The Musician: can love overcome racial prejudice? Or will societal norms keep them apart?

The Musician is the sixth book in the Emerson Pass Historical series by Tess Thompson. Fiona Barnes has a secret. A secret she fears would ruin everything she cares about. Her heart longs for the one she feels her family would never accept; but she can’t help but love him. Li Wu has fought prejudice his entire life even in the close knit community of Emerson Pass. But he feels safe and protected as an adopted member of the Barnes family. His heart longs for Fiona as they found a connection through the beauty of music; however, he fears that her life would be ruined by marrying him. Fiona has a chance to mentor with a musical master in Paris, they hope the distance will give them clarity. When a new man enters Fiona’s life, Li must decide if he is willing to risk everything to express his feelings for Fiona. Or will societal pressures keep them apart? 

The Musician takes a different feel than the previous books of this series. Most of it takes place in Paris and deals with the heavy prejudice against Chinese Americans in America during the early 1900s. While my heart hurt for Li and I was angry on his behalf, it greatly saddened me as it was reality for the Chinese in America. I understood the reservations that the Barnes family and even Li had about their possible romantic relationship. I loved that Fiona saw him for the beautiful, kindhearted human that he was and just didn’t care about what others thought. I wanted them to say forget everyone else and love each other, the societal concerns were very real and dangerous. I could not put this story down. I needed to see Fiona and Li confess their love and have their happily ever after. Overall, I enjoyed this story and look forward to the rest of this series. I highly recommend The Musician. 

The Musician is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

To Love a Beast: a Beauty and the Beast retelling set in 1800s Texas

To Love a Beast is the first book in the Once Upon a Time in Texas by Karen Witemeyer. Everett Griffin once enjoyed life among New York’s elite. He was left scared in both body and spirit, he now lives as a recluse in his Texas mansion with only three trusted servants. Everett uses this reputation as a shield as the beast who lives in the gloomy manor and sends his monster dog to attack anyone who dares approach the property.. It wouldn’t be until a young beautiful woman breaks the walls down. After an injury to her father, Callista Rosenfield is determined to fulfill a major contract in order to save the family’s book binding business and nothing will deter her. After finding unlikely allies in Mr. Griffin’s staff, Callista gets to work restoring volumes in his library. As Everett watches Callista work, he sets aside his ill-tempered growls for admiration. As affection grows between Everett and Callista, the evil schemes of someone out for revenge threatens to tear everything apart. 

Disney’s 1990 Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite movies and I enjoyed books retelling fairy tales. I was excited to read this Beauty & the Beast retelling set in 1800's Texas. I was hooked from the opening chapter. The story is filled with humorous banter between Griffin and his staff as well as Griffin and Callista. There are great moments that will bring smiles to your face as well as romantic moments that will make the heart beat a bit faster. The swoon worthy ending is sigh worthy. I loved the little homage moments to the Disney movie and yet had its own drama with twists and turns. I also enjoyed the faith of the characters throughout the story. It wasn’t overwhelming and fit great into the story. One of my favorite quotes is “Hope sees possibilities, where fear only sees barriers.” I devoured this book in one day. I could not put it down and I eagerly await more books in this series. I highly, highly, highly recommend To Love a Beast. 

 

To Love a Beast is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Tactics: a practical guide to have those difficult conversations with grace and confidence

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Gregory Koukl is a practical guide to help Christian engage in conversations with grace and confidence. In a world that is increasingly indifferent to the Christian truth, followers of Christ need to be equipped to communicate with those who are misinformed or do not fully understand. Gregory Koukl demonstrates how to get in the “driver’s seat: of the conversation and keep it moving with thoughtful and artful diplomacy to maneuver comfortably and graciously through the common challenges to help people think truthfully about Jesus. Drawing from his experience defending Christianity in public forums, Koukl shows readers how to initiate conversations, present facts clearly, cleverly and persuasively with grace and to remain calm and collected when under attack. Tactics is a game plan for every Christian to communicate the truth while being calm, cool and collected. 

As a believer, I was always afraid of not being able to communicate properly to those who would aggressively debate with me. An apologist I follow on social media gave a list of books to read on apologetics and Tactics was his number one suggestion. From the very beginning, Mr. Koukl offers easy to follow methods to engage with different groups of nonbelievers including the misinformed and the aggressive atheist. He encourages all Christians to be ambassadors for Christ with basic knowledge, wisdom and good character. One does not need to be a theologian or a great debater to engage in these conversations. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through his tactics and I used the study guide in order to practice what I learned. If you have ever wondered how to have an engaging conversation with confidence, I highly recommend Tactics and its study guide. 

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions 

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Tactics study guide is available in paperback and eBook

How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days: can one woman make over a man from Not to Hot?

How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days is the first book in the Chick Flick Club by Lila Monroe. Gemma Jones is in a competition for a promotion of a lifetime. As a stylist, she has to take a fashioned-backward guy and turn him into Mr GQ. Her problem? The man chosen for her is her hairy next-door neighbor she nicknamed Bigfoot. Zach Morrison has no interest in being Gemma’s dress doll. However, he does enjoy seeing Gemma get flustered; but after cashing out his tech start-up and going through a nasty break up, he just wants to wear sweatpants and lounge around. With a little push in the right direction, Gemma gets to work and finds a few surprises as Bigfoot transforms into Mr Hottie. As the walls come down, the sparks start to fly. Will Zach embrace a fresh start? Will Gemma win the promotion? 

