And this clash goes to...

A BRIDE AT LAST 

by Melissa Jagears! 

Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesey has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts. Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she'd been deceived about her intended groom, she's now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she'll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony--until two men suddenly show up in town, claiming to be the boy's father. Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

Here's what Publisher's Weekly has to say:

In [Jagears'] latest novel [A Bride at Last], . . . the characters are all well-balanced and engaging: Silas' struggle with his failed marriage, struggling faith, and dark past makes him sympathetic; Kate's commitment to Anthony gives her depth and pathos; and their romance develops realistically . . . a memorable read for fans of redemptive historical romances.

Check out her upcoming release, With This Ring?

A historical novella compilation of four award winning authors - Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings and Melissa Jagears Four top historical romance novelists team up in this new collection to offer stories of love and romance with a twist of humor. In Karen Witemeyer's "The Husband Maneuver," Marietta Hawkins decides to grab the reins when the ranch foreman she loves seems to be leaving forever. Regina Jennings offers "Her Dearly Unintended," where friends stranded by a rising river pretend to be newlyweds when a dangerous stranger arrives. Mary Connealy's "Runaway Bride" finds a Texas ranger getting more than he expected when he rescues a young woman fleeing a dangerous arranged marriage. And Melissa Jagears' "Engaging the Competition" finds a young woman forced to assist the man she's often sparred with after an accident leaves him helpless. Each tale is a fun blend of history and romance that will delight readers.

Find it here on Amazon

About Melissa:

Melissa Jagears is a homeschooling mom who writes Christian Historical Romance after everyone is asleep. She’s the author of the Unexpected Brides Series with Bethany House. The prequel ebook novella, Love by the Letter is free to try. You can learn more about her, her books, and where she hangs out online at www.melissajagears.com

The July Clash is on!

Beautiful New July Covers!

Welcome, fellow book lovers! As we wrap up summer, we're bringing you four wonderful reads to take out on your deck chair. From the mountains to therugged west, these books offer a great variety of escapes. But if you could only pick one, which would make it into your need-to-read pile? Vote at the end--and don't forget to leave a kind word for your favorite author.

The Lady and the Mountain Fire by Misty M. Beller 

Claire Sullivan's desire to help others carried her all the way to the Montana Territory to care for her blind grandmother, but the callous, hardworking doctor she meets there doesn't fit her expectations. When disaster strikes their rough mining city, Claire must face her her greatest  fear to help the man she's come to love.
Purchase on Amazon

A Bride At Last by Melissa Jagears

Silas and Kate are both wary of love after failed mail-order engagements,but when a common interest in a motherless boy leads to an interest in each other, they begin to think they can set aside past hurts. However, neither is prepared for the secrets that have yet to come to light.
Purchaseon Amazon

To Soar on Eagle's Wings by Renee Blare

While the sun shines in Timber Springs, snow falls on the Snowy Range, and trouble’s brewing in the meadows. The area’s new game warden, Steve Mitchell launches his first wildlife investigation of the season, but the trouble follows him—straight to town.

Purchaseon Amazon

The Daughters of Jim Farrell by Sylvia Bambola

Pennsylvania 1873: When Jim Farrell is hanged for murder, his three daughters resolve to clear his name. But all too soon their dangerous quest rips the family apart and could cost them the men they love.

Purchaseon Amazon

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Plain Peace, A Daughters of the Promise Novel by Melissa Jagears

About Book

Anna's grandfather seems determined to ruin her Rumspringa . . . and any hopes she has of finding a husband.

Anna Byler should be enjoying her Rumspringa as allowed by her faith. But because of the strict rules enforced by her grandfather—the bishop—the available suitors in town are afraid to court her. Even Anna’s grandmother is keeping a big secret from Anna’s grandfather in an effort to keep the peace. Under her grandfather’s oppressive watch, Anna begins to feel her faith slipping and wonders if God has forsaken her.

Jacob Hostetler and his family have relocated to Lancaster County following a family tragedy in Ohio. As his family struggles to rebuild their lives, Jacob is forced to act as head of the household when his father is unable to cope with recent events. It’s been a long time since Jacob has felt any joy. Until he meets Anna Byler. But will Anna’s grandfather succeed at keeping them apart? And can Jacob put the past behind him and open his heart?

