Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for A Summer to Remember by Lisa Phillips, Andrea Christenson, Rebecca Reed, Gina Conroy, Angela Ruth Strong, Carrie Padgett, Tabitha Bouldin, and Bell Renshaw, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Books
Eight summer novels across 2 volumes.
From Christian fiction’s hottest contemporary romance authors.
Title: Bright Lights
Series: A Summer to Remember #1
Authors: Lisa Phillips, Andrea Christenson, Rebecca Reed, Gina Conroy
Publisher: Two Dogs Publishing, LLC
Release Date: May 16, 2024
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Finally Home – Lisa Phillips
Ashlynn Monroe knows she has a reputation as the Ice Queen, but being the police commissioner’s assistant that rep serves her just fine thank you. When her Aunt Ruby comes to visit from Last Chance County on the anniversary of Ashlynn’s mom’s death, neither realizes it’s a week that will alter both their lives in ways they never imagined.
Fire Chief Greyson Frayer followed in his father’s footsteps. Saving lives is who he is, but the burn scars he earned along the way seem to have kept him from the life he wants…until he sees a familiar face as if for the first time. Is Ashlynn the future he’s been looking for?
With a romance brewing between Russ and Ruby in the background, Adelynn and Greyson discover the future they’ve always wanted. And the chance to finally come home.
Summer at Trillium Lake – Andrea Christenson
Privileged Athena Vassos is banished to the family’s lake property near Sunset Falls, WI, to “think about” her place in the family’s multimillion dollar business. She isn’t sure what she wants with her life now that she has finished her graduate degree.
At the rustic Trillium Lake Bible Camp, Sean Campbell is overwhelmed. He was only supposed to be the deputy director, not much more than a glorified handyman, not running the whole show.
When a devastating tornado rips through the camp, Sean and Athena need to work together despite their differences.
Loving the Rodeo Queen – Rebecca Reed
Quinn Mulroney, former rodeo queen, lost it all. Now, she’s dreaming of becoming a veterinarian while caring for her daughter. She’s never forgotten the one man she called hero.
Tiago Vargas is seeking his passion, hoping to prove himself to his exacting father. When fate brings Quinn back into his life, he sees a second chance at his first love and offers her a job.
But she’s not the same woman he rescued. She carries a secret, and if Tiago discovers it, will he still be her hero, or will her hidden life destroy her last shot at happiness?
Anxious for Love – Gina Conroy
Event planner Charlee Lovelle, with a talent for creating perfect moments, except her own, is fed up with online dating games. Australian dating coach Maxwell Adams just wants to help people find love and take his business to the next level, not play the dodgy Love Doctor. Both frustrated with the superficiality of modern relationships, Charlee and Maxwell engage in an emotional game of tug-of-war as they embark on separate paths of self-discovery. In a whirlwind of humor, heart, and unexpected connection, they navigate the complexities of romance and relationships, but will they recognize the pull towards each other or will their own inner struggles keep them apart?
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Title: Starry Nights
Series: A Summer to Remember #2
Authors: Angela Ruth Strong, Carrie Padgett, Tabitha Bouldin, Bell Renshaw
Publisher: Two Dogs Publishing, LLC
Release Date: June 6, 2024
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Out of Play – Angela Ruth Strong
When single mom Bex Lemaire is asked to step down as her eight-year-old daughter’s soccer coach for getting too competitive, she’s hoping the new coach will let her assist. Former child star Skylar Hayes agrees to take over the team as research for his comeback role. At first, he mistakes Bex for a raving fan but eventually realizes she’s only crazy about soccer, which gives her the skills needed to train him. She’s all work, while he likes to play, but together, they just might win.
Lauren’s Second Chance – Carrie Padgett
Lauren’s Second Chance is a contemporary romance for readers who love sun, sand, and satisfying endings. Lauren and Mason were each other’s first loves, until life broke them apart. A decade later, when the opportunity arises to appear with Mason on a reality show, Lauren is conflicted. She needs this show for what it means to a project near to her heart. But can she keep that heart safe from the man who broke it once? Grab your shades and SPF 30 sunscreen to dive into a reality television dating show story where first love is also forever love.
Her Cowboy Champion – Tabitha Bouldin
It’s true that money can’t buy happiness. No one knows that better than Sage Rhett after her boyfriend steals her photography business and leaves her penniless. Heartbroken, faith shattered, she returns to Apple Creek–the last place she called home.
Maverick Pierce is used to people seeing him for the money attached to his family name. As a Pierce, he’s afforded anything that money can buy, but the one thing he wants can never be bought.
When Sage accepts a job working at the Pierce ranch, Maverick discovers he never stopped loving the fiery cowgirl who broke his heart when she left twelve years ago. If he wants to win her over, he’ll have to do more than flash a little money. This second chance, rags to riches, cowboy romance pits love against responsibility as Sage and Maverick struggle to overcome their history and trust God for a happily ever after.
Love in the Lyrics – Bell Renshaw
Liberty “Libby” Taylor has maxed out on space for her equine therapy business. The best way to gain the capital she needs in order to expand requires a bit of subterfuge, but that will also mean pulling one over on her new boss.
