About the Book Sienna has no memory of her late mother, yet every significant day of her life—birthdays, the first day of high school, graduation—has been marked by a letter written during her last weeks of life. Sienna knows her father feels grateful to be able to offer up these connections to the loving, talented woman his daughter never got a chance to know. Yet for Sienna herself, the letters have become a dreaded burden, a reminder that every milestone is less than it would be if both parents were still living. A month before her twenty-fifth birthday, Sienna finds a lump. Facing a cancer dignosis, Sienna begins to ask questions about her mother’s terminal illness—questions that reveal unsettling inconsistencies and voids in the stories she’s been told. The deeper she digs, the more the image of her mother as a contented homemaker warps into something much darker and far more troubling. If Sienna’s dad lied about this, what else did he lie about? What does it mean to be a good parent? What role does the past play in who we are? And to what lengths should one go to protect a child? Like the best of Jodi Picoult, Whatever It Takes delves into these fascinating questions of family and identity with power, insight, and love. About the Author Jessica Pack is a pseudonym for Josi Kilpack, author of twenty-six novels--including the twelve-volume Sadie Hoffmiller culinary mystery serie. A four time Whitney award winner, including Novel of the Year, she is a recipient of the Utah Best in the State for fiction. She lives in Norhtern Utah with her husband and their four children. ReviewWhatever it Takes by Jessica Pack is a tragically beautiful story about a young women trying to find her place in life. It’s about a family that is built upon love, but also lies. Lies used to protect. It’s about a journey to find a birth mother, discovering truths, and learning to still love and forgive. This story is inspiring and heart-wrenching all at the same time. It is filled with the hard pieces of life and full of strong emotions. Readers will be hurt and touched as they fall into this story and come to know and love its characters.
Genre: contemporary, Women’s Fiction Publisher: Kensington Publication date: May 28, 2019 Number of pages: 352 A review copy of this book was provided by the author via her street team. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
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First Line Fridays -- Spinster and Spice
5/30/2019
 via Hoarding Books Today I'm posting a line from Spinster and Spice by Rebecca Connolly. This is book three in the Spinster Chronicles.  My First Line: "I don't know about this, Georgie..." What are you reading? What is your first line?
Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below... Then head on over to Hoarding Books and link up! And then hop around the linky to visit other blog stops.  The past few years have been such a blast! Welcome to CFSRS's third year!
SPONSOR REGISTRATION is now available for this fun summer reading event. Registration is available through 06.15.2019. This year we have three different activities a eading challenge, a Facebook group challenge, and an Instagram challenge. Authors may pick and choose which events they are interested in participating in. For more information, visit the CFSRS blog HERE. 
About the Book
Grace Sinclair has been callously cast out of her home. And though taken in as an orphaned child by the vicar and his wife, her unsurpassed beauty makes it impossible for her to remain in the vicar’s household—with two daughters of their own about to enter Society, the vicar and his wife see Grace as nothing but competition. Thankfully, Grace’s estranged Aunt Bell has agreed to take her in to her home in London. But Grace soon learns her situation has just gotten much worse.
It takes only a moment’s acquaintance for Grace to ascertain that her aunt has married a detestable rake. And Aunt Bell, recognizing the danger of having her lovely niece too near her husband, gives Grace an ultimatum: the young woman has two weeks to find a man to marry, after which she will be turned out. With no experience in the art of attracting a husband, Grace quickly realizes that a worthy suitor might not be so easy to ensnare. About the Author
Esther Hatch grew up on a cherry orchard in rural Utah. After high school she alternated living in Russia teaching children English, and attending Brigham Young University in order to get a degree in Archaeology. She began writing when one of her favorite authors invited her to join a critique group. The only catch was she had to be a writer. Not one to be left out of an opportunity to socialize and try something new; she started on her first novel that week.
