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Review and Giveaway: Dark Harbor by Christy Barritt

8/9/2016

Book Blurb:

THREAT OF EXPOSURE
Someone wants reporter Madelyn Sawyer to leave the small coastal town she's just arrived in—even if it takes hurting her. But she won't give up her goal of investigating Waterman's Reach's new police chief that easily. Madelyn assumes that former big-city detective Zach Davis—who some believe is a murderer involved in a drug-trafficking ring—is behind the threat. Who else would have a motive? But as bullets fly Madelyn's way, it's Zach who keeps saving her life. The closer she gets to the truth, the more she wants to tell the handsome lawman why she's really in town. But if she does, will she lose his trust…and any hope of surviving long enough to bring the real killer to light?

My Review:

Dark Harbor definitely starts with a bang! From a wild car chase to being threatened and robbed to being rescued by the very man she is there to investigate, Madelyn Sawyer's first day in Waterman's Reach is definitely a doozy. Trying to keep up false pretenses as she digs into an old drug case that could skyrocket her career, Madelyn finds herself targeted and in danger again and again. But could it be the police chief that keeps rescuing her?

Zach Davis is doing some investigating of his own. When the pretty travel writer shows up in his small town, she throws a wrench in his plans, but someone is obviously targeting her and it's his job as a police chief to protect her.

This was a fast-paced story that I really enjoyed. It wasn't easy to figure out who the bad guy was... It still took me by surprise at the end of the book. There was lots of action and that kept things from getting too slow.

The romance was really sweet. I could understand and sympathize with both Madelyn and Zach. It was easy to see that they were good for each other.

All in all, this was a good book that I enjoyed reading. I look forward to reading what this author produces next.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Giveaway:

I am giving away a copy of this book to one of my subscribers this week! To enter, just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here: http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 8/16. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Review and Giveaway: "Fire and Ice" by Mary Connealy

7/19/2016

12 Comments

Book Blurb:

Saddle up for mysteries and laughs with the Wilde sisters!

BAILEY WILDE IS THE OLDEST SISTER—and the one who takes care of everyone else in her family. But after her sisters marry and move away, her little homestead becomes bleak and lonely, especially during the long winter months. In a moment of weakness, Bailey agrees to a wild plan concocted by her neighbor, Gage Coulter.

Gage is an honest man, but he didn't make his fortune by being weak. He won't break the law, but he'll push as hard as he can within it. Five thousand acres of excellent grazing land is lost to him because Bailey's homestead is located right across the entrance to a canyon full of lush grass. Gage has to regain access to this land—and he's got to go through Bailey to do it. So he makes a proposal...

Can these two independent, life-toughened homesteaders finally loosen up enough to earn each other's respect—and maybe ind love in the process?

My Thoughts:

I read the first two books of the “Wild at Heart” series and I’ve been dying to see how Bailey Wilde, the rough and tumble tomboy of the family, and Gage Coulter, the rugged cattle baron are going to end up together. All I can say is I was in for a wild ride!

I loved the chemistry between Bailey and Gage. They are both such passionate characters that the sparks just fly between them. I found their slow journey from enemies to friends to husband and wife to be completely captivating and well-paced. I also loved the “marriage of convenience” twist and couldn’t wait for the love simmering under the surface to bloom into something beautiful and strong.

The couple deals with many obstacles in the path to happiness, including deadly storms, an over-bearing mother in law, and death traps set by an unseen and unknown enemy. This book is full of action and adventure, making it hard to put down to go back to real life sometimes.

There are some hilarious moments sprinkled throughout the book. One of my favorite lines is from page 162: "Hang on tight, Mrs. Coulter. We've got to make a run for it." Bailey slapped the old nag on the rear - the old nag meaning the horse, not Ma Coulter, although Bailey was sore tempted."

However, there were also some deep, intensely emotional moments. Some of the exchanges between Gage and Bailey run really deep, opening up feelings that neither of them had ever shared with anyone else. Bailey and her sisters share a beautiful, loving connection, too. Without giving away the ending, there is a moment between Bailey and her father that brought tears to my eyes.
All in all, this is an excellent conclusion to the “Wild at Heart” series and I cannot wait to see what Mary has for us next. 5 stars!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Giveaway!

