Tag: Then There Was You

What's Your Favourite Book with a Four-Word Title?

Bookish Question #215 | What’s Your Favourite Book with a Four-Word Title?

A few weeks back, I looked at books with one-word titles. That was a much easier question to answer, as a one-word title is obvious. You don’t have to count the words: the title is either one word, or it’s not.

Four-word titles are a little harder. It’s not a natural way of categorising books (e.g. like categorising by author, genre, or the year of publication).

However, one favourite novel did immediately come to mind and it actually did have a four-word-title:

Then There Was You by Kara Isaac

I love Then There Was You because it’s from one of my favourite authors, because it’s set in Australia and New Zealand, and because it’s got absolutely the best last chapter of any romance I’ve ever read. The rest of the book is excellent, but that last chapter gets me every time I read it (in a good way!).

Full disclosure: I copyedited Then There Was you, which later went on to win a RITA Award from Romance Writers of New Zealand for books with Religious or Spiritual Elements (and I have a plaque on my wall to prove it). So it’s not just me who thinks it’s a great book 🙂

What about you? What’s your favourite book with a four-word title?

Who is your favourite Christian romance author?

Bookish Question #131 | Who is your favourite Christian Romance author?

If I thought last week’s question was tough, this is even tougher!

Christian romance is my favourite genre, and I love so many Christian romance authors.

I thought of listing my favourites for about half a second, then realised I could be here all day. Instead, you can download a list of my favourites my signing up for my newsletter (the signup form is in the sidebar). Sign up, and I’ll send you an updated list of my favourites.

If you’re going to twist my arm and make me choose one author, then I’m going to go biased and parochial, and choose Kara Isaac.

Why?

Because her debut, Close to You, was set in New Zealand, and her RITA-winner, Then There Was You, also featured scenes set in Christchurch, New Zealand (check out this Wandering Wednesday post to see more of Christchurch). See, biased and parochial. I warned you.

But there’s more to a Kara Isaac novel than the familiar setting. I love her writing—her plots and characters, and her humour. I also love the way she integrates the Christian elements, subtle as they are sometimes. Basically, I can relate to her characters and their situations.

What about you? Who is your favourite Christian romance author, and why?

Quote from Falling for You by Becky Wade: Just because God started you on one path didn't mean He intended to keep you on that path all your life.

Book Review | Falling for You by Becky Wade

True to You by Becky Wade was one of my favourite reads of 2017. It was a contemporary Christian romance about a librarian who dabbled in family history research, so how could I not love it? The heroine of True to You was Nora, one of the three Bradford sisters—a librarian, a pastry chef, and a famous model. It was pretty obvious the series was going to give us stories for each sister.

After reading True to You, I was keen to read the other two stories.

Falling for You is the second novel in the series, and it’s the story of the internationally famous model and the retired football star.

Injury has forced Corbin Stewart to retire from football. He’s bought a house in Shore Pine, Washington, to be near his only remaining family. What he didn’t know was that it also put him near ex-girlfriend Willow Bradford, now on a sabbatical from modelling, living in nearby Merryweather and managing her family B&B.

Charlotte Dixon, Corbin’s twelve-year-old niece, has discovered a family secret.

She’s convinced Willow Bradford will help her uncover the mystery behind the secret, and convinces Corbin to introduce her to Willow. Willow agrees to help, even though helping will bring her into too much contact with ex-boyfriend Corbin. Who is still devastatingly attractive, despite the way he broke up with her four years ago.

Falling for You follows the same pattern as True to You and the free prequel novella, Then Came You. It intersperses the present-day story with letters, emails, and text messages from the past and present. It’s a novel (!) way to tell a story, and it works as we see the past and present stories of Willow, Corbin, and others.

And it’s a strong story.

It’s the romance of two people who messed up years ago, and have to work out if there’s a way through that mess to find happiness. Part of that mess was because while Willow is and always has been a strong Christian, Corbin called himself a Christian but didn’t live the life (football star, remember?). He’s now become a Christian, but finding life hard.

Willow has her own problems with faith, and they are so deep-seated it actually takes her a while to realise they even exist. This, to me, was the depth in the book—Willow coming to terms with her past choices, and what that means for her faith. And there was a fascinating suspense plot around Charlotte’s secret.

I loved True to You because I related to Nora, the librarian. She’s bookish, and that meant I could relate to her in a way I can’t relate to an internationally famous model. But I could still relate to Willow as a woman who has made mistakes, who has to learn what forgiveness really means.

Falling for You is a touching tale of love lost and love found again, underpinned by an intriguing mystery, and the power of God to forgive.

Now I’m looking forward to the third book in the Bradford Sisters series, the story of the pastry chef who doesn’t realise her best friend of forever is in love with her (and has been forever). He knows it. I know it. Her sisters know it. But she doesn’t, and that’s a trope I love.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Becky Wade

Author Photo Becky WadeBecky is the Carol and Christy award winning author of heartwarming, humorous, and swoon-worthy contemporary inspirational romances.

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She’s been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

These days, you’ll find Becky in Dallas, Texas failing to keep up with her housework, trying her best in yoga class, carting her three kids around town, watching TV with her Cavalier spaniel on her lap, hunched over her computer writing, or eating chocolate.

You can find Becky Wade online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

About Falling for You

Famously beautiful model Willow Bradford is taking a temporary break from her hectic schedule to work as the innkeeper at her family’s small-town bed-and-breakfast. She was enjoying the peace of her hometown, Merryweather, Washington, right up until she came face-to-face with Corbin Stewart, the man she loves to hate. A thoughtful rule-follower by nature, Willow threw caution to the wind four years ago when she entrusted her heart to Corbin–and suffered the consequences when it all fell apart.

