Chance of Loving You (Romance Collection)

This is an anthology by
Author Terri Blackstock - view author info
Author Susan May Warren - view author info
Author Candace Calvert - view author info

Terri Blackstock and Candace Calvert are two of my favorite authors and I have also read Susan May Warren’s work in the past.

The first story, by Terri Blackstock, is about a couple who meet in a restaurant and end up sharing a winning sweepstakes ticket (10 million each). It was not Terri Blackstock’s normal fare and it felt contrived, as if she was trying to make something up to fit this spot in the book. The characters were not very likeable and the circumstances and reactions of the two were not very credible.

The second story, by Candace Calvert, is about a dietary aide in a hospital who falls in love with the CSI Photographer who is regularly visiting his grandmother in the hospital. This is typical Candace Calvert fare and I loved it!

The third story, by Susan May Warren, was hard to follow at first but it turned out to be a fun story. It’s about a couple who grew up together and went to the same college but misunderstanding had forced a wedge between them that neither wanted. A fishing tournament throws them together again and sparks fly.

All in all this was a fun book and I will recommend it to my friends that like these types of stories. This book was provided to me by Tyndale House in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist

This is the most fun book I've read this year. I always love Deanne Gist's books but this one is extraordinary!


Flossie is a "New Woman" in the 1890s. She wants to strike out on her own as a single woman and artist. She accepts a job for Mr. Tiffany (of Tiffany stained glass fame) when he hires women to replace the men from his factory that are on strike. Against her parents' wishes, she moves out and takes up residence in a boarding house. Being an only child, she is hungry for family and embraces the other residents of the boarding house as her new family. One of the residents is a writer, Reeve Wilder, a man who also wants a family in the worst way but handles the acquiring of one from a whole different perspective. This novel take place in New York City and also in Chicago at the World's Fair. The author has done extensive research and I almost feel like I have visited that World's Fair and also have learned much about the culture of the time. There are so many fascinating aspects of our ancestors' lives that I have learned through Ms. Gist's work and I can't wait to find out what she will teach me next.


I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. However, if I had not I would have bought it at the first opportunity anyway because I would not have wanted to miss this one! These characters are engaging, likable and "fun to watch." Once I dove into this book I didn't want to come up for air. I am now adrift at the end of the story and wishing I was still experiencing it. I think this will be one of those rare books that I will actually visit again. There are so many books to read out there that I hardly ever read one again but I may have to make an exception for this one. Of course, I'm sure Ms. Gist is working on her next masterpiece so perhaps I will just wait and see. Delicious!

Finding Me by Kathryn Cushman

Kelli Huddleston has always been told that her mother and siblings died in a house fire. But when her father and stepmother die in a car accident and Kelli has to go through her father's things, she finds a whole different scenario emerging and decides to go find out for herself what really happened.

I was not familiar with Kathryn Cushman's work before but I intend to be very familiar in the future. What a great author to add to my "favorites" list!

This book kept me hooked until the very end. I needed to find out what happened more than I needed my sleep. The book and its characters found a home in my heart. Highly recommend!

Bethany House gave me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When Grace Sings by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Briley Forrester, hotshot big city reporter, is in the tiny Old Order Mennonite town of Arborville to dig up some dirt on the residents. He and his boss think there must be more to the story than the outward appearance of these people. He stays at the Bed and Breakfast run by Alexa Zimmerman. She's not Old Order Mennonite but she lives plain since her extended family, the Zimmerman's are. Both Briley and Alexa have issues from the past that haunt them. Briley was abandoned at 5 and raised in foster homes. Alexa was abandoned as an infant and raised by Suzy Zimmerman.

Also featured in the story are Steven Brungardt and Anna-Grace Braun who are "published" to be married. Steven has inherited a farm in Arborville from his deceased grandfather. Steven doesn't want to be a farmer, he wants to be a teacher but he doesn't want to disappoint his parents and Anna-Grace. Anna-Grace isn't sure she wants to go to Arborville either because she has discovered that her birth parents are from there. She doesn't want to know who they are but she doesn't want to run into them either.

