The Scent of Rain

The Scent of Rain

by Kristin Billerbeck

From the publisher:

When deprived of her most prized sense, Daphne discovers a life she never expected, right under her nose. 

Daphne Sweeten has left Paris - and a career she loves - in order to marry a man she loves more. But when he stands her up on their wedding day, Daphne's left reeling. Trained as a professional "nose" or perfume creator, Daphne soon realizes that her sense of smell has somehow disappeared too. In the days following she moves to Dayton, Ohio, to take on a job creating fragrances for household products. Without her sense of smell, she must rely on her chemistry skills, and hope that her handsome new boss, Jesse Lightner, doesn't notice before she can figure out how to get it back. Despite her desire to return to Paris, she can't deny the way Jesse makes her feel. But when Daphne approaches former contacts, she learns her ex-fiance has somehow snagged her old job. As Daphne and Jesse work on a signature scent for their new line, she feels God at work in her life as never before. And the promise of what is possible is as fresh as the scent of rain.

My take:

When I first read the description for this book, I couldn't help but be reminded of Melody "The Nose" (played by Mimi Rogers) in my favorite Christmas movie, The Christmas List. I never realized that there really were people who could pick up the subtlest of scents within a perfume. This heightened sense of smell fascinates me!

Scent of Rain was an enjoyable read. I have read quite a few of Kristin Billerbeck's other books and this one didn't fail to disappoint. It started out a bit slow for me, but as I kept reading, I became more invested in the story line. I was especially interested to figure out the reason Daphne had lost her sense of smell and how she would recover it.

The other part of the book that drew my attention was the fact that it took place in good old Dayton, Ohio! I found myself wondering how Kristin came up with the idea for Dayton to be the main setting of the book. Being from Ohio myself, I enjoyed reading about Dayton.

If you are looking for a light fiction read, I would recommend this one! I give it 4 stars.

About the author:

Christy Award finalist and two-time winner of the ACFW Book of the Year award, Kristin Billerbeck has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times. Her books include A Billion Reasons Why and What a Girl Wants. She lives with her family in Northern California.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from BookSneeze. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

A Necessary Deception

A Necessary Deception 

by Laurie Alice Eakes

Lady Lydia Gale lost her husband, Charles, 7 years ago in the French Revolutionary War. She lives with her controlling father, her sickly mother, and her sister Cassandra, who is near-sighted, bookish, and engaged to Jeffrey Whittaker, and her sister Honore, whose only interest is catching a man during her "coming out" season. 

Christophe Christien de Meuse is the man she helped release from prison. Christien had helped her husband during the war, and Lydia felt she owed it to him to help him. Shortly after helping Christien, Lydia is visited by a stranger who claims that Christien is a French spy. The stranger blackmails her, threatening Lydia's family if she doesn't comply.

I struggled with this book a bit. Though I was really interested in the story and loved Christien's character, I disliked Lydia's character throughout most of the book. Her obsession with keeping her sisters in line and "toeing the line" got old after awhile, and I wanted to yell at her to wake up to discover all the good she had in her life. 

Though I didn't enjoy Lydia's character, I am looking forward to reading Cassandra's and Honore's stories in the rest of the books in The Daughters of Bainbridge House series.

This book is now available at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Company.  

About the author:

Award-winning Laurie Alice Eakes wanted to be a writer since knowing what one was. Her first book won the National Readers Choice Award in 2007, and her third book was a Carol Award finalist in 2010. Between December 2008 and January 2010, she sold thirteen books to Barbour Publishing, Avalon Books, and Revell, making her total sales fifteen. Recently, she added two novella sales to that collection. Her first book with Revell, Lady in the Mist, was picked up by Crossings Book Club, and three of her books were chosen for large-print editions by Thorndike Press. She has been a public speaker for as long as she can remember; thus, she suffers just enough stage fright to make her sharp. In 2002, while in graduate school for writing fiction, Laurie Alice began to teach fiction in person and online. She lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs, and probably too many cats.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Turnabout's Fair Play

Turnabout's Fair Play

by Kaye Dacus

The third installment of Dacus' Matchmakers series, Turnabout's Fair Play focuses on Flannery McNeill, continuing the story that started with Zarah Mitchell in Love Remains and Caylor Evans in The Art of Romance. 