Former NFL quarterback Corbin is forceful, charming, and accustomed to getting what he wants . . . except where Willow Bradford is concerned. Unable to forget her, he’s never stopped regretting what happened between them. When their paths unexpectedly cross again, he’s determined to make her give him a second chance.

When a decades-old missing persons case finds Corbin and Willow working together, they’re forced to confront their past and who they’ve become–and whether they can risk falling for one another all over again.

You can find Falling for You online at:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

My Favourite Reads for June 2017

Book Recommendations June 2017 (and Giveaway Winners!) 

My Favourite Reads for June 2017. I’m usually a contemporary romance fan, but this month features three historical titles, one of which is pure thriller.

But first, our giveaway winners!

Two weeks ago, I reviewed (raved about) Then There Was You, the new release from Kara Isaac, and offered two giveaways.

The winner of the paperback was Susan.

The winner of the Kindle was Stacy.

Congratulations!

You have both received an email from me asking for your details so I can forward your prize. Please respond by 7 July 2017, or I’ll select another winner. If you haven’t received the email, then contact me through the form on my Contact page.

And now for my book recommendations for June:

Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter

Sweetbriar Cottage is a standalone novel by Denise Hunter, the story of a couple who thought they were divorced but aren’t. When trapped together in a snowstorm, they have to reconsider their preconceptions and decisions. I loved Sweetbriar Cottage for the illustration of the importance of unconditional love … and the challenge in putting that into practice.

Click here to read my review of Sweetbriar Cottage, and click here to find out more about Denise Hunter.

Unnoticed by Amanda Deed

Unnoticed is a Christian Cinderella story set in 1870’s Australia. I loved the unique way the author told the story, especially in the backstory she gave the characters … and the way she showed how we are products of our choices as much as of our environments.

Click here to read my review of Unnoticed, and click here to find out more about Amanda Deed.

Grounded Hearts by Jeanne M Dickson

Grounded Hearts is set in World War II Ireland, a unique setting in terms of time and place (at least, it’s not a setting I’ve come across before in Christian fiction). Ireland was neutral in World War II, so it’s the story of a Canadian RAF pilot downed in Ireland, and the efforts of a local midwife to get him to safety in British Northern Ireland. I loved the historical context, and the irreverent Irish humour.

Click here to read my review of Grounded Hearts, and click here to find out more about Jeanne M Dickson.

Enemy Action by Mike Hollow

Enemy Action is a murder mystery set in London at the height of the Blitz. It’s the third book in The Blitz Detective series, but can easily be read as a standalone novel (I haven’t read the earlier books in the series, but now I want to). It’s a great mystery with lots of twists and turns, and an authentic British voice.

Click here to read my review of Enemy Action, and click here to find out more about Mike Hollow and The Blitz Detective series.

 

What were your favourite reads for June 2017?

Giveaway | Then There Was You by Kara Isaac

Book Giveaway: Then There Was You by Kara Isaac

Introducing Then There Was You

Kara Isaac is my favourite Kiwi Christian author … although Kiwi Christian authors is a very short list. So perhaps it’s better to say that she’s one of my favourite authors of contemporary Christian romance, and one of the reasons I love her work is because of the Kiwi angle. But I’m also biased because I edited Then There Was You, which means I got to read it before most people. Bonus!

Then There Was You is her third novel, following Close to You, and Can’t Help Falling. It has some minor characters in common with the previous books, but it’s a standalone novel. It starts in the States, moves to Sydney, and also has some scenes set in New Zealand (yay!).

Here’s the Amazon description:

Paige McAllister needs to do something drastic. Her boyfriend can’t even commit to living in the same country, her promised promotion is dead on arrival and the simultaneous loss of her brother and her dream of being a concert violinist has kept her playing life safe and predictable for six years. Things need to change. A moment of temporary insanity finds her leaving her life in Chicago to move to Sydney, Australia. There she finds herself, against many of her convictions, as a logistics planner for one of Australia’s biggest churches, and on a collision course with her boss’s son.

Josh Tyler fronts a top-selling worship band and is in demand all over the world. But, in the past, his failed romantic relationships almost destroyed both his reputation and his family. He’s determined to never risk it happening again. The last thing he needs is some American girl tipping his ordered life upside down. Especially one who despises everything he’s ever worked for and manages to push every button he has.

When Josh and Paige are thrown together to organize his band’s next tour, the sparks fly. But can they find a way to bridge the differences that pull them apart? Or will they choose the safety and security of what they know over taking a chance on something that will require them to risk everything?

Giveaway Time!

I’m biased. But I loved Then There Was You—it’s her best novel yet (and I hope there will be many more). Paige was intelligent, funny, and vulnerable, and a great match for the more flamboyant Josh. Who, of course, is everything she never wanted in a man.

And vice versa.

Then There Was You releases next week. The ebook is currently on special for $3.99 (which will increase after release), and there is also a paperback. I’ve already ordered my copy!

I’ve also ordered an extra copy to give away … New Zealand postal addresses only. Sorry!

[giveaway id=929]

I’ll also give away a Kindle version to someone not lucky enough to live in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

[giveaway id=926]

Both contests close at midnight on 26 June 2017 (New Zealand time), and I’ll announce the winners two weeks from today, here on the blog.

If you can’t wait that long, you can click here to pre-order Then There Was You from Amazon.

To find out more about Kara Isaac, click here to visit her website.