One of my favorite rom-coms is How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. So when I came across a book which seemed to pay homage to this hilarious and romantic story, I was in. From the very beginning, this story had heart, great humor, sweet emotional moments and great steamy romantic scenes. I loved Gemma and Zach from the very beginning. I loved their chemistry and their banter. I enjoyed their supporting characters. Even their villains were great and added drama and conflict. Overall, I loved this story. It had its base in the rom-com movie; however, it had its own twists, turns and grand gestures. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series. If you enjoy rom-com stories with heart and great humor, I highly recommend How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days. 

How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days is available in paperback and eBook

Detour to Harmony: a sweet clean romance in a small town

Detour to Harmony is the first book in the Harmony Ridge series by Megan Squires. Miles Callahan has decided that his country music days are over. The constant traveling, life on a tour bus isn’t a life for his four year old son. He decides to set down roots. His first stop is the small town of Harmony Ridge. It was supposed to be a quick bite to eat and then back on the road; however, the diner’s beautiful owner’s welcoming spirit had Miles dragging his feet to leave. Scarlett Harmony has taken over her father’s diner after his passing and wants to maintain his legacy of generosity through food and friendship. However, when the diner begins to falter and she worries she has a very difficult choice to make. Can she keep her restaurant from closing while also opening up her heart to the chance for a romance? Or will Miles be on his way as planned? 

Detour to Harmony is a sweet, clean romance with humor and emotional touching moments. I immediately liked Miles as a man who is willing to put aside a growing career for his son. I loved the immediate connection with Scarlett as she knew how to interact and engage with an active four year old. I loved the small town atmosphere of Harmony Ridge. The townspeople were relatable with a welcoming and friendly attitude. The drama was mild but grounded in real issues and concerns. I loved Miles and Scarlett’s romance. There were sweet moments, grand gestures and moments that will make you smile, especially with Miles’s son. The author definitely got a four year old’s antics and imagination to translate on the page. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading the other books in this series. If you enjoy sweet, clear romance, I highly recommend Detour to Harmony. 

Detour to Harmony is available in paperback and eBook

We Are Made Of Stars: a season of change is in the air as guests gather at an inn

We Are Made Of Stars by Rochelle B. Weinstein is a story of secrets, lies and second chances at an inn nestled in picturesque mountains. At the Via Ta Vie, owners Jean-Paul and Renee De La Rue are going through a season of change and for their guests as well. Hollywood celebrity couple, Leo and Penny, are celebrating their twenty-fifth anniversary while on the cusp of divorce. Lucy, a practical minded therapist, and her husband, Henry, an astronomer with his head in the stars, are also struggling with their marriage and divorce seems to be in the future. Their friends, Adam, a charismatic sports agent, and his former lawyer and current stay at home mom wife, Sienna, are desperate to find the cracks in their perfect facade. Adding to the group is Cassidy, a self-absorbed single mother and Rosalie, her sullen fifteen year old daughter. As the week progresses, betrayals, regrets and shocking truths are revealed where a heart can be broken or healed. 

I was so excited for this book as the title is absolutely beautiful and the opening chapter started off well. However, the story drags as each chapter changes point of views to one of the many characters. The only character I cared for was Rosalie. She is tired of being the responsible adult to her immature mother, and takes matters in her own hands to find the truth her mother has been hiding. I wish I could have reached through the pages and knocked some sense in the adults. The drama was a bit lackluster and the twist/secret reveal was a bit obvious and wasn’t as much of a surprise to me. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. This story was my second book by Ms Weinstein and the second one I didn’t care for, so it is obvious to me that her books aren’t for me. However, if you enjoy Ms Weinstein’s previous books, you may enjoy We Are Made Of Stars. 

We Are Made Of Stars is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

For the Chances We Take: an accidental pregnancy, suspense romance

For the Chances We Take is the first book in the Bryants and Walker Protection series by Ellie P Golden. Benjamin Walker and his team are working to shut down the drug cartel that terrorized a small town when he meets a beautiful baker, Izzie Turner.  Ben was her sexy protector, the man who made her feel complete and the aftermath of one event brings them together. He is a man who doesn’t have a problem taking risks or chances. He gambles often with life and usually comes out unscathed. However, one positive pregnancy test is a gamble he lost and has Ben fighting his feelings for Izzie and their baby. He doesn’t believe he is the man that Izzie and the baby need. He has too many demons. He has a mission and he cannot rest until it's done. Can Izzie’s love and acceptance help Ben fight his demons and be the man he needs to be? The man Izzie and their baby truly deserves? 

I was excited for this story. The opening prologue was promising; however, the promise quickly faltered as the first chapter was confusing and contained a glaring mistake that should have been caught in editing. Ben and his team are staking out a group who are talking about “horses.” Ben asks “heroine?” and the person he is with answers yes. I think the author meant heroin. While spell check would not have caught the error but an editor should have. There were so many characters introduced up front with relationships and connections between them not explained, leading to confusion. At one point, there is a text message exchange between Izzie and an Unknown number (who we learn is Ben), the exchange changed from Izzie and Unknown to Izzie and SexyBee without any indication that Izzie changed it. There are so much more and it is no surprise that I did not enjoy this story and will not be continuing the series. I do not recommend For The Chances We Take. 

For The Chances We Take is available in paperback and eBook