Married 25 Years and a Linky

Last week we celebrated our 25th Anniversary! Hubby surprised me with flowers, red wine, Lindt chocolates, and a dainty necklace with pearls on a silver chain. He made sure to give me something silver for our silver anniversary! I'm wearing the necklace in the photo below. He also wanted to buy traditional roses and went to a couple of stores, but none of them looked all that fresh. I’m glad he bought the proteas instead. They’re stunning and they last longer. There are different varieties of proteas and you can see 2 types in the bouquets below.

Our kids also spoiled us! Jessica made savory crêpes for breakfast with Samantha's help. They were filled with spinach, mushrooms, chopped hardboiled eggs, and a little bit of sour cream. There were some cinnamon and sugar filled ones too.

Amanda baked us an Oreo cheesecake all by herself! She used Preppy Kitchen's recipe. It was her first time trying her hand at piping and she did really well. She also made us the creative card that I featured below.

Our main meal was an afternoon braai (BBQ). We had steak, lamb chops, and pork ribs, enough meat to last us a few days! If you're wondering, that's sweet potato wrapped in the aluminum foil. We had great weather, a sunny winter day with no wind. We’re still on lockdown here in South Africa, so we made the most of it at home.

What did I do for our anniversary? I made a card for Hubby and we’re sharing the wine and chocolates. 😄

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Here's a peek at
my latest post

on 1camera1mom:

Snow-Capped Mountains and Other Photos

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My Latest Book Post:


Elphie Meets the End of the World
A tender story for parents with fearful kids.

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Come link up your Wordless Wednesday

(with or without words) or any picture post

at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.

Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!

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Here are the easy rules:

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Aria's Christmas Wish

Aria's Christmas Wish

About the Book:

Title: Aria's Christmas Wish | Author: Victorine E. Lieske | Pages: 151 | Genre: Clean Romance

Book Description: 

Kendra hears him on the radio every day and sees him in her daughter’s eyes every night. If only she could get him out of her heart.

All Kendra wants to do is get through the holidays and figure out what her daughter wants for Christmas. When Jacob comes back to her small town for Christmas, Kendra is terrified he’s going to break her heart all over again. But what can she do to protect herself when her daughter wants to spend every waking moment with the handsome singer?

Jacob is stunned when he sees his ex-girlfriend’s daughter. Kendra denies she’s his, but he can’t believe her. She looks just like him. But why would Kendra have kept her pregnancy from him? Did she hate him that much? She’s pushing him away at every turn, but he’s determined to find out the truth. And if he can, get his family back.

Only $0.99 on Amazon Kindle!

My Review:

This is the perfect sweet holiday romance! It has wonderful characters with all the feels. It also has a couple of surprising twists! I'm happy to say that there aren't any contrived misunderstandings between the main characters and it isn't heavy on the back and forth internal dialogue.

More Books by the Author:

Christmas with the Recluse

Saving Cade

About the Author:

Victorine E. Lieske

Victorine enjoys commercial success through her writing, thanks in part to her ability to analyze and adapt to the constantly changing trends in today's publishing environment. She self-published her first book, Not What She Seems, in April of 2010. In March of 2011, Not What She Seems began its 6 week run on The New York Times best selling eBook list. By May 2011 she had sold over 100,000 copies. Victorine's first romantic comedy novel hit the USA Today Best selling books list in January 2015.

Victorine has also helped countless other authors through her involvement and outreach as immediate past president of the Nebraska Writers Guild. She is active in many writing groups and forums and has given dozens of interviews for TV, radio and print media and has been a panel member and keynote speaker at several major events, including The Business of Writing International Summit. Her candor as a blogger and guest has made her a favorite with audiences worldwide. Victorine also served as a judge for the 2015 Whitney Awards. Because of her selfless service to fellow authors through assistance with critiquing, beta reading and graphic design, she was chosen as the inaugural recipient of the CIR Strong Award, named for late Clean Indie Reads forum member Jessica Strong.

