Friday Fun - February 21, 2025

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have one book to share with you.

I'm starting Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer for one of my reading challenges.

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

  Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer:

"Ten-year-old Meredith Hayes balled her hands into fists as she faced her tormentor."

Sounds like someone is getting bullied. Or maybe just picked on.

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here is my Friday 56 selection:

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer:

 

"Watching the Archer brothers eat was like watching a twister blow through the room. Meredith sat with her elbows tucked close to her side, afraid to do more than occasionally raise her fork to her mouth for fear of being rammed by a reaching arm or thumped by a tossed biscuit."

Reviews:

Last week I shared two books in my Friday Fun post. I haven't finished one of them, but here is the link to the review of the other:

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard Review

 

Storm Warning is another great romantic suspense from author Elizabeth Goddard. This book is the first in a new series and I can't wait for the next book. 

The story is told from both Remi Grants and Hawk Beckett's points of view. 

Remi is the manager at a tucked away lodge where people come to get away and enjoy the views of the north Pacific ocean. As the story opens there are a series of storms rolling in which the guests are looking forward to watching in all their awesome power. These storms are important to the plot of the story. 

Hawk tells Remi he is at the lodge because he wants to offer helicopter tours of the area so the guests have another way to experience the area. However, he finds himself coming to Remi's rescue right at the beginning of the story. 

Remi finds herself wondering if Hawk's presence in her dire times of need aren't too convenient. Is there a nefarious reason why he always seems to show up? Of course, the reader also sees Hawk's point of view, so we know his true intentions. 

Danger keeps cropping up and Remi and Hawk find themselves on the run. Not only do they need to stay ahead of the bad "guy" or is it multiple bad "guys"? But Remi is under pressure to remember something that happened in the past. An event that must have been so traumatic that she lost her memory of several days. It seems there are people who want her to remember and others who don't want her to remember. And there are so many twists on exactly who is on which side. Definitely twists I didn't see coming. And once the truth starts to emerge, the story took a twist I really didn't expect. The story kept me swiping through pages just so I could find out what exactly was going on. 

I will add, I wasn't sure exactly how I felt about the relationship between Remi and Hawk. She kept flip-flopping on whether she should trust him or not, yet finding herself drawn to him. And there were times the little ponderings of each other didn't seem to fit with the circumstances they found themselves in. It also seemed at times, that if they did end up together they would be at odds quite a bit. Though as the story went on, I did find myself rooting for their relationship. 

What made me drop a star in my rating was the inconsistencies in the story. It bothered me that they would be concerned about something and then suddenly turn around and do what they said they shouldn't do. 

That said, I still loved this book and definitely recommend it. Especially if you are looking for fast moving suspense that keeps you on your toes. I can't wait for the next book which focuses on one of the other characters from the story. 

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Reading Challenges 2025: January Update

Here is what I read for my challenges in January: 

For the challenge in the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group I needed to read a book that had winter sports in it. I chose to read Cross Check Crush by Dulcie Dameron. 

For the Tackle the TBR Pile is from Crystal Caudill's blog I used Cross Check Crush by Dulcie Dameron as it was the last book I put on my TBR list at the beginning of the month when I was choosing my books for the month.

For the challenge in the Eating Our Words FB group I was also able to use Cross Check Crush by Dulcie Dameron for my January book. With this challenge, we can choose to read the book IN the month, or any time of the year, OR we can do both. So, like last year, I am choosing to try both. 

I read another book for January, Forgotten Identity by Penny Zeller. And A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter works for April.

For the challenge in the Posse FB group I read Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witmeyer.

For the Read Your Bookshelf Challenge from Chantel Reads All Day I used Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witmeyer

I really enjoyed A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter, which was the January book in the Between the Pages FB group challenge/book discussion.

I haven't finished my book for this challenge yet. In fact, I only just started it. But I am reading Kiera by Kate Willis.

 

For the Coffee House Specials challenge in teh Faith Filled Fiction FB group I read Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee. I would also say A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter would work. One of the other reasons I was reading Kiera, mentioned above, for January is that it was mentioned it is also pro-life.

For the Literary Escapes Challenge here is what I read each month:

In January I read books set in the following states:

Colorado: Cross Check Crush by Dulcie Dameron

Minnesota: Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer

Tenesee: Grannies' Matches for Jake by A.M. Heath and Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee

Texas: Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer

And I traveled to England with A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

Here is what I read for the Alphabet Soup Challenge.

January:

A: Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee and Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer

C: Cross Check Crush by Dulcie Dameron and Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer (mini challenge)

D: A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

F: Forgotten Identity by Penny Zeller
G: Grannies' Matches for Jake by A.M. Heath

And here is what I read for the Alphabet Soup Author Edition: 

January: 

D: Dulcie Dameron's Cross Check Crush

H: A.M. Heath's Grannies' Matches for Jake

K: Kristi Ann Hunter's A Defense of Honor

M: Gabrielle Meyer's Across the Ages

S: Michelle Shocklee's Appalachian Song

W: Karen Witemeyer's Cloaked in Beauty

Z: Penny Zeller's Forgotten Identity

Here's what I read for the 2025 European Reading Challenge from Rose City Reader.

