Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Letters of Trust by Wanda Brunstetter

 

Friendship Letters Series — Doretta Schwartz has always enjoyed writing letters and feels her letters can be a bit of a ministry to her friends. In this series, exchanging letters that contain open and honest feeling and struggles helps Doretta and two of her best friends through the darkest challenges of their lives.
 
A Simple Letter Carries Inspiration for Healing
 
Life is good on their Pennsylvania Amish farm for newlyweds Vic and Eleanor Lapp—until the day Vic’s youngest brother drowns in their pond and Vic turns to alcohol to numb the pain. Things get so bad that Vic loses his job and their marriage is coming apart. Eleanor is desperate to help her husband and writes letters to her friend, Doretta, living in Indiana for advice. The trust Eleanor places in her friend and the gentle words she receives in return are a balm for even darker days to come in this first book of The Friendship Letters series by New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter.

Pick up your copy here...


Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of over 100 books with more than 12 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and CBD. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine and USA Today.

Wanda's fascination with the Amish culture developed when she met her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church, and whose family has a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Meeting her new Mennonite sister-in-laws caused Wanda to yearn for the simpler life. In their travels, she and her husband have become close friends with many Amish people across America. Wanda's desire to explore their culture increased when she discovered that her great-great grandparents were part of the Anabaptist faith.

All of Wanda's novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Many of her books are well-read and trusted by the Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

Wanda's primary attraction to the Amish is their desire to live a devout Christian life that strives to honor God, work hard, and maintain close family ties. Whenever she visits her Amish friends, Wanda finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties, which is in stark contrast to the chaos and busyness that plagues so many modern "Englishers." Time and time again, Wanda loses her heart in the Amish life, and she hopes her readers will, too. For more information, visit: www.WandaBrunstetter.com 


My thoughts...
Do you still write letters or do you have a pen pal? This new series by Brunstetter is one you are going to want to sit back and enjoy.
You can never go wrong with a simple Amish read.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Monday, February 27, 2023

Here's to Us by Nora Roberts

 

Temptation

Far from fashionable galas and high society soirees, Eden Carlbough has ventured out into the countryside, challenging herself to run a girls’ camp. Unruly, uncivilized, and unbelievable, her charges defy her at every turn―and run her up an apple tree. She’s not off the ground long before gravity comes calling and she finds herself in the arms of orchard owner Chase Elliot. As if being overrun by obnoxious children wasn’t humiliating enough, Eden now has to endure Chase’s wicked teasing. But his playful flirtations promise much more, enticing Eden to follow her instincts in a way she’s never done before.

Second Nature

Legendary horror author Hunter Brown thrills fans with his tales of terror. But the master of macabre is also a marvel of mystery, maintaining a low―and reclusive―profile. It’s 
Celebrity magazine reporter Lee Radcliffe’s job to lift the veil on popular personalities and she’ll stop at nothing to secure an exclusive one-on-one with Hunter. Intrigued by her relentless drive, Hunter agrees to an interview―but only if Lee joins him on a camping trip.

Although out of her element in the wilderness, Lee is more than up to Hunter’s challenge. And together, they’ll discover that nature brings out their basic instincts and desires in unexpected ways.

Pick up your copy here...


Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Shelter in Place, Year One, Come Sundown, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than five hundred million copies of her books in print.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Sycamore Circle by Sheley Shepard Gray

There’s a lot going on in Joy Howard’s life. She’s got an ex-husband who starts acting like he doesn’t want to be an ex anymore, a sixteen-year-old daughter in need of a guiding hand and a lot of rides to dance practice, more orders for paintings than she has time to paint, and a roster of tutoring clients who sometimes need far more than she can give.

What she doesn’t have is time for a new relationship.

Samuel “Bo” Beauman is a lot of things. He’s a counselor for transitioning ex-cons, a good friend to many, a construction worker, a brother and son, and even a part-time model for a high-end sportswear catalog. He’s also a man searching for redemption.

One thing he isn’t is a man in need of a girlfriend.

But none of that seems to matter when Bo hears Joy’s kind voice in a crowded coffee shop. He instantly knows she’s someone he wants to know better. The two of them hit it off―much to the dismay of practically everyone they know―but Bo doesn’t care what other people think. He feels at peace whenever he’s with Joy, and he won’t let her go without a fight.

When Joy starts getting mysterious texts and phone calls from unknown numbers, she tries to ignore it. But instead of going away, the messages escalate and Joy realizes she can’t handle it alone. But she is juggling a jealous ex-husband, a handful of students with little to lose, and a brand-new boyfriend who spent several years behind bars. Who can she trust?

