Review: Letters From Grace by C.J. Carmichael

Finding old love letters in her father’s closet inspires a teen to play matchmaker.

Jessica Shanahan is off to college next year, but she’s worried about leaving her father, Levi Shanahan, alone. He’s been a single dad since his wife died when Jessica was only a toddler. He reassures her that he’s too busy running his family general store, taking care of his aging parents and volunteering in the community to be lonely. But Jessica has her doubts—especially when she finds old love letters from his high school sweetheart.

Travel photographer Grace Hamilton is promoting her latest book when a student from her hometown reaches out about a research project. Curious, Grace meets with her and when the teen invites her to the Woodland Foliage Arts Festival, Grace accepts. Though her career’s been successful and fulfilling, she’s never met a man who touched her heart the way Levi Shanahan once did. Maybe a trip home will finally help her to move on and find the one thing that’s eluded her throughout her years of travel—love.

 

My Review:

Heartwarming and real.

This book was such a joy to read.  Jessica and her father, Levi, were very close and she worried about him being alone when she left for college.  So, when Jessica discovered a box of letters from her father’s old girlfriend, Grace, she set out to find her with the intention of setting them up.  Old feelings and memories arise, but is it enough to bring Levi and Grace back together.

This book was such a feel-good story, I just couldn’t get enough of it.  It was easy to get lost in it.  Not only was Levi and Grace’s story fun to read, but Jessica and her best friend, Max, we’re struggling with their feelings and unsure how to go from best friends to a romantic relationship.  The characters, plot and setting all worked extremely well together to make this an unforgettable story. 

Review: The Sheriff and the Cowgirl (The Tremaynes of Texas Book 4) by Debra Holt

 

 

What happens when a tenacious sheriff takes on a determined cowgirl and her champion bull?

It’s never easy to make it in a man’s world, and cowgirl Tori Tremayne has chased the same dream most of her life—producing a champion bucking bull on the pro rodeo circuit. With her prize bull Maximus, she’s so close to winning top prize in the finals this year she can taste it. She can’t afford any distractions, especially not the tall, dark and swoony sheriff she’s admired all her life.

Sheriff Gray Dalton has been in love with Tori since they were kids. He doesn’t want to change Tori or derail her goals, but he does want to combine their dreams—build a life and family with her while she continues to pursue her career and passion. Gray knows he has to shake Tori up so that he can step out of the friend zone she’s so determined to keep him in.

Can Gray prove to Tori that with him she can have it all—career, love and a family?

 

My Review:

A perfect ending for the Tremaynes of Texas series.

Throughout this series, there was a hint of Tori and Gray’s relationship.  But, it really didn’t tell too much of their story; only enough to make me curious.  I was so glad to finally read their story and see them get the happy ending they deserved.  It sure took some time for them to get there and I started wondering if it would ever happen.

This is now my favorite of this series.  The author did a fabulous job wrapping it up. 

 

Review: Runaway to the Outback (Welcome to Bunya Junction, #2) by Nicole Flockton

 

 

Running away never felt so good…

When overworked supermodel Pandora Sebastian flees a taxing photoshoot and takes refuge in Bunya Junction’s only pub—all while dressed as a bride—the locals are unexpectedly welcoming. Pandora may not be a runaway bride, but she does need a break from her high-powered career. Why not stay in this idyllic little country town and consider her options?

Jonas Carruthers thinks he’s seen it all—until Pandora bursts into his pub and his life. She’s everything he doesn’t expect her to be: kind, compassionate, hardworking, and interested in him. And despite wanting to help her, she’s also the only one who can own her mistakes, fix the PR mess she’s in, and rescue her career.

As much as she wants to stay hidden in Bunya Junction, Pandora needs to face the press and wear the consequences. Jonas has been great, but there's no way he'll step up to support her choices. Or will he?

 

My Review:

Finding love when you least expect it.

Jonas Carruthers was surprised the day he saw a bride walk into his bar in Bunya Junction.  But Pandora Sebastian wasn’t a bride.  She was a model who walked off the set of a photo shoot.  She just got tired of it all and needed a break.  Pandora would spend the next of couple weeks in the tiny town relaxing.  She never expected to fall for Jonas, Bunya Junction or the people who lived there.  Now Pandora is faced with the decision of the quiet country life or to go back to the hustle and bustle of the city and her hectic modeling life.    

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was excited to read this one.  It was just as good as I expected.  I liked seeing Pandora learn to relax and enjoy life and Jonas finally fall in love again, after his past girlfriends didn’t want anything to do with him once he moved to a tiny outback town.  Of course, catching up with the characters from the first book was a plus too.