At her core, merchandising maven Sophia Anton is an old-fashioned girl. To start a family by age 30, she’ll do what’s needed to make sparks fly with an old friend—including a crash diet. But when Sophia meets Jackson Thomas, the handsome new minister in town, she quickly finds she’s playing with fire. Sophia’s new look is working like a charm to snag the man of her dreams, so why is it Jackson’s face she sees when she closes her eyes?
Jackson, whose troubled past has led him to adopt a life of celibacy, never expects to feel hot under the collar for a woman of his own parish. How can Jackson dream of a future with Sophia after he’s shut the door on love?
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
This book is a prime example illustrating how imperfect humans are.
In “A Leap of Faith”, Sophia attempted to become the perfect woman for Christopher by losing an unhealthy amount of weight by basically eating like a baby bird. Why? I didn’t see his appeal. He was a man whose needs came first. I would say ‘love is blind’ but I don’t think she truly loved him and he never loved her.
I understand her desire to become a mother but haven’t we all learned a marriage is doomed to fail without love and why even consider bringing a child into that situation.
As for Pastor Jackson, he showed an imperfection by lying when he said, “Actually, I’ve got my eye on a couple women.” He also broke the tenth commandment, Thou Shall Not Covet.
Even though there were a few things I didn’t particularly love about A Leap of Faith, there were many areas I did enjoy very much.
1.) Franny and Sam: They were married 50 years before he passed away and anyone could see, feel the love they had for one another.
2.) Jackson’s lobster picnic idea for Franny and Sam was extremely sweet and romantic. He went above and beyond the duties of a minister.
3.) This quote: “If we can send a man to the moon, how can we still let kids go to bed hungry?” I couldn’t agree more and that’s why I believe we all should do our part to make sure no one has to wonder if they are eating today.
Nell, I can tell by your book you are a key member of your community and I’m sure they appreciate everything you do and the time you devote to others.
And I appreciate you writing A Leap of Faith —- a book less about romance (for me) and more about helping out your fellow ‘man’ and PAYING IT FORWARD.
Nell Castle grew up in western Pennsylvania and graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia. Since then, she’s lived in Key West and Anchorage, Virginia Beach and Sarasota. She moved back to northeastern Ohio to raise her kids closer to the family homestead but looks forward to moving to a gentler climate after her youngest graduates. Until then, she revisits white powder beaches and craggy mountain tops only in her writing. She’s submitted a new manuscript to her publisher, The Wild Rose Press, and is currently at work on a novella.
It’s the sensational debut of a bimonthly, overstuffed, oversized team-up series in which Harley meets (and almost certainly annoys) the greatest heroes and villains of the DC Universe! First up? The incredible Wonder Woman! There’s a plot to assassinate Wondy, and Harley is convinced that only she could possibly stop it! (Hey, you want to tell her about all the other options? We tried.)
Review
Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti had me in stitches throughout Harley’s Little Black Book, volume one. It had to be one of the funniest storylines I’ve read in a long while and the illustrations by Amanda Conner, John Timms, and Dave Johnson were nothing short of outstanding. Their artwork was spot on, beautifully drawn, and absolutely perfect.
My favorite scenes/images had to be with the costume switcharoo. If you think Wonder Woman looked hot before, wait until you see her in Harley’s costume. Her hotness reached a whole new level. 😉
Oh and I loved how Harley snuck in an ass grab on Wonder Woman. Can’t say I blame her for the squeeze and wouldn’t expect anything less from her. Amanda, Jimmy, and John, fantastic job all around!!
Rebecca’s job as secretary of Cascade Elementary, the same school she attended as a child, is rewarding. She has a great group of friends, many of whom are married now. And if sometimes she wished it were her up there in that sparkling white dress…
Except, wait—she did get to wear bridal white. Granted, it was a slinky party dress and the justice of the peace was Elvis in a gold lame jacket, but still, the deed was done.
She’d tied the knot.
Mitch Taylor doesn’t do regrets. It would be a waste of energy bemoaning the mistakes he’d made in his life. The end of his promising football career taught him nothing in life was a guarantee.
Like love.
What were the chances two people from the same po-dunk town in Washington would end up together in a nightclub in Las Vegas? A few too many drinks later, a hasty ceremony performed by the king of rock ‘n’ roll, and they’d been hitched. The night that followed lived on in his dreams, but when he’d woken the next morning she was gone.
Can these two mismatched lovers find a way past their mistakes, or will they keep their lonely hearts forever guarded?