In January I read a book set in the following European country:

England: In Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

Here's what I read from my TBR pile for the TBR 25 in '25 challenge also over on the Rose City Reader blog. These books have to have been in my physical TBR pile at home or on my Kindle app prior to the start of 2025.

1- Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer

Also, someone in my Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group again came up with a yearly book challenge. This year we again have 50 prompts:

In January, 7 of the books I read fit this challenge

Read a book…

1. With a title that starts with L

2. Featuring a woman in STEM

3. With an unreliable narrator 

4. Featuring a stepparent 

5. With a red cover

6. By a new to you author: A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter (Jan)

7. That is a 2025 debut novel 

8. Featuring an unsolved mystery 

9. By an author who has the same first and last initial: Cross Check Crush by Dulcie Dameron (Jan)

10. That is a fairytale spin off or retelling: Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer (Jan)

11. That is considered a classic 

12. With a character you find relatable 

13. From a genre you don’t read often 

14. With an insect on the cover 

15. That is over 500 pages long

16. Set in the mountains 

17. Published in 2025: Forgotten Identity by Penny Zeller (Jan)

18. Written more than 20 years ago 

19. That includes a holiday you don’t celebrate 

20. Published by an Indie author

21. That contains illustrations 

22. Featuring a firefighter or other emergency responder

23. That has a second chance romance 

24. Recommend by a librarian 

25. With a green spine 

26. Set in a bakery or restaurant 

27. With four or more people on the cover

28. That has won an award

29. Written by a BIPOC author 

30. Set in a different country from you 

31. With a one word title 

32. That includes more than 2 POV: Grannies' Matches for Jake by A.M. Heath (Jan)

33. That is a dual or triple timeline: Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer (Jan)

34. Set before the 1800s

35. With a bird on the cover 

36. That takes place on or around a train

37. With a blue dress on the cover: Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee (Jan)

38. A book with the word at, in, or is in the title 

39. Set in Eastern Europe 

40. Set during WWII

41. That makes you laugh 

42. That features a historical event you remember 

43. With an illustrated or typography cover

44. Set in a cold climate

45. With a hat on the cover

46. Written by a male author

47. Written in first person pov

48. With little to no romance

49. By an author with multiple award winning books

50. That features a pet other than a dog 

Finally, I am joining in again with a second yearly challenge from the Scripture Literature-You Are What You Read FB group. 

In January, 7 of the books I read fit this challenge

1- You Can't Wait: Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer (Jan)

2- Whodunit

3- Spin on a Classic

4- A Cardinal Sin

5- Bibliophile

6- Succumb to Peer Pressure

7- Rom Com

8- Considered Controversial

9- Written by an Apologist

10- Return to a Favorite

11- Think Piece

12- Passage of Time 

13- Good vs Evil

14- Fruit of the Spirit

15- A Book that Mentions a Book

16- Multi-Generational POV

17- Labor of Love: Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee (Jan)

18- Far From Home

19- Child Narrator

20. Debut Novel

21. Small Town

22. Lighthouse

23. Animal on the Cover

24. Book you got for Free

25. An Epic Love Story

26. Amish

27. Features a Character from the Bible

28. Location Starts with "I"

29. A Spooky Read

30. Natural Disaster

31. Overcoming a Tragic Event

32. A Quest: Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer (Jan)

33. Harmful Secrets

34. One Word Title

35. Feud

36. A Sea Voyage

37. A Wedding or a Funeral

38. Significant Historical Event: Grannies' Matches for Jake by A.M. Heath (Jan)

39. Female Antagonist: Forgotten Identity by Penny Zeller (Jan)

40. Thriller

41. With a Yellow Cover

42. Missionaries

43. Indie Author

44. Daddy Issues: Cross Check Crush by Dulcie Dameron (Jan)

45. On the Run

46. New Release

47. For a Good Cause: A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter (Jan)

48. Showbiz

49. Favorite Time Period 

50. Fictional Land

51. Married Couple

52. Orphan

53. Choose your own Adventure  

My Goodreads goal is to read 110 books this year. Last year I had set it at 110 and I ended up reading 122. So far this year I have read 7 books.

Forgiving the Cowboy by Tabitha Bouldin Review

 

I really enjoyed Forgiving the Cowboy by Tabitha Bouldin.

The main characters, Tenley and Mac, share guardianship of Mac's niece Jade. The problem is, Tenley and Mac used to be engaged but the wedding never happened, for reasons you'll discover in the story. Mac has been living in Chicago and arrives in North Carolina to take custody of his niece, discovering that his ex-fiance has been caring for her since his sister and  her husband died. He has every intention of taking Jade back to Chicago with him, not realizing that he was going to have a fight on his hands because Tenley has no intention of giving Jade up without said fight. Especially because Mac wants to rip Jade away from all that has been bringing her comfort since her parents' death. 