Publication Date	November 12, 2013
Company	Thomas Nelson
ISBN-10	1401685943
ISBN-13	9781401685942

For Preview: http://www.thomasnelson.com/fiction/amish-fiction/plain-peace.html

Beth Wiseman is an award-winning and best-selling author who is best known for her Amish novels, but she is now spreading her wings in other genres as well.  Her two latest releases—Need You Now and The House that Love Built—are non-Amish contemporaries set in small Texas towns, both of which have garnished glowing reviews.  However, her current project will take readers far away from Amish Country and small Texas towns to a dangerous place on the other side of the world.  Inspired by a true story, Beth believes this is the book she’s been working toward for a long time.   More information on this exciting project will be coming soon!  

Visit Beth's website: https://bethwiseman.com/

Follow her Facebook Fan Page  and Twitter Page

My Thoughts

Anna Byler's is raised by her grandparents. In her opinion they are the best  grandparents ever. Although to the young men that would like to invite her to the singing are give her a ride in their buggy her grandfather is unapproachable on the subject. Anna is totally ignorant of the young men's problem with her grandfather. That is until she overhears them talking about this very thing.  She gave them a good tongue lashing and informed them  they were wrong.  To her disappointment they were right. On top of this other people in their Amish community had problems with her grandfather being so strict when it came to the Old Order Ways of the Amish. You see her grandfather is the Bishop for their Amish Community.  

Anna even found out her grandmother was hiding things from her grandfather.  So, why is he being so strict? Doesn't he know he is alienating himself from the community?

When Jacob Hosetler moves to Paradise he is determined to change the Bishop's mind and court Anna.  With Anna, her grandmother and Jacob taking a stand to change the Bishop's strict ways they find they may have gotten in deeper than they ever expected. The Bishop is determined to stand his ground.

This was a fun read.  So much love in this family but the author has managed to create in them a very dysfunctional family.  She shows how seeds of deceit can tear not only a family apart but the whole community.  A tender loving man yet hard as a rock when it came to Old Order Ways. The character of the grandmother was so sweet yet she had a compulsive disorder.  The author has a wonderful and humorous  imagination when it comes to creating her characters.  

I wonder if we can see any of ourselves in any of these characters.  Like the seamstress that hoards fabric or the person that is obsessed with shoes.   I must admit I do see myself in that  I can not have enough books.  So you leave know wiggle room when it comes to the rules of house or church? 

I gladly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5+ out of 5.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book from Booksneeze/Thomas Nelson for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  This review is my honest opinion.

A BRIDE FOR KEEPS by MELISSA JAGEARS

About Book

Everett Cline will never humiliate himself by seeking a mail-order bride. Not again. He's already been jilted by three mail-order brides and figures a wife just isn't in his future. However, a well-meaning neighbor hasn't given up on seeing him settled, so she goes behind his back to bring yet another woman to town for him.

Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. A mail-order marriage in faraway Kansas is a last resort, but she'll do anything to leave her life in Massachusetts and the heartbreak she's experienced there.

Although Everett doesn't see how a beautiful, cultured woman like Julia could be happy sharing his simple life, he could really use a helpmate on his homestead. Determined to prove she's more than just a pretty face, Julia agrees to a marriage in name only. Faced with the harsh realities of life on the prairie and hesitant to explore the tentative feelings growing between them, can Everett and Julia ever let each other in long enough to fall in love?

PDF Download here

• Where to purchase:  
• Baker Retail
• Amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble
• Christianbook.com
• 
  

Meet Melissa Jagears

Melissa Jagears, an ESL teacher by trade, is a stay-at-home mother on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. She's a member of ACFW and CROWN fiction marketing, and her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly. A Bride for Keeps is her first novel. 

Find her online at www.melissajagears.com.

My Thoughts

Everett Cline has been tricked by his close friend and neighbor.   His friend has sent for a mail order bride but his neighbor is married.  The bride evidently is for Everett.  This is not Everett's first attempt to marry a mail order bride and had no desire to try again.  But his friend thought otherwise and arranged for a mail order bride for Everett.  

Julia Lockwood had no idea her groom to be knew nothing about her or her arrival.  But when all comes to the surface Julia is determined to prove to Everett she was more than a pretty face. She would work hard and show him what a good, if not perfect, helpmate she could be for him. 

I enjoyed this story immensely and it's characters.  Everett and his lack of faith in actually claiming a bride. Julia was so determined and learned things she never believed she would ever have done in life.  Oh, how special it was to have such loyal and caring friends as their neighbors.
  
This was a  journey leading to a beautiful romance which grew in faith with God and his path for their future together. They learned to not only trust in each other but in God.  

The cover image caught my attention. Especially the expression on Julia's face.  I could not wait to read the book.  I was not disappointed. .

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House/Baker Publishing for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review. It is my honest opinion.