The Rancher's Unexpected Baby by Jill Lynn

The Rancher's Unexpected Baby by Jill Lynn is a delightful read. The only problem I had with the book was the more I read the book. . . the closer it came to being finished. Which really is not a problem, but I was very sad when the story was over. The book drew me into the hero’s ranch and the story of Gage Frasier and Emma Wilder.

Jill is such a wonderful writer. The Unexpected Baby has romantic tension, lovable characters, and is just plain fun to read. The story starts when Gage becomes the Guardian of Hudson who was left to him by his friend Zeke after he was killed in a plane crash. Gage needs a babysitter and asks Emma for her help. She loves children and falls in love with Hudson. She also really likes Gage, and our hope is that his heart changes and they fall in love. But, he has vowed to never love again.

I highly recommend The Rancher's Unexpected Baby by Jill Lynn. Jill never disappoints and you will be glad you had the opportunity to read such a sweet story.
I was given the book by the publisher and not required to write a review.

Jill Lynn Buteyn is a co-author of Just Show Up with Kara Tippetts, and an author of inspirational romance for Love Inspired ® (as Jill Lynn). A recipient of the ACFW Genesis award for her fiction work, she has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethel University. Jill lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children.
Connect with her on social media or at Jill-Lynn.com.

Flight of Fancy by Jen Turano is Fantastic

Flight of Fancy is the first book in Jen Turano’s new series American Heiresses. It is a fantastic book with an American heiress, a self-made hero, fun loving secondary characters, sweet children, dastardly villains, mystery, and a chicken named Elmer. But in addition to all this it is a story that helps you to evaluate your life, your goals, and your faith.

Our story centers around American Heiress, Isadora Delafield, who has lived a very sheltered life where she has not seen much of the world outside of her social circle. It was such fun to see a historical general store, a working farm, and a small town community through Izzie’s eyes. I found her perspective charming, informative, and very fun to read. It was how I imagine any of us who were not a part of the time period would have seen the world around us. Our hero is Mr. Ian MacKenzie, a self made man of fortune. He came from humble beginnings and his past has a way of creeping up and trying to influence his future. He was easy to root for and is enchanted with our heroine.

I am a huge Jen Turano fan and have read all of her books. But, I am going to say this is my new favorite. Flight of Fancy is everything a historical romance should be and more. You really do not want to miss out on reading it. I highly recommend it.
I was given the book by the publisher and not required to write a review.

Picture used with permission. 

Guest Post. . .Why I Love the Classics by Melissa Chan

Below is a post from Melissa Chan on Why I Love the Classics.  I have fallen in LOVE with her site Literary Books and Gifts. She is offering a discount code for Becky's Bookshelves Readers.  It is at the end of this post!   

Why I Love the Classics

When I was young, I spent a lot of time in a used book store. There were calendars of the year, CD's so scratched that they no longer played, and dime store paperbacks, but what this store had was a great deal of was classic novels. My family and I would spend many Saturdays trading in our used books and boardgames in, racking up credits to be spent in the store on other books. I'd spend long hours in the stacks searching for new titles that I could bring home and later swap again. The local library still constituted most of my reading material but there was just something different about these books. The covers, the leading, the typography, the overall look and feel. They had travelled such a far distance to be there, at that time, in that bookstore, for our enjoyment. This, I believe was the beginning of my lifetime love of classic novels, literature, and everything about them.

Here are just a few reasons why I love classic literature.

The physical copies themselves

New versions of books, eBooks, and audiobooks are all fantastic ways to distribute, consume, and share the stories within the novels. Their low cost and efficiency makes them a great option for many. Classic novels in their original formats will often have lovely and antique physical copies that match the stories. Sometimes printed during the time they were written, but often many years after, they will look and feel different than newer glossy covered books. I love old book covers and their artwork. Sometimes weathered with time and slightly distressed with age. I'd often remove a plain looking dust jacket only to find gorgeous cover artwork laying beneath, as if finding a box of treasure. Like watching a period piece film, original copies of classic novels give off the same notion, and one I cannot seem to get enough of while browsing old copies of books.

The historical context

Just like the physical copies of a book, no matter how lovely do not effect the story itself, the history behind a book does not either. However this does not mean that it does not have an effect on the book after it has been published. Since the classics were published such a long time ago, their authors have had a chance to live and exist throughout history. No reading of William Shakespeare's works is complete without at least a few facts surrounding his life and how he lived. After reading Edgar Allan Poe's unique and intriguing work, one might wonder about who he was as a person and perhaps pick up a copy of a biography on his life. History has the ability to give context above and beyond the pages of the book, I love that practically every classic novel comes with it's own backstory for further reading.

My favorite books tend to be classics

Maybe I'm a little biased, but Moby Dick by Herman Melville is one of my favorite novels. Recently I have been reading a great deal of 20th century literature and have found many new favorites there, but previous to this most of the books I have enjoyed best have been none other than classics. Reading Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley and Dracula by Bram Stoker was my first introduction into the horror genre and I'm glad I picked them up from the classics bookshelf first.

Classics have long been the choice books of many readers. I'm glad that they were written and have accumulated over time so that readers such as myself have the option to pick them up and try them out.

Do you read the classics? Do you enjoy them? Let me know in the comments below.

