read and have the majority of her books on my keeper shelf. She does not disappoint with "A Moonbow Night". Temperance Tucker, though an innocent heroine, remains true to the tough breed of women that must have braved the new frontier that was America in those early days. She finds pleasure in the simple things and resents the invasion of her peace and privacy by those who are bent on expanding the continent as were those that were surveyors like Sion Morgan.

Both Sion and Temperance have deep sorrows and seek no solace in each other though they are immediately drawn to the other without recognizing the invisible pull. They are also thrown together by circumstances and Sion must reluctantly accept the skills of scouting that Temperance has as she objects to being the only woman among his team of men. Their travels are thwart with many dangers along the trail as the Indians are on the warpath objecting to the white man's encroachment into their land. As they travel further inland, so their relationship buds and builds through the twists and turns just as deep and uncharted as the land they traverse.

Ms. Frantz skillfully weaves history and romance into an enduring tale. I received this novel from netgally for an honest review.

I LOVE YOU THREE By Milou Koenings

If you love sweet romances, this should be on your end table ready for your next read. In fact, I would add the whole series if this story is any indication.

All the elements for inspiration, suspense, mystery, and romance are here including an opening that grabs your attention and a swoon worthy drop, literally into the hero's arms. Bits of humor relieve the tense moments. You can't help but smile.

Mac, an ex-marine, has returned from his last tour of duty suffering from PTSD and struggles with his family relationships especially with his imprisoned brother from whom he remains estranged. He decides to follow a lead in the small town of Green Pines for a coaching job hoping to get a change of scenery and relief from his pain. 

Julie, works as a secretary at Green Pines High School, not because she wants to but because her ex-husband besides being unfaithful, left her without funds to pursue college. He also left her pregnant and now she is a single Mom.

Julie literally drops into Mac's arm's and then the fun begins. Both have certain goals in mind that doesn't include the opposite sex. They also make assumptions about the other that aren't true. Thus begins a journey in a budding relationship. Each learns a lot about the other but hold secrets that lead to big problems later.

Then, Mac's brother comes to town and the misunderstandings and hidden truths build to a climactic ending...well you just have to get this book and find out!

I receive a copy of this book for an honest review.

BEYOND THE SILENCE By Tracie Peterson/Kimberley Woodhouse

This novel was a pleasant surprise. It doesn't grab you in the beginning but the authors laid the groundwork for our understanding of what motivated the heroine, Lillian Porter. Lillian is a young woman on a mission. She braves losing her connections with her grandfather and home to follow the dream of her deceased mother  in going west. She has been corresponding with Woodward Colton in Angels Camp, California who needs a nanny for his seven year old son who hasn't spoken since his mother died.

Woodward Colton needs a nanny and he needs hope again. His wife was murdered and he was arrested and charged for her murder; but then he was let go for lack of evidence. Now he has withdrawn from society through no choice of his own and still grieves finding his wife brutally murdered and his son mute. Now he struggles to continue farming his Olive Farm in the midst of a drought and his neighbors mistrust and accusations.

Other things I liked about this book were the historical setting of Angels Camp and the details about Olive Farming. In addition, I liked how the author depicted the rush to judgement by some but the mercy shown by Lillian. Also, one character who was mentally challenged allowed for demonstrating how society treats these people and how we can value them and allow them to find their place in society.

Lillian must get "Beyond the Silence" of her small charge and that of her estranged stubborn grandfather. You will find it worth the read so get "Beyond the Silence".

I received this book from blogger review for my honest review.

BACK IN THE SADDLE By Ruth Logan Herne

http://ruthloganherne.com/index.html

Colt Stafford returns home but not because he wants to but because he has no choice, broke and in need of a job to regroup and survive, he arrives to an unceremonious welcome as well--the barrel end of a gun. Angelina Morales, knows Colt is coming home but she didn't expect him so soon; and she has her reasons to be on guard.

Colt is one of Sam Stafford's three sons, the oldest, a financial wizard. He's made his own way in the New York world of stocks; but his life has taken a real low turn just like his investments. He left home with bitter feelings and nothing's changed except now his Dad is so sick that the boys have to run the ranch and he's hired a housekeeper and cook named Angelina Morales.

