Romantic Comedy

Hammered by Love by Kaci Lane – Review & Instagram Giveaway

July 30, 2022 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

About the Book

I just agreed to a business proposition by my best friend that will determine the direction of my adult life.

Jonah and I have had each other’s backs since kindergarten. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had, and we know each other better than we do our own siblings. That’s why I’m shocked to learn he doesn’t want to take over his family’s successful hardware store.

He wants to flip a foreclosed mansion in Apple Cart to establish himself as a homebuilder and remodeler, mainly to prove to his parents why he doesn’t need the store. Oh, and he wants to bring me on board as the designer.

In true Jonah fashion, he takes it a step further by making me “heart swear” (our thing since fourth grade) if we double our money I’ll move back to Apple Cart and start my own interior design business.

Until now, I’d planned on staying in Auburn and getting a design job. However, I’ve dreamed of helping make people’s personal dreams come true ever since I designed the lodge for Gamer’s Paradise.

And, more than anything, I want to help Jonah succeed.

We’re together all the time but never like this. Something about working side by side and sharing our dreams have me viewing him differently.

It only complicates things further when I accidentally hit him in the head with a hammer, and he unconsciously kisses me. Of course, the best kiss of my life would come from my best friend while he has a concussion.

Maybe it’s the kiss, or Jack and Bianca’s wedding. Or maybe it’s because I’m about to graduate college and start adulting full time. But my mind starts to drift toward thoughts of a future with Jonah.

A future where he’s more than my best friend.

Amazon | Goodreads

A Honey of a Christmas (Honeyhaven #2) by Jessica R. Patch – Review

November 3, 2018 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

I love Jessica R. Patch’s novellas because while the stories make me laugh, her characters are real with flaws, hang-ups, insecurities, and more. Add in a little bit of Christmas cheer and it’s a recipe as sweet as fudge (or insert your favorite holiday treat here).

About the Book

They say opposites attract; it’ll take a Christmas miracle to keep this couple from killing one another!

Agnes Piercy is finally going to make her mark now that she’s in charge of the Honeyhaven Winter Wonderland. She’s created a new event this year—Santa’s Village—which will bring in tons of tourists and money for charities and church ministries, and secure her a full client list when she opens up her own event planning business. But things go haywire from the get-go, including her feelings for one Tuck Renner.

Tuck Renner has been tasked (against his will) with building the Santa’s Village which means taking orders from Miss Bossy Pants herself—Agnes Piercy. But she’s off to a seriously rocky start. Feeling sorry for her, and a lot sorry for himself having to hear about it day in and out, he vows to make this the greatest event ever. But things don’t go as planned. However, they may go exactly like they were meant to.

Amazon // Goodreads

Can’t Wait Wednesday – Once Upon a Laugh

July 11, 2018 by Suzie Waltner 3 Comments

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you’re continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

I love a little humor with my romance, so Once Upon a Laugh is right up my alley.

Charming the Troublemaker by Pepper Basham (Blog Tour w/ Guest Post, Review & Giveaway)

November 26, 2017 by Suzie Waltner 10 Comments

About the Book

Title: Charming the Troublemaker

Author: Pepper Basham

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: November 1, 2017

Troublemaking never looked so good…

When Dr. Alex Murdock is demoted to a university in rural Virginia, the last thing he expects to find is a future. But country charm never looks as good as it does on Rainey Mitchell.

Rainey Mitchell doesn’t need a high-class flirt in her wounded world, but trouble and temptations wafts off the new professor as strong as his sandalwood-scented cologne.

When circumstances thrust them together to save her tutoring clinic, can the troublemaker find the hero inside and encourage the reticent Rainey to open her heart again.

Click here to purchase!

In My Opinion (Review)

I love Pepper Basham’s books. She has a knack for getting to the heart of human nature with grace and a few laughs along the way.

In Charming the Troublemaker, readers get to return to Ransom and the Mitchell family (first introduced in Twist of Faith). This time Rainey Mitchell gets the spotlight.

And Rainey has some issues she’s held on to ever since discovering her ex-husband’s infidelity. Now she gets to deal with the flirty Dr. Alex Murdoch. The last thing she wants is this man showing interest in her or her daughter. Yet it doesn’t take long for Rainey to discover the man beneath the façade.

With moments that had me giggling out loud to ones that had me on the edge of my seat, Basham delivers the promise of second chances, the truth of discovering someone’s true character, the draw of acceptance, and the bonds of family in a story that captured me from the first pages.

Here’s hoping Trigg and Emma get their opportunities to shine soon.

My Rating:

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

About the Author

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes novels inspired by her love for history and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her Penned in Time series has garnered recognition in the Inspys, Grace Awards, and the ACFW Carol Awards. Her contemporary romance novel, A Twist of Faith, received 4-stars from Romantic Times, and most recently, her newest release, The Thorn Healer, received a Top Pick from RT with 4 ½ stars. Her newest contemporary romance, Just the Way You Are, releases in April 2016. You can get to know Pepper on Facebook, or over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley, or Instagram.

