I always Cry at Weddings

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Ava Larson is going to bring all the other brides to tears.

Engaged to a wealthy NYC socialite's son, Ava is ready to set the city abuzz with her glamorous wedding. At least until she realizes her relationship isn't what it should be. Then, in a move as daring as a red satin dress, she does the unthinkable - she calls it all off and makes a promise to God that from now on, she'll save sex for marriage.

She's convinced the future is hers for the taking, especially when an undercover cop promises a new romance...and an unexpected friendship with the homeless guy under her stoop brightens her days.

But when her carefully balanced life teeters out of control, weddings aren't the only thing to make her cry. Ava has to figure out what life she really wants to live... and what is the world love really means.


My review: This book wound up being totally different from what I was expecting, and I mean that in the best way possible! I enjoyed getting to know Ava, as she went through a lot over the course of the story. I didn't always agree with her choices, especially with Julian, since things could of ended badly, but I thought she was a very real character as she tried to change her life around after setting on a new course. This is an excellent story by a talented writer. I look forward to reading more of Sara's books!
I received this book from White Fire in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book

 



Title: Charming the Troublemaker


 

Author: Pepper Basham

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance


 

Release Date: November 1, 2017




Troublemaking never looked so good…

When Dr. Alex Murdock is demoted to a university in rural Virginia, the last thing he expects to find is a future. But country charm never looks as good as it does on Rainey Mitchell.

Rainey Mitchell doesn’t need a high-class flirt in her wounded world, but trouble and temptations wafts off the new professor as strong as his sandalwood-scented cologne.

When circumstances thrust them together to save her tutoring clinic, can the troublemaker find the hero inside and encourage the reticent Rainey to open her heart again.

My review: I enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was thrilled to get a copy of this one. Charming the Troublemaker didn't disappoint! It's a lovely, quick witted modern story set in the Appalachian mountains. I love that Rainey has her own story with this one! I loved returning to the Mitchell family, since they are a heartwarming, small town family. I highly recommend picking this one up!
I received this book from Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.

Click here to purchase!

About the Author

 

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes novels inspired by her love for history and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her Penned in Time series has garnered recognition in the Inspys, Grace Awards, and the ACFW Carol Awards. Her contemporary romance novel, A Twist of Faith, received 4-stars from Romantic Times, and most recently, her newest release, The Thorn Healer, received a Top Pick from RT with 4 ½ stars. Her newest contemporary romance, Just the Way You Are, releases in April 2016. You can get to know Pepper on Facebook, or over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley, or Instagram.

Guest Post from Pepper Basham

I have a thing for underdogs.

Misfits.

Lots souls who desperately need to find where they belong.

I can’t help it! Call it a ‘fix-it’ mentality or an awareness that God rescued me and now I want to rescue other people…even fictional characters, but I’m definitely a softy for those characters that people are less likely to root for. Catherine from The Thorn Bearer/Keeper became my first rescue…and I just HAD to find another.

I guess that’s how Charming the Troublemaker came into existence.

Dr. Alex Murdock desperately needed to be rescued.

In a bad way.

If you’ve had a chance to read my first book in the Mitchell’s Crossroads series, A Twist of Faith, you’ll know that Alex doesn’t seem to be made up of much hero material. He’s a flirt, a little arrogant, and…well, kind of like a lost puppy.

As book 1 grew and came to a close, I knew Alex and Rainey’s story would be next…but I immediately ran into a real problem.

Who in the world was Alex Murdock? We really didn’t get to know him very much in book 1. He zoomed in a few times, ruffling feathers and then finally showing off some interesting kindness/compassion in the end, but…he was still a big-time flirt.

So the question emerged: Can a flirt be a hero?

What is Alex hiding behind that ready smile and sense of humor? Why does he seem so lost?

The answers were surprising!! Just wait.

The Mitchell family draw him right in, as they did with Dee, and his world is forever changed.

And then there’s Rainey. Strong-willed and independent, she is deeply wounded by her ex-husband’s betrayal. Though she gives off all these ‘confident’ vibes, she hides her insecurities behind a tough exterior in a desire to keep people at a distance – well, everyone except her family.

Alex rocks her world with his ready charm.

And she sees beyond the plastic grin to recognize another wounded soul.

Throwing them together into a book has been a hilarious and heart-stirring adventure, I wasn’t prepared to encounter. They’re so much fun!

AND…he’s ADORKABLE!! Seriously!! He is SUCH a dork, but makes me grin. And…he looks like Armie Hammer 😉

Let me just give you a hint to some of my favorite scenes:

Anything with Sarah!

Underoos

All of the scenes in Rainey’s house

And those in Mama Mitchell’s

Okay, I like the WHOLE STORY…and I can’t wait to see what you think too.

Blog Stops

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away a grand prize of a paper copy of A Twist of Faith, a mug from the Blue Ridge Parkway, one driftwood scented candle, one mango scented candle, and a Troublemaker snickers 😉 highly appropriate. Chocolate with a nutty personality :)!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

World View

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How could our world be different if Christians were recognized for not only speaking the truth, but also demonstrating mercy?

What would our lives be like if we reacted to our common culture with not just biblical facts, but also grace and compassion?

