FINDING JACK by Melanie Jacobson

FINDING JACK by Melanie Jacobson. This 2019 Whitney Award winning book was such a wonderful read. It deserved the award, hands down. I loved Emily and Jack. I loved the way their relationship began, as I think many relationship begin these days. I loved the give and the take, and the lessons learned on both sides. Life is hard for everyone, and until we take the time to try to understand, we may be speaking out of line. I highly recommend this book to any and every romantic out there. Take a look and let me know what you think.

:) :) :) :) :)

When smart, practical Emily finds herself in the crosshairs of an Internet prankster, her orderly world goes topsy-turvy. Instead of getting mad at the handsome stranger behind the joke, she finds herself drawn to him. But Jack Dobson, though hilarious and thoughtful, has a lot of secrets. Despite her growing feelings for her new and unexpected long-distance friend, his biggest secret of all might be the one that breaks the spell they've been weaving around each other.

WEDDING BELLES by Melanie Jacobson, Jenny Proctor, Becca Wilhite, Brittany Larsen

WEDDING BELLES: A NOVEL IN FOUR PARTS by Melanie Jacobson, Jenny Proctor, Becca Wilhite, and Brittany Larsen. Well, this was a fun read. A novel in four parts is what the title says, but I took it more as four novellas with interweaving characters. It was fun to see some of the minor characters in one part become main characters in the next. I found myself wondering whom the next story would be about. I loved most of the characters and their story lines. I loved being able to experience the story through different authors, and I found myself wanting more from each of them. This is a fantastic collection of clean, romance stories that anyone who loves weddings, their mishaps, and romance would adore. I'd recommend this to anyone.

:) :) :) :)

A clean and wholesome romantic comedy told in four parts.

Harper is an event planner with dreams of taking over the Charleston wedding scene . . . until she meets the biggest Bridezilla of her career. She needs the job, but the only way to keep it is to hire a temperamental chef with big dreams of his own. Can Zak’s passion for brilliant food save the wedding? Or will the sparks flying between Harper and Zak burn them both?


Janie is a classical cellist booked to play a posh Charleston wedding. She’s excited to have the lucrative gig until the groom’s brother, Emmett, shows up and asks her to help him play a song he wrote for the happy couple. The only trouble? Emmett is her former high school crush and never did anything but ignore Janie. When chemistry sizzles between them, will Janie have the courage to move beyond past hurts and embrace an unpredictable future? 


Lily has been Dahlia's best friend, partner-in-crime, and now her maid of honor . . . until suddenly there's no wedding, and she's left to clean up Dahlia's biggest mess of all. She's been friends with Deacon, the jilted groom, for just as long, and it's up to her rescue him after Hurricane Dahlia blows through. But as their friendships deepen, so do their feelings. Can she trust their growing chemistry, or is this another disaster waiting to happen?


Sutton is a photographer running from her past. Only the pleas from her best friend to photograph her wedding could bring Sutton back to Charleston. Her plan is to get in and get out before her ex knows she and their daughter are in town. Before she can leave Charleston behind for good, she meets Max , who turns out to be the safe place she didn’t know she was looking for. She’s finally ready to quit running, if only she can find him again…

PERFECT SET by Melanie Jacobson

PERFECT SET by Melanie Jacobson. This was such a fun read. I wanted to be on the beach with my toes in the sand through the whole book. I loved the Bree and the mess she got herself into. I loved Kade and his quiet nature. They made a perfect team right down to the end. It was a fantastic page turned that had me feeling like I wanted to work as hard as Kade and be as dedicated as Bree. This book is a perfect beach read, cabin read, or at home read for anyone who loves sports with romance. I highly recommend it.

:) :) :) :)

Bree Mercer is an ambitious sports reporter who has risen through the ranks to land her dream job. Basking in the sun, sea, and seriously cute guys in her new singles ward, things couldn't be better. That is, until she's assigned to write a feature on the one person she can't stand—professional beach volleyball player Kade Townsend. A typical cocky athlete, Kade's previous attempt to woo her was foiled by Bree's hard-and-fast rule: don't date athletes. Ever.

