Book Review and Giveaway: A Texan's Choice, Heart of a Hero Series #3 by Shelley Gray

This is a lovely story of love and redemption.
A Texan's Choice, Heart of a Hero Series #3
By Shelley Gray

Amazon link
File Size: 1316 KB
Print Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Fiction (October 1, 2012)
ASIN: B01ES91T12
Genre: Western Romance,Christian
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

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.

Review:
This is a lovely story with a realistic setting in 1874 Texas and some darker characters. Scout Proffitt and Rosemarie are two damaged people who find love, worth and redemption.

Rosemarie lives with her family on a dirt-poor farm in Texas. Her father, a squanderer, is on his death bed with a room full holding death watch. Rosemarie is barely allowed in the room, much less near enough to say goodbye. But Rosemarie is used to being ignored and treated as less than worthless. Her family abandoned her emotionally when she was nine years old and it doesn’t matter how hard she might try to work, it will never be enough.

Scout Proffitt is a wanted man, a known killer. He wanted to follow in his big brother’s footsteps as a war hero when he ran away from home over 15 years ago. But living in the world without resources didn’t turn out as he planned. He thinks he may have found a way out when he won a farm in a bet a few months back. He shows up to find the farm is mostly dilapidated and dreary. The man he is claiming it from has just died.

Though stoic, Scout is inwardly dismayed when Rosemarie’s mother and sister pack their things and leave…leaving Rosemarie behind. She proposes that she clean and cook for him if he lets her stay. He agrees she can stay for two weeks.

Just as Scout and Rosemarie are trying to sort out a new living arrangement, four outlaws show up to seek Scout’s leadership for a job that promises them all a new start. Scout can’t turn down the opportunity so once again he rides off and Rosemarie is left alone.

Rosemarie is a mistreated soul who shows gumption and strength of character just in moving forward each day. Scout is a good man inside with a dark past that haunts him. I couldn’t help but root for them. The messages of love and redemption are shared through the story and not in any preachy way.

The story jumps a bit as the chapters move to introduce the four outlaws who eventually show up at the ranch. This was a little confusing but I was sure there would be a connection. I read this with my Ladies Book Club and we all noted that there were numerous typographical errors and several fact errors that should have been caught during editing. Although noticeable, it did not damage our enjoyment of the story.

The story reads easily and kept my attention. This is the third in the series and reads fine as a standalone but I was glad to realize that I had books one and two in my Kindle library. This is the second story I read by Ms. Gray and I am impressed by her versatility. I recommend this story to readers who enjoy western historical romance with a lovely message of redemption.

I picked this book up in print at Christianbook.com for $2.49 a copy for Ladies Book Club.

GIVEAWAY:

Paperback Book (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.

* This contest is open to US only for paperback book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) July 22, 2017. Winner will be announced in the Sunday Post on July 23, 2017.
Winners are asked to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email

Book Review: The Detective: A Nathan McNamara Story (The Soul Summoner) by Elicia Hyder

I enjoyed this character in The Soul Summoner and enjoyed this additional background on him.

The Detective: A Nathan McNamara Story (The Soul Summoner)
by Elicia Hyder

File Size: 3191 KB
Print Length: 149 pages
Publisher: Inkwell & Quill, LLC (October 29, 2015)
ASIN: B017DSORBE
Genre: Police Procedures
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Robbery, arson, murder...and the one night stand that just won't end.
With eleven missing women to find and six high-profile burglary cases to solve, the last thing Detective Nathan McNamara needs in his life is one more complication. And that’s exactly what his recent one-night stand is becoming—complicated. With his heinous lieutenant breathing down his neck for answers and his accidental girlfriend dropping hints for a commitment, Nathan is realizing that his career and his bachelor status are both on the line.
When the burglary cases suddenly escalate to homicide, Nathan must put everything else aside to stop the killer. But this is easier said than done when the blonde from the bar repeatedly shows up at his doorstep and enlists his own mother against him. Now he’s more convinced than ever that his job hangs in the balance and that the Surgeon General’s warning on the whiskey bottle should include something about women.
***Detective Nathan McNamara is one of the leading men in The Soul Summoner Series. Book One, The Soul Summoner (a full-length novel), focuses on the investigation of the eleven missing girls. Chronologically, this novella happens before the series begins, but it is a standalone and doesn't have to be read in order.***

Review:
I met the very attractive (okay, -- "yummy" is a better description) Detective Nathan McNamara in The Soul Summoner. This short story fills in his history and how he got involved with Shannon, his stalking girlfriend in the next book.

