Book Reviews

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Broken Dreams by Traci Hunter Abramson

About the Book

Title: Broken Dreams
Series: Dream’s Edge #1.5
Author: Traci Hunter Abramson
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: November 1, 2021

A lifetime ago, Maggie Alexander’s parents narrowly missed medaling in the Olympics as pairs figure skaters. Now a coach, her father Gordon is living his dreams through the skaters he trains—until Maggie is forced to deliver heartbreaking news: her mother’s battle against cancer will be a losing one. Shattered, her father loses his dreams in an instant—his beloved wife and his will to coach. Left to pick up the pieces, a devastated Maggie finds herself relying on the steadfast support of her childhood best friend, Lance Whitmore. 

Despite the fact that Maggie has never seen Lance as more than a friend, his heart has always been hers. Lance does what he can to help Maggie work through her grief, and soon their friendship blossoms into love. But when distance threatens their relationship, Maggie is torn between building a life with the man she loves and helping her broken father rebuild his life.

Purchase your copy here!


About the Author

Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas as well as the skills needed to survive her children’s teenage years. She has gone on to write more than twenty bestselling novels that have consistently been nominated as Whitney Award finalists and seven-time Whitney Award winner. When she’s not writing, Traci enjoys spending time with her husband and five children, preferably on a nice quiet beach somewhere. She also enjoys sports, travel, writing, and coaching high school swimming.

Connect with Traci: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub


My Review

Broken Dreams
by Traci Hunter Abramson
Book 1.5 in the Dream’s Edge series
Rating: 4/5

Set in the world of Dream’s Edge, this story focuses on Gordon and his family’s backstory before he agrees to coach Tyler and Amaliya from Book 1: An Unlikely Pair. When his wife’s cancer becomes fatal, Gordon can’t bring himself to do or see anything that reminds him of his beloved Irene. He is grief-stricken and can’t find it in himself to even go to work on the ice. Meanwhile, his daughter, Maggie, is also dealing with her grief but finding new love with her best friend and childhood neighbor, Lance.

This novella is definitely a sadder story but does still have some lighter moments. It’s an easy read and well written. The unbearable and overwhelming grief that Gordon has is understandable and unfortunately, he does not handle it well.

“Could he learn to coach without her when he had yet to learn to live without her?”

Meanwhile, the developing love story of Maggie and Lance is adorable and very sweet. When the long distance starts straining the relationship, Maggie and Lance have a choice to make. Because of the shorter length of the story, the author did not quite go into as much development of the characters but she did provide enough for the reader to connect and sympathize.

Highly recommend this clean, sweet romance about what happens after your dreams are broken.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.


Also Available

   


Follow along on the Blog Tour!

Monday, Nov 29
Books and Everyday Life
My Book A Day

Tuesday, Nov 30
Lisa is a Bookworm
Literary Time Out

Wednesday, Dec 1
Reading with Emily
Books Are Sanity

Thursday, Dec 2
Books by Katydid

Friday, Dec 3
Why Not? Because I Said So!
Life is What It’s Called

Saturday, Dec 4
Holly’s Book Corner
Inside the Wong Mind


Tour Giveaway

WIN a EBOOK copy of Broken Dreams by Traci Hunter Abramson (US addresses only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Heart of Stone by David James Warren

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Heart of Stone by David James Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The continuing adventures of Rembrandt Stone from the creative minds of James L. Rubart, Susan May Warren, and newcomer David Curtis Warren, writing collectively as David James Warren.

Title: Heart of Stone
Series: The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone #6
Author: David James Warren
Genre: Time-Travel Detective
Publisher: TriStone Media
Release Date: November 23, 2021

Rembrandt Stone has nothing left to lose…or does he?

Detective Rembrandt Stone doesn’t recognize himself in the mirror. Doesn’t recognize the world he’s returned to. Doesn’t even know his own name. But he knows one thing…living in this world is impossible.

Good thing he has an ally—an unexpected friend from the past. And together, they just might be able to unravel the entire mess. But first…Rembrandt will have to return to the past one final time and intercept himself before he makes a lethal mistake.

Time has outwitted him. It’s time for him to outwit time. Can he reconstruct a past he just destroyed or is there nothing left of his world to save?

The explosive ending to the True Lies of Rembrandt Stone!

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

CONNECT WITH REMBRANDT STONE: Website | Instagram


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James L. Rubart, Susan May Warren, David Curtis Warren

James L. Rubart is 28 years old, but lives trapped inside an older man’s body. He’s the best-selling, Christy Hall of Fame author of ten novels and loves to send readers on mind-bending journeys they’ll remember months after they finish one of his stories. He’s dad to the two most outstanding sons on the planet and lives with his amazing wife on a small lake in eastern Washington. More at http://jameslrubart.com/

CONNECT WITH JAMES: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and RITA award–winning author of more than eighty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. The mother of four grown children, and married to her real-life hero for over 30 years, she loves traveling and telling stories about life, adventure, and faith.

For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

David Curtis Warren is making his literary debut in these novels, and he’s never been more excited. He looks forward to creating more riveting stories with Susie and Jim, as well as on his own. He’s grateful for his co-writers, family, and faith, buoying him during the pandemic of 2020, and this writing and publishing process.