Kade loathes the media, and for good reason: when his hard-partying ways were exposed by a reporter who claimed to be his friend, the scandal rocked his entire family. Now reformed, Kade has put his life back together, and he has no interest in talking to reporters—least of all Bree Mercer. But when the pair is thrown together despite their best efforts, their chemistry is undeniable. They can't seem to put the brakes on their feelings—until their connection threatens Bree's reputation and Kade's hard-won redemption. Now they must decide if there is a place for love in their plans for the future.

Tour Schedule

May 21^st

http://mybookaday.com/
https://brightlystreet.com/category/book-reviews/
http://brooklynberrydesigns.com
http://www.kindleandme.com/

May 22^nd

https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/
http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/
http://empowermoms.net/
http://www.wishfulendings.com/

May 23^rd

https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/
http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/
https://rachellechristensen.com/blog/
http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/

May 24^th

http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/
http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/
http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/
http://thethingsilovemost.com/

May 25^th

http://www.iamareader.com/
http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/
http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SOUTHERN CHARMED by Melanie Jacobson—book review

SOUTHERN CHARMED by Melanie Jacobson. This was a darling read. I loved being in the South and having Lila show Max how great the South really was. I loved seeing the southern culture brought to life in a different way. Max and Lila's relationship was great from beginning to end. Lila' relationship with her students was heart-warming. There were a few details that came out as the book went on that made me have to rearrange the picture in my head. So, I either missed those details or it would have been nice to have it made clearer a bit earlier in the book. This is a fantastic read that I would recommend to anyone who loves a great book with some southern charm. It's a fantastic romance that anyone would love.

:) :) :) :) :)

Lila Mae Guidry is a Southern girl through and through. As a fourth-generation Latter-day Saint in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she's proud of her heritage as both a Southerner and a Saint—and she doesn't take kindly to people who disparage either. Ten years ago, Max Archer was just that kind of jerk. As the mission president's son, Max spent his entire three years mocking the South...and teenage Lila. After Max's family moved away, Lila forgot about her sworn enemy. Almost. When a new job brings a grown-up Max back to Baton Rouge, Lila is less than thrilled with his reappearance, especially since everyone seems intent on throwing her together with this old adversary. Yet fight as she may, Lila soon realizes resistance is futile—their connection is undeniable. Max embodies everything she wants in a man—except perhaps the most important thing—her life is rooted in the city she loves, but his dreams are bigger than Baton Rouge. With such mismatched visions of the future, Max and Lila are faced with a life-altering decision: jeopardize their aspirations or risk losing love.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

Tour Schedule 

Sept. 12th

http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/
http://rockinbookreviews.com/
http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/

Sept. 13th

http://thethingsilovemost.com/
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/
https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/
http://empowermoms.net/

Sept. 14th

http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/
http://iamareader.com/
http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/
http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/

Sept. 15th

http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/
http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/
http://www.wishfulendings.com/
http://sweetlymadejustforyou.com/blog/ 

Sept. 16th

http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/
http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/
http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/
http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/
http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/
http://fireandicereads.com/ 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ALWAYS WILL by Melanie Jacobson — #books #reviews #bookreview #amreading

ALWAYS WILL by Melanie Jacobson. This is a delightful read. I loved the characters and how Will and Hannah just seemed to mess everything up. I loved the depth of their relationship and how it grew through the story. The ending was perfect and the journey to get there was wonderful. Melanie did a fabulous job of creating a story the was easy to read as the pages kept turning, at times not fast enough. I loved this book and recommend it to any and everyone with any ounce of a romantic heart.

:) :) :) :) :)

Handsome twenty-eight-year-old Will Hallerman has finally had enough of the dating world—he’s ready to find a wife and settle down. This announcement is catastrophic in Hannah Becker’s world. After knowing Will her entire life and adoring him from afar since junior high school, she realizes her chance at love with him is in grave danger. Hannah’s problem? To Will, she will never be more than his best friend’s little sister. Determined to open his eyes to her charms, Hannah sets out to sabotage Will’s wife hunt by placing nightmare dates in his path and taking his search on a wild goose chase. Her plan is risky, but she’s willing to take a chance to catch the eye of her soul mate. 


