The Christmas Ring A Holiday Romance by Karen Kingsbury

 Book Excerpt:

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

While searching for her family's long-lost heirloom ring, military widow Vanessa Mayfield meets handsome antique dealer Ben Miller. The two are drawn to each other and forge a friendship that soon becomes a profound and breathtaking romance. But neither are sure that what they've found can last.

As Vanessa organizes her annual Columbus Cares Christmas Military Dance, she looks forward to her daughter's return from college. But Vanessa hasn't told Sadie about Ben. After all, Vanessa hadn't anticipated finding love again after losing her husband. And now she wrestles with feelings that are becoming hard to ignore.

Just as Ben is about to declare his love for Vanessa, he learns more about her missing Christmas ring: her great-grandfather found it in France on D-Day, and engraved on the band is a single meaningful word. The details confirm a terrible truth, one that Ben cannot ignore.

Certain he now knows where Vanessa's ring is, Ben leaves town in a frantic rush. But can he stop a certain sale, or will Vanessa's ring be lost forever? Days before Christmas, when all seems hopeless, Ben and Vanessa learn an important eternal truth: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Title: The Christmas Ring
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Fiction
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
'The Christmas Ring' by Karen Kingsbury

My Insight:

'The Christmas Ring' is a heartwarming holiday Christian romance that will keep you turning the pages, eager to discover what's next for Vanessa and Sophie. Vanessa Mayfield, a widow, has found love with Ben Miller, a fellow widower who owns an antique shop. However, she has yet to reveal this to her daughter Sophie. The story also revolves around a lost family heirloom ring. Will this ring be found, and how will Sophie adapt to her mother's new relationship? To find out, immerse yourself in this heartwarming read, 'The Christmas Ring.'

Prepare to be inspired by 'The Christmas Ring', a captivating story with a rich cast of characters. This tale is a tapestry of 'military spouse, devotion, faith, redemption, friendship, and love.' It's a story that is steeped in prayer and scripture, seamlessly woven into the Christmas narrative, offering a source of inspiration and hope.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an advance copy for my honest review.

Tethered Love Kindle Edition by Kimberly Brown

Book Excerpt:

"Eliana Barlow has spent years longing to be a mother. After six miscarriages, she is finally blessed with a beautiful baby girl through the loss of her best friend, Porchea. But unfortunately, losing her husband in the line of duty only two years later proves to Eliana that life can be cruel. Dealing with heartbreak amid raising her daughter is no easy task, but Eliana does it all gracefully.

Malachi Devereaux has spent most of his adult life longing for the one thing he's never had, a child. Set to be married to the beautiful Ziva Shaw, he hopes to finally fulfill that dream. But, when a young girl shows up in his classroom claiming to be his daughter, Malachi'ss world changes in the blink of an eye.

The secrets of his former lover come to light at the same time as revelations about his current fiancée. The realization that she will never accept his child forces Malachi to choose between two different kinds of love. The problem with Ziva is that she isn't to give him up so easily. The budding relationship with Malachi, his daughter, and her mother pushes Ziva over an already fragile edge.

Find out what happens when getting everything you want collides with ugly truths and vengeful secrets.

Title: Tethered Love
Author: Kimberly Brown
Publisher: B. Love Publications
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"There" Love" by Kim" early Brown

My Sentiments:
'There' Love' was entirely read with some compelling characters [Violet, Malachi, Eliana, Porchea, Ziva, Easton], to name a few...that kept one attention until the end. So be ready for drama, secrets, scandal, and even love.

The whole story starts when Violet searches for her biological father and finds Malachi. What will happen when her mother, Eliana, gets upset about this venture that Violet takes? This author gives the reader quite a read as this 13-year-old finds her Dad. There will be so much more from this story...from deaths, grief, loss, miscarriages, friendships made, love interests, happiness, families coming leather, trauma, twists and turns, deceit, mystery, craziness, and let's not leave out that crazy ex-fiance [where mental help was definitely needed], and suicide.

"Tethered Love" is a love story full of a little bit of it all, from love to drama, that will keep you reading this magnificent read until the end. Great read!

Baby, It's Snow Outside By: Shani Green-Dowdell

 Book Excerpt:

"Miracle

After lots of blood, sweat, and tears, Dr. Miracle Williams rebuilds her life from a dark past. She lives a mundane but successful life until an unexpected emergency from a neighbor shakes things up in a way she never imagined.

Ishmael
By the time Ishmael Wright is sixteen, he has suffered loss after loss. His grandmother is all he has left. When she collapses a few weeks before Christmas, the doctor next door is his only hope of saving his grandmother.

Two lonely hearts meet amid tragedy. Will they fall in love, build a snowman, and dance to Christmas oldies? Or will their pasts reemerge and cause them to drift apart before the New Year?"

Title: Baby, It's Snow Outside
Author: Shani Green-Dowdell
Publisher: Imperial Publishing House
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
Baby, It's Snow Outside by Shani Green-Dowdell

My Assessment:

'Baby, It's Snow Outside' was a sweet story of how these two...Miracle Williams and Ishmael Wright met...all due to his grandmother Mildred Wright's input. It was quite a journey in how these 'two lonely hearts meet, fall in love, build a snowman, dance to Christmas music,' and, oh yes, fall in love. Pick up this good read to see how well this author will bring it all out to the reader.

Heart of Hope: A Small Town Romance Kindle Edition by Lucy Score

 Book Excerpt:

“Why would a professional hockey player fly out here, seduce me, and then vanish again?”

