Amnesty

Supernatural YA is a little outside my usual genre, but Amnesty, by Jo Noelle, is totally worth the read. Also, there is a romantic thread so...romance readers will be happy too.

I'm a long time fan of this writing team. They consistently deliver solid writing with emotional depth, and keep the pacing steady to keep the story moving and the reader reading.

In this one, the heroine, Cassie, takes on the afterlife in a big way. She's sentenced to the fire and brimstone, but given a chance at redemption through the Amnesty program. Her twenty days on Earth will determine if she keeps her original sentence or earns a ticket through the golden door.

Life on Earth wasn't easy the first time and isn't any easier in her twenty days. This is a novel about exploration of the soul, and who we choose to be. It's all about agency and action. Cassie still makes mistakes, gets tempted to back to her previous ways, and takes steps to go outside her comfort zone to learn about others and, in the process, herself.

Yes, there are gorgeous guys too, even in the afterlife.

Reader note: the word hell is used in context of the place, and there are a few minimal swear words in the text.

If you liked All By My Selfie, (apparently all hot guys originate in Scotland) grab this one too.

Amazon
Cassie is going to heaven—if she can get amnesty from hell in the next twenty days. Her assignment is to change the eternal destination of a girl in Albuquerque to earn admittance into heaven. 
No sweat.
But when Cassie returns to earth during her three-week, mostly-mortal assignment, her old habits get in the way, (apparently habits don’t die when you do), the partners assigned to help her are anything but helpful, and it turns out the girl she is supposed to help is the only enemy she made on her first day of school.
Oh, I’m so going to hell.
Things aren’t all bad—it helps to have a hot angel on your side. Mmm-Marc. Even though he’s all about heavenly business, Cassie would like to make it personal.
Assignment with benefits.
_____________________ 

This young adult novel is a coming of age story with a clean romance, packed with action and suspense in this YA supernatural romance.

My One and Only

I do enjoy Ms. Guymon's books. Can't remember which of her others I've read but I'm a fan when I do!

I like Meredith, no lie. She is stubborn and in her own way of love. She has a good reason. She's protecting her heart. I get this heroine.
Asher is easy to like and so is Pule, though for me the triangle didn't last long. I was team Asher from the beginning. I would like Pule to get his own HEA (happily ever after.) As its a series, I bet he will, and she'll be awesome.

All the wonderful emotional roller coaster ride elements are here, along with wit, and description that gives the message without being lengthy. Well-written, unexpected plot twists, and hard to put down are part of Ms. Guymon's hallmark. Clean and wholesome through and through.

Grab a copy, and the rest of the series.

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Meredith Jensen has seen her share of ups and downs. She’s found love twice already and lost it in spectacularly traumatic ways. Now? She just wants a peaceful life, free from love and drama. Meredith’s plans for the future center around planning other people’s weddings and her new online dating website. Just because she works to help other people find love doesn’t mean she wants any part of it though. Unfortunately for Meredith’s plans, Asher Murphy is determined to get her to give love another chance. But then again, so is Pule Matafeo. Meredith has never denied that she’s stubborn and feisty so it might take the combined forces of all their friends in Fircrest to get her heart back on track in time for Valentine’s Day.

The Bet

This might be my first read by Taylor Hart, either way, it won't be my last. 

There's a lot going on emotionally in this tale, with every character. So if you're looking for emotional depth, you have got the right book. 

It was quite a page turner as the heroine had very opposite personality type  brothers vying for her affection. I wasn't sure which one she would pick, though I had a favorite I rooted for. Thankfully, I chose the same one as the heroine. 

Clean, sweet, a hint of spice. A definite winner. 

There's seems to be alot of things happening with all the characters we meet so I think it would be beneficial to read any of the Snow Valley Romances that may come before this one. 

