Carol Moncado

Kara McKormick is told she’s auditioning to star in a new teen variety show. But it’s what she isn’t told that could change her life.

The feisty New Yorker moves to sunny Orlando to participate in a month-long audition, where she’ll live with nine other contestants and an eccentric housemother. Kara knows that the show already has a big-time celebrity lined up for the co-host, but she doesn’t know who it is.

Chad Beacon quickly rose to fame after winning America’s Next Star, but he doesn’t want his entire career to be about singing. There is so much more he wants to do-like act. The new variety show sounds like the perfect next step for him, but his parents want him to have a co-star who shares his faith since they’ll be spending so much time together.

Acting is high on Kara’s priority list. But a relationship with God? Not so much. In fact, she’s tried to stay away from anything religious. But God is after Kara’s heart and He’s put people in her life who are showing her there’s far more to Christianity than rules and judgment.

And just when it seems that Kara’s going to have to give up her acting dream, God reveals that she may have a starring role after all-in a story so big only He could write it.

I picked up Ms. McGee’s debut novel, First Date, sort of by accident. I read the back cover and thought it looked interesting but didn’t realize that it was a YA novel. But I do like a good YA from time to time and I enjoyed her first book.

Her sophomore effort, Starring Me, takes one of the strong secondary characters from the first book and follows her story after book 1 ends.

Ms. McGee created wonderfully likable [and unlikable!] characters in First Date and I loved being able to follow them a bit further. The main characters from First Date returned along with not just the new main character in Kara, but several other supporting characters as well.

Kara is open to Christianity but isn’t a Christian at the beginning of the book. She has a couple of excellent influences in her life in the main characters from the first book.

Chad is a Justin Beiber type. He’s an American Idol type show winner and fast-tracked to teen stardom. He’s ready to settle down a bit and a variety show on a TeenDisney or NickTeen type channel seems to be just the ticket.

There’s definitely a romantic plot at work here and I enjoyed it. It’s… appropriately tamer than adult fiction [as in, stories geared towards grown-ups, not adult fiction]. I did miss some of that interaction and HEA type stuff that goes with grown-up stories [like an engagement ring or a wedding etc], but it’s perfectly in keeping with the YA genre.

I enjoyed both of Ms. McGee’s books so far and will be looking forward to her third book – I don’t know who it’s about but I have a couple of secondary characters I’d love to see get a shot at the spotlight and/or redemption.

Overall rating: 8 out of 10

Thanks to NetGalley, BookSneeze and the publisher for a free copy/ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review [I’m still not sure how I ended up with two copies but may well give the hard copy away and will certainly loan it out at the very least].

Finding an imposter instead of her uncle means Anne’s quest must continue after The Lady’s Maid is wed, and Dan is determined to protect her from the swindlers now trailing her. But though he’s good at keeping her safe, he’s certain he’ll never be able to convince Anne to be his wife since her sights are set on finding her uncle and returning to England. As her quest becomes even more difficult—and dangerous—Anne finds her feelings for Dan changing. Will she soon be envisioning a new life in America?

I read The Lady’s Maid recently and, to be honest, was disappointed with the ending.

Until I realized the sequel was already out ;).

Several threads were left hanging and that really annoyed me but realizing it was but the first in a series helped significantly with that. Be aware there could well be spoilers here for book 1.

Lady Anne has been searching for her uncle who is to inherit her father’s lordship [is that the right word? I confess, how the nobility works and the right titles is way over my head but I think I’ve got it right]. She, along with several of her friends from book 1, head on what should have been a fairly short, easy trip further into Oregon to where they thought he was. But instead they’re met by imposters.

She, along with her friend Dan from book 1 – he’d proposed to her and she’d turned him down – continue their search for her uncle, but are met at every turn with people trying to slow them down. From the man with the mustache who followed Anne and Elise in book 1 to new threats and dangers from the wilderness, she learns even more just what she’s made from – much tougher stuff than she ever would have imagined living a genteel life in England a year earlier.

Dan had planned to farm with his brother but he knew he’d never live down the regret if he didn’t try to convince Lady Anne just once more than the was the guy for her. And it’s a good thing because as tough as she is these days, she simply didn’t have the knowledge needed to do what needed doing.

It’s always wonderful to see favorite characters return [especially Bailey!] and see them truly come into their own. Adding in fabulous new characters [especially Millie who I didn’t expect to like at all] simply adds to the enjoyment.

I liked the romance better in this one than the first – the first it was more… subtle maybe? Something like that. It wasn’t bad by any means but I liked this one much better.

There’s more closure at the end of this book than there was in the first and I was glad for that. I was also very glad to hear book 3 is coming out this fall – and even happier to discover I could get an early review copy of it. Guess what’s up next? 😉

Overall Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

If these three sisters don’t change direction, they’ll end up where they’re going.