Angelina has other skills too and keeps a glock tucked in the back waistband of her pants and her mother and son hidden in a cabin on the ranch. But even though she has her secrets she knows how to keep the boys in line and teach them manners. And she lives her faith out loud.

Ms. Herne's has a great ability to write about tough subjects and family relationships. She makes you feel for her characters and with them. You find yourself pulling for Colt and Sam and Nick and Angelina and wanting to shake some sense into each one of them.

Her descriptions of ranching life, the people, the animals make a wonderful setting for her story; and Colt is like the prodigal son, Sam needs forgiveness, and Angelina needs to trust. I recommend this as another keeper by Ruth Logan Herne.

WITH THIS RING

The Husband Manuever by Karen Witemeyer, an entertaining read that contains two stories in one in that the heroine loves reading dime novels especially about the man she loves. Daniel Barrett, retired bounty hunter, now ranch foreman has the heart of his bosses daughter,  Etta Hawkins; but he has decided he will move on to a ranch of his own. Etta, loves reading the folk lore novels about Daniel's exploits in his other life if only to get close to the man she loves. Now, she finds she needs to take more drastic measures to convince Daniel that they are meant for each other and to get a proposal out of him. The author slides you so naturally from her story into the one that Etta is reading that you can't not put the book down for wanting to find out what happens in both stories.

Her Dearly Unintended by Regina Jennings opens with the heroine, Katie Ellen struggling with a dilemma and the creek rising. She finds herself trapped with her nemesis, Josiah Huckabee and then a stranger arrives. Josiah convinces Katie Ellen that their survival and reputations depend on pretending they are married. Ms. Jennings skillfully writes humorous dialogue and romantic situations.

Runaway Bride by Mary Connealy quickly finds the heroine rescued by her hero, an ex-Texas ranger ready to escort her and her brother to safety as she flees an unwanted engagement. I usually enjoy Ms. Connealy's books full of humor and amorous adventures but this one was not up to par with her usual work for me.

My favorite of the four stories was  Melissa Jagears, "Engaging the Competition", the story was aptly named, her characters endearing, and the opening attention grabbing. But the ending was an HEA winner. Harrison Gray, visually handicapped without his glasses, pursues tomboyish Charlie Andrews at the height of a storm and finds himself trapped with his old nemesis and schoolboy crush in the depths of her barn's hulled out storm shelter. From there things get even more interesting, when they discover his glasses crushed in the stall with his horse and Charlie volunteers to help him with his school teaching duties until a new pair of glasses can be ordered and delivered to him. In the course of their close, daily encounters they discover that their years of competitiveness have been more to impress each other rather than to out best each other. From the opening storm, Harrison and Charlie struggle to balance what they thought they knew of each other to what they find to be the truth about themselves and the feelings they've kept buried all these years. A truly fun story that leaves you smiling at the end.

With this Ring, is a great group of novellas to spend a free afternoon engrossed in. It has my recommendation for your reading list.

A TREASURE CONCEALED By Tracie Peterson

Montana, a beautiful state and the setting for a wonderful story by Tracie Peterson. Her book is aptly named for the more you read, the more you find to keep you turning pages. Her descriptive opening reveals the heroine, Emily Carver; and we are at once, intrigued to find out more about how she survives in a mostly male environment. She and her parents live near a small mining settlement where her Dad continues to chase his dreams of finding a gold treasure. Her mother is dying of an unknown illness; and Emily finds pleasure in the few friends she has, her animals, and her garden.

Enter our hero, Caeden Thibault, a geologist on assignment for the government. Emily's dad invites him home for a meal and a place to stay and sends him up to the cabin, where he walks in on Emily, having just finished her bath and clad only in her underlings. From this unceremonious beginning, they begin a fragile but budding relationship complicated by the pronouncement by Emily's Mom, that Caeden is the man God means for her daughter.

This is a thoroughly entrancing read, peopled with interesting characters, and a plot with many twists and turns. You will find there is more than one treasure to be discovered. I recommend this book as worth your time to find "A Treasure Concealed". I received this book through Bethany House's Blogger Review program for an honest review.