Waiting on Wednesday: Walker's Wedding by Lori Copeland

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:


Walker's Wedding by Lori Copeland set to release in June 2010.

About the book:

Bestselling author Lori Copeland (Outlaw's Bride and A Kiss for Cade) weaves together elements of another classic Western romance with themes of redemption, forgiveness, and second chances.

Abandoned by his fiance hours before their wedding, Walker McKay is determined to never let a woman near his heart again, but he needs an heir to inherit his ranch after he is gone. Courting someone new is out of the question, so he'll have to find a wife another way.

Wealthy heiress Sara Livingston wants to be married, but her suitors are deemed unsuitable by her unreasonable father. When the opportunity to fill the bill for a mail-order bride comes her way, she grabs onto it with both hands.

Will Sara's deception and Walker's wounded heart keep them from finding what they are looking for? Or are they truly meant for one another?

Formerly titled Marrying Walker McKay, rewritten for the inspirational market.


**I'm really looking forward to this one!! Since I just read book one, Outlaw's Bride (here's my review), and am about to read book two, A Kiss for Cade, it's only natural that I want to read the last book, too. :o) And isn't the cover gorgeous?!?!

Book Review: Outlaw's Bride by Lori Copeland

About the book:
Bestselling author Lori Copeland weaves together elements of a wonderful, classic Western romance with themes of forgiveness and grace.

Falsely convicted of bank robbery, drifter Johnny McAllister is sent to a rehabilitation program in the home of a California judge. When he goes to Judge McMann’s home, his aim is to be a model prisoner, hoping to be released early and return to his life's mission: to kill the man who wiped out his family 15 years before. He’s planned for everything…except his encounter with Ragan, the beautiful and kind housekeeper, and with the generous folks of Barren Flats. But can Johnny let go of his anger and embrace a new life? One that would include Ragan as his bride?

This tender story reveals how even the hard law of the land doesn’t stand a chance when God’s mercy and true love come to reside in a heart.

Formerly titled The Bride of Johnny McAllister, rewritten for the inspirational market.

My thoughts:

This was a sweet western-style romance that I really enjoyed. All of the characters were very engaging, likable people, although Johnny could be a little stubborn and mule-headed at times. The romance developed between Johnny and Ragan very naturally, and there were a few mildly steamy moments that made me blush a little. :o)

This book was originally written as a mainstream romance that was rewritten as Christian fiction, and I thought Lori did a great job revising it. The Christian elements did not seem to be written in as an afterthought, but instead, blended very well into the whole story.

Overall, this was a very good book with a good message, some humor, and a nice dose of romance. I'm very eager to read the next book in the series which I know Lori rewrote for the Christian fiction market as well.

4 Stars

Book Review: The Face by Angela Hunt

About the book:

Orphaned and severely deformed, from her earliest moments Sarah Sims has been kept hidden away in a secret CIA facility—until an unexpected discovery gives her an opportunity to make a life for herself at last.

Now Sarah has an ally, a long-lost aunt who has discovered her true identity. Aided by this brave psychologist, twenty-year-old Sarah must find the courage to confront the forces that have confined her for so long. And the strength to be reborn into a world she has never known.

My thoughts:

I've never been disappointed when reading Angela Hunt. There's just something about her books that sucks me in every single time. I love that she's a versatile author, not sticking to one genre, but really goes outside of the box....which translates to some great books. The Face was different from anything else I've ever read by her. The story has this "top-secret" feel to it because a lot of it deals with the CIA, and definitely has a flare of "if you don't need to know, you're not gonna know."

The storyline gets a little emotional at times as I couldn't help but feel sorry for Sarah and the experiences that she's missed out on. Sarah has been living in such a secluded place because of her deformity that she's only ever met about 10 people in her entire life, and she's never had the thrill of tasting a McDonald's hamburger. When her aunt Renee finally finds her and begins to offer a whole new life, it all sounds a little to good to be true.

On a completely different note....I'm accustomed to reading nothing but Christian fiction by Angela, and I was a little surprised to see that this book was published by a mainstream publisher. Because of that, The Face really has almost no Christian references, except the occasional mention of going to church. But it does have a very clean storyline with no profanity and no sex, which I am accustomed to seeing in mainstream fiction.

All in all, The Face is definitely a 5-Star read. It's got all the aspects I love in a contemporary novel--some suspense, some emotional tugging on my heart, and some real-life true information. Oh, and it's also got a great ending....one I didn't see coming at all. :o)

CFBA Tour: Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida
Summerside Press (November 1, 2009)
by
Sandra D. Bricker


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For more than a decade, Author Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While writing in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant
and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver.

One of Sandie's passions revolves around the rights of animals. She's been involved in fundraising for Lost Angels Animal Rescue for several years now; in fact, a portion of the proceeds of Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida will go to help the non-profit group with their expenses. And Lost Angels paid her back in a big way: They brought a free-spirited Collie named Sophie into her life after the loss of her 15-year companion Caleb.

It was her 8th novel that opened the door to finding her way as a writer.

In Sandie's words: "I guess most people would see my career as a publicist as a sort of dream job. But giving it up turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me!" she declares. "Not only was I given the gift of getting to know my mother as an adult woman before she passed away, but I was also afforded the blessing of being able to focus completely on my dream of a writing career. I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost, so it was a bit of a dream-come-true when Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch their new Love Finds You line."

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lawyer Cassie Constantine has no plans to stay in Florida. She's here just long enough to sell her late husbands vacation house, a tacky bungalow she's always despised then she'll hightail it back to her gracious Boston brownstone.

But the place needs more work than Cassie bargained for. What's more, her widow status is like a target on her back and the elderly matchmakers around town manage to sidetrack her mission at every turn.

Holiday is a landmine of golf tournaments, ballroom dancing competitions, shuffleboard and day trips. But the biggest obstacle of all? Richard Dillon, the stuffed shirt she's paired with on the dance floor.

Cassie had always considered herself uptight but Richard won't take a walk on the beach without his socks and shoes! There's one little problem he makes her heart beat faster than the rhythm of the quickstep. Can Cassie and Richard let loose long enough to have a little fun?

If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida, go HERE.


Watch the trailer: