Book Review ** A November Bride by Beth K. Vogt

A November Bride by Beth K. Vogt was a very enjoyable read and probably my favorite story in this series. I like to read books about brides and this book is another one of the books in the Year of Brides series.  Here you can read my review of A December Bride, A January Bride, A February Bride, A March Bride, An April Bride, A May Bride, A June Bride, AJuly Bride, An August Bride, A September Bride, and An October Bride.

Sadie J. McAllister is a personal chef. She loves her but can’t seem to find her Mr. Right. In fact, her last three boy friends have all broken up with her by text. The only guy that seems to be a permanent fixture in her life is Erik Davis, her best friend. He was her science-lab partner in middle school when they were both thirteen. She asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance and he turned her down. When they both arrived at the dance alone, they began talking and became friends. Now 17 years later they are still best friends.  Erik jokingly tells Sadie that she’ll get married by text after hearing that another boyfriend has broken up with her by text. Sadie thinks that Erik is afraid of commitment since he never dates a girl longer than three months. What will happen when one of Sadie’s best clients asks her to move from Colorado to Oregon with them to become their permanent chef? Will Erik and Sadie realize that the reason that they can’t find happiness with anyone one else is because they are meant to be together? Can Sadie and Erik go from being best friends to bride and groom?

I received this book free from HarperCollins Christian Publishing through the BookLook® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review** An October Bride by Katie Ganshert

An October Bride by Katie Ganshert was a very enjoyable read. I like to read books about brides and this book is another one of the books in the Year of Brides series.  Here you can read my reviews of A December Bride, A January Bride, A February Bride, A March Bride, An April Bride, A May Bride, A June Bride, A July Bride, An August Bride, and A September Bride.

Emma Tate realizes just how quickly life can turn itself on end.  Two years ago, she was planning her wedding when her father was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  The diagnosis makes her realize that she didn’t really love her fiancé and so she breaks things off.  Fast forward two years. Emma is taking care of her parent’s cats while they are away for the weekend and she accidentally knocks her father’s journal off of his desk, exposing his bucket list. He has crossed most of the items off the list, but the last one on the list throws Emma for a loop. “Walk Emma down the aisle” When Emma sees this she decides that this is one thing she can do for her father. When she gets home she decides she will call up her old fiancé and suggest they go ahead and get married, so her father can walk her down the aisle. Before Emma is able to call her former fiancé, Jake Sawyer, her brother’s friend, offers her a solution. Jake suggests that the two of them get married rather than call her old fiancé. Emma agrees and before they know it and are ready, everyone in town knows, too. Emma has had a crush on Jake since she was in second grade. Will they make it through the fake wedding or will things fall apart before then? Will Jake admit to Emma the real reason he suggests they get married or will he keep it to himself.

I received this book free from HarperCollins Christian Publishing through the BookLook® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review ** A September Bride by Kathryn Springer

A September Bride by Kathryn Springer was an enjoyable read. I like to read books about brides and this book is another one of the books in the Year of Brides series.  Here you can read my review of A December Bride, A January Bride, A February Bride, A March Bride, An April Bride, A May Bride, A June Bride, A July Bride, and An August Bride.

Anne Price has recently moved to Red Leaf and taken a position as manager of Second Story Books. She hopes that this move will allow her to become involved in the community and help her feel like she belongs.  Her boss and landlord, Lorna Kent, met Anne through her online book group and decided to give Anne a chance at a new life.  Anne has become involved in the historical society and the museum that they are creating about the town founders. The historical society has decided that they will have a reenactment of the founders wedding at the grand opening of the museum. When the bride’s wedding dress arrives, the only person who can wear it is Anne.

Jesse Kent, Lorna’s son, is a police officer in Red Leaf and has just returned from training in Arizona. On his first day back on the job, who should he pull over but newcomer Anne Price? Jesse has a hard time trusting newcomers to town after things that have happened in his past. When Jesse gets roped into playing the part of groom to Anne’s bride at the reenactment, sparks begin to fly. Will Jesse and Anne make this September wedding a personal commitment or will it just be a reenactment?

I received this book free from HarperCollins Christian Publishing through the BookLook® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review ** An August Bride by Debra Clopton

An August Bride by Debra Clopton was an enjoyable read. I like to read books about brides and this book is another one of the books in the Year of Brides series.  Here you can read my review of A December Bride, A January Bride, A February Bride, A March Bride, An April Bride, A May Bride, A June Bride, and A July Bride.

