I want to know – who has ever cleaned out their TBR pile all the way to the bottom? Not me! And, it’s steadily growing larger as we kick off 2019. Goodreads has a running list of “Most Anticipated Inspirational Novels of 2019,” which currently has 82 entries. I encourage you to browse through the list and add some new titles to your pile.
Here are my most anticipated inspirational reads. I know that more will be added as some authors haven’t listed their to be published for this year. What are your most anticipated reads?
P.S. Reviewing my post it occurred to me that all but two of these (Ever After and Wooing Cadie) are by Bethany House. I’ve come to expect great stories from them, but there are other great publishing houses and indie authors too. I’d like to know what others you love.
Lawman Joe Sheehan is desperate to bond with the daughter he’s just discovered he has. But as a virtual stranger to twelve-year-old Amelia, the task seems impossible. Until Claire Conley moves to town. A social worker renovating a mansion into a foster home, Claire is the first person to get through to Amelia. Falling for the single dad was not on Claire’s to-do list. But with Joe and Amelia around, the house finally starts to feel like home. Claire’s ready to fight to convince Joe that together they’ve done more than fix a house…they’ve built a family.
A Baby for the Doctor
After becoming a foster parent to a young boy, equine therapist Jordan Conley’s life gets turned upside down. Little Levi is in need of an exceptional pediatrician, which means seeking help from Dr. Ash Sheehan—a man that, despite her heart-pounding crush, isn’t her type. Her life is horses and hay, and she can’t imagine the suit-clad doctor in a pair of cowboy boots. As a confirmed bachelor, Ash has never been nervous around women, but there’s something about Jordan that flusters him, and working closely together doesn’t help. The last thing he’s looking for is long-term romance. But the more involved he gets, the more he wishes they could stay together…always.
Their Secret Baby Bond
He wanted roots. She chose career. Can a baby bring them back together?Wynn Sheehan planned to change the world—not return to Alabama alone and pregnant. Her life is in shambles, but at least she can help take care of Latham Grant’s ailing grandpa. Latham isn’t ready to trust the woman who eagerly left him and their small town behind. But can they ignore the spark rekindled by unexpected Family Blessings?
The Marriage Bargain
Family Blessings lead to new beginnings. Jules Sheehan will do anything to keep custody of the two orphaned girls in her care—including a marriage of convenience with their uncle. Cam Quinn crosses the globe as a travel writer, but he’s ready to settle down. Now tough, tender Jules is offering the home he’s secretly longed for. Can this marriage in name only become a family of the heart?
My Review
This series by Stephanie Dees focuses a family that has a big heart and passion for loving foster kids who need a home and a Savior.
The Dad Next Door:
I read this book after reading book 2 in the series, so I had already connect with Joe, Claire, and Amelia, but I enjoyed reading about their start as a family. I admire Joe for the way he stepped right into fatherhood, even with some bumbling and learning, he was immediately steadfast and gave it his whole heart. At the end he paints a picture for their future that melted my heart. I promptly sighed and read it to hubs. A foster brood sounds about perfect to us too.
As a former foster mom, I admired the passion that Claire poured into renovating the house with the intention to foster a bunch of kids who needed love and God’s care, despite the hurdles that pop up. Having read the rest of the series, I know we get to see Claire more, and this aspect come out more and more.
A Baby for the Doctor: I LOVED THIS BOOK – by page 2. I connected with Jordan right away. As a former foster mom, I knew just what she was feeling throughout the book: the joy, the heartbreak, the face on the floor prayers. Ms. Dee did a fantastic job bringing the realities of foster parenting while also giving it the positive perspective that often lacks in fiction.
Ash was swoony and steadfast. His heart for kids will make you melt and smile. While I don’t live with diabetes, I do have a chronic illness, so I also connected with Ash, who was in a good place dealing with day in and out of life with a chronic disease while not letting it get the best of him. I appreciated that Ms. Dees also showed the side of him that got fed up, because we all have those days as well, but he didn’t let drag him down.
Their Secret Baby Bond: I already like Latham having read the first two books in the series and was hoping he’d get an HEA! I also knew something was up with Wynn when I met her in the 2nd book. I enjoyed this story about lost and returned loves, broken hearts and dreams, and God’s restoration. Ms. Dees approached a topic that isn’t often told from a faith perspective – that of an out of marriage pregnancy, but she uses the Sheehans and their community to show Wynn that God has not turned his back on her for her choices and that he can bring beautiful things out of them.
Latham shows us how we may have dreams, but when life happens it’s not an abandonment of those dreams, but a changing. He really made me think as I have dreams that haven’t gone as I imagined, but this story reminded me that God can still use those, just in an unexpected way.
