My Thoughts

Rescued Hearts by author Hope Toler Doughtery is a Christian contemporary suspense romance novel. The cover is dark and threatening with a small kitten waving its tale in warning. I knew immediately this would be no light, sweet romance.

This is the story of Mary Wade (“two names”) Kimball. At the opening of the book she is biking home after a pedicure and hears a cat crying because it is tangled. She stops to rescue it and WHAM! Mary Wade finds herself kidnapped. Wow, what a beginning to a book. It captured my attention immediately.

Brett Davis is the hunky undercover agent working the case that has Mary Wade herself tangled in with two bad men. He abandons his missions to save her and the book takes off on a twisting and turning tale.

I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. It flows along at a nice even pace. Her characters are well defined and relatable. I especially enjoyed the spunky grandmother? The conversations were smooth and sounded genuine. There were a few surprise twists and turns to keep it interesting. The ending seemed to pave the way for another book. When you read the story you will understand my reasoning.

I would recommend this to any adult that enjoys contemporary fiction. Because of the attempted rape subject, “medicinal” use and keeping alcohol in the home, I would not recommend this for teenage readers. It receives 4 stars from me. Celebrate Lit provided a copy, but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Rescued Hearts

Author: Hope Toler Doughtery

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: September 19, 2017

Children’s clothing designer Mary Wade Kimball’s soft spot for animals leads to a hostage situation when she spots a briar-entangled kitten in front of an abandoned house. Beaten, bound, and gagged by the two thugs inside, Mary Wade loses hope for escape when a third villain returns with supplies.

Discovering the kidnapped, innocent woman ratchets the complications for undercover agent Brett Davis. Weighing the difference of ruining his three months’ investigation against the woman’s safety, Brett forsakes his mission and helps her escape, the bent-on-revenge brutes following behind.

When Mary Wade’s safety is threatened once more, Brett rescues her again. This time, her personal safety isn’t the only thing in jeopardy. Her heart is endangered as well.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Hope holds a Master’s degree and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Her novels include Irish Encounter and Mars…With Venus Rising, Rescued Hearts, and Forever Music. She’s a member of ACFW and RWA. Residing in North Carolina, she and her husband enjoy visits with their daughters and twin sons.

More from Hope

I live in the country on land my great grandfather owned. For exercise, I ride my bike on our two-lane roads. One afternoon a few years ago, I took a detour off the paved road and onto a dirt path not too far from my house.

The lane meanders by the location of a distant cousin’s long-since demolished house. Trees and a few bushes still outline the phantom house’s parameters, but no boards or bricks mark the spot. Farm equipment waits under nearby shelters.

As I passed the lonely trees and silent tractors, a creepy sensation tickled the back of my neck. My imagination kicked into gear. What if a bike rider rode by an abandoned house? What if she saw a kitten entangled in a honeysuckle vine at the porch steps? What if, while she tried to free the kitten, someone grabbed her and dragged her inside where she was beaten and threatened with rape?

My pedaling picked up speed, and I reached home in record time.

Those questions continued popping up in my mind, however. I began seeing the characters, then hearing them speak every night as I dropped off to sleep. I’d never written a romantic suspense story before, but the characters refused to leave me alone.

Those initial questions led to the first chapter of Rescued Hearts.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 26

Betti Mace, August 27

Texas Book-aholic, August 28

deb’s Book Review, August 28

Inklings and notions, August 29

For Him and My Family, August 30

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 31

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 1

Batya’s Bits, September 2

Older & Smarter?, September 3

CarpeDiem, September 4

Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 6

Life, Love, Writing, September 6

Artistic Nobody, September 7 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Hope is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a print copy of Rescued Hearts!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ffb5/rescued-hearts-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts

Irish Encounter by author Hope Toler Dougherty is a contemporary Christian novel. The author brings the lush green of Ireland to life on the pages with her talented pen. Even though I have never been there, I have a wonderful idea of what it is like now thanks to this sweet book.

