Jolie: A Valentine's Day Bride

Jolie: A Valentine's Day Bride (Brides of Noelle: Love For All Seasons #2)

by E.E. Burke

 Jolie: A Valentine's Day Bride

As we all know we make decisions whether good or bad that leads to things getting out of our control turning a page we might not want to turn leading us to go down a road that we are unhappy with but have little choice. Here is a story that reminds us romance is for everyone even a soiled dove can find happiness. It is a very touching read with humor, sorrow, pain, full of emotions, romance at its fineness. I totally loved this story two people broken finding each other and turn their fears into a lovely romance that will bring a tear to your eye.

Humans are funny people when they lose part of their body, their hopes and dreams they think they aren’t good enough, no one will want them. They only see what they want not what they are, truly a wonderful person that the loss makes no less of. The author shows touching true emotions of two people who lost much but still find they are not worthy not only in body but in soul. Jolie and Hank’s story will break your heart I just wanted to cry when I read it. The author has a way of twisting your heart and then making you smile as she lays out the plot to some fun reading that will make you angry but at the same time make you smile as the town’s people turn against them only to have egg on their face.

I just love this town and its people, they are a handful as they pull pranks, tease and joke. The characters are amazing as normal people turn into heroes. There were times when my heart was in my throat at the danger that could have killed so many. Other times I was so angry at the miners who should have known better, there were nothing more than bullies, that got put in their place which will make you smile. For the most part the towns people are a delight that you will come to love, I so enjoyed seeing some from the past series that really touched me and stole my heart. It was great to see knew one and get to know them. One little wild town that they are trying too hard to settle and calm down, with wonderful mail order brides to delightful cowboys and miners who just want someone to call their own. This story is a big win for me it has just about everything you could ask for sorrow, trust issues, starting over, finding one’s self, humor, danger, a delightful big dog that I wish I could have and so much love. I doubt you can read this without it touching you in some way. I laughed, smiled and wanted to cry. This author held me in the palm of her hand as she twisted my heart right around her finger. There was nothing I didn’t love about this story, I loved it so much I picked it as one of my favorite reads for the year.

Buy Link

Amazon  and on KU

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079R9124G/ref=x_gr_w_glide_ku_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_glide_ku_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B079R9124G&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

Summary

Jolie LaFemme has been a working girl at La Maison for four long years...ever since being betrayed and left penniless. She’s jaded, distrustful and blind to the possibility of love. As far as she's concerned, being the madam of a popular parlor house is the best she can hope for, and nothing will convince her to give up the coveted and lucrative position.
Hank Donavan arrives in Noelle with a plan to ensure his sister's financial security and regain his pride. He’s a man in his prime, handsome by any measure, but an accident ruined his vision, and his future. Now, he travels with his dog Bear, and sells beautiful handmade Valentine cards. His big opportunity comes when he's offered a chance to invest in the richest silver mine in the state. There’s only one catch: he has to be married first. Who would marry a blind man with little to recommend him when there are plenty of hale and hearty men to go around?
The Brides of Noelle is a multi-author series featuring stories for every season. Watch for more books in this series, starting with Ophelia, A Valentine's Day Bride by Kit Morgan.
Have you read the Twelve Days of Christmas Mail-Order Brides series, including The Drum by E.E. Burke? This bestselling series introduced readers to the town of Noelle and to characters they've come to love, who appear again in the Brides of Noelle, which is set in the same fictional mining community.

Ophelia: A Valentine's Day Bride

Ophelia: A Valentine's Day Bride (Brides of Noelle: Love For All Seasons #1)

by Kit Morgan

What a great story on things are not always as they seem. Only believe half of what you see with your own eyes and nothing in print. For Clint who is in town looking it over for a business he can’t seem to keep his foot out of his mouth. You know the saying about assuming (lets clean it up) it makes a fool out of you and me both. In Clint’s case he does look like a fool when he assumes the worth not only about a lovely lady but the whole dang town. I truly laughed my head off at all that he came up with and it does seem the town is having a good laugh. You are in for a real treat as the only single women left in town is starting over grabs the attention of the new business man in town. Only things aren’t that easy when everything points to not all the town people are on the up and up.

