Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck

Doesn't every little girl dream of being a princess someday- to wear a tiara, have a closet full of ballroom gowns, live in a castle, and run a country?  Regina Beswick remembers her grandmother's fairy tale stories, but never imagined they were about a country named Hessenberg and she is the princess the country is looking for to end the 100 years entail.  She is content living in Florida with her father and step-mom and busy starting her own classic auto restoration business.  Then Tanner Burkhardt shows up on a mission for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg.  Although he has proof that she is the long-lost princess, Regina is unsure of her identity.  She questions herself...how could she have lived for 25 years and not known her true identity?  Add that to the fact that she has no idea how to run a country! Throw in a little political opposition from the governor who wants to rule the country himself and you have Rachel Hauck's latest novel in the Royal Wedding Series.  I have read the first novel in the series and some reference is made to King Nathanial and his fiancée Susanna, but you don't have to be familiar with the first book to enjoy the second.  There are references to history in the early 1900's, before World War I, in some of the letters that Regina finds from her grandmother, so it made the fairy tale story seem more real.  And with all the interest in America of the royal family of England with Princess Kate and Prince William,  Rachel Hauck portrays a modern day fairy tale that most American young women would enjoy!  Zondervan provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A Match Made in Texas- A Novella Collection by Witemeyer, Connealy, Jennings and Cox.

If you like Historical Christian Romance, this collection of 4 novellas is for you. Set in Dry Gulch, TX in 1893, each story involves the work of an anonymous matchmaker.  How else you can explain how handy man Neill just shows up to help widow Clara fix up her homestead? Or Grace, a young schoolteacher that is losing her sight as well as her job, but still wants to be independent on her ranch.  Cowboy Clayton shows up on her doorstep in response to a classified ad that Grace never wrote.   Then there is Andrew who needs someone to stay on his ranch with his elderly aunt while he travels for work, and city girl Lucy is sent to him by an unknown source.  In the final story Hannah has known Mark since grade school, but he is too tongue tied around her to make the first move. Only a matchmaker can give them a little push in the right direction!  At first I wasn't sure if I would like the novellas, because they seemed too short.  Yet, I loved the novels I had read by Karen Witemeyer and Mary Connealy. I found I like the short stories because some nights after work and getting the kids to bed I only had a short time to read and I could read the whole novella in one sitting.  I love historical fiction and these authors didn't disappoint!

Plain Peace by Beth Wiseman

Beth Wiseman continues on with her Daughters of the Promise Series in her new novel Plain Peace.  Set in Paradise, PA, Wiseman tells the story of Anna Byler, granddaughter of Issac Byler, the most strict bishop their Amish community has ever known. Feared by some and disliked by many, Issac doesn't have many friends and therefore neither does Anna.  Suitors are afraid to even talk with her, so she has never been courted.  Only Jacob Hostetler, the newcomer from Ohio, has shown an interest. Against her grandfather's wishes, Anna secretly meets with Jacob and a relationship begins.  Other secrets surround the little Amish community too.  Jacob's family is still hurting by a loved one's death, Anna's grandmother has secrets she is keeping from Issac and even an English woman with Amish connections from town is interwoven into Wiseman's plot.  Using characters from her previous novels, Beth Wiseman sort of "ties up loose ends" with this one. The story moves along at a good pace and the English woman's story seems realistic. However, I'm not sure how believable some of the storyline involving the Amish really is.  It was a good story, just probably one I wouldn't read again.  I appreciate Thomas Nelson sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

