Blessings in the Bargain by Kari Trumbo (Independence Islands Book 27)

 

About the Book

Book: Blessings in the Bargain

Author: Kari Trumbo

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: September 27, 2022

Despite a career in logistics, Courtney is unprepared to get lost at sea…

A fated trip to the docks with her closest pal Annie leads to disaster. Ship Captain Lex Ford agrees to take Courtney and two of her friends on what was to be a quick trip to test a new boat. A dangerous storm traps them against a reef, damaging communications and stranding them at sea.

Lex knew this was a bad idea…

He hated having people on his ship with him. Ever since his partner left, he doesn’t share his life with anything but the seagulls. So, when Courtney’s friend Rafe offers him a deal on a new boat, he’d rather ignore the offer.

His heart isn’t ready for how he feels about Courtney, and watching her brave the elements after the storm makes him want to protect her. But the last woman he loved just walked away. And what about their age gap? He’s far older than her. The Lord is good at turning bad situations for good, but can even He make this mess right?

This Breakers Head novel is Kari Trumbo’s final novel in the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

A boatload of adventure all from one boat ride, this story rocks! It's not just the waves that were falling, and Trumbo did such a great job on this story. If I had to pick one of her to say start with this book for this author, this is would be "that book." 

Faith filled, emotional, with action and adventure this book has everything you would have hoped for, and then a little more. It stands alone, though it's part of a huge series. I can't give it less than five stars. 

5 Stars 

About the Author

Kari Trumbo is the creator and co-author of the best-selling Christian Historical Romance series, Cutter’s Creek; selling over 200,000 copies. She has published over 45 titles in seven series. When she’s not writing, editing, plotting, or managing, she home schools her children and pretends to keep up with them. She loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up with a fluffy blanket when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota with my husband of over twenty years, two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 19

Texas Book-aholic, October 20

Lily’s Book Reviews, October 20

lakesidelivingsite, October 21

An Author’s Take, October 21

She Lives To Read, October 22

Inklings and notions, October 23

deb’s Book Review, October 24

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 25

Holly’s Book Corner, October 25

Aryn the Libraryan, October 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 27

Blogging With Carol, October 27

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 28

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 30

Sylvan Musings, October 30

Blossoms and Blessings, October 31

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 1

For Him and My Family, November 1

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Celebrate Lit is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2224c/blessings-in-the-bargain-celebration-tour-giveaway

Halloween Hi-Jinx by Annee Jones

About the Book

Book: Halloween Hi-Jinx

Author: Annee Jones

Genre: Clean Cozy Mystery

Release date: October 14, 2022

Jinx the cat has a bad reputation for always being in the wrong place at the wrong time – and this Halloween turns out to be no different….

His former owners called him “Cursed” – blamed him for their troubles that began occurring after they got him, which is reason he was turned back into the shelter.  But Clarissa Lightfoot, owner of the new Cat Café doesn’t believe it and wants to help clear his name, so she brings him to the new café (doubling as a halfway house for homeless animals).  – There’s no such thing as a Cursed Cat…. Or is there???

The Cat Café is hosting a costume party fundraiser for Halloween to help homeless animals.  After the party, it’s discovered that someone stole $$ from the cash register, and Clarissa is implicated in the crime.

Someone wants her & her new café to go “Poof” and disappear – but who & why?

Can Jinx – along with handsome police officer Cody Shelton – help discover who’s playing tricks on Clarissa this Halloween?

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Review: 

Jinx is a super fun, smart black cat. He's the star of this cozy mystery, sans murder. I partially love that this story is told from Jax's perspective. It makes it so much fun! It's a short story, but sometimes that just perfect. This book works for all ages, if you ask me, but probably focuses on younger readers due to the length of the book being so short. I would love to get to know the other characters better. Cats here and there with the cat cafe, so much fun! Follow Jinx as he works to earn his reputation as a pet sleuth and good kitty. 

5 Meows (stars)  

About the Author

Author Annee Jones loves to write all things romance, fantasy, cozy mystery, & more. She is passionate about writing stories where dreams come true, and love wins in the end!

Professionally, Annee works as a disability counselor where she helps her clients navigate through complex medical and legal systems while rediscovering their wholeness in Spirit.

Subscribe to Annee’s newsletter to stay up to date on new releases, sneak peeks, author parties, and exclusive giveaways:  https://www.anneejones.com/newsletter.

 

More from Annee

The story is told in part from Jinx the cat’s point of view!!  

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 14

Artistic Nobody, October 15 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, October 15

Texas Book-aholic, October 16

Inklings and notions, October 17

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, October 18 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, October 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 20

Beauty in the Binding, October 21 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, October 21

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 22

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 23

Through the Fire Blogs, October 24 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 25

Blogging With Carol, October 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Annee is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 gift card and copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/22009/halloween-hi-jinx-celebration-tour-giveaway

Reunion in Saltwater Beach by Julie Carobini (A Cooper Family Novel)

About the Book

Book: Reunion in Saltwater Beach

Author: Julie Carobini

Genre: Christian Romance

Release date: June 22, 2022

From the author of Walking on Sea Glass … He’s a big city lawyer. She’s the small town beach girl who broke his heart. Any hope for a second chance expired twelve years earlier …

Jax Cooper returns to Saltwater Beach but has no plans to stay any longer than necessary. Once his mother’s estate is wrapped up, he’ll be on a plane back to Chicago—and hopefully to a future as the youngest law partner in his firm.

Addi Barrett never left the small beach town of Saltwater. She chose instead to dote on her ailing mother, help her father’s business, and find new friendships in old places. That didn’t mean she never had dreams of her own …

When a Cooper family member goes missing, a foster dog needs some lovin’, and a long-hidden secret bubbles to the surface, Jax and Addi find themselves thrown together over and over again.