Pick up your copy here...



 Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She's published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.

Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.

She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.

Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray, or on Twitter @ShelleySGray.

My thoughts....

I love romances with flawed characters. No one is perfect so I don't want to read about perfect people falling in love.
Gray has a gift she can write any genre and do it with so much class. I am never disappointed when I read a book by Gray. 
This is book two in the Rumors in Ross County series, but it can be read as a standalone. I will say this book one was just as good.
I recommend this 4-star read.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

A Love Most Precious 90 Devotions of the Book of Ruth

 

What does true love look like?

The book of Ruth has all the makings of a great love story: a grief stricken past, a homecoming, the challenge to survive, a poor Cinderella who chooses to serve, and an upstanding man of status who notices her. He fights to save her future. This Old Testament Bible story is about a love story far more immense than that of Ruth and Boaz.

During this 90-day devotional by Anita Higman, you will be inspired by the heartwarming, true story of Ruth containing priceless gems: the power of an eternal love to redeem a bereaved mother, a foreign widow, a reformed prostitute's son, all God’s people, and yes, even you. God has the power redeem our broken spirits, broken hearts, and broken pasts. Come discover a precious, life-changing love hidden within four illuminating chapters of Scripture that will delight your heart and refresh your soul! It's also the perfect gift for a friend on any occasion.

Pick up your copy here...


Anita Higman--an award-winning and bestselling author from Texas--has authored or coauthored fifty-plus books, and she has a BA in the combined fields of speech communication, psychology, and art. A few of Anita's favorite things are fairytale castles, antiquing, exotic teas, gardening, and laughing with her family and friends! Her latest book, A Love Most Precious, is a collection of devotions inspired from the book of Ruth in the Bible. Please drop by Anita's website at anitahigman.com. She would love to hear from you!

My Thoughts...
 This is the perfect gift book. Hostess gift, Sunday school teacher gift. 
If you love the book of Ruth you are really going to enjoy this.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

 

THE HUSBAND
A heart surgeon at the top of his field, Stephen Aston is getting married again. But first he must divorce his current wife, even though she can no longer speak for herself.

THE DAUGHTERS
Tully and Rachel Aston look upon their father’s fiancée, Heather, as nothing but an interloper. Heather is younger than both of them. Clearly, she’s after their father’s money.

THE FORMER WIFE
With their mother in a precarious position, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the
truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is.

THE YOUNGER WIFE
Heather has secrets of her own. Will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses
in all of them?

Pick up your copy here...


Sally Hepworth is the bestselling author of The Secrets of Midwives (2015), The Things We Keep (2016) The Mother's Promise (2017), The Family Next Door (2018), The Mother In Law (April 2019), The Good Sister (April 2021) and The Younger Wife (April 2022). Hollywood actress and producer, Amy Poehler, has optioned The Mother In Law for a TV series.

Sally's books have been labelled “enchanting” by The Herald Sun, “smart and engaging” by Publisher’s Weekly, and New York Times bestselling authors Liane Moriarty and Emily Giffin have praised Sally’s novels as “women’s fiction at its finest” and “totally absorbing”. Sally's novels are available worldwide in English and have been translated into 10+ languages.

Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three children. 

My Thoughts...
I have read all of Hepworth's books and this one did not disappoint. I was just thinking as I was reading who was doing what and who was behind all the abuse happening. As I got almost finished with the book, I was shaking my head.
This is one you will be saying what did I just read.
4 star must read.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

The Singer of Israel by Henry O. Arnold

 

A singer’s voice inspires a troubled nation…
A shepherd’s courage vanquishes a giant

The last official act of the prophet of Yahweh was to secretly anoint a replacement for the king of Israel who has been brought low by an unbalanced mind. The great prophet of Israel lives in fear of the wrath of the king. Then out of the hills of Bethlehem emerges the last-born son of a family of shepherds to become the unforeseen hero of Israel.

When David sings of the glory of Yahweh, this shepherd wins the hearts of the royal family and restores King Saul’s troubled mind. But when the singer/shepherd defeats the champion of the Philistines in single combat, David becomes forever known as “the giant-slayer.” Saul quickly sees that David is now a threat to his kingdom and secretly plots to have him killed.

David may be the champion of the people of Israel, but he must live under the constant threat of Saul’s wrath until he is finally forced to flee for his life.

