Just Friends by Haley Pham

Just Friends - Haley Pham

3 Stars

If you’re looking for a clean friends‑to‑lovers romance with a tender grief thread, Just Friends might be a story for you. I went into this one without much familiarity with Haley Pham or her content, but I know this book has sparked a lot of conversation lately. As someone who enjoys clean romance, I was curious to see what it was all about. Y'all know I am always here for a hyped read!

Overall Thoughts

I enjoyed the reading experience in general, even though a few of the tropes aren’t ones I personally gravitate toward. There’s a lot here that readers, especially younger ones, may really connect with.

What I appreciated:
- Childhood friends to lovers is always a sweet, nostalgic dynamic
- A heartfelt grief thread after losing a loved one to cancer....this was handled with care and emotional honesty
- A clean romance with no spice or explicit content
- FMC who is an aspiring author added a fun creative piece

What Didn’t Work as Well for Me

- Miscommunication / non‑communication bits
- Flashback chapters tied to the second‑chance parts
- A slower resolution, especially in the romantic bits

We have Blair and Declan - they were together years ago and they split due to certain circumstances and then some moments that were miscommunication / misunderstandings....then they came back together 4 years later. She is back in town when her great aunt Lottie is sick. She applies to work at a coffee shop and its managed by Declan so that's how they end up reconnecting.

For a debut, I think Haley did a nice job overall. It’s refreshing to see clean, accessible romance on main bookstore shelves, and I can see this being a great fit for younger readers or anyone wanting something wholesome and easy to settle into. While it wasn’t a personal favorite for me, I genuinely appreciated the grief storyline as it felt honest, compassionate, and very real.

I’d be open to picking up her next book and supporting another author writing clean books.

Content/Trigger Warnings: romance is clean/kisses only, not lusty in my opinion, grief from loss of a loved one to cancer, walking through the grief itself moments. language - 3 or 4 "p*ssed", shiiiiii cut off use, nothing else major.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QtvDoq
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Saved to Sin No More - Brad Wetherell

 

Saved to Sin No More - Brad Wetherell
4 Stars

Quote: "Sin is our most significant struggles. Whatever else may trouble us and threaten us, nothing else compares to the power and effects of sin. It rules over us from birth, condemns us before God, and destines us for everlasting death. On our own, we are helpless against it (Rom. 7:23-24) So praise God that we are not on our own. We are united with Christ. In Christ, we have come under the rule of grace, we are justified in God's sight, and we are destined for everlasting life (Rom 5:21). And whenever we trip, stumble, and fall into sin (as we often do), we do not fall out of Christ. We are united with him forever (Rom. 8:38-39)

I got a lot out of this Christian Non-Fiction. When I feel like I am constantly failing in striving in my faith....scripture points us to the liberating hope in Christ that has the power to free us for good. Pastor Brad Wetherell walked through many biblical passages sharing so much about our struggles in sin, when we fall into temptations -- what does God's word say? How can we combat spiritual warfare? How can we ask for forgiveness? How can we submit to God's authority? How can we be in union with Him? How can we resist the temptations? 

He reminds us to remember our story. Where did we start? Where are we now in Christ? How did the Lord move us to glory in Christ? Brad wrote about sin in a truthful, understanding way. He reminds us that God can transform what has been tarnished. He has delivered us from darkness. We are united with Christ and we strive to pursue righteousness. We can embrace God's authority. It's a daily battle but in Christ was can engage this battle in all the confidence in Christ. Sin will no longer have dominion over us! 

Highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Crossway for a gifted copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Crossway's Website: https://www.crossway.org/books/saved-to-sin-no-more-tpb/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/47C6FJy

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer

 

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer 
5 Stars 

I LOVE KAREN'S BOOKS! This is one of her backlist reads from 2010 and wow, just so good! 

I loved the characters, slow burn romance, intense aspects but also a very precious story with the sweet young girl, Isabella.

We follow Adelaide Proctor and Gideon Westcott. She has her "head in the clouds" if you will, and her husband plans didn't quite work out with this guy Henry.....she interviews for a governess job in Texas and gets the job on Gideon's sheep ranch. Gideon left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry. He never expected to become a father overnight when his ward, Isabella, comes under his care. Isabella is 5 years old and lost her parents tragically and hasn't uttered a word since then....Adelaide working there with them softens everyone's heart and its a beautiful story of finding love and family together. Isabella's uncle comes to claim her and they won't stand for it. 

I loved the faith moments, especially the prayers. Adelaide really showed how she cares for Isabella and Gideon in such strong ways. She was patient and willing to do whatever she needed to do to help them. When things look dark...she never gives up. She loves Gideon and Isabella....and she braces the storms regardless of how dark it may look.

Highly recommend for a beautiful Christian historical romance!

*Content/Trigger Warnings: Animal Death, Mild Violence for the time period, death by gunshot, no language, nothing explicit in nature - romance shows marriage + mention of consummating the marriage but it was a biblical viewpoint of marriage in a beautiful way with no sexual acts described in detail. 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cn1f7Q (On Kindle Unlimited as of 4/3)
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780764207563_head-in-the-clouds
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Clinging to the Cross - The Daily Grace Company

Clinging to the Cross by The Daily Grace Co

5 Stars

What a great lent study this was for me! I was able to keep up with it each day (minus the last week since I was traveling). I just finished it today, the day before Resurrection Sunday, and I feel so grateful for the sacrifice our Lord and Savior made on the Cross in our place. Many times I think we can forget context, history, and just how heartbreaking it was for Jesus to go in our place for our sins. We were deserving to be on that cross. It should have been us. It should be us. But JESUS took it all on our behalf. May we never forget exactly what He did for you and I. While this earth is our temporary home....we have such a hope in the Lord through belief in HIM to experience eternal life to all who accept Him as their Lord and Savior. When I felt I wasn't worthy....He was. He is. 

