About the Book
Union Pacific Station Agent Chadwick Hughes has everything in a state of readiness to welcome his mail order bride…everything but the bride. The woman he’s corresponded with for a year didn’t change her mind or miss her train in Omaha—she never existed. Chadwick’s mortified to discover he’s been swindled by a fraudulent matrimonial agency in Chicago. He needs a lawyer if he’ll ever recover a dime of the fortune he spent on worthless membership fees and the nonexistent bride’s transportation west.
Sophia Sorensen, Attorney at Law, is a spinster on the edge of propriety. The good people of Wyoming Territory are open to a lot of things, including Lady’s Privilege during Leap Years, but some aren’t fond of her day-to-day behavior. Why, the woman rides her bicycle hither and yon, showing her petticoat ruffle and ankles. She might be the least ladylike specimen beneath Wyoming skies, but it’s entertaining to watch her court the U.P. Station Agent, Chadwick Hughes, the most-eligible bachelor in the county. About the Author
Kristin Holt, USA Today Bestselling Author, writes Sweet Romances (G- and PG-rated) set in the Victorian American West. While secular in nature, her titles are "Appropriate for All Audiences" and appeal to selective readers and fans of Christian historical romance.
Readers are welcome to contact Kristin on her website (www.KristinHolt.com) with questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hello. She enjoys connecting with readers and replies to every (reasonable) email. Her site offers links to social media, previews of upcoming releases, book lists, an ever-growing cache of articles about all things "Old West", and more! Review
This sweet Timeless Romance Single, Sophia’s Leap-Year Courtship, is a delightful romance that readers will thoroughly enjoy. It is the story of a woman lawyer in a time where women with this type of job are not well respected. It is about how she finds a man, the most eligible bachelor in the county that loves her in spite of her career choice. This is an engaging and fun story that readers will fall in love with from the first page.
Series: Timeless Romance Single Genre: historical, romance, western, mail order brides Publisher: Mirror Press Publication date: February 24, 2017 Number of pages: 100 Content Rating: PG Book Rating: 5 stars 
A review copy of this novel was provided by H.B. Moore Fans and Min Reads and Reviews. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
GiveawayTour Schedule
Feb. 27 Heidi Reads / Bookworm Lisa / Donna Fasano
Feb. 28 Singing Librarian Books / Peggy Urry / Shanna Hatfield March 1 Wishful Endings / LDS Writer Mom / Getting Your Read On March 2 My Book a Day / Milou Koenings / Mel’s Shelves / Literary Time Out / Margaret Daley March 3 Katie’s Clean Book Collection / Smiling Book Reviews / Magdalena Scott / Melanie Sniter / Bubble Bath Books 
First Line Fridays -- 02.23.17 -- East
2/24/2017
 Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line! Today I am going to post a line from East by Edith Pattou So... who doesn't love a good farytale? I for one am a HUGE fan of fariytales and retold fariytales. And East is a fantastic re-telling of Beauty & the Beast that readers will not want to miss!!!  Rose has always been different. Since the day she was born, it was clear she had a special fate. Her superstitious mother keeps the unusual circumstances of Rose's birth a secret, hoping to prevent her adventurous daughter from leaving home... but she can't suppress Rose's true nature forever. So when an enormous white bear shows up one cold autumn evening and asks teenage Rose to come away with it-- in exchange for health and prosperity for her ailing family-- she readily agrees. Rose travels on the bear's broad back to a distant and empty castle, where she is nightly joined by a mysterious stranger. In discovering his identity, she loses her heart-- and finds her purpose-- and realizes her journey has only just begun. Check out frequently asked author questions HERE. My first line: I found the box in the attic of an old farmhouse in Norway. What are you reading? What is your first line?
Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below... Now head on over and join these lovely ladies in First Line Fridays on their blogs too: Reading is My SuperPower | Bookworm Mama | Faithfully Bookish Radiant Light | Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen | All the Book Blog Names are Taken Robin's Nest | Fiction Aficionado | Bibliophile Reviews Kathleen Denly | Lauraine's Notes | With a Joyful Noise (If you’d like to join us on your blog for First Line Fridays, shoot me a message and let me know!)  Purchase the book HERE.