Singer and songwriter Harland Grey left LA for Winter, Montana in the hopes of finding peace from the demons of his not-so-distant past, but purchasing Melody Ranch may not hold the answers he’s looking for.
Thrown together, sparks fly between the two, but will the secrets kept between them finally be what tears them apart?
About the Bright Lights Authors
Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.
Connect with Lisa at authorlisaphillips.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Andrea Christenson lives in a Minneapolis, MN suburb with her husband and two daughters. When she is not busy homeschooling her girls, she loves to read anything she can get her hands on. She believes that a great loaf of artistic bread can turn a meal into a masterpiece. Andrea’s prayer is to write stories revealing God’s love.
Connect with Andrea at andreachristenson.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Rebecca Reed loves adventure. From riding race horses to sampling the world’s ice cream flavors to writing tales of identity and purpose, she sees obstacles as challenges. You might find her listening to audiobooks on her rural Indiana farm. A wife, mother, and grandmother with a huge, fruit-eating canine, her dream is to bring God glory through fiction that delights readers with compelling, flawed characters whose search for identity and purpose reveals God’s truth.
Connect with Rebecca at rebeccareedwrites.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Born and bred in New York, Gina Conroy now lives in the Midwest where she splits her time, and sometimes her personality, as a writer, teacher, and life balance coach. Whether writing fiction or real life stories, Gina infuses faith with fun and hopes her readers take away a satisfying read that delves just beneath the surface.
Connect with Gina at ginaconroy.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
My Review of Bright Lights
Authors include Lisa Phillips, Andrea Christenson, Rebecca Reid and Gina Conroy
This is a collection of four contemporary romance shorter novels with inspirational leanings. I enjoyed all of the books but will review and rate each one individually. This is certainly a great read for summer.
Finally Home – Lisa Phillips
“It was far easier to pitch in at home with friends, and friends who felt like family. Afterward, she could go home rather than get tangled up in the emotional part. With Ashlynn, it was all a tangle of painful emotions. Soul deep loss that had forever connected Ruby to a twelve-year-old girl.”
Both Ashlynn Monroe and Fire Chief Greyson have faced their share of loss and hardships. One surface, they may not seem to make sense. But they understand each other. Can they get past obstacles and find a way to be together?
I think this book connects characters from two different series by Lisa Phillips. I have not read all of those books, but I was still able to enjoy this novella. There is also a bonus storyline. 4.4 stars
Summer at Trillium Lake – Andrea Christenson
“She groaned and lay back on the plush leather seats of her dad’s Barletta Corsa pontoon boat. The same boat that now sat dead in the water on Trillium Lake in Sunset Falls, Wisconsin. Dead in the water. And wasn’t that a metaphor for her life? Twenty-seven years old and nothing to show for it.”
Athena is so close to achieving her dreams if only she can find a way to toughen up. An unexpected encounter resulted in her being involved in a rustic camp that was far different than her affluent lifestyle. Sean Campbell did not plan on directing the camp that made such a difference in his life. In fact, he feels fully incapable. A tragic event does not help. Can the two of them find a way to find their calling and make a difference in the lives of others?
Summer camp has a place in my heart as I was a counselor and so are two of my kids. So, I loved this story setting. The two characters seemed unlikely to connect as they grew up in different situations. But I loved how the author made it all work. This book loosely connects to the author’s previous books, but I was easily able to follow along. 5 stars.
Loving the Rodeo Queen – Rebecca Reed
“Odd, his memories painted her as bold – even overly brash. The Arena Queen. This hesitancy was new but not altogether unwelcome.”
Quinn faced a horrible situation but is thankful for the small blessing that come as the result of pain. Perhaps the rodeo is no longer a part of the plan, but she can still work with animals. Tiago felt a connection with Quinn and never forgot her even though a few years have passed. He wants to figure out how to keep her as a part of his life. Does it have to be so complicated?
This book is all about learning how to get over past hurts and even trauma. There are many bright spots along the way. Part of the focus is the rodeo, but an emphasis is more on relationships. 4.5 stars.
Anxious for Love – Gina Conroy
“I lean back giving her space, totally aware she took the first available exit off the highway of discomfort. Oh, I’m intrigued by the complexity of this girl. The level of comfort she has with expressing emotion, then suddenly withdrawing is a paradox I want to explore further. Could she possibly possess the rare combination of both anxious and avoidant attachment styles that only appear in a small percentage of the population?”
Charlee wants her happily ever after. Why are there not any decent guys out there? Perhaps the Love Doctor can help her, or maybe she needs to avoid him. Maxwell Adams knows relationships. At least he thinks so. Why is he struggling with his own heart? Can the two of them learn how to fall in love the right way?
While this is a romance, the focus is more on being healthy for relationships. The opening chapter quotes were really insightful. I appreciated the fact that both characters realized they did not need to find the right person as much as they needed to become the right person. Lots of insight with this one. 5 stars.
I did read an early copy of this book. This makes a great summer read since it comes with four novellas. I wanted to read and review them. All opinions are my own.
