For the Record by Regina Jennings

Betsy Huckabee might be a small-town girl, but she has big-city dreams. Writing for her uncle's newspaper will never lead to independence, and the bigger newspapers don't seem interested in the Hart County news. Trying a new approach, Betsy pens a romanticized serial for the ladies' pages, and the new deputy provides the perfect inspiration for her submissions. She'd be horrified if he read her breathless descriptions of him, but these articles are for a newspaper far away. No one in Pine Gap will ever know. 

Deputy Joel Puckett didn't want to leave Texas, but this job in tiny Pine Gap is his only shot at keeping his badge. With masked marauders riding every night, his skills and patience are tested, but even more challenging is the sassy journalist lady chasing him.

Publisher: Bethany House, 2016

Genre: historical romance

Setting: Missouri, 1885

Author website: www.reginajennings.com

My rating: 4.0  stars

My Review:

Regina Jennings has, once again, created a story with spunky and lovable characters, full of humor and strength for hours of entertainment. Set in Pine Gap, Missouri, 1885, this novel follows a quirky heroine who longs for the perfect hero so badly she writes about one, using the new sheriff as her guide. But as we all know, what we plan for isn't always what happens, and sometimes we should be careful what we wish for. 

Full of heart and lessons learned, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance and good, clean entertainment. 

Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson

In her kitchen at the Red Door Inn, executive chef Caden Holt is calm, collected, and competent. But when her boss asks her to show off their beautiful island to impress a visiting travel writer and save the inn, Caden is forced to face a world much bigger than her kitchen--and a man who makes her wish she was beautiful. 
Journalist Adam Jacobs is on a forced sabbatical on Prince Edward Island. He's also on assignment to uncover a story. Instead he's falling in love with the island's red shores and Caden's sweets. 
When Caden discovers Adam isn't who she thought he was, she realizes that the article he's writing could do more than ruin the inn's chances for survival--it might also break her heart. 
Readers will discover hope for the hurting, joy for the broken, and romance for the lonely at the enchanting Red Door Inn.


Publisher: Revell, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance


My Review
Where Two Hearts Meet is book two of Johnson's Prince Edward Island Dreams series. This standalone romance also features the continuation of Seth and Marie's story from book one. I enjoyed seeing these characters again, as well as meeting new ones.

Caden Holt loves to cook. She's finally stepped out from under her dad's bakery to make a career of her own as Rose's Red Door Inn's chef and a culinary teacher to local teenagers. But the financial status of the inn, the return of her arch nemesis, and the presence of a handsome reporter threaten everything she's worked for.

Adam Jacobs is on a forced leave of absence from his journalist job to recoup and break through his writer's block. A recent tragedy has knocked his world off axis and he's hoping the beauty and seclusion of the island will help him find his way again. However, the inn's cute cook, her scrumptious food, and a misunderstanding have him more distracted, and confused, than ever. But nothing is more challenging than Taco Bed...

Full of heart and lessons learned, Where Two Hearts Meet is a winner.

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!

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Learn more about Melissa Tagg and her books at www.melissatagg.com.