First Light {Forever After Series Book 1} by Michele Paige Holmes {Blog Tour Review and Giveaway}

 

Product Details:
Title:First Light (Forever After Series Book 1) 
Author: Michele Paige Holmes  
Published: February 25th 2016 by Mirror Press
Genre: YA Fantasy/Fairytale Romance

 Paperback: 494 pages
 ISBN-10: 1941145760
FTC, FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.




 Book Details:

Seventeen-year-old Adrielle doesn’t believe in magic; she merely possesses it, though no one has ever mentioned that her unusual gifts—exceptional speed, a flair for fire, and an intimate knowledge of flora—aren’t things she was born with. When Adrielle starts a fire that burns down the family home, she must deal with both her grief and her siblings’ hurtful rejection.

While journeying to far away Tallinyne, in search of her older, estranged sister—the only relative who might take her in—Adrielle is separated from her escort when the carriage is beset by thieves. Alone, she is thrust into a dangerous and unfamiliar world where she encounters fairies and gypsies, a wild boar, a drunk cook, and an evil queen whose curse is sweeping death across the land. Adrielle also finds love, falling hard for a kind, funny, handsome—and completely unavailable prince.

From the glowing pearls tucked beneath her mattress and keeping her awake at night, to Queen Nadamaris’s curse that seems to thwart Adrielle’s every effort, Adrielle struggles to navigate a world of magic she never imagined, where people she knows and loves are not always what they appear to be. With the glowing pearls—and her fondest desire—within her grasp, she is forced to make a choice no girl should ever have to—satisfying her own heart or saving the kingdom.

My Review:

I love fairytales and a great romance.This new book by Author Michele Paige Holmes gives you both in her new novel, First Light: Book One in the Forever After Series. I loved reading this novel and trying to figure out which fairytales the author had mixed into her story. There was a great mix of the fairytales from Cinderella to Sleeping Beauty. It also has magical fairies, an evil queen and our heroine sleeping by the hearth in the cinders. I loved the handsome prince, Cristian and also some of the more shady characters too. This story truly belongs to main character Adrielle as she finds out who she truly is and the power and magic within herself to find happiness and save the kingdom. I loved the fact that she ended up being the true hero in the story.

The storyline and plot isn't complicated, but flows easy enough for you to sit down and have a quick, enjoyable read. If you love a fairytale where good triumphs over evil, and love conquers all, you will enjoy reading First Light.  

Content: Clean romance with some kissing; mild violence, and no swearing.

  Purchase Links:

Meet Author: Michele Paige Holmes:

Michele Paige Holmes spent her childhood and youth in Arizona and northern California, often curled up with a good book instead of out enjoying the sunshine. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education and found it an excellent major in which to indulge her love of children's literature.
Her first novel, COUNTING STARS (Covenant Communications 2007), won the 2007 Whitney Award for best romance. The sequel, a romantic suspense titled, ALL THE STARS IN HEAVEN (Covenant 2009), was a Whitney finalist, as was her first historical romance, CAPTIVE HEART (Covenant 2011). MY LUCKY STARS (Covenant 2012) completed the Stars series.

In October 2014 Michele launched the Hearthfire historical romance line with the publication of SAVING GRACE (Mirror Press 2014). The companion novel, LOVING HELEN (Mirror Press 2015) was released in February 2015. A third book about this same family, MARRYING CHRISTOPHER, (Mirror Press 2015) was published in August 2015, with a Christmas novella, TWELVE DAYS IN DECEMBER (Mirror Press 2015) released in December.

The next Hearthfire historical romance will be published in early summer of 2016.

In February 2016, Michele is launching the first book in the FOREVER AFTER young adult fairy tale series. FIRST LIGHT (Mirror Press February 2016) will be followed by a sequel LAST DAY in fall 2016. A third fairy tale, PARADISE, will be published in 2017.

Michele attributes much of what she knows about good writing to time spent with her critique group and feels that joining a critique group is the single best thing an author can to do help improve his or her writing. She has been a member of RWA and URWA, LDStorymakers, and The League of Utah Writers. Michele enjoys both attending and teaching at conferences.

When not reading or writing romance, Michele is busy with her full time job as a wife and mother. She and her husband live in Utah with their five high maintenance children and a Shitzu that resembles a teddy bear, in a house with a wonderful view of the mountains. You can find Michele on the web at michelepaigeholmes.com and on Facebook and twitter. 
 

