JustRead Review & Giveaway: An Unexpected Love Story by Ellie Hall

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About the Book

Title: An Unexpected Love Story
Series: Falling into Happily Ever After RomCom #1
Author: Ellie Hall
Genre: RomCom, Contemporary
Release Date: January 15, 2021

Catherine + Kellan = forNEVER, or so I thought.

Let’s not talk about how I was let go from my job and had to take a position as coffee-girl at a publicity firm. We definitely won’t discuss their newest client and how he was the former love of my life. However, it’s fair to mention that Kellan Connelly is now my fiercest adversary.

I’ve spent the last decade playing it safe with book boyfriends—avoiding frustratingly attractive and three-dimensional guys like him.

When my roommate finds the Boyfriend Book, a silly relic leftover from my teens, it prompts a dare; go on five dates and pick one to be my Valentine. I can’t say no, especially if it means proving to myself and Kellan that I’ve moved on.

Despite braving the dating jungle, none of the guys comes close to being my one true love. Except Kellan. He’s infuriating, confusing, catnip…and it turns out he has a secret.

With a love letter and a plane ticket in hand, can I leave my baggage behind and decide between love, hate, and the lies I told to protect my fragile heart?

Purchase Links: Amazon

About the Author

Ellie Hall loves puppies, books, and the ocean. She writes sweet romance with lots of firsts and fizzy feels. Oh, and she cookies. She believes in dreaming big, working hard, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent with her family and dog in gratitude for God’s grace. ♥

My Review

An Unexpected Love Story
by Ellie Hall
Book 1 in the Falling into Happily Ever After RomCom
Rating: 4/5

Fun, hilarious and full of heart, An Unexpected Love Story is just what you need this summer! Who doesn’t enjoy a nice lighthearted romcom that doesn’t skirt the serious stuff. I don’t believe I’ve ever read anything from the author before but I loved the premise of the story, so I had to grab a copy. After reading an ARC, I purchased my own copy (the book is also available on KU).

When her past crush/first love comes back into her life, Catherine doesn’t know what to do. Her new roommate/best friend dares her to date the first five guys she lays eyes on (the next day) and pick her favorite for a Valentine’s Day date. Discussing her OTP (One True Pairing), Catherine knows the answer has always been Kellan, her childhood best friend’s brother, but their past is complicated and full of heartache. Catherine decides to follow Hazel’s dare in order to get out of spending time with Kellan. Going on dates and writing about them on her Boyfriend Blog, Catherine finds herself opening up more and trying desperately to find some closure. Can Kellan convince Catherine that he’s changed and won’t leave again? Can Catherine learn to trust and forgive?

I thoroughly enjoyed this romcom and will definitely be reading more from the author. The writing is witty and clever when it needs to be but also deals with real emotional issues in an organic way. I also enjoyed the other characters and will definitely be reading what comes next for Hazel. I found Kellan’s maturity refreshing and well-developed. There’s a couple mentions of God but I wouldn’t call this Christian fiction. It’s more along the lines of sweet romance/romcom.

Highly recommend if you enjoy clean, romcoms with feisty heroines, dashing heroes and a clever best friend.

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.

Giveaway on Instagram!

(1) winner will receive a print copy of the book, “Happily Ever Laughter” RomCom candle, chocolates, and a heart charm bracelet. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on August 10, 2021.)

⇒ To Enter, follow @elliehallauthor, @justreadtours & Tag 2 friends in the same comment on any hosted post of this Instagram tour. Enter up to 3x per post. (My blog post does NOT count).

August 7, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews Giveaway

Book Review & Tour Giveaway: Then Came You by Rachel D. Russell

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Then Came You by Rachel D. Russell presented by Susan May Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Then Came You
Series: Deep Haven Collection #4
Author: Rachel D. Russell presented by Susan May Warren
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing, 330 pp.
Release Date: July 6, 2021

He doesn’t need any trouble. She can’t seem to escape it.

Detective Daniel “Boone” Buckam is more than burned out. After fourteen stellar years on the job, one bad judgment call—and, fine, a whole lot of cynicism—has forced him into a mandatory vacation in Deep Haven. If he can get his head on straight, there’s a job as Police Chief waiting for him back in his Minneapolis suburb. And then, he meets Vivien.

Actress Vivien Calhoun isn’t really a drama queen. Sure, she gets swept up in the emotions of life—but please, she’s an actress. Or, um, was until a stalker made her flee the bright lights of Broadway. Now, she’s passionate about directing her local theater production. But when she accidentally ropes an uptight police detective on vacation into her cast, she can’t help but wonder if he might be the leading man she’s always longed for.

