Blog Tour/Review: Finding Anne de Bourgh by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

Finding Anne de Bourgh, by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
2019, 263p, Clean Regency Mystery/Romance
My Rating=4.5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way

As heiress of Rosings Park, Anne de Bourgh’s health is of utmost importance to her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Thus, following the shock of a recent fire at Rosings Park, the young woman is spirited away to Brighton to take the cure. While her domineering mother is bent on healing her daughter’s sickly constitution to secure her a suitable match, Anne herself is far more concerned with sketching the flora and fauna of the lovely sea town. It is in pursuit of artistic inspiration among the flowers that Anne becomes acquainted with Mr. Owen Talbot, a charming man with whom Anne feels an immediate connection, notwithstanding their differing stations.

But despite their growing esteem for one another, the couple faces an insurmountable problem: Lady Catherine has set her sights on a rich, well-connected man for her daughter, and Mr. Talbot is simply too common. With their love in jeopardy, the couple soon faces far graver problems. There has been a murder in Brighton, and Anne is innocently drawn into an amateur investigation that ultimately traces its roots to her own family. With a frightening foreshadowing regarding the de Bourghs, Anne begins to question whom she can truly trust.

It was fun to read about Anne de Bourgh, a secondary character in Pride & Prejudice, who is the main character in this book. Her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, is domineering and Anne wants to please her. However, Anne and her mother have different ideas about who Anne should marry so she needs to assert herself if she wants to marry for love. 

Anne is an easy character to like. She desires to marry for love rather than a good connection. Owen Talbot is a kind man that she feels a connection with but his parentage isn't good enough for her mother. I loved how their relationship developed and how much each of them grew. 

I enjoyed reading this book and I loved the mystery element the author included. It was foreshadowed through the point of view of one of the characters but it took a while to find out the who and why. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Pride & Prejudice, as well as mystery and clean romance.  

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Award-winning author, Ronda Hinrichsen (also writing as Kathleen Marks) and her family own a small farm located between the beautiful Rocky Mountains and the Great Salt Lake where she regularly sees eagles, hawks, owls, and ducks. Lots of ducks. She is the author of independently and traditionally published non-fiction, romantic suspense and speculative books as well as numerous magazine articles and stories for children and adults. She also enjoys teaching about writing in conference and classroom settings.

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Blog Tour/Review: A Perfect Amish Match by Vannetta Chapman

TLC Book Tours is hosting a tour for four Love Inspired titles. Click here to learn more about the books and check out the tour stops.

A Perfect Amish Match, by Vannetta Chapman
2019, 288p, Clean Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy which did not affect my review in any way



After three failed relationships, Amish bachelor Noah Graber would rather disappoint his parents than try again. But when matchmaker Olivia Mae Miller agrees to provide courting lessons, Noah’s perfect match becomes clear—it’s Olivia Mae herself! With ailing grandparents at home, she hadn’t planned on love or marriage. Might a future with Noah be everything she’s been missing?

It's been a while since I've read an Amish romance and this was the perfect one to read. Olivia is an easy character to love. She takes care of her grandparents and doesn't want anyone to know about her struggles. She helps others find the perfect match but doesn't consider anyone for herself. Noah isn't interested in her matchmaking services, but after some hilarious failed dates with two different women, realizes that he needs serious help. I loved their interactions and was rooting for them to find a way to make their relationship work.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end, and once I picked it up, had a hard time putting it down. I loved the storyline and all the characters. It's the third book in this series, but this works well as a stand alone. I haven't read the first two books in this series and now I want to. This is the first book I've read by this author and I will definitely read more of her books in the future!

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Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She is the author of over twenty novels, including the Pebble Creek Amish series, Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series, and Plain and Simple Miracle series. Vannetta is a Carol award winner, a Christy finalist, and she also received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She currently writes Christian suspense, Amish romance, and Amish mystery. She was a teacher for 15 years and resides in the Texas hill country.