Links for Michele Paige Holmes

Website http://www.michelepaigeholmes.net/

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/First-Light-Forever-Michele-Holmes-ebook/dp/B01AZPBCCO/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/946017.Michele_Paige_Holmes

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/MichelePHolmes

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Michele Paige Holmes' new fantasy novel "First Light" in the Forever After Series.

Isn't it beautiful? I can't wait to read this new fantasy novel by Author Michele Paige Holmes. It will be released a month from today! 

About FIRST LIGHT:
 

Seventeen-year-old Adrielle doesn’t believe in magic; she merely possesses it, though no one has ever mentioned that her unusual gifts—exceptional speed, a flair for fire, and an intimate knowledge of flora—aren’t things she was born with. When Adrielle starts a fire that burns down the family home, she must deal with both her grief and her siblings’ hurtful rejection.

While journeying to far away Tallinyne, in search of her older, estranged sister—the only relative who might take her in—Adrielle is separated from her escort when the carriage is beset by thieves. Alone, she is thrust into a dangerous and unfamiliar world where she encounters fairies and gypsies, a wild boar, a drunk cook, and an evil queen whose curse is sweeping death across the land. Adrielle also finds love, falling hard for a kind, funny, handsome—and completely unavailable prince.

From the glowing pearls tucked beneath her mattress and keeping her awake at night, to Queen Nadamaris’s curse that seems to thwart Adrielle’s every effort, Adrielle struggles to navigate a world of magic she never imagined, where people she knows and loves are not always what they appear to be. With the glowing pearls—and her fondest desire—within her grasp, she is forced to make a choice no girl should ever have to—satisfying her own heart or saving the kingdom.

 

Release Date: February 25, 2015

Pre-order on Amazon

Add to your Goodreads list

Blog Tour Review for Marrying Christopher(A Hearthfire Romance) by Michele Paige Holmes

Product Details:

• Title: Marrying Christopher
  
• Author: Michele Paige Holmes
• Genre: Regency Historical Romance
  
• Paperback: 347 Pages
  
• Publisher: Mirror Press (August 30, 2015)
• ISBN-10: 1941145434
• FTC, FYI: I was given a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:
Having seen both his sisters Grace and Helen happily married, Christopher Thatcher is free to pursue his dream of life in America. With adventure in his heart and mind, he boards one of the first steamships set to cross the Atlantic in the record breaking time of only twenty-five days. Within the first two of those, his resolve—to avoid women and the complications they often bring to a man’s life—falters when he meets Marsali Abbott, a young woman with a past even more troubling than his own. Whether from years of habit protecting his sisters, or simply because he feels drawn to Marsali, Christopher chooses to help her and becomes her friend. As the truth about what awaits Marsali in America becomes evident, he is faced with a more difficult choice, one that will impact their lives far beyond four weeks together at sea.  


My Review:

 I have read all of the books that Michele Paige Holmes has written. There isn't one book that I wouldn't highly recommend to other readers. This author truly knows what she is doing. For example, have you ever read a book where you liked the plot and it was a pretty good novel, but you didn't care about the characters? This is something that will NEVER happen to a book written by this author. In fact, her characters are always the strongest part of her books. You get hooked into the stories so quickly because she writes characters that you care about, and you want to invest your time into their lives and stories.

The romance between the two main characters of Christopher and Marsali is realistic and very believable. There is an attraction there, but they both fight it for so long. The characters have both been through painful pasts and carry around emotional baggage. This doesn't stop them from growing as people, nor from allowing them to take a chance at their friendships. 

I also enjoyed the minor characters that were on the ship with Christopher and Marsali. Even though some could be annoying, they added extra flavor to the story like Lydia's non-stop chattiness or her mother, Lady Cosgrove's stodgy ways. The captain of the ship,Captain Gower, was another who I grew to like a lot.

This Regency Romance also has it's share of surprises that keep you hanging on the edge, and not sure of the outcome. 

Overall, this book in the Hearthfire Romance series is one of my favorites. It can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend you reading the first two books in this series about Christopher's two sisters. Michele has written a book that is wonderful and hard to put down. I stayed up late reading it. I can assure you, that this clean romance, with characters you'll love, and a well thought out story, should definitely be your next book to read. I give this book 5 stars since Michele clearly hit this one out of the park! I loved it!
 
