Broken Things to Mend Blog Tour + Review

Blog Tour Schedule

About the Book

Celia is in desperate need of a change - a change of scenery, a change of pace, and a complete redo of all relationships. Not knowing what else to do, she opens a map, closes her eyes, and lets fate decide her future. Then she packs her meager belongings and buys a one-way ticket to a little town on the fringes of Oregon's Deschutes National Forest called Sisters. She's wanted a family for years. Will she find one in Sisters?

What Celia doesn't plan to find is a strange Chinese woman whose meddling ways keep throwing her in the path of a handsome, but reserved, forest ranger. But no matter how kind or dependable Silas seems to be, there are some things in Celia's past that neither of them can escape, and this time, the damage might be too much to mend.

    

My Rating

Spring/Summer

My Review

Broken Things to Mend is another delightful contemporary romance from Karey White! The books I've read by her so far celebrate the adventure and fun of very real settings, while sharing the blossoming of romance between very relatable and lovable characters. This series starter is no exception.

The story begins with two broken souls being brought together by a Chinese matchmaker. It was interesting to get a bit of (heartbreaking) back story for the hero, Silas, and to meet him as he's trying to indulge a kind older lady in her odd requests (yes, plural) for transportation to the bus stop in Bend, Oregon.

Then there's the heroine, Celia, who's running from a past and present that haunt her, hoping to find a better future in the small town of Sisters, Oregon. One can't help but root for her in her quest to find a place to truly belong.

Perspectives switch quite a bit at the beginning of the story, which could potentially be disorienting, although it does help give a sense of a larger destiny at play and provide an inside look at the converging of multiple lives.

I really enjoyed all of the characters: the way they slowly open up like new blooms; the way the seasons change from wariness to tender trust; the way they find joy and understanding together. Silas is a quiet, gentle, and loyal soul. Celia is reserved but dedicated and caring. And Silas's aunt, while not without fault, is the perfect friend and nurturing figure for them both.

While there's not a whole lot of suspense and danger in this story, there's a good deal of tension and plenty of questions to keep the story moving along at a steady pace. And, as a girl who calls Oregon home now, I found particular pleasure in following the characters through Sisters and beyond, recognizing some town and landmark names while experiencing some new things.

Broken Things to Mend is touching and heartwarming, while being a little more serious in nature than The Husband Maker series (which I also highly recommend for sweet contemporary romance fans). I felt the ending was resolved a little too quickly, but otherwise I was quite pleased with this story of learning to trust those you love, discovering the perils of judging others, and taking a chance on something wonderful.

*With thanks to I Am A Reader Blog Tours and the author for providing me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

About the Author

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist. She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

   
Blog Tour Giveaway: 
$50 Amazon Gift Card or $50 in Paypal Cash

Ends 2/2/16.  Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Wife Maker Blog Tour + Review

Blog Tour Schedule

Here's a description of the book:

(Note: This is Book 3 in a series, so there are some spoilers for previous books in this summary and review.) 

Charlotte has spent years as the husband maker, sending every guy she dates off to enjoy marital bliss with the next girl he dates. But things have now changed, and she's determined to use her husband-maker abilities one last time - on herself. And she finally knows exactly who she wants.

Angus has loved Charlotte since they were teenagers, but he's tired of waiting for her to realize how good they could be. She's broken his heart one too many times, and it's time to move on with his life. Maybe a position halfway across the country will be just what he needs to get over her. But when Charlotte won't let him go without a fight, Angus has to decide if he's willing to let her in again or if she's too late.

My Rating

Spring/Summer

My Review

When all is said and done, I'm happy. :) That doesn't mean there weren't numerous moments of frustration with certain characters (*cough* Angus *cough*). But I suppose that is all part of the fun of contemporary romance!

This series has been one long winding road...and one heck of a road trip! I've so enjoyed getting to know Charlotte's character while joining her in the ups and downs, highs and lows, painful lessons and meaningful memories that make up life's journey, romance or no.

This last installment introduces Angus's voice to the mix. Which is sweet, no doubt, but man, he sure can try a reader's patience! I was just a bit relieved to discover early on that the story isn't told completely from his perspective...

Not that Charlotte doesn't make some questionable choices, but her voice and trials are so easy to relate to. I loved reading about her adventures and misadventures as she wholeheartedly embraced a brand-new season in her life.

And her family...you don't want to miss meeting these characters! The relationships and banter all feel so genuine and are just plain fun to read.

