While I love to write, I’m always reading, too. I was a reader first. And I’ll always be a reader. So today I wanted to share with you several books I’ve read in the last couple weeks that I really enjoyed. Be sure to go to the end and enter the giveaway. I have a copy of each of these books to share with you! I’ve also tried to select books that will appeal to all of our readers 🙂
First up is Sarah Sundin’s Anchor in the Storm. I love Sarah’s WWII fiction. It’s one of the reasons I wanted her on the Where Treetops Glisten novella team. She is such a strong story-teller and researcher that her books sing. This book is no different because she has created such memorable characters, and both so broken that I couldn’t help but cheer for them from the first page to the last. Lillian is a heroine with a broken body, but even more important, a broken spirit. She believes she is cold, heartless, and unlovable, because that is what important people have communicated to her at crucial moments. Art believes no one will ever love him for more than his silver spoon. When you put these two together in the middle of a mystery that could get them killed, it’s a plot that wouldn’t let me go, while the romance, mystery and history built. I loved this novel, and it’s perfect for others who love a good historical romance — especially one set on the homefront during WWII.
Next up is Becky Wade’s latest novel Her One & Only. (BTW the paperback is under $8.00 everywhere I checked online) I LOVED this addition to her Porter family series. Dru is the kind of young woman I’d like to be: tough, beautiful, and passionately protective of those she cares for. Gray is a professional football player — can I just say he had me at football ;-). These two need each other: Gray to stay alive, and Dru to find someone who can see who she is — not just someone chasing after and wanting to be included by her brothers.
The romance and mystery between Gray and Dru is perfect and tension filled. But the novel also gives us some sweet and tension-filled glimpses into what’s happened for the rest of the family. We get to see the progression in the relationships among the rest of the Porter siblings. The romance sizzles, the suspense thread is a great twist, and the family dynamics are so satisfying after reading the other books in the series. If you haven’t read the earlier three books, you’ll be fine. But you’ll want to read them after being introduced to the couples. 🙂
This is a great romance for lovers of contemporary novels with a couple layers complicating the romance and turning those pages.
Finally, I’m saving a goodie for last. Melissa Tagg is one of my delightful writer friends. Her joy is contagious. Absolutely contagious. And her books reflect that. Like Never Before so fits in that vein. It is a warm embrace from the Walkers with the added sweetness of a heroine who feels like your best friend. Amelia just wants a home. Logan just wants to keep moving. Both are burdened by deep pain from the past. In Like Never Before, you will be reminded that love is worth the risk no matter what hurt you in the past. And by opening your heart, you may just find a home. This is another keeper from an author who somehow makes each novel better than the last. All of you adore funny, contemporary romances should rush out and buy this book now!
So friends, before we get to the Giveaway….Make sure you stick around to enter!…what are you reading right now?
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Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to read all of these books.
Right now I am reading Forever Safe by Jody Hedlund.
I love Jody’s books!
I just finished reading Plain Choice by Sarah Price, and I’m getting ready to start Her One and Only by Becky Wadw, so I was thrilled to read your recommendation. Thanks for the giveaway!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I’m reading Elizabeth Elliot’s book on Amy Carmichael. It’s great so far!
OH…I haven’t read that one, but I love Elisabeth Elliot!
I’m reading Sins of the Past by Dani Pettrey, Dee Henderson, and Lynette Eason! Just finished Dee’s Traces of Guilt a few days ago.
Thanks for sharing, Cara!
I could have included Sins of the Past here. I really enjoyed that collection.
I am reading On Pluto by Greg O’Brien.
Are you enjoying it?
I just finished Murder Comes by Mail by AH Gabhart (mystery, some suspense, and a quirky cast of characters. Ahh.).
That sounds like a delightfully perfect blend of a book. 🙂
I am reading Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund, The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers, and Heretic by G.K. Chesterton. Thanks for the giveaway! I love Sarah Sundin’s books! She is one of my favorites! I also have a few of Becky Wade’s and Melissa Tagg’s that I haven’t read yet. But I am looking forward to them, especially after your rave reviews about them!
