True Romance: Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn

By Kelly Bridgewater

On the People magazine in February 2022, they ran an article with 14 different pictures about Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. They have been together since 1983. He had a daughter from his first marriage. Goldie had Kate and Oliver Hudson from her first marriage, and they had a child together.

The pictures were of their current family and all of their grandchildren. Nice family. Looks very happy together.

 

news.amomama.com

They have never been married, but Kurt is the father figure for all of their four children and all their grandchildren. Works for them.

Most Hollywood couples do not even last that long.

I think it is nice that they are happy and have stayed together that long. Wonder what their secret is?

Wonder if I could create a couple that has the same loving power as these two do?

What about you? What do you think of Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn’s relationship? Or do you have no opinion at all?

Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt

 

By Kelly Bridgewater

Back Cover Copy:

Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?

My Review:

To be honest, I own all of Beth K. Vogt’s books, but I haven’t gotten around to reading them yet. After reading this book for review that will definitely change. I loved Crazy Little Thing Called Love.

It is a sweet tale about second chances and allowing me to think about the discussions I made in the past and walked away from. What would happen if I was faced with making the choice again? Would I?

My favorite character of the story was Luke, the storm chaser. He still loves Vanessa and wants her back, which is proven more and more as the two are tossed in situation after situation together. Luke’s chase after Vanessa reminded me a lot of God’s relentless struggle and desire to bring his children into his arms. The ending made me tear up a little. Don’t worry; I won’t spoil it, but Vogt does a good job at pulling at my heart and begging me to wish my husband was more like Luke.

During the story, a hurricane bears down on Destin, Florida, threatening to tear apart the community. Vogt does a good job at mirroring the storm outside to the storm brewing inside Luke and Vanessa as they intermingle for the first time in eight years.

Overall, Beth K. Vogt’s book Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a sweet romantic tale, gripping my heart with a hero I loved and wished my husband could learn lessons from. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Becky Wade, Melissa Tagg, and Susan May Warren.

I received a complimentary copy of Crazy Little Thing Called Love from Howard Books and the opinions stated above are all my own.

From Beth K. Vogt's Facebook Profile Image

Where to connect with Beth:

Author’s Personal Page

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Where to purchase her books:

Amazon

Barnes and Nobles

Christianbook

What is your favorite element of a romance novel? Why?  

Melissa Tagg: From the Start

By Kelly Bridgewater

Back Cover Copy:

Kate Walker used to believe in true love and happily ever after. While her own love life may have left her brokenhearted, it hasn't kept her from churning out made-for-TV romance movie screenplays...until a major career slump and a longing to do something meaningful send her running back to her hometown of Maple Valley.

Permanently sidelined by an injury, former NFL quarterback Colton Greene is temporarily hiding out in a friend's hometown to avoid the media and the reminders of all he's lost. Maple Valley seems like the perfect place to learn how to adjust to normal life. The only trouble is he's never really done normal before.

While Kate plays things safe and Colton is all about big risks and grand gestures, they both get what it's like to desperately need direction in life. An unexpected project gives them both a chance to jumpstart their new lives, but old wounds and new dreams are hard to ignore. Starting over wasn't part of the plan, but could it be the best thing that's ever happened to them?

My Review:

I have read Melissa Tagg’s entire collection of contemporary romance books. I met her for the first time at the 2013 ACFW conference when her first book, Made to Last, came out. Many writers walked around, wearing buttons promoting her debut book, so I was intrigued. When I went home, I downloaded the book to my Kindle and read it. It was well-written.

But her newest release, From the Start, is a story that takes place in fictional town, Maple Valley. Tagg does a great job at describing the small town, from the descriptions of the downtown businesses to the bridges surrounding the community. I really felt like I was roaming through Maple Valley, drinking coffee at the Megan’s coffee shop and eating lunch at Seth’s The Red Door restaurant.

The characters of Kate Walker and Colton Greene shined in their personal love story. Being a writer myself, Kate’s personal struggle with trying to write something from the heart struck a chord with me. I empathized with Kate and really prayed she would finally find something that would help her return to her love of writing. As for the hero, former NFL quarterback Colton Greene, I really liked him. He is the type of hero every girl dreams of coming to share their lives with. Colton went out of his way to help anyone in Maple Valley, even though he didn’t have to. Colton tried to figure the way into Kate’s heart, including her love of romance movies and writing. He made me sigh a number of times with his ability to show his love for Kate.

As for the romantic tension, Tagg does a good job at allowing Kate and Colton to show their playful side and serious side with one another. I enjoy how their relationship didn’t jump right into the romance side on the first encounter. It took a while to develop, dragging me along for the joy ride.