Ever since Kelsey Wilcox’s fiancé jilted her at the altar, she has hated weddings. On top of being jilted at her own wedding, Kelsey’s rancher father loses the family ranch to foreclosure a few months later. As a result, Kelsey ditches ranching, cowboys and the Texas hill country and moves to Corpus Christi, Texas to start over. She opens her own restaurant called the Sunflower Bistro and begins to branch out into catering as well. Life is good for two years until she has to take part in her cousin Tiffany’s wedding to …gasp…a cowboy, of all people, at the beach! Also attending the wedding are Kelsey and Tiffany’s Aunt Esther Mae Wilcox and her aunt’s best pals, Norma Sue and Adela, who are known as the “Mule Hollow Matchmaking Posse.” As Kelsey is conversing with “the Posse” before the rehearsal dinner, her aunt’s dog, Millie, runs into the waves and Kelsey dives in to save her. Kelsey becomes entangled in her dress and is struggling to save the dog and extract herself from the dress that has trapped her. Enter Brent Corbin, a Corpus Christi rancher, who is a groomsman in Tiffany’s wedding. He sees Kelsey in trouble and dives in to save her.  Sparks fly between Kelsey and Brent, but will he be able to overcome her aversions to cowboys and ranching, and win her heart and hand?

I received this book free from HarperCollins Christian Publishing through the BookLook® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review ** A July Bride by Beth Wiseman

A July Bride by Beth Wiseman was a pretty good read. I like to read books about brides and this book is another one of the books in the Year of Brides series.  Here you can read my review of A December Bride, A January Bride, A February Bride, A March Bride, An April Bride, A May Bride, and A June Bride.

Alyssa Pennington is all set to marry Brendan Myers. The church is decorated, she’s in her gown, and has walked down the aisle, when Brendan decides he can’t go through with the wedding and bolts out of the church. Two months later, Alyssa is trying to put her life back together by returning her wedding dress and trying to forget Brendan.

Brendan, on the other hand, regrets his cold feet at the wedding and the fear that his marriage would turn out as bad as his parents, and will try anything to win Alyssa back, including hiring a crop duster to pull a sign asking Alyssa to marry him. Meanwhile, Alyssa’s brother’s best friend, Dalton, decides to see if he can win Alyssa’s hand. When will Alyssa see Dalton for the man he truly is and learn to forgive Brendan? Will there be any hope of a happy ever after for Alyssa and Brendan?

I received this book free from HarperCollins Christian Publishing through the BookLook® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review** A June Bride

A June Bride by Marybeth Whalen was an alright read, and I definitely don’t agree with everything in it. I like to read books about brides and this book is another one of the books in the Year of Brides series.  You can read my review of A December Bride here, A January Bride here, A February Bride here, A March Bride here, An April Bride here, and A May Bride here.

Wynne is a young woman whose high school sweetheart and fiancé, Callum, had broken up with her. When her best friend, Picky, aims a camera at her she bare her heart about her recent break up, and in a weak moment, allows Picky, to submit the video to The Rejection Connection, a dating show that pairs recently dumped women with eligible bachelors. Wynne was selected to be on the show and has chosen a bachelor, Andy, to give the key to her heart to.  Now they are planning a wedding to be filmed and featured on the TV show. Wynne, however, still has feelings for Callum, and after meeting him to try to “tie up loose ends”, wonders if she really is doing the right thing, although she insists on following through with the wedding to Andy. Will Wynne face the reality of her feelings for Callum, or continue on with the reality she thinks will work out with Andy?

I received this book free from HarperCollins Christian Publishing through the BookLook® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review** Four Weddings and a Kiss

Four Weddings and a Kiss: A Western Bride Collection by Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton is a very enjoyable read.  If you are like me and enjoy reading historical western romances like I do, you’ll enjoy reading Four Weddings and a Kiss as much as I did.