 Meet Author Michele Paige Holmes:

 Michele Paige Holmes spent her childhood and youth in Arizona and northern California, often curled up with a good book instead of out enjoying the sunshine. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education, and found it an excellent major in which to indulge her love of children’s literature. 

Her first novel, Counting Stars (Covenant Communications 2007), won the 2007 Whitney Award for best romance. Her companion novel, a romantic suspense titled, All the Stars in Heaven (Covenant 2009), was a Whitney finalist, as was her first historical romance, Captive Heart (Covenant 2011). My Lucky Stars (Covenant 2012) completed the Stars series.
After having a novella published in A Timeless Romance Anthology European Collection (Mirror Press, 2013), Michele decided to focus on historical romance and began Hearthfire Historicals, with the debut novel Saving Grace. A companion novella, Loving Helen was released February 2015.

Michele has been a member of the same critique group for over fourteen years and feels privileged to meet with fellow authors Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore, Sarah M. Eden, J. Scott Savage, and Robison Wells. She has been a member of RWA and URWA, LDStorymakers, and The League of Utah Writers. Michele enjoys both attending and teaching at conferences. 

When not reading or writing romance, Michele is busy with her full time job as a wife and mother. She and her husband live in Utah with their five high maintenance children and a Shitzu that resembles a teddy bear, in a house with a wonderful view of the mountains. You can find Michele on the web at michelepaigeholmes.com and on Facebook and twitter .

Michele's website http://www.michelepaigeholmes.net/ 

Michele's Twitter https://twitter.com/MichelePHolmes

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/946017.Michele_Paige_Holmes?from_search=true&search_version=service

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Marrying-Christopher-Hearthfire-Romance-Michele-ebook/dp/B00X1NNBCC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437241782&sr=1-1&keywords=marrying+christopher

Blog Tour Schedule for Marrying Christopher

August 10

Julie http://www.juliecoulterbellon.com/

Katie http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/

Paij Slater http://www.readingisoneofmypassions.blogspot.com/

August 11

 

Melanie http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

Andrea http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

August 12

Tressa http://www.wishfulendings.com/

Rachelle http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/

Shauna http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/

August 13

Rachel D. http://empowermoms.net/

Lindzee http://www.lindzeearmstrong.com/

August 14

Sheila http://www.whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/

Sydney http://singinglibrarianbooks.weebly.com/

Cathy http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/

Talei/Leslee http://www.bubblebath-books.com/

Cover Reveal for: Marrying Christopher by Michele Paige Holmes

 

Release date for Marrying Christopher is July 2015.

About Marrying Christopher:
Having seen both his sisters Grace and Helen happily married, Christopher Thatcher is free to pursue his dream of life in America. With adventure in his heart and mind, he boards one of the first steamships set to cross the Atlantic in the record breaking time of only twenty-five days. Within the first two of those, his resolve—to avoid women and the complications they often bring to a man’s life—falters when he meets Marsali Abbott, a young woman with a past even more troubling than his own. Whether from years of habit protecting his sisters, or simply because he feels drawn to Marsali, Christopher chooses to help her and becomes her friend. As the truth about what awaits Marsali in America becomes evident, he is faced with a more difficult choice, one that will impact their lives far beyond four weeks together at sea.

Add Marrying Christopher to your Goodreads list:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25292540-marrying-christopher

About the Author:

 

Michele Paige Holmes spent her childhood and youth in Arizona and northern California, often curled up with a good book instead of out enjoying the sunshine. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education, and found it an excellent major in which to indulge her love of children's literature. 

Michele is the author of six romance novels, including the 2007 Whitney Award winning COUNTING STARS. In 2014 Michele launched the Hearthfire historical romance line with the publication of SAVING GRACE and LOVING HELEN. 

Michele has been a member of the same critique group for over fifteen years and feels that joining a critique group is the single best thing an author can to do help improve his or her writing. She has been a member of RWA and URWA, LDStorymakers, and The League of Utah Writers. Michele enjoys both attending and teaching at conferences.