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Blog Tour/Review: Undercover Honeymoon by Kari Iroz

Undercover Honeymoon, by Kari Iroz
2019, 336p, LDS Contemporary Suspense/Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



Wedding bells are finally ringing for Jacklyn “Jack” Wyatt and her FBI-agent fiancé, Damon Wade. After their adventurous beginning, the happy couple finds the relative calm leading up to their big day a huge relief. Unfortunately, it seems the peace and quiet were too good to last. As they embark on their honeymoon, a weeklong cruise, Jack can’t shake the feeling that something is off with her new husband. When she stumbles upon a secret plot—one in which her husband is a key player—she realizes this getaway will be anything but smooth sailing. When she delves into the shady happenings aboard the ship, Jack realizes Damon’s involvement is just the tip of the iceberg—she has become an unwitting player in a deadly conspiracy, and in such close quarters, there is no escape. Now, Jack has no choice but to work with her new husband to unravel the truth before their happily ever after—and their lives—are ended all too soon.

I loved the first two books in this series, and was excited to start reading more about Jacklyn ("Jack") and Damon. The book starts with Jack preparing for her wedding. Of course, things don’t go smoothly so there was plenty to laugh about from the beginning. Damon plans a cruise for their honeymoon and it starts out well. Then Jack realizes that Damon is working a case and things quickly change.

I love Damon and Jack! They have great chemistry and are a great match. They have some issues to work through as well, which makes them easier to relate to. Jack is hilarious, and her thoughts and actions make me laugh. She is one of my all-time favorite characters.

There are so many reasons why I love this book and highly recommend it: It’s clean, suspenseful, funny, romantic, and has great characters that are easy to root for. You don't have to read the first two books in order to enjoy this one, but they are fun to read as well, so you will want to! The ending is satisfying and I was happy that the author left an opening for more Damon and Jack in the future!

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About the Author
A veteran of the Utah dating trenches, Kari Iroz was once just another ordinary Mormon girl looking for love. She had lived these clichés and agonized through these awkward blind dates to laugh about them with you. Now a wife (he's dreamy) and mom to the three cutest girls in the world (disagree if you like, it's her bio), she writes comedy and speculative fiction. Kari has twice been a finalist for the Whitney Award and is honored to champion everyday heroines like Jack and her fantastic readers. Keep coming back for more Jack!

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Blog Tour/Review: I Can Choose Joy with God by Ganel-Lyn Condie

I Can Choose Joy with God, by Ganel-Lyn Condie
2019, 160p, Inspirational
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



When the trials of life seem too much to bear, joy can feel beyond reach. However, with words of encouragement and hope, author Ganel-Lyn Condie reassures readers that joy is not only possible but also well within our grasp as we choose to turn to the Lord with our burdens. The next in the popular With God series, I Can Choose Joy with God is a powerful compilation of essays written by women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that offers a compelling look at the struggles they faced and how they found joy even in their darkest hours. From parental concerns to financial hardships to debilitating anxiety, these personal accounts demonstrate the incomparable strength that can be harnessed through faith in a loving Heavenly Father. Though no one can avoid being tossed by the tempestuous sea of mortality, everyone can find true joy as they hold tight to the lifeline of salvation Jesus Christ provides.

Life can be tough and there are times that are tougher than others. I love the title of her book which is a reminder that we have a choice when times are tough, and we can choose joy at any time during our trials. It might take a while, and it's certainly not easy, but we can get there.

There are five parts to this book: Gifts, Marriage, Health, Family, and Mission, and each part has two stories. The women who share their stories are honest about their feelings and how they handle their trials. They are short so there are lots of details left out, but there is still enough to truly feel what each of them have gone through.

We all have trials and burdens in our lives, and how we handle them defines who we are. I liked this book because these women are wonderful examples of how to handle tough situations. Even though their situations and experiences are vastly different, the answer is the same for each of them. This is an inspiring book that I would recommend to everyone!

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Ganel-Lyn is a popular motivational speaker - known for inspiring others with her unique honesty, authenticity and spirit. She is dedicated to her family, faith, and inspiring others. Ganel-Lyn loves teaching others with speaking and writing. She has experienced healing from a major chronic illness and is the mother to two miracle children. After the heart-breaking suicide of her 40 year old sister, Ganel-Lyn is constantly working towards prevention. Ganel-Lyn lives with an open heart and feels passionate about sharing principles that will empower others to live life with more joy. She is a regular television and radio guest. Ganel-Lyn's talks and books have now encouraged thousands of people all over the world. She loves growing older with her cute husband Rob and aims to keep learning and loving.