This story is a continuation of When Mercy Rains and this book is number 2 in the Zimmerman Restoration series. Book 1 deals with Suzy Zimmerman's return to her family with the daughter she raised (Alexa) and seeing for the first time since birth her own illegitimate daughter that had been adopted by a cousin.

Time out! I need to grumble at the author a little: Mrs. Sawyer, you left us hanging on Suzy at the end of book one. Now at the end of book two you leave us hanging on Suzy, Alexa AND Anna-Grace. Book 3 (since this is a trilogy) better be Faith Restored or some such and resolve all three of these. They are all begging for resolution.

Just so you know, that rant above was in fun. I love Kim Vogel Sawyer. She is arguably my FAVORITE of all favorite authors. She provided this book to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. I would have snarfed it up anyway because I've been waiting (impatiently) for this next installment in the story. Please speed-write book number 3, Mrs. Sawyer.

Dauntless (Valiant Hearts) by Dina L. Sleiman

All I can say is WOW! I loved this book! I love this time period, I love these kinds of stories and I want more! (And I don't want to wait till the Author's next installment. I want her to speed write!)


Lady Merry Ellison and Timothy Grey were once betrothed but her father's opposition to King John put a damper on the situation. Her parents and brother were murdered by the King's men and Merry and some of the village children were forced into exile by the circumstances. They formed a little band for survival and lived off their wits in the woods. Timothy, thinking Merry was dead too, eventually went to work for a nearby landholder. When he discovers Merry is still alive he doesn't know what to do. To let others know is to put her in danger.


This was so much fun -- a Robin Hood type of story. The characters are interesting, the time period is interesting, the political intrigue is fascinating and the storytelling is superb!

Bethany House gave me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review but I would have bought it anyway and will buy any subsequent books by this author. Loved it!!

By Your Side by Candace Calvert

Macy, an ER nurse, and former foster child and Fletcher, a cop meet each other when they are involved in a sniper incident on the freeway. As it turns out they have mutual acquaintances in the the ER / First Responders community. As the sniper continues to show up (more than once when Macy was present) all kinds of theories evolve and Macy and Fletcher spend more and more time together. They seem to be the right mix to work through issues both have with their pasts and presents. Both characters are real and fascinating and people you would want on your friend’s list.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the medical / ER / Cop insight. It was very well researched. And the story kept developing to the extent that I didn’t want to put it down to resume normal daily activity. I’m looking forward to another installment from this author and I will definitely recommend this book to my friends who enjoy this genre.

I received this book from Tyndale House in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey

Reef McKenna and Kirra Jacobs have known each other since childhood and have been at odds most of that time but when one of Kirra's family members is kidnapped during the Iditarod they team together to find her and catch the criminals who have a plans that will endanger many people and animals.

This is book 5 in the Alaskan Courage series. I have loved every book in this series about the McKenna family in Alaska. I waited rather impatiently for this last installment and now I feel a sense of loss since this is the last book in the series, but I can't wait to see what Dani Pettrey has in store for us in her next series.

The characters in these books are friendly people who anyone would love to have has friends or family. The author makes the reader feel like they are a member of the family or at least a very close family friend. These are books that are hard to put down in exchange for the mundane of daily life so I generally start them when I have a large block of time when I can read with only brief pauses to eat or run to the bathroom. If I have to (sigh) go to bed and put the book down till morning it is most stressful.

I love the way the characters' Christian faith is intertwined seamlessly into the story and just becomes a part of their personality. It is not contrived or superfluous, it is part of who they are and what they are doing.

Dani Pettrey has become one of my favorite authors. Most books I read and pass on but Dani Pettrey's books go on my bookshelf.

Bethany House gave me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. If they hadn't I'd have bought it anyway the first day it was released because I have been waiting for this one! All Bethany House books are winners but Dani Pettrey is one of their new shining stars.