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Book Review - Hers For The Summer by Jill Kemerer

7/18/2021

Genre:
Romance

Hers For The Summer
Wyoming Sweethearts book 4
(Love Inspired)
by Jill Kemerer

-From Goodreads-

Loving the twins wasn't part of her plan...
A family for the summer...
Or the beginning of forever?

Eden Page reluctantly agrees to babysit Ryder Fanning's five-year-old identical twin daughters--but only for the summer. After that, she's taking charge of her own life, even if it means leaving behind her family ranch that Ryder now owns. But this cowboy, who's determined never to marry again, could give her everything she wants...including the family and childhood home she loves.

ISBN-13: 9781335488732

Will he be the one to see her true value?

Jill Kemerer is one of the queens of sweet romance and Hers For The Summer is precise proof of that fact. This story has all of the ingredients necessary and even some fun extras like two adorable little girls and a pair of cute kittens. You just can't go wrong with any of that!

As with all of Jill Kemerer's stories I enjoyed this one. Sometimes it's nice to take a break from murder and mayhem and just drift away into a story where, after a few problems and a life lesson or two, the cowboy gets the girl in the end. This fourth and final book in the Wyoming Sweethearts series fit that bill perfectly.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Jill Kemerer

Author Website

If you are looking for a sweet romance that will encourage your faith while entertaining you, oh and it has cowboys, may I recommend the Wyoming Sweethearts series. Hers For The Summer and its predecessors are all quick but wonderful reads...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Hers For The Summer by Jill Kemerer a 4 Bark rating.

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E-Book Review - The Cowboy's Christmas Blessings by Jill Kemerer

7/18/2021

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Genre:
Romance

The Cowboy's Christmas Blessings
Wyoming Sweethearts book 3
(Love Inspired)
by Jill Kemerer

-From Goodreads-

Will welcoming them for Christmas
have him wishing for more?

Judd Wilson lives a solitary life...until he learns Nicole Taylor and her infant triplets need somewhere to stay. The cabin on his ranch is the perfect solution, but now his quiet Christmas alone feels a lot more crowded. Recently widowed, Nicole questions her swiftly developing feelings for Judd, even if the older man is wonderful with her babies. Is she ready to take that leap again?

ISBN-13: 9781335429735

Can they piece a life together at Christmas?

I accidentally read the fourth Wyoming Sweethearts book before I read book three, The Cowboy's Christmas Blessings. But I can tell you in all honesty that it didn't dim my enjoyment of it one iota.

Jill Kemerer does sweet romance like the pro she is and that is never more evident than in The Cowboy's Christmas Blessings. The whole back-and-forth between Nicole and Judd is so adorable and you can't help but root for them to find their way to each other from page one to the very end. I honestly think that Judd and Nicole may be my favorite couple from the Wyoming Sweethearts series as they lift each other up and encourage each other to be their best selves.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Jill Kemerer

Author Website

I have a few favorite Love Inspired authors and it's easy to see with The Cowboy's Christmas Blessings why Jill Kemerer is one of those favorites. It's a sweet, wonderful holiday story that you can read any time of the year. Winter or summer it will give you the warm fuzzies that a Christian romance should. It's a tale you won't want to miss...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Cowboy's Christmas Blessings by Jill Kemerer a 4.5 Bark rating.

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Throwback Thursday - July 15th, 2021 (somewhat late)

7/18/2021

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Will a chance meeting in a time of war change her life forever?

Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval - even marry a man she doesn't love. While Allie has nearly resigned herself to that fate, Lt. Walter Novak - fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women - takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas.

Walt and Allie meet and begin a correspondence that will change their lives. As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart?

Book 1 in the Wings of Glory series, A Distant Melody is an exciting and tender story of love, courage, and sacrifice during World War II.

ISBN-13: 9780800734213

My Thoughts

This was not my first Sarah Sundin book, in fact I'd probably read 5 or 6 by the time I popped my Kindle open to it. I was quite impressed. While Sarah Sundin has improved her writing skills over the years A Distant Melody just didn't read like a first-published book. It was that good! As with all of her stories I as captured by the romance, drama, and the history. If there's one thing Sarah Sundin does well, it's immersing readers into the WWII era, almost like watching a movie filmed at that time. With well written and emotionally moving books like A Distant Melody it's no wonder that WWII fiction is so popular with Christian fiction readers...

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Goodreads 2021 Reading Challenge

7/17/2021

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2021 Reading Challenge

Jasmine has completed her goal of reading 75 books in 2021!

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76 of 75 (100%)

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So, I completed my Goodreads 2021 Reading Challenge today! Well, actually it was yesterday, but...It's not too bad, considering how busy I've been!

I am by no means done with reading for this year, couldn't stop even if I wanted to, which I don't, so check back at the end of the year to see my total stats for 2021 and whether I can somehow magically break last year's record of 293 total books logged into my Goodreads Reading Challenge.