When not reading or writing romance, Michele is busy with her full time job as a wife and mother. She and her husband live in Utah with their five high maintenance children and a Shitzu that resembles a teddy bear, in a house with a wonderful view of the mountains. You can find Michele on the web at michelepaigeholmes.com and on Facebook and twitter.

 

Purchase the other books in the Hearthfire Romance series:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

 

Saving Grace: A Hearthfire Romance by Michele Paige Holmes-Review

 Product Details

Title: Saving Grace: A Hearthfire Romance   

Author: Michele Paige Holmes

Publisher: Mirror Press

Publish Date: October 15th, 2015

ISBN13: 9781941145234

ebook: 380 pages

Genre: Regency romance

FTC, FYI: I was given a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.



  Book Description:
From Whitney Award Winning Author, Michele Paige Holmes, comes Saving Grace, A Hearthfire Romance:
After the death of Grace Thatcher’s grandfather, the Duke of Salisbury, Grace wants nothing more than to live quietly in the country with her younger siblings. But her father’s debts thwart those plans, and to protect her sister, Helen, Grace must marry a man of her father’s choosing.
As each suitor proves less than desirable, Grace comes up with clever schemes, causing each to reject her. While staying at the mysterious Sutherland Hall, a middle-of-the-night mishap sends Grace into the arms of a stranger, Nicholas Sutherland—and provides inspiration for her grandest plan yet—one that will leave her reputation in tatters yet free both her and Helen from all possibility of marriage. But when Grace meets Mr. Samuel Preston, a true gentlemen and sworn enemy of Nicholas Sutherland, instead of being free, Grace is caught between two men—each with his own agenda.

My Review
Saving Grace is one of those books that you start reading and you can't stop. This Regency Romance novel has everything that you could love: a strong heroine, Grace, in a bad situation looking for hope and a way out; a handsome, stubborn male lead, Nicholas, who wants to fall for the heroine but things from his past still haunt him and he's worried about taking a chance on love; and then we have the other man, Samuel, that loves our heroine and wants her, but his past is also standing in his way towards happiness. Of course there are the other things that add to the drama like the manipulative, gambling father of our heroine and the snobby, heartless mother of our hero who wants nothing to do with the commoner Grace.

I loved the funny situations that Grace seems to always find herself in,many of them are of her own doing. She has learned how to be strong as she practically raised her younger siblings Helen and Christopher, by herself, while her widower father was out gambling and drinking. Grace is so likable a character that you want everything good to happen for her, but at times I wanted to shake her silly when it came to  romantic love. The tension between brother-in- laws Nicholas and Samuel, was well written and felt throughout the story. Because of the death of Nicholas's sister Elizabeth,who was also Samuel's wife, the neighboring estates became places of sadness, hatred and revenge. 
Without giving too much away, I loved how Grace came in with her kind and loving disposition that ultimately changes things for both men.

I truly ended up loving this story! The great characters, interesting situations and wonderful storytelling will make Saving Grace a favorite among Regency Romance readers.


Meet Author: Michele Paige Holmes: 

Michele Paige Holmes spent her childhood and youth in Arizona and northern California, often curled up with a good book instead of out enjoying the sunshine. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education, and found it an excellent major in which to indulge her love of children's literature.
Her first novel, Counting Stars (Covenant Communications 2007), won the 2007 Whitney Award for best romance. Her companion novel, a romantic suspense titled, All the Stars in Heaven (Covenant 2009), was a Whitney finalist, as was her first historical romance, Captive Heart (Covenant 2011). My Lucky Stars (Covenant 2012) completed the Stars series.
Michele has been a member of the same critique group for over thirteen years and feels privileged to meet weekly with fellow authors Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore, LuAnn Staheli, Sarah M. Eden, J. Scott Savage, and Robison Wells. She has been a member of RWA and URWA, LDStorymakers, and The League of Utah Writers. Michele enjoys both attending and teaching at conferences.
When not reading or writing romance, Michele is busy with her full time job as a wife and mother. She and her husband live in Utah with their five high maintenance children and a Shitzu that resembles a teddy bear, in a house with a wonderful view of the mountains. 