Nate is ducking his unpleasant superior while pursuing the investigation of a rash of robberies. The criminals left a victim at one of the scenes, turning the case into a homicide investigation. Nate is relentless in his efforts despite the negative attitude of his lieutenant. In his spare time Nate is working on a case with eleven missing women. This case is a special burden for him.

I enjoyed Nate’s family background and input. I didn’t enjoy his ‘accidental’ relationship with Shannon. He initially picks her up at a bar and then takes advantage of the open invitation. Shannon follows him to his town, calls his mother to make connections and repeatedly calls him even as he makes it clear he has work to do. Instead of putting a halt to the eager chase he lets her carry on, and I didn’t like that.

I did like how Nate worked the case and I like the direct writing style. Written in first person from Nate’s view gives it a hands-on approach. I think I would have liked to have read this before The Soul Summoner but I still liked it well enough. This does not have the paranormal elements that show up in the rest of the series. I want to continue with book 2, The Siren, and I recommend these be read in order.

I received this title through InstaFreebies. It qualifies for my TBR Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Avenging Home: The Survivalist Series, Book 7

This is a good enough continuation of the stories to keep the series moving forward.
Avenging Home: The Survivalist Series, Book 7
Written by: A. American
Narrated by: Duke Fontaine

Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
Series: Survivalist, Book 7
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:06-14-16
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Genre: Post Apocalyptic, Survival
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
In Enforcing Home, Morgan and his group suffered some loss. They discovered their old foes weren't gone, as they'd thought. Not only were they not gone, but they were also stronger than before. Morgan would have to deal with this threat while at the same time trying to restore some sort of quality of life to his community.
But this wasn't going to be easy. With the bombing at the market and the wounding of his daughter, Taylor, it became all too clear to Morgan that he was once again in a fight for the lives of those who mattered most to him. Taylor was injured and would need care for some time. It wouldn't be easy. Added to that was the realization that he would have to deal with second-guessing himself. Was it his fault that she was now hurt?
In Avenging Home, we see how this long-running battle between Morgan's people and their number one nemesis plays out. While Morgan thinks this is the biggest threat they face, there are things on the horizon he cannot yet see that are going to dwarf these problems.
Morgan has lived in a vacuum. He's had little information about the outside world. While he's used radios to listen to what he can, there's been precious little real information. But now he's found what he believes to be a reliable source and knows when and where to listen. But is it valid? Or is it simply propaganda? News and information can be powerful tools, but they must always be taken in context to make an educated decision. And the challenge is that there's only one source. When you have to make decisions that mean the difference between life and death, the process becomes even more critical.
So we'll follow Morgan and his tightly knit group as they are once again in the fight. Will they finally defeat the federal thugs in their backyard? And, more importantly, what will be the cost?
©2016 A. American (P)2016 Podium Publishing

Review:
I enjoyed listening to the latest confrontations in this series although I didn’t find it as good as some of the earlier books. This one seemed to have a little shallower focus on the characters while preparing for a showdown with the very nasty federal opposition. The books really should be read in sequence to know the characters.

The local town community is still seeking leadership from ‘Sheriff” Morgan. Morgan meets new suppliers in the market, gathers engineers to work on the power plant, recruits workers for the community garden and prepares his family and friends for a shoot-out. Meanwhile he must deal with captured enemies as well as drunken murderers and local thieves. Morgan doesn’t want to be judge, jury, sentencer and executioner… but someone has to do the hard jobs. He is seeking someone to serve as a judge at least for sentencing if not for fact finding as mostly the facts are clear when the culprits are caught in the act. Sadly, the man who steps forward for the job is just not the right person and he and his guards have to be dealt with firmly.

There are the usual antics from Sarge and his sometimes infantile and trigger-happy army guys, Mike and Ted. This repeated some of the male crudeness and of course violence considering the battle that occurs. Other characters add their part -- humor, determination, fear, revenge and even romance -- to the story. There were more survival tips shared, although maybe not as many as earlier books. I guess the help from the local military and the powers in high places really gives Morgan's neighborhood an edge but I couldn't help feeling that things were just a bit too easy going in the town.

Morgan catches a radio broadcast that brings disturbing news. They can’t tell if it is true, a hoax or propaganda, but it is scary if real. This book does a good job of continuing the story, wrapping up one phase and introducing a new conflict for future books. I hope the next book has a little more depth to it.