You need to move Melissa and Becky’s books up on your list. They are go-to authors for me because I know I will always enjoy their books.
I’m reading an influencer copy of Forever Safe by Jody Hedlund. Forever Safe releases June 1.
Yeah! Love Jody’s books.
I’m reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It’s amazing! Would love to win these new books!
It is a fantastic book!
I enjoy reading about these authors! Melissa Tagg is a new one for me, and I especially like that she was described as “joyful…absolutely contagious.” Can’t wait to read her books!
Forgot to post about the latest book I’ve read. I am almost finished with Safe in His Arms by Colleen Coble.
I’m in the middle of Jill Williamson’s Safe Lands trilogy, and keep staying up way too late at night to find out what happens next…
I think my comment ended up replying to someone else’s comment – for some reason, I can’t see the boxes on my computer! Anyway, I’m in the middle of Jill Williamson’s Safe Lands trilogy.
I’m immersed in A Broken Kind of Beautiful, my first Katie Ganshert novel – love her writing! Thanks for the book recommendations; I so enjoy suggestions from authors.
Oh! You are in for a treat then! Katie’s writing is beautiful.
THANK YOU, Cara! What a fun surprise to check the blog today and see this review and recommendation and giveaway from you for Her One and Only + Sarah and Melissa’s recent releases. I’m honored to be included! :)))
It is my pleasure! I LOVED this story. Now to find my giveaway copy 😉
I’m currently working my way through Sarah Sundin’s Through Waters Deep. I’m looking forward to reading Melissa’s newest story though!
Thanks for the opportunity to win some books particularly Sarah’s, I just love her books! Right now the book I’m reading is set a little before World War II by almost a hundred years it’s The Painter’s Daughter by Julie Klassen and it is wonderful. I hope to read Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering next.
These books all look great! Thanks for the giveaway! I am currently reading “Love Starts With Elle” by Rachel Hauck and “You’re Going to be Okay” by Holley Gerth. (I usually have a fiction and nonfiction book going at the same time. :-))
I adore both of those authors. Both so good.
I am rereading 32 Going on Spinster by BECKY Monson because it is on sale and because it is hilarious.
Awww yay! Thank you so much for including LNB in this, Cara. Super honored to be alongside Becky and Sarah, too. <3
As for what I'm reading right now, I'm currently catching up on Roseanna White's backlist! I just read her first two books with Bethany House and loved them and though, "Um, why have I not read any of her other books?!" So I'm reading her Culper Spy Ring series now.
Don’t you love reading a series? Roseanna’s got a great feel for historicals.
I just read The Beautiful Pretender” by Melanie Dickerson — so good!
Thanks for this giveaway! These three authors are some of my favourites! 🙂
That’s on my TBR pile…now if I just remember which pile. I just read her A Spy’s Devotion. It was good!
The latest book I read is Burning Proof by Janice Cantore. Currently, I’m reading Silence in the Dark by Patricia Bradley.
Love those picks. Haven’t read either, but the genre is right up my alley.
I am currently reading Made to Last by Melissa Tagg. This is the first of her novels that I have read, and I am really enjoying it.
And each book gets better, Velma. I really love her Walker series.
I just finished reading The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck (loved it). Right now I am in the middle of The Last Heiress by Rosanna White.
Both are sooooo good.
I am currently reading The Sweet Spot. I just started it, though. I just finished The Total Package and loved it.
I just finished Until the Dawn by Elizabeth Camden. Now I’m a few chapters in on Her One and Only by Becky Wade. I’ve read the other Porter family books so I just had to read this last one. I also recently finished Susan May Warren’s Christiansen family series, with the last book, You’re the One That I Want. I had to wait quite awhile for that one but it was well worth the wait. All of these books are superb. I love summer break (I work at a school) so I have more time to read!
