Hello, everyone!

Some of you might know that I took part in last year’s Five Fall Favorites, a week of book recs, prizes, and good times. I loved being a part of it, and was excited to hear about this more laid-back and casual event to celebrate the books we love! I’m happy to be here with you all today!

A special thank you to Kate at Once Upon an Ordinary for inviting me and for hosting this fun event!

(Disclaimer: There are affiliate links listed below. This just means that if you click on one and buy anything within 24 hours after clicking the link, I may make a small commission. The cost of the product is not affected, and any amount I make will go back into the maintenance of this blog and related uses. Thank you!)

Love in the Wild by Mandi Blake –

It’s all fun and games until the fake relationship puts their lives on the line.

Gage Howard’s last name is a legacy, and not a good one. The Howards and the Pattons have been rivals for half a century, but his sister’s actions have branded her a traitor. Now, his own loyalty is divided. Hadley Morgan has no clue how bloody the family feud between the Howards and the Pattons is when she volunteers to help her new roommate get information to Gage. A fake relationship with her roommate’s brother is a simple solution to stay below the radar.

Gage is guarded and stoic, while Hadley is full of hope. As they carefully navigate their arrangement, they find unexpected connection in the tragedies of their past.

Hadley is determined to show Gage a God of forgiveness as he is constantly reminded of his dark past. Alliances are drawn and betrayals can put a target on anyone’s back. Together, they’ll have to strive to keep the Howards and Pattons from destroying each other while fighting for the new love that could be the way to healing for both of them.

I have hyped myself up and scared myself away from reading this book so many times now. I loved the Wolf Creek Ranch series, and from the time we met Gage (and Hadley), I’ve wanted to read their stories, so finding out they were together?! Amazing! But… Gage is…rough, which normally wouldn’t bother me; his wouldn’t be the first book I read with a character like him, I even read Linc’s book (Forever After All) by Blake, and loved it! But… For some reason, I just have my hopes up on this one, and that scares me some. I’ve been disappointed before, and while I’ve grown and gotten better about it, I still have a few (like this one) that I struggle committing to, as there is always a chance I won’t end up enjoying it.

To Belong Together by Emily Conrad –

Fame and money have a way of complicating love.
Drummer John Kennedy can keep a beat, but he can’t hold a conversation, so he relies on actions to show he cares. Unfortunately, when he’s instantly intrigued by a spunky female mechanic, he can’t seem to convey the sincerity of his intentions. And the rejections don’t stop there. His own sister is pushing him away just when he could help her most.

Erin Hirsh’s life would be easier if God hadn’t given her a love for cars. Only her father understood her, and she’s losing him to dementia. Her brief romances have always backfired worse than a mistuned engine, and she refuses to give John the chance to wreck her heart. A rock star with a supermodel ex can’t possibly see anything in her.

At least that’s what she thinks until they find common ground in faith and their worsening family situations leave them each longing for a place to belong. Could God intend for this pair of opposites to belong together?

I loved Gannon’s story, but it has also been a while since I read it. I knew that I wanted to read John’s story when I met him in To Bring You Back, Gannon’s book, but I just haven’t? And now it’s sort of become a thing. Oops!

Bluebird on the Prairie by Tasha Hackett –

Haunted by nightmares after her husband’s death, Eloise Davidson struggles to find peace. Avoiding the town and the people in it has become part of who she is. When she meets a traveler who falls at her feet, she is more than willing to forget the whole embarrassing thing ever happened. Eloise has enough to worry about without entertaining silly daydreams. But when Zeke threatens the safety net she’s built around herself, she’s not prepared for how her world will change.

This is another that god put off last year, and I have a suspicion that I will like it, I’ve enjoyed what I have seen of the author’s writing and quotes, but the mention of Frankenstein in a historical/western just… Kind of has me afraid to pick it up, haha.

Tell Me Twice by Nuria Munoz –

“A benefit of knowing your adversary since you both had undeveloped prefrontal cortexes is that you possess crucial information on him. Like how easy he is to torture.”

Fin Santos likes his ecosystem orderly and free of interference. As the executive director of Mi Tesoro, his beloved conservation trust nestled in the lush hills of western Puerto Rico, his focus has been laser-sharp. But now, the board wants to win over the community before greenlighting his next project. When his infuriatingly competent former academic rival shows up to run the marketing campaign he vehemently opposed, Fin is in for more than some ecological disruption.

A freelance marketing whiz and free spirit, Mari Morales has always thrived in a no-strings environment. And yet, the moment she arrives at the sun-drenched hacienda overlooking a breathtaking riverscape, something shifts. The vibrant community of Mi Tesoro, and even the stubborn, undeniably attractive director with his passionate dedication, begin to weave a heady spell she hadn’t anticipated.

Fin and Mari’s professional clashes are immediate and intense, a fiery echo of their fiercely competitive days back in debate club. And yet, amidst the marketing videos and community events hosted under the starlit Puerto Rican sky, their undeniable spark burns bright. One that proves that, once they get out of their own way, worthy foes can turn into reluctant allies, and even tropical lovebirds.

I’ve enjoyed both of this author’s previous books, but one mentioned talking out loud to a dead relative, and the other has a scene where they joke about kismet… Both are against the Bible’s teaching, and have me hesitant to read another story from her. I know catholics believe these things are fine, but God’s Word says otherwise. Normally, this would be grounds for me to DNF and not read an author, but there are a few that it ends up being a one-time thing, and I at least want to give this one a chance. If it still ends up the same, this will likely be my last from her, which is sad because her characters are delightful, but not worth compromising my convictions and going against God’s Word…

It’s Always Been You by Rachel Chamberlayne –

He’s a former womanizer with a redeemed heart; she’s an old fling battling low self-esteem. After three years of silence, he’s back, and this time she’s wise enough to know he only wants her body, not her heart. Or does he?

Evie

I’ve loved my brother’s best friend since before I could talk—and it ended up costing me both my virtue and my heart. When an unexpected health scare forces me to quit my job as a caregiver three years later, Brandon swoops in and makes me a job offer I can’t refuse.

He’s acting like a total saint these days, but I know the real Brandon beneath that deceptively charming, calculatedly clinical doctor’s smile. This is all just a game to him—he loves the chase. Unfortunately, the last time we played games, I fell in love, and he fell in lust.

Still, my cold, black heart might be dumb enough to want to play again—just to feel something.

Brandon

I knew everything would change when I gave my life to Christ. The only change I couldn’t have prepared for was losing the one person who was in my corner when it felt like the whole world had turned against me.

I might have let my Spitfire down, but I’ll never let her go—not until she stops running from me long enough to forgive me. But as her heart begins to soften toward me, that same ember of desire burning between us threatens to send our innocent friendship up in flames yet again.

Hiring her as my assistant will be either the best decision or the worst mistake I’ve ever made.

This is a ‘Christmas’ story, which I didn’t realize when I requested it. It’s also one of those more difficult stories, where the overall story is largely a redemption arc, and normally I like those, but sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s the kind I will love, or one that I’d struggle to read and end up sad I tried. I’m normally better at choosing them, so I might end up loving this one, but I don’t celebrate holidays, and have never enjoyed holiday-themed books. I’m not sure how much this one is ‘Christmas’ focused, but knowing it is still Christmas themed enough to feature a poinsettia on the cover…I’m hesitant to start it now.

Discover more from Books Less Travelled

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.