Book 3 of The Brides of Last Chance Ranch Series tells the story of Miranda Hunt, a Pinkerton agent who has answered an ad for an heiress of Miss Eleanor Walker's ranch. Since Miss Walker has no children to inherit her ranch is looking for a strong woman who will put the ranch above else, and that means remaining single.  So Miranda becomes Annie Beckman, an undercover operative for the Pinkerton agency, who is trying to prove that a woman can do the same job as a man.  She is hoping to find the identity of The Phantom, who is responsible for numerous bank and train robberies.  Her boss seems to think there is a connection to the Last Chance Ranch.  And so does the Wells Fargo detective Jeremy Taggart.  He is undercover as a ranch hand for Miss Walker, yet neither Miranda or Jeremy is aware they are there for the same purpose.  Strange accidents become more frequent on the ranch and Jeremy and Miranda are thrown together.  Jeremy and Miranda will have to decide if love or their careers are more important.
Set in Arizona Territory in 1897, if you love historical fiction, this novel is for you!  I learned about the origins of the real Pinkerton agency as wells as the Wells Fargo detective agency.  It had just the right amount of suspense and action for me.  And the way the main characters conversed with each other was entertaining. You did not have to read the first 2 books in this series to understand the plot.  I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.  Thank-you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for sending me a free copy to review.

A Bride For Keeps by Melissa Jagears

Set on the Kansas prairie in the year 1876, Melissa Jagears tells the story of Boston bred Julia Lockwood, who has agreed to be a mail-order bride for homesteader Everett Cline. The trouble is Everett never asked for one, at least this time.  After 3 failed attempts to marry, Everett has resigned to the bachelor life.  However, his best friend's wife has corresponded enough with Julia that she manages to convince her to come out to Kansas, failing to tell Everett until Julia arrives.  Julia has never felt loved for who she truly is, only for how she can benefit others.   Although, neither trusts the other, the attraction is there and a friendship grows.   Everett learns to put God back in charge of his life, and helps Julia realize there is a God who loves her unconditionally.
This was a new author for me and one I will be sure to read again!  I love any stories about mail-order brides and this one didn't disappoint.  The dialogue and humor made me feel like I was living on the Kansas prairie with them.  I stayed up way too late one night just because I had to know how the story ended!  What a beautiful story...thanks Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free copy to enjoy!

Fired Up (Trouble in Texas Book 2) by Mary Connealy

The Trouble in Texas continues with the story of Dare Riker, who upon returning to Broken Wheel, TX  after the Civil War, has by default become the town's doctor.  He is seeing more patients since Glynna Greer has opened a diner. Glynna originally came to TX as a mail order bride, but her abusive husband was killed while trying to steal Luke's ranch.  Now she must make a living for herself and her 2 children, even if cooking isn't one of her gifts.  Dare learns that she makes a much better assistant to him, especially after his life becomes endangered.  First there is a rock slide, then his house catches on fire.  When aDare is injured with a knife from Glynna's kitchen, questions arise as to who would hold a grudge against him. Glynna has already had 2 bad marriages and she can't subject her children to another one, but Dare is convinced that neither Glynna nor her children have had the right man in their lives. 
I read Book 1 and I liked how this book just picked up where the first one left off.  There is just enough mystery/suspense thrown in. The men are godly characters that are trying to show Glynna's son what a real man of God should be like.  The ladies are hard working ranch women, yet caring of each other.  Definitely a story you don't want to miss!  Thank-you Bethany House for providing a free copy for me to review! 

Made to Last by Melissa Tagg

Miranda Woodruff is in the 3rd season as star of her homebuilding show.  To her TV viewers, she seems to have the perfect life with a loving husband.  When her network talks about possible cuts, her producers feel it's time to bring her husband on camera with her.  The only problem is: Miranda doesn't really have a husband, only memories of a broken engagement, and a fiancé she hasn't seen in 3 years.  So as the lies start to pile up, Miranda's agent hires a guy to pose as her husband.  If that wasn't bad enough, a reporter comes on the scene to follow and blog her every move.  Matthew is looking for the next big story to get his sagging career off the ground, and his reporter instincts can detect that Miranda has secrets from the first time he meets her.  Matthew wasn't expecting the chemistry that he has with Miranda, especially since she is a "married woman".  Add in another reporter set on revenge for a past story with Matthew and the former fiancé returning home to Miranda, plus Miranda's fake husband being accident prone, and you have comedy and charm all rolled into one.
This was a new author to me, and I'm so glad I received this free copy from Bethany House Publishers to review.  Excellent book that I couldn't put down!  I will definitely be reading more stories by Melissa Tagg!  The story line and characters seemed so real and I loved how they found their way back to God, and realized how important truth is in today's world.