Can they find their way to a second chance at love? Or will past hurts rise up to make happily-ever-after impossible?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review: 

I didn't think his book would hit me so hard, but I had a parent pass. That made this story extra real to me. Jax is a lawyer, in a big city, having come from humble roots on this sea-side town. He left behind the girl who broke his heart. Not only are there dogs to care for, for his mom ran a dog day care, but they aren't all organized and his sister Lilly has become best friends with his past love. Addi also never got over Jax, but their lives are as opposite as they can be. She's never stoped being that small town gal. I liked Addi. I found her to be a good friend to Lilly and a loyal character. 

Their past, like most of us, has mistakes. The thing about mistakes is that they can be forgiven and overcome, if we work on it and let God help us. The themes for this story are forgiveness and healing and, of course, learning form our mistakes and following the plan God has for us. That's not always our plan.

I loved the dogs, and all the characters, the twins and everyone. It is a sweet clean read, with some humor, and a lot of places to think included.

5 Stars 

About the Author

JULIE CAROBINI writes inspirational beach romances. She is the author of 22+ books across two names and is known for spunky heroines, charming heroes, quirky friends, and the secrets they keep. Her bestselling titles include Walking on Sea Glass, Runaway Tide, Finding Stardust, The Christmas Thief, and more. Julie has received awards for writing and editing from The National League of American Pen Women and American Christian Fiction Writers and she is a double finalist for the ACFW Carol Award. She lives on the California coast with her husband, Dan and their rescue pup, Dancer—not far from their young adult children. Grab a free short story here: https://BookHip.com/LWQFHGJ

More from Julie

Do you love a good secret? Me too. Some of my favorite books contain secrets just begging to be revealed. Add in a feel-good romance, some family drama, and a heaping dose of faith, and now we’re talking.

In Reunion in Saltwater Beach, Jax Cooper jetted away to college a dozen years earlier and rarely looked back. His best friend, Addi Barrett, stayed in the town of Saltwater, often wondering what might have been between the two of them. She also carried a secret she hoped never to revisit.

But that was before Jax returned home for his mother’s memorial. And his sister had a meltdown. And one of his brothers disappeared …

On a personal note, while writing this novel, I was unaware that my precious father would pass away just weeks before it released. Honestly, those months leading up to this story’s debut were … hard. But God!

I mention this because, during those last few weeks, my own brothers and I found ourselves talking on the phone or texting daily. Hourly at times. It was an intense time that brought us closer together as siblings—and showed our differences too.

Now I have an extra special place in my heart for the wild and wacky Cooper siblings. (Is it possible to feel a personal connection to a fictional family? Answer = yes )

Of course, I also found myself both fretting and rooting for Jax and Addi to, somehow, find their way to a second chance at love—despite the past that got in their way. And that’s no secret.

Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate you!

Julie

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 24

Blogging With Carol, October 24

Texas Book-aholic, October 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 27

For Him and My Family, October 27

Inklings and notions, October 28

She Lives to Read, October 29

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 29

Splashes of Joy, October 30

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 31

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 1

Holly’s Book Corner, November 1

lakesidelivingsite, November 2

deb’s Book Review, November 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 4

Mary Hake, November 4

Through the Fire Blogs, November 5

Pause for Tales, November 6

Cover Lover Book Review, November 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Julie is giving away the grand prize package of a $75 and a copy of Reunion in Saltwater Beach!!
(eBook will be sent for an international winner)

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/22250/reunion-in-saltwater-beach-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Matchmaker's of Holly Circle by Chautona Havig

About the Book

Book: The Matchmakers of Holly Circle

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian / Romance / Christmas

Release date: November 21, 2014

They’ve been in love for ten years, but it takes an interfering neighbor with a penchant for poker to unravel the mystery of their persistent platonic relationship.

Flirtation can be an art, or so they say. Well, if so, Ruth and Richard are “the old masters” of the flirting game. Despite their strictly platonic relationship, there’s “something there,” as so many of their friends and families say. Neighbors and friends for ten years, neither seems willing to change the course of their relationship.

Three doors down, at the end of the cul-de-sac, Mason Dickenson has watched his favorite neighbors with an interested eye, but he’s finally had it with the dance. So, with a pack of cards and a few tricks up his sleeve, he’s determined to get them out of the “friend rut” and into romance.

Thanks to Mason’s unique matchmaking scheme, Ruth and Richard concoct one of their own—a deeper, stronger, eternal love and relationship that nothing on earth can match.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 My Review:

Richard and Ruth can't quite figure out that they are a perfect couple. They have been in love, but they just never took the other steps. Mason has been watching this entire time and has decided to take action. Can he get Richard and Ruth to get their act together and tie the preverbal knot? There's some laughs and a lot of emotion as Mason plays matchmaker. He is giving gifts and making sure they "came" from the opposite person. It's a sweet story, and in places, bittersweet, but over all I liked it and I appreciated the message in it. 

4 Stars 

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author of Aggie and Past Forward series, Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

How do you feel about me turning this link into a Bookfunnel link., It’s kind of a prequel short story. So I could just do an image to go with it and say, “Download a free short story that happens 10 years before the book begins”?? https://chautona.com/wait-10-years/

Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, October 14

She Lives To Read, October 15

Holly’s Book Corner, October 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 16

Texas Book-aholic, October 17

deb’s Book Review, October 18

Pause for Tales, October 18

Lots of Helpers, October 19

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 20

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 23

Cover Lover Book Review, October 23

Blogging With Carol, October 24

Simple Harvest Reads, October 25 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, October 26

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 26

Splashes of Joy, October 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2200a/the-matchmakers-of-holly-circle-celebration-tour-giveaway