Book Review: Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne

This is a really lovely reading experience.

Serenity Harbor: A Heartwarming Small Town Romance
(Haven Point)
by RaeAnne Thayne

File Size: 2078 KB
Print Length: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (July 1, 2017)
ASIN: B01MT0PANG
Genre: Small Town Romance
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

In the town of Haven Point, love can be just a wish—and one magical kiss—away…
Computer-tech millionaire Bowie Callahan is about the last person that schoolteacher Katrina Bailey wants to work for. As far as she can see, he's arrogant, entitled and not up to the task of caring for his young half brother, Milo. But Kat is, especially if it brings her closer to her goal of adopting an orphaned little girl. And as her kindness and patience work wonders with Milo, she realizes there's more to sexy, wary Bo than she'd ever realized.
Bo never imagined he'd be tasked with caring for a sibling he didn't know existed. Then again, he never pictured himself impulsively kissing vibrant, compassionate Katrina in the moonlight. Now he's ready to make her dream of family come true…and hoping there's room in it for him, too…

Review:
RaeAnne Thayne has a wonderful writing style that creates realistic and likeable characters facing real life challenges. The reading is easy and warm making this move along at a quick pace.

Katrina struggled with illness that made her childhood difficult. She got better in her teenage years and discovered boys about the time they discovered her. She has made some poor choices in men and life since. But her last bad choice brought her to a life changing experience. Katrina discovered a special child in Columbia, Gabriela, whom she is determined to adopt and bring back to America.

Kat has returned from Columbia for three weeks to attend her sister’s wedding. Only Kat’s best friend, Samantha, supports her plan as even her mother doesn’t believe she has changed her flighty ways. Sam points out her latest interest, the newest, handsome bachelor in town, Bowie. Kat has no plans to look at any man while she is focused on adopting Gabi. But Kat realizes that Bowie is struggling with a young boy about to throw a tantrum. Kat manages to distract the boy and learns that Milo is Bo’s autistic, five-year-old half-brother.

Bo has struggled to overcome his own childhood being raised by a young, single mother who could barely care for herself. Now he has accepted guardianship of a half-brother he has just met. Bo knows nothing of handling children and being faced with one who has autism and doesn’t speak has really set his world spinning. Fortunately, Bo made a fortune as a computer tech genius so he can afford good care to help Milo. Since the specialist he has hired as a nanny won’t arrive for three more weeks, Bo offers Kat an outrageous sum to help take care of Milo during that time.

Initially Katrina wants to avoid the all too handsome man but she can really use the money to help with adoption expenses. She agrees to sit for Milo and a day or so later finds herself moving into Bo’s home so she can be there morning and evenings as Bo works late. This puts Bo and Katrina in close proximity trying to resist the chemical attraction that flares along with the growing respect for each other.

Bo has never known stability and love and he doesn’t know how to convince Katrina to stay with Milo … and him. Katrina doesn’t want to be distracted by a temporary fling when she must stay focused on her ‘daughter’. The tension expands as these two dance around their blooming feelings.

I really enjoyed the warmth and charm of this story. I was touched by Bo’s tenderness for Milo and Kat’s caring approach to Milo and Gabi. There is extra conflict added by the expectations and concerns of Kat’s mother, by Sam’s crush on Bowie and by the long-distance adoption efforts. This is part of a wonderful series but can be read as a standalone. It is delightful reading and I recommend it to readers who enjoy small town romance and the special children portrayed in this gem.

I received this through NetGalley for review as part of Little Bird Publicity Tour. This qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

AMAZON KINDLE $3.99!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne loves words. Her love affair started as soon as she learned to read, when she used to devour anything she could get her hands on: cereal boxes, encyclopedias, the phone book, you name it! She loves the way words sound, the way they look on the page and the amazing way they can be jumbled together in so many combinations to tell a story.

Her love of reading and writing those words led her to a fifteen-year career in journalism as a newspaper reporter and editor.

Through it all, she dreamed of writing the kind of stories she loved best. She sold her first book in 1995 and since then she’s published more than 40 titles. Her books have won many honors, including three RITA® Award nominations from the Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews.

RaeAnne finds inspiration in the rugged northern Utah mountains where she lives with her hero of a husband and their children. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

MBS June 2017 Reading List Wrap-Up

MBS 2017 Reading List - June

Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABJ = Audiobook Jukebox; ABB = Audiobook Boom
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print; PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2017

5 stars = Quest of the Dreamwalker and The Ghost Brigades.