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Schedule:

*April 8th: http://mybookaday.com/
https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/

*April 9th: http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/

*April 10th: http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/
http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*April 11th: https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/
https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/

*April 12th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/
https://www.lovebugsandpostcards.com/

Blog Tour/Review: Waiting for Fitz by Spencer Hyde

Waiting for Fitz, by Spencer Hyde
2019, 256p, Contemporary YA Fiction
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



Addie loves nothing more than curling up on the couch with her dog, Duck, and watching The Great British Baking Show with her mom. It’s one of the few things that can help her relax when her OCD kicks into overdrive. She counts everything. All the time. She can’t stop. Rituals and rhythms. It’s exhausting.

When Fitz was diagnosed with schizophrenia, he named the voices in his head after famous country singers. The adolescent psychiatric ward at Seattle Regional Hospital isn’t exactly the ideal place to meet your soul mate, but when Addie meets Fitz, they immediately connect over their shared love of words, appreciate each other’s quick wit, and wish they could both make more sense of their lives.

Fitz is haunted by the voices in his head and often doesn't know what is real. But he feels if he can convince Addie to help him escape the psych ward and everything will be okay. If not, he risks falling into a downward spiral that may keep him in the hospital indefinitely.

Waiting for Fitz is a story about life and love, forgiveness and courage, and what’s necessary to let go and learning what is truly worth waiting for.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but was intrigued since it dealt with mental illness. The author based this book on his own experiences with severe OCD, and acknowledges that each person's experiences with the same mental illness will vary. It was hard to read in places because their minds are so different than what I experience. I think it would make me tired if my brain didn't shut off or if it took me three hours to leave the house every morning. 

Addie has OCD and Fitz is schizophrenic. I didn't relate to either Addie or Fitz, but was interested to learn about them and how they interacted with others. They were part of a group of eight teenagers that met every day for Group Talk. There were plenty of interesting characters in their group and they formed a bond with each other. 

There were parts of the book that were slow, but overall, I thought it was interesting! I enjoyed the nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout the book. It's definitely given me a lot to think about and is a book that will stick with me for a long time.

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Spencer Hyde spent three years of his high school experience visiting Johns Hopkins for severe OCD. He feels particularly suited to write Waiting for Fitz because he’s lived through his protagonists’ obsessions.

Spencer worked at a therapeutic boarding school before earning his MFA in Utah and his PhD in Texas, specializing in fiction. He wrote Waiting for Fitz while working as a Teaching Fellow in Denton, Texas. He is currently an assistant professor of English at Brigham Young University.

Stories have a way of changing lives—Spencer learned that the first time he picked up a Tom Stoppard play and realized that words can nudge the world and build bridges to hope.

Spencer and his wife, Brittany, are the parents of four children. They love to hike, read, watch movies, fly-fish, and bake.

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Blog Tour/Review: Miss Adeline's Match by Joanna Barker

Miss Adeline's Match, by Joanna Barker
2019, 263p, Clean Regency Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



Miss Adeline Hayes is the perfect lady's companion: pleasant, conversational, and unceasingly proper. But when her closest friend, Charity Edgeworth, breaks off her arranged marriage without explanation, even Adeline's superior skills are put to the test. Charity's father banishes the two young women to the country, sending Adeline with a charge to find Charity a husband or suffer dire consequences.

As Adeline takes on the role of reluctant matchmaker, she discovers more than one obstacle in her path. Not only does Charity prefer escaping in books to socializing, but Adeline soon finds her own attentions distracted by the standoffish—and irritatingly handsome—Mr. Evan Whitfield. Amidst an eventful foxhunt and the unexpected arrival of Charity's former betrothed, Adeline simply doesn't have time for a battle of wits with Evan. But the two are continually drawn together until Adeline begins to question her tightly guarded convictions about love and marriage.

However, when secrets are revealed and truths made known, Adeline must face her most fearsome obstacle yet: herself.

I loved the first book by this author and was excited to start reading this one! Adeline, or Addie, is a lady's companion and close friend to Charity. When Charity breaks off her engagement, her father sends them away with strict instructions to Addie to find a match for Charity or there would be serious consequences for her family. Addie finds the perfect match for Charity, but there are complications.

The story is told from Addie's point of view. She is an easy character to like but has some flaws, which made her easier to relate to. She and Evan got off to a rocky start, and I liked how their relationship developed. I also enjoyed her relationship with Charity. She made some mistakes which she was able to learn from.

I thought this book was great and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys reading clean Regency romance! I'm looking forward to reading even more from this author in the future.