For more than 25 years, Marvin Olasky has offered this kind of viewpoint in his columns as the Editor-in-Chief of World Magazine, the leading news magazine written with a Christian perspective. In this collection of far-ranging columns, Olasky’s commentary on world events and affairs, as well as his own personal interactions, encourages readers to respond with both grace and truth in every encounter.

A leading voice for standing for biblical truth in the public square, Olasky also believes Christians should incorporate the biblical virtues of humility, kindness, and mercy in all of life. His call for biblical values to include both truth and mercy makes his voice stand out in a world that often falsely divides those goals and settles for a poor imitation of the robust Christianity described in Scripture. These short and punchy columns offer readers a new way to consider challenges in today’s world and shows them how to respond to any encounter biblically, but not hysterically, providing a wake-up call for the complacent, while also calming the frantic.

My thoughts: I thought that this book was a wonderful one for Christians to pick up, since it is a call to become involved in the world around us, a call to be the change in the world that we wish to see. I didn't always agree with Marvin, but I did think this was a wonderful book to read, since it was easy to get through and made me think. I highly recommend it.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer

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Daughter of immortals.

Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mortal. Diana will soon learn that she has rescued no ordinary girl, and that with this single brave act, she may have doomed the world.

Daughter of death.

Alia Keralis just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted by people who think her very existence could spark a world war. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together.

Two girls will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

My thoughts: I'm still a little on the fence when it comes to Wonder Woman. After all the hype about the movie, I was a little bit disappointed in it. That said, I thought that this book was well done. It is an excellent story of friendship, with all the usual super hero elements: romance, action, and snappy dialog. If you enjoyed the movie, then I highly recommend this one! Even if you are on the fence about the movie, as I was, it is still a fun book to pick up.
I received this book from Blogging for books in exchange for my honest review.

Take ten: books I want my kids to read

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1. The Chronicles of Narnia

Are you surprised this on is on here? lol. We've kind of started on this one with the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I will probably wait to read the others with them.

2. Harry Potter

Another one we will wait to read, but I look forward to reading these with my kids!

3. Lord of the Rings

Are you sensing a nerd theme?

4. Little House on the Prairie

I should start reading these aloud, since I loved them as a girl!

5. All of a Kind Family

Another of my childhood favorites that I can't wait to share with my children!

6. Molly

I loved all the American Girl books, but Molly was my favorite.

7. Little Women


8. Jo's Boys

This one might be one more to my son's liking.:)

9. Eight Cousins

It's been forever since I picked this one, but I loved it when I was a kid!

10. The Scarlet Pimpernel

Another one I should re-read before we read together (though, we have a while with this one!)

I went with books for older kids, since we read a lot of board and picture books. It will be some time before we tackle this list though.
What books should I add to the list?

Lady Jayne Disappears

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When Aurelie Harcourt's father dies in debtor's prison, he leaves her just two things: his wealthy family, whom she has never met, and his famous pen name, Nathaniel Droll. Her new family greets her with apathy and even resentment. Only the quiet houseguest, Silas Rotherham, welcomes her company.

When Aurelie decides to complete her father's unfinished serial novel, writing the family into the story as unflattering characters, she must keep her identity as Nathaniel Droll hidden while searching for the truth about her mother's disappearance--and perhaps even her father's death.

Author Joanna Davidson Politano's stunning debut set in Victorian England will delight readers with its highly original plot, lush setting, vibrant characters, and reluctant romance.

My thoughts: I was quite excited to receive this book in the mail! I enjoyed the writing style and getting to know the main character, seeing that good can come from selfish. It was a bit of an interesting combination, with the gothic flavor set in Victorian times. I did like the social aspect of the story, with Aurelie coming from debtors prison. I feel like the mystery takes backstage to Aurelie's story and how it parallels the story she is writing. I look forward to reading more by this author!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Pass it on

Let Scripture reform the next generation.

There are many different kinds of legacies we can leave, but sharing yourself and your faith with the next generation will always stand the test of time. Through showing himself and his wisdom in the book of Proverbs, God has also left his legacy with us and relies on us to share it with our children and grandchildren. But before we can share that wisdom, first we must grow in our own understanding and knowledge and record, reflect, and consider what we have learned.
Pass it On provides readers with an opportunity to create a legacy of wisdom and faith and to share it with their children and grandchildren. As readers are guided through the book of Proverbs, they are asked to create their own personalized, wisdom journal with the aim of giving it to someone they love. Through careful study, answering questions, writing out prayers, and sharing personal stories, readers can create a lasting keepsake for themselves and for their families and friends.
Created by Champ Thornton, best-selling author ofThe Radical Book for Kids, Pass It On is an innovative resource to strengthen families and help them grow in their love for God and each other. This is a perfect gift for an older and wiser friend or relative, so they can share themselves and what they have learned about God with the next generation.
The fresh and careful translation provided comes from Dr. Bruce Waltke, who, now in his eighties, has devoted his life to a humble and Christ-focused study of God s Word, and especially the book of Proverbs. His two-volume work on Proverbs is considered by many as the premier commentary in the English language. As you study the translation of individual chapters, add your own comments in the margins. And feel free to circle, underline, and connect key words or phrases as you see them in the chapter for the day.

My thoughts: I love journaling, so I found this journal style devotional on Proverbs to be a perfect fit for me. I love how it has the verses written out and then questions for the reader to go deeper into the verses that struck home and think on why they hit home. I also love the prayers and how you can personalize them, along with the chance to connect with the gospel.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.