Guest Post from Pepper Basham

I have a thing for underdogs.

Misfits.

Lots souls who desperately need to find where they belong.

I can’t help it! Call it a ‘fix-it’ mentality or an awareness that God rescued me and now I want to rescue other people…even fictional characters, but I’m definitely a softy for those characters that people are less likely to root for. Catherine from The Thorn Bearer/Keeper became my first rescue…and I just HAD to find another.

I guess that’s how Charming the Troublemaker came into existence.

Dr. Alex Murdock desperately needed to be rescued.

In a bad way.

If you’ve had a chance to read my first book in the Mitchell’s Crossroads series, A Twist of Faith, you’ll know that Alex doesn’t seem to be made up of much hero material. He’s a flirt, a little arrogant, and…well, kind of like a lost puppy.

As book 1 grew and came to a close, I knew Alex and Rainey’s story would be next…but I immediately ran into a real problem.

Who in the world was Alex Murdock? We really didn’t get to know him very much in book 1. He zoomed in a few times, ruffling feathers and then finally showing off some interesting kindness/compassion in the end, but…he was still a big-time flirt.

So the question emerged: Can a flirt be a hero?

What is Alex hiding behind that ready smile and sense of humor? Why does he seem so lost?

The answers were surprising!! Just wait.

The Mitchell family draw him right in, as they did with Dee, and his world is forever changed.

And then there’s Rainey. Strong-willed and independent, she is deeply wounded by her ex-husband’s betrayal. Though she gives off all these ‘confident’ vibes, she hides her insecurities behind a tough exterior in a desire to keep people at a distance – well, everyone except her family.

Alex rocks her world with his ready charm.

And she sees beyond the plastic grin to recognize another wounded soul.

Throwing them together into a book has been a hilarious and heart-stirring adventure, I wasn’t prepared to encounter. They’re so much fun!

AND…he’s ADORKABLE!! Seriously!! He is SUCH a dork, but makes me grin. And…he looks like Armie Hammer 😉

Let me just give you a hint to some of my favorite scenes:

Anything with Sarah!

Underoos

All of the scenes in Rainey’s house

And those in Mama Mitchell’s

Okay, I like the WHOLE STORY…and I can’t wait to see what you think too.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away a grand prize of a paper copy of A Twist of Faith, a mug from the Blue Ridge Parkway, one driftwood scented candle, one mango scented candle, and a Troublemaker snickers 😉 highly appropriate. Chocolate with a nutty personality :)!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c1f1

Blog Stops

By The Book, November 14

Just the Write Escape, November 14

Avid Reader Book Reviews, November 15

Reading Is My SuperPower, November 15

Moments Dipped in Ink, November 15

Fiction Aficionado, November 16

autism mom, November 16

Fiction, Faith, and Fun, November 17

Inklings and Notions, November 17

Faithfully Bookish, November 18

Radiant Light, November 18

Reflections From My Bookshelves, November 19

The Power of Words, November 19

Cordially Barbara, November 20

Red Headed Book Lady, November 20

Smiling Book Reviews, November 20

Kat’s Corner Books, November 21

A Greater Yes, November 21

100 Pages per Hour, November 22

Splashes of Joy, November 22

Carpe Diem, November 23

Bookworm Mama, November 23

A Baker’s Perspective, November 24

The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate, November 24

Daysong Reflections, November 25

Rachel Scott McDaniel, November 25

Remembrancy, November 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 26

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, November 27

Karen Sue Hadley, November 27

The Engagement Plot by Krista Phillips (Book Spotlight with a Giveaway)

November 8, 2017 by Suzie Waltner 9 Comments

I love a book that can make me laugh, and the one I’m sharing with you today is a romantic comedy full of fun. The banter between Will and is sometimes hilarious and other times deep. inner monologue is enjoyable and made me smile.

About the book

Six months ago, William stole Hanna’s heart and shattered it in front of millions of people on a reality TV dating show. And now the big-wig CEO is back on Hanna’s home turf in Minnesota and wants her to forgive him? Fat chance of that. But life is swirling around faster than snow in a blizzard, and despite her objections, teaming up with William seems like the only option to rescue her reputation.

William has never regretted anything more than the day he gave that ill-fated interview for the reality show, The Price of Love. But while he can’t change the past, he’s determined to fix the future. He just needs to convince Hanna to forgive him—and pretend to be engaged with him. Simple, right?

When the media erupts with even worse accusations, teaming up and pretending to be engaged seems to be the only way to salvage their reputations. Despite the media frenzy that swirls around them, an attraction neither of them can fight off begins to surface. Could this love run deeper than a scandal, or will old wounds tear them apart once and for all?

Amazon // Goodreads

You can check out my review here.