Book Review of An Aussie Summer Christmas

An Aussie Summer Christmas 

Blurb

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann 
Escaping his dangerous past, former British rock star Justin “The Phoenix” Taylor flees to Australia. Intrigued by the bearded stranger visiting her coffee shop, Ella Anderson decides to discover his secrets. But when Justin’s past collides with their future, Ella must decide whether they have a future at all. 

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams 
Will Harris is proud of his no-complications life. So why is he drawn to his upstairs neighbor, who seems obsessed with Christmas? Can Bridie soften Will-the-Scrooge’s heart in time for Christmas? 

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins 
Political advisor and former bad boy Gus Donovan is intrigued by Chelsea Somers, the girl he didn’t call after their one and only date, six years ago. Chelsea is impressed by the new Gus, but can she trust him with her family secrets ... and with her heart? 

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee 
Breeah has avoided returning to her Australian coastal hometown of Kiisay Point for ten years—avoided the mistake that changed her life, ruined her friendships, and soured her first love. She’s never returned to Resolution, the island where it all happened. But now she’s back, and having to face up to the childhood she loved, the man she can’t forget, and the future that won’t start until she lets it all go. 

All is Bright by Andrea Grigg 
Amy’s always been a good Christian girl…except for being in love with her brother-in-law. Josh is looking for love again, surprised to find it with his late wife’s sister. But will a mountain of guilt and an unexpected letter stop them from making it to the altar? 

Falling for Maddie Grace by Meredith Resce 
Australia’s first professional female football umpire, Maddie Grace, gets knocked out in an on-field accident, crushed beneath the weight of an athletic sports star. What is it about the visual images that has the media making up stories of a secret love affair? Escaping the paparazzi is one thing, but escaping each other is quite another.

My Review

I really enjoyed this box set. Each story is different but has the Aussie connection and a beach connection.

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann 

This is the first book and I have to say I wasn't sure how I would like this book as Justin was a rock star and its not my sort of hero but I actually really liked the story. It shows how a chance meeting when someone has hit rock bottom can help change a life. Justin ends up in Australia where he comes in contact with Ella who wants to learn his secrets not knowing how it may affect her. I really loved the way it showed how Justin turns his life around and his wanting to make amends for his past. 

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams 

I love Bridie, I think I like her cos shes has a job I would love. She is full of life although she has had plenty of heartache in her life. Will on the other hand seems to be more focused on working and not doing much else. We see an incident happen in which the two will be brought together and then need to work together. I enjoyed the story and learning both stories of why they are how they are. It also teaches not to judge by appearances as there is often more to a story than one thinks. 

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins 
In this book we see Chelsea and Gus meet up again after 6 years. Chelsea wonders if Gus really has changed or if its just an act. She is also still grieving the passing of her sister. She has also told her father she will never reveal some of the details to her sisters death. She also wonders if she can handle someone who is in the political arena. I enjoyed their story and seeing how it unfolded. 

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee 
Breeah has returned home after the passing of her uncle. She hasn't been back for 10 years and wants to avoid some people. She made a mistake 10 years ago and still feels guilty. This story deals a lot with forgiveness and not just of others but of yourself. In many ways I felt like Breeah found herself in this book along with reconnecting with a former friend.


All is Bright by Andrea Grigg 
Amy feels she is bad because she loves her brother in law, she has loved him for a long time but knew he was off limits and never acted on the feelings or told anyone, she would never to that to her sister. Even with her sister gone for many years she still hasn't told anyone. Josh gets a letter from his late wife which changes everything between them. I actually found this book refreshingly in the way it showed Amy and her feelings and how she struggled with them. 

Falling for Maddie Grace by Meredith Resce 
Now here is a story I can appreciate. While I love cricket more I am an AFL fan. Maddie Grace is a umpire who has the misfortune of being knocked out by a star Zac. The media have a field day with this as Zac is also referred to as the Rev due to studying ministry and being squeaky clean. They know each other from years back when her father was the coach of Zac's team but nothing more. Seeing this story play out was interesting. Once again another good read.

