Snow Angels by Wendy Davy

Story: 8
Presentation: 9
Total: 17
Publisher: White Rose Publishing
Sweet Inspirational
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Blurb: A blizzard brings them together…
A twist of fate threatens to tear them apart.

Seeking her father’s approval, ski patrol candidate, Isabelle Rollins, will stop at nothing to secure her place among the highly respected patrollers at Snowcap Resort, even if it means risking her life. When she becomes lost in a blizzard, she fights her way to the doorstep of a handsome stranger, only to discover he is the one man who can stand in the way of her dream.

Seeking refuge from his tragic past, Ski Patrol Director, Mitchell Donovan, prays his new environment will help his daughter heal and overcome her persistent nightmares. When a stranded woman shows up on his doorstep desperate to survive a raging blizzard, he brings her in from the cold and into his life, only to discover she's the one woman he has no business falling for.

Review: Be warned, this one will pull at your heart strings :)
OY! What a great story!!! I couldn't get enough of the characters, the plot, the...well, everything! Ms Davy has done a fab job of pulling me in and keeping me hooked with a tale of a woman who is desperate for her fathers approval and a mans journey to start a new life for himself and his little girl.
Set in a quaint ski town, these three are thrown together and discover that sometimes the path to healing isn't what you expected :) It's better.

Always a Bridesmaid by Elaine Hopper

Story: 6
Presentation: 9
Total: 15
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Contemporary Sweet
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Blurb: Hell has finally frozen over. After nine long years, Breanna Parker has come home to be her sister's maid of honor. Just her luck that the first person she runs into is her ex-fiance, Troy Youngwolf—the man who eloped with her ex-best friend and broke her heart. Now a widowed father and sheriff of their Florida home town, sexy bad boy Troy wants another chance and won't take no for an answer. However, every time Breanna looks at Troy or his little girl, her heart breaks anew. She can hardly wait for her sister to get hitched so she can escape back to her urban family in Ft. Lauderdale. The risk is too high that Troy may discover her most closely held secret, one with the potential to destroy them both…perhaps this time forever.

Review: As much as I love the premise to this story, ex-lovers who get another shot, I had a few issues with this one.
The Hero and the Heroine both displayed very negative qualities. As a woman, who has often wondered "what-if", I must say that if I ever had an ex who did to me what Troy did, a second chance would just not happen. Even if I decided to entertain the idea of a second chance his response to her "secret" would have killed it for me.
NOW, with me having expressed my feelings toward the characters I do have to say that the story kept me pulled in even though sometimes I felt like I was reading just to see if Brenna was going to slap Troy and tell him to bite a big one.
If you enjoy a read where the hero displays some non-hero-like qualities then you may enjoy this one. I just didn't feel connected to him or the heroine very much through the story and wish I had like them both a bit more.

Steal My Heart by Dina Troy

Story: 7.5
Presentation: 9
Total: 16.5
Publisher: Fido Publishing
Sweet Contemporary
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Blurb: When Lauren Hayes decides to treat herself to a necklace after landing a great job as an assistant editor, she encounters Bayard Fredericks working at a new jewelry store, and he’s the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen. The attraction is mutual, and over the next few weeks he comes on strong, buying her expensive gemstones over her objections. But things don’t quite click for Lauren. She’s just emerged from a bad relationship, and she doesn’t want to rush into anything that could compromise her new found independence. And how can Bayard afford such costly presents in the first place?

Lauren is completely smitten, but her concerns deepen when Bayard lies about his past, and her best friend, Sheila, suspects Bayard might be involved in several high-profile jewel heists thought to be “inside jobs.” Shortly thereafter, Lauren’s prized possession, a drawing by a famous artist, goes missing, and Sheila claims she has proof that Bayard is a jewel thief. Lauren may be falling in love, but how can she trust the man who has stolen her heart?


Review: An interesting tale about a woman starting over wanting to stand on her own two feet and a man who wants to take care of her. When you throw theft and uncertainty into the mix, things get a little shaky. It's a good thing that it all works out in the end.
But it makes you think about all the what-if's. I enjoyed the tale and have to say that I would like to read more from Ms Troy in the future. She has a very unique way to pen a tale and keep the reader hooked.