This week, I'm giving away a copy of this book to one of my subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 7/26. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Review and Giveaway: "The Ringmaster's Wife" by Kristy Cambron

7/5/2016

25 Comments

About the book:

The Ringmaster’s Wife (Thomas Nelson, June 2016)

An ounce of courage. A split-second leap of faith. Together, they propel two young women to chase a new life—one that’s reimagined from what they might have become.

In turn-of-the-century America, a young girl dreams of a world that stretches beyond the confines of a quiet life on the family farm. With little more than her wit and a cigar box of treasures to call her own, Mable steps away from all she knows, seeking the limitless marvels of the Chicago World’s Fair. There, a chance encounter triggers her destiny—a life with a famed showman by the name of John Ringling.

A quarter of a century later, Lady Rosamund Easling of Yorkshire, England, boards a ship to America as a last adventure before her life is planned out for her. There, the twenties are roaring, and the rich and famous gather at opulent, Gatsby-esque parties in the grandest ballrooms the country has to offer. The Jazz Age has arrived, and with it, the golden era of the American circus, whose queen is none other than the enigmatic Mable Ringling.

When Rosamund’s path crosses with Mable’s and the Ringlings’ glittering world, she makes the life-altering decision to leave behind a comfortable future of estates and propriety, instead choosing the nomadic life of a trick rider in the Ringling Brothers’ circus.
A novel that is at once captivating, deeply poignant, and swirling with exquisite historical details of a bygone world, The Ringmaster’s Wife will escort readers into the center ring, with its bright lights, exotic animals, and a dazzling performance that can only be described as the greatest show on earth!

Learn more and purchase a copy.

My Review:

This book completely enveloped my imagination and heart, dragging me along for the ride between its pages. I haven't been pulled so completely into a story like this in a very long time.

Both Mable and Rosamund are excellent characters. Their stories are compelling, at times heart-wrenching, and impossible not to get lost in. I connected with both of them as the author switched back and forth between their respective stories.

I also found the rich history of this opulent and intriguing time period to be completely fascinating. All in all, I absolutely loved this book and recommend it to historical fiction readers everywhere!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Giveaway!

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Review: Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist

4/19/2016

1 Comment

About the Book:

From the bestselling author of It Happened at the Fair and Fair Play comes a compelling historical novel about a progressive “New Woman”—the girl behind Tiffany’s chapel—and the love that threatens it all.

As preparations for the 1893 World’s Fair set Chicago and the nation on fire, Louis Tiffany—heir to the exclusive Fifth Avenue jewelry empire—seizes the opportunity to unveil his state-of-the-art, stained glass, mosaic chapel, the likes of which the world has never seen.

But when Louis’s dream is threatened by a glassworkers’ strike months before the Fair opens, he turns to an unforeseen source for help: the female students at the Art Students League of New York. Eager for adventure, the young women pick up their skirts, move to boarding houses, take up steel cutters, and assume new identities as the “Tiffany Girls.”

Tiffany Girl is the heartwarming story of the impetuous Flossie Jayne, a beautiful, budding artist who is handpicked by Louis to help complete the Tiffany chapel. Though excited to live in a boarding house when most women stayed home, she quickly finds the world is less welcoming than anticipated. From a Casanova male, to an unconventional married couple, and a condescending singing master, she takes on a colorful cast of characters to transform the boarding house into a home while racing to complete the Tiffany chapel and make a name for herself in the art world.

As challenges mount, her ambitions become threatened from an unexpected quarter: her own heart. Who will claim victory? Her dreams or the captivating boarder next door?

My Review:

I really enjoyed Deanne’s latest historical romance novel. It has been far too long since I picked one of hers up and I’m really glad that I carved out the time to read this one.

This book tells the story of Flossie Jayne, a talented, naïve artist and Reeve Wilder, a journalist, who live in the same boardinghouse. Both of them are lovable, flawed individuals that are so very different that I really didn’t know how they were going to end up together. They both had a ton of growing to do before it would ever work out, but I enjoyed watching them take that journey as their paths intertwined again and again.

The historical aspect of the Tiffany Girls and what they had to go through was fascinating to me. I also really liked how Reeve was able to grow and turn into the perfect man for Flossie.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what Ms. Gist has for us next.

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I have given. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Amazon Link:

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Review: The Good Girl by Christy Barritt

3/22/2016

0 Comments

About the Book:

What's a good girl to do when life goes bad?

