NEW Title for my Blog

When I first named my blog, I thought it was catchy that the nickname I chose `Candle started with C like Christian...thus `Candle Reviews Christian Romance which has been the subject of my blog. Then, I had never blogged before because I couldn't come up with a subject or subjects until I had an incentive. A favorite author asked for influencers and promised a copy of her book to read if you were among the first to contact her and could promote it on a blog and other places. Thus my blog was born.

Today, I've decided I want to attract a wider general audience because there are so many great books out there. Books with integrity. So I've modified the name of this blog to reflect that.

Chivalrous means gallant and courteous, knightly, noble, attentive to women like an ideal knight, fearless, dauntless, valiant, courtly, faithful, true, loyal, devoted--and I could go on and on. All are character traits of integrity that we desire in our heroes or heroines. And, if we are honest with ourselves, what we desire in the real life man or woman we want to meet or already have in our lives.

So I hope you keep on reading and that you will visit often for recommendations and reviews from `Candle for what are great clean romantic reads from various genres i.e. historical, contemporary, mystery and suspense, and inspirational.

FROM THE START (Walker Family Book 1) by Melissa Tagg

 

From the Start, grabs your attention from the start, beginning with the hero Colton Greene. Colton finds himself hitting rock bottom as his NFL career is over and along with it he loses the girl too. It isn't the first time Colt has found himself knocked down by life. Having lost both parents at the age of nine, he entered foster care until he succeeded at football in college.

Now, Colt finds his new fledging faith tested to the limits. He doesn't know what to do with himself and his agent is hounding him to pursue other career avenues to keep himself in the public eye. But, a friend, pulls him to Maple Valley where Colt becomes immersed in Community and family and meets Kate Walker. Kate agrees to write his autobiography and during the course of getting to know each other for that purpose they find that each has many layers.
  

They struggle to remain unattached from each other because neither plans to stay in Maple Valley; but along the way, they each find themselves more involved in the community and the lives of family and friends and perhaps falling in love. Complicating things are the flashbacks Colt has to things he can't remember about his parents accident and the people from each other's past relationships. 

Melissa Tagg has a well written story here and introduces characters we know will appear in later books. One can't help but fall in love with Maple Valley and it's citizens. I found I couldn't put the book down for wanting to read the next chapter to see what happened next to Colt and "Rosie" his nickname for Kate.
  

You definitely will want to read this one. I received this one from Netgalley for my honest review.



TO WIN HER FAVOR By Tamera Alexander

If you love horses, as I do, and civil war history, then this Christian Romance is for you. Tamera Alexander, one of my all-time favorite authors, has done it again. From the first page, you are caught in the struggles of both hero and heroine to survive an environment hostile to both for different reasons.

 Cullen McGrath finds himself in post-Civil War Tennessee because it's where his deceased wife wanted them to settle after fleeing Ireland and trouble with the Thoroughbred Racing authorities there. On the passage over, he lost both wife and daughter and now he just wants to buy some land to farm. But everywhere he turns are signs "Irish need not apply" and others willing to show him the door, literally.

 Maggie Linden has lost her mother and then her four older brothers to the war. Her father is in failing health and their farm is set to go to auction soon. Maggie's prize possession is the thoroughbred mare she's raised and trained from a foal to achieve her dream.

By divine appointment, Cullen meets up with Maggie's father who recognizes the character of the man and realizes that his needs and theirs intersect. So he makes a proposition to Cullen that involves Maggie's consent to succeed.

The proposition involves a marriage of convenience for both parties in which they both might achieve their greatest hopes; but will their hearts become the biggest prize of all?

Ms Alexander tastefully describes the intimacies of marriage with sensibility and her descriptions of the struggles to develop a relationship in marriage are relatable. She also deals with the atrocities of racism and bigotry and the struggles for women to be accepted in a male dominated world. I think you'll find you can't put this one down.

I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review.

