"The Christmas Cook's Shelf"--delicious books for holiday entertaining--tempting treats--lots of good eats!

  



Author Jeff Guinn's charming "Christmas Chronicles" series continues with "Santa's North Pole Cookbook: Classic Christmas Recipes from Saint Nicholas Himself".  Truly a "man of the world", Santa offers recipes from every corner of the earth, and he also illuminates his readers on holiday customs from cultures that span the globe. Santa shares his personal philosophy that there are four essential elements required to create the timeless magic of the holiday season: worship, family, friends, and food. While some of the recipes are fairly simple, and use easily-obtained ingredients, others are more complex and regionally specific. Here are some of the recipes Santa has collected in his travels: "Pecan Waffles from Sweden"; "Atilla's Stuffed Mushrooms from Germany"; "Flaming Gingered Prawns from Australia"; "Leonardo's Pasta Fra Diavolo from Italy"; "Theodore Roosevelt's Pan-Fried Christmas Potatoes from the USA"; "Christmas Mulled Wine from Finland"; "Holiday Black Walnut Cake from Germany"; and "Cinnamon-Sugar Sticks from Mexico". The official chef of the North Pole, Lars, created these recipes for Santa & Co: "Santa's Breakfast Souffle"; "North Pole Bread Dressing"; "Lars' Savory Poached Salmon"; "Holiday Plum Pie Cookies"; and "Candy Cane Creme Brulee". No wonder Santa is a "right jolly old elf"! Other books in Jeff Guinn's "Christmas Chronicles" series include: "The Autobiography of Santa Claus"; "How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas"; and "The Great Santa Search". 


Review Copy Gratis Tarcher Books




   



If cookies were wishes, then "Fine Cooking Cookies: 200 Favorite Recipes for Cookies, Brownies, Bars & More" would make all your dreams come true! This book is loaded with luscious recipes, packed with pictures, and chock-full of helpful hints and cooking tips. With chapters like "Classic Cookies & Confections"; "Bars, Brownies & Bites"; "Fruit & Nut Cookies"; "Biscotti & Shortbread"; "Spirited & Spiced Cookies"; and "Sweet & Savory Sandwiches", you will find cookies just right for the holidays and all through the year. Here are some of the tempting recipes perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth: "Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies"; "Macadamia Double-Decker Brownie Bars"; "Cranberry Streusel Shortbread Bars"; "Maple-Walnut Butter Cookies"; "Hazelnut Toffee Squares"; "Triple-Orange Pecan Biscotti"; "Brown Sugar and Oatmeal Cookies"; "Cardamom-Honey Cut-Outs"; and "Ginger-Spice Sandwich Cookies with Lemon Cream". Are those the sounds of cookie sheets rattling in the kitchen? "Fine Cooking Cookies" offers 200 wonderful ways to treat your family, your friends, and yourself! Don't forget Santa's cookie plate!


Review Copy Gratis Taunton Press     




  



Author Frank DeCaro has another winner with "The Dead Celebrity Cookbook: Christmas in Tinseltown"! This book is a fantastic follow-up to the fabulous original "The Dead Celebrity Cookbook". Hollywood holiday traditions and recipes are served up in sensational style and given extra luster with the addition of great photos of favorite stars. The sweet and snappy "Christmas Tidbits" that accompany the celebrity bios and recipes are perfect appetizers for the feast to follow. I am a true foodie and film fan--a devoted aficionado of the entertainment world. I learned to cook from my wonderful Gran, who also loved movies and movie stars. Frank DeCaro brings back many wonderful memories and offers new insights to the lives of stars and star-makers of the screen and stage. "Christmas in Tinseltown" features recipes for the holiday season and all year around. All of the celebrities who are featured have a special connection to the holidays. Frank DeCaro's funny, friendly narrative writing style adds a warmly witty tone to the book, and the recipes run the gamut from simple to superb. The chapters are divided into courses, and the titles are quite punny: "It's a Wonderful Lunch"; "Miracle Whip on 34th Street", "Munch of the Wooden Soldiers", and "What a Fruitcake", just to name a few. Here are some recipes that really caught my eye: "James Stewart's Spareribs with Barbeque Sauce"; "Jimmy Durante's German Cole Slaw"; "Red Skelton's Ham Hock and Lima Beans"; "Natalie Wood's Beef Stroganoff"; "Dinah Shore's Fruitcake"; "William Frawley's Mulligan Stew"; and "Oliver Hardy's Baked Apples with Honey and Almonds". Just like the original "The Dead Celebrity Cookbook", "Christmas in Tinseltown" is delicious from appetizer through to after-dinner drink. If you are a "food and film fan", and so are your friends and family, then you will want to collect these books and also gift them to others. 


Review Copy Gratis HCI Books   




  



"Nigella Christmas" is such a gorgeous book. It truly is one of those cookbooks that looks good enough to eat! The introduction is interesting, informative, and unexpected--combining ancient holiday customs with modern awareness and sensibility. Being a watcher of TV's "Nigella Feasts", I am familiar with the author's speaking voice and persona. I could distinctly "hear" her speaking the introduction while I read it, and that made the words even more enjoyable. Nigella Lawson's food is sumptuous, even voluptuous, but still "do-able". She never skimps on anything, but nothing is ever elaborate or overly-complex. Simply superb! The very first recipe in the book is a cocktail called "Poinsettia"--pretty, pleasing, and potent. Only three ingredients: Prosecco, Grand Marnier, and cranberry juice. Now, that's the spirit! The appetizers run the gamut from savory to sweet. Another simple recipe with only three ingredients: "Party Parma Ham Bundles"--prosciutto is wrapped around bite-sized morsels of goat's cheese and figs. Imagine that trio of flavors in each nibble! Nigella states that while she "can't fashion wreaths or fold napkins", she does have a knack for making relishes and chutneys. How lovely to make a midnight kitchen raid, snag the last homemade roll with a slice of ham or turkey and top it with a dollop of relish or chutney! The "Three Seasonal Salads" with their unique and colorful uses of ravishing red fruits and vegetables make you want to take your fork to the page. Special mention must be made of the cakes. Definitely cakes to give to "the person who has everything". Give them one of these cakes, and they could ask for nothing more. There are many, many more wonderful recipes including main dishes, sides, sweets, and treats that are too tempting to limit just to the holidays. Throughout all, there is a true sense of the author's own belief that festive indulgence is not a bad thing, but a celebration of being alive and an affirmation of what is important in life. A belief in hearth and home and adhering to ritual and tradition when the world around us is so unsettling and uncertain. As Nigella says: "The Christmas rituals of the home are, even if not based around faith, essentially an act of good faith." A well-said and well-represented sentiment presented in a gorgeous gift of a book. 


