Diana's Review Of 'One Enchanted Eve' By Melissa Tagg

One Enchanted Eve (Enchanted Christmas Collection 2) By Melissa Tagg
Larkspur Press, Nov. 22, 2016

Reviewed By Diana Flowers
~5 stars!~
(No spoilers!)

Perfect Recipe For Love?

Author Melissa Tagg has penned a heartwarming, magical Yuletide tale set on a farm in charming Maple Valley, Iowa, where crystalline skies and glittering snow adorn quaint storefronts, wreaths decorate iron lampposts, lights are threaded throughout the trees, and Christmas music is piped through speakers. Simply enchanting, but just what is Rylan Jefferson doing here with Colin Renwycke...her student? 

Colin Renwycke is done with his role as a player and has but one goal in mind—to earn back the respect of his family by embarking on a new career as a pastry chef. He has natural talent but proves to be a mess in the classroom (not to mention he cannot follow a recipe), much to the dismay of his culinary instructor, Rylan Jefferson. When she is literally ready to kick him out of her class, Colin makes her a proposal that involves traveling all the way to his postcard perfect hometown in Iowa. Rylan needs his talent to further her career, but what about her hungry heart?—and could there possibly be more to this man than irresistible blue eyes and dimples? Together can they create the perfect recipe for romance?

Not a novella reader per se, this is the perfect time of year for me to cuddle up with a few...when the busyness of the holidays prevent me from reading a full length novel. Melissa Tagg's always fill the bill with her Christmassy snow-covered small town settings and complex characters. Blending humor with serious issues, Melissa Tagg is an expert at crafting a novella so chock-full of details, romantic tension, and descriptive imagery...that you will feel as sated as though you have just finished a full-length book! So put your jammies on, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and have yourself one enchanted eve! 😉

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This delightful novella may be purchased through Amazon and B&N.

GIVEAWAY: An ebook copy of One Enchanted Eve to one blessed commenter! To be entered please be sure to leave your email addy written (at) and (dot) to protect yourself from spammers.

Bonnie Roof Reviews To Get To You by Joanne Bischof.

To Get To You by Joanne Bischof

Published by Mason Jar Books

Reviewed by Bonnie Roof

5 Stars*****

"There are some things you can't go back from. You just lay the broken pieces down and then there's grace and it's glue, and in a strange way, you're more whole than before, because this time ...  This time it's not by your own doing". ('To Get to You')

'To Get to You' is a story of love on 3 different levels: a teen boy's first love, a parent's love for his child, God's love and grace for mankind. A tender story told from the point of view of a troubled 18-year-old boy, a product of a broken home, who has shut the world out and pain in.

It's Christmas eve - Riley Kane is closing shop at Harmony Farms feed store and Christmas tree lot, in the small mountain town of Idyllwild, southern California. A teenage girl appears, pulling a sled - attempts to load a large left-over Christmas tree Riley has discarded alongside the highway, her feet slipping in the snowy slush from the weight of the tree. Feeling compelled to help, yet his jeep in the shop for radiator repair and the girl on foot - Riley walks 2 miles to her Airstream trailer home, pulling the sled. Along the way, he realizes her to be a church friend, from childhood - Rebecca "Becca" Fletcher.

When Becca's father, a semi-truck driver, is seriously injured driving off the road to avoid hitting a children-filled van, the driver having swerved to avoid a deer - his family drives to a hospital in New Mexico to be with him, taking the trailer with them. Riley is shocked to find an empty lot when he arrives at Becca's - his name written on a grocery bag hanging from a branch of the discarded Christmas tree, a note inside explaining the family's plight. His phone not charged - Becca had tried, unsuccessfully, to call him.

Riley is determined to get to Becca, to help the family by bringing their stored generator and water barrels. When his jeep transmission goes out, stranding him - his mother, who is out-of-town, insists Riley solicit his father's help. Jake Kane, a world-famous professional surfer - hasn't seen his son since Riley was in the 3rd grade, nor spoken to him since he was 11 years old. A man Riley hates, one he feels ruined his life.