This collection includes a prologue, Spitfire Sweetheart by Mary Connealy, A Love Letter to the Editor by Robin Lee Hatcher, A Cowboy for Katie by Debra Clopton, Courting Trouble by Margaret Brownley, and an epilogue. In the prologue, Rev. Gregory Miller has just completed a weeklong revival meeting with several other ministers and is ready to head home to Phoenix. The only problem is, he feels like he is being tested and must break up with the girl he loves, Elizabeth, because of her unconventional ways. As he unknowingly grumbles aloud to God about his “test” while around the campfire the night before leaving, one of the other ministers begins to question him and give him counsel.  As the ministers begin to mention God’s most unlikely servants in the Bible, it leads the four other ministers to tell the story of unlikely people that God had brought together for His purpose during their ministries. The unlikely couples are Maizy MacGregor and Rylan Carstens in Spitfire Sweetheart, Molly Everton and Jack Ludgrove in A Love Letter to the Editor, Katie Pearl and Treb Rayburn in A Cowboy for Katie, and Brock Daniels and Grace Davenport in Courting Trouble. After hearing the stories of these unlikely couples, Gregory Miller decides in the epilogue that even the unlikeliest of couples, he and Elizabeth, can find true happiness.

I received this book free from HarperCollins Christian Publishing through the BookLook® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

All Grown Up!

On June 2, 2014, Jenny reached a new milestone - High School Graduation! David wasn't able to attend graduation, but Elisabet and Heidi, Andy, Hannah, Chastity, Caleb, Aunt Esther, Grandpa Miller, and the rest of us still at home were able to go.  Our pastor's Barry Sweitzer and his family were able to attend, along with other friends from church: Windy, Madison & Levi Turner, and Marlin and Lavonda Knable. Here are some pictures of Jenny through the years along with family after graduation.

Book Review** Critical Condition

If you like to read medical thrillers, you will enjoy reading Critical Condition by Richard L. Mabry, MD.  Critical Condition is the fifth book that I’ve read by Dr. Mabry, and all of them have been captivating. You don’t get bogged down with medical jargon because he explains things in layman’s terms and you want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen. You can read my review of Stress Test by Dr. Mabry here.

Critical Condition begins with a prologue where Shannon Frasier, a premed student, is walking beside her boyfriend when he is shot and killed. His last words to her were “Help me.” She made a vow that night that she would fight against death and win.

Fast forward several years to chapter one where Dr. Shannon Frasier is hosting a dinner just before a long Fourth of July weekend. Attending the dinner are, Shannon’s “almost-fiancé”, pathologist Dr. Mark Gilbert, Dr. Le Duan (Lee) Kai (who had just finished his residency) and Lee’s wife, Ann. Suddenly, three flat cracks from outside make Shannon pause. She looks outside to realize that someone is on her front lawn, injured from a gunshot. Shannon races to try to save him, but when she is unsuccessful, memories from the past begin to flood her mind. Shannon must now deal with police detectives as they struggle to unravel what is going on.  Shannon’s sister, a recovered drug addict, shows up needing a place to stay and events start happening that seem to point all evidence on Shannon and her sister. You definitely don’t want to put the book down until you figure out who is really guilty.

I received this book free from HarperCollins Christian Publishing through the BookLook® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review** A May Bride

A May Bride by Meg Moseley was a fairly good read, although I don't agree with everything in it. I love to read books about brides and this book is another one of the books in the Year of Brides series.  You can read my review of A December Bride here, A January Bride here, A February Bride here, A March Bride here, and An April Bride here.

Ellie Martin is an Atlanta real estate agent that likes to be a “guerrilla” gardener at a local church in the early morning hours as her stress relief. One morning she is pulling weeds and realizes there is a guerrilla wedding happening. Not wanting to be seen, Ellie tries to be as inconspicuous as possible, however, she recognizes one of the men attending the wedding. He is a man she frequently sees at a local coffee shop where she and her boss get coffee most mornings. He is good looking and always wearing cowboy boots. Ellie has dubbed him Mr. Boots, but has never formally met him. She continues to take peeks at him until she realizes that he has seen her. After the wedding is over, Ellie does her best to stay hidden until everyone has left, however “Mr. Boots” has found her. Graham “Gray” Whitby recognizes Ellie and they exchange business cards before leaving.  As Gray and Ellie begin dating, Gray, introduces Ellie to his family, however, Ellie is reluctant to introduce him to her Mom, who doesn’t trust men after being left to raise her girls alone, and younger sister who is already engaged and getting married soon. When Ellie finally introduces Gray to her family, everything seems to fall apart. Can Gray and Ellie have a happily ever after ending?

I received this book free from HarperCollins Christian Publishing through the BookLook® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.