Book Review and Giveaway: A Talent for Trouble by Jen Turano

This is light, fun, sweet romance.

A Talent for Trouble (Ladies of Distinction Book #3)

by Jen Turano

File Size: 1360 KB
Print Length: 354 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (October 1, 2013)
ASIN: B00CIUJYZM
Genre: Historical Romance, Inspirational
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

For years, Miss Felicia Murdock's every thought and action have been in pursuit of becoming a minister's wife. When the minister she'd set her sights on has other ideas, she decides something in her life needs to change--and soon--before she wastes any more time pretending to be someone she's not. If that means spreading her wings and embracing a more lively way of life, who's to say nay?
Grayson Sumner, Lord Sefton, has had more than enough of spreading his wings and only hopes to settle into the life of a respectable New York gentleman. Prompted by some friends to lift the spirits of the disappointed-in-love Miss Murdock, he is surprised to encounter an adventurous young lady with an unfortunate knack for stumbling into troublesome situations.
Just as Grayson decides he's had quite enough of her antics, his past comes back to haunt him and his presence in Felicia's life endangers her. As they work together to extricate themselves from this latest complication, will Grayson and Felicia decide they want to spend the rest of their lives keeping one another out of trouble?

Review:
Felicia had convinced herself that she was to marry the local preacher. She conducted herself as 'piously' as she could for four years trying to gain his affections. When the preacher married someone else, Felicia had to rediscover who she truly was. According to her family and friends Felicia is a good person with an impulsive nature… and a talent for trouble.

Felicia’s friends coerce Grayson, Lord Sefton, to begin to escort her so that other men of society will see she is available. Grayson had a rebellious, wild youth that sent him off to China. After tragedy struck he returned home and learned to control himself to protect his young daughter.

Felicia was delivering food and clothing to some seedy parts of town when her pony refused to move. Next thing Felicia is helping an elderly man who stumbled on the sidewalk. She helped him into a nearby pub where no respectable young lady should go. Felicia strides into one inappropriate situation after another. Fortunately, Grayson seems to be following her and is able to extricate her from most of the troubles. But Grayson has a past that has followed him from China and Felicia has managed to insinuate herself in the midst of his troubles.

Grayson is attracted to the lively young woman but feels his past makes him unacceptable for someone as good as Felicia. Can these two find forgiveness and grace to accept their past and find a future with love?

This is light, easy and enjoyable reading. Once you get past the first couple of pages and Felicia’s true personality is released, she is a hoot! Grayson thinks he has done awful things, and perhaps he did. But underneath he is a good man and it takes Felicia’s acceptance and shared grief with his sister for Grayson to begin to believe there may be redemption. The faith messages are lightly woven in.

The ladies’ book club members enjoyed this author before and we agreed it is nice to pick up a reliable, easy read once in a while. We recommend this to readers who enjoy light, clean romance.

This was Ladies Book Club read for March. It qualifies for 2017 Mount TBR.

GIVEAWAY:

One (very gently read) PRINT COPY - US Only

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review, OR

(b) Visit the Author's website and tell me something you learned or like there.

* This contest is open to US for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) April 29, 2017. Winner will be announced in the Sunday Post on 2/26/17.
Winners are asked to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Sunday Post April 16, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday April 17, 2017

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date.
Thank you to Sheila for the years that she handled this meme.
Thank you to Kathryn for taking up the baton.

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Work has continued to plug along. Last week I had an appellate brief due so I was glad to have no court hearings and fewer office appointments. I plan to finish my tax preparation Monday this week and then I have two days traveling for court.
We praise the Lord -- Hubby got a very good report on his heart monitoring! They gave him a new pill to help remove the excess water that is effecting his breathing and energy.
Our weather has continued to be nice.
I am praying for wisdom for world leaders as they address the traumas in the middle east.

The ebook reading has been slow. I grabbed a children's book so I could read more than one book this week! I finished one audio book and one children's book. I posted three reviews plus all of my usual memes.

I visited about 29 blogs last week.
Blog shout out this week is for Mareli Thalk ink who has a great sense of humor and adds fun gifs to her blog posts!
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post April 9, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday April 10, 2017.

• ENGTBR- Book Review: Ivy in Bloom: The Poetry of Spring... by Vanita Oelschlager; Children, Poetry; my rating 4.0.

• A- Audible Book Review: Confluence by S. K. Dunstall; Military Sci Fi; my rating: 4.75.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 14, 2017. Open Worldwide. Ending 4/20/2017.

• April 2017 - Updated ARC and Other Books for Giveaways.

• Sharing Beyond Books #299 Comment Giveaway April 15, 2017. Open Worldwide. Ending 4/22/2017.

• HAPPY EASTER! Sunday Words of Encouragement April 16, 2017.