The Singer of Israel is a tale of triumph and tribulation, deepest love and burning rivalries; the new epoch is given a voice…and it is The Song of Prophets and Kings

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                    The Singer of Israel: Arnold, Henry O.: 9781946531292: Amazon.com: Books


Henry O. Arnold's new novel, "The Singer of Israel" is the third volume in his historical/biblical fiction series "The Song of Prophets and Kings." Books one and two are "A Voice Within the Flame" and "Crown of the Warrior King." Arnold says, "I am no scholar or professional theologian. My novels are simply an invitation for the reader to look into the heart and soul of these characters and feel an emotional tug. Once you imagine the secret inner life of an historical character, then you are living in their world, and the past becomes the present."

"A Voice Within the Flame was included in the fiction section of K-LOVE'S recommended Summer Reading list for 2021. He has also been the narrator for dozens of audio books including his own novels. There are two more books in this series, so stay tuned. Arnold lives on a farm in Tennessee with his lovely wife Kay. They have two beautiful daughters married to two handsome men with three above-average grandchildren. For more information please visit: www.henryoarnold.com

Monday, February 20, 2023

Conquer The Kingdom by Jennifer Estep


 Magic reigns, plots abound, and a new love might not conquer all, in this must-read finale to the epic Gargoyle Queen trilogy by international bestselling author Jennifer Estep.


Time is running out for crown princess Gemma Ripley. Despite being a cunning spy and a powerful mind magier, Gemma hasn’t been able to track down the most dangerous enemy her kingdom of Andvari has ever seen. Adding to her worries is the Sword and Shield tournament. With gladiators flocking to the capital city of Glanzen, Gemma can’t tell who is friend—or foe.

Determined to protect Andvari at any cost, Gemma hatches a bold plan, but things aren’t what they seem. Soon, everything she holds dear is being threatened, including her burgeoning relationship with Prince Leonidas Morricone.

With the kingdom she holds dear slipping through her fingers, Gemma will have to conquer her fear and unlock the true secret of her magic—or watch her friends and family die and her beloved Andvari fall . . .  

Pick up your copy here...


Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer is the author of the Elemental Assassin, Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.

In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at www.JenniferEstep.com or sign up for her newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-jennifer/newsletter/.

FOLLOW JENNIFER ONLINE:

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/yyj59omw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_estep_author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennifer_Estep

Amazon: https://amzn.to/39lCyX6

BookBub: https://tinyurl.com/y4dm3zso

Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/y638q98k

Jennifer's blog: https://tinyurl.com/2dj4afb

Jennifer's newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-jennifer/newsletter/

Friday, February 17, 2023

The Worst Best Day Ever by Mark Batterson

 

Bert’s day starts with stubbing his toe on a toy. Ouch! His favorite shirt is in the wash, so he has to wear his second favorite. Ugh. Then his dog chews up his sneakers. And to make this Saturday even worse, Bert has to go to work with his dad all day. Bert is sure this is the WORST DAY EVER!

Then it starts raining as he and his dad take a quick walk. But his dad shows him that, while he can’t control what happens to him, Bert can control how he responds. Every day is a gift, and a bad day doesn’t have to end that way. Whether rain or shine, his dad assures him, Bert can always WIN THE DAY! This charming collaboration between bestselling author Mark Batterson and his daughter, Summer Batterson Dailey, brings home for young readers the truth that they can take charge of their big emotions.

Pick up your copy here...


Batterson is the author of multiple books, including “Win the Day: 7 Daily Habits to Help You Stress Less & Accomplish More”, “Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God,” “Play the Man: Becoming the Man God Created You to Be” and “Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You, It's Too Small”.

Thursday, February 16, 2023

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David Larochelle


 High on a mountain live 100 mighty dragons all named Broccoli. When a tremendous wind blows half the dragons away, ten others sail off to become professional surfers in Hawaii. The oldest and youngest dragons take a train to New York City to start their own heavy metal band. And a mysterious wizard turns four more into a unicorn, a werewolf, a zombie, and a tiny pink poodle. Now how many dragons are left? Young readers will delight in following each and every dragon as they leave their home for marvelous adventures, until there is but one dragon remaining. That's when this final dragon named Broccoli retreats to a cave for the winter and reappears in the spring with a surprise that will thrill and delight. Prepare to read again!

Pick up your copy here...


David LaRochelle has been creating books for young people for over thirty years. His titles have received multiple children's choice awards, the Bell Award for Early Literacy, the SCBWI Sid Fleischman Humor Award, Junior Library Guild selection, and numerous starred reviews. A former elementary school teacher, David loves visiting schools and classrooms across the country and around the world!

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Beyond That, The Sea by Laura Spence


 A sweeping, tenderhearted love story, Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash tells the story of two families living through World War II on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and the shy, irresistible young woman who will call them both her own.


