Candice Sue Patterson's Blog, page 6

Book Bees

I'm looking for influencers for my upcoming release How To Charm A Beekeeper's Heart, a contemporary romance from Pelican Book Group. If you're interested in a FREE digital copy of the novel, apply here. Details are in the application form. Space is limited.
https://goo.gl/forms/LKitarUuY4QrVZqU2


*Must apply by September 1, 2016

What Matters Most by Kellie Coates Gilbert

Just when she can't take it anymore, Leta finally catches a break.But when things seem too good to be true, they often are.
Leta Breckenridge is forced to drop out of college to care for her dementia-ridden mother. After learning a severely delinquent account may force her mother into a less desirable facility, Leta steps out of her comfort zone and lands a high-paying job at an Austin public relations firm. But her dream job turns into a nightmare when she learns the firm is a front for a political opposition machine--and that the research she's been collecting will be used against her new love interest, Nathan Emerson. 
Nathan is a rising political star being pressured to run a bid to unseat the current governor of Texas. He's already in a relationship with a woman much better suited to be a politician's wife, but he's never met anyone like Leta. Could this feisty, challenging woman hold the key to his heart?

Publisher: Revell, 2016Genre: Contemporary Romance

My ReviewLeta Breckenridge is struggling to make ends meet between an underpaying job and delinquent payments to the facility that cares for her dementia-ridden mother. Then grace finds her in the most unexpected place in the form of a caring--and handsome--senator. When she receives an opportunity at her dream job, the wages and perks are her answer to prayer. But when her path continues to cross with the senator's, her attraction to him is tested, as well as her integrity. Leta must make a choice between the easy road to success and God's will. 
I gave this book 4 stars!
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Honor Redeemed by Christine Johnson

Her future--and her heart--hang in the balance.
Keys of Promise book #2

Two Men Vie for Her Affection--Survival Will Depend on Choosing the Right One. 
Two years ago, Prosperity Jones waved farewell to her beloved David as the army sent him to faraway Key West. Now with her parents gone, she has but one prospect for the future: make the dangerous journey from Nantucket to Key West to reunite with David and secure a happier life. 
Arriving penniless in the South, Prosperity is dismayed to find David married to someone else. Scrambling to survive and nursing a broken heart, she gains the friendship--and the affection--of a kind doctor. Could he be the answer to her loneliness? Or will her life be upended by circumstance yet again? 
With a deft hand, Christine Johnson fills the reader's senses with the sights, sounds, and smells of Key West in this heartwarming story of honor lost, honor redeemed, and a love forged in adversity.

Publisher: Revell, 2016Genre: Historical RomanceTime Period: 1852

My ReviewAfter losing both her parents, Prosperity Jones uses what little money she has left to sail to Key West, seeking refuge in her fiance Lt. David Latham. Upon arrival, she finds David only to discover he's already married. To a woman of ill repute no less. Without money to return home to Nantucket, she secures a laundress position at the local hospital to support herself. 
David can't stand his wife. She's vile, lazy, and demanding. Living in the same town with Prosperity, the woman he truly loves, is torture. But he must accept the consequences of his sin, a child conceived from a night he can't recall. 
As changing as the sea, David and Prosperity's lives shift with every lie exposed, challenge rendered, and threat to their happiness. 
This is the first book I've read of Christine Johnson's and it won't be my last. Book one in this series is not required reading before this one. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, steady historical romance. I gave this book 4 stars!

No Way Up by Mary Connealy

The fight for the Cimarron RanchHAS JUST BEGUN!



When Cimarron ranch patriarch Chance Boden is caught in an avalanche, the quick actions of hired hand Heath Kincaid save him. Badly injured, Chance demands that his will be read and its conditions be enforced immediately. 

Without anyone else to serve as a witness, Heath is pressed into reading the will. If Justin, Sadie, and Cole Boden don't live and work at home for the entire year, the ranch will go to their low-down cousin Mike. 
Then Heath discovers the avalanche was a murder attempt, and more danger might follow. Deeply involved with the family, Heath's desire to protect Sadie goes far beyond friendship. The danger keeps them close together, and their feelings grow until being apart is the last thing on their minds.

Publisher: Bethany House, 2016Genre: Historical Romance

My ReviewAll three Boden children have established their own way of life and none of those paths fits their father's wishes. When Chance Boden gets injured in an avalanche, the terms of his will are put into action immediately. To keep the ranch from going to a greedy distant relative, the Boden children must live together and work the ranch for the next year. 
Sibling rivalry, clashing personalities, and a handsome--and very opinionated--ranch hand, Heath Kincaid, make living arrangements difficult for Sadie Boden. Then when Heath discovers the avalanche was a pre-planned attack, the hunt for the culprit, and their motive, take them all on a wild journey they never expected. 
With adventure, humor, and a sweet romance this book will not disappoint Connealy fans. I gave this book 4 stars!