Ophelia and Clint start out great then misunderstandings lead to confusion on both parts. As always this series has wonderful characters you can relate to, a little sorrow and so many smiles and laughs for the reader. I loved how they met it was so easy, smooth and exciting. I had no trouble picturing it in my mind and just about swoon with a big smile on my face. From there things just go downhill for these two who pretty much fell in love when they set their eyes on each other.  Both are wonderful people who I fell so in love with as well as the town and its people. It was so nice to see those from the past books and meet new ones.

There are very few pages that I didn’t smile on laugh at as poor Clint makes a big fool out of his self over many things. I loved the humor, the busy bodies and the preacher is just a darling. There was a little more filler than I like but it was well worth the read. I truly got lost in this story and read it at one setting. As the town starts to fill up you have some very talented authors tell you a wonderful story of all new people. There isn’t one story you will want to miss in this series. I was so glad the continued it only adding this delight Valentine’s part to the mail order brides. Come take a journey back in time when the west was still wild as the bring the brides in to calm not only the town down but the wild men as they claim the women who will turn their world upside down.

Buy Link

Amazon on KU

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079QP935Y/ref=x_gr_w_glide_ku_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_glide_ku_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B079QP935Y&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

Summary

Clint Jones came to Noelle for one purpose and one purpose only. Get in, assess the town, and get out. Then he'd report to his superiors at Wells Fargo and Company to let them know if Noelle was respectable and prosperous enough to open a branch there. But what Clint found was anything but respectable! Toss in a violet-eyed beauty that takes his breath away, a mayor and a preacher he thinks are consorting with the worst sorts of evil, and the fun begins. Enjoy this hilarious romp as only Kit Morgan can deliver. Sweet, clean and wholesome romance at its very best!

Bridget, A Father's Daughter

Bridget, A Father's Daughter (Blood sister series 1)
by Diana Nicholas 
 

I am really torn on the rating for this review there are so many good things in this story. For my taste it is too short and leaves a lot out that would truly make this a 5 star read. For a debut and new series it was a good read. So much is left out, so much left unsaid that really needed more explaining to really give you the understanding of their relationship and the buildup for a romance. Does this make it a bad read no it is wonderful and really held my attention. What this story is lacking is chemistry, the pull of attraction between Bridgette and Alexander. Oh it is there but we really never see it, when things go a little haywire you see the start but no depth only the outcome. There is not enough romance you really do not see what really pulled these two together from meeting to marriage.

What I likes was the secret baby, not knowing who is the mother adds to the mystery. For all five sisters to stick to not naming names really adds a lot to the story. The author writes it in a way that really pulls you in making you guess but I am pretty sure the outcome of who the mother isn’t. Charlotte adds a lot to this story but you do not get to see the full impact of her meddling. Again you see the start and finish but not what goes on in between that would really make this story more interesting. I really wanted to see how Alexander turned Bridgette mind to have faith in him and not in what she saw. Alexander’s mother is something else I expected her to be cold hearted but she really is a wonderful lady who really wants the best for her son. I thought more time was given to her than Bridgette and Alexander getting to know each other and making a relationship. Not saying that less should have been written I thought it was great and would have liked to know a little more about her. I just felt I know his mother and Bridgette more than I know of Alexander and their building up of their relationship. It is a clean read that is done in style that really makes it a delightful read.

I thought the author gave a great understand to the sisters, I would have liked to have know why they each thought they destroyed or let their father down. I would have liked to have known how he died. I thought the author really showed how hard it is to be a mail order bride the conflict in deciding and the worry of the turn out a woman has. I loved the meddling mother how she took over in some of the decisions. I enjoyed how Bridgette and Alexander thought about the whole mail order bride thing. I found so much in this story that was so interesting and was really pulled in. This could have easily been a 150 to 200 or more page story and have been a wonderful read with the authors writing style would have easily make it a 5 star read. I believe this is easily a 3.5 star read it kept my interest from start to finish with mystery, meddling and a woman who might just stand in Alexander and Bridgette way of finding true happiness. I really loved the twists and turns that really throws a tailspin on the story that leads to a few rough and rocky roads. I just need more information. I hope the author really does more building in the future stories they could really be outstanding reads. Bottom line I really enjoyed it just needs more romance and the conflict detailed out. I know others will feel as I do and really love what is given. I do look forward to seeing what the author does with the rest of this series.

Buy Link
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N9NVY8Z/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01N9NVY8Z&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

Summary
Five sisters, a single tragic act and a secret baby.