Flannery McNeill is an editor at Lindsley House Publishing Company. She has just seen her two best friends get engaged, but she has no prospects. 

Flannery can't stand Jamie O'Connor. He appears to be everything she hates, plus he has a huge ego. When life circumstances cause him to re-evaluate his passions and life's calling, Flannery and Jamie discover they might have more in common than they realized.

As the premise of the series is on matchmaking, hence the series' title Matchmakers, all of the characters' grandparents are trying to marry off their grandchildren. I love what Kaye does with the cute busy-body grandmothers. In this book, both Flannery's grandfather and Jamie's grandmother end up finding love too.

I really loved this book. Kaye does an outstanding job of creating these characters. The chemistry between her characters is amazing. I found myself wanting to yell at some of the characters at times - in a good way, of course. And as someone who loves a good banter, I have to give Kaye a pat on the back for the witty dialogue in this book. 

Perhaps the best part of Kaye's books for me is the fact that her characters are in their 30s, a little older than most of the heroines in romances out there now. She also develops her characters in a way that seems more genuine. I have my friend Becky to thank for introducing me to this author. She and I have the same reasons for loving Kaye's books!

I highly recommend this book. It will be available at your favorite bookseller at the end of October. Click here to pre-order or read a portion of the book!

About the author:

Humor, Hope, and Happily Ever Afters! Kaye Dacus is the author of humorous, hope-filled contemporary and historical romances with Barbour Publishing and Harvest House Publishers. She holds a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, is a former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, and currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and even though she writes romance novels, she is not afraid to admit that she’s never been kissed.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Barbour Books through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

Hello, Hollywood!

Hello, Hollywood!

by Janice Thompson

Athena Pappas is the head writer for the sitcom, Stars Collide. When she finds out the show wants to add a fourth writer, she starts getting anxiety, thinking she may be about to lose her job. When she meets the fourth writer, Vegas comedian Stephen Cosse, she finds herself being torn between liking him and resenting him. When it seems that Stephen has betrayed her and their fellow writers, will he turn out to be the real deal, or a disappointment?

I really liked this book. It was a fast read, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading not just the love story between Athena and Stephen, but the dynamics and antics of Athena's huge Greek family. It had a sort of My Big Fat Greek Wedding vibe. There were so many cute elements to the story, and laugh out loud moments with Athena's family, Stephen's daughter, Brooke, and Zeus, the dog Athena inherited from her great-aunt Athena. I also thought it was interesting to read about what goes on behind the scenes of television writing. The author's background in script writing lends an authenticity to the writing scenes (though I know they're shortened and exaggerated a bit for the story). Of note, this book is the second in this series. The first is Stars Collide, which features Kat and Scott's story. 

I give Hello, Hollywood! 5 stars.

This book is now available at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Company. Click here to read more about Hello, Hollywood, or to read a portion of the book.

About the author:

Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and former screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson afford an inside look at TV land, drawing on her experiences as a screenwriter. She is the author of the Weddings by Bella series and Stars Collide. She lives in Texas.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Waiting for Dawn

Waiting for Dawn

by Susan May Warren

Jim Micah has two things on his mind: his regret of losing the woman he loves, Lacey Galloway, and his mission in Iraq. It is 1991 and the Gulf War is winding down, but things soon begin to heat up for Micah. When he and the men on his special operations team are attacked and taken prisoner by unknown enemies, he has to face his fears and decide who to trust. When Lacey hears Micah has gone missing, she decides to do everything she can to find him. Will she be successful? And will the two find happiness together?

This novella almost immediately jumps right into the action. I have not read a lot of novellas, save a few of those books that offer 3 or 4 short novellas in one, but this one caught my attention from the start. The novella ends kind of abruptly, in my opinion. Had I not read the author's afterword, I would have been sorely disappointed. Apparently this is supposed to be the prequel to Flee the Night, the first novel in Warren's Team Hope series. Warren states in the afterword that many of her readers had been asking for background on Micah's story, so hence the creation of Waiting for Dawn. Reading this short story made me interested in reading the rest of the Team Hope series. I will definitely read those books now. 