Darlene Caldwell has spent a lifetime tending Sycamores, an estate located five miles south of a small town called Peculiar. She raised a family in the spacious home that was her grandfather’s legacy, and she enjoys being a pillar of the community. Sycamores is the kingdom where she reigns as queen . . . until her limelight-stealing twin sister unexpectedly returns.

Carlene Caldwell, veteran of the Broadway stage, is devastated when she realizes that an unsuccessful throat surgery has spelled the end of her musical career. Searching for a new purpose in life, she retreats to Sycamores, her childhood home. She may not be able to sing, but she hopes to use her knowledge and experience to fashion a new life in Peculiar, the little town she left behind.

Haunted by a tragic romance, Magnolia Caldwell is the youngest of the Caldwell girls. Nolie has never wanted to live anywhere but Sycamores. She spends her days caring for her dogs and the magnificent gardens she’s created on the estate, but when she meets a man haunted by his own tragedy, she must find the courage to either deny her heart or cut the apron strings that tie her to a dear and familiar place.

Can these sisters discover who they are meant to be when life takes an unforeseen detour? In a season of destiny, three unique women reunite and take unexpected journeys of the heart.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started this book. I’ve not read anything by the author and it falls more under the description of “women’s fiction” than romance, but the title and blurb intrigued me so…

It’s nearly time for Darly and Carly’s 50th birthday. Younger sister, Nolie, is planning a surprise party for Darly and invites Carly as an additional surprise.

There’s surprises all right.

Carly stays much longer than anticipated and all three come to terms with the past. It’s hard to say too much without spoilers but they all have things they need to work through. There’s a bit of romance for two of the sisters in particular which I liked, but mostly it’s about the relationships between the sisters.

So it’s different than what I normally read but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. I likely wouldn’t turn down another book by Ms. Hunt, especially if it seemed to have a more romantic thread in it, but I don’t know that I’ll seek her our specifically like I do some other authors.

Overall rating: 7.25 out of 10 stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Today is Father’s Day. I have a great dad I love dearly and an AMAZING husband who is the best father I could possible ask for for my children.

But today – even earlier today – fathers who “didn’t have to be” were on my mind. Those men who step in and father kids whose biological fathers aren’t around – for whatever reason. Maybe next year I’ll do a blog post specifically centered around some of them.

Then I came across something.

A couple months ago, I posted about the manager at my favorite Panera who was killed in a tragic car accident [I also posted about it on Pentalk, though the widow story is on the backburner at the moment].

This story ran earlier this month on one of the local news stations about the family Travis left behind.

I happened across this today, but it seemed appropriate. It’s Father’s Day. Travis wasn’t the biological father of his two kids, but a daddy to them nonetheless. It’s obvious from the pictures I’ve seen of them together how much he loved them. It takes a very special man to be a real daddy to kids that aren’t biologically his.

I’m quite sure Brittany and the kids miss him today as they do every day. It’s one of those milestone days that’s always hard.

I’m getting ready to work on my “marketing” stuff for Travis’ story – the as-yet-untitled Speedbo project with Travis-with-the-faux-hawk as the hero. The story was near and dear to my heart before Travis’ passing and even more so now. I’d love to find a publishing home for everything I’ve written, but none more than this.

So Happy Father’s Day to the Dads out there. And to Travis and all the other grandfathers, step-dads, uncles, cousins, friends, and all the others who stand in the gap for those whose dads aren’t around for whatever reason – thank you and Happy Father’s Day to you, too.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjO1F6oCab8]

End of the Trail is part of a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896. 

Brooks Morgan left home 11 years earlier and is just too stubborn to return home.  In 1896 he pulls into the town of Shoofly to take refuge from a storm and befriends John Langston in the local cafe. A high stakes poker game ends with Brooks holding the deed to John’s ranch with one condition – Brooks must promise to take care of Keri. Brooks agrees, assuming that Keri is a horse.

Overcome by guilt, Brooks return to the cafe to give back the deed but finds John on the floor dead. Brooks heads off to take care of John’s ranch and is ambushed. With a noose around his neck, hands tied behind his back he offers a prayer up to God.  A stunning shot is delivered from the rifle of a lady on horseback that breaks the noose and frees Brooks. But could this lady – Keri – be an enemy, too?

I had read one of the earlier books in this series – six by different authors revolving around the Morgan family. I enjoyed it but was a bit afraid that a different author would make it more difficult to like another book.

Fortunately, I worried needlessly.

This was an enjoyable historical romance. I loved Brooks. I loved Keri. I loved the prodigal son aspect of the story. Ms. McDonough created a cast of characters who stole my heart and raised my ire [appropriately ;)]. When power and land hungry men try to force Keri and Brooks off the land Brooks won from Keri’s uncle, Brooks finds a way to save them – at least for a time. But power hungry men rarely stop or let anything get in their way to get what they want.