The Daily Grace Company has some really good Christian bible studies and I always enjoy my time in them. They help me draw near to the Lord and circle back to where I need to be in my faith walk when I feel stagnant. They help me get back in my word.

This Lent study walked through 41 days leading up to Resurrection Sunday, with illustrations that will take your break away...lead you to tears...remind you of just what the Lord did. The application questions - while I didn't fill every single one out - many of them had me in deep thought.

Thank you to the Daily Grace Company for a gifted copy of this study. All thoughts are always my own.

📚Daily Grace Co Lent Bundle: https://collabs.shop/csbwaj

10% Off Your Daily Grace Company Order with Code BOOKLOVERAMANDA
*I am a part of the Daily Grace Company affiliate program because I have used their products for many years, even before I had an online platform. You can trust that all opinions are always my own, regardless. Thank you friends.

 

The Legacy of Longdale Manor - Carrie Turansky

 

The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky
4.5 Stars (Rounding Up to 5 On Goodreads)

I really enjoyed this one! Dual timeline, two women, a century apart, go on a journey of healing, faith, forgiveness.....it was an engaging story, loved the romance in both timelines, and would recommend to anyone who likes Christian Historical Romance! 

We are in 2012 and 1912. 2012: Art historian Gwen travels to England's Lake District to appraise paintings and antiques of an old family friend. She wants to prove herself to her grandfather. She is at Longdale Manor and meets David, the owner's grandson. He is wanting to save the estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. Gwen stumbles upon a 100 year old journal....she looks for answers after what she finds.... 1912: After Charlotte's father passes away, she uncovers a family secret she confesses in her journal. They travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping to find a home with her grandfather at Longdale Manor....but its challenging to say the least. She grows close to a shepherd, Ian, and her faith grows, along with their love story.....

My favorite quote: "Jesus lays this choice before us. We can give our burdens and troubles into His care and live each day with the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts. Or we can hold on to the pain and wrongs done to us and harbor a troubled heart that hardens and grows bitter over time, stealing our joy and draining our days of the full life He wants us to enjoy.”

Loved the setting of Longdale Manor and I loved the characters and how inter-connected they were in both timelines. I am looking forward to more by Carrie!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4siP150
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780764241055_the-legacy-of-longdale-manor
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton - Susan L. Tuttle

The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton - Susan L. Tuttle

4 Stars

Book 1 in the Treasures of Halstead Manor Series

This was my first Susan Tuttle read and I had a lot of fun with it! We have friendship, mystery, and romance!

You root for Everleigh from page 1. She is somewhat of an introvert but when she gets fired from her job after a situation with her old patient's son after her mother's money happens...she gets a random note from the mystery man...Casper. Through this process, she meets 2 other ladies, Natalie and Brooke and several others along the way. They all have to work together to search for a missing Diamond. Through this process, she works with Niles also who is a Private Investigator...and feelings develop.

Everleigh is a very private person, she isolates herself and doesn't open easily to others. It makes it quite the journey as she works with everyone and builds those relationships, especially with the girls and a sweet friendship grows. 

The girls were all vulnerable in their friendships and it grew and it was so sweet!  I love a good female friendship in books. We also have sooo many good laughs in this one from characters like Aunt Gertie - she cracked me up! And the banter between Niles and Everleigh was chef's kiss!

I think the mystery itself is engaging without overshadowing the heart of the story. The author blends real historical threads with contemporary stakes, adding in a good treasure hunting plot that feels fun, whimsical and entertaining! :) The faith aspect was a nice added touch also.

Content/Trigger Warnings: Clean romance, no language, Death/Grief Mentioned, ALS, Nothing explicit or worrisome to me 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4c9WqP5
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

The Rancher's Stolen Past by Tabitha Bouldin

 

The Rancher's Stolen Past by Tabitha Bouldin

3 Stars

A quick, love inspired Christian Fiction romance. Zane returns to his hometown and to the woman he never stopped loving....Molly. Molly lost her husband years ago as he was killed in the Army. She blames Zane for her husband ever going into the Army and to this day blames him for his death. She is not happy to see Zane again....it sets the stage for a book of regret, hope, grief, and rebuilding trust. I loved the moments between him and our main girl Molly's son, those were precious as I love a good single parent story.

Where I struggled a bit was with Molly’s long‑held resentment toward Zane. Her grief is real and understandable, but the way she blames him for her husband’s death felt more like misplaced anger than a fair reflection of what actually happened. Zane didn’t force her husband into the army, and at times her bitterness made it harder for me to connect with her as a character. Specifically where her anger went on for the majority of the book. Still, I could see what the author was aiming for, a woman wrestling with loss and learning to let go and let the Lord in....and by the end, it lands in a hopeful place of faith and new found love.

A good, quick love inspired read I enjoyed.

Thank you to the author for a copy of the book to honestly read and review, all thoughts are my own.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rM3BBz
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.