The Marriage Bargain: Marriages of convenience are one of my favorite premises, but pulling them off in a contemporary setting can be difficult. I think Ms. Dees did a good job of a plausible story line giving the reasoning and feelings of both the hero and heroine and why they decided to dive in. While I may think it a bit far fetched having experience with the custody courts, if I was in the same position as Jules, I can’t say that I wouldn’t come up with a similar hare brained idea. I’ve also seen the courts make decisions opposite of what you think is best for the kids, but that’s where trusting God’s plan critical. Jules, like all of us do at some point, leaps forward to take the situation into her own hands.
What helped make this marriage of convenience more realistic for me is that there was an instant attraction. While relationships shouldn’t be based all on the physical, you can’t deny that love at first sight exists – it’s just a different type of love. A deeper long lasting love based on friendship has to grow with time and for Jules and Cam this love is show through a slow tantalizing burn.
We also get to visit with all the other characters from the series, which I loved, without feeling like you missed backstory. A satisfying ending to a series.
I received the series from the author but was not required to write a postive review.
UPDATE 1-10-19: Guys!!!!!!!!!!!! I forgot to tell you about ALL THE KISSES!!!!! You know how I like kissing books. (Insert love and kissy emojies here.) Now back to the original post:
Title: Loving Her Texas Protector Series: Garrison’s Law, Book 2 Author: Mary Connealy Release Date: July 13, 2018 Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Jacie Moreau is a tough as nails security specialist who works with the Long Pine Texas police. She takes care of herself and doesn’t ask for help from anyone. Brett Garrison is an odd man out in the Garrison family. He’s a soft hearted veterinarian from a family of daring Texas lawmen. Jacie runs afoul of a hired killer and no one is there to step between her and danger but Brett.
Brett’s good hearted plan to care for the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen draw an assassin’s attention. Jacie never needs help, but Brett’s kindness when she is so vulnerable sneaks past all the emotional walls she’s built around her heart. The killer keeps coming and their only hope is to run. And as they run they try and figure out who’s hired a killer, and why, and how to stop him.
If they hide well enough and live long enough, they might make it to the day they can fall in love.
I’m used to Mary’s historical fiction books and love all the ones featuring Texas lawmen, so when the opportunity to review her contemporary series came up, I thought, sure! Handsome Texas lawmen are just as fun to read about in a contemporary setting and I enjoyed how Mary took her classic hero story and brought into today. Now I can daydream about my own Texas lawman, you know, if I was single and didn’t have my own dreamy man.
I’m used to Mary’s historical fiction books and love all the ones featuring Texas lawmen, so when the opportunity to review her contemporary series came up, I thought, sure! Handsome Texas lawmen are just as fun to read about in a contemporary setting and I enjoyed how Mary took her classic hero story and brought into today. Now I can daydream about my own Texas protector, you know, if I was single and didn’t have my own dreamy man.
This story keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning. While at first I felt the writing was a bit choppy, it smoothed out and faded as I quickly became lost in the fast paced fictional world running from a mad man. Jacie’s quick wit and sarcastic nature was a bit overwhelming, but it gave her a lot of room to develop into a “nice” person, and Mary takes full advantage of her character development potential. Brett reminds me of my hubs with his patience in the face of a fiery woman, smirking and provoking her with a twinkle in his eye, but loving her diligently.
If you enjoy suspense and strong female characters, this is definitely your read!
I was provided a copy of this novel for the purposes of this tour. All opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of over 50 books and novellas.
Her most recent book series are: Garrison’s Law, High Sierra Sweethearts, Cimarron Legacy, Wild at Heart, Trouble in Texas, and Kincaid Bride for Bethany House Publishing. She’s also written four other series for Barbour Publishing and many novellas.
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. A new entry option will be live each day for that day’s clues. Giveaway begins at midnight on January 8, 2019 and lasts through 11:59pm January 15, 2018. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
The Sheehan brothers slid in in the last week 2018 and right into my heart. There is something about a man and his interactions with kids that make me swoon every time and Joe and Ash are great dads – even before they’re dads.
I have to respect, admire, and swoon over Graham’s steadfastness. No floor is too hard, no sticky fingers too daunting. He pushes Kit to be a better version of herself while also giving her room to grow.
Tox is your classic wounded hero. What I like about this series is that we get to see Tox develop beyond the initial romantic relationship onto a husband and father.
I love Rudy because he is such a different hero for a romance. This story is told from Evelyn’s perspective, but I would really love to hear it from Rudy’s!
Because Henry is Mr. Wright after all (hardy, har, har). I also love Henry because he’s different than your typical hero. And his patience, oh my goodness, he’s so patient and gentle. Swoon.
I hope you found a few to add to your TBR pile for 2019! Who are your book boyfriends for 2018?
Kat's Corner Books 