Category: Litfuse blog tour

All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes

Kat dreams of more than just plain old chocolate and vanilla. She wants a more exotic flair to her life but is sitting in the shadows of her family. At twenty six years old she is living in the background of her family in Bayou Bend, Louisiana. Kat still works shifts at her Aunt Maggie’s bakery – still wondering what to do with her passion for baking and her business degree. And still single.

When Lucas Brannen, her best friend, signs her up for a reality TV bake off on Cupcake Combat everything Kat ever wanted is suddenly dangled in front of her: creative license as a baker, recognition as a visionary AND a job at a famous bakery in New York.

As the competition heats up, Lucas realizes he might have made a huge mistake. As much as he wants the best for Kat, the only thing he wants for himself is her and this is in danger of slipping away from him.

The bright lights of reality cooking wars and the chance at a successful career dazzle Kat’s senses and Lucas is faced with a difficult choice: help his friend achieve her dreams or sabotage her chances in order to keep her in Louisiana for himself.

My Thoughts

All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes is a sweet journey of finding one’s calling. Kat is young and so unsure of herself like so many of us are. She has a wealth of education and passion for baking but is scared to make that leap of faith and reach for her dreams. I have felt this way many times – it is terrifying to do something out of our comfort zone and the normal routine we have built. But sometimes it is completely worth it.

The slow romance between Kat and Lucas is wonderful to watch grow. They are both so unsure of taking their friendship to that next level even though they complement each other perfectly. Lucas is always there for Kat and supporting in her dreams. Even when those dreams conflict with the life he has built for them in his mind. He falls victim to human nature and almost damages Kat’s chances but realizes how selfish this is and works hard to fix his mistakes.

A lovely and fun read that will have you laughing and smiling as you turn every page.

Check out more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page here. If you want to order your own copy of the book you can do so here.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana with her young daughter and has a heart for sharing the amazing news of God’s grace through her novels. A freelance journalist, Betsy is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not reading, writing, or singing along to a Disney soundtrack with her daughter, Betsy enjoys inspirational speaking and teaching on the craft of writing.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Family, home and the first year of marriage – all of these are important aspects of our life but can cause great stress as well. Especially that first year of marriage! All of these combine to make a wonderful, heart warming story of family and love in Home to Chicory Lane.

Audrey Whitman’s dreams are starting to take root.  Now that their five kids have grown and left the family home, her husband Grant and herself are turning their beloved family home into a cozy bed and breakfast just a mile outside of Langhorne, Missouri.

Opening weekend makes Audrey anxious with friends and family coming from all over to help celebrate the occasion. When Audrey’s daughter, Landyn, arrives with the U-Haul making it clear she is not just there for a couple of days. Audrey immediately has questions. What happened in New York that sent her daughter running home? Where was her daughter’s husband Chase? What else was her daughter not telling her? The only thing she knew for sure was that Chicory Inn was off to a rocky start. Can Audrey still realize her dream and at the same time provide comfort of home to her daughter that she desperately needs.

While reading this novel I felt an almost instant connection with Landyn – it was like that was me in my undergraduate years, struggling with the pressures of “real” life, learning that money doesn’t grow on trees as well as balancing a pregnancy. I loved how their faith in God helped Landyn and Chase through the darkest moments of their life. Many times when I am scared or nervous about starting something new praying or attending mass is the most calming experience for me. It helps to clear my mind and see the path that God wants me to follow. Many readers will be able to connect both with Landyn and her Mother, Audrey. It is a wonderful story of family and the struggles we all go through on our journey – at the end of the day we are all the same and on the same path!

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour here.

Four fantastic authors come together to bring you Four Weddings & a Kiss – Margaret Brownley, Debra Clopton, Mary Connealy and Robin Lee Hatcher. Four stories intertwine when a young man questions the suitability of a potential woman.

Spitfire Sweetheart by Mary Connealy follows the story of Maizy Place – an unruly tomboy. When she causes an accident that injures her neighbour Rylan Carstens, she becomes his unlikely caregiver. Rylan has never noticed how pretty his infuriating neighbour is and he definitely never expected to fall in love.

Love Letter to the Editor by Robin Lee Hatcher is the story of Molly Everton, the outspoken daughter of the town’s newspaper owner. When her father brings in an outsider to be the editor she tries to drive him out of town. But Jack Ludgrove is not intimidated. He is resolved to change Molly’s mind about him both as an editor and as a man.

A Cowboy for Katie by Debra Clopton finds us meeting Katie Pearl, a young woman that is uninterested in men and love. What she needs is help on her ranch so she hires Treb Rayburn. Treb is a wandering cowboy looking a make a few dollars – will he help to change Katie’s mind?

In Courting Trouble by Margaret Brownley Grace Davenport is either the unluckiest woman alive or a killer. When her third husband is found dead Grace is arrested. Attorney Brock Daniels is not intersted in the case until he meets Grace. Only a miracle will prove her innocence but the joining of two lonely hearts may be their saving grace. 

There is so much to love in this novel! Four fantastic authors spin tales of love, romance and mystery in a way that leaves you craving more. They give just enough to keep you hanging on the edge of the seat. The simple romances in each story will make your heart warm (who wouldn’t want a strong cowboy?!). Each story is intertwined in a unique way to show that love knows no boundaries and that we can never help who we fall in love with. Only that we should embrace love – the most precious gift of all.

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour here. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Mother’s Secret by Amy Clipston is Book Two in the Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series. Our main character, Carolyn Lapp dreams of marrying for love. But will the errors of her past destroy this dream forever?

Carolyn longs to have a traditional Amish family. But she lives on her brother’s farm with her parents and her fifteen year old son, Benjamin. Carolyn has never revealed the identity of Benjamin’s father and lives daily with the guilt and shame of her youthful indiscretion. Her brother simply will not forgive her.

His answer is to arrange a practical marriage for Carolyn to Saul, a widower with a young daughter. But Carolyn is not convinced that Saul really loves her and believes he is simply looking for someone to help raise his daughter.

When Benjamin causes trouble at a local horse auction, horse breeder Joshua Glick decides that he must be taught a lesson. Carolyn and Joshua are unmistakably drawn to each other but Joshua mistakenly assumes that Benjamin is Carolyn’s brother. Carolyn fears that if he discovers the truth her past will destroy their budding romance.

A Mother’s Secret was an excellent and intense read. It had me crying at parts and at other times praying for Carolyn. My heart bled for her and the guilt she carried for having her child out of wedlock which went against her family’s beliefs. You just kept wanting her to realize she did nothing wrong and that she was perfect in God’s eyes. The way she was treated by people around her was awful. You want to hold her and protect her. It was an incredible tale of forgiveness, family and acceptance. At parts I had the sense that she was building this story into a possible third book – which I really hope so! I would love to read more about Carolyn, Joshua and Benjamin! A definite must read – you will not be able to put it down!

You can find more reviews of A Mother’s Secret on the Litfuse Blog tour here. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.