Will they be able to stop them all together? What about Brooks’ family? And when Keri’s mother comes back and tells Keri the truth about where she came from and why Keri’s uncle took her away? Who will be able to forgive and move on?

I enjoyed this book and look forward to more by Ms. McDonough.

Overall rating: 8.5 out of 10

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

After her mother dies from a heart attack, Sloane Templeton goes from Cyber Crimes Unit to bookstore owner before she can blink. She also “inherits” a half-batty store manager; a strange bunch of little old people from the neighborhood who meet at the store once a week, but never read books, called the Granny Oakleys Book Club; and Aunt Verline, who fancies herself an Iron Chef when in reality you need a cast iron stomach to partake of her culinary disasters. And with a group like this you should never ask, “What else can go wrong?”  

A lot! Sloane begins to receive cyber threats. While Sloane uses her computer forensic skills to uncover the source of the threats, it is discovered someone is out to kill her. Can her life get more crazy?

Ms. Calhoun’s debut novel kept me turning the pages.

Sloane is having a hard time – new career as a book store owner, a few man troubles – though she’s pretty sure she found Mr. Right, the death of her mother, a very valuable book she doesn’t know nearly enough about, and a group of elderly book club members who never read books.

And someone’s out to get her.

Computer viruses. Threatening packages. Lifesavers in unexpected places.

Ms. Calhoun creates characters you love, or love to hate, keeps the twists coming [I changed my mind about who the bad guy was at least 3xs – I was right once, for about two minutes before I changed my mind again ;)], and left enough threads dangling for readers to be impatient for the sequel.

Overall rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Photographer Jennie Buchanan unknowingly captures a drug-cartel meeting on film. And now she has become a killer’s next target. Even worse, her only protection from the danger that threatens her life is the man who threatens her heart. Dodging bullets almost seems safer than facing the feelings stirred up by seeing former FBI agent and ex-boyfriend Ethan Justice again. Ethan vows to safeguard Jennie from the deadly men on her trail. And for a second chance at Jennie’s love, he’s willing to risk anything to expose the truth—about the drug smugglers, the past and the future together he still wants.

I think this is the first Susan Sleeman book I’ve read and I enjoyed it :). I’ll be looking for the other books in the Justice series.

I love the concept of siblings – adopted siblings – running a detective agency after their careers in law enforcement. It reminds me in ways of Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series in that sense. The siblings work together to protect Jennie from the bad guys chasing her.

Especially Ethan.

Ethan and Jennie have a past. To each, the other is ‘the one that got away’. But can they find a way to put the past behind them and move on? Together?

Though this wasn’t a book I’d stay up all night reading, Ms. Sleeman did keep me turning the pages at a fairly rapid rate and I’ll be looking for book 2.

Overall rating: 7.5 out of 10 stars

Thanks to Ms. Sleeman and the publisher for a free influencer copy of the book.

Kissing the wrong guy days before her wedding leads Allison to become a runaway bride. But can it also lead to happily ever after?

Allison Denman is supposed to get married in five days, but everything is all wrong: the huge wedding, the frothy dress, and the groom.

Still, kissing the groom’s brother in an unguarded moment is decidedly not the right thing to do. How could she have made such a mistake? It seems Allison’s life is nothing but mistakes at this point. And pulling a “Runaway Bride,” complete with “borrowing” her best friend’s car, doesn’t seem to solve her problems.

Can Allison find her way out of this mess? She prefers to be the one in control, and giving it up is not going to be easy. But to find her way again, she will have to believe that God has a plan for her and find the strength to let Him lead.

Wish You Were Here is fun and full of humor—sure to be a pleasure to inspirational romance readers.

It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that I adore Beth Vogt. We met last year at the ACFW conference, and had become acquaintances on Facebook. But when I announced the Bell’s Palsy a couple month ago, she became one of my biggest cheerleaders, leaving me notes on my Facebook wall nearly every day reminding me that she loved me, God loves me and that I’m beautiful.

Tears often filled my eyes when I would see her notes – and even though I’m completely better now, she leaves me notes several times a week, never failing to bring a smile to my face. When her book released, I was as happy for her as just about anybody and squealed with childlike glee when the book arrived on my doorstep.

But I was also gripped with fear.

[Not really, but doesn’t it sound so much better than “I was a bit scared”? ;)]

What if I didn’t like it? I adore Beth, but I’d recently read a book by another author I like a lot, but the book just didn’t do it for me. What if this one was the same way?

As it turned out, I worried needlessly!

I’d promised Beth I’d send her stream of consciousness notes as I read, but I didn’t. I was too engrossed to do so.

Oh, wait. You want an actual review of the book? 😉

It has llamas.