Boone can’t help but like Vivien. He might even have a type—vivacious and bubbly, with a penchant for attracting danger. He can smell trouble even if she can’t, and is pretty sure her stalker has hunted her all the way to Deep Haven. He’ll have to stay by her side—even if it means being in her silly play—to keep her safe. But Vivien is more than he expected as she helps him discover a part of him he’s locked away…the part that said he could never love again.

It’s summertime in Deep Haven, and the fun is heating up in this laugh-out-loud, charming story.

ALSO AVAILABLE

About the Authors

SMW & Rachel Russell

Susan May Warren is the USA Today best-selling novelist of 80 books. With more than 1.5 million books in print, she is beloved by reviewers and readers around the world. Visit Susan at www.susanmaywarren.com.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Rachel D. Russell is a member of Oregon Christian Writers and My Book Therapy’s Novel Academy, and is a regular contributor to the Learn How to Write a Novel blog. The mother of two teenagers, she often interrogates her husband on his own military and law enforcement experience to craft believable heroes in uniform. The rest of her time is spent cantering her horse down the Oregon trails. Visit Rachel at www.racheldrussell.com.

CONNECT WITH RACHEL: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Merging the creative energies of best-selling authors Susan May Warren and Lindsay Harrel, Sunrise Publishing is the matchmaker for established authors who want to build on their current success for future growth and aspiring authors looking to break out, build an audience, and hone their writing skills.

CONNECT WITH SUNRISE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Email

My Review

Then Came You
by Rachel D. Russell, Susan May Warren
Book 4 in the Deep Haven Collection
Rating: 4.5/5

Even though I have a large stack of books I need to review, I could not pass up the chance to read what came next in Deep Haven. I have not read the PJ Sugar series yet (although I just purchased the set on sale) so I will now need to go back and read them to discover more about Boone, but I did not think it was necessary to have read that series to understand Boone’s past. The author does a great job of giving you his background and exploring his hurt and insecurities.

From the beginning of the book, the author draws you in and hooks the reader with her first line:
“Vivien Calhoun needed a man within the next five minutes.“
Who doesn’t need to read more to find out why? I couldn’t stop reading lol.

When Vivien enlists Boone’s help and red mustang to rescue from her devious half-sister, she brings some life and zest back into Boone’s life as he starts his mandatory leave in Deep Haven to deal with his anger issues away from the police force. As a detective who is on the short list for the next chief, he is willing to do whatever his chief says to make sure he solidifies his chances. Boone doesn’t know who this vivacious lady is but when he observes the way her half-sister speaks to her, he decides to play along. He is in Deep Haven to relax, talk to a therapist and read the book his chief gave him. He does not need any distractions. After having his heart broken before, he fills his days with work and now, on vacation, doesn’t quite know what to do with himself. Vivien is only too willing to enlist his help with her summer theater production and eventually even casts Boone as the lead. Vivien, a former broadway star, is back in Deep Haven to prove she’s not a failure and encourage the theatrical aspirations of her fellow townsfolk. When Vivien’s past seems to have followed her to Deep Haven, can Boone help her solve the mystery and keep her safe? Will Boone’s dreams of making his father proud conflict with his dreams of having a life with Vivien?

I loved how the author made Vivien and Boone seem so different when in reality, they were very similar. I loved how the small town aspect came into play since everyone thought they were together from that parade onwards. Even though Boone was leaving, he began to find that still, small voice whispering wisdom to him. He felt he had found a place where he could breathe – where he could be himself.
“Everything about you—the real you, goofy and sexy and flirty and fun, all of it—I like who you are.” And he liked who he was when he was with her.“

He could not get her out of his head (and heart?).
“He shook his head. Yep, he definitely had a type. Vivien. Bold and courageous and so full of life. She was adventure and zeal and added a brightness to his day. She turned a plain, ordinary day into something extraordinary.”

I highly recommend if you enjoy Christian romance with humor, heart and some mystery.

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 a $15 Amazon gift card + 3 Then Came You ebooks (one ebook for the winner and two to give to friends)!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 3, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 10, 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!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

August 3, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews Giveaway

CelebrateLit Review & Blog Tour Giveaway: Shadow by Kara Swanson

About the Book

Book: Shadow (Heirs of Neverland #2)
Author: Kara Swanson
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Release date: July 13, 2021

Peter Pan has crash-landed back on Neverland. But this is not the island he remembers.

Desperate to rescue Claire and the fractured Lost Boys, Peter must unravel what truly tore his dreamland apart. But with each step, he is haunted by more of his own broken memories. Not even Pan himself is what he seems.

Claire Kenton is chained to a pirate ship, watching the wreckage of Neverland rocked by tempests. When she finally finds her brother, Connor is every bit as shattered as the island. Claire may have pixie dust flowing in her veins—but the light of Neverland is flickering dangerously close to going out forever.