• P- Book Review: How Good is Good Enough? by Andy Stanley; Christian, Salvation Theory; my rating 5.0.

Finished Reading:

1. Audio (ABB)

Streets of Payne
Written by: Jeff Brackett
Narrated by: Joy Nash
This is engaging futuristic detective action.
I received this audio title from the author through AudioBook Boom.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook (NetGalley)

Yak and Dove
by Kyo Maclear (Author), Esme Shapiro (Illustrator)
I picked this charming book up at NetGalley for a quick read.
I'm not sure if I will post the review soon or closer to the September release.
Sometimes the unlikeliest friends form the greatest friendships. A funny, charming picture book from a dynamic duo.
Friends Yak and Dove are complete opposites. Yak is large and Dove is small. Yak has fur and Dove has feathers. Yak is polite. Dove is ill-mannered. Yak likes quiet. Dove likes noise. One day as Yak and Dove list their differences they come to the conclusion that maybe they aren't meant to be friends. In the hope of finding a new best friend, Yak holds auditions. But when a small feathered contestant sings Yak's favorite song, the two begin to think that maybe they are alike after all . . .
Yak and Dove whimsically captures the highs and lows of friendship through the three interconnected tales of two very different friends.

Currently reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (NG TBR)

Codename Lazarus: The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead
by A.P. Martin
I'm not too far along since I jumped to the LBC book.
I am just getting to the spying, I think.
I received this through NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/mp3 (TBR)

A Monster Calls: Inspired by an Idea from Siobhan Dowd
Written by: Patrick Ness
Narrated by: Jason Isaacs
I am enjoying the beginning of this.
I pulled this up from my TBR while waiting for some requested audio review books.
Publisher's Summary
The monster showed up after midnight. As they do. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming.... This monster, though, is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth. Patrick Ness spins a tale from the final story idea of Siobhan Dowd, whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself.

Darkly mischievous and painfully funny, A Monster Calls is an extraordinarily moving novel about coming to terms with loss from two of our finest writers for young adults.

©2011 Patrick Ness (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

3. eBook/Kindle (NG TBR)

Fake
by Twist Phelan
I'm still looking forward to this thriller.
I received this through NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

April 16, 2017 - I have to read today's group to be up to date in the One Year Bible; reading along with my husband and others from our church. I hope to take more time this year, staying on the day and listening to the companion commentary online.

I completed two new books and posted three reviews; this means I have three reviews.
I still have 12 NetGalley Titles remaining and 10+ author titles in my queue.

Through the Eyes of a Lost Boy by Ed Bonner, a new poetry collection, is available  at: eTreasure's NetGalley page.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received one eBook from Netgalley.
I picked up one Audible daily deal and I purchased two ebooks for $.99 each.
I picked up more free kindle titles again. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received this title from NetGalley.

Yak and Dove
by Kyo Maclear (Author), Esme Shapiro (Illustrator)
This looked cute.
See more description above under finished reading.

Won

NONE

Purchased

I picked up one Audible Daily Deal for $3.95:
The Heavens May Fall
Allen Eskens
"Vividly told from two opposing perspectives, the truth about the stunning death of Jennavieve Pruitt remains a mystery until the very end."
This sounds like a good mystery.

I bought two Kindle ebooks for $.99:

A Lady in the Smoke: A Victorian Mystery

Karen Odden

This sounds really interesting. I thought about getting it at Audible but the performance reviews weren't so good.

Fireside: Lakeshore Chronicles Book 5 (The Lakeshore Chronicles)

Susan Wiggs

I like this author and figured this was a bargain at $.99.

Free

Here are some of the free books I found this week:
Displaced: Psychic Visions and Ghosts Books 1-3
by Andrew Butcher

Lightning to the Children: A Chris Johnson Thriller – Book 1 

(The Chris Johnson Series)
by Stiles Hillier

The Exonerated Trilogy
by JC Ryan

Out of the Mist (Can't Help Falling Book 1)

by Lauren Giordano

I added 65 free Kindle titles to my library this week. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Book Review: How Good is Good Enough? by Andy Stanley

This book gives a message that I encourage everyone to read and learn.
How Good Is Good Enough?
by Andy Stanley

Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Multnomah; Ppk edition (February 17, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-1601422507
Genre: Christian, Salvation Theory
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Surely there's more than one way to get to heaven? Bestselling author Andy Stanley addresses this popular belief held even among Christians. But believing that all good people go to heaven raises major problems, Stanley reveals. Is goodness not rewarded, then? Is Christianity not fair? Maybe not, he says. Readers will find out why Jesus taught that goodness is not even a requirement to enter heaven - and why Christianity is beyond fair. Andy Stanley leads believers and skeptics alike to a grateful awareness of God's enormous grace and mercy.
Good People Go to Heaven...Don’t They?
Sure they do. It only makes sense.
Actually, it doesn’t really make any sense at all. Smart, educated, accomplished men and women everywhere are banking their eternities on a theory that doesn’t hold water. Chances are, you’ve never really thought it through. But you owe it to yourself to do so.
Find out now what’s wrong with the most popular theory about heaven—and what it really takes to get there.