Book Review: Butterfly Bride by Lacy Williams

Book blurb:
The prodigal son is back. Ever since the terrible mistake he made in high school—a mistake that cost his best friend his life—bullfighter Luke Starr has stayed far away from Pecan, Texas, and his family. But with his twin brothers gone on their respective honeymoons, Luke is forced to come back to town to watch over Gramma and the family ranch. And he can’t wait to leave again. Because being home hurts more than being stomped on by a bull—and it’s only a matter of time until he messes up all over again.

Special ed teacher Jess Sadler will do anything for her students—even abandon her comfort zone to convince a reluctant rodeo cowboy to give “horse lessons” to a student she can’t reach. But when feelings for Luke blindside Jess, she knows she’s in trouble. The man in counting down the minutes until he can leave Pecan. Will he take her heart with him when he goes?

Then a little boy goes missing on the family ranch, and Luke must confront the ghosts of his past or lost the future he never dreamed was possible.

My Review:

Firstly thanks to the publisher for my review copy for an honest review.

This is the third book in this series but could be a stand alone book. We have been hearing about Luke and the mistake he made as a teen but not the full story. This book we find out the exact story and why Luke feels so guilty and can't forgive himself and why he thinks everyone in Pecan blame him. He is back to help his grandmother while his twin brothers are on honeymoon but once home he's out of there. Jess is a special ed teacher with a heart for special need students. She sees that one student has a connection with horses and hopes Luke will agree to give him lessons in hopes it will help reach him.

While helping this child it is helping him also. I love how the story played out. I just wanted to know what was happening. A good story well worth reading.

Book Review Counterfeit Cowboy by Lacy Williams

Back of the Book

From the moment Jesse Baker collides with Erin O'Grady on a Boston train platform, he faces a dilemma. For once, Jesse doesn't want to lie about who and what he is. Yet if she learns he's a con artist, not a cowboy—and the urchin with him is certainly not his brother—she'll never give him a chance.Erin suspects there's more to the enigmatic cowboy than meets the eye. But the sheltered socialite is certain his deep compassion is real. On the long Christmastime train ride to Wyoming, hearts and courage are tested and true motives revealed. And the journey that began in a charade may end with redemption—and a very real love.

My Review:

Thanks to Lacy Williams for my review copy.

I enjoyed this story. The book starts at Boston train station with Erin wanting to go visit her brother in Wyoming and we see Jesse facing a dilemma. He's just out of prison and wanting to go straight but at the same time he needs to go to Chicago. Add a street kid who claims he's Jesse's brother and things get interesting. Jesse had met women like Erin before, she is a socialite and spoilt so Jesse thinks but she seems different. Erin is not what she seems and we see a side of her that surprises Jesse. I love Erin she has a strong spirit and is determined to be more than what her father wants. I like Jesse also and his "brother" steals many scenes. This is a really good book. 

Thursdays getting to know more about Lacy Williams, Birthday bash information

Please welcome back my friend and author Lacy Williams. Today shes talking about her new book The Homesteader's Sweetheart which had just been released. 

1. For any readers who haven't meet you before can you tell us a little about yourself?

Sure. I’m a mom to a two-year-old little girl and an eight-month-old little boy. My husband has to be one of the most patient men alive and is very supportive of my writing. We have three dogs (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels) and obviously a very busy life! I’ve dreamed of being a published writer since I was a little girl, and so far I’ve been blessed to have two novels published with Love Inspired Historical and another on the way.

2. Can you give us a brief blurb of The Homesteader's Sweetheart?

Homesteader Jonas White left Philadelphia with his infant daughter years ago after a scandal broke. Since then, he’s adopted seven more boys (mostly teenagers), because he knew how hard it was growing up on the streets and he wanted to make a home for them. The one thing he’s always been missing has been a wife—someone to love him. He needs money to pay for a medical treatment for his daughter and his only choice is to accept help from his neighbor’s granddaughter, Penny Castlerock. He quickly finds himself falling for Penny, but can’t believe someone like her (a wealthy socialite) would ever love someone like him.