WHENEVER YOU COME AROUND By Robin Lee Hatcher

Definitely a sweet romance and most definitely romantic--"Whenever You Come Around" belongs on your keeper shelf. I've read quite a few books by Ms. Robin Hatcher but this novel part of the Kings Meadow Series is one of my favorites.

Charity Anderson has one of those bad days that go from bad to worse when her dog, inadvertently causes her new neighbor, Buck Malone to fall and suffer injuries that will incapacitate him for a while.  Both Buck and Charity for different reasons desire a single lifestyle with no room for a significant other.

That changes when Buck needs help to get chores done around his small ranch and help with meals and even some personal assistance. Charity, doesn't like men since she had a traumatic experience back in high school, which is why she hasn't returned to her hometown community before now. She definitely doesn't like handsome cowboys that like to flirt and cause her to feel things she doesn't want to feel any more.

 Both Charity and Buck have trust issues; and Charity's past is full of pain which an astute Buck senses. Buck sweetly draws Charity out until she finds she has to trust him with her ugly past and leave him to choose whether she is worth it or not. Will Charity's courage to confront her past land her in the arms of her hero at the class reunion dance? Check it out.

 

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

 

SABOTAGED by Dani Pettrey

Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey is the final installment of her Alaskan Courage Series about the McKenna siblings. I loved the way Dani brought all the siblings in on this mystery and displayed all their unique talents. A whole family of Extreme Sports enthusiasts great at search and rescue, Landon and Jake with their law enforcement backgrounds, Darcy with her newspaper sleuthing abilities, Kayden, capable of flying airplanes, and Bailey, the Russian History artifacts expert, just to name a few, aid in making this a page turning, nail biting action packed novel. Add the tender romance between the main characters Reef McKenna and Kirra Jacobs and you have another one for your keeper shelf.

In addition, Kirra struggles with a secret in her past that makes it difficult for her to trust men. She finds herself teamed together with the charming and sexy Reef McKenna with a reputation as a carouser. Can she trust him? Has he changed? The lives of her uncle and her cousin depend on her.

The stakes become even higher when the whole state of Alaska maybe under an environmental threat of nuclear proportions. Ms. Pettrey handles espionage, romance, and a controversial yet personal subject with aplomb. I highly recommend this whole series which is better read in order but entertaining as stand alones.

THE BRACELET by Dorothy Love

A true historical novel built around a mystery involving family secrets, Dorothy Love's "The Bracelet" makes an enthralling read. The setting is pre-civil war south in Savannah, Georgia. Her descriptions of the era and culture are enlightening and the discussions surrounding the looming possibility of Civil War fascinate especially given the inevitable.

She slowly reveals the relationship between her characters so that you aren't sure how invested in each other they are until you are deeply involved in their stories. Celia and Sutton who have known each other for years and whose engagement seems inevitable, Celia’s cousin, Ivy whose snide comments and sneakiness make her untrustworthy, and then there is the journalist bent on digging up family tragedies. And so the notes and clues begin and finally "The Bracelet" is introduced. After the novel seems to climax, you are then led on another series of twists and turns in the narrative.

 I found the language of the jewels to be very intriguing. Ms. Love author's notes at the end add a lot to this enjoyable read. If you like history and mystery, then this is your book.

LOVE WITHOUT END by Robin Lee Hatcher

Love without End, a story of second chances, is told from the perspectives of both the hero and heroine as well as through the eyes of the elderly adoptive aunt, Anna. Past histories and blended family troubles  are something many of us have experienced or know someone who has.

We all struggle with whether to love or love again and that becomes much harder when there are children involved. We all have fears and regrets and many of us love animals especially horses and the cowboys who ride them.

I don't usually care for romances about those who are middle aged or older and having almost grown children; but this book was special and written very well. Kudos to Ms. Robin Lee Hatcher for drawing you into the lives of her characters and making you care about them and want to see Idaho for yourself. I highly recommend this book which I received from Netgalley for an honest review.