What follows is a road trip in a rare '65 VW Samba van for Riley, Jake, and Jake's surfer buddy Saul Ramirez. A trip full of adventure, and emotion-filled discoveries about, and for, both father and son. So vivid are the descriptions and life-like the characters, I felt I was along for the ride, and privy to their thoughts. 'To Get to You' is filled with the emotion and beauty I've come to expect from Joanne's writing - a tender, heart-warming story that alternately made me smile and shed tears. My heart ached for Riley, sympathized with Becca, and loved her vulnerable, innocent heart.

An inspiring, sweet story of redemption, acceptance, hope, forgiveness, faith and love. Made even sweeter by the "Behind the Scenes" revelations at the end, 'To Get to You' is book 1 in the Wild Air series. Derived from a short story,'The Balsam Walk', in the '21 Days of Christmas' short story/devotional anthology. 

Both books are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Books-a-Million.

GIVEAWAY: OWG is grateful for Joanne's gracious provision of a paperback copy of 'To Get to You' - a giveaway to one blessed commenter! Please leave your email address using (at) and (dot) to protect yourself from spammers. 

Teresa S. Mathews Reviews Under a Turquoise Sky by Lisa Carter

Under a Turquoise Sky by Lisa Carter

Abingdon Press  September 2014

Reviewed by Teresa S. Mathews

5 Stars*****

What an exciting story Lisa Carter has penned. This is the saga of Aaron Yazzie aka Rafael Chavez, a tough-as-nails FBI agent, and Kailyn Eudailey, a beautiful southern belle both on the inside and out. On the surface these two are nothing alike yet deep down both harbor hurts from abusive pasts; perhaps that's why they are like oil and water when they are together; what an amazing and delicious mix!!

Kailyn Eudailey endured the horror of seeing her new best friend being murdered at the hands of her Mexican Mafia husband, Esteban Flores, now her life will never be the same. Seeing that monster behind bars will be worth her being put in the witness protection program, besides she doesn't mind leaving behind her empty life as the granddaughter of the elite Carole Eudailey.

When Aaron Yazzie is asked by his adopted dad to take over the protection of a young woman that has witnessed a murder by Esteban Flores he has no clue they have already met; had he known who it was he probably would have refused. When Kailyn recognizes who she thinks is Rafael Chavez, she panics because the last time she saw him was in the company of Esteban Flores. Once again it seems she has been sold out and marked for death!

When Flores' men show up to take out Kailyn, Aaron has no choice but to take her and run. After being tracked down a second time and almost killed Aaron decides to take this infuriating woman to the one place where no one would ever think to look them...The Navajo Reservation; as very few people know his true heritage. What Aaron decides to do on the way there even he can't understand! Could it be he has broken the number one rule of law enforcement; he has fallen for his witness? When an unexpected evil from Aaron's past shows up, will he be able to keep both Kailyn and himself from certain death?

Lisa Carter has quickly become one of my favored authors; one who writes intriguing stories that catch my attention from the start!! She also has a beautiful illuminating voice that flowed effortlessly while describing the vast landscape of the Navajo Nation; she made me feel as though I was there beholding its splendor. If you are looking for a book that will be well worth your time then look no further, this is the one to grab!!

***Thanks to the Abingdon Press and Net Galley for supplying a copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion.***

You may purchase this at Amazon, CBD, B&N,Book a Million.

GIVEAWAY:We will be giving away one copy of this wonderful book. US winner's choice of format, International winner e-book only. Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing. 

Lisa Carter's Beneath a Navajo Moon

Beneath A Navajo Moon
by Lisa Carter
Abingdon Press 2014
Reviewed by Teresa S. Mathews

5 Stars*****

What a beautiful story this is, you can't ask for a more picturesque setting than the red rock walls of Cedar Canyon, Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. Here the story opens with Olivia Thornton sneaking out of the Cedar Canyon Mission School at dawn to think and pray. Olivia is highly disturbed at the ill treatment of the Navajo children by the hands of the ones that should be showing them the love of Christ. So deep in thought was Olivia, she never heard the man that came up behind her and clamped his hand over her mouth; the man that would forever change the course of her life.

Erin Dawson, cultural anthropologist, and daughter of Missionary parents, has been intrigued by the story of a distant relative that went missing in 1906 while a teacher at the Cedar Canyon Mission School. Erin is basing her dissertation on finding out more on Olivia so when she secures a job at the Information Center in town she takes that as a sign this is where she is supposed to be.