Despite her crazy schemes, nothing seems to be working. Hannah can’t help but wonder if it’s time to set aside this childhood crush—to move on and settle down herself. She’s ready for a fresh start with a great guy. If only Will weren’t suddenly changing the rules of the game . . . And how can Hannah move on when Will just won’t let her forget?

Tour Schedule:

October 5th

http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/
https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/
http://www.iamareader.com/

October 6th

http://fireandicereads.com/
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/
http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/

October 7th

http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.wishfulendings.com/
http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/
http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/

October 8th

http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com/
http://littlelightdesigncollective.com/
http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/
http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

October 9th

http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/
http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/
http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/index.html
http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/
http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

LOVE UNEXPECTED— #blog tour, #giveaway, #bookreview

LOVE UNEXPECTED: A STORYBOOK ROMANCE by Melanie Jacobson, Jennifer K Clark, and Julie Daines. This was a delightful collection of love stories. The characters were wonderful. The stories kept me turning the pages. I loved that I could finish one, put the book down and come back later in the day. Each other definitely has a distinct way of telling a story but I enjoyed each style. The settings for each story all over, making them even more fun. I loved the subtle twists and turns each story took. I would recommend this collection to everyone who has some type of romantic bone in their body. 

:) :) :) :)

They say a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but as mistaken identities abound, three heroines will put this age-old adage to the test! Love Unexpected: A Storybook Romance is a heartwarming collection of short stories that begs the question: can true love really conquer all?

Storybook Romance by Melanie Jacobson
New York City book editor Ellie Hanover has discovered a groundbreaking manuscript that may be just what she needs to save her job. But when her anonymous correspondence with the author begins to develop into more than a professional relationship, Ellie is left wondering if her real find is actually Mr. Right.

He Loves Me Not by Jennifer K. Clark
When Kenedee spies her boss leaving flowers on her desk, she’s swept into a whirlwind of infatuation. If only he didn’t have a girlfriend . . . Undeterred, the young woman enlists in the scheme her employer’s brother has put in motion for the company’s sake in hopes that she can win over the man of her dreams. But even foolproof plans can go awry.

Fools of Us All by Julie Daines
The course of true love is never smooth, as Jane discovers when a case of mistaken identity results in a date with the man she’s admired from afar for years. But she knows all too well that masquerading as her twin sister can only go on for so long before the truth comes out.

Blog Tour Schedule: 

*Jan. 12th: 

http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/,

http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/,

http://www.katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/

*Jan. 13th: 

http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/,

http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/,

http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*Jan. 14th: 

http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/,

http://www.wishfulendings.com/

http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/

*Jan. 15th: 

http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/

http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com

http://fireandicereads.com/

* Jan. 16th: 

http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/

http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*A review copy was provided by the publisher but all the opinions are my own. Book description taken from Deseret Book.

Twitterpated by Melanie Jacobson--Book Buzzin

TWITTERPATED by Melanie Jacobson. This is on my list. Check it out.

Jessie Taylor is furious when her roommate secretly posts her picture on the dating website LDS Lookup - furious, that is, until she spends all night instant messaging Ben Bratton, a man whose wit and warmth just might make Jessie forget the train wreck of her last romantic relationship. Their first date is a smashing success (literally), but Ben's overall awesomeness can't save Jessie from having to deal with Craig, her competitive coworker whose baiting behavior sets new standards for obnoxiousness. Determined to beat Craig at his own game, Jessie spends long office hours finishing projects and putting out fires, but while her performance wows her boss, it only makes Ben skittish- after a failed engagement to an up-and-coming lawyer, he's not about to pair up with someone who's married to her job. Will Jessie figure out how to be true to herself and take her big chance at love before it's gone with a click of the mouse?

The List by Melanie Jacobson--Book Review

THE LIST by Melanie Jacobson.