Review Copy Gratis Hyperion Books




   

 

In "The Neelys' Celebration Cookbook", you'll find a world of ways to create a reason to celebrate. Not satisfied with just the traditional holidays, the Neelys and their two daughters also chow down and party in honor of "March Madness", "Spring Cleaning", "Girl's Night", "Sweet Tea and Sympathy", "Harvest Party", and others. The food is fabulous, the fun is contagious, and the spirit of "joie de vivre" is charmingly motivational. The personal insights and stories are as appealing as the delicious recipes. There is real warmth here, and it comes from more than just the Neelys' bodacious BBQ sauce! There's even a recipe for "Love Potion #9"! Who could resist such tempting treats: "Bourbon Bread Pudding", "Country-Fried Jalapeno Poppers", "Devils on Horseback", "Banana Cake with Coconut Frosting", "Grilled Shrimp & Pineapple Skewers", "Prime Rib with Ruby Port Sauce", "Hearty Winter Greens Saute", and "Mama's Day Off Cocktail". As the Neelys say: "Make sure that everyone who enters your home as a guest leaves as a friend." Well said, and well done! 

Review Copy Gratis Borzoi Books    




  


Debbie Macomber is truly in her element when it comes to all things Christmas! Her beautiful  "Debbie Macomber's Christmas Cookbook" is exquisitely evocative of favorite family memories and freshly appealing "traditions in the making". Much more than a holiday cookbook, it also offers decorating, craft, and gift ideas that are both simple and sensational. The recipes are mouth-watering, each one with that touch of something extra that you look for when preparing holiday foods. To please the palate: "Tropical Paradise Muffins"; "Overnight Sausage & Caramelized Onion Casserole"; "Cider-Glazed Roast Turkey"; "Three-Cheese Scalloped Potatoes"; "Roast Pork Tenderloin with Dijon-Molasses Glaze"; and "Winter Tomato Pie". The recipe showstopper for me was "White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake"--I love peppermint for the holidays! Decorate a big, beautiful gift basket for someone special and first put in a copy of this book. Surround the book with little tubs of "Soothing Scented Lip Balm, tuck in some "Bubbling Bath Cubes" and "Pinecone Fire Starters". Add in a jar of "Many Bean Soup Mix", some "Do It Yourself Spice Blend" packets, and a tin of "Homemade Chai Tea Mix". Most important of all, don't forget the cookies. Lots of little holiday gift bags of wonderful, wonderful cookies. The final touch: A handmade holiday card for an extra-special seasonal sentiment. I think I just figured out what Santa is bringing me this year!


Review Copy Gratis Nancy Berland Public Relations 




   


If you are searching for a book to give a novice cook, or for a new addition to a seasoned cook's collection, "500 Treasured Country Recipes" will delight them both! While the book is written in a warm, down-to-earth style that feels like home, it is much, much more than a "country" cookbook. It is really a hefty, charmingly illustrated, all-inclusive volume of cookery, crafts, housekeeping, gardening, and useful advice. Written by Martha Storey and friends (an impressive roster of talent featured as contributors at the book's end), this expansive resource of recipes and more offers tempting treats to please every palate. On the savory side, you'll find dishes like "Zucchini with Mozzarella and Parmesan", which begins with bacon, onions and garlic sizzling in the skillet. "Southwestern Cranberry Sauce" blends the flavors of fresh cranberries and jalapeno peppers, and refines them with sugar and seasonings. "Onion & Mushroom Gravy" made with rich pan drippings, onions, mushrooms and seasoned stock may cause you to forgo a formal meal and stand at the stove dipping chunks of bread into the gravy pan. The desserts are delicious, decadent, and downright divine. Try to resist "Soul Satisfying Rice Pudding", "Baked Bananas in Maple Rum Sauce", or "Blueberries Romanoff". I won't even try to resist--I surrender! You'll also find detailed, illustrated instructions for making butter, cheese, beer, wine, and even soda pop. If you're a crafter, you'll really enjoy the sections featuring handcrafts, holidays, and homemade gifts. I don't have enough words or review space to detail all that this wonderful book has to offer. I will just say that it is indeed a "treasure", and you will reach for it time and time again. 


Review Copy Gratis Storey Publishing  




  



Chocolate is not just a food--it is a world unto itself! As if I needed an excuse, "Absolutely Chocolate: Irresistible Excuses to Indulge" from the Editors of Fine Cooking offers pure pleasure from page to page. Don't eat the book! Read, learn, give in to temptation, explore, experiment, and let chocolate do its magic and release those good brain chemicals! The process of how chocolate is made--from birth to bar, the types of chocolates and their uses, cocoa versus hard chocolate, cocoa content, and the proper techniques for cooking with various chocolates are all invaluable facts for serious chocoholics. All of those things get you ready to dive into the more than 125 chocolicious recipes! Reward yourself, and those you love, with terrific temptations like: "Mocha-Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies"; "Macadamia Double-Decker Brownie Bars"; "Brown Butter Banana Cake with Chocolate Chips"; "Chocolate-Espresso Pecan Pie"; "Bourbon-Chocolate Mousse"; "Chocolate Pavlova with Tangerine Cream"; "Triple-Chocolate Ice Cream Pie"; "Chocolate-Banana-Ginger Bread Pudding"; "Chocolate-Raspberry Truffles"; and "Bittersweet Chocolate-Rum Sauce". The recipes range from simple to more involved, but none of the recipes or required ingredients are out of reach for most cooks. Even chocolate lovers who don't cook will treasure this book--maybe even sleep with it under their pillow for the sweetest of dreams.


Review Copy Gratis Taunton Press



  
  



For those of us fortunate enough to have grown up in a household where the kitchen was always open, and food was prepared and served with love, there is a true treasure to be found in memories of shared mealtimes. In good times and bad, the food was always nurturing, and the comfort and reassurance of the gathering of family and friends is a touchstone to last throughout our lifetimes. If we are lucky, we can continue the tradition of bringing together family and friends, merging and blending our heritage with the demands and deadlines of modern day life. Russell Cronkhite is an accomplished chef, speaker, and writer who for many years served the White House as the head chef of Blair House, the Presidential Guest House. I knew that I would enjoy his book, "Return to Sunday Dinner: The Simple Delight of Family, Friends, and Food", and I was prepared for the food to be fabulous. What I didn't know was how wonderfully he would capture my own feelings on the importance of the kitchen in the home, and how deeply his beautifully written passages on regional and cultural food history and traditional recipes would resonate. There is such great warmth, intelligence, and heart in Russell Cronkhite's words, that you feel as if you as if you are about to sit down at his own family table and partake of a memorable mealtime experience. Each chapter begins with an interesting introduction to a different region and food culture of America, and includes "Easy Time-Saving and Do-Ahead Tips". There are colorful, tempting food photos throughout the book, and each recipe has its own little story. This is truly exceptional food, but the preparation and ingredients are still within reach. Just a sampler: "Baked Apples with Walnuts and Cream"; "Braised Country Greens"; "Hearty Beef and Barley Soup"; "Chocolate Apricot Ricotta Cheesecake"; "Green Beans with Smoked Bacon and Onions"; "Molasses-Pecan Cake with Caramel Buttercream Frosting"; "Sage-Rubbed Roast Pork Loin with Cranberry-Apple Cider Glaze"; "Grandma's Fried Chicken"; "Mustard-Glazed Corned Beef with Cabbage and Braised Root Vegetables"; "Rustic Village Bread"; "Buttered New Potatoes and Dill Steamed Asparagus Spears"; and "Ginger-Peach Chutney". Take the time to read and enjoy this delightful and thoughtful book, and you will be inspired to create new family traditions of your own.


