BookLoverAmanda

  Healing the Cowboy by Mandi Blake  5 Stars OK MANDI GOT ME AGAIN WITH ANOTHER 5 STAR BOOK YALL! Healing the Cowboy is her newest release and its SO good! PERFECT to read this Christmas season you guys!  Read if you love: ❄️Clean Christian Romance ❄️Great Faith Content in Books ❄️Friends to Lovers Trope ❄️Opposites Attract Trope ❄️A Mistletoe Kiss ❄️Found Family ❄️Forgiveness Thread ❄️Horses and Cowboys ❄️He Falls First Trope ❄️She Takes Care of Him Trope ❄️Christmas Setting but also includes Thanksgiving  ❄️Cinnamon Roll MMC ❄️Nurse FMC ❄️Cozy Romance Books I absolutely loved this! Healing the Cowboy is part of the Christmas Ridge Series but can be read as a standalone. We follow Nora St. James who returns home to find her father's gambling problem has resulted in a detrimental future to the family ranch. With the weight of family responsibilities on her shoulders, she is set firm on keeping life together, leaving little room for romance. Enter in Clint Taylor, her...

Forever After All by Mandi Blake - 5 Stars Book 6 in the Wolf Creek Ranch Series What a great wrap up to the Wolf Creek Ranch series! Forever After All is another beautifully crafted romance by Mandi that explores the shadows of the past of our main characters Jess Patton and Lincoln North. Jess is refreshingly straightforward, adding depth to the story. She finds herself rescued by Linc from disastrous blind dates and sparks fly, leading her to question her perceptions of their friendship together. Linc on the other hand is haunted by his past and grapples with feelings of unworthiness, believing that someone as incredible as Jess is out of his reach. But oh boy, does the LORD have plans in store for Linc and Jess. The Lord is ever present in this book. We see so many good moments of faith, doubt and relatable struggles. Mandi ties it together wonderfully in the end, as usual :) Jess starts to see Linc in a new light, leading us into a slow burn romance between the two, as they are th...

  I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker - 2 to 2.5 Stars  Let me start this review by saying I absolutely LOVED What We Hide by Colleen and Rick and had the opportunity to meet them at a local Christian bookstore when they went on tour for a book signing, they were so nice to meet and chat with. I think I was Murdered was one of my most anticipated releases for the fall time this year, but unfortunately, my honest review is this was a bit disjointed and didn't live up to my personal expectations. This one is a standalone story and not tied to What We Hide. I am still interested to see what happens in book 2 after What We Hide to see what happens next but this one fell flat for me personally.  This story is about a grieving widow, Katrina, who talks to an AI program-chat bot that poses as her husband that passed away. The chat bot has all of her husbands social media accounts, photos, information from his phone etc. So it can truly feel like he is talking ...

  Unyielding Hope by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan  4 Stars Book 1 in the When Hope Calls Series What a surprising read! I was so invested and loved this story so much. We have found family, a beautiful sister bond and second chances the Lord provides in this book. This is a heartwarming and inspirational historical fiction that captures themes of faith, love and resilience.  The story revolves around 2 sisters, Lilian and Grace, whose reunion leads them on a journey of hope, discovery and service to others. This opens with Lilian, who has spent much of her life in Canada with adoptive parents after the tragic loss of her birth family. When news arrives that her long-lost sister Grace, who she believed was dead, is actually alive, Lilian's world is completely changed. The sisters reconnect, and together they embark on a mission to care for orphaned children, opening a home for them in their rural town. Their venture into creating a place of safety and love for children...

Twilight at Moorington Cross by Abigail Wilson  4 Stars  Another great read by Abigail Wilson! My third book by her and I am looking forward to more! This is a very captivating regency-era mystery that blends romance, intrigue and a gothic setting that is very atmospheric in England. Fans of historical fiction, especially those who love a dash of suspense and twists, will enjoy this one. This book is about Amelia Pembroke, who has a health condition and is constantly at Cluett's Mesmeric Hospital. When her doctor is murdered and her name turns up in his will, this take a turn. She receives an unexpected inheritance - a crumbling estate known as Moorington Cross. But to claim it, she has to marry 1 of 2 possible men. And then the guy that is helping her....ends up being the one she would rather be interested in, as things would have it. :) Ewan Hawkins is supposed to help her but they get to know one another and the rest is history. I loved the slow burn to the romance in this ...