Victorine and her husband have raised their four children in Nebraska. Victorine also does graphic design work in the publishing industry.

Please Note: Price was correct at the time of posting.
Disclosure: I received an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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2 Short Stories by H.L. Burke

Laced

Book Description:

Intimacy laces: the ultimate wedding gift, threads of magical energy binding you and your soulmate together for the rest of your happily ever after.

At least, that's what the brochure said ...

Stacy and Jake are united not only by matrimony but by the bonds of their intimacy laces, which allow them to feel each other's eternal devotion. However, after six years of wedded "bliss," the spark has died, and the once healthy laces have dimmed to weak spider threads of light. Determined to reignite the flame, Stacy drags Jake to the Emotional Intimacy Clinic to get their laces refurbished. When the clinic insists on a full consultation and evaluation of their relationship, Jake is reluctant, but Stacy knows they're perfect for each other.

What could possibly go wrong?

My Review:

This is a short story about a married couple struggling to connect. Yes, there's magic involved, and some good insights about love and compatability.

Laced is $0.99 on Amazon! 

Magician's Gift

Book Description:

Jericho Carver has fought evil fairies and defeated dragons. He never expected his greatest challenge to be finding the perfect anniversary gift for his beloved wife.

Ten years of marriage merits something flashy and fantastic. At least that's what Jericho's brother-in-law says. Jericho Carver has never been a flashy sort of guy, but to give his wife the magical anniversary she deserves, he will pull out all the stops.

What could possibly go wrong?

My Review:

This is a wonderful short story! It has dynamic characters, a good intention that goes horribly wrong, and an inspirational message.

Magician's Gift is $0.99 on Amazon!

Want to See More H.L. Burke Books?
Check Out My Other Reviews:

Heart of the Curiosity
Green Princess Trilogy - Book 1
Green Princess Trilogy - Book 2
Green Princess Trilogy - Book 3
To Court a Queen
Spice Bringer
Thaddeus Whiskers and the Dragon

Cora and the Nurse Dragon

A Tale in Two Parts
Dragon's Curse - Book 1

Dragon's Debt - Book 2

Dragon's Rival - Book 3

Dragon's Bride - Book 4
Beggar Magic

Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors

Lands of Ash

About the Author:

H.L. Burke

Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.

An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.

Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.

Facebook Page | Facebook Reader Group

Twitter | Instagram | Website

Please Note: Prices were correct at the time of posting.
Disclosure: I purchased Laced and received an ARC for Magician's Gift. These are my honest and voluntary reviews.

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The Vexatious Widow

The Vexatious Widow

About the Book:

Title: The Vexatious Widow (Regency House Party: Havencrest Book 2) | Author: Michelle Pennington | Genre: Regency Romance | Pages: 130

Book Description:

A most unlikely temptation.

Mrs. Joanna Thorne infinitely prefers being a wealthy widow to being a miserable wife, but she is constantly swarmed by suitors with eager, insincere compliments. Fortunately, she has become quite adept at handling fortune hunters. When she meets Lord Tyndale at her friends’ house party, she knows she can help him thwart the charming rascal pursuing his niece. But why does it annoy him so? And why does she care for his good opinion anyway?

The last thing Lord Tyndale wants to do is accompany his beautiful, headstrong niece to a house party in Brighton. However, it is the only way to protect her from a disastrous marriage to the wastrel pursuing her. He should appreciate the help of a rather plain and meddlesome but capable young widow, but he finds himself increasingly annoyed as Joanna skillfully captures the fortune hunter’s attention.

She throws his life into disarray, won’t give him a moment’s peace, and drives him mad. So why does he find her so tempting? And why is he dreading the end of this very irregular house party?