This is a great conclusion to a great series - one that takes some intriguing turns and shows how stubborn we all can be, and how stubborn we need to be at times when it comes to the people and work we love.

*With thanks to I Am A Reader Blog Tours and the author for providing me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Get your copy of The Wife Maker for $4.99!

Amazon

Read my review of The Husband Maker (Book 1)

Read my review of The Match Maker (Book 2)

About the Author

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist. She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Blog Tour Giveaway

   

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 3/22/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Match Maker Blog Tour + Review

The Match Maker Blog Tour Schedule

Here's a description of the book:

(Note: Summary contains spoilers if you have not yet read Book 1, The Husband Maker.) 

It’s been six months since Charlotte and Kyle broke up, and the Husband Maker strikes again. Kyle is officially engaged, while Charlotte is still nursing a broken heart.

In an effort to get Charlotte out of her rut, she and her best friend decide it’s time for some good old-fashioned matchmaking. While Aleena arranges for Charlotte to meet up with a handsome Scottish tourist, Charlotte gets her two best friends together. But when sparks start to fly between Aleena and Angus, Charlotte is left feeling more alone than ever—at least until the charming Scotsman becomes more than just a safe, rebound guy and teaches her that maybe, just maybe, she can dare to open her heart again.

My Rating

Spring

My Review

I really enjoyed the opportunity to get reacquainted with Charlotte in this adventurous sequel to The Husband Maker. Charlotte's relationship woes are quite relatable, and it was easy to slip right back into her world of great friends and big uncertainties.

I adored the setting descriptions in this installment. The Alcatraz outing, the road trip to Carmel, and especially the welcoming glimpse of Scotland...all were delightful, with charming characters to make the fictional trips that much more memorable. (Might I also add that the mentions of the Trees of Mystery as part of Charlotte's work made me happy?)

The way things came together right before the end left me with a bittersweet joy, and I started to expect that things would wrap up nicely with a sequel that surpassed its predecessor. And then...well, let's just say the very end emphasized a bit too much of the bitter and not enough the sweet to leave me completely satisfied. It paves the way for a third book, which shouldn't be that surprising, but let me tell you, there's one character that has me utterly frustrated! I really don't understand the reasoning behind their claims, and I'm not a fan of how their character changed in this book. It makes me wonder how the third book's going to play out...

Even with all that, I do believe that The Match Maker as a whole is even better than Book 1, and both are great reads. I'm a bit skeptical about Book 3, but Karey White has impressed me with this series so far, and I'm wishing Charlotte a very happy conclusion to her story.

*With thanks to I Am A Reader Blog Tours and the author for providing me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Get your copy of The Match Maker for just $3.99!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Have you read the first book in the series?

The Husband Maker by Karey White

Grab your copy from

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

  

You can read my review of Book 1 HERE.

Coming Spring 2015

The conclusion to The Husband Maker Series

The Wife Maker by Karey White

About the Author (Karey White)

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist. She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ~  Ends 11/30/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Husband Maker Blog Tour + Review

The Husband Maker Blog Tour Schedule

Here's a description of the book:

Charlotte’s a girl with nicknames. She may not love being called Charles or Chuck, but the hardest nickname to take is the one she was given in college, the one that’s followed her now for too many years. They call her “the husband maker” and sadly, it fits. Every guy she’s dated since high school has become his next girlfriend’s husband. Not hers. Not three girlfriends down the road. The next.

Is she doing something wrong or is she just cursed?

When Kyle Aldsworth enters the picture and sweeps her off her feet, Charlotte begins to hope that maybe she's not destined to be single forever. A senator’s son with political aspirations of his own, Kyle's wealthy, handsome, and in need of a wife. Will Charlotte be disappointed yet again, or will she finally be able to make a husband for herself?

My Rating

Spring

My Review

You've gotta love a contemporary romance that's a happy blend of fluffy and substance. The Husband Maker is fun, with some sweet date scenes as well as some angst/drama. Yet it also addresses the more serious side of relationships - both friendships and romances. And I really enjoyed it!

The writing is very engaging, and the main characters are great. The inclusion of family made the story both more realistic and more endearing. As for the story itself...I liked following Charlotte's dating journey, learning how she navigates romances and how she deals with difficult circumstances. While this is very much a story about love, it's also a story about identity, and I respect the characters and author for that emphasis.