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Enjoy this sweet romance by best-selling author, Taylor Hart
When Destiny Morningstar gets blackmailed into spending her spring break in Snow Valley, the last thing she’s looking for is a date, especially not with Adam and Chase Moon—two attractive and athletic brothers. But soon she finds herself tangled up in a dating spree that includes a flag football game, swinging around the barn dance, and hiking to Snow Valley's romantic hot springs with the town's most eligible bachelors. At every turn she's within kissing distance of one of the delectable Moon men. When she discovers she’s been part of some bet fueled by sibling rivalry and overactive egos she has to make a decision—forgive them both or miss out on the best thing that’s ever happened to her.

This includes a bonus chapter of Taylor Hart's next book in this series, The Better Man.

A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride

Welcome to the eighteen hundreds/turn of the century, when being a mail order bride was sometimes the only option for a respectable single lady with nowhere to go or no one to turn to. The other option was to be an unrespectable lady.

Each of the six stories is told with its own charm and voice. All the heroines head west for a fresh start with a stranger. What they end up with a man who captures her heart. The fun of each story is in the details.

Clean, wholesome, romantic, and utterly enjoyable.

I'd love to see these authors cook up a reverse romance series where the hero is a mail order groom!

Amazon

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Mail Order Bride Collection, now a USA TODAY Bestseller! Six historical romance novellas set in the Old West. 

WRITTEN IN HER HEART, a charming novella by Stacy Henrie, Georgeanna is getting desperate. She can’t fund her favorite orphanage unless she marries and secures the rest of her inheritance left by her father. But her father’s financial planner, Clay, can't understand why she's not content with her current situation. Georgie determines to send out a notice as a mail order bride to attract suitors who won’t know her financial situation. Little does she know, Clay takes up the pen and sends her letters of his own under an assumed name. After years of working for Georgie’s father, Clay realizes he isn’t ready to watch her marry another, not when his heart is already claimed by her.

In Kristin Holt’s delightful novella WANTED: MIDWIFE BRIDE Dr. Naomi Thornton thinks she has it all: a beautiful house, a loving husband, and a fulfilling career. But when everything she holds dear is ripped away, Naomi has no choice but to start over. What will she find in the wild and untamed Wyoming Territory? Dr. Joe Chandler has waited years for a wife with the knowledge, skills, and tender heart he yearns for in a medical colleague and lifetime companion. When a midwife arrives with more expertise and secrets than he counted on, Joe quickly discovers there’s more to love and marriage than a simple mail order contract. 

In THE SOUND OF HOME, a captivating novella by Annette Lyon, Marilyn is given the choice of either marrying the despicable Victor or being charged with a murder she didn’t commit. Refusing to believe that either is her fate, she finds a third option: she answers a mail order bride advertisement and boards a train to Wyoming to wed a man named Harry. Moments after her arrival, she learns that Harry isn’t who he seemed to be, and the advertisement turns out to be a giant mistake. Harry’s brother Thomas agrees to let her stay until she can figure out what to do next—after all, she simply cannot return to New York—but Marilyn quickly finds herself developing feelings for Thomas.

In Sarah M. Eden’s endearing novella FOR BETTER OR WORSE Gerald Smith, on the advice of his well-meaning neighbors, has decided it’s time to change his lonely existence. Mary Hill, on the advice of her empty pocketbook and non-existent roof over her head, has decided it’s time to secure herself a future. A mail-order marriage, they both realize, is no guarantee of happiness, but it is a risk they are willing to take. However, coming face to face on the train platform, the hapless couple discovers an unexpected truth: marriage to a perfect stranger is sometimes far preferable to the prospect of a lifetime with someone you used to know.

Heather B. Moore’s sweet novella THE INCONVENIENT BRIDE sees Carmela traveling from Boston to Colorado, eager to meet the man she’s been corresponding with and will soon marry. Her brother’s new marriage leaves little room for Carmela in her old life. Upon arrival in Leadville, she faces a rude awakening, and the only one who can understand her predicament is her fiance’s brother, Samuel. But Samuel can’t possibly help her out of an awkward situation, can he? 