Purchase on Amazon

My Review:

Michelle Pennington is one of my favorite genre hopping authors. Every book of hers that I've read, I've enjoyed; from fantasy to contemporary romance, she does them all so well. This time it's a Regency romance and this one has all the feels! There are wonderful characters, a beautiful location, a little bit of suspense, and lots of witty banter. It's a fun clean read. There were some elements that could have been fleshed out further. For example, I thought Lord Tyndale would need to put his fencing skills to good use, but it only gets mentioned and nothing more. I wished the book could have been longer!

More by Michelle Pennington:

Saved by the Billionaire

The Trust of a Billionaire

The Lovely Deep

The Unwanted Suitor

About the Author:

Michelle Pennington

Michelle Pennington spends her days quoting movies with her husband and making messes faster than her four kids. She loves to make magic by stringing words together, but she also creates designer sugar cookies, sings loud in church, and kills too many house plants.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Disclosure: I received an eARC of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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A Healthy Self-Esteem and Self-Image

A Healthy Self-Esteem and Self-Image

By Christina Morley

I have four children; three are adults and one is an adolescent. Being a parent, I have endeavored to give each child encouragement and praise as often as needed. In other words, I have tried to build up their self-esteem. I want them to be confident individuals and not inclined to compare themselves to others.

Let me give you an example of a healthy self-esteem. When my youngest daughter, Amanda, was around 9 years old, I drove her to a friend’s birthday party. The mom and daughter met us as we were walking up to the house. The friend was excited to see Amanda and exclaimed to her mother, “This is Amanda! She’s the smartest kid in our class!” Amanda quickly responded, “One of the three smartest.” By amending her friend’s statement, Amanda was putting her ability into perspective while accepting the praise.

Having a good self-esteem is not the same as having a big ego. Kids are prone to thinking too highly of themselves when they can do no wrong in their parents’ eyes. Unfortunately, some parents are not only guilty of raising narcissistic children, but also guilty of teaching their kids to hate others. These kids later become adults who think the world revolves around them and their egos.

One way to combat egocentricity is to be sober-minded by not thinking too highly of yourself. It’s about being sensible or pragmatic. It’s about knowing your strengths and weaknesses and being aware that you aren’t a god. If you are sober-minded, you will know that you need God in your life and that apart from God, you can do nothing with lasting success. You will also not be rigid or dogmatic in your beliefs. You will be of the shared belief that we all see through a glass dimly.

Another way to combat egocentricity is to practice kindness and generosity. Instead of focusing on yourself, focus on others. We all go through times when we focus on ourselves and get so wrapped up in our own problems that we become stressed, anxious, or depressed. By shifting our focus and taking note of others (paying attention to their needs), we can figure out ways that we can get practically involved. Helping others has a profound ability to improve our emotional and physical well-being!

A good self-esteem means that you feel positive about yourself without any grandiose ideas. A good self-image is similar. It’s being able to see yourself in a favorable light and to believe that others do to. How much time is wasted worrying about what people think of you? American jokesmith Olin Miller once stated, “You probably wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do.” That puts it into perspective!

When I was in the 8th grade, our school had a dance. The dress code for the girls was a cocktail dress or something similar. My mom took me to one store and I had to find my dress there. I can’t remember what her reason was, but it certainly limited my options. I found one dress that suited me and it was a hideous mustard-yellow. I didn’t want to feel embarrassed the entire time, so I decided to own that dress. I went to the dance with my head held high and a big smile on my face. I wasn’t going to let others dictate how I felt about myself. If anyone wanted to make a rude comment about the color, I was prepared to tell them that I agreed with them, but surprisingly, kids complimented me on my dress!

People with a good self-image don’t try to be someone they aren’t. They don’t want to be someone else either! They are happy in their own skin doing their best with the personality, skills, and talent that are uniquely theirs.

My kids - from youngest to oldest (left to right):
Amanda, Samantha, Jessica, and Jeremiah

Christina Morley is the author of Happy Moms, Happy Homes. She’s also a blogger, volunteer reader at the Blind Institute, and ministers alongside her husband at a Christian drug and alcohol rehab.