This is the first book in a series, so the ending exists but certainly leaves room for a whole new story (or two) to take place. Perhaps the conclusion isn't as satisfying as some romances, but because of the theme, it fits, and it leaves the reader with some thoughts to ponder/inspire.

For a sweet contemporary romance that has a bit of a ordinary-girl-becomes-princess sort of vibe (no princesses, though...sorry!), as well as some depth amid the darling, The Husband Maker is a great start to a new series.

*With thanks to I Am A Reader Blog Tours and the author for providing me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Get your copy of The Husband Maker for just $3.99!

Amazon * Kobo * iTunes * Barnes & Noble

 

About the Author (Karey White)

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist. She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

 

Coming Fall 2014 - Charlotte's Story continues in The Match Maker

 
Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ~ Ends 8/15/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Missing Lily Blog Tour with Review

Here's a description of the book:

“You don’t know who I am,” I whispered. He didn’t move—either away from me, or closer—and after an interminable moment, I stepped back and hurried out of the house. 

He didn’t follow me as I fled into the night. 

 Lylin was not used to being alone—much less alone, hurt, and lost. So when she is separated from her guard and forced to abandon her horse, she counts herself lucky to stumble upon a manor house. Still frightened by those who chased her into the night, she keeps her identity a secret, calling herself Lily as she accepts the help of kind servants, and the compassion of Lord Fallon. When they fall into an easy friendship, she wonders if her secrecy was too hasty. However, as she gets to know the manor and its residents, Lylin discovers that she’s not the only one hiding secrets, and it may be a very good thing that her host doesn’t know her true identity as a member of the royal family.

My Rating

Fall/Spring

My Review

Missing Lily is a simply sweet YA romance story that includes a hero with a tiny bit of brooding but mostly a lot of heart. It's an easy read that's not steeped in research but has enough of a historical setting to appeal to the imagination (complete with a palace and monarchy).

The story starts out with a chase, hidden identity, and adorable romance. When it expands beyond the home of Lord Fallon to include Lylin's family and destined life, new complications arise that throw the hero and heroine into emotional chaos. What begins as something sort of along the lines of Belle stumbling upon Beast's castle in Beauty and the Beast (with a hero that's much quicker to reveal himself a gentleman, mind you) turns into a tale of jealousy, shattered hopes, misunderstandings, and bottled-up fears.

It's rather a frustrating read, in that sense, as so much could be resolved (or prevented) by open communication - but I suppose that's part of the fun of a romance, to a point! And the climax is rather dark for what was more of a lighter falling-in-love and being-thwarted-in-love story until then. While the romance is the driving force, there is an emphasis on familial relationships, as well - both functional and dysfunctional - which plays into that climax.

The wide emotional range didn't overly affect me, personally, but it still made for an interesting read, and there are some really cute moments (and...*potential minor spoiler alert, though you probably know it's coming!*...an eventual happily ever after). Larsen's first book, Just Ella, seems to be quite popular among fans of clean romance, and I imagine fans will find a lot to love with this overall sweet sequel.

*With thanks to I Am A Reader Blog Tours and the author for providing me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Follow the blog tour at I Am a Reader!

Purchase on

AMAZON * Barnes & Noble * iTunes

Not yet read Just Ella?

It is on sale for $3.99 for the duration of the blog tour.

Grab your copy on Amazon.

About the Author (Annette K. Larsen)

I was born in Utah, part of a crazy, fun family of nine. I grew up in Flagstaff, AZ and St. Louis, MO before striking out on my own college adventure in Virginia. I decided to try my hand at writing novels after I was married and living in Idaho. I write clean romance because it’s my favorite genre, but often difficult to find.

I have Charlotte Brontë to thank for the courage to write novels. After being bombarded with assigned reading about women who justified abandoning either their families or their principles in the name of love, I had the great fortune of reading Jane Eyre. And that was it: finally, a heroine who understood that being moral and making the right choice was hard, and sometimes it hurt, but it was still worth it. After rereading it several years later, I realized that if I wanted more books to exist with the kinds of heroines I admired, then I might as well write a few myself. My books are about women who face hard choices, who face pain and rejection and often have to face the reality of sacrificing what they want for what is right. The consequences are often difficult or unpleasant, but in the end, doing what’s right will always be worth it. I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Blog

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash  ~ Ends 6/15/14 

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced at I Am a Reader as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter, or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
 a Rafflecopter giveaway