About the BookFrom the USA Today Bestselling author of the Longing for Home series, LOVE REMAINS is a new romance novel set in the beloved world of Hope Springs. Cecily faces a dark, uncertain future. Tavish is haunted by his painful, anguished past. Fate has brought them together in a world determined to tear them apart. About the Author Sarah M. Eden is the author of multiple historical romances, including the 2-time Whitney Award Winner Longing for Home and Whitney Award finalist Seeking Persephone and Courting Miss Lancaster. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances. She has twice served as the Master of Ceremonies for the LDStorymakers Writing Conference and acted as the Writer in Residence at the Northwest Writers Retreat. Sarah is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg at D4EO Literary Agency. Don't you just love this cover? I cannot wait to read it. Add to your GOODREADS TBR pile!!! And now for the cover reveal...  
Sprinkled with Love by Jennifer Faye What does one do with a matchmaking cat named Romeo? Spirited and beautiful, Jillian Parker is one of Marietta’s newest business owners. Still, her mother worries about Jillian’s bare ring finger. So in order to give her mother something else to fuss over, Jillian adopts a cat named Romeo. He turns out to be anything but a docile lap cat. One snowy night, Romeo makes a break for it. With Jillian right on his heels, they have a near miss with a passing pickup driven by Avery Wainwright, one of Jillian’s closest friends. A rodeo accident has the sexy cowboy returning home to recuperate, and he’s not happy about it. So when Avery finds himself lassoed into the Bachelor Bake-Off, he turns to the one person who has always helped him out—Jillian. But will teaching him to take chances outside of the show ring have them both discovering that their feelings for each other run much deeper than they ever imagined? 
EXCERPTSpotting Suzanna, her business partner and best friend, already inside, Jillian grabbed the brass door handle and opened the door to Tangled Charms. “That man can be so frustrating.” Suzanna glanced up from where she was arranging baked goods and fresh brewed coffee on a small table with a white tablecloth. “Good morning to you too. I’m guessing you didn’t have such a good weekend.” “My weekend was fine until I ran into him.” Suzanna tucked a lock of her short dark hair behind her ear. “I take it Glenn was in town again.” “Glenn? Why would you think that?” Suzanna’s eyes widened. “I just thought…well, you were going on and…never mind. Who are you talking about?” “Avery.” “Oh.” Suzanna’s pink glossy lips stayed in that ‘O’ shape as though she were surprised by this news. She held out her hand for Jillian’s container of muffins. Jillian relinquished the baked goods. “You mean you didn’t hear that he arrived home last night? I didn’t think anything happened around this town without everyone knowing.” “Yeah, I heard, but I didn’t know you two had run into each other.” Suzanna placed the muffin container off to the side of the table. “We ran into each other all right. He practically ran me over.” Suzanna’s brows rose. “Really? I can’t wait to hear this.” “Hear what?” Suzanna frowned at her. “You know, whatever he’s done now to get you all fired up.” “He didn’t do anything.” Suddenly she regretted bringing up the subject. She’d promised herself that she wouldn’t let him get under her skin. “It’s nothing.” “It sure sounded like something.” Suzanna stared at her as though trying to read her mind. “Come on. Spill. It’s me. We’ve told each other everything since we were kids.”
Author Jennifer Faye Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. Internationally published with books translated into nine languages. She is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards. Now living her dream, she resides with her very patient husband, amazing daughter (the other remarkable daughter is off chasing her own dreams) and two spoiled cats. When she's not plotting out her next romance, you can find her curled up with a mug of tea and a book. 
Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 3/12/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway
 The Rise of Miss Notley by Rachael Anderson When Miss Coralynn Notley’s father barters her off to the first titled gentleman to come along, she realizes she must flee her home or be forced to wed a despicable man. Driven by desperation, she applies for the position of housekeeper at Tanglewood Manor, the home of the handsome Mr. Jonathan Ludlow. The moment Jonathan sees Miss Notley, he is intrigued. She is far too young and inexperienced, yet there is something about her that that inspires a certain hope within him. Does he dare offer her the position of housekeeper or will doing so result in catastrophe?  Excerpt Cora nodded and followed Mr. Ludlow into the parlor. He closed the doors and stood in front of them with his arms folded, looking far more intimidating than he had during their last meeting. He said nothing, merely lifted an inquiring eyebrow and waited. Caught unprepared, Cora stared at him, trying to organize her thoughts into words. After a few moments of awkward silence, he lost patience. "What is it you wished to speak with me about, Mrs. Notley? Or are we to stand here staring at each other all afternoon?" Not knowing how else to begin, Cora blurted, "Why have you hired me, sir?" He blinked a few times before frowning. "I believe I have made that perfectly clear. You are to be the housekeeper, are you not?" This was going to be more difficult than she had imagined. "Yes, of course, but there has been some talk about, or rather concerns expressed . . ." How did one put this delicately? "About . . .?" he prodded, obviously not thrilled that his morning regime had been waylaid. "About the reasons I have been offered the position," she quickly said, hoping that would be enough to make him understand her meaning. Unfortunately, his brows drew together in confusion. "What are you saying, Mrs. Notley? I have hired you to do certain duties that will hopefully make my household run more smoothly. What other reason could I possibly have for offering you the position?" "You have hired me to do a job I am untrained to do," she said. "While I am grateful for the opportunity, I also find it necessary to clarify that I have come here to be a housekeeper and only a housekeeper. Even though I am young and . . ." Her voice drifted off. Had she almost referred to herself as pretty? Goodness, this was proving to be very awkward indeed. "Beautiful?" he finally guessed, not looking at all pleased with the direction the conversation was taking. "I was going to say not repulsive," she fibbed. "Very well," he said. "Even though you are young and not repulsive . . ." He moved his hand in a circular gesture, urging her to finish her thought. Cora straightened her shoulders and forced herself to continue. "I am not the sort of girl who would ever . . . fraternize with her employer." Her face infused with heat, but she forced her gaze to remain steady. "I see." He walked slowly towards her, rubbing his chin with his hand. A few steps away, he stopped and eyed her quizzically. "Have I made any improper advances towards you?" "No, sir." "Have I spoken to you in an unprofessional manner?" "No." "Have I looked at you in a way that has made you feel uncomfortable?" "No." Cora suddenly wished she had not felt the need to clarify anything. He made her feel as though she had put the cart before the horse when what she had been trying to do was see that the cart and horse simply stayed in their proper places. Was that so wrong? "Might I ask who, exactly, has led you to believe that I am the sort of man capable of—how did you put it? Fraternizing with my help?" "I, er, would rather not say, sir." Though Cora felt no loyalty towards Sally, she refused to bring Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd's names into the conversation. "I did not mean to besmirch your name or cause any offense, Mr. Ludlow. I merely wanted to make my feelings on the matter clear." "And you have." "Good." Cora dropped into a quick curtsy, anxious to get away. "I shall go and find Watts now." She was almost to the door when his voice stopped her. "Once again, you are attempting to scuttle away before we have completed our conversation." Slowly, she turned around and lifted her eyes to his. "I never scuttle, sir." "What would you call that rapid walk of yours?" "A rapid walk."  Author Rachael Anderson A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.
 $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 3/15/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Coming August 2017 from USA Today bestselling author Rachael Anderson 
The Splash of Lady Harriett When wills clash and hearts collide, who will come away victorious? Author Rachael Anderson A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 3/15/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Book Sweeping Historical Fiction Set at the Edge of the Continent After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict. When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne's brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on? With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king's mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption. About the Author Award-winning author Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage in her readers through both fiction and nonfiction. A former military wife herself, she offers encouragement and hope to military wives worldwide through her Faith Deployed ministry. Her novels, inspired by real heroines on America’s home front, are marked by their historical integrity and gritty inspiration. Jocelyn graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. She is an active member of the Christian Authors Network, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Military Writers Society of America. She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, Toblerone chocolate bars, the color red, and reading on her patio. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob and two small children in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  ReviewFrom the moment I read the description of this novel, it spoke to me and I knew I was going to thoroughly enjoy it. Reading the story was not a disappointment. From page one Jocelyn Green magnificently captures the attention of her readers with the intriguing storyline and interesting cast of characters. Filled with the hardships and trials of life, as well as the joyous and happy times, this powerful and thought provoking novel will imprint itself in the mind of, as well as touch the heart of its readers. I don’t generally tear up when I read, but this beautiful story brought me to tears at one point. This profound story is one that readers will not be able to put down. Genre: historical, romance, Christian Publisher: Bethany House Publication date: January 3, 2016 Number of pages: 416 Content Rating: PG-13 Book Rating: 5 stars  A review copy of this novel was provided by the publisher via the author’s launch team. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own
 Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line! Today I am going to post a line from The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill This is a Veronica Mars meets Downton Abbey type of books, so if you like Veronica Mars and Downton Abbey, you will definitely enjoy this delightful young adult novel!  Lydia has vanished. Lydia, who’s never broken any rules, except falling in love with the wrong boy. Lydia, who’s been Piper’s best friend since they were children. Lydia, who never even said good-bye. Convinced the police are looking in all the wrong places, eighteen-year-old Piper Sail begins her own investigation in an attempt to solve the mystery of Lydia’s disappearance. With the reluctant help of a handsome young detective, Piper goes searching for answers in the dark underbelly of 1924 Chicago, determined to find Lydia at any cost. When Piper discovers those answers might stem from the corruption strangling the city—and quite possibly lead back to the doors of her affluent neighborhood—she must decide how deep she’s willing to dig, how much she should reveal, and if she’s willing to risk her life of privilege for the sake of the truth. From the glitzy homes of the elite to the mob-run streets of 1920s Chicago, Stephanie Morrill’s jazz-age mystery shows just how far a girl will go to save her friend. My first line: Chicago, Illinois May 12, 1924 If he doesn't know it already, Jeremiah Crane is about to learn that I'm not the type of girl to be pushed around. What are you reading? What is your first line?
Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below... Now head on over and join these lovely ladies in First Line Fridays on their blogs too: Reading is My SuperPower | Bookworm Mama | Faithfully Bookish Radiant Light | Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen | All the Book Blog Names are Taken Robin's Nest | Fiction Aficionado | Bibliophile Reviews | Kathleen Denly | Lauraine's Notes (If you’d like to join us on your blog for First Line Fridays, shoot me a message and let me know!) About the Book When a massive solar flare wiped out all modern technology across the globe, the small town of Abney, Texas, was thrown into chaos. Shelby Sparks and her teenage son, Carter, have found refuge, but Shelby knows she can't simply remain hidden forever. Carter is a type 1 diabetic in need of insulin—and Shelby will risk her life traveling to Austin to make sure he gets it. Shelby's best friend and high school sweetheart, Max Berkman, won't even consider letting her make the perilous journey alone. Together, they manage to get to the capital—only to discover that while things are desperate in Abney, Austin has turned into an urban nightmare on the brink of anarchy. Shelby and Max's search for medical supplies will lead them into terrifying territory, where the only thing more uncertain than finding what they need is the hope of making it out of the city alive. * * * In this second book in an eerily plausible, action-packed dystopian series, survival will be threatened and faith will be put to the ultimate test as a raging storm engulfs America. Other Books in the Series
About the Author Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace, including romantic suspense and Amish romance novels. She is the author of seventeen novels, including the Pebble Creek Amish series, The Shipshewana Amish Mystery series and Anna’s Healing, a 2016 Christy Award finalist. Vannetta is a Carol award winner and also received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She was a teacher for 15 years and currently resides in the Texas hill country. For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com. Guest Post Focus piece on Austin, TX--the main setting for the story I had a lot of fun writing about my state capitol. If you’ve never been there, it’s an awesome place to visit, and the weather is usually very good…unless you come in August when the heat is insufferable. Of course the Austin that Max and Shelby drive through is drastically changed. When the story opens, it’s been 17 days since a solar flare wiped out all technology--less than 3 weeks. But that’s enough time for some people to panic, some to take advantage of the situation, and others to band together. This is good and bad. We have groups that are lawless and ruthless. We also have groups like the Remnant, who are determined to be the hands and feet of Christ even in a darkened world. For a little while in the story, our characters travel through the Texas hill country. While there are fewer people out and about, the natural beauty of the area shines through.  But their destination is Austin, the state capitol. The metropolitan Austin area is home to over 2 million people. It’s the 11th most populated city in the U.S. and is currently the fastest growing city in the U.S. Austin is nestled in the foothills of the Texas Hill Country and home to the Bass Concert Hall, Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater, the University of Texas, Barton Springs, Zilker Park, and Town Lake.  Once in Austin, they end up in the Saint Mary Cathedral, an absolutely beautiful building located in downtown Austin.  But their destination is the capitol. When they reach this area, they find that it has been changed in ways they couldn’t have imagined.  I enjoyed writing about a real location, especially one so near and dear to my heart. I hope that when you’re done reading this series, you’ll book a trip to Texas and enjoy the sights. Just do it while the lights are still on.
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