I can’t believe I fell for a liar. I was an idiot. A blinded-by-lust, hopeful idiot who threw me into bed with a sexy stranger, invited him to dinner with my entire family, and then woke up alone to a note.

I hope you can forgive me for lying.

Ha. Like that’s ever going to happen. If Beau French or Evanko or whatever the hell his name ever shows his hot, bearded face in this town again, I’ll make sure he regrets it.

To be fair, I practically threw myself at his crotch. And okay, fine. Getting naked with him was the first time I’d felt anything worth feeling since losing my little sister. It’s almost kinda nice to be fueled by the fires of rage instead of the numbness of grief. But I’m certainly not going to thank him for lying and then sneaking out of my bed like a thief in the midafternoon.

Thankfully, I have my older sister’s Christmas wedding to distract me. There’s no way he’d show his face there. Besides, there’s no excuse good enough to make me forgive him."

Title: Heart of Hope: A Small Town Romance
Author: Lucy Score
Publisher: That's What She Said Publishing, Inc.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Heart of Hope" by Lucy Score

My Assessment:

'Heart of Hope' was a good read about the closeness of a family to the donation of a sister Hope's organs after passing. The sister, Bristol, writes a letter to the organ recipient telling the person of Hope's life. How will this affect the person that receives this letter? The reader will have to pick up this novel and see how the author brings it all out to get the answer. The story will bring out a lot of good information about secrets, forgiveness, and trust. Will Beau and Bristol be able to make it back to each other? After Beau's explanation, it was hard to understand why Bristol had problems with his reasoning...but other than that...it was all good. The extended epilogue was exceptionally well thought out, and the author gives the reader a big smile. The story was an outstanding read.

Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas A River Ranch Novel by Soraya Lane

Book Synopsis:

"Billionaires, cowboys, and romance collide during the holidays in this next book in the River Ranch series! 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year at the Ford family ranch. Will one cowboy’s homecoming be the greatest gift of all?

He left town and never looked back.
Cody Ford is a Wall Street honcho with humble Texas roots. This holiday season, he’d be content to just stay in New York and not face his family—and dodge their questions about when and with whom he plans to settle down and if he will do so back at home. But his father isn’t getting any younger, and Cody doesn’t want to miss any last chances to see him and the rest of the folks back on the ranch. The last person Cody was expecting to see? His one-time girlfriend, Lexi Murphy, who’s been working as his dad’s new live-in nurse.

She never forgot him. Can she ever forgive him?
Lexi still holds a grudge against Cody. Back then, the college-bound heartthrob believed he was too good for a small-town girl like Lexi. But now Cody can’t help but see her in a whole new light. Could it be that this beautiful single mother with an unbeatable can-do spirit is the one he’s been waiting for all along? That depends on whether Cody can prove to Lexi that, this time, he means business—and if a sudden snowstorm can lend just the right amount of Christmas magic to help move things along. . ."

“Lane warms the hearts of readers across the globe.”
—RT Book Reviews

Title:  Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas

Author:  Soroya Lane

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Four

Review:

"Once Upon a Cowboy" by Soraya Lane

My Rationalization:

This was quite an interesting story that involved 'a millionaire, cowboy, second chance at romance, and during
the Christmas holiday.'  We find a son [Cody] who is returning for Christmas to the family ranch in Texas.  Why had he not been coming home very often after the death of his mother?  And what will happen after he returns home and finds his old flame Lexi who is a nurse is caring for Cody's father Walter?  What other problems will come up from this holiday visit that will bring problems to Lexi's life as she has becomes involved with her ex-sweetheart?   I will say that all of the characters from this story were very interesting with my favorite being the father and Lexi's son Harry.

I will say that for about 3/4 of the read I really didn't care for the hero but by the end of this story with Cody realizing that he needs some help, [therapy] I did change my mind about him.  I think that part was so very important to this story.  After all, is said and done I found this story a good read that will keep you turning the pages to see if there will be a rekindling of a romance that will end in an HEA for these two.   

Thank you to NetGallery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love At Last (Jenkins Family & Friends Novella) Kindle Edition by Sharon C. Cooper

Profile:

"Carolyn Jenkins has never had a problem getting a man, but keeping one is another story. After two failed marriages and numerous short-term relationships, she’s ready to wave the white flag and give up on love. Yet, with Christmas quickly approaching, she dreads spending the holiday alone. Will a chance encounter with a handsome stranger make all of her Christmas wishes come true?

After thirty years of a nearly perfect marriage, widower Lincoln Richwood struggles to move on with his life. The idea of dating at his age seems daunting … until he meets the vivacious Carolyn Jenkins. Normally a straitlaced kind of guy, there’s just something about the woman that tempts him to walk on the wild side.

Opposites attract, but will their differences derail their relationship and keep them from embracing the love they both desire?"

A Jenkins Family Novella

Title: Love At Last
Author: Sharon C. Cooper
Publisher: Amaris Publishing LLC
Series: Jenkins Family Series
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Love At Last" by Sharon C. Cooper

My Rationalization:

I really enjoyed this story that featured Carolyn Jenkins and Lincoln Richwood. I was so excited to read this story due to the fact these were of older mature adults who had a beautiful love story to tell that was truly 'funny, sexy with a good grown-up theme' that will keep you turning the pages. I didn't particularly like the snobbishness that Lincoln had toward Carolyn's lack of education but I guess in the end it did work out. It was great seeing Carolyn and her daughter Martina [MJ] getting along so well and it was even greater seeing Carolyn doing things that made her happy. If you are looking for a read that express 'uniqueness, passion and undeniable love' you have come to the right place for this Jenkins Family & Friends Novella will give it to you and more.