Review
From the turn of the first page, A Proper Scandal by Esther Hatch is an absolute delight. This story is about a young woman who is in a not so good situation and is forced into finding and catching a husband within a couple of weeks. This speed in which this must take place is in part because of the main character’s uncle’s advances. The way this situation proceeds is charming, funny, and engaging. Readers will love the personality of the characters as they work through this frustrating situation. This is a fun, easy, and light story that readers will thoroughly enjoy!
Genre: historical, regency, romance Publisher: Covenant Communications Publication date: May 1, 2019 Number of pages: 222 A review copy of this book was provided by Covenant Communications. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. Giveaway On Tour with Prism Book Tours About the Book Sweet on You (Bradford Sisters #3) By Becky Wade Christian Contemporary Romance Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages April 30th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers Britt Bradford and Zander Ford have been the best of friends since they met thirteen years ago. Unbeknown to Britt, Zander has been in love with her for just as long. Independent and adventurous Britt channels her talent into creating chocolates at her hometown shop. Zander is a bestselling author who's spent the past 18 months traveling the world. He's achieved a great deal but still lacks the only thing that ever truly mattered to him--Britt's heart. When Zander's uncle dies of mysterious causes, he returns to Merryweather, Washington, to investigate, and Britt is immediately there to help. Although this throws them into close proximity, both understand that an attempt at romance could jeopardize their once-in-a-lifetime friendship. But while Britt is determined to resist any change in their relationship, Zander finds it increasingly difficult to keep his feelings hidden. As they work together to uncover his uncle's tangled past, will the truth of what lies between them also, finally, come to light? Other Books in the Series
About the Author Becky’s a California native who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market before putting her career on hold for several years to care for her three children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. She loves writing funny, modern, and inspirational contemporary romance! She’s the Christy Award and Carol Award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, the Porter Family series, and the Bradford Sisters Romance series. ReviewSweet on You the third book in Becky Wade’s Bradford Romance Series is an excellent addition to this sweet and charming series. Readers will love the excellent romance in this story as they follow two best friends that fall for each other. Towards the end, the romance tends to go a bit slow, but readers are already invested and love the characters enough to hold on and see what happens next. Wade also adds in a fun twist of mystery, which enhances this already thrilling story. It is fun to see characters from previous books in the series showing up in this one as well. This is definitely a story that readers will not want to put down! Series: Bradford Sisters Romance Genre: contemporary, romance, Christian, mystery Publisher: Bethany House Publication date: April 30, 2019 Number of pages: 386 Other books in the series: 0.5-Then Cam You 1-True to You 2-Falling For You A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Prism Book Tours. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. Giveaway ONE WINNER WILL RECEIVE:
Enter on Becky's website HERE. Tour Schedule First Line Fridays -- From the Start
5/16/2019
 via Hoarding Books Today I'm posting a line from From the Start by Melissa Tagg. This is book one in the Walker Family Series.  My First Line: How in the world had rain earned such a romantic rep? What are you reading? What is your first line?
Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below... Then head on over to Hoarding Books and link up! And then hop around the linky to visit other blog stops. 
About the Book
As heiress of Rosings Park, Anne de Bourgh’s health is of utmost importance to her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Thus, following the shock of a recent fire at Rosings Park, the young woman is spirited away to Brighton to take the cure. While her domineering mother is bent on healing her daughter’s sickly constitution to secure her a suitable match, Anne herself is far more concerned with sketching the flora and fauna of the lovely sea town. It is in pursuit of artistic inspiration among the flowers that Anne becomes acquainted with Mr. Owen Talbot, a charming man with whom Anne feels an immediate connection, notwithstanding their differing stations.
But despite their growing esteem for one another, the couple faces an insurmountable problem: Lady Catherine has set her sights on a rich, well-connected man for her daughter, and Mr. Talbot is simply too common. With their love in jeopardy, the couple soon faces far graver problems. There has been a murder in Brighton, and Anne is innocently drawn into an amateur investigation that ultimately traces its roots to her own family. With a frightening foreshadowing regarding the de Bourghs, Anne begins to question whom she can truly trust. About the Author
Award-winning author, Ronda Hinrichsen (also writing as Kathleen Marks) and her family own a small farm located between the beautiful Rocky Mountains and the Great Salt Lake where she regularly sees eagles, hawks, owls, and ducks. Lots of ducks. She is the author of independently and traditionally published non-fiction, romantic suspense and speculative books as well as numerous magazine articles and stories for children and adults. She also enjoys teaching about writing in conference and classroom settings. To learn more about Ronda, visit her website at rondahinrichsen.com.