I am not a huge fan of LDS chick lit. Melanie converted me. She is one of my new favorite authors. THE LIST had such wonderful characters, humor, twists, highs, and lows that I couldn't read it fast enough. It had me smiling from the first page to the last. I loved it and can recommend it to any and everyone who loves a good laugh with some romance and fun in the mix. It should definitely be on everyone's "To Read" list.

:) :) :) :) :)

Ashley Barrett doesn’t want to get married. At least, not anytime soon. She doesn’t care how many of her friends and family members and fellow churchgoers had weddings before they finished college — the last thing she needs in her fun-loving twenties is the dead-weight of some guy. And that’s why she created The List. By the time she completes all twenty-five goals — from learning a language to skydiving to perfecting the art of making sushi — she’ll be more ready to settle down. Maybe.

This summer in California is a prime time for Ashley to cross two items off the list: learn to surf (#13) and have a summer romance (#17). And Matt Gibson, the best surf instructor in Huntington Beach and the most wanted guy in the singles ward, is the perfect man for the job. Ashley hatches a plan to love him and leave him before heading off to grad school in the fall (#4, get a master’s degree). But when Matt decides he doesn’t like the “leaving” part, Ashley’s carefully laid plans are turned sideways. Now Ashley faces an unexpected dilemma: should she stick to the safety of The List, or risk everything for a love that may tie her down — or might set her free?

What made you decide to become a writer?

I didn't really decide to become a writer. I've just always been one. Even before I knew how to write, I would stand by my dad's typewriter and dictate stories for him to type up for me. I still have a file of that stuff.

Who inspires you?

I'm inspired by a range of writers. I'd love to emulate Janette Rallison's career.

What would you like your readers to get out of your writing?

I'd love for readers to get some good old-fashioned escapism out of my writing, and I hope a lot of laughs.

Where did this idea come from?

The idea for The List came from my husband. He said, "You know what would be funny? A bucket list, only for someone who wants to do a bunch of stuff before they get married." So I turned it into a book.

Who was your favorite character to develop?

My favorite character in this story to develop was Lauren because she's based on my mom.

Any advice for aspiring authors?

My advice to aspiring writers is to read in your genre and to go to as many workshops and conferences as you can get to. Also, find great critique partners. You aren't limited by geographic. 

What can we expect next from you?

My next book comes out in the fall. It's called SMART MOVE and picks up everyone's favorite character from my third book, TWITTERPATED. 

Where can we purchase your book?

My books are available on Kindle for $9.99 at Amazon or at all Deseret and Seagull bookstores.

Do I need to loose some words?

By Bonnie Harris

I finally got a chunk of time to work on my writing. My wonderful sisters watched my baby and I got to stare at my computer screen, revising one of my manuscripts. Needless to say I was thrilled and got some really good revising done.

Now I knew that I needed to cut some words, so I was diligently working on strengthening sentences, taking out the unnecessary articles, and things like that. I had several moments that brought a smile to my face and the thought of, "This is really good," crossed my mind. It felt great to be so productive.

Well, I'm sure you can see where I'm headed with this. The last fifteen minutes I realized that what I had just spent the last hour and a half honing to perfection, didn't really need to be there. The scenes were wonderful, fun to write, showed character, everything you could want, but . . . it wasn't essential to the story. So, laughing at the irony (at least what I thought was an irony), I highlighted, copied and pasted into a new document (because you should never really delete anything), and deleted what I had just worked on. Bam! 5500 words gone. With the click of a button.

I laughed for the rest of the day, trying to figure out if there had been a way to avoid what I had just done. My conclusion, there really isn't. I remember in a class, Melanie Jacobson talking about how cutting scenes can be like cutting off arms and legs or ripping your heart out. I can see that now, but the benefit of deleting scenes? I learned a lot about my characters. They learned a lot about themselves and now I have more to build a strong story with the words I have left.

So I guess I'm saying, don't be afraid to delete. It can truly turn out to be for the better. I know for a long time I felt married to my words and couldn't let them go. If anything, I could have avoided this situation by not getting so attached that I couldn't let go until now. Gotta love lessons learned! Happy Writing and Deleting! :)