I received an eARC of this book as a part of Amazon's Kindle First program. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Christmas in Good Hope by Cindy Kirk is a sweet, contemporary romance about grief and second chances. This is such a sweet story about two people from very different backgrounds finding each other and bringing out the other’s best. Ami and Beckett’s story is one that you should not miss!

Ami Bloom is the eldest of four sisters and the only one to stay in the small town of Good Hope, Wisconsin after their mother died. She’s a devoted daughter to her father, filling in the quiet for him and keeping him on his toes. She’s also a successful business owner, having started her own bakery when she moved back to town. I love her! She’s independent, loving, and yet she is still broken. She’s broken over her mom and something I don’t want to reveal as it plays a BIG part in the story (no spoilers here!!!).

Then enters Beckett Cross, the southerner who moved to Good Hope earlier in the year, bought her dream house AND the diner next door to her bakery. Beckett is mysterious, keeps to himself, is a bit of a Scrooge, and very, VERY broken. He loved once, once he was a very different man, but he lost everything. So Beckett ran from his past to the little town of Good Hope. Beckett is…he’s amazing! He’s caring, sweet, but trying to be set in his ways. He’s closed off to everyone except for Ami, who quietly slips into his heart.

The plot of the story revolves around the relationship between Ami and Beckett. At the onset, Ami is asked to get Beckett to decorate his shop for the Twelve Days festival (a Christmas festival in the town) AND to get him to agree to open his house for the Victorian Christmas tour. Ami goes along with it and Beckett pretty much caves to everything she asks. Their relationship is built on the fact that neither of them knows the other. It’s a novelty for Ami who grew up in a small town where everyone knows everyone else and for Beckett because no one looks on him with pity. The question really becomes what will happen to them when they do find out each other’s secret.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is such an endearing story set during my favorite time of the year. The author gives a great voice for Ami and Beckett as the chapters alternate POV and she brings to life the charm of living in a small town. If you enjoy contemporary romance, the holidays, or you’re looking for a heart-warming read this weekend, grab a copy of Christmas in Good Hope, you won’t regret it!

I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Ok…so…umm…yeah. I’m not really sure where to start! My initial reaction to the newest book from Siobhan Davis has no name. I honestly can’t even begin to describe my reaction reading this book. Saven: Deception begins strong. There’s an alien abduction, lots of dystopian world-building, and again ALIENS! So my initial thoughts were AWESOME, but then I’m not really sure what happened in the middle. It was like the book went from this epic, sci-fi dystopian to angsty teenage romance (do you see my eyes rolling?!). I don’t do angsty teen romance. It’s just not my thing. BUT then the ending redeemed the book by bringing it back to the epic sci-fi dystopian. So…yeah. I’m not sure how I feel about this book! Let’s break it down, shall we?

What I Liked:
The writing. Obviously I’m a fan of Siobhan Davis so maybe I’m a bit biased here but she is an excellent author. She can weave a story out of anything and she really brings Sadie to life on the pages. There’s some excellent world-building as we see Sadie’s world through her eyes and her descriptions. Really Davis has given Sadie a wonderful voice which helps when the pace of the story slows down a bit. Sadie’s voice kept me interested. And the foreshadowing!!! Davis is notorious for this. So many hints are given as the story progresses and while Sadie misses them, if you are familiar with the author you’ll pick up on them quickly.

The world building. I love all things dystopian so it is no wonder that I loved this dystopian world as depicted through the eyes of a young teen girl. There is a rough caste-like system in place and Sadie lives in the outer circle, meaning she is a part of the poor/worker part of the society. There are strict rules to help contain the population (i.e. only 10% allowed to marry, mandatory sterilization after a certain age, etc.). The outer circles barely make ends meet and work pretty much from dawn to dusk while the inner circles reap the rewards and have no restrictions.

The Experimento. So this was really cool and the staging for the plot of the story. The Experimento is the government’s “answer” to overpopulation. They have built a city under the sea and take so many volunteers (by random lottery of those that applied) to live in the city for 6 months. During those months, all class restrictions are removed and the characters basically get a taste of what the upper class has always had available. Of course there is ulterior motives to this and an underground rebellion trying to thwart the government so my love for dystopians is really found here.

