A Match of Wits by Jen Turano

Book Description:  Two years ago, Zayne Beckett's departure from New York City to meet up with his almost-fiance caused Agatha Watson no small amount of grief. So he is the last person she wanted to stumble upon in her travels as a reporter with the New York Tribune. Looking worse for the wear, he clearly needs to be taken in hand and taken back East to his family. Even though she's over him, Agatha can't help feeling sorry for him and realizes she'll have to be the one to get the stubborn man back home.

Zayne has no desire to be taken anywhere. Content to sit and mope over his recent bad fortune and the desertion of his not-quite-fiance, he's prepared to drag his heels all the way back to New York. That is, until he and Agatha find themselves slipping back into the strangely enjoyable bickering and bantering of their old friendship.

It isn't until they arrive in New York City that Zayne realizes Agatha's determined nose for news has earned her a few enemies. When his attempts to repay her for helping him go sadly awry, Agatha proves herself just as stubborn as Zayne. Everyone else may think them a match, but nothing could be further from the truth--until Agatha finds herself in real trouble. Have these two stubborn, too-smart-for-their-own-good people been meant for each other all along?

My Thoughts:  I must admit that I am fickle.  I chose this book because first, I love the color of Agatha's dress and hat and secondly, look at her eyes.  Eyes speak from the soul and these eyes are full of merriment and mischief!  

And I wasn't disappointed.  Agatha IS full of life (and mischief).  Now, her almost fiancé, Zayne, at first I was somewhat "miffed" with him.  Honestly! Can't he see what is right before his very eyes?!  

But as the story continues the reader is taken in by his bantering (hence a match of wits title) with Agatha.  

I do believe that Agatha and Zayne are two of the most stubborn souls that may have ever graced this planet.  At times I was a bit agitated with both of them.  Learning to love each other and yet, liking each other seems hard for these two.  Maybe, it's pride?!  Yeah, that's what I kept thinking...just let it go and get it together so that you can have a life together.  Quite a mix!  What a match of wits!  What a couple!  Quite a story!  One of Jen Turano's best stories, yet!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*
And a special thanks to the author too!  

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 1, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764211277
• ISBN-13: 978-0764211270

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Veggies!

Wondering what to do with all those wonderful vegetables in our garden...

I found this delicious recipe on Pinterest (of course!)

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil 
• 1 medium yellow onion 
• 1 tsp minced garlic 
• 1 medium zucchini 
• 1 medium yellow squash 
• 1 medium potato 
• 1 medium tomato 
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• to taste salt & pepper 
• 1 cup shredded Italian cheese 

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Finely dice the onion and mince the garlic. Saute both in a skillet with olive oil until softened (about five minutes).
2. While the onion and garlic are sauteing, thinly slice the rest of the vegetables.
3. Spray the inside of an 8×8 square or round baking dish with non-stick spray. Spread the softened onion and garlic in the bottom of the dish. Place the thinly sliced vegetables in the baking dish vertically, in an alternating pattern. Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, and thyme.
4. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, top with cheese and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.

Seagrass Pier {The Hope Beach Series, Book 3} by Colleen Coble

Book Description: In a secluded corner of Hope Beach, one woman must decipher a stranger’s memories . . . before they cost her everything.

Elin Summerall was one of the lucky ones. Not only did she get a heart transplant, but the donor was a perfect fit. A miraculously perfect fit.

But when Elin begins having violent flashbacks—and vivid dreams of being strangled—she realizes that she has been the recipient of more than just a new heart . . . Elin is remembering her donor’s murder.

Her strange affliction has attracted some unwanted attention: from the press, from the authorities . . . and from the killer himself. Now, living alone with her young daughter and aging mother, Elin is being stalked—by a man she’s only met in her nightmares.

The police are dubious of her story, but one off-duty FBI agent is eager to help her: Agent Marc Everton, the father of Elin’s daughter.

Of course, he doesn’t know about that. Yet.

Now, in a remote cottage on Hope Island, Elin and Marc must probe the secrets buried in her borrowed heart. And there’s no time to waste. One man is desperate to silence her—before she remembers too much.

My Thoughts: Colleen Coble, has written another great read!  Seagrass Pier is the best book out of the Hope Beach Series (in my humble opinion).  I enjoyed reading the other two, Rosemary Cottage and Tidewater Inn but man!o!man!  Seagrass Pier just caught me at page one and kept me turning the pages.