I would give this novella a 4.5 out of 5, simply because of my confusion at the end of the story.

Waiting for Dawn was released directly to digital edition and is available on Amazon.com and other digital retail sites.

About the author:

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers, as part of the Digital First program through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

A Heart Revealed

A Heart Revealed

by Julie Lessman

Ten years ago, Emma Malloy moved from Ireland to Boston, to escape her abusive husband, Rory. Because her faith (Catholicism) doesn't allow divorce, she remains married to him, and becomes content in her life as essentially a single woman. When she falls for her best friend Charity's brother Sean O'Connor, she tries to protect Sean by setting him up with another woman. Will Emma's past continue to haunt her, or will she find freedom to love again?

This, by far, is my favorite book of the summer/fall. Lessman had me riveted to the pages from the very first chapter. I loved everything about this book...the memorable characters, captivating storyline, fascinating time period of the 1930s, the unexpected twists and turns...what an amazing book! I can't believe this is the first book of hers that I've read. Because of some unexpected plot details from the previous book (and the previous series, Daughters of Boston, which introduces the O'Connor family), I wish I had started with the first book, A Passion Most Pure (click here to order it on Amazon). But I am still greatly looking forward to reading all of the other Julie Lessman books I haven't read!

I definitely recommend this one!

The first book in this series, A Hope Undaunted, is available as a free Kindle download on Amazon. Click here to check it out!

This book is now available at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Company. Click here to read more about A Heart Revealed, or to read a portion of the book.

About the author:

Julie Lessman is the popular author of A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, andA Passion Denied, as well as A Hope Undaunted, which was one of 2010's Booklist Top Ten Inspirational Fiction winners. Lessman has garnered several writing awards, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She lives in Missouri. Visit her website at www.julielessman.com. 


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Deadly Pursuit

Deadly Pursuit

by Irene Hannon

Alison Taylor is receiving strange phone calls, and now she has started receiving threatening gifts. Her overprotective brothers, Cole and Jake, are watching out for her, and so is Mitch Morgan, her brother Cole's partner on the police force, who is also pursuing her romantically. Who is stalking Alison? And will they get close enough to harm her? And will Alison let Mitch get close enough to get into her heart?

This is my first time reading any of Irene Hannon's books, and all I have to say is, "Wow." I loved this book so much! I can't believe I hadn't heard of her before I received the invitation to review this book! By the first few pages, I was hooked! The characters, action, and plot were enough to make me want to stay up late reading. Her style reminds me of Dee Henderson, one of my favorite suspense novelists. As soon as I finished Deadly Pursuit, I looked up Hannon's other books. Deadly Pursuit is the second book in the Guardians of Justice series. Fatal Judgment (click here to learn more about this book) is the first in the series, and covers Jake Taylor's (Alison's brother) story. I plan on reading all of her books - seriously, Irene Hannon is that good! 

I highly recommend this book, and give it 5 stars. 

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of  Baker Publishing Group.

About the author:

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the CBA bestsellers Against All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, In Harm's Way and Fatal Judgment. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America (she’s a five-time finalist), the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and two Reviewer's Choice Awards from Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine. She lives in Missouri. For more information about Irene and her books, visit her website at www.irenehannon.com.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Nobody's Child

Nobody's Child

by Austin Boyd

Laura Ann McGehee’s father, Angus McGehee, is dying of lung cancer. Laura Ann is doing all she can to save the family farm in West Virginia, but she’s running out of money. She has a secret source of money that she’s revealed to no one. When a woman named Sophia comes to town, looking for her, townspeople speculate who the woman could be. They have already spread terrible rumors about Laura Ann’s reputation. Will Laura Ann open up to her childhood friend (and possibly more), Ian Stewart? Or will she keep her secrets to herself?