Three years ago, the worst happened and a baby was sired, destroying the future of five sisters. The blood sisters made a vow to keep the maternity of baby Sophie a secret. Now with their father dead, they must plan their future and the only option is to become mail order brides. They cast lots to decide on who will go first.

Bridget picks the determining card and she is set off to leave for Butte Montana. She dreams of a world where she can ride horses to her heart’s content and there are plenty of horses in Montana. The only person who comes between her and her dreams of a peaceful life is Charlotte Turner. Who is the pretty blond with a knowing grin and what hold does she have on Bridget's intended?

Alexander Baron’s only interest in taking a mail order bride is to appease his controlling but loving mother. He’s a workaholic completely dedicated to continuing with his father’s legacy of making Windy Willows the largest ranch in Montana.

Still, his new bride intrigues him. Beautiful, with mysterious, green almond shaped eyes that hide secrets which reveal themselves in her dreams, Alexander is determined to find out what demons ail his beautiful wife. Can he convince her that what matters is their future and not her past?

Can Bridget keep the secret of Sophie’s mother from her determined husband? Will the mysterious Charlotte Turner give her and Alexander the space they need to become a proper husband and wife?

This is the first book in the Blood sisters’ series. If you like clean, historical fiction about women with a past who risk everything to find love on the Western frontier, you will love Bridget, a Father’s Daughter.

Kizzie's Kisses (Grandma's Wedding Quilts

Kizzie's Kisses (Grandma's Wedding Quilts Book 2)

by Zina Abbott

I loved this from start to finish, it is filled with action from the first page to the last. The author gives you a thrilling read of attacks of all kinds from Indians to rough and ratty men. This is a very fast moving read that keeps you on your toes, there are not dull minute. Kizzie’s is a women after my own heart she is years ahead of herself trying to prove herself in a man’s world were women knew their place never stepping out of line always a lady. Kizzie is strong does what she thinks is best for her family which puts her in danger sometimes. She is a go getter, a shaker, and a mover not letting much grass grow under her feet. This is what catches the eye of Leander from the moment he sees her in a head to head fight for her life not backing down he knew she was the women for him. Now he just needs to find out her name and make her see his as the man of her dreams which is not an easy task to fill. I loved their baiting how they go for what they believe in and are willing to fight to get it. This was an exciting read that is fun loving at times.

There is nothing but nothing I didn’t like about this story it has thrills, chills, excitement, fights, danger, a sweet slow build up of love, clean and just plain fun. Leander is a true gentleman who goes to bat for Kiszzie more than once. She sees him as a nosey more or less stalker who won’t let her alone. Slowly she sees him for what he is. It was a wonderful pleasure to watch these two fall in love and trying to overcome the odds.  This is a story about growing, finding your way, stepping out and being different, going for what you believe in, overcoming fear and taking the bull by the horn. I loved the characters Charlie is a wise man who sees things others do not. Her father is just like Kizzie bullheaded and set in his way. He has a lot to learn about women and really learns to see Kizzie for how she is and be proud of the person she has become. Kizzie is a very kind and sweet girl who will go toe to toe with you but is giving as well. Grandma is back with some wise words and thoughts.  I have just loved her throughout this whole series.

This is a very well written story that hooks you from the first page. There is lots of thrilling action and danger plus a clean romance. You have everything between these pages that makes  a wonderful romance that you won’t be able to put down. I started this book at night BIG MISTAKE before I knew it, it was well past my bedtime but well worth being tried the next day. This was such a fun read with laughter as well as sorrow. I really enjoyed the ending what a delightful read. The only thing that disappointed me was it had to end I really could have read on seeing them each step of their way to old age as they overcome the odds of life and land bring the next generation of children who I am sure have as much spirit as these two have.  This is a story you don’t want to miss, each one of the books in this series has been a delight and full of humor, danger, love and lots of meaning along with a wonderful grandmother who shows her love with each stitch she puts in the quilts she makes them telling a story about their wonderful family that grows learns and loves.

Note: Throughout the year I pick stories that really reached out and touched me in some way they become my favorite read. I have picked this story as one of my favorite reads for 2017.

Buy Links

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Kizzies-Kisses-Grandmas-Wedding-Quilts-ebook/dp/B01MT0UO6Q/ref=la_B01N0SW5XR_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483492162&sr=1-4

Summary

GRANDMA'S WEDDING QUILTS: Eleven Sweet Western Historical Romance Novellas and Novels from Eleven USA Today Bestselling, Amazon Bestselling, and Award-winning Authors. Grandma Mary's traditional gift to each of her grandchildren: hand-pieced and hand-stitched quilts. Made with love and woven with memories, wisdom, and a family legacy of enduring love.