There was just something about Elin and her heart.  Then there's Marc.  Elin seems to love Marc, well, she had his daughter!  So when Elin begins to be stalked by a man she's only met in her nightmares...well, the police just think she's looney.  Wouldn't you?  That's where it gets interesting! {But no spoilers}  Sometimes our hearts keep things buried but seem to only come out in our sleep...maybe after times of stress.  What is real and what is a dream?  Quite an interesting read.                  The suspense, the mystery of it.all and then the end!  A fantastic read to the end!  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 1, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595547843
• ISBN-13: 978-1595547842

COTT {Clash of the Titles} May Releases are in the COTT Arena!

Hey there, readers. Michelle Massaro here, hoping you're suited up for literary battle. But first, we have some awards to hand out in the form of free books!

The winner of our June three-book giveaway is

Joan Bradley

Joan, you will receive the following novels:
Worth the Wait by Laura Jackson
Londonderry Dreaming by Christine Lindsey
Rebekah's Treasure by Sylvia Bombola

Congratulations! 
Be on the lookout for correspondence 
from the above COTT authors.

Now on to our Clash...

This month, the sands of our arena welcome 5 New Releases from a variety of genres. Which one will be the victor, receiving a free entry into next year's Laurel competition and a tour through our Blog Alliance? Check out each book then cast your vote below.

  
A young musician and scholar is forced to join a warrior-brotherhood to save his people. But is he willing to give up everything--even the woman he loves--to follow the path God has lain before him?

Oath of the Brotherhood by C.E. Laureano

Sunday's Child on life seas is tossed, awaiting the Lifeboat that rescues the lost

Sunday's Child by Clare Revell

Bobby Kent's name is synonymous with modern Country Music and he is no stranger to running from overzealous fans and paparazzo. But now he must protect his daughter and Carol, the mother of his only child, from a vicious and ruthless serial killer bent on their destruction.

A Carol for Kent by Hallee Bridgeman

Laila Pennedy awaits death by hanging. And she deserves to die.

Of The Persecuted by Angie Brashear

Ten years after he'd dumped her, Jessa is determined to not allow him to hurt her again. Lance was there to renovate her home, but could he change her heart?

Love Makes a House a Home by Kimberly Rae Jordan

Happy 4th!

Book Humor

Food for thought . . . . be careful about reading health books, you may die of a misprint! ~Mark Twain

Child of Mine by David and Beverly Lewis

Book Description: Jack Livingston has been raising his nine-year-old adopted niece, Natalie, since the accident that took her parents' lives. While he travels for work, Natalie is lovingly cared for by Laura, an Amish nanny who loves her as her own. 

Kelly Maines is nearing the end of her rope. Her baby was kidnapped, the apparent victim of a black market adoption ring, and for eight years, Kelly has tirelessly pursued every lead to its bitter end. Now, there's one last lead from a private investigator: Just a few miles away lives a girl who matches the profile. Could this, at long last, be her beloved child? 

Desperately, Kelly initiates a "chance" meeting with Jack Livingston. It goes really well. So well, in fact, that Jack asks her out. One date leads to another, and before she can come clean with her original motives, Kelly realizes Jack is falling for her--and she for him. 

Now how can she tell Jack why she's really here? And having gotten to know Natalie, what if she isn't her long-lost daughter, after all? This was all supposed to be so simple. 

But nothing in Natalie's world is simple.

My Thoughts:  Beverly Lewis has been a favorite author of mine for years.  And now, her husband, David, has co-authored Child Of Mine with her.

The story centers around a young girl who lives with her adopted uncle.  Natalie is a sweet child and Jack is a great and kind uncle but there just seems to be something missing in both of their lives.

The Amish Nanny, Laura, is a wonderful asset to both Jack and Nattie since they both lean on her for care...Jack so her can have help with Natalie and Natalie because she needs a mother figure. But what secrets does Laura hide?  What is hidden that needs to be brought to light for the good of each family?

And then there's Kelly who had a baby girl who was apparently sold on the black market but with her husband's death did the "secret" go to the grave with him? The question seems to be is Natalie one of those babies?

And did Kelly really have a baby that was kidnapped nine years ago?  How will Jack and Natalie find the truth?  Does Laura hold the answer?

This is an interesting read that includes the black market of selling kidnapped babies, DNA test, and faith.   

An intriguing story!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers*

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (June 3, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764212540