To rescue Neverland from the inescapable shadow, the boy who never grew up and the girl who grew up too fast will have to sacrifice the only thing they have left: each other.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

As the daughter of missionaries, Kara Swanson spent her childhood running barefoot through the lush jungles of Papua New Guinea. Able to relate with characters dropped into a unique new world, she quickly fell in love with the fantasy genre. The award-winning author of The Girl Who Could See, Kara is passionate about crafting stories of light shattering darkness, connecting with readers, and becoming best friends with a mermaid—though not necessarily in that order. Kara chats about coffee, fairytales and bookish things online (@karaswansonauthor) and at karaswanson.com.

My Review

Shadow
by Kara Swanson
Book 2 in the Heirs of Neverland
Rating: 4.5/5

Wow. This story was nonstop in the adventure in Neverland. Reading the first book, Dust, is probably necessary to understand what’s happening. The author’s use of imagination and creativity just screams from the manuscript (or literally, since I listened to the audiobook borrowed from the library). The perspectives go back and forth between Peter and Claire. Peter is desperate to save Claire while Claire is desperate to save her brother Connor. Darkness and shadow have crept up in Neverland and Peter and the Lost Boys with some other familiar friends are trying their best to keep Neverland from disappearing.

The first book, Dust, started a bit slow for my liking but this second (and final) installment started right where we left off (when it was just getting really good). I liked seeing the character development and delving into Peter’s past and how he created Neverland. I loved how the author was not afraid to address the darker subjects and inner turmoil that we all have to eventually face. Reading the author’s thoughts at the end made me like the story even more – in light of the past year we’ve experienced with COVID, we still must go on. We have to allow ourselves the space to heal.

Highly recommend if you enjoy revisiting Peter Pan’s adventures in Neverland with some romance and lots of action and pixie dust. I also highly recommend listening to the audiobook – it is excellent.

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.

More from Kara

One of my favorite CS Lewis quotes is this:

“Some day you’ll be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”

There’s something subtly profound about the idea that the very stories which captivate our imagination and shape our perspective on good and evil as children, will reveal more gems when we return to them later. When we’ve conquered some dragons of our own.

This was especially true when I write my Peter Pan retelling duology Dust and Shadow. These YA novels literally return to a fairy tale. I took a familiar story and dug even deeper, pushing Peter himself to grow a little more and see what new bits of pixie dust and hope there may be in a familiar story.

But there is another reason why our hearts gravitate toward fairy tales.

I think GK Chesterton put it brilliantly in a quote that is actually at the very front of Shadow:

“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”

Because maybe even more than being reminded of the whimsy of a fairy, we need the reminder that even in a world filled with dragons – they can be killed.

We can conquer.

And that simple truth, told a hundred different ways, will always lift our hearts and our chins.

Shadow was not an easy book to write – and it is not a particularly lighthearted tale. It is raw and vulnerable and at times lives up to it’s title in some darker moments. But there is always a sense of courage there too. A reminder that even in the shadowed places, the valleys, the instances that steal our breath and twist our hearts and make us wonder if all is lost –

There is another page to turn. Another step to take.

We are not finished.

No matter how young we are, we can strap on our armor, lift our swords, and fight for the light.

We are not overcome because our strength does not come from us.

It comes from our King.

And in the end, He will make all wrongs right, and there will be a happy ending to our tale, even if it may not be the ending we expect.

Because it may not be easy to slay the dragon, but as the fairy tales do remind us –

The important thing is that they can be slain.

Blog Stops

Babbling Beck L’s Book Impressions, July 31
Inside the Wong Mind, July 31
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 31
The Write Escape, August 1
Remembrancy, August 1
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 2
Connect in Fiction, August 2
Blossoms and Blessings, August 2
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 3
Texas Book-aholic, August 3
Where Faith and Books Meet, August 4
Losing the Busyness, August
For the Love of Literature, August 4
Worthy2Read, August 5
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, August 5
Wishful Endings, August 5
Inklings and notions, August 6
Mia Reads, August 6
For Him and My Family, August 7
Sodbusterliving, August 7
Mary Hake, August 7
deb’s Book Review, August 8
Nancy E Wood, August 8
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 9
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 9
Through the Fire Blogs, August 10
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 10
Artistic Nobody, August 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 11
Cats in the Cradle Blog, August 11
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 12
Simple Harvest Reads, August 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
The Book Chic Blog, August 12
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 13
Labor Not in Vain, August 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kara Swanson is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/110e4/shadow-celebration-tour-giveaway

July 31, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews Giveaway

Inside the Wong Mind: Reading is my therapy

Hello. This blog is all mine and I will do my best to post what interests me and what books I read with honest reviews. I am a lover of good Christian fiction with a touch of romance, mystery, intrigue, humor, fun, etc. I invite you to join me as I read my way through books and life. I am currently pursuing my residency training as a family medicine physician!!! I have to carefully choose what I want to read for fun. My name is Kim and you are entering the Wong Mind.