Overall, Melissa Tagg’s From the Start reminded me a lot of an episode of Gilmore Girls with its comedic moments and gentle romance. The hero, Colton Greene, is swoon-worthy and made me wish he was a real guy. (Doesn’t help that the model for the cover is gorgeous.) Anyone who is fan of Becky Wade, Beth K. Vogt, or Susan May Warren's contemporary romance will love this enduring love story.

I received a complimentary copy from Melissa Tagg and the opinions stated are all my own.

Melissa Tagg’s Bio:

Melissa Tagg, author of Made to Last and Here to Stay, is a former reporter and total Iowa girl. In addition to her homeless ministry day job, she is also the marketing/events coordinator for My Book Therapy, a craft and coaching community for writers. When she’s not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever, watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next book. She’s passionate about humor, grace, and happy endings. Melissa blogs regularly and loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com.

From Melissa Tagg

Where to connect with Melissa:

Melissa’s Personal website

Facebook

Goodreads

Where to purchase From the Start:

Amazon

Barnes and Nobles

Christianbook

Your favorite local bookstore

What is your favorite aspect about contemporary romance books?

Cathleen Armstrong: At Home In Last Chance *Giveaway*

By Kelly Bridgewater

Want to win a copy of this book? I have a spare copy that I am willing to give away to one lucky commenter. Comment below by Monday, February 2, 2015, and I will draw someone's name on Wednesday, February 3.  Good luck!

Back Cover Copy:

Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden have always had a similar philosophy of life: when the going gets tough, they get going--out of town and away from the problem. Now they are both back in Last Chance, New Mexico, and trying to start over. Kaitlyn is working to reestablish a relationship with the seven-year-old daughter she left behind six months earlier. Steven is trying to prove to his family that he is not the irresponsible charmer they have always known him to be. As Kaitlyn and Steven find themselves drawn to one another, one big question keeps getting in the way: How will they learn to trust each other when they don't even trust themselves?

With emotional depth and characters that leap off the page and into the reader's psyche, Cathleen Armstrong continues to delight her readers and win new fans. Readers will be thrilled to return once more to the small town they've grown to love.

My Review:

Personally, I have never read a book by Cathleen Armstrong or heard of her A Place to Call Home series, but when Revell offered the chance to read and review the book, the image of Kaitlyn captured my interest. I’m not the typical person you see sitting in the church pew. I might appear to be on the outside, but I won’t wear a dress (EVER!). My favorite book in the Bible is Revelation. I am fascinated by the darker side of the God and Satan. I tend to be drawn toward the “outcasts” from the church. You know, the ones covered in tattoos, multiple colored hair, piercings, smoking a cigarette, or drinking. One of my friends in college had wiccan tattoos on his arm, but I became his friend. Before he entered the navy, he said he wished more Christians were like me. Not hypocritical. I tried to hang out with the outcasts like God did.

Long explanation, but Kaitlyn on the covered looked like someone I would hang out with. Shunned from the “normal” Christians, yet struggling to find her way in the world or wondering about her faith. My kind of person.

Armstrong does a good job at creating a romance. The characters of Steven and Kaitlyn didn’t fall in love for the first two hundred pages. I enjoyed that Armstrong made Steven work for the heart of Kaitlyn who had a hard time trusting anyone. It was a nice surprise. The romantic tension between the hero and heroine was realistic and soothing.

The setting of Last Chance matched the small town feel. I liked how Armstrong made the readers feel the blow of the wind through the tumbleweed that blew in front of the diner. I like the description of how everyone knew everyone and was concerned about everyone’s doing. Armstrong truly understands how the small town works and used it to create a realistic world for her story as they visit Last Chance.

Armstrong’s writing ability was great. The plot flowed along from scene to scene without jumping into more than one head for a chapter without a chapter break. The scenes moved in order of the story meaning that the story kept a continuous flow without jumping back in time or skipping forward then moving backward. The emotions, struggles, and fears of the characters were realistic. I understood why Kaitlyn didn’t want to trust anyone and completely empathized with her struggle of trying to make her parents’ happy.

Cathleen Armstrong returns to the small town of Last Chance with a sappy romance between her hero and heroine who allow their realistic struggles to guide their lives.

I was given a copy of At Home in Last Chance from Revell Publishing and the opinions stated above are completely my own.

How to connect with Cathleen Armstrong:

 

Amazon’s Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Cathleen-Armstrong/e/B00DQNBV6K/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCathleenArmstrong

Website: http://www.cathleenarmstrong.com/books/welcome-to-last-chance/

Where to purchase her books:

Amazon

Christianbook.com

Barnes and Nobles

Wherever books are sold


Remember if you want to win a copy of At Home in Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong, leave a comment with your EMAIL address and I'll put your name in the hat. Good luck!