Review
From cover to cover, this story is every regency romance reader’s dream and delight. The novel is based on characters from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice bringing a new twist and a new light to Anne de Bourgh’s story. Not only is this story a sweet romance, but it has mystery and intrigue too. This story is filled with anticipating twists and turns that will keep readers guessing and bringing them back for more. Readers will absolutely not want to put down this charming mystery filled regency romance novel.
Genre: historical, regency, romance, mystery Publisher: Covenant Communications Publication date: May 1, 2019 Number of pages: 263 A review copy of this book was provided by Covenant Communications. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. GiveawayAbout the Book Timothy Mayfield is ready to marry for love, but, since his personal finances are thinner than he’d like, he knows he’ll also need to find a wife with wealth. After receiving an unexpected inheritance, Timothy’s circumstances change, and he is free to pursue his “perfect woman”—one with blonde hair, blue eyes, a light laugh, arched eyebrows, elegant fingers, and a dazzling smile, among nearly twenty other characteristics. Maryann Morrington doesn’t match anything on Timothy’s list—except for wealth. An heiress in her own right, she is tired of men pursuing her only for her money. But at nearly twenty-two years old, and not a particularly stunning beauty, she can’t be as picky as her friend Timothy is. The two friends end up playing matchmaker for each other. Timothy will find a decent gentleman for Maryann, and Maryann will prove to Timothy that his “perfect woman” doesn’t exist. Until Miss Shaw comes to London. Now, with Timothy’s heart captivated by the blonde, blue-eyed beauty, Maryann must decide if she should risk her heart and reveal her true feelings for her friend, or if she should settle for someone else. It’s an up-and-down game of “he loves me, he loves me not” with both hearts and friendship on the line. About the Author Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and has written twenty-five novels, one cookbook, and been part of multiple collaborations since then. She is a four-time Whitney Award winner and Best of State winner in Fiction. Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her husband and children. When Kensington Press picked up her first national women's fiction novel, As Wide as the Sky, Josi was in need of a pen name to differentiate between her other genres. For years, Josi has bee called Jessica Pack by people who hear her name but don't know her, it made her new pen name easy to choose. As Wide as the Sky will be released in paperback sometime in 2018. ReviewFrom page one, readers will fall in love with Josi S. Kilpack’s sweet regency romancein Daisies and Devotion. This story is about friendship, making mistakes within that friendship, and falling in love when least expected. The characters come to life from the pages as Kilpack weaves a sweet, delicate, and loveable story of a friendship to love interest romance. From cover to cover, readers will be swept away into the regency time period as they dive into this delightful and charming story.
Series: Mayfield Family Genre: historical, romance Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publication date: May 14, 2019 Number of pages: 304 Other books in the series: 1-Promises and Primroses A review copy of this book was provided by the author via her street team. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.  Today I'm posting a line from The Edge of Mercy by Heidi Chiavaroli.  My First Line: Swansea, Massachusetts I slipped the two rings off my finger to cradle them in my palm What are you reading? What is your first line?
Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below... Then head on over to Hoarding Books and link up! And then hop around the linky to visit other blog stops.  On Tour with Prism Book Tours About the Book (The Wardrobe Series #3) By Candee Fick Christian Contemporary Romance Paperback & ebook, 275 Pages May 1st 2019 by Bling! Romance The pampered diva is about to meet her match Songbird Gloria Houghton has always needed to be the center of attention, but the spotlight has shifted. Seeking fame and a fresh start, she finds a new stage in Branson, Missouri…only to risk being replaced by a manipulative rival. If Gloria can’t be the star, who is she? Jack-of-all-trades Nick Sherwood is just one leaf on a vast family tree that includes a restaurant chef, hotel owners, and even the headline act at a family-owned theater. He’s seen how fame can blind a person with jealousy and is more than content to stay in the background thank you very much. If only he wasn’t so fascinated--and irritated--by the newest addition to the staff. After a disaster of a first impression and financial difficulties land Gloria in the humblest of jobs—with Nick as her boss—it might be time for her to learn to sing a new song. FREE from KindleUnlimited Other Books in the Series
About the Author Candee Fick is a multipublished, award-winning author. She is also the wife of a high school football coach and the mother of three children, including a daughter with a rare genetic syndrome. When not busy writing, editing, or coaching other authors, she can be found cheering on the home team at sporting events, exploring the great Colorado outdoors, indulging in dark chocolate, and savoring happily-ever-after endings through a good book. In addition to writing clean faith-based romance novels and inspirational non-fiction, Candee coaches other authors with their marketing plans and offers content editing to aspiring novelists. She is a member of both American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network. Her fiction has semi-finaled, finaled, and won the ACFW Genesis Contest and Selah Awards. ExcerptConscious of the passing time, Gloria scrambled out of her wet shirt and slipped into the gigantic dry one. She rolled up the sleeves, then gathered the mid-thigh-length fabric and tucked it into the waistband of her damp jeans. After wringing out her T-shirt into an empty bucket in the corner, she left the office behind and carefully retraced her steps toward the rehearsal room. Late, damp, and in an oversized mechanic’s shirt. What kind of impression would she make now? She’d have to prove her worth with her voice alone. Thankfully the pain in her knee had faded, leaving a sore spot on her shoulder as the only lingering damage. At the site of her previous fall, Nick soaked up the last of the spilled water while one of the brothers looked on. Spotting her approach, the man left the janitor and hurried to her side, his eyes scanning over her attire. “Is that the best Nick could come up with? Sorry we don’t have better.” She covered the monogrammed name over her heart. “It’ll do for now until my clothes dry out.” She shook out the more-than-damp T-shirt. “Sorry to make everyone wait on me.” “No worries. We’re sorry for such a welcome. I’m Gavin, by the way.” “I’m Gloria. And it’s nice to officially meet you.” She added a regal nod to offset her borrowed hillbillyish appearance, then grinned. If only she could ignore the uncomfortable sensation of Nick watching her. Watching them. Gavin winked, then offered his elbow to escort her away from the janitorial tasks and toward her future as a singer. Her smile grew when she realized she’d captured the handsome man’s full attention for a minute. The added confidence lingered as they crossed the threshold into a room holding a piano and two semicircle rows of chairs with a half dozen other people mingling around. The snickering blond from the corridor had already claimed a front-and-center seat, the perfect spot to smirk at Gloria’s borrowed shirt…and frown when she noticed the handsome man escorting Gloria. While Gloria didn’t want to make any enemies on her first day, it was a nice reminder of her fresh start. With a new town and a new job, maybe she deserved a new guy, too. Especially since it appeared there were plenty of men to go around. While she was in Branson, she might as well enjoy herself. “Gloria.” The other brother, Tyler, noticed their arrival and hurried over. “Sorry for the accident this morning. Our welcome mat doesn’t usually include a free shower.” She forced a self-conscious laugh and tried to pretend like it didn’t matter. “It turned out to be a refreshing wake-up since the weather is already warmer here than back in Colorado.” “Well, thanks for being a good sport who can handle the unexpected. We need that around here.” Tyler punctuated his words with a wink, sending a flutter through her chest. Giveaway - One 1st prize winner will receive: the complete set of The Wardrobe Series (ebook only if international winner, otherwise print copies) plus a $25 Amazon gift card - One 2nd prize winner will receive: Copy of Sing a New Song (ebook only if international winner, US winner can choose ebook or print) plus a $10 Amazon gift card - Ends May 15, 2019 Enter the giveaway HERE. Tour Schedule |
