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Showing posts with label HEA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HEA. Show all posts

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Book Review and Print Giveaway: Seattle Cinderella: (Romancing America) by Gail Sattler

This is a collection of four light, happily-ever-after sweet romances.
by Gail Sattler

  • Series: Romancing America
  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc. (March 1, 2012)
  • ISBN-13: 978-1616266417
  • Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sweet
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: March 1, 2012
Cinderella lives—except her name is Cindy and she resides in Seattle! Cindy is forced to run her late father’s muffler shop. Will her step-sisters’ shenanigans and Luke Princeton’s charms only make her life even more unbearable? Cindy’s step-sister Annie has reformed her ways. But how will she prove it to the man she loves? Step-sister Zella is writing her own love story. But is she using a poison pen? Cindy’s godmother, Farrah, has caught the attentions of a younger man. Does she have the courage to love again? How far will God go to give these women a happy-ever-after?


Review:
This is a sweet collection of four HEA stories - one for Cindy and her two step sisters and one for her helpful Godmother.

Cindy and the Prince
Cindy is a mechanic extroadinaire having learned as a child from her beloved father. She rarely dresses in anything other than overalls in spite of non-stop criticism from her stepmother, Melissa. Of course it wouldn’t matter what she wore as Melissa would still find fault. Cindy doesn’t understand why her father left his auto shop and house in equal shares to Melissa and Cindy. This leaves Cindy stuck living at home with her unpleasant stepmother and not-so-nice stepsisters, Annie and Zella. Until the battles over the Will are resolved Cindy has to operate the shop, employ her stepsisters and hope she can save enough money to buy out her stepmother’s interest.

Luke Princeton operates a limousine rental shop across the way from Cindy’s shop. He sees her every day but can’t get her to agree to even a coffee date. He is the guardian of his teenage niece and when he realizes that Kat is interested in becoming active in the youth group at Cindy’s church, Luke grabs the opportunity to get closer to Cindy. Even though Cindy is willing to step in to help with orphaned Kat, can Luke get her to risk loving him too?

Love by the Books
Annie has worked half-heartedly as a receptionist and bookkeeper for Cindy while attending college. She has recently seen how unfair Melissa is to Cindy. Annie has decided to work more diligently and she is happy to help sort the books at Like a Prince Car Rentals by Luke and his co-owner, Brent, when their long time bookkeeper is unavailable. Annie finds some strange entries as she sorts through the data.

Luke had given Cindy a sporty convertible mustang which Annie admires. The mustang disappears one morning and is later found.by Brent.buried in Annie’s garage. With a past reputation that isn’t the best, how can Annie get anyone to believe she didn’t take the car and that she may be in danger herself?

Till Death Do Us Part
Zella is anxious to get away from her mother, Melissa, who wants to plan a big wedding for her remaining daughter. Of course Zella needs a boyfriend first. Zella decides to join a book club that meets on Friday nights so she won’t be available for the dates her mother keeps pushing her to.

Zella is surprised to learn the club is not a reading club but a writing club where the members help critique each other's works. She begins a relationship with one of the young men not knowing that he is in fact her new favorite mystery writer. How will Zella get beyond the hurt when she learns of TJ’s deception?

Never Too Late
Farrah is an attractive and energetic fifty year old teacher. She has accepted her single life-style after the death of her husband and hasn’t made any real effort to seek out a male companion.

Matt is a thirty-eight year old veterinarian who has avoided romantic relationships for many years because he knows he cannot have a normal family life. Matt had prayed and waited a long time for the right, special woman. He finds his friendship with Farrah enjoyable and his feelings growing. He is less interested in their age difference than in the fact that she fits an important criteria for a partner as she is beyond child-bearing age. Can Farrah see beyond her age to accept Matt’s suit?

Each of the stories have a connection to church and some references to faith but is not “loud” or preachy. These are not quite “fluff” but they are simply easy, light reading with a happily-ever-after ending. The ladies of bookclub enjoyed the book especially because it was light and they liked the short stories that could be read at separate sittings, which sometimes fits a busy life. We agreed this is a nice book for those who are in the mood for sweet, easy, quick-reading romance.

This was our book for Ladies Book Club.

Giveaway:
ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for my gently read print copy
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For 3 Extra Bonus entries comment on the review, OR
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* This contest is open US Only for Print Book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) October 18, 2014.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after October 18, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Audio Book Review: Love in a Garden: What Happens After Happily Ever After by Mia Jasper

This is definitely a quick, sweet and enjoyable listen.
by Mia Jasper (Author, Narrator)
[Unabridged] [Audible Audio Edition]
  • Audible Audio Edition
  • Listening Length: 26 minutes
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Unabridged
  • Publisher: Ann Tucker
  • Audible.com Release Date: December 5, 2012
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00AJD3NNE
Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0


Book Description
Most romance stories usually end when the couple says "I do". What really happens after happily ever after?

    Can love survive real life year after year?
    What happens when budgets, job responsibilities, and habits take center stage?
    Can love survive the misunderstandings and stress of real life?

This feel-good story will restore your faith in "Happily Ever After". If you believe that love really can conquer all - even real life - then Love in a Garden: What Happens After Happily Ever After is for you!

This is a quick story you can listen to at lunchtime.



Review:
Cathy seems very real in her frustration with her job and long hours. She and Tim are almost passing ships as she gets home late, spends a few minutes relaxing by looking at gardens and flowers on the computer and then dragging off to bed.  Tim realizes it’s been rough on Cathy and he comes up with a great surprise for her birthday which is coming up soon. It takes patience for Tim to not respond negatively after Cathy comes home and takes her extra anger out on him. His gift is heartwarming and shows the care of a love-mate willing to push beyond the stresses of everyday life struggles.

I was pulled into the story right away. It is a sweet and fast listen that left me satisfied but wanting to look for more from this author.

Audio Notes: The author does a nice job of narrating her own story. She does the inflections well and conveys the frustrations and concerned emotions of the characters.  This is an easy and light story to listen too in a short break.  I am often very pleasantly surprised when I choose a small indie pub audio to review and I am glad I tried this one.


I received this audio, for an honest review, from Ann Tucker through Audiobook Jukebox.

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