From This Moment by Elizabeth Camden

Romulus White has tried for years to hire illustrator Stella West for his renowned scientific magazine. She is the missing piece he needs to propel his magazine to the forefront of the industry.
But Stella abruptly quit the art world and moved to Boston with a single purpose: to solve the mysterious death of her beloved sister. Romulus, a man with connections to high society and every important power circle in the city, could be her most valuable ally. 


Sparks fly the instant Stella and Romulus join forces, and Romulus soon realizes the strong-willed and charismatic Stella could disrupt his hard-won independence. Can they continue to help each other when their efforts draw the wrong kind of attention from the powers-that-be and put all they've worked for at risk?


Publisher: Bethany House, 2016
Genre: historical romance



My Review
When two creative talents clash, sparks fly and tempers flare. Will they be willing to set aside their egos to find true love?

Famous lithograph artist Stella West has moved to Boston to find who murdered her sister. Despite the police's claim her death was accidental, Stella lurks around City Hall for any clue of foul play. She crosses paths with Romulus White, half-owner of Scientific World, the very man behind the letters she'd received in England, begging her to work for him. When Romulus offers her a deal she can't refuse, he gets more than what he bargained for--attraction, frustration, and danger.

Since a lot of romances are plotted with polar opposite heroes and heroines, I loved how Stella and Romulus were just alike--independent, confident powerhouses who are used to getting what they want. This made for great conflict and romantic tension. Once I started this book I couldn't hardly put it down.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance or elements of mystery. I gave this book 4.5 stars!
_____________________________________________________________




For more on Elizabeth and her books, visit her website at www.elizabethcamden.com.

Someone Like You by Victoria Bylin

Julia Dare is trying to run her own business, raise her young son, Max, and help her widowed mother. Her biggest worry, though, is keeping Max's father from being a bad influence while still allowing the boy to spend time with his dad. When an account from her event-planning business sends her to Caliente Springs resort, she's shocked to encounter Zeke Monroe, her college sweetheart. 

Zeke is determined to keep Caliente Springs running despite financial trouble. When Julia walks back into his life, he's surprised at the feelings she stirs up. As they work together on an important client's wedding, the fate of the resort soon depends on their success. With Zeke and Julia both pushed to their limits, will their history put up walls between them or bring them together?
Publisher: Bethany House, 2016Genre: Contemporary Romance

My ReviewSomeone Like You is a standalone Christian romance novel set in southern California. Julia Dare, a single mom and new business owner, stays busy in her life as a new Christian, living with her mother away from the toxic situation she created with her son's father, and ex-fiance, Hunter. Now she's reunited with her college sweetheart Zeke Monroe, general manager of Caliente Springs, a resort Julia is scouting for one of her clients. Despite their ten year separation, their hearts gravitate to each other once again, rekindling a flame they'd thought long extinguished. 
With an ornery pet goat, a famous country singer, a last-minute wedding, and a jealous ex-fiance, Julia's time at Caliente Springs is always eventful.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance and second chances. I gave this book 4 stars!
_____________________________________________________________
Learn more about Victoria Bylin and her books at www.victoriabylin.com. 

Anchor In The Storm by Sarah Sundin

For plucky Lillian Avery, America's entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg's attentions only annoy--even if he "is" her brother's best friend. 
During the darkest days of the war, Arch's destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves--and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection? 
Sarah Sundin brings World War II to life, offering readers an intense experience they won't soon forget.


Publisher: Revell, 2016
Author: Sarah Sundin
Genre: historical romance


My Review
Anchor In The Storm is book two in the Waves of Freedom series. I highly enjoyed Through Waters Deep (see review here) and feel Anchor In The Storm to be the perfect accompaniment.

Lillian Avery defies her odds. She's a female pharmacist, an occupation rarely held by a woman, she refuses to let her prosthetic leg hinder her from living, and she refuses to be duped by any man's false affections. But when her brother brings home his Navy friend Ensign Archer Vandenberg for the holidays, his attraction to Lillian raises the stakes.

Can Lillian conquer her new life in Boston as a pharmacist for her crabby boss, fend off her growing feelings to Arch, and solve the mystery of the forged prescriptions?

With an unexpected twist at the end and a delightful mix of mystery and romance throughout, I give this book 5 stars!

Magnolia Dutchess by Beth White

Fiona Lanier is the only woman in the tiny Gulf Coast settlement of Navy Cove. While her shipbuilding family races to fill the demand for American ships brought by the War of 1812, Fiona tries to rescue her brother who was forced into service by the British Navy.