Review Copy Gratis Thomas Nelson Books




  



"Fine Cooking In Season: Your Guide to Choosing and Preparing the Season's Best" is a truly fabulous find for foodies. The authors of this book discovered so many tasty treasures that they had to add a fifth season to the year. Your tasteful journey begins in Spring, and continues through Early Summer, Late Summer, Fall, and Winter. Each season has its own "color tab", and each food has its own variety of recipes. I loved the fact that each food has its own pages with beautiful color photos, recipes, "other ideas", and a "Did you know?" question and answer. Learning about food helps to open your mind to trying new foods, and that is a healthy option for both mind and body. Becoming knowledgeable in how to optimize the potential of the properties of each ingredient is a fun and inspiring way to add new life to food preparation. A reason to please in each season: "Asparagus, Goat Cheese, and Bacon Tart"; "Fresh Peas with Lemon and Chives"; "Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes"; "Apricot-Raspberry Buckle"; "Cherry Mousse"; "Braised Fennel with Tomato, Green Olives, and Capers"; "Roasted Onion Stuffed with Prosciutto and Parmesan"; "Fig and Anise Ice Cream"; "Sun-Ripened Tomato and Black Olive Salad"; "Carrot and Coriander Soup"; "Wild Mushroom Risotto"; "Chocolate Nut-Upside Down Cake"; "Glazed Pork Roast with Carrots, Parsnips, and Pears"; "Brown-Butter Banana Cake with Chocolate Chips"; and "Pan-Roasted Chicken Breasts with Orange-Brandy Sauce". Tempted? You should be!


Review Copy Gratis The Taunton Press   

Author Lauraine Snelling--beloved historical fiction series "Red River of the North"

 

 AN UNTAMED HEART  by Lauraine Snelling

The Long-Awaited Prequel to the Red River Of The North Series

Twenty-year-old Ingeborg Strand is certain she is destined to be an old maid. She's had several suitors but none she deemed worthy of spending her life with. That is, until she meets a university student from Oslo, and feelings stronger than friendship begin to develop between them. But tragedy strikes, and the future begins to look bleaker than ever.

Grief settles heavily over Ingeborg, and her mother suggests that she leave Norway and start afresh in America, as so many others have done before her. But how will she accomplish that with little money and no one to accompany her?

It isn't long before she meets Roald Bjorklund, a widower who has been planning to go to America for some time, lured by the promise of free land. He's a good man, a hard-working man--and he has a young son who desperately needs a mother. He's clearly interested in Ingeborg, but is he the answer to her prayers? And what about love? This isn't how she's always imagined it.

Ingeborg Strand has a heartrending decision to make. . .

MY REVIEW:

"An Untamed Heart" is author Lauraine Snelling's prequel to her beloved "Red River of the North" series. We meet Ingeborg Strand as an unmarried woman of twenty, working alongside her family on their farm, and assisting her midwife mother with the delivery of babies and healing those in need. Her mother worries that Ingeborg is not serious enough about finding a husband, but her father takes pride in her abilities and allows her to work with helping him with farm tasks usually not assigned to women. Ingeborg never expects to find true love, but it comes unexpectedly when she saves the life of a university student, Nils, who was injured in accident. There are family objections to the relationship, but eventually hearts prevail. However, happiness is short-lived when fate steps in, and Nils is this time lost forever. Ingeborg is distraught, but work on the farm, and continuing to help her mother bring new life into the world carries her through her grief. Roald Bjorklund has plans to move to America after his wife gives birth to their second child, but both she and the baby are lost in childbirth. With a four-year-old son to care for, and his plans for the future dependent on making a successful new life in America, he eventually asks for Ingeborg's hand in marriage to help him care for his son. At first, Ingeborg is angered by the offer and by her parents acceptance, but Roald is a good man of faith, and his son is very appealing. Ingeborg agrees to the marriage, and the saga of the Bjorklund family begins. Lauraine Snelling has an involving storytelling style, and the descriptive writing of the setting and the everyday details of life in the time period are very enjoyable. Whether or not you have read the other books in the series, you will find "An Untamed Heart" to be a well-written inspirational historical romance.

Review Copy Gratis Bethany House Books

Bjorklund Family Novels & Series

An Untamed Heart (prequel to the Red River of the North series. October 2013)




Red River of the North series (First Bjorklund family series)


• An Untamed Land
• A New Day Rising
• A Land To Call Home
• The Reaper’s Song
• Tender Mercies
• Blessing In Disguise




Return To Red River series (Second Bjorklund family series)


• A Dream To Follow
• Believing The Dream
• More Than A Dream




Daughters of Blessing series (Third Bjorklund family series)(This series has limited print availability but is available in e-book format)


• A Promise for Ellie
• Sophie’s Dilemma
• A Touch of Grace
• Rebecca’s Reward




Home to Blessing series (Fourth Bjorklund family series)


• A Measure of Mercy
• No Distance Too Far
• A Heart for Home

Lauraine Snelling's Amazon.com Page

Lauraine Snelling

Lauraine Snelling, an award-winning author of fifty-plus books with sales of over 2 million copies, also writes for a wide range of magazines and teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California.  www.laurainesnelling.com

Author CARRIE TURANSKY--wonderfully-written, inspiring historical romance

THE GOVERNESS OF HIGHLAND HALL  by Carrie Turansky 


Worlds lie between the marketplaces of India and the halls of a magnificent country estate like Highland Hall. Will Julia be able to find her place when a governess is neither upstairs family nor downstairs help? 
 

Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents’ financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess, she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn’t sure what to make of the estate’s preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey.


Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin Randolph’s two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from the financial ruin. The last thing he needs is any distraction coming from the kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith.


While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families—common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia’s steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall’s future?  