Tara Lancaster can sing Amazing Grace in three harmonies, two languages, and interpret it for the hearing impaired. She can list the Bible canon backward, forward, and alphabetized. And the only time she ever missed church was at seventeen because she had pneumonia and her mom made her stay home.

But when her life shatters around her and her reputation is left in ruins, Tara decides escape is the only option. She flees halfway across the country to dog-sit, but the quiet anonymity she needs isn't waiting in her sister's house. Instead she finds a knife with a threatening message, a fame-hungry friend, a too-hunky neighbor, and evidence of...a ghost?

Following all the rules has gotten her nowhere. And nothing she learned in Sunday School can tell her where to go from there.

"The Good Girl is at turns scary, funny, passionate and quirky...the perfect book to carry in your beach bag." ~ USA Today

My Thoughts:

I’ll admit it… I let this book sit waiting on my Kindle for way too long before picking it up. Because I’ve always identified myself as a “good girl” like Tara Lancaster, the main character, I’ve been intrigued by her story. I’m so glad I found time to read this great book.

Tara has been a “good girl” her entire life and nothing has panned out like she wanted it to. In fact, her life has fallen apart in a huge, public way. She struggles with feelings of abandonment and disillusionment towards God. Having been in ministry myself for a large portion of my life, I could totally relate to her feelings when things don’t turn out like I plan and I end up hurt and dejected. Little thoughts whisper into my ear just like they did in hers, things like “Isn’t life supposed to be easier because I’m doing what God wants? Isn’t God supposed to bless me more because I “earned” it?” Like Tara, I had to learn that it isn’t about what we do or how good we are. It’s all about Jesus and when we take our eyes off Him and settle our sights on other things, whether it’s becoming the “perfect” Christian or developing our own set of rules, it’s only a matter of time before we slip and fall.

When she runs away to Minnesota to house-sit for her sister, the last thing she expects is to find… something… that obviously doesn’t want her in the house. What follows is a mystery of intrigue, spookiness, and danger as she tries to figure out who or what is haunting her sister’s house. Cooper, the hunky boy-next-door comes to her aid and adds a lovely touch of romance to this story.

It was an easy, quick read and the tension was spread nicely throughout the book. I give this great read 5 stars!

Amazon Link:

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Author Mini-view, Review, and Giveaway: Lisa Orchard and "The Starlight Chronicles"

2/16/2016

2 Comments

Genre: contemporary, young adult
Publisher: esKape Press
Publication Date: September 30, 2015
Number of pages: 289

Lark Singer is seventeen years old and already on the way to a brilliant music career. But as she and her band, Starlight, gear up for a competition, life seems to be throwing her a few curve balls. The mysteries of her past seem to be unraveling, and she’s no longer certain she wants to know those answers or how knowing about her past will affect her difficult relationship with her mother. And when her best friend, Bean, changes things between them, all her plans for a musical future are placed in jeopardy. How can she balance her complicated personal life to keep her musical goals on track?

Currently $0.99 on
- AMAZON -

Guys, I had great plans to finish this collection this weekend, but life got in the way, so I will be reviewing the first book of the collection today. I'll update this post after I finish it with a review of the whole series.

The Starlight Chronicles is told through the eyes of Lark Singer, a teenager whose greatest dream is to become a star and get out of her small town for good. Talented, scrappy, and guarded, it's almost impossible not to empathize with her and grow to like her. Yo-yoing between a volatile relationship with her mother, who refuses to give her the information she desires, and attending a school where everyone knows her secret, Lark's one joy is music; playing with her band and preparing for a music competition that could change everything.

"Gideon Lee", the first book in the collection, is a good set up for the series. It definitely leaves you wanting to read the next one. While it can get slightly repetitive at times, Lark's story is compelling and told with real emotions and feelings slashed across the page. Her struggle with not knowing who her father is and dealing with the secrets of others, mainly her mother and her best friend, is difficult for her and makes it easy to empathize with her.

This is a contemporary YA book and there is mild language in this book but nothing that seemed to take away from the story.

I give this book 4 stars.

FTC Disclosure ex.: A review copy of this book was provided via SLB Tours.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)

I’ve known I wanted to be a writer since fifth grade, but it wasn’t until I made the decision to stay home with my children that I was able to pursue my dream.
I started out with the Super Spies series. There are three books in the series, so far, and I’ve just come up with an idea for the fourth book. They’re mysteries/thrillers and I’ve received rave reviews on them.