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2 Christian Romances in the California Elite Series and a Linky

Collision of Wills

(California Elite Book 1)

About the Book:

Title: Collision of Wills (California Elite Book 1) | Author: Evangeline Kelly | Pages: 219 | Genre: Christian Romance

Book Description:

A snobby rich girl meets a rough around the edges artist. Can two people from completely different worlds come together?

Alexa Covington lived in a wealthy community in Malibu, California. She liked pretty boys, shopping, and trips to the spa with her posse of mean girls—in that order.

Dylan West wanted to be an artist, but he felt confined to a life painting houses instead. Despite the fact that he longed for something more, he was determined to follow the path his father set out for him.

Back in high school, Dylan had a crush on Alexa, but he moved on. When their paths crossed years later, she barely remembered him.

One night, after volunteering at a teen center, Alexa walked to her car alone and was nearly assaulted. Dylan came to her rescue, and the two were forced to spend time together in urgent care.

An unlikely friendship ensued and feelings grew despite their differences.

Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t walk away from each other.

Dylan made Alexa rethink everything about her life of privilege.

But when her mother threatened to cut her off if she didn’t leave Dylan, Alexa was forced to make a choice. Continue living the entitled existence she’d always known or choose another path, one that would change her world forever.

Maybe, just maybe, love would find a way.

This is a contemporary Christian story of redemption that takes the characters on a journey as they count the cost of the Christian life and learn to treasure Christ most of all.

Purchase on Amazon

My Review:

Collision of Wills is a great young adult love story with just enough drama and feel good moments to keep it exciting. Alexa has recently become a Christian and is learning what things are important to God and what things are temporal. Her mother is driven by worldly gain and stands in her way. Dylan has been a Christian a long time and doesn't trust Alexa's motives as he's known her since high school and had a secret crush on her. His dad wants him to focus on painting houses and starting a family business, but he has another dream for his future. Can these two young adults find their way ahead and find love too?

Things that I would change: 1) some moments were cheesy, like some of the scenes that Dylan painted, 2) the word "snickered" was used 24 times, and 3) the ending wrapped up too perfectly.

The Ruthless Billionaire

(California Elite Book 2)

About the Book:

Title: The Ruthless Billionaire (California Elite Book 2) | Author: Evangeline Kelly | Pages: 209 | Genre: Christian Romance

Book Description:

He needed to marry one of the women on his father’s list. She wanted to find her missing brother. Neither of them counted on falling in love.

Lucas Armstrong didn’t believe love existed. He was a ruthless man, ready to follow in his father’s footsteps. When he received an ultimatum to marry one of the women on his father’s preapproved list or risk losing his inheritance, he set out to win over a self-absorbed socialite, vacationing in Kauai.

He wanted a marriage in name only so he could take over his father’s empire. Separate lives. No love. No attachments.

When Aria Dasher accepted a position cleaning Lucas’s house in Kauai, she had no idea she would fall for him. She was there for one reason only: she needed to save enough money to hire a private investigator. After she and her brother, Chase, were separated in foster care, he ran away and hadn’t been seen in four years.

Aria had to keep her eye on the goal and couldn’t allow any distractions in her life. She was determined to keep Lucas at arm’s length, and he was equally determined to push her away. A connection developed that neither of them anticipated, one that drastically changed everything.

But Lucas would have to do the unthinkable in order to be with Aria. He would have to give up his inheritance.

And then there was that one issue with the secret he held. Once Aria found out, it would rip apart their relationship before it even had a chance.

This is a contemporary Christian story of redemption that takes the characters on a journey as they count the cost of the Christian life and learn to treasure Christ most of all.

Purchase on Amazon

My Review:

The Ruthless Billionaire is definitely my favorite book by Evangeline Kelly that I’ve read so far. It was well balanced with all the “feels” and drama and, as always, sharing the Christian faith in a natural way. The story follows the life of Lucas Armstrong who tried in the first book, Collision of Wills, to destroy Dylan's reputation and convince Alexa to marry him. He's ruthless and no one feels sorry for him in Book 1. Then in Book 2, we get to understand Lucas as we learn what drives him to do what he does. He's not as big of a schmuck as we were first led to believe. Now we can root for him and hope that true love will win in the end.