Audio Notes: Duke Fontaine does his usual solid narration of these characters. It just seemed to me that even he didn't have quite the same enthusiasm for this episode. Or maybe that was me projecting. I do enjoy listening to these though as they move well in audio.

My prior reviews in the series:
Book 1, Going Home My rating 4.5
Book 2, Surviving Home My rating 4.5
Book 3, Escaping Home My rating 4.25
Book 4, Forsaking Home My rating 4.25
Book 5, Resurrecting Home My rating 4.0
Book 6, Enforcing Home My rating 4.25

I am working on my Audio, TBR and Alphabet Challenges. This is a series I like and "A" title.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 14, 2017

Happy Friday!
This was a busy but productive week, although short. Hubby and I are off for a couple of nights of relaxation. I hope everyone has a lovely weekend and mid July week. :-)
I didn't get any book pictures yet but I hope to work on that.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up too late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the July 7 Pick. There were two automatic wins this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There were two titles blocked but one was won.
AUTO: Becky gets the Kat Martin pair
and Sue gets the Nora Roberts pair.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from July 7 Pick:
MIKI gets a GC.
DI gets My Reckless Surrender. through the block.

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

Fun summer things to do with a book or read in a book!
Image found at Star Tribune.

New Book Group #73 June 16, 2017
I was looking for Summer titles but that didn’t really work.
PAIRS [or Singles] – Since I have four sets of pairs I will work this by first two pairs that go the others go as singles OR you may choose a title as a single and if won that pair falls into single.
Joan Johnston: The Loner and the Cowboy -- Moved to singles
Nora Roberts: Sea Swept (some spine creases) and Genuine Lies
Kat Martin: Midnight Sun and Perfect Sin
Linda Howard (aka Krista Janssen): Cry No More and Indigo Fire (spine wear) -- Moved to singles
SINGLES:
The Loner by Joan Johnston
The Cowboy by Joan Johnston
Cry No More by Linda Howard
Indigo Fire by Linda Howard (spine wear)
Garden of Scandal by Jennifer Blake
A Rogue’s Heart by Debra Lee Brown
The Night Remembers by Kathleen Eagle (spine wear)
A Dragon Prince by Mary Gillgannon
Hurricane by Karen Harper
A Kiss Before Dawn by Kimberly Logan
Sail by James Patterson
Home Sweet Home by Bella Riley


New Book Group #72 May 12, 2017
PAIRS:
Brenda Joyce: The Third Heiress and The Rival
Jayne Ann Krentz: Dangerous Affair and True Colors
SINGLES:
Identity: Unknown by Suzanne Brockmann
The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner
Anna’s Book by Barbara Vine (Audio Cassette)
Passions Treasure by Betina Krahn
My Reckless Surrender by Anna Campbell
Led Astray By A Rake by Sara Bennett
Deep Freeze by Lisa Jackson
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
Valley of Bones by Eric Wilson
Memorial Day by Vince Flynn (Hardcover)
The Fireman’s Fair by Josephine Humphreys (Hardcover)


New Book Group #71 March 10, 2017
Mysteries and Thrillers
SINGLES:
There Was A Little Girl by Ed McBain (Audio Cassettes)

New Book Group #70 January 27, 2017
Thought I’d share some romances for February:
SINGLES:
Kissed by Shadows (Get Connected Romances) by Jane Feather
Love's Brazen Fire by Betina Krahn



New Book Group #69 November 18, 2016

Some books for Christmas: 
SINGLES:
Jingle Bell Blessings by Bonnie K. Winn
Snowbound with Mr. Right by Judy Christenberry


New Book Group #68 October 28, 2016
SINGLES:
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown


New Book Group #67 September 9, 2016

(*Three more very old books from my Gothics box.)
SINGLES:
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)


New Book Group #66 June 25, 2016

(I will post a picture later. *Four of these books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I have had for many years. They may not be wanted by anyone and if so, I will donate elsewhere in time.)
SINGLES:
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell


New Book Group #65 April 29, 2016

SINGLES:
The Champion by Heather Grothaus


New Book Group #64 March 4, 2016
SINGLES:
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette

New Book Group #63 January 22, 2016 -- All Gone

New Book Group #62 November 6, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #61 October 30, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #60 September 18, 2015
A set of "haunting" tales and a few mysteries for October!