Adam Silverhorn a Cedar Canyon Police Officer is a man on a mission to rid the Reservation of the drugs that are destroying his people. Adam will stop at nothing to do what has to be done. So when Erin shows up he checks her out in more than one way. There is something about this sweet wholesome woman that draws him to her.

When Erin's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and her cell phone has no signal Erin walks to the only place nearby to seek help. The local honky-tonk wasn't the best place for Erin to walk into but she didn't have much choice so she bravely goes in. Almost as soon as she enters Erin is accosted by several men, she is thankful when the dangerously handsome Adam Silverhorn comes to her rescue whispering in her ear to go along with the story she is one of his many girlfriends. Holding her close Erin notices he reeks of alcohol but when he pulls her in for a kiss to carry out the charade there is nothing there but the taste of peppermint. What is this larger than life man up to? Could he be just another cop on the take or is he a man who will do anything to catch the ones responsible for the drugs that are showing up here on his sacred homeland?

The more time Erin spends with Adam the more intrigued she is with him, there is so much more to this man than he lets on. He seems to be torn between two worlds; the sin filled one his vindictive grandfather wants to lure him into and the one his godly mother and uncle have raised him to believe in. Will Erin be able to help him choose between right and wrong? Both have decisions to make that may take them down very different paths.

Having been introduced to Lisa Carter's writing after reading her debut novel Carolina Reckoning I knew I was in for a treat with this one. Let me tell you I was not disappointed!! Once again Lisa has woven a tale with beautiful words and descriptive scenery that will draw you in and make you feel as if you are there seeing everything first hand. I also loved how Lisa tied in Olivia's story with modern day life on the Reservation. You can tell a lot of research went into this book. Thanks Lisa for all the hard work! I can't wait for your next story!

***Thanks to Abingdon Press and NetGalley for providing me 

a copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion.***

You may purchase this book and others by Lisa at Amazon, CBD, and Barnes and Noble and other bookstores.

Teresa S Mathews Reviews Dance From Deep Within by Dina Sleiman

Dance From Deep Within

by Dina Sleiman

WhiteFire Publishing

Reviewed by Teresa S Mathews

~5 Stars*****

In this contemporary Christian novel Dina Sleiman introduces us to three young women who come from three extremely different walks of life. Each one believes their way is the road to happiness, but when their professor assigns a project where they have to learn more about the others beliefs, neither of these women will ever be the same.

Layla Al-Rai, a devout young Muslim woman is excited to finally have the chance to earn her engineering degree. Most Muslim women are not given this much freedom, Layla is very grateful to Allah for this privilege. Layla hopes this assignment will allow her to share more about herself and she in turn will learn more about her two new friends.

Allie Carmichael, a ballerina who decided to come back to school after an eight year stint with a Christian dance company. Allie has been a Christian most of her life; she was raised by strict parents and made to attend a church where it seemed everything she did or longed to do was “sinful” including her dancing. Allie is eager to share her beliefs about the one true God with the intriguing young women she has just met.

Rain Butler-Briggs is a bi-racial upbeat free-spirited hippie. Rain is working on an English degree so she can finish her book detailing all the various places she has been in her life as a child and as a young woman traveling the world with her bohemian boyfriend. Rain was raised with the mentality if it feels good or makes you happy, do it.

Will these three young women find the happiness they long for? Will Allie be able to overcome the dark secrets from her childhood and reconcile with her parents and her ex-fiancé? Will Layla make the right choice and follow her heart or will she remain forever in bondage to her family’s religion? Will Rain be able to have the one thing she most desires or will she have to choose between it and her boyfriend? Will these young ladies find their way to the One who writes the symphony to which their hearts long to dance?

I always look forward to reading Ms. Sleiman’s books and this one was by far my favorite. I found myself rapidly flipping the pages to see what outcome was in store for these three young ladies. Each of these characters will find their way into your heart the more you read about them. Layla’s story was the most touching as she had the most to lose if she followed her heart. I loved the way Ms. Sleiman dealt with each ones challenges; it pulled me into the story and held me there until the last page was turned. The depth with which Ms. Sleiman has written this story makes me know she put her whole heart into it! I was truly blessed to have been able to read it.

Links to purchase:   Amazon
Barnes and Noble