As German bombs fall over London in 1940, working-class parents Millie and Reginald Thompson make an impossible choice: they decide to send their eleven-year-old daughter, Beatrix, to America. There, she’ll live with another family for the duration of the war, where they hope she’ll stay safe.

Scared and angry, feeling lonely and displaced, Bea arrives in Boston to meet the Gregorys. Mr. and Mrs. G, and their sons William and Gerald, fold Bea seamlessly into their world. She becomes part of this lively family, learning their ways and their stories, adjusting to their affluent lifestyle. Bea grows close to both boys, one older and one younger, and fills in the gap between them. Before long, before she even realizes it, life with the Gregorys feels more natural to her than the quiet, spare life with her own parents back in England.

As Bea comes into herself and relaxes into her new life―summers on the coast in Maine, new friends clamoring to hear about life across the sea―the girl she had been begins to fade away, until, abruptly, she is called home to London when the war ends.

Desperate as she is not to leave this life behind, Bea dutifully retraces her trip across the Atlantic back to her new, old world. As she returns to post-war London, the memory of her American family stays with her, never fully letting her go, and always pulling on her heart as she tries to move on and pursue love and a life of her own.

As we follow Bea over time, navigating between her two worlds, Beyond That, the Sea emerges as a beautifully written, absorbing novel, full of grace and heartache, forgiveness and understanding, loss and love.

Pick up your copy here...


AN INTERVIEW WITH LAURA SPENCE-ASH

What led you to write Beyond That, the Sea?

Over 20 years ago, I read an article in The New York Times about a group of British adults returning to the States to see where they had spent time during World War II when they were young. I was fascinated by this — I was aware that children in London were evacuated to the country, but I hadn’t known that children were sent so far afield and often traveled alone. My children were young when I learned about this, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the way this would feel to a child, and how this decision might impact the rest of their life. I was also interested in how this would feel to the adults and to the other children in the families, both those sending their child away and those bringing a strange child into their home. I then did some research, including reading a memoir by an evacuee who, coincidentally, had been sent to the same small town in Massachusetts where I went to high school. Suddenly the place came into focus for me.


Beyond That, the Sea is firmly rooted in history and place, but it’s also a tender coming-of-age story. What themes did you set out to explore in the book?

I was primarily interested in exploring identity, family, and loss. For much of the novel, Beatrix is struggling to figure out who she is and where she belongs. Beatrix’s struggle is unique, of course: Spending five formative years in another country, with another family, would naturally lead to displacement and confusion. Almost all of the characters wrestle with identity, though. I think this is universal — we are all constantly assessing who we are and who we want to be, both within our families and in the world at large. And loss is ever present in this novel, too, although Beatrix bears the heaviest weight: She is without her parents when she comes to the States, and then she leaves the Gregorys behind when she returns to England after the war. One theme that I didn’t necessarily set out to write about but which is threaded throughout the novel is love. It is there in all its many forms: romantic, familial, filial, and platonic. I think it’s hard to write about family — or perhaps write about these two families — and not write about love.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Meant to Be by Nora Roberts

 

Dual Image

In a role that propelled her to daytime television stardom, Ariel Kirkwood’s soap opera character reflects her actual playful personality. So when she gets cast as a devious bombshell in famous screenwriter Booth DeWitt’s semiautobiographical film, her dreams of a silver screen career seem assured. Impressed with Ariel’s believable portrayal, Booth can only see her as his heartless ex-wife, the basis for the character. Reading between the lines Booth projects on set, Ariel finds herself falling for the hopeful man beneath the cynicism. To make Booth see that the real Ariel is offering him a chance for love, she’s going to have to change her act.

One Summer

There’s no summer getaway for Celebrity magazine photographer Bryan Mitchell this year. Instead she’ll be spending three months on the road with renowned photojournalist Shade Colby. Their assignment is a nationwide photo shoot, taking candid snapshots of a summer in America for a beautiful coffee table book. But Bryan’s family fun in the sun moments contrasts with Shade’s portraits revealing the dark side of touristy vacations. Unable to agree on whose pictures best represent their project’s ideal, or anything else, Bryan and Shade discover something extraordinary when they come out from behind their cameras to truly see one another―two people longing for truth and beauty, hoping to share their vision of love.

Pick up your copy here...


Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Shelter in Place, Year One, Come Sundown, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than five hundred million copies of her books in print.

Monday, February 13, 2023

Good for you by Camille Pagan

 

Aly Jackson has waited her whole life to become editor in chief of All Good magazine. But six months into the job, she overhears her coworkers belittling her. Aly’s clapback? A very public, career-jeopardizing meltdown. To undo the mess, she agrees to a monthlong unpaid leave.