SINGLES:
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)

New Book Group #59 July 31, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #58 June 26, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
SINGLES:
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)

New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014 -- All Gone

BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle


BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.


BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in almost seven years I have posted 68 groups of 16 (1,088) books to find new homes! (as of November 4, 2016).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,082+ books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Book Review: The Elusive Miss Ellison by Carolyn Miller

This is a lovely read!

The Elusive Miss Ellison
by Carolyn Miller

File Size: 3953 KB
Print Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications (February 27, 2017)
ASIN: B01NBTFSWC
Genre: Historical Romance, Inspirational, Regency
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Handsome appearance counts for naught unless matched by good character and actions.
That's the firm opinion of not-so-meek minister's daughter Lavinia Ellison. So even though all the other villagers of St. Hampton Heath are swooning over the newly returned seventh Earl of Hawkesbury, she is not impressed. If a man won't take his responsibilities seriously and help those who are supposed to be able to depend on him, he deserves no respect from her. In Lavinia's pretty, gray eyes, Nicholas Stamford is just as arrogant and reckless as his brother--who stole the most important person in Livvie's world.
Nicholas is weighed down by his own guilt and responsibility, by the pain his careless brother caused, and by the legacy of war he's just left. This quick visit home to St. Hampton Heath will be just long enough to ease a small part of that burden. Asking him to bother with the lives of the villagers when there's already a bailiff on the job is simply too much to expect.
That is, until the hoydenish, intelligent, and very opinionated Miss Ellison challenges him to see past his pain and pride. With her angelic voice in his head, he may even be beginning to care. But his isn't the only heart that needs to change.
These two lonely hearts may each have something the other needs. But with society's opposition, ancestral obligations, and a shocking family secret, there may be too many obstacles in their way.
Fans of Georgette Heyer, Lori Wick, and Julie Klassen will enjoy the spirited exchanges between the bluestocking minister's daughter and the bruised war hero as they move past pride and presumption to a humbled appreciation of God's grace and the true strength of love.

Review:
Miss Ellison, a country minister’s daughter, is the heart of kindness and service in her community. That doesn’t mean she is meek as she is strong willed and tends to be outspoken. At “three and twenty” she has a few local gentlemen interested in her but she has no interest in them. She figures she will end up an old maid like Aunt Patience, her mother’s sister, who moved in to take care of them when her mother died. Lavinia’s mother died of a tragic accident when Lavinia was only nine. She has never forgotten the wealthy, reckless neighbors who raced their horses and caused her mother’s death. Now the brother of that reckless boy has inherited Hampton Hall and returned to take charge over the estate. Lavinia is not impressed by his handsome good looks and arrogant airs but she is prepared to approach him with her list of grievances on behalf of the estate tenants.

Nicholas Stamford, a former army Captain, never expected to become seventh Earl of Hawkesbury. Still, he is glad for the chance to get away from the eager mothers and daughters in London. They see him as a good catch and they do not realize that he will have to marry for money to rebuild the treasury that has been depleted by his father and brother. Nicholas doesn’t initially recognize Lavinia as the young girl who lost her mother that dreadful day many years ago. He has apologized to her father but finds it difficult to give an apology to the very prickly Miss Ellison.

The two start off at odds, rubbing each other the wrong way, but it is clear they are drawn to each other’s intelligent wit. Lavinia’s caring nature impacts Nicholas more than words might. As his household cares for her when she suffers illness, he slowly begins to turn his heart to the people of his estate and village, and to the God that has provided so much for him.

Lavinia knows she isn’t in the Earl’s league and shouldn’t allow her heart to dream of anything developing even though the Earl seeks her out to share her company. When Nicolas’ high maintenance mother arrives at the Hall with prospective bride in hand she makes it quite clear that Lavinia would never do for her son. Lavinia mishears a statement and is told some gossip that shatters her reluctant dreams.

Lavinia’s Aunt decides to step in to change matters when it becomes apparent that Lavinia has lost her sparkle. Aunt Patience has surprises to reveal that will completely change Lavinia’s life... but not her servant's heart.

I totally enjoyed these characters and the slow growth of friendship and affection. The obstacles were obvious but I was sure there would be a way around them. Even Lavinia notes at one point that “Our Father has good plans…” The faith comments and messages are shared beautifully and naturally in the discussions. The story shares a message of forgiveness and grace that warmed my heart. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a gentle historical romance and who would be warmed by faith lessons shared and learned.

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.