Love in the Balance (Ladies of Caldwell County Book #2) by Regina Jennings~~A Litfuse Publicity Group Book Review, Blog Tour and Giveaway

 

My Review:

Beauty for Ashes

Love in the Balance by Regina Jennings is the second book in the Ladies of Caldwell County series. The first was Sixty Acres and A Bride although it isn’t necessary to read this book first, because they both do well as stand-alones. Molly Lovelace and Bailey Garner take the stage in Love in the Balance. You may also recognize many of the secondary characters, and be able to get caught up with them.

I enjoyed getting to know Molly and Bailey better. In Sixty Acres and A Bride Molly wasn't very likeable because she behaved childishly and selfishly. As I read the first chapters of Love in the Balance and saw the expectations placed on her I understood her better. As she gave into the pressures put on her by her family, she made decisions that put her into a bad situation. A situation that she would regret and only God’s forgiveness, love and grace can heal. As she gives her hurt and pain to God and starts following His ways, Molly begins to change.

Bailey struggles with being the person God made him to be. He wants to please his Savior, but he keeps finding himself falling short of the mark. He loves Molly and knows that the only way her parents will allow them to marry is if he can find a job were he can support her in the ways she is accustomed to.

I felt compassion for these characters as I continued to read their story. The circumstances that they went through made them to feel unloved, used, and heartbroken. But just like us, Molly and Bailey discovered, that when we turn to God with a contrite spirit He is able to give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

*Although I liked this book, I would caution that if you have a teen that is interested in reading Love in the Balance; please read it yourself first, because there are some issues that are discussed that you may not want your teen to be exposed to yet.

About the Book:

Handsome Cowboy or Debonair Tycoon.
How’s a Girl to Choose?

Molly Lovelace dreams of a life without cares in Lockhart, Texas. She also dreams of handsome wrangler Bailey Garner, her ardent but inconsistent beau. The problem is, with Bailey’s poor prospects, she just can’t fit the two dreams together.

Then mysterious stranger Edward Pierrepont sweeps into town–and her life–and for the first time Molly wonders if she’s met the man who can give her everything. But he won’t be in Lockhart long and while it certainly seems like he talks about their glorious future together, she can’t quite get Bailey out of her mind.

What’s a girl to do with all these decisions when love is in the balance?

Would you like to purchase a copy?

Read an excerpt here.

Meet Regina:

 

 

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.

Regina invites you to visit her website to learn more.

 

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Regina Jennings is celebrating the release of Love in the Balance with a Kindle Fire Giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party on 4/4!

One "lovely" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of Regina's Sixty Acres and a Bride and Love in the Balance

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 3rd. Winner will be announced at the "Love in the Balance" Author Chat Party on April 4th. Connect with Regina, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Love in the Balance and join Regina on the evening of April 4th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

**Love in the Balance by Regina Jennings was provided for me free by Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review.

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Blessings,

Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings~~A Litfuse Publicity Group Book Review

My Review:

A Ruth and Boaz Story. Texas Style.

I just finished Sixty Acres and A Bride by Regina Jennings. My last thought as I closed the book is WOW, what a wonderfully satisfying story.

After the deaths of their husbands, Eli and Mack, Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law, Louise, decide to leave Mexico and move to Louise’s hometown of Prairie Lea, Texas. outside of Lockheart, Texas.

Lockheart isn’t ready for Rosa Garner. A petite young widow, who is not wearing the traditional black, but her native Mexican clothing. Also, she is a hard worker, which is evidenced in one of the opening scenes.

When Rosa, Louise, and Aunt Mary, who met them at the train station, are traveling to the courthouse to settle the taxes on Louise’s ranch, Sixty Acres, the axle on the wagon breaks, tipping the wagon. While Louise and Aunt Mary go to find help, Rosa, accesses the situation then adjusts the wagon load to even out the weight, righting the wagon.

When they get to the courthouse they find out that their tax bill is $160.00, a lot for 1878. This is seemingly impossible for two widows. They have three months to raise the money and redeem the farm before the county forecloses on the property.

Weston Garner, a widower, as well as, Louise’s nephew, is a neighbor and someone who possibly can help Rosa and Louise, but he has already helped Aunt Mary and her husband George financially. Would he help? Louise and Rosa aren’t sure they should ask outright, so they ask him how they could raise the money. He offers to give them sheep to care for and then sell at the livestock auction. They raise produce to sell. And Rosa is commissioned to embroider linens, tablecloths and napkins to sell to a local shop owner, Mr. Bradford.

At the end of three months they find themselves woefully short of funds. while they contemplate what  to do Louise tells Rosa the story of Ruth and Boaz, but only part of it. Rosa decides to go to Weston, as Ruth had gone to Boaz.

I enjoyed the story. I found the characters to be so very real. There were times I cried and laughed, and times I scolded. As well as, times where my heart was beating wildly, wondering how things would turn out.

Sixty Acres and a Bride is Regina Jennings’ first novel, but I don’t expect is to be her last, and I for one will be waiting for her next novel to appear on my local Christian bookstore shelf.

I give Sixty Acres and a Bride 5 out of 5 stars.

**Sixty Acres and A Bride by Regina Jennings was provided for me free by Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review.

About the book:

She's Finally Found a Place to Call Home... How Far Will She Go to Save It?

With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to their Texas family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have just three months to pay.

Though facing eviction, Rosa falls in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. They welcome her vivacious spirit and try to help her navigate puzzling American customs. She can't help but stand out, though, and her beauty captures attention. 

Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, Rosa must decide to what lengths she will go to save her future.

Would you like to read an excerpt?    

About Regina:

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children. Meet Regina here.

Learn more about Regina by visiting her website.

 

 

Want to read some more reviews of Sixty Acres and A Bride by Regina Jennings? You might like to visit some of the other blogs on the tour.

Interested in purchasing the book?

 

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Win a Kindle Fire from @ReginaJennings in the Sixty Acres and a Bride Giveaway! RSVP for #Facebook Party on 3/27.

Celebrate with Regina by entering to win a Kindle Fire and coming to her Author Chat Party on 3/27!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/26/12. Winner will be announced at Regina's Author Chat Facebook Party on 3/27. Regina will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and some beautiful silver jewelry!

So grab your copy of Sixty Acres and a Bride and join Regina and friends on the evening of March 27th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!

Blessings,

**Sixty Acres and A Bride by Regina Jennings was provided for me free by Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review.