Lieutenant Charlie Kincaid has been undercover for six months, obtaining information vital to the planned British invasion of New Orleans. When a summer storm south of Mobile Bay wrecks his ship and scatters the crew, Charlie suffers a head injury, ultimately collapsing in the arms of a beautiful mermaid who seems eerily familiar. As Charlie's memory returns in agonizing jags and crashes, he and Fiona discover that falling in love may be as inevitable as the tide. But when political loyalties begin to collide, they'll each have to decide where their true heart lies.


My Review
This is the first book of Beth White's I've read and it certainly won't be my last. The rich historical detail, complex characters, and tough situations kept me turning the pages.

Fiona Lanier is content with her rather free-spirited life until a man's body washes up on the beach. She recognizes him as Charlie Kincaid, an acquaintance from years past. Problem is he has no memory of who he is or how he got there, her attraction to him is still strong, and he's currently the enemy--a British soldier during a time of war against America. 

As Charlie stays with the Lanier's, and falls deeper in love with Fiona, his memory slowly returns. Torn between duty and patriotism, war and love, Fiona and Charlie are forced to discover what they're made of--and God's will for their lives.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance. Clean read for all ages. I gave this book 5 stars!

Like Never Before by Melissa Tagg

Maple Valley became Amelia Bentley's haven after her heart and her dreams of a family were shattered. But her new life as a newspaper editor is shaken when the small-town paper is in danger of closing. Her one hope: A lead on an intriguing story that just might impress the new publisher...if only she new who he was.

After his biggest campaign success yet, widowed speechwriter Logan Walker now has the chance of a lifetime--a spot on a presidential campaign. But his plans are interrupted when he finds out he's inherited his hometown newspaper. He travels home intent on selling the paper and spending some much-needed time with his young daughter before making the leap into national politics.

But instead of a quick sale and peaceful break from his hectic career, Logan finds himself helping Amelia chase her story. She's scrappy, but wounded. He's dependable, but lost. They may butt heads more than expected, but a series of leads on Maple Valley's quirky unsolved mystery is just the start of the sparks that fly in the office and in their hearts.


Bethany House Publishers, 2016


My Review
Like Never Before is the second book in the Walker Family series. Melissa Tagg creates the perfect small town of Maple Valley, Iowa--a place where the reader can crawl into the pages and live, a place you'll never want to leave.

Amelia Bentley's dream is to purchase the Maple Valley News, restore the fledgling business, and save her job along with her fellow employees'. Her mentor has passed away, leaving the business to Logan Walker, a writer Amelia has admired for years. When Logan puts his life in LA on hold to return to Maple Valley and sell his new inheritance, he's reminded of the charms of small-town life, as well as Amelia's charms. Selling the Maple Valley News may not be as simple as Logan thought.

I loved this book because the author immediately drew me in with her fresh, spunky writing, the characters were well developed and lovable, and there was a fun mystery from the past weaved in as well.

I give this book 5 stars!
____ *~*~*____
Learn more about Melissa Tagg and her books at www.melissatagg.com.

Playing the Part by Jen Turano

A Class of Their Own #3 Bethany House Publishers, 2016


Lucetta Plum is an actress on the rise in New York City, but is forced to abandon her starring role when a fan's interest turns threatening. Lucinda's widowed friend, Abigail Hart, is delighted at the opportunity to meddle in Lucetta's life and promptly whisks her away to her grandson's estate to hide out.

Bram Haverstein may appear to simply be a somewhat eccentric gentleman of means, but a mysterious career and a secret fascination with a certain actress mean there's much more to him than society knows.

Lucetta, who has no interest in Abigail's matchmaking machinations, has the best intentions of remaining cordial but coolly distant to Bram. But when she can't ignore the strange and mysterious things going on in his house, it'll take more than good intentions to keep her from trying to discover who Bram is behind the part he plays.

My ReviewPlaying the Part gives a whole new meaning to a night at the theater. The life of an actress may seem glamorous, but it's anything but for Lucetta Plum. Keeping admirers at bay has always been a nuisance, but when her step-father bargains her while gambling--and loses--a dangerous stalker forces her to flee the city for safety. Lucetta's friend and chaperon, Abigail, suggests hiding out in her grandson's castle. But Bram Haverstein is harboring several secrets of his own, some that include Lucetta. 
With mystery, intrigue, and lots of humor, Playing the Part will keep you entertained. I gave this book 3.5 stars. ______________________________________________________
Jen Turano is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in Clothing and Textiles. She pursued a career in management for nine years before switching to full-time motherhood after the birth of her son. When she's not writing, Jen can be found watching her teenage son participate in various activities, taking long walks with her husband and dog, socializing with friends, or delving into a good book. She lives in suburban Denver, Colorado. Learn more atwww.jenturano.com.