1. eNGTBR- Book Review: The Invisible City (The Stolen Future Trilogy Book 1) by Brian K. Lowe; Science Fiction, Time Travel; my rating 4.5.
2. ABB- Audio Book Review: Quest of the Dreamwalker: The Corthan Legacy, Book 1 by Stacy Bennett; Epic Fantasy; my rating 5.0.
3. eNGTBR- Book Review: Hunt the Dawn by Abbie Roads; Suspense, Supernatural; my rating: 4.75.
4. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Finding Dory by Disney Press; Children; my rating 4.25.
5. eNG- Book Review: The Sleepwalker: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian; Mystery; my rating 4.0.
6. AAuthor Tour- Audible Book Review and Feature: Hounds Bite by E.J. Stevens; Urban Fantasy, Paranormal; my rating 4.25.
7. LBC- Book Review and Giveaway: As One Devil to Another by Richard Platt; Religious, Inspirational; my rating 4.5. 
8. eNGTour- Book Review and Giveaway: Infinity (Horizon) by Tabitha Lord; Space Opera, Genetic Engineering; my rating 4.5. 
9. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi ; Epic Fantasy; my rating 5.0.
10. ATBR- Audible Book Review: You Will Not Have My Hate by Antoine Leiris; Memoir; my rating 4.5.
11. eNG- Book Review: Dear Heart: The Courting Letters by Judith Pinkerton Josephson; Historical Fiction, Romance; my rating 4.25.
12. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Zoo at the Edge of the World by Eric Kahn Gale; Middle Grade; my rating 4.5. 
13. eNG- Book Review: When the English Fall by David Williams; Dystopian, Religious, Sci Fi; my rating 4.5.
14. A-ABJ- Audio Book Review: Mission Impawsible by Krista Davis; Cozy Mystery, Animals; my rating 4.25.
15. eNG- Book Review: The Elusive Miss Ellison by Carolyn Miller; Historical Romance, Inspirational, Regency; my rating 4.75.

Total read = 15; TBR = 6; New Authors = 11
Audio/Audible = 7 (1 ABB; 1 ABJ)
eBook =  (all NG)
NetGalley = 7
Print = 1

Happy Independence Day USA - 2017

Happy 4th of July!

Sunday Post July 2, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday July 3, 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.

I am still having busy times at the office. We hope to get a day of relaxation this week with the Fourth of July. We will probably work only half day on Monday too.
Happy 150th to our friends in Canada and Happy 241 to USA!

I had good reads this week even though I only finished two: one audio and one ebook. I am far along in the next two though. I posted three reviews, one with giveaway, along with all of my usual memes.

I visited about 30 blogs last week.
Shout out this week is to Library of Clean Reads who shares clean and interesting books - also good reports from BEA.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post June 25, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday June 26, 2017.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Zoo at the Edge of the World by Eric Kahn Gale; Middle Grade; my rating 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 30, 2017. Open Worldwide. Ending 6/29/2017.

• eNG- Book Review: Dear Heart: The Courting Letters by Judith Pinkerton Josephson; Historical Fiction, Romance; my rating 4.25.

• LBC- Book Review and Giveaway: As One Devil to Another by Richard Platt; Religious, Inspirational; my rating 4.5. U.S. Only Ending 7/15/2017

• Sharing Beyond Books #309 Comment Giveaway July 1, 2017. Open Worldwide, Ending 7/8/2017.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement July 2, 2017.

Finished Reading:
1. Audio/MP3 (ABJ)

Mission Impawsible: Paws & Claws Mystery Series, Book 4
Written by: Krista Davis
Narrated by: Elise Arsenault
Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
This is an easy listen, cozy mystery.
I received this from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle (NG)

The Elusive Miss Ellison
by Carolyn Miller
This is lovely.
This is from my NetGalley shelf.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. Audible/MP3 (TBR)

Avenging Home: The Survivalist Series, Book 7
Written by: A. American
Narrated by: Duke Fontaine
Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
I have enjoyed three fourths of this and looking forward to the conclusion.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle (NG-Tour)

Serenity Harbor: A Heartwarming Small Town Romance
(Haven Point)
by RaeAnne Thayne
I am 50% in and enjoying this good story.
I received this through NetGalley for review on July 6
as part of Little Bird Publicity Tour.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Print (LBC)

A Texan's Choice, Heart of a Hero Series #3
By Shelley Gray
I picked this book up for Ladies Book Club. We will discuss this on July 8.
Product Description
Texas, 1874. Long ago, Scout Proffitt gave up on ever being a man of honor like his Civil War hero brother Clayton. But when Scout steps foot on the rundown remnants of the Circle C ranch, he wonders if maybe-just maybe-the Lord has something different intended for him.
Rosemarie has lived most of her life doubting her worth and shouldering the blame for her brother's death. But when a stranger rides onto her ranch, claiming he owns it, she suddenly is given a choice: either keep looking at the dark side of life . . . or dare to dream.

4. Print Book (PUYB)

FIFO 50 STATES
by Hayley Rose
I started reading this with my granddaughter but will finish it this week for review.
I received this for Pump Up Your Book review.
In this delightful rhyming story, Fifo, a warm and loveable brown bear, is bitten by the travel bug. Fifo dreams of diging up diamonds in Arkansas, looking for fossils in Kansas, enjoying a delicious bowl of gumbo in Louisiana, and even seeing a Broadway show in New York. Yes, America is an exciting place! Fifo's second book is full of adventure. A colorful reference-like geography book, Fifo discovers the wonders each state has to offer. He learns along the way each state's capital, shape, flag, motto, and much, much more. The possibilities are endless! So, come along with Fifo and you'll soon discover the beauty of America one state to another. A positive experience for both Fifo and the reader. Learning should always be this much fun!