Written by Melissa Chan, founder of Literary Book Gifts and designer of tees and totes for book lovers.

BeckysBookshelves20 is the promo code, good for 20% off anything in the Literary Book Gifts store, no minimum, and does not expire.  The Literary Book Gifts products are wonderful and would make incredible Christmas Gifts.  

The Making of Mrs. Hale by Carolyn Miller

The Making of Mrs. Hale by Carolyn Miller is the third book in the Regency Bride’s series. The book has many characters from Mrs. Miller’s previous books, but you do not have to have read them to enjoy this story. (But, I can't imagine why you would not want to read them because they are fabulous! ) 

This story follows Julia Hale and her husband, Major Thomas Hale, after they have run off to Gretna Green to be married. The quote, “ Marry in haste, and repent in leisure,” sums up their story. Their story starts off far from a happily ever after. However with God reconciliation and true love become a possibility. 

I am a huge Carolyn Miller fan, and this a wonderful story of romance, mystery, happy endings and faith. I loved Julia Hale as a heroine. She is spunky and is trying so hard to support her husband and be kind to her family. I loved reading the parts of the story from her point of view. She has a beautiful heart. Our hero, Thomas Hale, is a man who is open to changing and becomes a hero you will love.

I highly recommend The Making of Mrs. Hale. You will not be disappointed by this wonderful regency read. I received this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review.

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson is a contemporary Christian romance and mystery.  The book is set on coast of Georgia and this is the first book of Ms. Johnson’s new Georgia Coast Romance Series.

 The main character Millie is searching for a treasure at a mansion through reading a diary by her great-grandmother.  Her helper, our hero Ben, is her partner.  Time is running short for both of them who each have their own secrets and problems.  The book follows their many treasure hunting adventures, the strengthening of their faith, and their love story.  

I loved learning about the opulence of the 1920’s.  I enjoyed it when Millie read from her great-Grandmother Ruth’s diary and the story within the story.  
  

Liz Johnson is a new to me author, and I have been so glad for the opportunity to read this book!   Her characters have depth and Ms. Johnson is a master storyteller. She weaves the past and present effortlessly together in A Sparkle of Silver.  The ending was amazing.   I highly recommend A Sparkle of Silver and believe you will enjoy this lovely book
. 

I was given this book by the publisher and not required to write a review. 

The Enchanting Nicholette by Dawn Crandall

Enchanting Nicholette by Dawn Crandall is well. . . enchanting.  The story follows Nicolette Everstone, a Widow, and our hero also a widower, Cal Hawthorne.  They meet romantically in a bookstore, and begin their adventure of falling in love. 

This book has incredible romantic tension.  The scenes with Nicholette and Cal were wonderful to read, and I looked forward to each time Nicholette would meet Cal again.  I felt myself back in time in the wonderful places Ms. Crandall wrote about.   The book is written in first person, Nicholette’s POV.  Dawn’s fantastic descriptions of her surroundings make this book so fun to read. 

 The book is the fifth in the Everstone series, but definitely can stand alone if you have not read the other four.  But, why would you want to do that.  You really want to read the other four.  Life is too short to miss out on Dawn Crandall’s books.   I am such a big fan of Dawn Crandall that I have thought of offering to take care of her of her plants, pets, and/or children so she has more time to write.   I will let you know if she takes me up on that. 

The Enchanting Nicholette is a wonderful novella.  It is the perfect length to read and savor.  I love how Dawn’s stories are God-centered, and so romantic.    I highly recommend this book. 

I was given a copy of the book by the publisher, but not required to write a review. 

About Dawn Crandall: 
Dawn Crandall’s debut Gilded Age Victorian romance, The Hesitant Heiress, was a 2015 ACFW Carol award finalist in the debut category and received the 2015 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the 2015 Write Touch Reader's Choice Award and the 2015 Romancing the Novel Reader's Choice Award. Her follow-up novel, The Bound Heart, received the 2016 Laurel Award from Clash of the Titles. Dawn earned a BA in Christian Education from Taylor University. She’s been balancing books and babies lately as her two sons were both born as the first four books of her Everstone Chronicles series were being released from Whitaker House from 2014 to 2016. Dawn lives with her husband and two young sons on a hobby farm in her hometown in northeast Indiana.

The Christmas Heirloom Collection

The Christmas Heirloom consists of four Holiday Novellas by the wonderful authors:  Kristi Hunter, Karen Witemeyer, Sarah Loudin Thomas, and Becky Wade.  The book has four charming stories from the 1820’s Regency England to modern day Washington state.  The book revolves around each character finding true love and involves a special brooch that is passed from mother to daughter through the generations.  The stories also happen around Christmas making this story a wonderful way to begin celebrating Christmas. 

I loved each novella and they were fabulous.  They are the perfect length, all of the stories were well developed, and unique to the time period and author’s style.  The story of the brooch flowed through each story very naturally.   Each woman who was given the brooch embroidered their name on the bag that held the brooch.  I could picture the brooch and bag and loved seeing it appear in the different novellas.   I was so engaged in each story, and was very sad when the book ended.  

I highly recommend The Christmas Heirloom.  So many wonderful authors in one book!   The stories are fabulous, well written, and will help you to celebrate Christmas!  Such an enjoyable read. 

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a review.