The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano {book review}

Hey, friends. I sincerely apologize for not having this up last week. It's been a very long time since I've completely missed a week on the blog. I'm right in the middle of a two-month personal writing camp, and last week found me writing nearly 19,000 new words. Due to the busyness of that, my tutoring job, and household chores, my blog completely escaped my mind except for a couple of times as I was falling asleep at 3:00 a.m. Yep, there have been some late nights involved in this writing journey lately.

So, now it's time for me to share about my #1 favorite book of this calendar year.

Firstly, I am obligated to tell you, thanks to the Federal Trade Commission, that I received a complimentary copy of the following book, and these are my honest thoughts.

Now that the official stuff is out of the way, let's dive in.

Y'all, The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano is outstanding. It drew me in, wrapped me in its mystery, and blew my mind... all at the same time. The cover, which I saw when it was revealed, I think, late last year, was my first glimpse of this story, and I knew right away I'd be in for an amazing story. I'm so glad the words beneath that cover art didn't let me down, because it's still my favorite cover of the year.

Before I get to my official review, here's what the book's about.

The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch {book review}

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and JustRead Tours. These are my honest thoughts.

How do I even begin?

I was a little nervous going in to this one. See, I’d only read a couple of westerns by Mrs. Vetsch. Sometimes the quality of books, the attention to detail, lags a bit in the first book exploring a new genre for an author. Rest assured, my friends, that was not at all the case with this author. This Regency era novel perfectly captured the time period, including the settings, costumes, and the hierarchy of the British nobility.

The people populating this fictional world Mrs. Vetsch created were fantastic, even those I found rightfully abhorrent. From the leads (Diana and Evan) to the supporting characters (Louisa, Shand, Marcus, Cian, and Beth) to the antagonists (who I’ll keep secret for you to discover for yourself), they each brought something important and unique to the story. Because their personalities popped off the page so well, I was completely engrossed in their journeys, good and bad and every twist and turn in between. Of course, the hope for certain somebodies to find their fictional comeuppance kept me flipping those virtual pages quickly. But it was the hope strung throughout that kept my heart so intimately connected to the journey of the leads to the very end.

Reading List: Winter 2020

These are a few of the books in my reading list this season.

Currently Reading

Up Next

What's on your reading list as we finish up winter 2020?

Thanksgiving Disaster - a short story

In honor of Thanksgiving, here is a short story that was so much fun to pen. Happy Thanksgiving!

Copyright 2018 Andrea Renee Cox. All rights reserved.

Thanksgiving Disaster

a short story

by Andrea Renee Cox

Smoke billowed from the open oven and filled the matchbox, galley-style kitchen. With a growl, Sarah swept a cookie sheet swiftly through the air around the raging fire alarm. She’d already turned off the appliance, but she couldn’t find her broom to nudge the battery out of the alarm. If she didn’t get it shut up soon—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

She jumped, dropping the cookie sheet with a clatter. Her poor attempt at a grand jeté didn’t produce anything close to the splits she’d seen the ballerina do in that ballet she’d seen last month, but it did get her over the pan and into the living room. When she flung open the door, she stumbled backward.

This is the Day - a short story

Here's another short story that's inspired by YOU, my faithful readers. (See this article for the contest and entry that inspired this particular story.)

Copyright 2018 by Andrea Renee Cox. This story may not be copied or reprinted without prior written consent.

This is the Day

inspired by Caitlyn Santi

“… and that little monster bit me when I was trying to take his vitals.”

Lena slammed the first of two doors on her coworker’s grumbling. She’d had just as rough a time as he—though, she hadn’t been on the receiving end of a teeth chomping—during the work at an apartment-building fire. At least they’d finally been released to come back to the station, where they’d been for the last hour, sanitizing and restocking the bus.

She angled an irritated gaze his direction. “Mark, I get it. You got bitten, it hurt. Move on.”

“I don’t think you’re getting it.”

The next door banged shut even louder. “I get it just fine. We both had a rough day. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go clock out and enjoy what’s left of the waning daylight.”

“Want to go to dinner?”

A skeptical look shot to her face before she could halt it. “That’s, what? The fiftieth time you’ve asked me out this year?”

“Oh, at least.”

All About Love + February's Reading Challenge

Romance. Love. Valentines.

February is the month in which we celebrate the passionate side of life. It's when we're more in tune to those we love and the hints they give out for what will bring them joy. We love to get a little sneaky and plan a few happy surprises for our closest loved ones.

As you may have figured out by some of my previous articles, I am single, which means Valentine's Day is bittersweet for me. Honestly, it's usually just another day on the calendar, another day of work if it doesn't fall on a weekend, and another chance to work on a book or read a book or watch a few movies if it does happen to be on a Saturday or Sunday.

However, I have my own way of celebrating the love I carry within me. This love is for my future husband, wherever and whoever he may be, but it's also a fountain of love for my God. He is my first Love, and it is important to me to remember, celebrate, and apply the love for Him He has given me. He pours His love into my heart so that I may pour it right back into His. It's an exquisite circle of love that I have been exploring more and more in recent months. I plan to delve even deeper into it in the years He may continue to provide for me.