I adored Susie’s Christiansen series. Enjoy your extra reading time, Pam.
I love all of these authors, and their books are on my TBR list. It would be so fun to win. I just finished reading The Thorn Bearer by Pepper Basham. I’ve read her other two books The Thorn Keeper and A Twist of Faith and loved them, so I went back and read The Thorn Bearer. It was wonderful, too.
Pepper had a great voice in her books. Look her!
The latest book I read was Protect and Serve by Terri Reed.
Thank you for this fabulous giveaway. I’m currently reading through Stephanie Barron’s Jane Austen Mysteries. I’m on book 6. 🙂
Off to check out this series. Sounds intriguing, Caryl.
One book I read recently and really enjoyed was The Shepherd’s Song by Betsy Duffey and ?Laurie Myers.
I would love to read any of these books. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway. I will put them on my list of “must reads.”
I just finished Rocky Mountain Pursuit by Mary Alford
I am reading London Gambit, the latest in Tracy Grant’s historical mystery series set in the early 1800’s. I am not familiar with Sarah Sundin, but love historical fiction. This book sounds terrific. Thank you for the giveaway!
I am reading through the Only in Gooding series by Cathy Hake. I am on book 4 That Certain Spark. A really fun series! I love to read and find great joy in it!
Like Never Before by Melissa Tagg was awesome! And the other two books are on my “to be read” list. I just won a copy of Becky Wade’s book! Hoping to find a way to win Sarah Sundin’s now. I just finished reading On the Ropes by Hallee Bridgeman. It’s in the Smoke and Mirrors box set and it was great! I’ve read that and two others in the set so far and they are all wonderful. Just the right amount of romance, mystery, and suspense!
I just finished rereading Mesu Andrew’s Love Amidst the Ashes and I’m going through the novellas inside Smoke and Mirrors between full-size books. I’ve been wondering what to read next and you’ve made all three of these books sound wonderful – now I want to read them all!
I just finished Jody Hedlunds “Forever Safe” (release date of June 1st if anyone wants to pre-order print or Kindle). See how I snuck in some marketing, lol! I’m going to be starting Varina Denman’s “Jilted”.
From there, I have many more books, just not sure where which I’ll be reading 🙂 But I can assure you, I WILL have a book in hand!
I just finished the With This Ring novella collection! It was really cute! Now I need to go back and read all of the books that I missed by those authors, though!
2 of the 3 will be new authors for me. The awesome thing about that is it opens a door to a whole bunch of books by each author. Reading is one of my joys in life 🙂
I just finished Sister Dear by Laura McNeill and am currently reading Dawn at Emberwilde by Sara E Ladd. Thank you for the chance. God bless!
I just finished reading A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano. I love the humor in her books!
Just finished Her One and Only! Great book full of suspense and romance.
Great giveaway! I love Melissa Tagg’s books. Her characters are so easy to love.
Right now I am reading Six Years by Harlan Coban.
I finished Forever Safe by Jody Hedlund! I think it may be the best in the series. It’s a terrific read. I’m currently reading The Woods Edge by Lori Benton, and I’m totally loving it, of course! 🙂
I am reading Jilted by Varina Denman.
I’m in a bit of a reading slump. I’ve started several books that didn’t hold my interest so I’m re-reading Anne of Green Gables.
Thanks to the person who rec’d Jody Hedlund’s newest. I was able to pre-order for $4.99.I’m planning to start A Tailor Made Bride by A Tailor Made Bride by karen Wittemeyer .
About to start Deadly Hint by Margaret Daley.
I’m forever reading. This weekend I gave “Boys in a Boat…” to my nephews, I was pleased to find a signed copy of the book at a Pittsburgh Barnes and Noble – this was a new edition that the author rewrote especially for young readers. When a book especially moves me I like to share with others.
The last book I read was The Goodbye Bride.
All three of these books = AMAZING!!