Will Mac and Tenley be able to work things out, remembering to think of what is best for Jade? Will they be able to work out their relationship or is there no going back after the hurts that were inflicted several years ago? Will truth be shared? Will forgiveness be extended? 

I really wanted to know how things would work out in these relationships and I grew to love all the characters. Including both the dogs, Zeus and Rascal. Plus of course there were horses. I loved learning about equine therapy. 

This was a great second chance romance, very emotional at times, and definitely worth the read. I highly recommend this book. Though, I did discover part way into the story, that there is a book that comes before this one with characters from this story. So, I am definitely going to read that book and would have read it first if I had realized. Just thought I would mention it.

Friday Fun - February 14, 2025

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have two books to share with you.

I'm reading an eARC of Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard for one of my reading challenges. This book releases next week. 

I also started an eARC of Dawn of Grace by Jill Eileen Smith. This book also releases next week.

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here are my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selections:

  Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard:

"Deja Vu. A premonition. Call it whatever you want."

Had to wonder what kind of premonition someone was having.

Dawn of Grace by Jill Eileen Smith:

"It's this way, Mary. Come on!" Susanna shouted above the noise of the wind whipping off the lake."

I wondered where they were going and why Susanna was in such a rush.

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections:

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard:

 

"Something feels wrong. 
It gnawed at the back of her neck.
Her agitation growing, Remi tossed and turned, then finally opened her eyes. The room was dark, but light filtered in from beneath the door.
Heart pounding, she sat up and gasped.

Where am I?"

Dawn of Grace by Jill Eileen Smith:

"I had to fight my longing to leave the women and join the crowd. I couldn't just leave Adi with the food and not help. 'Where do you want our servants to put all of this? Do you have a storage area that can hold it?' I'd seen most of Simon's house, though not all."

Reviews:

Last week I shared one book in my Friday Fun post. I haven't finished that book yet, but here are the links to reviews of books I shared in previous Friday Fun posts.

Heart of the Glen by Jennifer Deibel

Forgiving the Cowboy by Tabitha Bouldin

Heart of the Glen by Jennifer Deibel Review

 

Heart of the Glen by Jennifer Deibel is a wonderful historical romance set in the early 1900s in Ireland. It is told from the points of view of both Saoirse Fagan and Owen McCready.

We first meet Saoirse (pronounced Seer-sha) when she arrives in Ballybofey, County Donegal at a castle where she was supposed to be employed. However, she discovers that her employer has recently died and she is stranded with no where to go and no one to return to. We also know from the first line that she has “blood on her hands.” This leaves the reader wondering exactly what happened and why she is so alone.

We then meet sheep farmer and weaver Owen McCready, who has just been attacked by bandits on his farm in Dunlewey, County Donegal. His sister Aileen had discovered the wandering, abandoned Saorirse and offered to help her. Saoirse sees herself as a curse because of what appears to be bad luck that is following her; however, the MrCready’s see her as an answer to prayer as she came along at just the right time to help them in their time of need.

There is so much I loved about this book.

I loved the relationship between Saoirse and Owen and how it evolved while Owen taught her to weave in her effort to help them. And through this part of the storyline, I was able to learn more about weaving which was really cool. And I also loved how the author wove the object lesson of the tapestry into the story. I also loved the friendship that developed between Saoirse and Aileen. And then their was Stout, the McCready’s loyal dog. I loved reading about the way he watched over the sheep and helped herd them. And seeing the relationship he had with Owen and the one he developed with Saoirse.

I appreciated the relationships in their close-knit community and seeing them come together in times of need. And also the importance of faith in the Lord. I love the way Owen’s friend led him to see a parallel to the challenges in Owen’s life and that of a story from the Bible.

One of my favorite quotes is from one of their discussions:
“’I just wish I knew my story would turn out as well as his,’ Owen added.

The corner of John’s mouth made a clicking sound, and he nodded. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I reckon that’s why it’s called faith.’”

I truly fell in love with these characters and despaired with them when hardships came, but was strengthened in my faith with the biblical reminders that were given to Owen and Saoirse.

This is only my second book by this author, but she is becoming one of my favorite authors, one who’s books I can’t wait to read more of.

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Friday Fun - February 7, 2025

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have one book to share with you.

I'm reading The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher for one of my reading challenges. 

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

  The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher:

"Dawn parked in front of her childhood home in Needham but couldn't make herself get out of the car."

Was there a specific reason she was at her childhood home? What was wrong that she didn't want to leave the car?

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here is my Friday 56 selection:

The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher:

 

"Marnie bristled at being lumped in that 'at our age, sweetheart' category-- fifty-eight was not old, people!--but she didn't disagree about grabbing every moment of happiness. Still, it did worry her that Bonnie might get to Alaska and regret it."

Reviews:

Last week I shared two books in my Friday Fun post. Here are the links to my reviews. 

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

Kiera by Kate Willis