Check out my review of

The Unwanted Assistant

by Evangeline Kelly

About the Author:

Evangeline Kelly

Evangeline Kelly is the pen name I use to write contemporary Christian romance books. I married my husband (my perfect bad boy hero) in my early forties so I understand the longings of a single woman desiring love, as well as the contentment and sweetness of marriage.

And now, a little bit about me. When I was a kid, I had two dreams. One was to work with at risk youth and the other was to write books. After pursuing my passion of working with foster children for over twenty years, I finally decided to pursue my childhood dream of writing. My grandma kept all of my short stories in a box as a keepsake, and I read them occasionally when I need a good laugh. Not only do I love to write, I enjoy the pleasure of sitting down with a good book. Being a voracious reader, I've always said that a good book is way better than any movie or television show!

I've witnessed suffering in my line of work, but I've also witnessed God's redeeming love. A good Christian romance features both hardship and delight. My hope is that my stories not only entertain, but encourage, and most of all, that they bring glory and honor to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive my book, Matchmaker for free: Website

I received an ARC of each book. These are my honest and voluntary reviews.

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Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #281

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Twitter 

Facebook
Instagram

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
• Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
• Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
• Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
• Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

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Weekend Linky

How to use the linky widget:

Type in the name of your blog or blog post under Link Title, then type in your email under Email Address (which I don't sell to anyone), then copy your permalink to your post (most link parties ask for blog posts and not blog homepages) and paste that under URL (make sure that you use http:// or https:// only once), then click Submit Link and that's it!

Visit my Blog Hops page to see
what link-ups I take part in.

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The Trust of a Billionaire (Clean Romance)

The Trust of a Billionaire

by Michelle Pennington

About the Book:

Title: The Trust of a Billionaire  (A Destined for Love Romance: Resorts Collection) | Author: Michelle Pennington | Genre: Clean Romance 

Book Description:

Can their love survive her secret?

Hannah Rhodes is determined to keep her beachfront property, even though she can’t afford to. But it’s her childhood home and she can’t bear to see it plowed down by the billionaire investor who keeps raising his offer to buy it. When the same man hires her to be his daughter’s nanny—providing her the income she needs to reject his offer—the irony is not lost on her. However, seeing him as a loving, worried father makes it difficult to enjoy her secret revenge.

For Carter Ellis, building his own resort was a massive risk, but worth it to build a new life for his daughter away from his controlling mother. Everything is going to plan except that the owner of the tumbled-down home blocking his resort view and threatening its success refuses to sell. If only his new nanny would stop distracting him, he just might be able to figure out how to solve this problem. Not only is she beautiful and vibrant, she’s helping his daughter bloom. Just when he begins to give in to his feelings, he discovers who she really is.

When their trust is shaken, will Carter and Hannah sacrifice what they wanted most for a chance at something more?

Also part of the Destined for Love: Resorts collection:

— Matched by Design by Lindzee Armstrong

— Kiss Me at Midnight by Lucinda Whitney

— Second Chance in Paradise by Jennifer Peel

— The Trust of a Billionaire by Michelle Pennington

— Marrying an Athlete by Anne-Marie Meyer

— Her Big Fat Dreamy Billionaire Ex by Victorine E. Lieske

— Kings Crossed Lovers by Donna K. Weaver

Amazon

My Review:

The Trust of a Billionaire is the story of resort owner Carter Ellis who ends up with a free-spirited local nanny for his six-year-old daughter. Carter is a divorcee with sole custody of his daughter since her infancy. He has two people causing him trouble, his controlling mother and the homeowner that refuses to sell the house that's obstructing some of the beachfront view. Little does he know that his new nanny is that homeowner!