Do you need anything more than that?

Okay, fine :D.

I loved Allison and Daniel from the beginning and could see how Allison and Seth were all wrong from each other from the get-go. Beth creates a cast of characters you’ll love, including a cat [achoo!] and llamas you hate to say good-bye to when you turn the last page.

I lived in Colorado as a very young child and remember very little of it. I visited Denver for a week last year, but didn’t see much but the hotel room since I had no car. Regardless, she made Colorado come alive for me helping me to ‘see’ the setting though I’d never been there.

I felt Allison’s pain – both at wanting to call of the wedding and wondering whether it was the right thing to do. Her confusion when it came to Daniel and whether he was the right guy for her.

Daniel is a wonderful character, willing to sacrifice his own happiness for the woman he loves. Willing to forgo the family money to make his own [very successful] way in life.

Allison’s sister and aunt are not-to-be forgotten and her aunt especially livens up any scene she’s in. Allison’s best friend is fabulous.

I don’t know what Beth has up her sleeve for her next book, but I do know that she’s on my to buy list regardless of our friendship.

Overall Rating: 9 out of 10

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy of the book in exchange for my unbiased review [and, yes, I purchased a hard copy too].

The prophet Nehemiah’s cousin can speak numerous languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve great mysteries. There is only one problem: she is a woman.

In her early childhood years, Sarah experienced the death of her mother and her father’s subsequent emotional distance and she came to two conclusions: that God does not care about her, and that her accomplishments are the measure of her worth – the measure of her self.

Sarah, the talented scribe and cousin to Nehemiah, is catapulted into the center of the Persian court, working too many hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and solving intrigues for the Queen. Ironically, it isn’t failure but success that causes Sarah to lose her only source of external validation.

Sarah soon learns that she has something of worth to offer beyond her ability with languages and sums – her very being proves to be a blessing to others.

I read Ms. Afshar’s debut novel, Pearl in the Sand, last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was recently offered free on Kindle and, of course, I snagged it. In the course of a conversation on Facebook about it, I learned she had a new release. When I saw it on NetGalley, I grabbed the new one, excited to see if her sophomore offering was as good.

If anything, it was better!

The story revolves around Sarah, a fictional cousin of the prophet Nehemiah. She’s forced into an arranged marriage where her lack of social graces [think Mulan at the beginning of the movie – only worse] cause no end to problems. But, at the same time, the talents God has given her will prove to be most valuable to her husband and others.

This is a romance, so it’s little shock to find out that Sarah and her new husband, Darius, will grow to love each other.

That part of the ending was immensely satisfying. However, as a literary voyeur, I always want just a bit more. This book was no exception and I wanted to know if they had children. Did Darius take more wives or concubines [as was the custom in the day – he was half Persian and half Jewish, after all]? And a few other unanswered questions. That annoyed me a bit, until I read a bit further on my Kindle – I’m so glad I did! Included is an excerpt of Ms. Afshar’s next release [the title of which is escaping me at the moment]. It appears to pick up not long after Harvest of Rubies ends so the annoyance left me and upped the star count a bit ;).

If there’s a book I truly love that I have on Kindle – either as a free book or a reviewer copy – I’ll sometimes order a hard copy so I can share it more easily. I haven’t purchased this one yet, but I will be. I enjoyed it that much.

Overall Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy of the book in exchange for my unbiased review.

Witness as Shiloh’s new life in Virginia crumbles around her. The house she inherited from her mother is much more than a place to live—it represents Shiloh’s changed life and what little financial security she has. But her half sister is contesting their mother’s will and the IRS is threatening to take it for back taxes. She’s also discovering God’s ideal when it comes to love and romance. When Mr. Right shows up will she recognize God’s hand or let circumstances and prejudices blind her heart to the love of her life?

This is my first book by Ms. Spinola and the second book in the Southern Fried Sushi series.

It seems like many series these days are such that you don’t need to read book 1 to enjoy book 2, etc. A minor character or set of characters take the lead in the next book, and so on.

That isn’t the case with this series. I’d not read book 1 and I think that would have been crucial for my enjoyment of it. I felt a bit out of sorts as I read it, like trying to start a TV series in the middle of season 4.

I tried to sort it all out, but mostly I just accepted what Ms. Spinola said and just sort of went with it.

The characters were creative and lovable. I’m not quite sure how to write this without spoilers – for some reason, it’s escaping me this time. Shiloh’s new friends at her new home, including Adam, could have come off as caricatures but didn’t. Her friend from Japan was the same way.

I did enjoy the book, but felt I would have enjoyed it more if I’d read book 1. My TBR pile is insanely tall, but I will keep book 1 on my list of books I want to read when I have time, or when the mood strikes.

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10 [though it probably would have been more like 8.5 or 9 if I’d read book 1]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.