2020 Stats

Goal: 75 books.
Started: January 1st
Completed: July 16th

Number of Books Ahead of Schedule: 35

Total Pages Read: 16,052

Fiction: 75 Non-Fiction: 0
Print Books: 35 E-Books: 36 Audiobooks: 4

First Book Completed (starting the challenge):
Texas Witness Threat by Cate Nolan

Midway Book In The Challenge:
A New Love For Charlotte by Amy Lillard

Final Book Completed (finishing the challenge):
The Goose Girl by Brittany Fichter

Longest Book (most pages):
Princess Of Secrets by A.G. Marshall
512 pages

Oldest Book:

Oldest Original Publish Date
Love Amid The Ashes by Mesu Andrews
(2011)

Oldest Listed Publish Date
One Night In Tehran by Luana Ehrlich
(2014)

Newest Book:
Three way tie between...

Come Back To Me
by Jody Hedlund
June 1st, 2021

Bridge Of Gold
by Kimberley Woodhouse
June 1st, 2021

Sticks And Stone
by David James Warren
June 1st, 2021

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WORD Wednesday - July 7th, 2021

7/7/2021

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Pint Of No Return by Dana Mentink (Review, Guest Post, Giveaway)

7/5/2021

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The first in new dessert cozy mystery series!
A murder in town is bound to shake things up…

After her divorce from her thrice-married embezzler husband, Trinidad Jones is finally ready for a fresh start. So when she’s left one of ex’s businesses in Upper Sprocket, Oregon, she decides to pack up her dog, cash in her settlement, and open her dream business: the Shimmy and Shake Shop, introducing the world to her monster milkshakes. And even with a couple sticky situations underway, namely that the other two ex-wives also call Sprocket home, Trinidad’s life seems to be churning along smoothly.

That is, until she discovers her neighbor, the Popcorn King, head down in his giant popcorn kettle. When one of Trinidad’s fellow ex-wives is accused of the murder and Upper Sprocket descends into mayhem, it’s going to take a supersized scoop of courage to flush out the killer.

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release date: May 25, 2021

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Can she shake off the past and find a killer?

What an adorable story! It may have been about murder and mayhem but it was so much fun to read and it was cute! I felt like I was friends with Trinidad and her trusty sidekick Noodles right from the start. Both of them, and some other special characters, really won me over and left me desperately wanting to read book two as soon as I finished book one...but I have to wait...

I've long been a fan of Dana Mentink's and I've read nearly all of her books in the last six or seven years. As soon as I saw her name on the Shake Shop Mystery series I knew I had to read it. I've loved her romantic suspense and romantic comedy novels so I was pretty psyched up for her new cozy mystery Pint Of No Return. I was not disappointed! No indeed!

There was nothing to dislike about Pint Of No Return. It had all of the charm and quirkiness of a Hallmark movie set in a small town. The author did a great job with the mystery part of the story, and, while I did guess the murderer's identity pretty early on, Dana Mentink lead me on a merry chase and I found myself second and third guessing myself.

Based on this first book I know the Shake Shop Mystery series will be a great one. I loved the inaugural novel and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to any fan of cozy mysteries. The only sad part is that I have to wait and pretend to be patient for the next release in the series...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Pint Of No Return by Dana Mentink a 4.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

More from Dana

Freakshakes. The name says it all, right? Allow me to explain. A freakshake is a milkshake festooned with so many extras (sprinkles, cookies, candy, donuts, cake, slabs of pie) that it is hardly liftable. It is the stuff my sugar fantasy dreams are made of! Now picture a freakshake shop called the Shimmy and Shake in the quaint and quirky town of Upper Sprocket in Eastern Oregon. Known as the “Swiss Alps” of Oregon, this fictional place is the new home to a woman named Trinidad Jones, a lady starting out on the second phase of her life after her husband’s betrayal.

Sprinkle in a dose of Papa Luis, her darling Cuban grandfather (inspired by my own Cuban grandfather) who drives a classic Buick, and a devoted service dog flunk out named Noodles. You know what’s missing? A murder, of course! That happens shortly after Trinidad opens her new shop, and from there on out it’s a sticky, spine tingling, sweet and satisfying and slightly funny adventure in mystery land. I had an absolute blast writing the first installment in this series, and I’m knee deep in the second as I write this. Thank you for coming along on the adventure and I hope it’s as satisfying as a monster milkshake!