Having just finished it, I am having a hard time figuring this book out. First of all, the description made me think it was going to be different than it actually turned out to be. The first half of the book moved pretty slowly, and I found myself wanting to skip ahead to where it might get more interesting. Without revealing too many plot details, I would have to say that this book did not live up to my expectations. I think that the author had a great idea for a Christian fiction book that dealt with bio-ethics. I feel it had the potential for so much more. The one part of the book I really connected with was Laura Ann's ancestry line, which sounded similar to my own. Laura Ann had generations of ancestors from West Virginia who originated from Scotland, as I do. But the rest of the book didn't hold my interest much. 

That being said, I can't really recommend this book. There was nothing inappropriate in the book, but I would have to rate this one a "3."

About the author:

Austin Boyd is an award-winning author who writes extensively about faith issues related to technology and business. He published award winning poetry and more than two dozen technical articles and papers during his career as a Navy pilot, NASA astronaut finalist, and spacecraft engineer. The author of six novels, he is a Christy Gold Medal finalist (The Proof, 2007) and the winner of the Mount Hermon “Pacesetter Award.”

Austin currently writes for Zondervan, Inc. and has previously written for the B&H Publishing Group of Nashville, TN, and NavPress, the publishing arm of the Navigators in Colorado Springs, CO. He has several novels in work based on themes tied to faith dilemmas in bioethics, as well as a Christian layman’s guide to Islam.


Austin is employed as the Chief Executive Officer for Inergi, Inc., an engineering and design firm in Huntsville, Alabama. He is active in local ministry activities with Choose Life of North Alabama, the nation’s third busiest crisis pregnancy center, Southwood Presbyterian Church of Huntsville, and First Baptist Church of Huntsville where he has served as a teacher, deacon, and evangelist.
For more information, visit www.zondervan.com, www.inergi.com, www.chooselifehuntsville.org, and www.fbchsv.org


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

Shadows on the Sand

Shadows on the Sand

by Gayle Roper

Carrie Carter and her sister Lindsay ran away from home 17 years ago (at 16 and 10 years of age, respectively). Their mother was an alcoholic who attracted the wrong kind of men, and it had no longer been safe to stay at home. The two sisters wound up in Seaside, New Jersey, where Carrie got a job at a diner. Now, 17 years later, Carrie runs the diner while Lindsay works as a sous chef in the kitchen. 

Greg Barnes, a former cop, has been coming in to Carrie's Cafe for breakfast for the past 3 years - since his wife and children were killed. He doesn't say much, but Carrie has a major crush on him. When one of Carrie's employees, Jase, turns up missing, Greg helps try to figure out what happened to him, and he and Carrie figure out they have a mutual attraction. When another employee goes missing, suspicions turn to a dangerous cult. Will they figure out what happened to the missing employees? And will their romance last?

I loved this book. I have read several other suspense novels by Gayle Roper and enjoyed each one of them. So when I saw that this book was available for review, I put my request in right away. I love the small town feel of Roper's novels, and the way she weaves a suspenseful story without making it overly scary. I also like the way she has her characters work through spiritual issues of forgiveness and trust. Roper also works in some comedy -in this instance, through the back characters who are constantly on their smart phones, "twittering" and "facebooking." She almost made these characters seem satirical - I know I laughed out loud several times! This is one I recommend, and one I will definitely read again in the future. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

My Foolish Heart

 

My Foolish Heart

by Susan May Warren

Isadora Presley ("Issy") can barely leave her house without a panic attack, ever since her mother's fatal car crash 2 years ago. And even though she's never had a date, she hosts a radio show called "My Foolish Heart," where the lovelorn call in to ask advice. Caleb Knight is her new next door neighbor - he has a war injury and a thing for Issy, though she only rates him a "6." He's vying for the Deep Haven High School football coach position along with Seb Brewster, who was a hometown football hero in his day. Seb and Lucy Maguire, Issy's best friend, used to be an item until she caught him kissing one of the cheerleaders. Lucy has put up armored shields around her heart since his betrayal. When Seb returns to town, what will Lucy do? And will Issy and Caleb get together?

I loved this book. It was one of those that I wanted to stay up late reading, just to find out what was going to happen to these 4 fascinating characters. It was the perfect mix of romance, wit, drama, and enjoyable story line. I found myself identifying with both Issy and Lucy, for different reasons. I am looking forward to reading the previous 2 novels in the Deep Haven series, along with Susan May Warren's other books.