Jarod. Ok so I’m probably not supposed to like this character as much as I did but honestly I love him! Let me try to explain without spoilers. Jarod is one of the boys that joins Sadie in the Experimento. He’s secretive, an instant friend to Sadie, and by all means has the whole boy-next-door thing going for him. It’s easy for Sadie to relate to him as they both come from the same social circle and she finds herself trusting him when she is leery of other.

What I Disliked:
The romance. It was SO cheesy and cliché at times that I found myself constantly rolling my eyes. Logan is of course super-model handsome and in the upper class while Sadie has exotic beauty and in the lowest class. She’s just drawn to him and moons over him every chance she gets. There’s these weird scenes where she just finds herself staring at him through a window, like she’s drawn to him. I get that it is supposed to be a part of the whole alien-love connection thing but it’s a bit much to swallow. Too much insta-love…or rather lust for me.

The teen angst….I get that there needs to be some, but honestly I could have done without. There were whole sections where Sadie mooned over Logan, where she was angry with him, where she wanted answers, where she didn’t want to talk to him (are you getting the picture?). She was a bit TOO obsessed with him.

The pace. As I stated earlier, the story started strong with a fast pace, but once Sadie enters the training facility, I felt like the story dragged. If it wasn’t for the fact that I was already invested in the story, I may not have bothered to finish it. It wasn’t until 75% into the book that the pace picked back up. I was a little surprised by this as Davis usually writes a fast-paced story, but I found the whole romance and mystery surrounding Logan to be a bit drawn-out. There were several instances where Logan talks to Sadie and says he’ll tell her the truth but then doesn’t. As the reader we already know the truth (as it is stated in the synopsis) but Sadie doesn’t and this becomes a bit tedious.

The secondary characters. I honestly couldn’t tell you much about any of the other characters, even Sadie’s supposed best friend and roommate. These characters were 2-dimensional and really didn’t add much to the story other than to have someone for Sadie to talk to when she wasn’t swooning over Logan.

Final Conclusion:
Overall the last 25% saved the book for me. I liked the big reveal, the rebellion, the beginnings of a relationship with Logan, and the ending. I’m honestly excited to see where Siobhan Davis takes the series next! I do hope that there is more character-building on the side characters and I want to know more about the whole alien connection. If you enjoy scifi, alien romance, or you’re looking for fun read for your weekend, this is the book for you.

I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Have you ever read a book that left you wondering what the heck and wanting more all at the same time? The Machinery by Gerrard Cowan is that book! With it’s name and even it’s description I was expecting an epic sci-fi adventure, but it didn’t take but just the first chapter to correct that assumption. The Machinery falls more into an epic fantasy with elements of sci-fi thrown in. Honestly it was excellent!!! I finished the book roughly a few weeks ago and it has taken me several days to (1) recover emotionally and (2) pull my thoughts together for a coherent review.

Cowan has created a massive list of characters, all of who share the spotlight equally and lend their POV to the story. Yet all of the characters seem to center their actions around that of one character: Katrina Paprissi. Katrina is 17 and the only living member of her family. She’s now a watcher in training (watchers are like policemen/enforcers in this society). Yet something is off about her. There are two voices battling it out in her head. She calls one of them her kid self, the other is more mature and sadistic. At a young age she watched her brother’s abduction and she will do anything to get him back. It’s why she’s a watcher, or at least this is what she tells herself.

The world-building is just as large as the characters for this debut author and I felt that he’s done a phenomenal job! In this world, there is the Overland and the land of the Operator. 10 millennia ago, the Operator gifted the Overland with the Machinery. The machinery picks the leaders and basically makes all the decisions for the populace. The people have very little to no say in the society and follow the Operator blindly. BUT a prophecy was made that in the 10,000th year the Machinery would break and guess what? It’s the 10,000th year! This prophecy really adds to the suspense of the entire novel as you keep waiting for it to be fulfilled.