MY REVIEW:   


Author Carrie Turansky's "Edwardian Brides" series begins with "The Governess of Highland Hall", which features a most appealing heroine in an early twentieth-century setting. Julia Foster is a young woman of spirit, great heart, and a deep abiding faith. She loved working alongside her parents as missionaries to young girls in India. After more than a decade abroad, her father's failing health forces the family to return to England. Julia knows that she must find a suitable employment position as soon as possible to provide for the care of her parents. All of her hopes lie with being accepted as governess to Highland Hall. On her way up the lane to her interview at the great house, she has an abrupt, inauspicious meeting with a man she presumes to be the chauffeur for the manor house. She is soon mortified to learn that the man was no servant, but the lord of the manor himself, William Ramsey, a widower. Despite their differences, William hires Julia as governess to his to young children, and also to his two young female cousins. William had inherited Highland Hall from a distant cousin, the father of the two teenaged girls, and he also inherited the responsibility for their care. What he had not counted on was the disrepair and debt that came along with his inheritance. Julia had only been told of the two younger children, and not the young ladies for which she would be responsible. As Julia lays spiritual and emotional groundwork to bring the family together and set them on the right course, William works to repair the estate and its finances. There are sparks between them, and a mutual respect and friendship grows in tentative measure. Could there be deeper, more lasting relationship in their future, or will William be forced to find a fortuitous society match in order to secure the future of Highland Hall and its residents? A wonderfully-written, inspiring historical romance from author Carrie Turansky.

Review Copy Gratis Multnomah Books
  

CARRIE TURANSKY 


 


Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of eleven inspirational romance novels and novellas. Her latest releases are Snowflake Sweethearts, A Man To Trust, and Surrendered Hearts. Her next book will be The Governess of Highland Hall, releasing 10/13. She has been a winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the Crystal Globe Award, and the International Digital Award. Carrie lives in central New Jersey with her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, speaker and counselor. They have five young adult children and three grandchildren. She and her family served in Kenya as missionaries, giving them a passion for what God is doing around the world. Carrie leads women's ministry at her church, and she enjoys gardening, reading, flower arranging, and cooking healthy meals for friends and Family. You may contact her through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and her website: www.carrieturansky.com.

Author JESSICA DOTTA: Inspiring historical romance with a fresh look at the "Gothic" genre

BORN OF PERSUASION  by Jessica Dotta  


The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland. 



With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.  


MY REVIEW:  


The "Price of Privilege" trilogy from author Jessica Dotta begins with an intriguing first entry, "Born of Persuasion". Young Julia Elliston suddenly finds herself without both her mother and her father, and a previously unknown guardian has plans to send her to Scotland as a elderly lady's companion. Just seventeen, and bound by the societal strictures of Victorian Era England, Julia is desperate to escape exile in Scotland. Raised by an atheist father, and a mother whose mysterious death was called a suicide, Julia has a complicated relationship with faith. When she turns to her childhood friend and sweetheart Edward, she discovers he has become an ordained minister. An unexpected offer of help from a titled older lady will lead Julia into the realm of the upper echelon and into the grasp of Mr. Macy, a man of calculating charm who is twice her age. The more Julia learns of her past, the more the mysteries of her life, including her mother's death, seem to deepen. What is real in her life, and what has been a cover up for the truth of her heritage? Richly atmospheric, with a touch of the great Gothic reads of my youth, "Born of Persuasion" is a fresh look at a beloved genre. Julia's adventures continue with the upcoming "Mark of Distinction" and "Price of Persuasion".

Review Copy Gratis Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
  

UPCOMING   



MARK OF DISTINCTION  by Jessica Dotta (Book Two "Price of Privilege" Trilogy)





PRICE OF PRIVILIGE  by Jessica Dotta (Book Three "Price of Privilege" Trilogy)   




JESSICA DOTTA 

  

Jessica Dotta has always been fascinated by the intricacies of society that existed in England from the Regency through the Edwardian era. She writes in a manner that blends past and modern fiction techniques. She lives in the Nashville area and works as a free lance media consultant and publicist. Her first novel Born of Persuasion released in September of 2013.  

http://www.jessicadotta.com

Book Review: "PIECES OF YOU"--Author Loreth Anne White has created an intriguing tale, perfectly placed in the mountains of Canada, which become a character unto themselves.

PIECES OF YOU  by Loreth Anne White 
   

From the crossroads of small town mystery and dark suspense comes a romance that explores the bonds of family, the power of love, and the potentially explosive collateral damage of the secrets we keep... Sometimes a contract to forget can be as powerful as a promise to remember...

An ex-con, wrongfully convicted of a heinous crime, returns to a small mountain town determined to prove his innocence, reclaim the heart of the woman who helped put him behind bars, and win back the right to meet the daughter he learned about in prison. But his arrival stirs up dark secrets and re-ignites a fierce and consuming passion that just might get the woman he loves, and his child, killed.

Nine years ago Rachel Salonen and Jeb Cullen were soul mates--deeply, irrevocably in love. Until the night two young women went missing from a party in the woods. One was found raped, beaten and pregnant with no memory of what happened. The other is still missing. A small mountain community was torn apart and a young relationship shattered when nineteen-year-old Jeb was arrested for the heinous crime, and Rachel was forced to help put the man she loved behind bars. Now, nine years later, Rachel believes she's finally put the past to rest when her sister dies suddenly in a fire and she's made guardian of her adopted niece. A child, she learns, who was conceived that terrible night of violence, a child whose DNA was used to convict Jeb. And when Jeb is unexpectedly released from max security, Rachel sees that the past has only just begun... ...

Because Jeb has come straight home to Snowy Creek. To prove his innocence, reclaim his life, his home. And to meet the daughter he learned about in prison. A daughter Rachel will do anything to protect. And when the town turns violently on Jeb, Rachel will once again be forced to take sides. This time she chooses with her heart. But her decision could cost everything she holds dear--including her niece's life. Because someone in town will do anything to keep the truth buried...even kill. 


MY REVIEW:   


Richly atmospheric with its rural Canadian setting, "Pieces of You", from author Loreth Anne White, is a terrific romantic suspense thriller. An engrossing story line and compelling characters will keep readers involved from beginning to end. Small towns like the ski resort community of Snowy Creek sometimes hold big secrets. People are very interconnected. What happens to one person affects someone else, and the ripple effect is started. Rachel Salonen and Jeb Cullen met in school and formed a deep friendship which later turned to young love. Jeb was from "the wrong side of the river", his mixed cultural heritage and dark good looks giving him an air of danger. Rachel was a "golden girl", a star athlete and darling daughter of Snowy Creek. Few approved of the relationship, but the bond between them was intense. A heated argument about the course of their involvement had tragic, lasting consequences for Jeb and Rachel. An impetuous mistake placed Jeb in the wrong place at the wrong time, setting him up to take the fall for a brutal rape and kidnapping. Just as his young adult life was beginning, he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to prison for a crime he didn't commit. Rachel was devastated, and her hurt led to a traumatic skiing injury which ended her career as a medal-winning competitor. After almost a decade, Jeb's conviction is overturned, and he returns to Snowy Creek determined to find the real perpetrator so that his name can be truly cleared. He also dreams of making amends with Rachel, whom he has never stopped loving. There's someone else he needs to find--the daughter who was conceived on the night that changed all their lives forever. Jeb's return to Snowy Creek brings unease to those who bear the weight of guilt, and violence is once again the outcome. There's more than one danger in the close-knit community, and the real evil is more heinous than anyone suspects. As Rachel and Jeb make their way back toward each other, they are threatened and harassed, and they try desperately to protect Jeb's daughter, Quinn. Rachel's sister Sophia and her husband had adopted Quinn as a baby without telling anyone the identity of her real parents. After Sophia and her husband were killed in a fire, Rachel became Quinn's guardian. But can she guard her heart from Jeb? Can Jeb prove his innocence and protect the lives of his child and the woman holds the key to his heart? Human horrors are not the only things to be feared as drought conditions turn into a raging fire which threatens to consume the community. What truths will be revealed? Who will survive? Author Loreth Anne White has created an intriguing tale, perfectly placed in the mountains of Canada, which become a character unto themselves.