PLEASE NOTE! The $.99 price is a special offer for books purchased while on preorder. Once Kizzie’s Kisses is published, it will be returned to its usual price of $2.99.

About Kizzie’s Kisses:

Running from hostile Indians attacking Salina, Kansas in 1862, feisty Kizzie Atwell, Grandma Mary’s oldest grandchild, runs into freighter Leander Jones traveling the Smoky Hill Trail. He is as interested in her as his stallion is in her mare. The two join forces to prevent the Fort Riley Army captain from requisitioning their prize horses for the cavalry. Fighting off bushwhackers and a thieving bull-whacker binds their bargain.

In 1865, at the victory dance held at Fort Riley to celebrate the end of the Civil War, Kizzie is asked to participate in a fund-raiser to aid the Sanitary Commission helping injured and sick soldiers. It involves chaste sweetheart kisses in exchange for tickets purchased by officers and guests. As a contract freighter for the Army, Leander is invited. Much to Leander’s chagrin, before his chance to claim his kiss, Kizzie’s uncle steps in and puts an end to the kissing game.

Is Leander out of luck, or will the bargain Kizzie and Leander made three years earlier to save their horses lead to a more romantic bargain sealed with a kiss?

You'll want to enjoy the love stories of my character's siblings and cousins, eleven of us in all! Watch for the entire Grandma's Wedding Quilts Series, coming in January and February of 2017:
Prequel: Grandma’s Wedding Quilts - Prequel by Kate Cambridge
#1: Kizzie's Kisses by Zina Abbott
#2: Jessie's Bargain by Kate P. Dawson
#3: Meredith's Mistake by Amelia Adams
#4: Monica's Mystery by Kate Cambridge
#5: Pleasance's First Love by Kristin Holt
#6: Zebulon's Wife by Patricia PacJac Carroll
#7: Ione's Dilemma by Linda Carroll-Bradd
#8: Josie's Dream by Angela Raines
#9: Chase's Story by P.A. Estelle
#10: Gloria's Song by Kathryn Albright
#11: Tad's Treasure by Shanna Hatfield

For more information about this sweet, clean western historical romance series, visit http://sweetamericanasweethearts.blogspot.com/.

Montana Sky: Kissed By A Stranger

Montana Sky: Kissed By A Stranger (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Cynthia Woolf

My Review

What a delightful heartwarming read that warms you all the way to your bones. Ms. Woolf brings danger to the west with a little suspense in this wonderful town called Morgan’s Crossing. Laura has been a widow for a year when her mother in law kicks her out with nothing. With nowhere to go she turns to her aunt who in turn sends her to Montana to work for her cousin. Along the way they meet a stranger and the story takes off. There is no better name that fits the story than Kissed By A Stranger.

When Laura and Bill first meet there is an attraction. Bill spends his time fighting this which leaves Laura confused. Josie Laura’s little girl is a wonderful delight who will keep you smiling and at times laughing. You will get to catch up on some of your favorite characters from the Montana Sky Series as Ms. Woolf spins a story that goes right into the heart of this series. She gives you a delightful plot with characters you will love. Your heart will break at all Laura has to go through as Josie steals it with her witty humorous way. Bill is a little tough to like at first but he has his reason his life hasn’t been so easy either. When a threat from the past comes to town this town pulls together as Laura and Bill grow to the next step in their relationship to save someone dear to the both.

This has a delightful plot that will give you tons of smiles with wonderful characters you can relate you. They will seem like family and this town you will want to call your own. If you are looking for a short sweet wonderful read that you won’t be able to put down this is the one for you.

Buy Link

Amazon

Summary  

Widow Laura Fitzhugh has lost everything but her wonderful daughter. Josie is the light of her life and the only reason Laura keeps going. Offered a home and a job in Morgan’s Crossing by her cousin, Laura jumps at the opportunity.

Bill Simms lost his wife and daughter to influenza seven years ago and has closed himself off from everyone, hoping to never feel that pain again. A chance run in with a beautiful little girl who kisses his cheek, changes his life forever.

A threat from Laura’s past forces Bill and Laura to work together to save Josie and perhaps themselves in the process.