The plot centers around the death of the Strategist (think king, president, etc). With his death the Machinery will pick all new leaders and everyone wonders what will happen as this is the 10,000th year. Yet there is also speculation (with good reason) that the Strategist’s death was no accident. The characters, all to some degree, investigate his death and they do NOT like what they uncover.

Overall I really enjoyed this book! It’s fast-paced, intriguing and even with the large amount of characters and varying POV I didn’t get lost. As debut novels go, I would never have realized that The Machinery was one if I hadn’t been told. If you enjoy epic fantasy with a little sci-fi thrown in, I highly suggest you grab a copy and prepare for a wild ride!

OMG!!!! THIS IS HOW YOU END A SERIES!!!!! Marissa Meyer‘s Winter is sheer brilliance! Each book in the series has added new characters, adding new points of view. You would think this would get confusing, BUT it doesn’t! With each additional character, the story itself just gets better and Princess Winter…I LOVE HER! At the end of Cress, Cinder and her crew had kidnapped Prince Kai, Jacin betrayed them, and they were still no closer to saving Scarlet. Winter picks up just a few weeks after the end of Cress. Prince Kai has been caught to speed, he now knows who Cinder really is, and he is their ticket to Luna. The goal for Cinder and her crew: take over Luna and kill Queen Levana. Sounds too easy, right?

I’ll be the first to admit to you that I was skeptical going into this book. I didn’t care for Cress. I felt like the author was using a template for writing her books, taking the old fairy tales and making the love interest just a little too easy. Seriously did anyone else buy Captain Thorne falling for Cress? I KNOW I didn’t. Meyer addresses this very well in Winter and I have to say that even I fell in love with meek Cress after this. Her character’s growth as she experiences more and more outside of her satellite is amazing. She goes from this meek and mild, scared all the time girl to brave and courageous woman. And she is not the only one to go through more changes!

Captain Thorne is still my favorite character of the entire series. He is suave, a con-man, and dang it if he isn’t the captain. BUT his character, unlike Cress, goes through the smallest change. When he was first introduced, he was self-centered, looking to see what the world could give him. But meeting Cress and their whole ordeal in the desert has changed him for the better. He’s still a bit self-centered, but all his other actions point towards the change in him. Thorne doesn’t just look out for himself anymore. No, he includes his friends, his crew as he calls them. He actually cares!

Now onto the newer characters in this series: Princess Winter and Jacin. Winter is Levana’s step-daughter (and if you haven’t read Fairest to see how she became that, I suggest you do so ASAP) and she is slightly crazy. Well, slightly is an understatement. She is full blown nuts, but for a good reason. She refuses to use her Lunar gift of manipulation. Because of this, her mind has turned on her (they call it Lunar sickness). She hallucinates vividly all these things that happen to her and others around her. The only person that has ever been able to ground her is Jacin and he’s been missing for two months, presumed a traitor to the crown. Winter is kind, just like her fairy tale compatriot Snow White. She has a soft spot for animals and people who suffer, she’s beyond beautiful even without manipulating anyone, and she has a large heart.

Jacin, the guard we met in Cress, is her childhood friend and assigned as her guard when he returns. I didn’t care for him at first. He was uncaring and honestly I was afraid he would get Cinder and the crew killed or turn them over. Instead as we get his POV this book, I fell in love with him. Everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, he does is for Winter. He loves her, is devoted to her, even though he feels he cannot have her. He will do whatever he needs to do to protect her, even taking on the Queen’s huntsman role.

The plot of this story is the endgame. Cinder plans to kill Levana and ascend to her throne. But it is never as simple as it sounds. The story revolves around Cinder becoming Princess Selene, starting a revolution and uprising in the outer territories of Luna, and finally attacking Levana and the palace. It is full of twists and surprises! And have I mentioned just how fast-paced it is yet? I was over half way through with the book before I realized I was! The suspense, the action, none of it slows down in the slightest.