Review Copy Gratis Author  


LORETH ANNE WHITE


  


Loreth Anne White is a multi-published author of award-winning romantic suspense and mystery. Loreth is a double RITA nominee. She has won the Romantic Times Reviewers' choice award for Romantic Suspense, is a double Romantic Times Reviewers' choice award finalist, a double Daphne Du Maurier finalist, and a multiple CataRomance Reviewers' choice winner.

She hails from southern Africa, but now lives in a ski resort in the moody Coast Mountain range. It's a place of vast, wild and often dangerous mountains, larger-than-life characters, epic adventure, and romance -- the perfect place to escape reality. And the perfect inspiration for her Snowy Creek series!

It's no wonder it was here she was inspired to abandon a 16-year newspaper career to escape into a world of romantic fiction filled with dangerous men and adventurous women.​ When she's not writing you will find her skiing, biking or hiking the trails with her Black Dog, and generally trying to avoid the bears - albeit not very successfully. She calls this work, because it's when the best ideas come.

The first in her Snowy Creek small town Romantic Suspense series - PIECES OF YOU - is out now!

www.lorethannewhite.com

AUTHOR TERRY SPEAR--"The Highlanders" series--recommended for lovers of tough-tender Highland warriors whose capacity to love is as great as their strength in battle

 

THE HIGHLANDER  by Terry Spear

Anora, the shepherdess, finds a half-naked man in her bed, so what's a woman living alone in a cottage in the Lowlands of Scotland supposed to do? Prod him with her pitchfork to chase him off! Only the man is not just a traveler seeking her bed for a rest—but a wounded Highlander, who fights back, swinging his sword!

Niall MacNeill is searching for a Frenchwoman of nobility to escort to his cousin's castle for safekeeping, when he and his friend, Gunnolf, are attacked by another Highland clan, seeking the same woman. The other Highlanders wish to sell her to the highest bidder—English or French—it does not matter.

Niall takes refuge in a sheepherder's cottage to heal up from his wounds and discovers the shepherdess taking care of him may very well be the woman he seeks. He has no intention of doing anything but what his cousin requests of him—ensure her safety on their way to Craigly Castle—but when the lass so bravely wields her pitchfork at him, he is thinking of other, more interesting possibilities.

MY REVIEW:

Niall MacNeill, cousin and "like a brother" to the famed MacNeill brothers of author Terry Spear's " The Highlanders" series, is finally the star of his own story in "The Highlander". Niall and his friend and compatriot, Gunnolf, have been sent on a mission to locate a French noblewoman and escort her to a MacNeill stronghold for safekeeping. While on their search, Niall and Gunnolf are attacked by a rival Highland clan who seek the same woman--their purpose to sell her to the highest bidder--the buyer matters nought. Wounded during the ambush, and separated from Gunnolf, Niall finds refuge in a sheepherder's cottage. However, it is not a shepherd who awakens him by prodding him with a pitch fork--it is the bonny shepherdess Anora, who lives alone in the cottage and considers Highlanders to be barbarians. Nonetheless, Anora tends Niall's wounds, feeds him and offers him shelter for the night. The more time that Niall spends with Anora, and the more he learns of her history, the more he suspects she may be the Frenchwoman whom he seeks. When the men who ambushed Niall and Gunnolf arrive at the cottage, Anora and Niall are forced to fight for their lives. Later, they are reunited with Gunnolf, and the three of them began a treacherous journey that will be filled with intrigue, peril, and a growing love between Niall and his noble shepherdess. When all truths are revealed, who will Anora really be? Niall knows that he wants her for his very own, but will that be possible? What will be Anora's heart's desire? The men of the MacNeill clan are fearsome in battle, intelligent and strong-willed. When they find the special woman who will rule their heart, they are tender, protective and passionate. "The Highlanders" series from author Terry Spear--recommended for lovers of tough-tender Highland warriors whose capacity to love is as great as their strength in battle.

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TAMING THE WILD HIGHLANDER  by Terry Spear

Edana Chattan senses concerns where people she knows could be in danger. When her brothers warn her they're in trouble, she can't convince her father to listen to her, so with an escort, she tries to locate them. Separated from her escort during a storm, she is discovered by Angus MacNeill, who is tasked to return her home. Only Edana has other notions--and convinces him and his companions to allow her to use her abilities to locate her brothers who are manacled in a dungeon somewhere. That leads to a faux marriage and more dungeons and more trouble than Angus had ever thought possible. So why is the bewitching, fiery-haired lass making him think of marrying her for real?

MY REVIEW:

The youngest MacNeill brother, Angus, comes into his own with "Taming the Wild Highlander, the fourth book in author Terry Spear's Medieval-Era "Highlanders" series. As a youth, Angus MacNeill had become enchanted with young Edana Chattan, who was said to have been "touched by the Fae"--the sum of her powers unknown. The Chattans and MacNeills were friendly clans, and the sons and daughters of the clan families would gather together, although Angus was too shy to speak to Edana. Years later, as a man battle-proven in the Crusades alongside his brothers, Angus will be called upon to find and bring home the missing Edana. Both blessed and cursed with the power of mental telepathy, Edana had received a plea for help from her brothers, who had gone to visit a cousin. Something was desperately wrong, and none of her five brothers had returned, so they were all in peril. Due to a misunderstanding with her father, she could not tell him of the messages she was hearing from her brothers, and she set off to rescue them herself. When Laird Chattan realized that all of his sons and his daughter were unaccounted for, he asked the MacNeills for their help. Angus set off to find Edana, beginning a fateful journey which will change their lives forever. When Angus and his men find Edana, they insist upon returning her to her father and then going to search for her brothers. After much pleading, Edana convinces Angus that they must not waste time, and she must go with them. More than ever under the spell of his attraction to her, he enjoys the time spent with Edana. She also finds Angus quite appealing--she has never known the attention of a young man--they were all afraid of her supernatural abilities. Angus puts together a plan to seek entry to the castle where they think the Chattan brothers are being held. He and Edana will pose as husband and wife, travelers seeking hospitality from the laird of the keep. Their plans go much astray however, and eventually they must marry for real, something to which neither one truly objects. Angus has long held Edana in his heart, and she cares deeply for him as well. Not everyone is happy about their union, and there is one who will not rest until he has Edana for his own. Angus will let no other man claim his wife--only he will be the one to tame his "Wild Highlander Bride". A rousing historical romance with added elements of suspense and the paranormal. Another entertaining saga featuring the MacNeill brothers from author Terry Spear.