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
When Jacquie requested this review, she didn’t alert me to the fact this was story #5 in a series. At various times, you could tell this wasn’t the first book in the Wounded Heart series. It was apparent I was missing the backstory of several relationships — Jack and Mitch, Mitch and Becca, Jack and Becca, and the mysterious April.
Let me state, I did find much enjoyment in this story but I do think reading the previous ones will make all the difference in understanding the tension between certain characters. Why they are behaving in such manners.
As for the plot centering around Tommy and Jasper, two little kids, being mistreated by their uncle: I despise anyone who hurts a child, in any way. More than one person stepped up to help these two boys out and that’s what we, as a whole, should do if we encounter a situation like this.
Jacquie, I applaud your message to always look out and help those in need.
Jacquie writes Romantic Suspense with tough, alpha males who know what they want, until they’re gob-smacked by heroines who are strong, contemporary women willing to show them that what they really need is love. She has been blessed with a long, happy marriage and enjoys writing romance novels that end with happy-ever-afters. Jacquie lives in paradise along the west coast of Canada with her family and loves reading, writing, and flower gardening. She swears she can’t function without coffee, preferably at the beach with her sweetheart. 🙂
Intern Renee Maxwell has a chance at her dream job as assistant to a renowned archaeologist in exotic Turkey. Things get a little weird when she finds a unique crystal and starts hallucinating crazy yet sexy things. Her once staid boss now looks like a gorgeous demi-god and underwear model combined. Her feminist ideals are challenged with each seductive look and bit of banter he gives her, but she’s not falling for his charm. Damon Cubins never met a woman his Incubus powers couldn’t seduce…until now. If he doesn’t find an ancient crystal, he’ll turn into a full-fledged demon. When his new Intern Renee arrives on site, wearing the exact necklace he needs to save his existence, he thinks he’s got it made until he discovers a curse is keeping him from claiming what’s his. He doesn’t want to harm the woman who has enraptured his heart, but Damon isn’t the only dark creature seeking the crystal’s powers. Winning Renee’s love to release the curse becomes the only cure to save her life.
After he set her on the rocks, she scrambled away from the water’s edge in her wet bra and panties.
“Don’t forget your promise,” he teased, but he couldn’t help it. Any longer staring at the blush on her cheeks and chest and he’d forget his vow and claim her. Even her erect nipples strained against her wet lace bra made him dig his nails into his palms.
She huffed and snatched up her towel. Thankfully, it reached just below her butt, leaving her long legs exposed for his admiration. Then she flipped her curly hair over her shoulder, batting her eyelashes at him.
“I would never give you the satisfaction.”
“Of which?” He cocked his head to the side and beamed. “Drowning or bathing?”
“Both.” She tucked the corner of towel between her breasts, locking the rest of it around her body, and then snatched up her canteen.
“Uh, thank you for saving me.” She shivered, and he doubted it was merely from cold and wet. “Please don’t tell the others, it’s embarrassing.”
At his nod, she breathed out a sigh. She looked as if she anticipated him to haul her back into the water for another lesson. Inching closer to the shore, her gaze never left his.
Her movements reminded him of abused animals. He speculated most people, who couldn’t swim, would want to learn unless they experienced drowning in the past. Could that have happened to her?
There was more to this situation than her usual stubbornness. Vulnerability even. As she leaned forward to finish filling her canteen, her ample bosom peeked out. His lust twisted to the sounds she would make when he touched and kissed her nipples until they pebbled.
Suddenly, she jerked up, spilling some of the water. “Did you get a good enough view?”
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Without waiting for his reply, she stormed away.
Damon flopped onto the water letting his body float. His mind drifted to images of making love to Renee in the water. After he helped her over her phobia, somehow. Hmm, he could kiss her down there while she treaded water.
Nah, she’d never go for it. This is a business trip. No time for sleeping with the staff, no matter how sexy when arguing with him.
Andrea has always created characters and stories. But it wasn’t until she was in her late twenties that she started writing novels.
What happened that ignited the writing flame in her fingers? Divorced, and disillusioned by love songs and stories. They exaggerate. She thought. Love and Romance are not like that in the real world. Then she met her husband and realized, yes love and romance are exactly like the songs and stories say. She is now a happy wife, and a mom to three kids (two boys and a girl).
Andrea writes paranormal and historical romance. When not writing or reading, one may find Andrea dancing in Zumba.
She believes in the power of change and counting each moment as a blessing. But most importantly, she believes in love.