Review:
I decided to share this on Easter as it is fitting.  I encourage everyone, even firm believers, to read this short gem. Andy Stanley is a pastor and teacher for the world we live in today. His many teachings are Biblically sound and presented in a straight forward, down to earth manner that simple men and women can understand.

This short book reminds us that being good is not the way to get into heaven as many religions promote. Have you ever asked someone why they will or should go to heaven, and had them reply: “Because I try to be good, and I help others”? That is lovely, but good deeds, or being good, won’t get you into heaven.

This book reminds us how we can never be good enough to earn our way into heaven. Even the righteous leaders are not good enough. Matthew 5:20. Even some bad people go to heaven – like the thief who was hung beside Jesus. Luke 23:43.

At some point we each are faced with the question: Who do I say Jesus is? He either is who He claimed to be (the Lamb and sacrifice for the sins of the world), or He is not.

Life is not fair and Christianity is not fair. Why do we have to pay for the sins of Adam and Eve? (See the Easter message 4/16/17.) But, “Thanks be to God”, we do not get the punishment we deserve. Only by the Grace of God are we forgiven and made heirs of a heavenly Kingdom.

I encourage you to find one of these little books and read it. Buy a six pack if you need to – keep one to read and re-read and pass the others to loved ones and strangers!

Our church has these available to share. I wanted to read it and put one at my office.

HAPPY EASTER! Sunday Words of Encouragement April 16, 2017

HAPPY EASTER! - HE is Risen - HE is Risen Indeed!

This morning was a beautiful day to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Our church shared ‘goodies’ in the narthex before the service and a candy hunt for the little ones after.

Pastor started a new series titled “Broken”. The world is broken; all lives are broken. We are so broken we question everything: “Who am I? When is a fetus a ‘being’?

In our world things break.  Sadly we are accustomed to it. Can you imagine how you would have felt on Friday as Christ, an innocent, was hung on the cross?

When God created the world it was as it should be. Adam and Eve in the garden; they were naked yet knew no shame. They walked and talked with God. Genesis 2:8-9, 15-17, 21-25.

Then Satan tempted Eve saying “Did God really say you would die? He knows if you eat of the tree you will be wise like Him.” What Satan said was true but see how he twisted it? Eve ate and shared the fruit with Adam who also ate. At that moment the perfection of creationwas Broken.

Everything we experience is the result of sin. But God has an answer!God  always has a plan. He planned a solution. The serpent was cursed with a prophesy of victory. Genesis 3:14-15. “He will strike your head, and you will strike his heal.”

Jesus cancelled the brokenness of the world in the moment he died on the cross.

Sermon Point: Where sin left us broken, we are restored at the cross.

Some people try to be good enough but they will always fail. Every relationship has failure. Someone must forgive. Jesus brings forgiveness.

We are all guilty and have all been convicted to the punishment of death. But those who accept Christ have a mediator… and more-- a savior who takes took our punishment. 1 Timothy 2:3-7.

The Hope of the believer is in forgiveness and new life through the RISEN LORD. 1 Corinthians 15:19-22. Surrender yourself to Jesus and accept new life. He says "I forgive you."

This is a song we have been signing this past month. I saved it for today.

No wonder we call Him savior!

Verses for Today:
1 Corinthians 15:19-22
19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.

Sharing Beyond Books #299 Comment Giveaway April 15, 2017

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Four of us consider sleeping our only way to unwind other than reading. Two walk, one exercises, two work in the garden, one knits, another crafts, others play games, do puzzles, soak in the tub or watch TV. And I like Sue's method: cuddling with her pets.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #298 comments is: #3 bn100 who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post.

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles. 
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #299

(One Question.)

Nikki asks: Are there any book/movie characters or even celebrities whose names made you LIKE a certain name??

I'm not sure I have seen the name "Eustacia" in use but I liked it as a pen name after seeing Anastasia. My husband has always loved the name "Shane" from the cowboy movie with Alan Ladd. We also like "Zane" from author Zane Grey. Those are the ones that come to mind.

 
This book fits the topic!
Image found at Amazon through Google Search..

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify.

Your turn to share: Nikki asks: Are there any book/movie characters or even celebrities whose names made you LIKE a certain name??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday April 23, 2017 at 5 PM central.