Author Links
Website / Twitter / Goodreads
Purchase Links
Amazon / Barnes and Noble (other titles)

A Timeless Romance Anthology: European Collection-Review

Product Details

• Title: A Timeless Romance Anthology: European Collection
  
• Authors:  Annette Lyon, G.G. Vandagriff, Michele Paige Holmes, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, Nancy Campbell Allen 
• File Size: 1326 KB
• Print Length: 283 pages
• Publisher: Mirror Press (October 30, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00GAB1IVS

 Book/Story Descriptions
  In War of Hearts, Annette Lyon’s exciting novella, Anna, a journalist, is desperate to escape the magazine where Pete, her now-former boyfriend, also works. Heartbroken and still in love with him, Anna snags an assignment to cover the Winter War in Finland. She arrives at a snowy Finnish battlefront only to discover that Pete is already there—as her photographer. She’s determined to be professional about the situation until a battle breaks out in camp, putting her and Pete in harm’s way and putting their love to the test.
 
In G.G. Vandagriff’s enchanting novella, The Earl of Oaksey Takes a Wife, Melissa Burroughs is the new Countess of Oaksey. Her whirlwind romance and subsequent elopement was worth every divine moment, even if her parents did disapprove. When Melissa learns about her new husband’s apparently empty pockets, she wonders if the intimacy they’ve shared is only the ruse of a fortune-hunter. Melissa is devastated and determines to live a separate life from her new husband. But the Earl has other plans, which do not include staying away from his wife.
 
In Michele Paige Holmes’ charming story, Gift of Love, Ethan Mooreleigh knows he’ll never love another woman after the loss of his beloved wife. Yet he needs a male heir to inherit his vast fortune. Ethan’s best friend, Stuart, has an idea and retrieves his sister, Amelia, who has been living in a convent since the tragic death of her parents. Amelia only agrees to enter into the contract marriage because there’s a child involved, Ethan’s neglected three-year-old daughter. When Amelia meets Ethan for the first time at the altar, she realizes that the last thing she wants her marriage to be is loveless. But winning a man whose heart is still broken may be impossible.

A Lesson in Love, a delightful novella by Sarah M. Eden, captures the uncertainties of newlywed life. Lucy Stanthorpe arrives for the London Season, planning to attend every ball and musicale with her new husband, Reed, only to discover he has no intention of taking part in the social whirl. Spurred on by their family and friends, Lucy and Reed each formulate increasingly outlandish plans to teach the other a lesson in appreciation. Their battle of wills threatens to pull the young couple apart unless they can both soften their stubborn hearts.
 
In An Ocean Away, Heather B. Moore’s captivating story, Gina Graydon knows the last thing she’ll attract on her holiday in France is an eligible bachelor. Tall, outspoken, and with a weakness for laughing at the wrong moment, not to mention being much too occupied with reading gothic romances, Gina decides she’d rather live in her fictional world. Besides, the only man who pays attention to her at the resort hotel happens to be her father’s worst enemy. And that is far from romantic. Reading in a secluded garden, and dreaming about the perfect kiss, all keep Gina much too busy to consider Mr. Edmund Donaldson any sort of hero.
 
Nancy Campbell Allen’s entrancing novella, What Happens in Venice, follows Evangeline Stuart as she determines to enjoy her vacation in Venice—her first and likely her last since she lives under the strict confines of her step-father’s control. When she meets the mysterious and romantic Conte Bellini, who happens to be Italy’s most eligible bachelor, she decides he is all part of the dream of visiting Venice. It’s impossible for her to believe that his interest in her is anything more than kindness to a foreign visitor. But when he discovers the true betrayal of her step-father, Evangeline learns the Conte may be the one person with the power to restore her happiness.


 My Review
I have grown to love the Timeless Romance Anthologies, but this one is my favorite by far. This one held such magic in each story. The stories and the characters stayed with me for such a long time. All of the stories are a clean historical romance. Some of the couples are even married when the story begins. It's nice to see this. It would be hard to pick a favorite, even though the last one was set in Venice, Italy where I've been wanting to go visit. ;)

One thing I suggest to readers, go in reading these stories knowing they are not full length novels. These are short stories and so you are not going to get the full plot/character development you would see in a full blown novel. There is a reason I'm mentioning this in my review. There were some reviews that mentioned they didn't like the stories because they weren't long enough. If you order a root beer, but are upset it doesn't taste like a lemonade, it's still going to be a root beer. In other words, if you pick up a book of short stories, you are getting short stories not full length novels. The anthologies are written by seasoned writers that know how to write romance. Go in reading them knowing you are getting a snippet of the character's lives, a good short story full of romance, intrigue, and you'll love this anthology! I know I was enchanted by these stories that were well-written, clean, and entertaining.
 