I am sure I will start a TBR Audible for my Alphabet Challenge but I haven't decided which yet.

July 2, 2017 - I am 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.

Some of my reading time is going to a Wednesday night study we are doing called Freedom Course.

I completed two books and posted three reviews; this means I have three reviews current and one for later release. I still need to add the children's books at Goodreads but I added most of my reviews to Goodreads and Amazon.
I am down to 8 NetGalley Titles and still 10 author titles in my queue.

We're working on two fiction books soon to add to 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 reached 91% feedback at NetGalley this week so decided to resist picking up more to see if I can creep a little higher.
I resisted Audible Daily Deals this week also but picked up two $.99 Kindle titles.
I also picked up more free kindle titles as usual. (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 picked this book for Ladies Book Club but didn't list it when purchased.

A Texan's Choice, Heart of a Hero Series #3
By Shelley Gray
See full information above.

Won

NONE

Purchased

I purchased two Kindle titles for $.99:
Riverbend Road (Haven Point)
RaeAnne Thayne
I'm enjoying the current Haven Point by this author so I thought I'd get this one on sale.

The Safe Lands Complete Collection:
Contains Captives, Outcasts, and Rebels
Jill Williamson
A review noted this as a Christian Dystopian which caught my eye.

Free

I picked up Week Nine SYNC Audio titles:
AMERICAN NIGHT: THE BALLAD OF JUAN JOSÉ by Richard Montoya, Developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, Performed by Keith Jefferson, Richard Montoya, Todd Nakagawa, Sean San Jose, Kimberly Scott, Herbert Siguenza, Tom Virtue, Libby West, Caro Zeller (L.A. Theatre Works)
MY NAME IS NOT EASY by Debby Dahl Edwardson, Narrated by Nick Podehl and Amy Rubinate (Brilliance Audio)

Here are five of my Free Kindle Picks: (Three of these may still be free)
 
Mail Order Brides of Texas (A Five Book Set Plus A Bonus Book)
Kathleen Ball

The Closing (Whippoorwill Hollow Book 1)
Ken Oder

City of Ghosts (GhostWriters Book 1)
J.H. Moncrieff

The After Days Trilogy
Scott Medbury

 
W: The Planner, The Chosen
Alexandra Swann, Joyce Swann



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.

Sunday Words of Encoragement July 2, 2017

This morning our Sunday School teacher continued the lesson on Adversity. Once again it fit well with Pastor’s sermon message. The SS message can be summarized as noting that adversity is often used to cause people to turn to God. It is important how we respond to adversity. Do we remember that God will see us ‘through it all’? Paul counted it a privilege to be persecuted for his faith. The children/people of God must be careful not to be so content in their circumstances that they become complacent. (Just as the Israelites in the wilderness considered returning to Egypt where they were slaves.) Adversity is a road we need to travel to get where God wants us to be. Adversity builds character. It shapes us into what we will become; who we are meant to be in Christ.

Pastor’s Sermon was on Freedom… fitting as we are in Independence weekend and our American independence will be celebrated Tuesday, July 4. We are thankful for freedom but sometimes it is taken for granted. We can see around us that people trade freedom for other things.

The United States Constitution describes three inalienable rights. They were not achieved by man but considered God given: Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Sadly, it seems that people often move from freedom to bondage. People have tendency to drift back toward their former condition as slaves. (Just as the Israelites in the wilderness considered returning to Egypt where they were slaves.)

We are slaves to possessions, debt, confusion about God's laws, sins, addiction, and disbelief.
Matthew 19:16-30 tells of a young man who wanted to know how to achieve eternal life. Christ tells the young man to give up all he has and “follow me”. Freedom in Christ comes with a price; the man was unwilling to give up his wealth. He was a slave to possessions.

The Point: To understand and appreciate the freedom we have in Christ, we need a full understanding of 'serving' Jesus.

"Serving" has a different, deeper meaning than we generally think. Romans 5:18-21 6:5-8 19-23. A slave is a person who belongs to another. If we choose to follow Christ, then we serve Christ as a willing slave of Christ. We are either a slave to sin or a slave to Christ. There is no third option. True freedom is in giving ourselves to Christ. It is a freedom that was purchased at a great price.
The truth sets you free and you are free indeed. John 8:31-36. But now we belong to Christ. Colossians 1:13.

And if we belong to Christ, why do we continue to live in bondage? We too have been crucified with Christ; we are a new creation with Christ living in us. Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17.
How do we live this life of freedom? We give thanks for the cross; then we give up ownership of self. When we see Satan’s lie that 'freedom is found outside of Jesus', then we will understand that true freedom is found only in Christ.

Like those drawn to the freedom of America, when others see people free in Christ, they are drawn to God.

(It took me some time today to find the song I wanted. 

I had a good time listening to some powerful songs.)

I ended up with a song new to me - but it seems to fit.

Verses for Today:
Romans 6:19
19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

Lord, thank you for the freedom you give me to be free of my human, fallen nature.  Help me to celebrate my freedom in You and give freedom for You to live in me. Help me to remember that as your servant I agree to be your willing slave.