My next series is The Starlight Chronicles. There are also three books in this series. This series is the coming of age story of Lark Singer and her quest to become a musician. It chronicles her journey through the twists and turns of her quest.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I finished a great book a couple of months ago. It is titled “Untwine,” and it’s written by Edwidge Dantecicat. It’s a Young Adult Novel about dealing with loss.

What book are you featuring today?

I’m featuring the Starlight Chronicles Boxed Set today. All three books in the series are on sale for $.99! The ebook version.

If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?

Keep me on your radar. I’ve become a writing fiend and I’ve got more books on the way!

Lisa Orchard grew up loving books. She was hooked on books by the fifth grade and even wrote a few of her own. She knew she wanted to be a writer even then. Her first published works are the “Super Spies Series.” These stories revolve around a group of friends who form their own detective squad and the cases they solve. “The Starlight Chronicles,” is the next series that Lisa created with musical misfit, Lark Singer as her main character.

Lisa resides in Michigan with her husband, Steve, and two wonderful boys. Currently, she’s working on the next book in the Starlight Chronicles Series along with a few new ideas that may turn into stand-alone novels. When she’s not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, running, hiking, and reading.

GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON | WEBSITE

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Review: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson

1/6/2016

0 Comments

Book Blurb:

A beautiful maiden who poaches to feed the poor.

A handsome forester on a mission to catch her.

Danger and love are about to unite in Thornbeck Forest.

The margrave owns the finest hunting grounds for miles around—and who teaches children to read, but by night this young beauty has become the secret lifeline to the poorest of the poor.

For Jorgen Hartman, the margrave’s forester, tracking down a poacher is a duty he is all too willing to perform. Jorgen inherited his post from the man who raised him . . . a man who was murdered at the hands of a poacher.

When Jorgen and Odette meet at the Midsummer festival and share a connection during a dance, neither has any idea that they are already adversaries.

The one man she wants is bound by duty to capture her; the one woman he loves is his cunning target . . . What becomes of a forester who protects a notorious poacher? What becomes of a poacher when she is finally discovered?

My Review:

What a beautiful story! This was my first book by Melanie Dickerson, but it won't be my last!

"The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest" is a combination of "The Swan Princess" and "Robin Hood," following the story of the fair and brave Odette as she poaches deer from the margrave's forest to feed the poor. Add Jorgen Hartman, the handsome and capable forester who has been put in charge of capturing the poacher, and you have a recipe for disaster... Or romance!

I loved both of the main characters. They seemed to leap off the page. I feel like I connected with both of them immediately.

I really enjoyed the subtle intrigue of this story, with several who-done-its planted throughout the story to keep things interesting.

5 stars for an excellent, sweet, adventurous read!

(I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.)

Amazon Link:

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Review and Giveaway: "Random Acts of Scrooge" by Christy Barritt

12/29/2015

4 Comments

Book Blurb:

Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but a real-life Scrooge is threatening to ruin the season’s good will.

Holly Anna Paladin can’t wait to celebrate Christmas with family and friends. She loves everything about the season—celebrating the birth of Jesus, singing carols, and baking Christmas treats, just to name a few. But when a local family needs help, how can she say no?

Holly’s community has come together to help raise funds to save the home of Greg and Babette Sullivan, but a Bah-Humburgler has snatched the canisters of cash. Holly and her boyfriend, police detective Chase Dexter, team up to catch the Christmas crook.

Will they succeed in collecting enough cash to cover the Sullivans’ overdue bills? Or will someone succeed in ruining Christmas for all those involved?

Fiction/Christian/Mystery

My Thoughts:

This was such a cute novella! I picked it up in hopes that it would be something to get me in the holiday spirit, and the latest book in the Holly Anna Paladin series was exactly what I needed!

Holly Anna is one of my favorite of Christy Barritt's characters and this latest story doesn't disappoint. Full of delightful Christmas references, sweet romance, and just enough mystery and intrigue to make you scratch your head, this novella is perfect for the Christmas season. And isn't the cover adorable?

I give it 5 stars!

Giveaway!

I'm giving away a copy of this cute novella to one of my subscribers this week! To enter, just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below. Thanks for reading and good luck in the giveaway! Giveaway ends 1/5/16.