I have read several clean romance novels about billionaires and this was one of my favorite. The story is sound, the characters are likable, and there's good chemistry. It's part of the Destined for Love: Resorts Collection. It's the perfect summer holiday read or any day that you need a picker-upper.

Related Review Posts:

Destined for Love Series

A Clean Romance Series

About the Author:

Michelle Pennington

Michelle Pennington spends her days quoting movies with her husband and making messes faster than her four kids. She loves to make magic by stringing words together, but she also creates designer sugar cookies, sings loud in church, and kills too many house plants.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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5 Clean Romances and a Linky

The Date with Destiny Books by Kellie McAllen are urban fantasy romances (listed under paranormal) with a gentle Christian bent. The last book, Love's Sacrifice by Evangeline Kelly, is an evangelistic Christian romance novella. All the books are perfect for young adults and up. Click on the titles in blue to purchase them on Amazon.

First Date with Destiny

Book 1

FREE on Amazon Kindle

My Review:

First Date with Destiny is a clean urban fantasy romance about high school seniors, Zeph and Eve. Zeph lives under a cloud of disappointment, because he doesn't know what his gift is even though he's half angel, half human. He is one of the Celestia Divisa, who live relatively normal lives among humans, each with a destiny to fulfill. He notices the beautiful Eve for the first time and thinks she's totally out of his league. Eve has a fascination with the topic of angels, but she's never heard of Celestia Divisa. Zeph thinks that she is one, but if he tells her, she'll probably think he's crazy and he'll be in trouble with the other half angels. The book's main theme is positive self-esteem. It is a feel-good quick read and only 180 pages long.

The Blogger vs. the Bad Boy

Book 2

$0.99 on Amazon Kindle

My Review:

The Blogger vs. the Bad Boy is a clean urban fantasy romance about Zeph's sister, Charisse, and bad boy Jake. Risse is a beautiful half angel, half human on the inside and out. She believes in kindness. When she isn't at school or posting on her beauty blog, she volunteers at an assisted living home. Jake gets assigned community service at the home and Risse has to show him around. Her first impression of him is that he's a jerk, but she gets to see another side of him too. There's a good amount of tension in Book 2.

Double the Trouble

Book 3

$2.99 on Amazon Kindle

My Review:

Double the Trouble is a clean urban fantasy romance about identical twins, Maddock and Cheydan. They are half angels, half humans and each have their own special gift. Maddock is gifted with generosity and Cheydan with patience. Both boys end up falling for human girls in need of miracles. Will they be able to help the girls in time? There's a bit of a mystery in this story. Book 3 is slower in places compared to Books 1 and 2.

Blindsided

Book 4

$2.99 on Amazon Kindle

My Review:

Blindsided is a clean urban fantasy romance about Doc Rafe who is half angel, half human. The doctor has the supernatural gift of healing and uses it in small amounts, so that his patients are never aware of his extra help. When he meets and falls in love with CeCe, a blind woman, he's convinced that he can heal her. The problem is that CeCe is scared of doctors and is tired of people trying to fix her. Can Doc Rafe prove his love even when he makes a couple of big blunders? Book 5 deals with disabilities sensitively. Adoption is another theme in the book. I enjoyed this story immensely.

Date with Destiny Box Set

$6.99 on Amazon Kindle or

FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Love's Sacrifice

Christian Short Story

$0.99 on Amazon Kindle

My Review:

Love's Sacrifice is a clean Christian romance novella about an elopement that goes south. Fresh out of college Avery is a chef's assistant to the handsome and talented Dean. He doesn't think she has what it takes, but she proves him wrong. The two fall in love and get married before they really know each other. Avery leaves on the third night of their honeymoon with only a note while Dean is asleep in bed. Neither of them are Christians, but Avery used to go to Sunday school as a child. Will they find God and each other in the midst of their turmoil? Even though it's a quick read, it feels like a complete book with plenty of character development and interesting things that happen. 