  Finding Kind by Kari A. Baker - 5 Stars  Favorite Scripture and Quotes: "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." - John 9:1-3 "I'm no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God." It gave me hope and exposed the destructive mindset I was in. I had a beautiful, funny, healthy child whose brain worked a little differently. I was not enslaved. I was entrusted. God believed that my son needed to be part of the world, and He picked me to be his Mom. He entrusted me to be his Mom. To what have you been entrusted? What seems like a burden to you today but could be recharacterized as a blessing when you decide you are not a slave to it? The circumstances of your life do not determined your ability to experience joy and fulfillment.....instea...

  Honest Faith - Charles H. Spurgeon - 5 Stars Wow, another great Christian Non Fiction by Spurgeon. Always a great read. So glad Tiffany, Deea and Chrissie have done this readalong this month. This is a compelling exploration of faith. Spurgeon always has great metaphors that really make you think. The way he represents the struggles of the Christian walk and maintaining our faith in a world filled with uncertainty - absolutely amazing. The writing is poetic and understandable at the same time.  I love how this really challenged me while reading to really sit down and think about what he was saying and confront my own faith journey. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of their faith.  Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6867481925 Amazon Kindle Version (Free as of this review):  https://amzn.to/3C0pd94 *Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

  The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens 4 Stars  Fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy this one! 1956 England - Naomi Stephens weaves an intricate and atmospheric mystery in The Burning of Rosemont Abbey. The story centers on Louisa Everly, a young woman determined to uncover the truth behind the smoldering ruins of the abbey and the disappearance of her twin brother, Paul. Everyone in the village accuses her brother of being the arsonist but Louisa is certain of his innocence - as she felt as though her twin died before it was set ablaze. This book was so engaging to me - they mystery really reminded me of a classic Agatha Christie like story. Lots of side characters and small-town dynamics, where suspicious spreads like wildflower. Louisa stands out as a determined woman to figure out what happened with her brother, balancing possible grief with her unwavering devotion to prove his innocence.  The setting of Rosemont Abbey felt like gothic ruins with mysterious h...

  The Fight for Female by Lisa Bevere - 4 Stars A very important and well needed book for today's world. Lisa dives right into the ongoing cultural, spiritual and society challenges in today's world. She goes through many things the enemy is doing to distort and twist biblical truths and gives us messages of hope. It calls for women to unite, embracing their God-given identity. She emphasizes the need for open, honest conversations, both with God and within communities to find solutions that are rooted in truth. "The Fight for Female" is a compelling call to action, urging women to rise up and fight for the very core of their identity, not only for themselves but for the generations to come. Really enjoyed this one. Not a favorite of all time, but really glad she published this at such a time when what she talks about is needed. Thank you to Revell for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Goodreads Review:    https://www.goodreads...

  The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright  5 Stars  WHAT A GREAT STORY YALL! Jaime Jo does it AGAIN! I am always so invested in her stories. She knows how to write a great book to keep the reader engaged, and I love that. The Premonition at Withers Farm is a great blend of mystery, suspense and historical intrigue. She seamlessly weaves together two timelines that keep you hooked from page 1. Jaime Jo always has dual timeline in her stories and I LOVE how she interconnects the characters in each timeline. I also love how she combats the supernatural type elements with faith in God in her books. Very well done here! In this story, we have present day - Molly Wasziak - who, alongside her husband Trent, moves to a remote farm in the countryside, hoping for a fresh start after a series of miscarriages they have experienced. However, the Withers Farm holds dark secrets and Molly's discovery of a connection to a series of unsolved murders from a century ago sets the ...