About the Starry Nights Authors
Angela Ruth Strong works as a flight attendant, survived breast cancer, and uses her own crazy life experiences as inspiration for the stories she writes. Her books have earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been nominated for a Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon bestsellers. She and her husband also got to play extras when her novel Finding Love in Big Sky was adapted for film. To help aspiring authors, Angela started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho.
Connect with Angela at angelaruthstrong.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Carrie Padgett has lived in every part of California, and currently writes from her office with a view of the Sierra Nevada. She thinks nuts take up room where chocolate ought to be and chips and dip should be its own food group. She and her husband have been married for far longer than most reality shows last. She has two daughters, two sons-in-law, and six grandkids who call her Grammie.
Connect with Carrie at carriepadgett.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Tabitha Bouldin has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author and an avid reader. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, you’ll find her curled up with a book. Tabitha’s genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart.
Connect with Tabitha at tabithabouldin.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Bell Renshaw is a pen name for Emilie Haney. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has a love for the outdoors that matches her love for the written word. She turned her passion for stories toward writing at an early age, finding entertainment and adventure in made-up worlds fed by the books her parents read to her as a child. Now, she’s still getting lost in those worlds but they are of her own making.
She believes that—no matter what—love fights for what’s right.
Connect with Bell/Emilie at emiliehaney.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
My Review of Starry Nights
Authors Include Angela Ruth Strong, Carrie Padgett, Tabitha Bouldin and Bell Renshaw
Out of Play by Angela Ruth Strong
“When I gave up my professional soccer career due to an unplanned pregnancy and the responsibilities of single parenthood, I thought my life was over. I never imagined my daughter would become my greatest accomplishment, but here she is at the age of eight, dribbling down the field for tryouts like a mini-me, then headband included.”
Soccer moms on steroids, and Bex might lead the crew. I absolutely loved this book that played out real life so well on the pages. Who hasn’t ever watched an overly enthusiastic parent on the sideline and wondered what their story involved or what their deal was? At times, Coach Bex makes a person wonder as she draws up plays some older kids couldn’t perform.
But then we get to see Bex’s backstory and find out why she is so intense. And when Skylar Hayes is assigned to take over coaching her beloved Ladybugs, she isn’t sure that she can handle just assisting. Watching their relationship develop is so fun because there are so many unexpected parts. This was such a creative story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 5+ stars.
Lauren’s Second Chance by Carrie Padgett
“Applying for a spot on a stupid reality TV show, a dating show, of all things. What had Lauren been thinking? Obviously, she hadn’t been in her right mind. Grief must still be making her do crazy things.”
While Lauren might be unlucky in love, she is lucky in so many other things. She has a great job, wonderful friends and a supportive family. But after the devastating loss of her sister, she wants to get the word out that life is a choice over despair. Maybe the reality tv show will help with that.
But when she is asked questions about her ex-boyfriend, Mason Townsend, in the interview process, she starts to wonder what is going on. And the longer she is a part of the plot, the more she wonders if maybe the show could provide a better future than she ever imagined.
Although a reality television show does show up in plots, this one did have enough unexpected and unpredictable parts to keep it interesting. One cannot help but feel empathy for both main characters. I enjoyed this one as well.
Her Cowboy Champion by Tabitha Bouldin
“Sage Rhett had one purpose for sitting in the bleachers for the last five hours without so much as a moment to stand and stretch her legs. Pins and needles stabbed at her calves, and she rotated her feet to get the blood flowing again. The shutter button’s steady click kept her focused as the horse and rider raced into the arena.”
Sage may have left her small town behind. But she has not left behind her love of rodeo. Or of capturing it on film. Restoring her reputation that was ruined by someone she trusted is her mission. Not reconnecting with Maverick Pierce.
But when the Pierce family provides her with the opportunity for steady work and enough money to start to restore what was lost, she cannot help but take it. When things start to go wrong, will she bolt again? Or can she finally trust that the truth might set her free?
Love in the Lyrics by Bell Renshaw
Liberty “Libby” Taylor lived by the fact that there was nothing like the scent of oiled leather in the morning. Or hay, for that matter. She hoisted her Dakota saddle onto the back of Butterscotch, her buckskin mare, before bending low to grab the back cinch. Bringing it up, she made quick work of securing the saddle.”
Libby loves getting to provide horse therapy. But when her dad has an accident, she agrees to help at a local ranch, so he doesn’t lose his job. All is going well until she meets the owner.
Harland loves music, but he doesn’t appreciate the costs of fame and people that follow. Winter, Montana, may provide a welcome change of pace. But it still involves people that he is sure cannot be trusted.
When Libby finally meets Harland, she decides to prove him wrong. Her community is full of kind people. He just needs to get to know them. But when some prove to not be quite so trustworthy, what will happen to Libby and her family? How can wrongs be made right? And how can Harland finally feel like he has found a home?
I enjoyed all of the books. Was so glad that I was provided with an early copy of this collection. I wanted to read and review them. All opinions are my own.
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will each win paperback copies of both Bright Lights and Starry Nights.
(4) additional winners will each win ebook copies of both Bright Lights and Starry Nights.
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 3, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 10, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for print copies. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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Great cover