Reluctant but determined to turn misfortune into opportunity, Aly retreats to the Lake Michigan beach house her brother, Luke, left to her when he died nearly a year earlier. Except when Aly arrives, she discovers Luke’s slacker best friend, Wyatt, inherited the place, too.

Wyatt is unkempt, unmotivated, and totally uninterested in Aly’s desire to sell. Yet as battle lines are drawn, Aly wonders whether she and this wild card have more than Luke in common. But is she willing to swap her lifelong dreams for a shot at healing her broken heart?

Pick up your copy here...


Camille Pagán writes about love, relationships, and life's what-ifs. She’s the #1 Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of ten books, including Everything Must Go, I’m Fine and Neither Are You, and Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, which has been optioned for film. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Time, and many others.

When Camille's not working on her next story, you'll usually find her with her family or talking shop with other writers. Be the first to hear about her new novels by visiting www.camillepagan.com/subscribe.

My Thoughts...
Loss and grief who better to write about those topics then an author who pours her heart on the pages. 
This book is not to be missed I really enjoyed it and I recommend this one.
4-stars and I am excited to read Pagan's next book,
 The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Friday, February 10, 2023

Breaking All the Rules by Amy Andrews

 

Sometimes you gotta toss your whole life into a burning dumpster to find what’s most important...

Beatrice Archer has always done everything she’s supposed to ―worked her ass off, ignored her non-existent personal life, and kept her mouth shut. Now she’s over it. The rat race, respectability…the underwire bras. She’s taking her life back. Starting with moving to Nowhere, Colorado to live life on her own terms.

Now Bea gives exactly zero forks. Beer for breakfast. Sugar for everything else. Baggy sweats and soft cotton undies FTW. Then a much younger and delightfully attractive cop is called to deal with her flagrant disregard for appropriate clothing outside the local diner (some folks just don’t appreciate bunny slippers) and Bea realizes there’s something missing from her little decathlon of decadence…and he might be the guy to help her out.

When it comes to breaking rules, Officer Austin Cooper is surprisingly eager to assist. He’s charming, a little bit cowboy, and a whole lot sexy. But Bea’s about to discover that breaking the rules has consequences. And all of the cherry pies in Colorado can’t save her from what’s coming…

Pick up your copy here...


Amy is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling, double RITA nominated, Aussie author who has written eighty plus contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets. Her books bring all the feels from sass, quirk and laughter to emotional grit and panty-melting heat.

She loves good books and great booze although she'll take mediocre booze if there's nothing else. For many, many years she was a registered nurse which means she knows things. Anatomical things. And she’s not afraid to use them!

She lives in a pretty little coastal town where she gets to look at the ocean all day.

Read a FREE novella here - https://dl.bookfunnel.com/c8zivd3ujo.

To keep up with Amy's new releases you can join her mailing list here - http://www.amyandrews.com.au/newsletter.html

My Thoughts...
This was my first book by Andrews and I can't wait to read more. I really enjoyed it. You had me a sexy cowboy. 
I can say that I recommend this one to all my romcom fans.
 The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Thursday, February 9, 2023

The Forever Family by Shirley Jump

 

A heartwarming story about sisters, falling in love, and discovering life’s greatest adventures are made with those who matter most by New York Times bestselling author Shirley Jump.
 
The youngest of the three close-knit sisters, Emma Monroe is the family wild child. She’s never stayed with anything—job, apartment, boyfriend—for long, and she likes it that way. Except lately, her freedom has seemed less like a gift and more like a burden. Maybe that’s why a yoga retreat in Las Vegas leads to a spur-of-the-moment decision to marry Luke Carter, a man she’s met exactly three times. 

The next morning, instead of facing Luke, Emma sneaks back home to Harbor Cove, where she should have nama-stayed in the first place. Still, it shouldn’t be difficult to annul their hours-long marriage.  Except Emma’s brand-new husband arrives in town to convince her to give their marriage a chance. With the support of her family, can Emma envision a future where her biggest adventures come not from running away but from staying… and risking it all on love?

Pick up your copy here...


When she’s not writing books, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shirley Jump competes in triathlons, mostly because all that training lets her justify mid-day naps and a second slice of chocolate cake. She’s published more than 75 books in 24 languages, although she’s too geographically challenged to find any of those countries on a map.

Visit her website at www.ShirleyJump.com for author news and a booklist,and follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/shirleyjump.author for giveaways and deep discussions about important things like chocolate and shoes.

This is book two in the Harbor Cove series. Who doesn't love a story about sisters? This has been a fun series. The Forever Family can be read as a standalone, but I think you should read both books. I really enjoyed them both.
 The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.