Design for Life by Cate Masters

Story: 8.5
Presentation: 9
Total: 17.5
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Sweet
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Blurb: The Flower Basket

Becca Lyndon puts her dreams on hold by leaving art school to care for her ailing mom. Working full time at The Flower Basket leaves precious little time, but she squeezes in night classes at the local college. When Mike Hunter fills in as a substitute teacher, she worries about a repeat of the critical reviews he gave her work when he substituted at her high school three years earlier. His reason comes as a complete surprise, but can she trust him? Or will he disappear like her father? When that possibility looms all too real, she’s determined never to let the design for her life unravel again. Following her bliss requires work, but pays off in more ways than she ever imagined. She also learns that one door might close, but another can open—and lead to unexpected opportunities.

Review: I love this series :) I can't help it. This story justs add's another UMP to an already wonderful collection :)

Ok, So I'm a softy and I love a story that gets me a warm and mushy inside and this one totally did it. I LOVE Ms Master's ability to make me feel the ups and downs along with the characters. It makes for a really good read.

You can rest assured that any other Flower Basket stories that come out, this reviewer will be reading and letting you know how they were. If the two I have read so far are any indication, WOW!!!!!

Hearts Crossing by Marianne Evans

Story: 7.5
Presentation: 9
Total: 16.5
Publisher: White Rose Publishing
Christian Romance
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Blurb: Collin Edwards, a former parishioner at Woodland Church of Christ, has renounced God without apology, his faith drained away in the face of a tragic loss.

Daveny Montgomery cares deeply about her relationship with God and the community of Woodland. But lately she's been in a rut, longing for something to reignite her spiritual enthusiasm.

A beautification project at Woodland seems the answer for them both. Daveny spearheads the effort and Collin assists—but only with the renovations, and only because he wants to know Daveny better.

Despite his deepening feelings for her, even stepping into the common areas of the church stirs tension and anger.

Can Daveny trust in Collin’s fledgling return to faith? And can Collin ever accept the fact that while he turned his back on God, God never turned his back on him?

Review: Touching. That is one word that can describe this story and just about sum it up.

I love an Inspy or Christian romance that has a good story, wonderful characters and at the end can make you smile because of all the warm fuzzies swimming around in your tummy. What better way to spend some time than letting yourself be swept away in the romance and with a healthy dose of faith this one covers all aspects.

Good job :) I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future.

Moving In by Alice Audrey

Story: 8
Presentation: 9
Total: 17
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Sweet Contemporary
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Blurb: When Diane and Trigvey move into the same building on the same day, more than their suitcases get tangled up.
All his life Trigvey never once doubted his calling to be a doctor, but an accident in the ER has him doubting himself. Diane's willingness to listen helps him get his head on straight. If only he felt worthy of a woman like her.

Diane is the kind of woman who would love to be someone's wife. Not a trophy wife, or simply married, but the kind of wife whose job is to stay home and take care of the family, even if the family is only a husband. She feeds Trigvey and consoles him, and doesn't even know she has him wrapped around her finger. Jilted for a career-woman and raised by a bitter divorcée, Diane no longer believes in that dream. It's up to Trigvey to convince her it could still be real, if she chooses him.

Review: You know? Every so often you read a story that starts a little slow on the first few pages and then.....BAM it just explodes! This was one of them for me :)

I fell in love with the characters, the story and the romance. With everything going on in the world right now, it is refreshing to read a story that can take you away, put a smile on your face and leave you with a warm feeling inside when you finish.

Ms Audrey, *SNAPS* on a good job. I would love to read more from you in the future :)

The Painters Domestic Dispute by

Story: 7.5
Presentation: 9
Total: 16.5
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Sweet Vintage Historical
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Blurb: Slide into a hot new Studebaker for a quick trip up the Maine Coast, for that All-Important meeting: that's right, Miss Sarah is to meet the parents…

Review: Though this was not really what I would consider a romance, I have to say that it was a very cute story. We get a look at two couples and the things they do for the men they love.

There were some parts in this that were laugh out loud funny. I could picture the looks on the mom's face so vividly and it was a hoot!!!
Great job to the author. Very well done :)