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HIGHLAND RAKE  by Terry Spear

Dougald MacNeill is the next to youngest MacNeill brother and he's not about to settle down, until Lady Alana Cameron is placed squarely in his lap...and then, the trouble begins.

When Dougald finds Alana roaming the heather on the MacNeill lands, he takes her in hand to see his laird brother James at Craigly Castle to determine her fate. But who has sent her there and why? Her uncle, laird of the Cameron clan, that has warred with the MacNeills for years, has made a marriage arrangement with another clan and now that is even at stake.


Having witnessed her father's death, and even believing he had returned her home when all along he had been dead, Alana discovers she has the gift, or curse, of seeing the newly departed and sometimes those who should have long ago passed over. Her own deceased brother continues to plague her, the rake, and now another, who is very much of the flesh, Dougald MacNeill, has her thinking marrying a rake might just have its benefits. Dougald's sister, who is one feisty ghost, has offered to help Alana keep Dougald in line if he thinks of even straying.


But who sent Alana on a fool's errand in the first place to remove her from the Cameron's lands and set her squarely in Dougald's care, and who really killed her father and her brother, and what has it all to do with Alana? Will she and Dougald learn the truth before it is too late?

MY REVIEW:

Medieval Scotland is the perfect setting for paranormal historical romance in author Terry Spear's "Highland Rake". An involving, atmospheric tale, this is a very well-written and well-paced story line with engaging and intriguing characters. Lady Alana Cameron was present when her father and many of her clan were attacked and killed. Both blessed and cursed by an ability to see and speak with the dead, it was her deceased father who guided her home to safety after he and his clansmen were killed in an ambush. As a grown woman, Alana is a respected healer, and known to converse with spirits. One of the ghosts from whom she receives visitations is her recently deceased brother, Connell. A known rogue and ladies man, Alana and her uncle both felt that his dalliances would lead to his death--and they did. He was killed by a jealous husband who caught Connell with his wife. When Alana is summoned to aide an ailing woman who is with child, she crosses onto the forbidden lands of the MacNeills--a rival clan. Someone has deceived her into treading on MacNeill territory, and Dougald MacNeill takes her into his custody in order to present her to his older brother James, the head of the MacNeill clan. Dougald is even more of a known rake than was her brother Connell, but Alana cannot help noticing his great charm and appeal. James decides that the only course of action to save Alana's reputation and hold off a bitter and deadly clash with the Camerons is to have Dougald wed Alana. Though they have just met, and each first had mistrust of the other, they both agree to the marriage. When Alana's uncle arrives to bring home his niece, she is already wed to Dougald, who agrees to live with the Camerons and one day take her uncle's place as head of the clan. Connell, who had followed Alana, is not the only ghost in the MacNeill stronghold. Seana MacNeill, sister of James and Dougald, had died after running off to marry a man of whom her family did not approve. Seana is delighted to be able to speak with Alana, but Connell raises her ire with his teasing. There is much plotting and planning throughout the clans of the realm, and not everyone would see Dougald and Alana happily wed. Can Dougald protect the bride whom he loves and desires, and can he keep peace among the clans? Will Alana find the security she needs in the love of her husband to set the nightmares of the past behind her? I absolutely loved this story, and I became completely involved with the characters. The respect that Dougald had for Alana and her intelligence and unusual abilities made him one awesome Highland Hero! Recommended for lovers of skillfully-crafted paranormal highland romance, rich in history, romance, and intrigue!

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THE ACCIDENTAL HIGHLAND HERO  by Terry Spear

Lady Eilis Dunbarton’s life undergoes a drastic change with the death of her cousin, Agnes. Now she’s faced with the disagreeable prospect of marrying the man who was to be her cousin’s husband. Not by a change of contract, though. Instead, by deceit—pretending to be her cousin. But if her husband-to-be discovers she’s not really Agnes, her life is forfeit. So what choice does Eilis have but to flee? When Laird James MacNeill’s clan rescues a half-drowned lass from the sea, there is speculation she is of the enemy clan, especially since she doesn’t remember her own name. James is immediately enticed with the lady, but his focus must remain on finding the proper bride. For if he does not wed soon, he must give up his holdings to one of his younger brothers. Focus slips away with each day Eilis is close, and James finds himself contemplating the thought of taking her to wife without knowing her true identity. But how dangerous would the end result be? And what will happen if Eilis’s husband-to-be comes looking for her only to find her in the arms of another man?

MY REVIEW:

Author Terry Spear's unique talents as a storyteller take the reader on a wonderfully romantic journey to twelfth century Britain in "The Accidental Highland Hero". Laird James MacNeill must make a suitably profitable marriage or forfeit the title to his land holdings to one of his younger brothers. Lady Eilis is being forced to impersonate her late cousin Agnes in order to marry Agnes' intended, keeping Eilis' family from losing the chance to settle a feud with a rival clan. Eilis' uncle sends her by ship to wed the much older Laird Dunbarton, keeping behind her younger brother, Ethan, to ensure that she will follow through with the deceit. The ship carrying her to her fate wrecks at sea, and she is rescued by the MacNeill clan, who are the sworn enemies of the Dunbartons. James MacNeill had been anticipating a visit from the comely widow, Catriona, whom he hoped to wed. Instead, he becomes host and guardian of a mystery woman plucked from the sea. When Catriona delays her visit, James' own mother comes up with the idea of a pretend attraction between James and Eilis, whose memory has been affected by her near-death experience along with the onset of fever. The idea is to hasten Catriona's acceptance of James proposal by making her jealous. The attraction between James and Eilis is quite real, and although her memory is returning in random pieces, James cannot shake the notion that they have met before. Could she be the same girl whose life he saved years before? While James has his hands full with the women in his life, there are far more serious matters concerning the ongoing feud with the Dunbartons. Eilis' numerous attempts to escape from the MacNeills are as worrisome to James as are the deep feelings transcending his desire for the mysterious beauty. With no idea of Eilis' real identity, how can they hope for a future together? Will James be able to bring an end to an ancient clan feud and marry the woman he cannot resist? If Eilis remembers her true place in this world, will James be able to be a part of that world? The teasing banter and sweetly sensual attraction between James and Eilis is very enjoyable, and you will root for this unlikely pair to make their match.

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WINNING THE HIGHLANDER'S HEART  by Terry Spear

Lady Anice vows to flee the amorous advances of King Henry I, and return to her home in the Highlands, where she hopes to find a laird to wed, when she learns her staff has vanished. Premonitions of imminent danger warn her of foul play and she is certain she is cursed when it comes to marriage.

