Holding the Fort

When she loses her job as a dance-hall singer, Louisa Bell sets out to Fort Reno to check on her wayward brother, who has recently been in some trouble with his commanding officer-- Daniel Adams.  Between his two growing daughters, rowdy soldiers, an overbearing mother-in-law, and an entire fort to run, Major Adams finally decides he needs some help, and sends for a mature, religious governess to watch his daughters.  Louisa meets the governess on the way to the fort, and agrees to help deliver the necessary books to the Major when the governess decides the Western climate doesn't agree with her.  Mistaken as the governess, Louisa plays along with charade in an attempt to stay at the fort and contact her brother.  Will Louisa's acting skills convince the Adam's family that she belongs in their home, or will her unconventional methods lead them to the truth of her deception?

As usual, Regina Jennings tells an truly fascinating and entertaining love story in Holding the Fort.  Full of interesting historical details about life on an Army fort in the wild West, Jennings's latest novel was captivating from start to finish.  Louisa's character is fun, imperfect, and a refreshing break from the typical romantic novel.  Daniel is equal parts dashing military officer, devoted-- albeit exhausted-- father, and believable romantic lead.  The end of the novel was particularly satisfying in its lack of predictability.

 I received a free copy from the publisher.  No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage

In a return to the idyllic Ivy Hill, several leading ladies must make important decisions that will impact their futures in The Ladies of Ivy Cottage.  Rachel Ashford has recently moved into Ivy Cottage with the two Miss Groves after her father's death-- and the scandal surrounding it-- leave her virtually penniless.  While struggling to support herself, Rachel is often tempted to marry the man who inherited her father's estate, but will her heart allow her to do so?  Mercy Grove finds fulfillment in managing the girls' school in her home, but will her parents desire to see her finally married steal her home from her?  Down the road, Jane Bell is confidently and expertly running her coaching in and finally feels ready put aside the grief of losing her husband.  

I had a much easier time falling in love with this second installment of Julie Klassen's Tales from Ivy Hill series than I did the first.  Rachel and Mercy are both worthy protagonists, and Thora and Jane Bell grew more appealing in this novel than they did in the last.  While I adored Rachel, I was never particularly fond of her love interest, Sir Timothy.  Inconstant and overly obsessed with his family's reputation, Timothy simply didn't live up to Klassen's typical male-leads.  As a result, the ending was less than satisfying in that I felt Rachel could somehow do better.  While still not my favorite of Klassen's books, The Ladies of Ivy Cottage has me anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series.  The conclusion of both Jane's and Mercy's stories have the potential to be lovely indeed.

 I received a free copy from the publisher.  No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

The Calico and Cowboys Romance Collection

Mary Connealy tells eight entertaining love stories in this newest novella collection.  The six novellas  that revisit families from Connealy's previous series were decidedly my favorite.

A Bride Rides Herd, His Surprise Family, Sophie's Other Daughter, The Sweetwater Bride, Texas Tea, and Hope for Christmas will delight fans of the Harden, McClellan and Reeves families.  While I enjoyed The Advent Bride and Homestead on the Range, they were certainly less engaging and almost unnecessary additions to the otherwise excellent collection.  Someone unfamiliar with Connealy's previous books would likely not enjoy these stories as an avid fan would, however.  I sometimes find Connealy's   character development a bit too obvious and heavy-handed, but this is strikingly less distracting in the novella genre.  In fact, many of my favorite of Connealy's works have been novellas, rather than her full-length novels.  I could not put this book down, and foresee reading it many times over.

 I received a free copy from the publisher.  No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

The Engagement Plot

When William betrayed Hanna's trust on national television months ago, she retreated to her farm in Minnesota to avoid the accusations and media attention that followed her appearance on a reality dating show.  While not ready to forgive William, Hanna agrees to his plan to fake an engagement in an attempt to save her reputation and his career.  Will Hanna be able to protect her heart against the charming CEO a second time?  Can Will earn Hanna's forgiveness once an for all, and admit that his feeling for her might be genuine?  When both of their worlds come crashing down, will they choose to trust and depend on one another, or go their separate ways?

Kristina Phillips tells a timely and entertaining story in The Engagement Plot.  I will openly admit to The Bachelor having often been a guilty pleasure for me, so was immediately intrigued by the premise.  Phillips brings up a number of excellent themes given today's media-obsessed culture.  How much should we care about what other people think?  How much does God require us to forgive?  Is deception ever justified?  Can we ever rebuild trust once it has been lost?  The plot itself, while obviously a bit predictable, was fun and moved along quickly.  I like both Hanna and William, and found them compelling romantic leads.  The conclusion, however, was a bit abrupt and unsatisfying.  I would have appreciated one more chapter or an epilogue to cement the overall happy ending.

 I received a free copy from the publisher.  No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.