About the Authors

Nancy Campbell Allen

I'm a writer with 11 published novels so far.

• Love Beyond Time
• No Time for Love
• A Time for the Heart
• Echoes
• Faith of our Fathers Vol. 1: A House Divided
• Faith of our Fathers Vol. 2: To Make Men Free
• Faith of our Fathers Vol. 3: Through the Perilous Fight
• Faith of our Fathers Vol. 4: One Nation Under God
• Isabelle Webb: Legend of the Jewel
• Isabelle Webb: The Pharaoh's Daughter
• Isabelle Webb: The Grecian Princess

I'm also a freelance editor with a degree in Elementary Ed, the mother of 3 and the wife of 1.

Nancy Campbell Allen, a graduate of Weber State University, has dreamed of becoming a writer since early childhood. Her goal is "to provide LDS women with fun fiction that they can read without guilt." In addition to writing, Nancy enjoys reading, book shopping, traveling, skiing, and learning of other times, people, and places, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Mark, and three children live in Utah.

Nancy enjoys hearing from her readers. Visit her at http://ncallen.blogspot.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of several historical novels which are set in Ancient Arabia and Mesoamerica. She is not old and doesn’t remember the time period, so Google has become a great friend. Although she has spent several years living in the Middle East, she prefers to forget the smells. Heather writes her historical thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore so that men will buy her books. She is also the author of two non-fiction books, and several women’s novels including the co-authored series The Newport Ladies Book Club, the anthology series A Timeless Romance Anthology, and the historical romantic suspense novel Heart of the Ocean. These are all written under her real name so that women will buy her books.
Heather graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Fashion Merchandising and minor in Business Management.
Visit Heather’s website here: www.hbmoore.com
If you’re an aspiring writer, she also manages the editing company: www.precisioneditinggroup.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Sarah M. Eden is the author of multiple historical romances, including Whitney Award finalists Seeking Persephone (2008, Covenant Communications) and Courting Miss Lancaster (2010, Covenant Communications). Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances. She holds a Bachelor's degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah has twice served as the Master of Ceremonies for the LDStorymakers Writers Conference, acted as the Writer in Residence at the Northwest Writers Retreat and is one-third of the team at the AppendixPodcast.com. Sarah is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg at Foreword Literary Agency.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michele Paige Holmes spent her childhood and youth in Arizona and northern California, often curled up with a good book instead of out enjoying the sunshine. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education, and found it an excellent major in which to indulge her love of children's literature.
Her first novel, Counting Stars (Covenant Communications 2007), won the 2007 Whitney Award for best romance. Her companion novel, a romantic suspense titled, All the Stars in Heaven (Covenant 2009), was a Whitney finalist, as was her first historical romance, Captive Heart (Covenant 2011). My Lucky Stars (Covenant 2012) completed the Stars series.
You can find Michele on the web at michelepaigeholmes.com 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Annette Lyon has been writing ever since second grade, when she piled pillows on a chair to reach her mother's typewriter. A cum laude graduate from BYU with a degree in English, she has had success as a professional editor and doing newspaper, magazine, and business writing, but her first love is writing fiction. She's perhaps best known for her historical novels centered around the four old Utah temples.
Her most recent novel, Band of Sisters: Coming Home (January 2013) is the sequel to the Whitney Award-winning novel Band of Sisters.
One of the most rewarding parts of Annette's writing career has been collaborating on The Newport Ladies Book Club series. Her first book in the series, Paige, was released in 2012. Her second, about the character Ilana, will be released early 2014.
Annette has won Utah's Best of State medal for literary arts in fiction two times, in 2007 and again in 2013. In addition to being a Whitney Award winner, she’s a two-time Whitney finalist, for Spires of Stone (2007) and Paige. She has received three publication awards from the League of Utah Writers and took first place in the 2009 Funds for Writers essay contest.
Be sure to also drop by her blog!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

G.G. Vandagriff is the full-time writer of eleven books, including the Whitney Award Winner The Last Waltz: A Novel of Love and War. A Meridian columnist for ten years, she is a survivor of bi-polar disorder and has written, with her husband and son Deliverance from Depression:Finding Hope and Healing Through The Atonement of Christ. She and her husband, David, also a writer, live in Provo, having raised their three children in the Midwest. 