The king orders the Highlander Laird Malcolm MacNeill, seeking an English bride, to provide the lass safe escort and learn what has become of her staff. Escorting her home safely proves a dangerous trial in and of itself and keeping his heart out of the matter, when the king wishes her wed to one of his loyal barons instead, complicates issues further. Losing his heart to the lass means Malcolm could very well lose his head.

MY REVIEW:

"Winning the Highlander's Heart" is an entertaining romantic adventure from author Terry Spear. Set in Britain during the reign of Henry I, this tale of a spirited Scottish beauty and a brawny Highland laird will have great appeal for lovers of historical romance. Lady Anice, Countess of Brecken, is cousin to Matilda, wife of Henry I. A ward of his majesty, she is also the object of his amorous attentions. An attempt to flee Arundel Castle by climbing out a window finds Anice caught in the arms of the stalwart Highlander, Malcolm MacNeill, Earl of Pembrintin. While Malcolm is tempted by the charms of the lady whom he catches, after two mishaps with Scottish marital prospects he has sworn to find an English bride with a suitable fortune. The king may want to dally with Lady Anice, but he seeks to marry her off to a fortuitous Norman mate. Anice wants nothing more than to return to her home in Brecken Castle. Prone to premonitions, she has a feeling all is not well, and word reaches the king that the steward, chamberlain, and treasurer have all vanished under mysterious circumstances. King Henry appoints Laird MacNeill and his brothers to escort Lady Anice to Brecken Castle. The MacNeills will stand in stead for the missing men until the mystery is solved, and until the arrival of the Norman chosen by the king to marry Lady Anice. The spark of attraction that flared from the first meeting between Malcolm and Anice threatens to roar into life as they are forced into each other's company. The Highlander cannot resist teasing and tempting the lovely Scottish lady, and she finds him equally attractive and intriguing. Malcolm has sworn to the king to protect Lady Anice, but can he protect himself from the desires of his heart? Anice is intelligent and proud, but she is vulnerable to her feelings toward the compelling Highland laird. Can she trust her life and her emotions to a man who swore to wed a wealthy English bride? Terry Spear's writing is rich in historical detail and offers delightful romantic sparring between two very appealing characters.

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THE VIKING'S HIGHLAND LASS  by Terry Spear

UPCOMING....GUNNOLF'S STORY

TERRY SPEAR

Love, love, love romance, the paranormal, hunky Highlanders with their delicious brogue and hot kilts, so Terry Spear writes about those hunky Highlanders both in medieval times and as wolves in contemporary times. Jaguar shifters too! And young adult urban fantasy. And romantic suspense. She grew up reading mystery, adventure, mythologies from around the world, ghost stories, the paranormal, fell in love with Dracula and Wolfman, and felt they needed loving too. Everyone should have someone to love. Which means her stories always have a HEA.

USA Today Bestseller residing in Central Texas from Sacramento, California who creates award-winning teddy bears too!

http://terryspear.com

Author Robyn Carr's "Thunder Point" series--romantic tales of coastal Oregon community where wanderers settle in, newcomers are welcomed as friends, and friends become family...

 

THE WANDERER  by Robyn Carr

 

 

 

From Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Virgin River novels, comes THUNDER POINT-the highly anticipated new series that will make you laugh, make you sigh, and make you fall in love with a small town filled with people you'll never forget. 

 

 

Nestled on the Oregon coast is a small town of rocky beaches and rugged charm. Locals love the land's unspoiled beauty. Developers see it as a potential gold mine. When newcomer Hank Cooper learns he's been left an old friend's entire beachfront property, he finds himself with a community's destiny in his hands. Cooper has never been a man to settle in one place, and Thunder Point was supposed to be just another quick stop. But Cooper finds himself getting involved with the town. And with Sarah Dupre, a woman as complicated as she is beautiful. With the whole town watching for his next move, Cooper has to choose between his old life and a place full of new possibilities. A place that just might be home.

 

 

 

MY REVIEW:

 

 

 

Author Robyn Carr begins her "Thunder Point" series with "The Wanderer". Set in the ruggedly beautiful coastal area of northern Oregon, the book has some ties to her popular "Virgin River" series. "The Wanderer" is Hank Cooper, known as just "Cooper", who has received word of the death of his longtime friend, Ben Bailey. A loner, like Cooper, Ben left his beachfront property and business to Cooper, who is stunned to learn the extent and value of the land holdings. Ben lead a modest lifestyle, but his property is worth a fortune. Cooper only plans to stay long enough to handle Ben's estate, but the longer he stays, the more involved he becomes in the community, which starts to feel like home. He makes friends with the local deputy sheriff, Mac McCain, and he decides to renovate the bait shop/deli/bar that Ben had run on the property. As Cooper begins to restore Ben's place, he learns just what pivotal piece of property it is--if he sells it to developers, the whole community will be affected. Cooper befriends a teenager, Landon Dupre, who is being bullied by some of his classmates. When Cooper meets Landon's older sister, Sarah, he is instantly smitten, and he has one more reason to stay in Thunder Point. Like Cooper, Sarah is a helicopter pilot, serving with the Coast Guard. Cooper had served as a military pilot--Ben had been his mechanic--and now he goes where the work takes him. Having been badly burned by her cheating spouse, Sarah is not looking for an involvement. However, the chemistry with Cooper is impossible to resist, and they soon begin a passionate affair. To his surprise, Cooper finds himself wanting a deeper relationship, while Sarah tries to keep an emotional distance. Cooper has lived a nomadic existence by choice, but will his unexpected inheritance and surprising emotional longings finally give his life well-planted roots? Will Sarah give him her heart and her trust? "The Wanderer" is leisurely, but enjoyably, paced, allowing the reader to get a real sense of the setting and the characters. The secondary romance between Mac McCain and Gina James added much to the story line, and it is the basis for the second book in the series, "The Newcomer". If you love romances set in small communities where everyone and everything is somehow connected, then you will enjoy the "Thunder Point" series.

 

 

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THE NEWCOMER  by Robyn Carr

 

 

With humor and insight, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr looks at letting go of the past-and knowing when you've found something worth building your future on 

 

 

Single dad and Thunder Point's deputy sheriff "Mac" McCain has worked hard to keep everyone safe and happy. Now he's found his own happiness with Gina James. The longtime friends have always shared the challenges and rewards of raising their adolescent daughters. With an unexpected romance growing between them, they're feeling like teenagers themselves-suddenly they can't get enough of one another. And just when things are really taking off, their lives are suddenly thrown into chaos. When Mac's long-lost-and not missed-ex-wife shows up in town, drama takes on a whole new meaning. They're wondering if their new feelings for each other can withstand the pressure...but they are not going down without a fight. 

Step into the world of Thunder Point, a little town on the Oregon coast where newcomers are welcomed, hearts are broken and mended, and the dramas of everyday life keep the locals laughing, crying and falling in love.