What I absolutely love about this book and really the entire series is the author’s ability to blend fairy tale with her dystopian sci-fi world. The blend of this with the tale of Snow White is perfection! I was really blown away! And of course I’ve already bragged about the characters but I will again. All the characters, all the different POV, are wonderful. I loved reading from each character as the series has progressed, seeing the different ways each grew, how they came together as a team, and the ultimate battle at the end….just perfect!!!

Overall, if you haven’t guessed already, I LOVED this book! It is a fantastic conclusion to the series. While the author leaves a few loose ends, the story is complete, the characters have reached their end and I couldn’t be happier! If you’re a fan of the series or you’ve just stumbled across my review and think you would enjoy them, READ this book! I promise you will not be disappointed.

The Christmas Bargain by [a:Shanna Hatfield|4981400|Shanna Hatfield|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1330561203p2/4981400.jpg] is a refreshing historical romance set in a small western town revolving around the town's banker and the daughter of the town drunk. When the farmer says he plans to sell his daughter to the local whore house to pay his bank debt, Luke Granger steps in, taking the man's daughter in payment for his debt. But what Luke gets is more than just someone to keep his house, he finds his best friend and life partner in the meek Philamena Booth.

I really enjoyed this story! The author brings to life the small town of Hardman and all its occupants, not just the two main characters. We get a sense of community with every interaction. I loved this! The author's use of limited 3rd person threw me a bit though. It's been a while since I read a book told from everyone's perspective. However by the 2nd or 3rd chapter I was used to it and [a:Shanna Hatfield|4981400|Shanna Hatfield|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1330561203p2/4981400.jpg] does a wonderful job of giving each character their own voice. It is easy to distinguish who's POV you are in when you are reading it.

The book starts with Luke Granger, the town's banker and self-declared bachelor for life. He's kind and generous without realizing, two qualities that you don't find very often. When he saves Philamena from the whore house, he really doesn't know what to do with her. He has no intention of ever marrying, yet she can't live in his large home as his staff without ruining her reputation. He reluctantly agrees to his friend's proposal: marry her and if by Christmas you aren't in love, annul it. Real romantic, right? Luke decides this is the right approach and follows through with every intention of annulling it once Philamena pays off her father's debt. What he doesn't anticipate though is Philamena.

Philamena is (as the synopsis says) both mortified and relieved to be sold to the town banker. She's been trapped on that farm since her mother died, not allowed to leave and subject to her drunk father's whims, whether that be beating her or starving her. She's led a rough life and it shows in her posture, her reactions to others, and her own thoughts. Philamena is timid, meek, and so thankful for Luke. When the proposal of marriage is announced, she knows it won't be a real marriage and she's prepared to do all that he asks of her to the best of her ability. She's a hard worker, but her thoughtfulness towards Luke is wholly unexpected by him and as she slowly comes out of her shell, he finds himself falling in love with her.

Obviously the story revolves around whether the two will fall in love with each other, and while it was predictable and at times a bit drawn out, I really enjoyed the book! Philamena and Luke are great characters, easy to fall in love with, and maybe even wish to have yourself. If you enjoy historical romance, and bonus this one is clean, than I highly suggest you check out this book.

This book contributed to the #COYER B2B 2016 reading challenge

The Lady and the Mountain Man by Misty M. Beller may very well be one of my all-time favorite books! I’m a sucker for historical fiction and when it is written well, as this one is, with a sweet romance AND it’s CLEAN, well you’ve got yourself a winning story. Leah Townsend flees her home when she learns that her betrothed plans to kill her on her wedding night in order to secure her inheritance. Needing somewhere to hide that he cannot find her, she answers an ad for a bride in the Montana territory. There’s only one problem: her groom is dead, leaving behind his brother and baby sister to tend the ranch.

Leah is a wonderful character! She is strong, independent, and full of faith. Throughout her entire journey, she prays for guidance and direction, which is how she lands on Gideon Bryant’s doorstep. She trusts that even with the surly rancher there is a reason God placed her there and she is determined to find out what that is. She’s kind, caring, willing to learn. She isn’t the spoiled brat you’d think she’d be, being the heiress to an oil company. Instead no matter what she faces, she faces it head on. Her betrothed wants to kill her? Ok she runs. Her hopeful groom is dead? Ok what can she do to help his surviving family on the ranch. Breaks a leg? Ok, what can she do from her bed to help. THAT my friends is the kind of attitude you want in your main character. She wasn’t whiny, didn’t have the poor me attitude, NO. She was great!