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Review and Giveaway: "A Worthy Pursuit" by Karen Witemeyer

12/15/2015

10 Comments

Book Blurb:

A teacher on the run. A bounty hunter in pursuit. Can two enemies learn to trust each other before they both lose what they hold most dear?

Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts.

Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan's Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the orphaned girl entrusted to her care. Charlotte promised Lily's mother she'd keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them.

When Miss Atherton produces documentation that shows her to be Lily's legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he's been led to believe. Is she villain or victim?

Then a new danger forces Charlotte to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone vows to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he's ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte's heart.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book! I haven't had an emotional connection to a historical romance in quite a while, but this one grabbed me by the heartstrings and didn't let go!

This story starts with a bang (literally) and doesn't let up for a moment. The main characters, Stone and Charlotte, are excellent. From the beginning, you can see that they belong together, but their journey to that conclusion is so much fun.

Stone is a wonderful hero, but Charlotte stole the show for me. In my opinion, it's so hard to create realistic heroines in romances without making them either too irritating or too perfect, but Ms. Witemeyer did an excellent job with this one. My heart truly went out to her and all of her reactions were plausible and understandable considering her background.

The kids were so cute in the story, each one multifaceted and refreshingly unique. Too often, it's hard to tell kids apart in a story because they begin to sound the same. No such issues with this book!

If you're in the mood for a sweet, funny, and heart-wrenchingly romantic historical read, pick up a copy of this one. I highly recommend it!

(Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.)

Giveaway:

I'm giving away a copy of this great book to one of my blog subscribers this week! To enter, fill out the Giveaway Tools form below. Thanks for participating and Merry Christmas! Giveaway ends 12/22.

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Review and Giveaway: "Wait For Me" by Jo Huddleston

12/9/2015

3 Comments

Book Blurb:

“. . . sweet and wonderful mid-century love story . . .” --Sharlene MacLaren, Award-Winning Author & Speaker

Can Julie, an only child raised with privilege and groomed for high society, and Robby, a coal miner’s son, escape the binds of their socioeconomic backgrounds? Set in a coal mining community in West Virginia in the 1950s, can their love survive their cultural boundaries?

This is a tragically beautiful love story of a simple yet deep love between two soul mates, Robby and Julie. The American South’s rigid caste system and her mother demand that Julie chooses to marry an ambitious young man from a prominent and suitable family. Julie counters her mother’s stringent social rules with deception and secrets in order to keep Robby in her life. Can the couple break the shackles of polite society and spend their lives together? Will Julie’s mother ever accept Robby?

My Thoughts:

I found “Wait for Me” to be a sweet story about young love, growing up, and relying on God. This book follows the journey of Julie and Robby, two teenagers who grew up on opposite sides of the track (figuratively) in West Virginia in the 1950s. As the daughter of a coal mine owner and the son of a coal miner, they have a multitude of obstacles that they must overcome in order to be together, including disapproving parents, the pressures of school and work, and their own internal struggles with their differences.

The setting was a change of pace for me, but I enjoyed the references, sayings, and 1950s flair that the author used in the story. While mostly light-hearted, this book isn’t afraid to deal with darker situations as well, including suicide, dementia, and poverty. Themes from the story include trusting God, loving one another, and honesty (eventually).

While there were some minor issues that pulled me out of the story sometimes (some repetitive dialogue, a few typos, point of view changes that were hard to follow), all in all, I enjoyed it.
(Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.)

Giveaway Time:

I'll be sending out a copy of this book to one of my subscribers this week. Just fill out the GiveawayTools form below to enter! Giveaway ends 12/15. Thanks for participating and see y'all next week!

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Review and Giveaway: Dark Harbor by Christy Barritt

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Review and Giveaway: "Fire and Ice" by Mary Connealy

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Giveaway!

Review and Giveaway: "The Ringmaster's Wife" by Kristy Cambron

About the book:

My Review:

Giveaway!

Review: Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist

About the Book:

My Review:

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Review: The Good Girl by Christy Barritt

About the Book:

My Thoughts:

Amazon Link:

Author Mini-view, Review, and Giveaway: Lisa Orchard and "The Starlight Chronicles"

Review: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson

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My Review:

Amazon Link:

Review and Giveaway: "Random Acts of Scrooge" by Christy Barritt

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My Thoughts:

Giveaway!

Review and Giveaway: "A Worthy Pursuit" by Karen Witemeyer

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Review and Giveaway: "Wait For Me" by Jo Huddleston

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