 

 

 

MY REVIEW:

 

 

 

Hank Cooper was "The Wanderer" in the first book in author Robyn Carr's "Thunder Point" series. Now that Cooper seems to be settling in for the long haul, he's "The Newcomer" in the Thunder Point, Oregon community. After an unexpected inheritance from his good friend, Ben Bailey, Cooper eventually grew to love the area where the property Ben had left to him was located. He also came to love Sarah Dupre, and her younger brother, Landon. Cooper became good friends with the deputy sheriff in the little community, Mac McCain. Mac was a single dad, raising three kids after their mother had left them a decade ago. With the help of his Aunt Lou, Mac managed to keep his family together and on the right track. The mother of his oldest daughter's best friend was Mac's best friend and parenting buddy. Gina James was a single mother, never married, living with her own mother and her teenaged daughter. Deep down, there was more than just friendship between Mac and Gina. Romantic attraction had made itself known on a couple of occasions, only to be shut down by an overly-cautious Mac, leaving Gina hurting and frustrated. Everyone knew that Mac and Gina belonged together, but it took another man's interest in Gina to make Mac stake his claim. Now that they're together, he can't believe it took him so long to claim the happiness that was there all along. However, when Mac's ex-wife makes an unwelcome return, she threatens the newfound joy for Mac and his family. Gina has serious issues of her own to deal with her daughter Ashley becomes distraught and self-destructive after she is heartlessly dumped by her boyfriend. Mac's buddy Cooper is trying his best for a happy future with Sarah, but a promotion for her in the Coast Guard could mean that she would have to leave Thunder Point. If her brother Landon went with her, he would be uprooted for his senior year of high school. If Cooper went with them, he would be leaving behind his newly found homeplace. Landon could stay behind and live with Cooper to finish out his school year, but then Sarah would be without the two most important people in her life. Meanwhile, Cooper receives another unexpected gift--one that will change the course of his life forever. Someone will have to compromise, but will it be a compromise of the heart? "Thunder Point" is like a patchwork quilt top--a work in progress where unexpected pairings and additions somehow come together to form a thing of beauty. Something unique and ever-evolving--just like the residents of Thunder Point.

 

 

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THE HERO  by Robyn Carr

 

 

 

With warmth and sensitivity, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr shows readers that falling in love can be the bravest act of all. 

 

In a moment of desperation, Devon McAllister takes her daughter and flees a place where they should have been safe and secure. She has no idea what is around the next bend, but she is pretty certain it can't be worse than what they've left behind. Her plan is to escape to somewhere she can be invisible. Instead, an unexpected offer of assistance leads her to Thunder Point, a tiny Oregon town with a willingness to help someone in need. As the widowed father of a vulnerable young boy, Spencer Lawson knows something about needing friendship. But he's not looking for anything else. Instead, he's thrown his energy into his new role as Thunder Point's high school football coach. Tough and demanding to his team, off the field he's gentle and kind...just the kind of man who could heal Devon's wounded heart. Devon thought she wanted to hide from the world. But in Thunder Point, you find bravery where you least expect it...and sometimes, you find a hero.

 

 

 

MY REVIEW:

 

 

 

Author Robyn Carr returns readers to the coastal community of Thunder Point, Oregon with Book Three, "The Hero". Rawley Goode is a sixty-something Vietnam Vet, usually short on words and spare with communication. However, when he sees a young woman and her small child walking the road alone in the early morning darkness, he offers them a ride. From the young woman's clothing and hairstyle, he surmises that she has just left "The Fellowship", a religious compound located in the area nearby. Since he was on his way to Hank Cooper's little deli & bar, he offers to provide breakfast for mother and child, and then give them a lift to wherever they want to go. Devon McAllister and her daughter are indeed fleeing the compound and the control of the manipulative ruler, Brother Jacob. Devon had been vulnerable to Jacob's persuasion to join his commune, and later he fathered her daughter, Mercy. Devon knew firsthand that Jacob was evil--sometimes physically violent. He grew pot as a cash crop, saying that it was medicinal herbs. He was on the radar of the authorities, suspected of kidnapping and human trafficking. Rawley extends his kindness even further, giving Devon and Mercy a place to stay, and advising Devon to change her looks. She cuts her long hair very short, and Rawley helps her to get new clothes. Another friend of Cooper's also takes an interest in Devon. Spencer Lawson had been married to a former girlfriend of Cooper's, and when she is dying from cancer, Cooper is called to see her one last time. She reveals that he is the biological father of her son, Austin, who has been raised by Spencer. After her death, Spencer and Austin show up in Thunder Point, and Cooper is delighted to be able to spend time with his son. Spencer accepts the job of head coach at the local high schooland he throws himself into the role. Devon finds work in the new doctor's office in town, and she moves into a small apartment which needs a lot of work. Spencer, Rawley, Cooper and his lady, Sarah, step in and fix up Devon's apartment while she is at work one day, and she and Mercy finally have a real home of their own. The friendship between Spencer and Devon blooms into romance. Cooper and Sarah are making plans for the future, and their friends, Mac McCain and Gina James are now happily married and co-parenting their merged families. Devon enjoys her work, her new friends, and the romantic attentions of Spencer, but she is always aware of the danger she left behind. When that danger comes looking for her, and Mercy is kidnapped, Devon is devastated. However, there's more than one "hero" in Thunder Point, and Devon's friends won't let her down. When the past is put behind at last, what will the future hold for Devon and Spencer? Each of them is healing from painful memories, but hearts can always hope for healing and happiness to lead them to brighter and better days ahead. Thunder Point is just the place for them to be--a place where wanderers come to settle, newcomers are welcomed as friends, and friends become family.

 

 

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THE CHANCE  by Robyn Carr

 

 

 

Share the joys, heartbreaks, challenges and triumphs of the people who inhabit the small Oregon town of Thunder Point with #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr

With its breathtaking vistas and down-to-earth people, Thunder Point is the perfect place for FBI agent Laine Carrington to recuperate from a gunshot wound and contemplate her future. The locals embraced Laine as one of their own after she risked her life to save a young girl from a dangerous cult. Knowing her wounds go beyond the physical, Laine hopes she'll fit in for a while and find her true self in a town that feels safe. She may even learn to open her heart to others, something an undercover agent has little time to indulge.

Eric Gentry is also new to Thunder Point. Although he's a man with a dark past, he's determined to put down roots and get to know the daughter he only recently discovered. When Laine and Eric meet, their attraction is obvious to everyone. But while the law enforcement agent and the reformed criminal want to make things work, their differences may run too deep...unless they take a chance on each other and find that deep and mysterious bond that belongs to those who choose love over fear.

 

 

 

 

ROBYN CARR

 

 

 

 

 

Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of almost fifty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series. Her highly anticipated new series, Thunder Point, began in March 2013. Robyn and her husband live in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at www.RobynCarr.com.