And Gideon….I may be in love! The author was smart in her writing, alternating POV between Leah and Gideon. Gideon is surly, grieving, and doesn’t have much use for God. He can be hateful and caring all at the same time. When you get this from Leah’s perspective, you see a man that is hurting and lashing out. When you read it from Gideon’s POV, you’re heart will break for him. He’s so lost in his grief. As the synopsis says, he’s lost everyone he’s ever cared for except: his parents, his wife, now his brother. The one thing that keeps him going is his baby sister. She needs him. So he works the ranch from daylight to dark to provide for her.

This story is as much about the romance as it is about finding your way back to God. It’s a story about faith and lost faith and everything in between. Leah shows up in Gideon’s life at a time when he has lost his way and she is the shining light that brings him back. Honestly I was moved to tears more than once reading their story. Yes it has romance, heart-breaking as it may be, but it is a love story about how one person can save another, not through romance, but kindness and caring when it is missing.

Overall I loved this story! I didn’t want it to ever end. Leah and Gideon are both such amazing characters and reading how much they change throughout the course of the book is nothing short of beautiful. Besides these two, there is Gideon’s baby sister Miriam who is the bright spot in both their daily lives. If you are looking for a good, clean romance, set in the 1870s with Christian influence throughout, I highly suggest you grab this one. I’ve recently purchased the entire series and have no doubt that I will love them just as much as this one!

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Lia Riley's With Every Breath is a standalone novel about Auden Woods, a young woman who has always “played it safe,” and Rhys MacAskill, an avid mountain climber looking to escape his past. I enjoyed this book! It’s a quick read, giving the reader a sense of adventure and of course some romance.

Auden is an okay character. I struggled with whether I liked her or not throughout the book. An aspiring journalist, she’s just accepted an internship with Outsider magazine. Before she starts though, she’s looking for her own adventure. People are congregating in Patagonia at the foot of La Aguja, the Dream-maker. It is said to have a once-in-lifetime clearing at the summit and Auden plans to be there. Tired of living in her twin’s shadow, Auden wants to make a name for herself. She takes a month off to spend at base camp with the plan of interviewing climbers before the climb the Dream Maker. She’s determined to make a name for herself that cannot be associated with her famous grandfather or her equally famous twin. However she doesn’t anticipate Rhys MacAskill.

When Auden stumbles into Rhys tent one rainy night in Patagonia, he thinks he’ll help her then be done with her. What he doesn’t plan on is falling for the girl. Rhys is surly, temperamental, and honestly feeling sorry for himself. He is the infamous brother who cut the rope on his last climb, sending his brother to his fate. He refuses to speak about the accident and hasn’t said a word to anyone since. He doesn’t do interviews and he doesn’t talk. Like I said he’s surly, a bit broken and doesn’t know what he’s doing anymore.

Since this is a standalone the plot is condensed and focuses mainly on Auden and Rhys and their growing attraction towards one another. They both keep secrets, like Auden knowing who he is for one and he not wanting her to know. They have a delicate balancing act on their hands. What I love about the story though is how the author is able to write their feelings from lust to love without coming right out and saying it. It’s a slow progression that takes place and it’s really beautifully written.

Overall I enjoyed the story. My only complaint is the insta-lust going on between the main characters. I get it is a romance and their is supposed to be tearing off of clothes but really sometimes it’s a bit much. Like how can you really fall in love if you hardly say two words to one another?! If you enjoy new adult romance or you’re looking for a fun read, than this is the book for you.

I received an eARC of this book from Thomas Nelson via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

The Brontë Plot by Katherine Reay left me with mixed feelings. There were some aspects of the story I really enjoyed and others not so much.