  Mistletoe Season by Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller and Pepper Basham - 4 Stars Overall 3 Christmas Novellas Overall, these 3 novellas are charming and heartwarming holiday romances that perfectly show the magic of Christmas. I really enjoyed each of these, with Kathleen and Sheila being new to me authors! Looking forward to reading more by those authors. Pepper is one of my favorite authors and her's was my fav because we had Luke show back up! :) Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller - 4 Stars This was a unique Christmas romance between two characters in their 40s. I really liked that because you don't see those ages of characters portrayed much.  In this one, we have Emmy Banks, who is fully rooted in her community with her antique shop. Set in Mistletoe, Missouri, the shop add an extra layer of charm to it. Kieran O'Neill has spent years abroad, renovating an old Irish castle, but returns to Mistletoe for his mother's 70th birthday. We see him reconnect with Emmy...

   Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn - 4 Stars  This story is a heartfelt journey of friendship, faith, and self-discovery that takes readers on an emotional safari through the stunning landscapes of Africa. Centered on the friendship sister bond between Fern Espinoza and Lily Graden, the book truly captures the essence of a long-term friendship that has weathered the trials of time and distance. This is a Christian contemporary women's fiction story that I truly felt connected to. I loved the writing style, faith content, travel elements and the characters. This book opens up to the teenage years of Fern and Lily, who first connected while  volunteering in Costa Rica. 20 years later, here they are, embarking on a long-awaiting trip to Africa - a dream trip that they talked about many years ago. This trip soon becomes one of emotional growth as each woman carriers their own struggles. The author intertwines their personal stories well with the beautiful backdrop...

 Britta and the Beach Boy by Brittany Larsen - 4 Stars (Book 1 in the Love in LA Series) What a great marriage of convenience rom-com! I really enjoyed this one. We have layered characters, a couple who communicates and a story all about chasing your dreams. This was my first Brittany Larsen book but will not be my last! I am looking forward to more rom-coms by her. In this story, Britta is looking for something more in her life. We see her go from her small town, coffee shop life to Los Angeles, where she meets Dex, a famous Australian professional surfer. They hit it right off but circumstances find themselves tied into a marriage of convenience trope.  Dex needs American citizenship to compete in the 2028 Olympics and Britta could really use the money he's offered for her coffee shop to continue the legacy her mother left behind. What they both don't expect? Catching the inevitable feelings that come with a fake marriage. :)  I loved this story and how layered it was w...

Reckless Love by Kate Goodwin - 5 Stars  Wow, what a story. Beautiful. Redemptive.  This book is a Hagar and Sarah inspired story with a contemporary spin. Amina (Amy) finds herself a single woman, pregnant with no where to go. Melissa has always wanted a son to carry on her husband's family legacy. When Melissa is told she is going through Menopause and her pregnancy test is negative, she feels her entire hope of having a family has gone. As barrenness pushes her to a breaking point, God seemingly drops the answer on their doorstop - or so they think. Amina and Melissa's arrangement doesn't go to plan and they are both put to the test. And Melissa's thoughts of what's to come gets changed by the true plans of the Lord. I was thoroughly impressed with this biblical retelling. I love how Kate put this contemporary spin on it and you really felt empathy with the characters and the heartbreak they were going through. The grace and mercy given in the end of this book wa...

  The One by Kiera Cass - 4 Stars for Entertainment Value  Ok, we are back with the ending of Aspen, America and Maxon's love triangle and the Selection process itself. We follow battles, more selection drama, and the love triangle stuff but also more depth here with the girls and reconciliation - which I liked. BUT THE ANGST yall - so much of it, hilarious really. This gives what it needs to give in 2024 for this 34 year old gal -- entertainment value lol. I am glad I finished the original trilogy and saw this through with my friend Lauren. We buddy read all 3 books back to back and it was a wild ride. The ending of this was WILD. It really popped off.  I would probably have liked this a lot better if the romance love triangle stuff was wrapped up sooner and America communicated more to avoid certain situations but overall it was really an entertaining story.  Goodreads Review:   https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6898920293 Amazon:  https://amzn.t...