CONNECT WITH DAVID: Instagram


MY REVIEW

Heart of Stone
by David James Warren
Book 6 in the True Lies of Rembrandt Stone series
Rating: 4.5/5

What an ending! Such a whirlwind of a book and series. It’s been so fun being a part of the Rembrandt Stone world this whole year. I have enjoyed each and every book and it’s a bit bittersweet for the series to end. You definitely need to read the other five books first since it’s a continuing story. This series would make a great TV series.

“They say that without hope, people perish. I say hope crushes the soul.”

The story is well written and fast-paced filled with the characters I am now familiar with. I am rooting for Eve and Rem and their epic love story. Time travel is always an interesting literary device and I wish there was a little bit more explanation about how it all works but I think the authors did their best to explain it in an understandable manner.

This book really asked some deeper questions of Rembrandt and his faith in God. Of all the books, this last one definitely has the most about faith and prayer than the others. It’s always interesting how the authors incorporate faith into a sci-fi novel.

“What if it’s not our regrets that make us who we are, but the choices after the regrets?”

Highly recommend if you enjoy time-traveling detective stories with high stakes, action and a love that spans decades.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive one The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone print copy (winner’s choice) and a $10 Amazon gift card!

Heart of Stone JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight November 29, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 6, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

 


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

You and Me by Becky Wade

Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

About the Book

Title: You and Me
Series: A Misty River Christmas Novella
Author: Becky Wade
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Release Date: November 23, 2021

Easy-going, artistic Connor Bryant fell hard for his friend Shay Seaver when they were both in the seventh grade. Sixteen years later, he’s returned to Misty River. She’s finally between boyfriends. And his crush on her hasn’t wavered. Now’s his chance.

He tells Shay that he’s found someone he wants to date and is in need of a makeover when it comes to his appearance and dating strategies. He asks if she’ll serve as his consultant — in hopes that he’ll learn how he can become her ideal man. What he doesn’t tell her? That she’s the one he wants to date.

Sporty stationery shop owner Shay immediately agrees to Connor’s request because he’s one of the best guys she knows. However, she quickly realizes she’s in over her head. She’s pledged to help him win the affection of another woman — even though she dearly wants to claim his heart.

It’s Christmas in the mountain town of Misty River! This sweet contemporary romance novella, penned by Christy-winning author Becky Wade, can be read alone or paired with the other books in the series.

Purchase your copy here!


About the Author

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins.  These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending.  She’s been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas.  It was during her years abroad that Becky’s passion for reading turned into a passion for writing.  She published three historical romances for the general market, put her career on hold for many years to care for her kids, and eventually returned to writing sheerly for the love of it.  She’s delighted to be penning warm, wry, and heartwarming contemporary romances for the Christian market.  She’s the Christy and Carol award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, the Porter Family series, the Bradford Sisters series, and the Misty River Romance series.

These days Becky can be found failing but trying to keep up with her housework, power-walking her neighborhood, carting her kids around town, hunched over her computer, eating chocolate, or collapsed on the sofa watching TV with her husband.

Connect with Becky: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Instagram | Pinterest


My Review

You and Me
by Becky Wade
A Misty River Romance Christmas Novella
Rating: 4/5

As a fan of Becky Wade, I was excited to get an ARC of this Christmas novella. If you’ve ever seen How to Fall in Love on the Hallmark channel, this story gave me similar vibes. Who doesn’t want to root for the guy that’s still in love with his childhood crush? I liked how Shay described her advice as polishing the diamond that Connor already was. That polish and the time spent together seemed like just the thing to have Shay wake up to her feelings about Connor.

“Connor was a unicorn—both gorgeous and modest.”

It was especially fun for the story to occur around Christmas. It’s such a special time of year and the live nativity part was lovely. I enjoyed Shay’s reaction to being in the live nativity. This story was such a fun and cozy romantic read for Christmas that you won’t want to miss!

Highly recommend if you enjoy Christmas novellas with romance, humor and lots of heart.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

I definitely ordered a copy for myself.
P.S. Thanks for the Veronica Mars reference 😉


ALSO AVAILABLE

   

***Read my review of Let It Be Me here!


Sneak Peek for TURN TO ME coming in January 2022!

Guilt has defined Luke Dempsey’s life. But it was self-destructiveness that landed him in prison. When his friend and fellow inmate lays dying shortly before Luke’s release, the older man reveals he’s left a string of clues for his daughter Finley that will lead her to the treasure he’s hidden. Worried that she won’t be the only one pursuing the treasure, he begs Luke to protect her, and Luke promises he will.

Finley Sutherland, owner of an animal rescue center and dogged defender of lost causes, accepts Luke’s help with the treasure hunt while secretly planning to help him in return — by coaxing him to embrace the forgiveness he’s long denied himself.

As they draw closer to the mysterious cache, their reasons for resisting one another begin to crumble and Luke realizes his promise will be harder to keep than he’d anticipated. He’ll do his best to shield Finley from unseen threats. But who’s going to shield him from losing his heart?