Lucy Alling is an ordinary girl with the propensity for telling tall tales.* When it’s discovered that the rare books she sales are not so rare as they are forged, she finds herself lost. She’s let down the only people who seem to care about her: her boss and her boyfriend. When the opportunity to go to London presents itself, she takes it. Lucy is a bit hard to like, but at the same time I didn’t dislike her either. Unfortunately for me, she was a flat character with little to hold my attention.

*This is just a fancy way of saying she lies….a lot!

The plot was all over the place. Lucy goes to London with her ex-boyfriend’s wealthy grandmother Helen as a sales consultant. Helen reveals a bit about how Lucy’s past intertwines with her own and the two set off on an adventure. For Lucy this adventure is about finding closure and making a new start. She wants to be good, desperately so, but she finds herself lying constantly. She lies to make others feel better or to the benefit of those she cares about it. It’s a real problem for her and one she finds herself struggling with as the book goes on. It disgusts her and I had a hard time sympathizing with her when things started going bad, because honestly she did it to herself.

What I enjoyed were the fun facts about London and the Lake District that were interspersed throughout the novel. This made for a fun read, one that I enjoyed trying to look up and find on my own. Like Reay’s other novels, this book centers on the Brontë sisters, their real life struggles and their characters. These are seamlessly intertwined into the story.

Overall the book was just okay for me which was disappointing. If you enjoy contemporary, women’s fiction with some history thrown in for fun, I suggest you take a look at this book. It may be for you, it wasn’t for me.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Light a Candle for the Beast by Echo Shea is the shortest book I read in 2015, clocking in at 24 pages. But within those 24 pages is a short, horrific retelling of Beauty and the Beast that should not be missed.

Eden is not quite human, she's of the water, a trait she inherited from her grandmother. She watches as those she loves moves on with their lives and she has the power to grant wishes or curses. When her beautiful sister Delia wishes for a child, thinking that would cure her abuse husband, Eden grants it but at a high price.

Andrew, Delia's husband, was a cruel man who did cruel things to Delia and she dies waiting on him to return to her. Eden in her own grief, blames Andrew and curses him to the purgatory where she keeps him for 200 years and he becomes the monster he was on earth. Delia begins haunting Eden, asking for Andrew's release. Only someone as kind as Delia would wish that and Eden has the power to grant it, but will she?

Beautifully written with haunting detail, the characters come to life within the pages as Delia's sad story unfolds. I enjoyed this short tale, finding the characters have stuck with me far longer than I thought they would. If you are looking for a quick read or a fan of the classic, I highly recommend you read this book.

I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Please note that this review is only of Drake's portion and not the entire novella.

OMG!!! This was fantastic!! I really enjoyed Hanna Peach's newest book Girl Wife Prisoner, which is a tragic story about love and redemption. If you've not read it yet, STOP READING NOW!!! This novella is meant to be read after the novel as there are some major spoilers within the book.

Drake is Noriko's husband and in his novella we see the story unfold from his POV. I immediately was drawn to Drake in the novel so I was really excited to read his story! The novella begins a few months before Girl Wife Prisoner. Drake has just discovered that he has a bad heart and is dying when he founds out about the Good Wife program. He immediately finds a picture of Noriko and falls for her, his ideal wife, at least in his imagination.

Drake is a character that you love to hate and when seeing things from his own perspective, I found myself actually disliking his new wife a bit. Drake was nervous to meet her, shy, and utterly taken with his wife. The problem with his thinking is that he sees her as a possession. Yet she awakens things within him that have been long buried, like what happened with his parents for instance. He has some serious anger issues but the number one thing wrong with his relationship with Noriko from the beginning is that they do not communicate and so assumptions ruin their fledgling relationship before it really has the chance to begin.

Overall this was an excellent addition to Girl Wife Prisoner especially if you wanted more insight in the crazy husband as I did. Drake is a character I won't forget. He was perfect and would have made a great husband for Noriko if given the opportunity AND if he had set aside his need for control. If you enjoyed the book, like new adult romantic suspense, I highly recommend you check this one out!