This is the story of Ellen Shepherd, a widow of three years. She and her daughter take a trip to Ireland where Ellen simply enjoys the tranquility of the beautiful country. Her quiet is interrupted by Payne Anderson, and sparks begin to fly off of the pages.

Ellen is a wonderful character and I immediately became invested in her story. I wanted to go shopping with her and learn about the different types of yarn. We would have tea in a quaint little place, too. The author provided such vivid descriptions that I felt like I went with them.

Payne is a troubled soul. I could feel his distress through the author’s words. The romance is sweet in this book. It kept me turning pages. I even enjoyed reading about the sheep.

Author Dougherty has a nice style of writing. I enjoyed her way of telling this story. The conversations were smooth and sounded realistic. Characters were well rounded with good characteristics as well as flaws. The problems they faced were normal for many people.

Books that contain a spiritual or faith message are my favorite. This one had those as well as life lessons. It was an encouraging, emotional story that most everyone will enjoy. I recommend this book. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Irish Encounter

Author: Hope Toler Dougherty

Genre: Sweet, inspirational romance

Release Date: May 7, 2015

After almost three years of living under a fog of grief, Ellen Shepherd is ready for the next chapter in her life, perhaps an adventure during a visit to Galway. Her idea of excitement consists of exploring Ireland for yarn to feature in her shop back home, but the adventure awaiting her includes an edgy stranger who disrupts her tea time, challenges her belief system, and stirs up feelings she thought she’d buried with her husband.

After years of ignoring God, nursing anger, and stifling his grief, Payne Anderson isn’t ready for the feelings a chance encounter with an enchanting stranger evokes. Though avoiding women and small talk has been his pattern, something about Ellen makes him want to seek her—and God again.

Can Ellen accept a new life different than the one she planned? Can Payne release his guilt and accept the peace he’s longed for? Can they surrender their past pain and embrace healing together or will fear and doubt ruin this second chance at happiness?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Hope holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Forever Music is her fourth novel. Residing in North Carolina, she and her husband enjoy visits with their daughters and twin sons.

More from Hope

Inspiration Behind Irish Encounter

A few years ago, I was staring at the first day of the rest of my life. My oldest daughter was set to graduate high school in less than a month. Two years later, her sister would march right behind her, followed in two years by their twin brothers.

Life as I’d known it for the preceding eighteen years was about to change enormously.

Throughout my tenure as a stay-with-my-children mom, I’d written for publications—sporadically—but I had a portfolio of articles with my byline in print.

That May afternoon, I decided to write something for Guideposts, a magazine filled with inspirational, faith-filled stories. I’d just completed “The Life of Moses” with Bible Study Fellowship, and I envisioned sharing wisdom and insight gleaned from thirty two weeks of study.

I penned What I learned from Moses on the top line of a yellow legal pad. As soon as I wrote this fascinating title, I immediately began daydreaming—about Ireland, not Moses.

In my daydream, a woman in an Irish café scribbled in a journal. A little old man in a tweed vest approached her, introduced himself, and began talking about his late wife. I saw the wooden buttons on his vest and the Irish cap clutched in his hands. Suddenly another man, dressed in dusty safari clothes, appeared to the woman’s left, lounging at his table and eavesdropping on their conversation.

This scene interested me infinitely more than the Moses idea. I turned the page to a fresh sheet and wrote everything I saw and heard in that Irish coffee shop.

Irish Encounter began that day. I didn’t know it yet, but God did. I just hurried back every morning to my desk to see what happened next. Before writing, I’d recite Bible verses from the Moses study, like Exodus 3:12 “And God said, ‘I will be with you’” and Exodus 4:12 “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (NIV)

I’d pray for guidance and help, and then I’d travel to Galway.

God led me onto this writing journey with a lot of prodding and pulling and nudges toward those interesting characters. I’m thankful every day He did, and I hope readers will enjoy the trip to Ireland with Ellen and Payne, too!