Dana Mentink

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harvest House, and Poisoned Pen Press. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a signed copy of
Pint of No Return, an ice cream bowl and spoon set, and a $30 Amazon gift card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/10e05/pint-of-no-return-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 25
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 25
The Avid Reader, June 25
The Write Escape, June 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 26
Texas Book-aholic, June 27
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 27
Blogging With Carol, June 27
Inklings and notions, June 28
Genesis 5020, June 28
Among the Reads, June 29
Daysong Reflections, June 29
Bigreadersite, June 29
For Him and My Family, June 30
Betti Mace, June 30
Worthy2Read, July 1
deb’s Book Review, July 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 2
Through the Fire blogs, July 2
EmpowerMoms, July 2
Blossoms and Blessings, July 3
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 3
Lighthouse-Academy, July 4
Labor Not in Vain, July 4
Tell Tale Book Reviews, July 5
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, July 5
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 6
Vicky Sluiter, July 6
Simple Harvest Reads, July 6 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
She Lives To Read, July 7
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 7
KarenSueHadley, July 8
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 8

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Bridge Of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse (Review, Guest Post, Giveaway)

7/1/2021

3 Comments

Repairs on the Golden Gate Bridge Uncover a Century-Old Murder

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series
of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Underwater archaeologist Kayla Richardson is called to the Golden Gate Bridge where repairs to one of the towers uncovers two human remains from the late 1800s and the 1930s. The head of the bridge restoration is Steven Michaels, who dives with Kayla, and a friendship develops between them. But as the investigation heats up and gold is found that dates back to the gold rush, more complications come into play that threaten them both. Could clues leading to a Gold Rush era mystery that was first discovered during the building of the bridge still ignite an obsession worth killing for?

Genre: Christian Historical
Release date: June 2021

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

An exciting job just got dangerous...

Even if I were not already reading the Doors To The Past series I would have wanted to read Bridge Of Gold. Kimberley Woodhouse had me when I saw that her heroine is an archaeologist, and more interestingly, she's an underwater archaeologist. I think this may be the first book I've read where a lead character had that particular occupation. As a history lover this was right up my alley.

I'll admit that it's been awhile since I've read anything by Kimberley Woodhouse, either solo or co-written, but Bridge Of Gold was the perfect choice to dive back in as it features both her her historical and contemporary fiction in one neat package.

I'm sure that writing dual timeline stories like the Doors To The Past series isn't always the easiest. Not only do you have two different genres but the stories have to be layered just right so key elements are not revealed either too early or too late. It's also vital for the mystery elements that span decades and centuries. I can tell you that Kimberley Woodhouse does a great job with that in Bridge Of Gold. Everything is revealed just when it should be.

I enjoyed reading Bridge Of Gold and feel that it's a solid addition to the intriguing Doors To The Past series. I look forward to reading more from Kimberley Woodhouse and more from this series...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Bridge Of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

More from Kimberley

BRIDGE OF GOLD was a blast for me to write. Not only do I love writing dual-timeline stories, but the present-day hero and heroine are named after my daughter and her husband. Steven and Kayla in the book are fictitious, but there are a few things in the book that do mimic their real-life namesakes.

One of them is food.

My son-in-law Steven in real life is six-foot-four and active military. The man can eat. It’s amazing to me how many calories it takes just for him to survive! Then there’s my daughter, Kayla. She was an elite swimmer for many years along with her brother. I could never keep them fed when they were at the height of their swimming careers. In fact, I joked that all I did was cook and load the dishwasher during those years.

To celebrate the release of BRIDGE OF GOLD, I’m going to give out a recipe that I created almost thirty years ago. It went through many revisions the first few months as I perfected it and now you get a special treat because I do not give this recipe out. In fact, one of my dearest friends begged for it when our kids were little. I gave in but made her promise to close her eyes while she made it (LOL) and to never, ever give it to anyone else.

Enjoy! And thanks for joining us on the tour for BRIDGE OF GOLD. I hope you love it.

Kim’s Chocolate Chunk Cookies
–recipe by Kimberley Woodhouse-

2 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. kosher salt
¾ cup melted/browned butter (this is important! Don’t skip this step)
2 Tb. Hot chocolate mix
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
1 – 12 ounce package mega morsels (I use Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips)

Directions: combine the first three dry ingredients and mix well. In a small saucepan on the stove, melt and brown the butter. Medium heat is recommended but you’ve got to watch it so it doesn’t burn. You want a beautiful caramel color. Set aside and allow to cool to around 100 degrees F before continuing. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Once the browned butter is cool, add the hot chocolate mix to it. Transfer to a stand mixer and blend the butter mixture with the sugar. Whip it until well combined and frothy about 2 mins. Gradually add eggs and flour mixture, beating on low just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Using a cookie scoop, drop heaping TB scoops 2 inches apart on parchment paper lined cookie sheets. Bake at 325 degrees for 12-14 minutes, watching carefully. Allow to cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes and then transfer to cooling racks. Enjoy!

For other fun tidbits about BRIDGE OF GOLD make sure you check out my blog at – kimberleywoodhouse.com

Kimberley Woodhouse

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty fiction and nonfiction books. A popular speaker and teacher, she’s shared her theme of “Joy Through Trials” with more than half a million people across the country at more than 2,000 events. Kim and her incredible husband of twenty-five-plus years have two adult children. She’s passionate about music and Bible study and loves the gift of story.
You can connect with Kimberley at: www.kimberleywoodhouse.com and www.facebook.com/KimberleyWoodhouseAuthor