Amazon * Deseret Book

Joanna Barker was born and raised in northern California. She discovered her love for historical fiction after visiting England as an eleven-year-old, and subsequently read every Jane Austen book she could get her hands on. After graduating Brigham Young University with a degree in English, she worked as an acquisitions editor before devoting herself full-time to writing. She enjoys music, chocolate, and reading everything from romance to science fiction. She lives in Utah and is just a little crazy about her husband and two wild-but-loveable boys.

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Schedule:

*April 1st: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/
https://brightlystreet.com/
https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/

*April 2nd: http://empowermoms.net/
http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/ 
https://www.lovebugsandpostcards.com/

*April 3rd: http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/
http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/
http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*April 4th: http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/
http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/
https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/
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*April 5th: https://www.wishfulendings.com/
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Blog Tour/Review: A Monster Like Me by Wendy S. Swore

A Monster Like Me, by Wendy S. Swore
2019, 304p, Middle-Grade Fiction
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



Sophie is a monster expert. Thanks to her Big Book of Monsters and her vivid imagination, Sophie can identify the monsters in her school and neighborhood. Clearly, the bullies are trolls and goblins. Her nice neighbor must be a good witch, and Sophie’s new best friend is obviously a fairy. But what about Sophie? She’s convinced she is definitely a monster because of the “monster mark” on her face. At least that’s what she calls it. The doctors call it a blood tumor. Sophie tries to hide it but it covers almost half her face. And if she’s a monster on the outside, then she must be a monster on the inside, too.

Being the new kid at school is hard. Being called a monster is even harder. Sophie knows that it’s only a matter of time before the other kids, the doctors, and even her mom figure it out. And then her mom will probably leave — just like her dad did.

Because who would want to live with a real monster?

Sophie truly believes she's a monster because she has a blood tumor on her face. She carries a monster book around with her which helps her determine what kinds of monsters other people are. She and her mother have just moved so she is the new girl in school, which isn't easy for her. She learns a lot throughout the book about herself and others.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and the message it contains! I lost interest in some of the monster talk, which was in the middle of the book, but then the storyline picked up for me and I enjoyed it until the end. What didn't appeal to me, though, will probably be very appealing to younger readers. There are some things that happen that are tough for a young girl to deal with, and I liked how the author handled those situations. It's a book that would be great to read out loud since it will open up discussions on things like bullying, friendship, heartbreak, sacrifice, monsters (of course!), and more.

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Author’s Note

Sophie’s story is dear to my heart because I know how it feels to be bullied because I looked different from everyone else. When I was a child, I had a hemangioma on my forehead that stuck out so far my bangs couldn’t cover it, no matter how hard my mother tried. Because the tumor was made up of blood vessels, I could feel my heart beating inside it when I was playing hard or really upset.

The incident at the grocery store where the hydra lady says, “Hey, look kids! That girl doesn’t need a Halloween costume. She’s already got one!” is an exact quote of what a woman once said to my mother and me. Another woman told a classroom full of kids that I had the mark of the devil. Kids asked if it was a goose bump, or hamburger, or if my brains had leaked out. My dad had to chase away some bullies who had followed me home, called me names, and pushed me into the street. Sometimes, after a bad day of bullying, I wished I could just rip the mark off my face and be like everyone else—but it was a part of me, and wishing didn’t change that.

My parents decided to take an active role in educating the people around me so they would know what a hemangioma was and understand that it wasn’t icky, or gross, or contagious. Whenever we moved to a new place, my dad would go with me to the elementary school and talk to the kids about my mark and let them ask questions. After those talks, kids befriended me and noticed when bullies came around. Like Autumn, my school friends would speak up when they saw someone being mean to me, and sometimes they would stand between me and the bullies until they left me alone. I didn’t let the bullies stop me from doing what I wanted to do. I climbed trees, went swimming, wrote poetry, brought my tarantula and snakes to show-and-tell, and played in the tide pools.

This is my message to anyone who experiences bullying: Don’t let the bullies define you! I’ve been there, I know it hurts to be teased, but don’t let it stop you from doing what you want. Find something you enjoy—a hobby, talent, or challenge—and practice that skill. Know that someone out there, maybe even someone in your same school, needs a friend as much as you do. Be that friend. Stand up for each other. And know that you are not alone.

You can always find me at WendySwore.com, and I would love to hear your stories and what you thought of the book.