3. Where did you come up with the idea for The Homesteader's Sweetheart?

I was researching something for another story and came across a photo of some street urchins in New York City from the late 1800s. They were dirty and by the looks on their faces you could tell they’d already had hard lives even though they were young. The idea of Jonas White was born from that photo—someone who was strong enough to survive the streets without becoming bitter. Someone whose compassionate heart was open to other children… but still carried hurts that leave him vulnerable (and that’s where the heroine comes in!).

4. How did you go about researching the story?

I’m a research junkie. I actually teach a class on using the internet to research at a local tech school. I had already researched part of the story (things like background and area of the country) when I wrote MARRYING MISS MARSHAL. Specific things that I had to research for this story were Breanna’s epilepsy and the treatment she would’ve received for it, and fancy clothing for Penny because she wouldn’t wear plain things since she came from a wealthy family. Oh, and I had to research how they would’ve treated a broken bone, because one of the adopted sons falls off a ladder and breaks his leg. Mostly, I used Google Books (love their Advanced Search feature!).

5. I love Jonas and his tribe. Was it fun writing the scenes with the children?

Oh, yeah. Those boys just got more ornery as I got further and further into the story. Actually, I had a hard time inventing pranks for them (I guess I’m too straight-laced—I should’ve just asked my brother). And actually, in the beginning, all of the boys liked Penny, but then I thought that made it too easy on her throughout the story, so I changed it so that a couple of them were suspicious of her motives. (Jenny here, I think you did good with the boys and not having them all like her is way more realistic knowing there backgrounds)

6. What message would you like readers to take from this story?

I’d like readers to know that love can overcome. In this book, Jonas and Penny’s love overcomes social boundaries and also helps them overcome some of the hard circumstances that they are faced with. I know in my own life, love has helped me when I’ve had to persevere through some tough things, and I think that is a message everyone can relate to.

7. Finally, what’s next for you, Lacy?

I have a book coming out in December, COUNTERFEIT COWBOY. It’s about a former con man who gets on a train and meets a beautiful young birdwatcher. He doesn’t have the purest motives in the beginning but he quickly finds himself falling for her—hard, and then realizes he isn’t the man he needs to be to win her heart. But of course she doesn’t let him get away that easily. :)  (Jenny again, I cant wait sounds exciting)

I’m also working on a proposal for a new book (not sold to my editor yet) featuring one of the sons from THE HOMESTEADER’S SWEETHEART. That one is already fun to write and I haven’t got that far into it yet. :) (me again, who that would be good to see a story for the boys.)

Thanks for hosting me!

I also want to make sure readers know about the Birthday Bash going on through the end of May. I’m giving away bonus scenes, free ebooks, and other goodies if readers purchase the book this month. Get full details at www.megamaybirthdaybash.com .

Getting to know you Thursdays with Lacy Williams

Please help me welcome debut author Lacy Williams who has released Marrying Miss Marshall through the Love Inspired Historical range. I was lucky to win this book through the LIH goodreads 400 member party and I have to say I Loved this book. It was one I didn't want to put down and would love to see as a film.
I have loved going to know Lacy also. 

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I have been married for nine years to a wonderful man I met in college. He is my very own real-life hero and is very supportive of my writing career. We have a toddler daughter and a little boy on the way (due in early September). Luke is a big sports fan, including tennis, soccer, basketball, football… which gives me a lot of writing time as long as I can tune out the cheering from the living room. :) I love animals, especially dogs. We have three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and they are just the most fun to have around.

2. When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books?
I had a lot of favorites. I read all the time. If I had to pick one it would probably be Anne of Green Gables.

3. Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and write?

Romance. Anything romance. Historical, contemporary, paranormal, YA… if it has a strong romance with captivating characters, I will read it and love it. I write both historical and contemporary romance.

4. Did you have favourite authors growing up who have influenced you?
I loved books with adventure in them--Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series (what an adventure to go West, right?); My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George is another one, and Jim Kjelgaard’s Big Red, Stormy and others. I think because of these authors I like to include adventure in my books as well as animals/pets.

5. When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I have wanted to be an author since I was a child. I don’t remember a specific instance of making that decision, but I always carried around a spiral notebook and pencil. When I was about ten, my parents bought me a typewriter for Christmas and I used that thing well into my teen years (thank God for parents who were willing to buy me those expensive cartridges!).