Disclosure: I got all four Date with Destiny books for free on an Amazon sale. I received an ARC of Love's Sacrifice. All reviews are my honest opinion. There are no affiliate links.
Please Note: All prices correct at the time of posting. Prices may change.

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Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #263

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Twitter 

Facebook
Instagram

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
• Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
• Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
• Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
• Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

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Weekend Linky

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The Unwanted Assistant by Evangeline Kelly

The Unwanted Assistant

Book Description:

An Inspirational Christian Romance. A Modern-Day Beauty and the Beast Novel.

What if you fell in love with the same man who wanted to fire you?

Billionaire Sawyer Drake made it abundantly obvious he didn’t want an assistant. Traumatized by a fatal accident, he stayed to himself, shunned human contact, and would rather die than open up to another person—much less a beautiful college woman. His inner wounds ran deeper than the scars on his face.

When Ivy Wolfe ran away to Alabama to nurse a broken heart, the last thing she expected was to fall in love again. She needed a job to support her college expenses, and even though the salary for an assistant position in the home of a billionaire appeared too good to be true, she ignored the red flags and charged ahead.

With insecurities of her own to overcome, she found working for a self-absorbed recluse much harder than she anticipated. Determined to get through to Sawyer, Ivy wrote a letter that would change the course of their relationship.

But finding love with Sawyer was like playing with fire. Would she regret the day she hired on as his assistant? Or would she find the love of her life?

For only $0.99 on Amazon Kindle

and FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

My Review:

The Unwanted Assistant is a Christian love story about two wounded souls. Sawyer is a reclusive billionaire with physical and emotional scars. Ivy is the friendly assistant who is a bit overweight and still hurting over that fact that her boyfriend left her for a slimmer girl. The interaction between Sawyer and Ivy is exciting as they clash with each other and sparks fly.

Some of the scenes played out differently than what I would have expected, so that kept it fresh. There was a lot of build up to the Happily Ever After, but the ending seemed lacking. This inspirational story will help many people who are dealing with personal issues and find freedom in Christ.

Disclosure: I received an ARC for free and this is my honest review.
Please Note: Prices were correct at the time of posting. Please check, as prices may change.

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Strong Women in Fiction and a Linky

Happy International Women's Day! I hope every girl and woman knows how valued she is today. The photo above is of my blue Plumbago and pink miniature roses. I'll share more photos of them on Tuesday's linky party.

In honor of Women's Day, I chose two sweet fictional romance stories about strong women with big hearts for their families. Click on the titles in blue to purchase them on Amazon Kindle. I've included my reviews below.

The Husband Mission

My Review:

The Husband Mission is a sweet Regency romance by Regina Scott. The story is about a young woman named Katherine who keeps her blended family together. She has accepted spinsterhood for herself, but is determined to see her stepsister wed to a good man, especially since her stepsister will lose her inheritance if she doesn't. Will Katherine's spying and secrets get in the way of true love? This is a fun story with real good guys and bad guys and Katherine is in the middle of it all.

Larken

My Review:

Larken is a sweet Victorian romance by Suzanne G. Rogers. It's a story about a girl who lost her parents in a train crash. Larken was the only survivor. She has nightmares and physical scars to remind her of that terrible event.

When Larken comes of age, she is given little choice about her future. Her foster parents send her off by train to marry a complete stranger. He needs a wife to look after his ward, a young boy. Larken is a brave and creative soul who helps bring the young boy out of his shell. Will she be able to help her husband in-name-only come out of his?

Disclosure: I purchased both books from Amazon Kindle when they were on promotion. These are my honest reviews. There are no affiliate links.

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My Very Own Book!
Available in Kindle for $0.99
and Paperback for $5.99

Happy Moms, Happy Homes

Please Note: All book prices mentioned on this blog post were correct at the time of posting.

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Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #259!

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Twitter 

Facebook
Instagram

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
• Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
• Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
• Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
• Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

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Weekend Linky

I created a new widget as
the one above stopped working.
Please enter your links below. Thanks!

Visit my Blog Hops page to see
what link-ups I take part in.

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