Review of, My Lucky Stars, by Michele Paige Holmes

Product Details:

• Title: My Lucky Stars
• Author: Michele Paige Holmes
• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc; 1st edition (April 2, 2012)
• Genre: Romance
• ISBN-10: 1621080358
• ISBN-13: 978-1621080350

 

Book Description:

Publication Date: April 2, 2012

 

High-powered, highly pampered Tara Mollagen couldn't imagine a worse start to the holidays than boarding a crowded plane. A stolen wallet and lost suitcase later, she finds herself stranded in unfamiliar territory,Salt Lake City, after being rerouted to avoid a Colorado blizzard. With her temper running as wild as her red curls, Tara realizes her only option out of town is with Benjamin Whitmore, her reluctant knight in shining armor, er, overalls. For being a nice guy, Ben is rewarded with one aggravating situation after another with sassy, spoiled Tara. While doing his best to bring her pride down a notch, he begins to see another side to her, and a side of himself he's not overly fond of. When tension between them reaches a crescendo, he takes matters into his own hands and Tara into his arms. Unable to forget her experience with Ben, Tara returns to Seattle and long-time friend Jane, who offers possibilities Tara had never even considered. But change is difficult, and she's not so sure she has what it takes to make that leap of faith, or if she has the courage to leave her old life behind.

 

 

My Review:

My Lucky Stars is the third installment in this series of Romantic books. It first started with Counting Stars, 

 

then continued with All the Stars in Heaven, and finishes up with My Lucky Stars. Let me say, Michele is so good at writing a believable romance.  The characters are people just like you and me. Their problems are like those that many of us have. It also takes awhile for the characters to realize that they love each other. 

My Lucky Stars is the story of Tara, whom we first met in Counting Stars. She is worldly, spoiled, rude and overall NOT a nice person. Life has not been good to her and she doesn't have many close people in her life, including her parents. She is on her way to stay with friends for Christmas when her plane is detoured to Salt lake City, Utah. Stuck there with no luggage, no wallet and no friends, she meets Ben and his sister Ellen. They take her in to offer food and shelter. Tara complains, silently and out-loud, about all of her problems and how unhappy she is. You basically smile to see all of these bad things happening to such an unlovable character. At the beginning you wonder if you will ever learn to like this character, let alone tolerate her. Ben on the other hand, isn't much nicer to her than she has been to him. They give each other a hard time, amongst many several funny happenings. Ben and Ellen end up giving Tara a ride all the way to Colorado. Some of the funniest moments happen during this trip. After this the story shifts gears as Tara ends up leaving her fancy lifestyle in LA, and moves back to Seattle, Washington to help her bedridden, very pregnant friend. A transformation takes place during this part of the novel. Tara has a spiritual awakening where she starts to believe in God and Jesus and his life's ministry and words. Even though Tara goes through this spiritual awakening, I never felt like I was being preached to. Though she eventually joins the LDS church, anyone of a Christian faith will relate to Tara's experience of coming to know Christ. At the end, Tara is redeemed and I learned to like her a lot. After all, none of us are perfect and need a break.

Out of all of the books in this series, My Lucky Stars feels the most serious in spots, but it's also interwoven with the most lovable supporting characters of Jane, her daughter Maddie and Ben's sister Ellen and her children. To me, Michele's biggest writing strength is how well she writes her characters! Your emotions will be all over the place when you read this romance: you will laugh, you will sneer, you will cry and of course you will cheer. (If my 2nd graders were reading this, they would point out that I just rhymed, even though it wasn't on purpose. ;)  I loved this series by Michele Paige Holmes, and know that readers of Christian Romances will also love it!

About the Author:

Michele's first published novel, Counting Stars, won the 2007 Whitney Award for best romance. The companion novel, a romantic suspense titled All the Stars in Heaven was a 2009 Whitney finalist. My Lucky Stars continues the series. Michele also enjoys writing historical romance. Her first, Captive Heart, was published by Covenant in 2011 and was a Whitney finalist. 

 

To learn more about Michele and her books, please go to her website here.

***I was given a review copy of My Lucky Stars in exchange for an honest review.***