6. How did you go about becoming an author?

When I got serious about becoming published, I joined the American Christian Fiction Writers (www.acfw.com) and started learning (mostly learning how much I *didn’t* know!). As I learned more about the different publishers, I figured out that Love Inspired would be a good fit for me and started studying their guidelines and reading the LI books. Then I wrote and wrote and wrote, attended a couple of conferences and pitched to editors, entered contests, got critiques. My manuscript was requested by Emily Rodmell (Assistant Editor for Love Inspired) from finaling/winning ACFW’s Genesis contest in 2009 and the rest is history. It has been an interesting journey for me!

7. If you were not a writer what would you like to be?

I have a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and BB (before babies) I was an auditor for a public accounting firm. I really enjoyed my job and the people I worked with but my husband and I have been blessed and I have been able to stay at home with the baby (babies in a couple weeks!). So… if I wasn’t writing it would probably be some combination of being “mommy” and accounting.

8. Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?
Well, since I have one small child and another on the way, my curfew is usually about 8:30pm so that limits me a bit… (I love being a mommy though so I wouldn’t change it). So I have my favorite TV shows (Castle is one and Rookie Blue is another), I like watching movies, and I enjoy walking my dogs and playing at the park when it isn’t too hot outside!

9. Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?

I love reading Regencies and I would love to visit Great Britain. I love history and historical sites, museums, etc… I’ve been trying to talk my husband into going to Wimbledon sometime and then I would take some nice little side trips… we’ll see what happens with that in the future. :)

10. If you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why?

Confession time. I would absolutely love to meet Kevin Durant of the OKC Thunder (NBA team). He seems like such a cool guy for someone so young and a good role model and I would love to share a meal with him! I would also like to meet and eat with Francine Rivers (one of my favorite authors), and I guess my last “pick” would be either my editor or agent. I only get to see them every couple of years so it is always nice to get to sit down and catch up with what’s going on with them. (Jenny here, one of the 3 I would pick just happens to be a professional sports person also he is a cricketer)

Finally can you tell us about your current books and/or any that will be coming out soon. Also where we can find you on the web.

MARRYING MISS MARSHAL is the story of a female town marshal in Wyoming in the 1890s and the tenderfoot detective she falls in love with. Danna Carpenter doesn’t get any respect from the people she’s sworn to protect, which makes it hard to do her job. She needs the help of detective Chas O’Grady but doesn’t expect to fall in love with the citified man…

Readers can read the first chapter and see promotions at www.marryingmissmarshal.com . My website is www.lacywilliams.net and I am also on facebook (lacywilliamsbooks ) and twitter (@lacy_williams ). I love to hear from readers!

Thanks again for your time and agreeing to be on my blog.

Thank you for having me!

Book Review Marrying Miss Marshall by Lacy Williams

Product description:
A Woman in a Mans Job

Filling the shoes of her late husband as town marshal hasn't been easy for Danna Carpenter. She's not only fighting criminals, she's also fighting to earn the respect of the townspeople. So crossing paths with tenderfoot detective Chas O'Grady is the last thing she needs. He's hunting a band of cattle rustlers and isn't used to the rugged Wyoming landscape. Teaming up is their only option, but when circumstances place them in a compromising situation, the town forces a more permanent partnership—marriage. If they can let down their guards with each other they might find that love is the greatest catch of all.

My Review

This is Lacy's debut novel. I really enjoyed this story. Danna is a sheriff and is also a women, Chas is a detective who thinks his job is to save Danna. What I love about the story is that it is different. Danna fell into the job of sheriff after the death of her husband the previous sheriff but she is good at her job she isn't a girly girl. She enjoys her job but the some of the towns people are not so sure. Chas is a city boy but also has demons he is dealing with which makes him want to protect Danna even if she doesn't need it. I love how Lacy writes both points of view so you can see why Chas thinks like he does. Add a large dog that tends to cause alot of trouble with some of the locals, seems it has a thing for digging up rose bushes much to the owners annoyance. The book deals with subjects such as fear from past incidents, insecurities and misunderstandings. This was a wonderful book.

Thank Lacy for my copy which I won from the LIH goodreads group.