THE PRICE OF SILVER, an engaging novella by Siân Ann Bessey, Katie leaves New York for Idaho to marry Jake, a man she’s written to a couple of times. But when she steps off the train, his brother Caleb is there to greet her. Jake has gone to take a mining job he couldn’t pass up. Caleb takes Katie back to the family ranch to wait for Jake’s return. The more Caleb gets to know Katie, the more he envies his brother, but he can’t let his heart overrule his head unless Jake changes his mind about his intended bride.

Tomorrow's Lulllaby

Ms. Armstrong's follow up to Chasing Someday is beautiful.

Lots of adoption issues abound for Sienna and Aaron. There's good representation of how it is to be a birth mom and an adopted child, giving both sides of the coin so to speak.

Emotions and chemistry ride high. Have fun on the tidal wave of both.

Poor Jared. I hope he finds a happily-ever-after in one of Ms. Armstrong's books someday. He was a good guy who deserves one.

You can read this as a stand alone but I highly recommend you read Chasing Someday to better understand Sienna.

As strong as any of her other works, you can enjoy this one just as much.

My only nit pick is the cover (which is stunning btw). It doesn't accurately potray Aaron's heritage.

Amazon

Falling in love just got complicated.

When Sienna McBride placed her baby for adoption at eighteen, she never dreamed that two years later she’d find herself falling for someone who resents his birth mother for not keeping him. 

A relationship that screams “baggage” is the last thing she has time for, especially with her last-chance Juilliard audition approaching. She can’t afford any distractions if she’s going to get back into the school she turned down because of her pregnancy. But that’s exactly what Aaron is turning out to be—a devastatingly handsome, butterfly-inducing distraction. One that’s making her reconsider the importance of attending Juilliard. 

The future of their relationship rests on whether Sienna can live a lie or trust Aaron with the truth. If only she felt confident in either decision.

Ultimate Life: Create a Life Worth Living in 9 Simple Steps

A non-fiction book by the talented Rachelle Christensen and her husband Steve Christensen to get your life on track. 

I've been interested in this subject for years and read about it occasionally. I eat well, exercise, and keep my life fairly well in balance so I was curious what additional light they might shed on the experience. 

The book is well written and an excellent starting point for those embarking on a wellness journey. There are helpful tips and stories to spur you along, and a website to check out for more information. 

As always, you can read until the cows come home, but if you don't get out of your chair/off your couch, nothing will change. You have to do the work. No one can do it for you. 

This book was a good refresher for me. As I've already incorporated the nine steps in my life, I'm looking forward to a version of an Advanced Ultimate Life. I hope they'll write one. 

Amazon

Ultimate Life gives you a simple, yet detailed look at how to create a life worth living in 9 simple steps. 
In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to:
•Gain more energy and vitality in life
•Choose the right foods to help you lose weight 
•Build lasting relationships that connect at a deeper level
•Create a workout routine that produces noticeable results 
•Gain a greater understanding for your own purpose in life 

Get ready to live the life of your dreams, your Ultimate Life! Get the guide to get started at www.createultimatelife.com 

40 Days with the Savior

This one has sat on my e-reader for far too long. Every year, I tried to start it so I would end on Easter, but whenever I picked it up it always seemed to be less than 40 days before Easter and so I would put off reading it another year. This year, I read the book. I finished 5 days after Easter and didn't mind a bit.

Don't make the same mistake I did.

Anytime is a good time to pick this up and read it, Easter season or not.

Ms. Sokol delivers powerful insights and raises thouhgtful questions as to how we can individually learn from and grow to be like Jesus Christ.

If you are looking for a quick daily devotional that can bring you closer to Him, then you have arrived at the right book. Start reading.

I'd love for her to do another one based on this theme, perhaps for Christmas time.

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Do you desire a more Christ-centered experience? 

You’ll experience a more fulfilling spiritual season with these positive and inspiring devotionals on the Savior. For forty days, enjoy a daily scripture and personal insight on a character trait of Jesus Christ, and how it applies to everyday living. Learn more of who He was, what He taught, and how it can bless your life.