A November Bride

By Andrea Renee Cox

A November Bride

About the book:

Even though Sadie enjoys her job as a private chef, she dreams of one day having her own cooking show. Uncertain she’ll make it big any day now, she soaks up the encouragement of her best friend, a guy she met in middle school. But Erik’s got a different plan for Sadie. Though he agrees her goal is admirable—and he’d love for that dream to come true for her!—he wants to slip past the “best friend” title and see what else God has in store for them. Will he find the answer he’s looking for, or will he crash and burn? And will Sadie learn to trust God through the uncertainties of life?

My Review:

A November Bride is one novella I was super excited to get an early copy of. I’m so thankful to Beth Vogt and her publisher for allowing me to read it before its release date, via netgalley.com. This is my honest review.

A November Bride is the final installment of the first Year of Brides novella series. It’s the only one I’ve been able to read so far, but after LOVING it, I guarantee you I’ll be finding a copy of the others when my budget permits. Fun, spunky, creative, and hilarious all describe Beth K. Vogt’s witty tale of romance that includes one of her “favorite” things: doors marked NEVER. I’m sure Sadie and Erik thought a romance was behind a NEVER-type door. But if you pick up a copy of A November Bride for yourself, you’ll see just how wrong they were. Their journey from best friends to territory neither expected to test out is one exciting ride that kept me laughing from beginning to end.

I was already a fan of Beth’s (since her very first fictional novel, Wish You Were Here, which is still my favorite), but this one, though much shorter than her others, brought something new to the table. It held more of a lighthearted tone throughout, whereas her others tend to touch on very deep topics at times—another reason I love her! She challenges you to dig deep along with the characters, pushing you to grow as a person as they do as characters. Even in this light romance, though, I found myself catching glimpses of a deeper and wider truth, that, even when life doesn’t seem to be happening any way I thought it would, I can still hold on to hope in Jesus Christ. He knows exactly where He’s leading me, and if I grasp the hope He’s offering and cling to Him, He will bless me in ways I could never have imagined on my own. His dreams for me are much greater than the ones I’ve made for myself. All I have to do is hold tight to Him in prayer and wait for that divine timing of His. Sound easy? Not so much. But the best things in life are worth fighting—and waiting—for.

Beth K. Vogt

To tell you the complete and honest truth, I’ve been struggling with waiting for God’s timing. It’s hard to be patient when you feel like He’s taking His sweet time and dragging it out. The thing is, though, that He knows where I’m at and where He’s leading me. Holding on to hope in the dark days is the toughest thing I’ve ever done, and I really wanted to give up today. But I can’t give up. It’s not in my character. I may cry about the situation I’m in, and that's okay because He will lend me His shoulder. I may be on the verge of giving in to the “quitter” bug that tries to niggle its way in. But, when push comes to shove, God knows I will never quit or give up or stop believing in Him and His promises. Why? Because He loves me too much to let my dark days last forever. God is still God, and God is still good. Even just typing up this review tonight has been an encouragement to me, and I praise God’s name for that. He always knows exactly what I need, and He provides. Always.

May the God of Heaven bless you, one and all.

Readers, how has God encouraged you recently? Did you have a happy Thanksgiving? What was your favorite part of the holiday?

Thanks for stopping by today! I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below. And don’t forget to drop by next Monday for my latest article.

Would you like to be my guest? Here's how to submit an article.

Do you need a proofreader? Here are the services I offer.

Made to Last

When her homebuilding show is on the brink of being shut down, Miranda “Randi” Woodruff rents a husband to jazz up viewer ratings. What she didn’t count on was a handsome reporter snooping around, trying to dig up her secrets. Little does she know, reporter Matthew Knox has some buried secrets of his own. Will Miranda evade Matthew’s journalistic curiosity long enough to save her television show? Or will she cave under the pressure? Will Matthew’s secrets push him past the point of no return, where his conscience is concerned? Or will he gladly toss aside his personal ethics to get the scoop on Randi Woodruff and catapult himself to new career heights?

Made to Last is the debut book of author Melissa Tagg. I must say I was surprised by this lighthearted romance. It dug into deep topics, challenging me as a reader and a writer. As a reader, the theme of identity made me stop and consider who I am. Am I defined by my career choices, marital status, and cleanliness of my home? Or is my identity found elsewhere? The answer I found is this: I am a daughter of God. All other identities (writer, tutor, daughter, sister, friend, etc.) fall into place, secondary to my place as a child of God.

The surprises Miranda and Matthew faced as the chapters went along kept me off balance and turning pages. It challenged the writer in me to consider every possible plot twist for my work-in-progress (WIP). I especially enjoy novels that catch me off guard, as Made to Last did. They usually nudge me deeper in my own writing process. There’s nothing quite like reading a fellow author’s work to push my own writing skills to a new level.

One of my favorite lines from the book is at the tail end of a discussion between Miranda and her TV show’s producer, Lincoln Nash.

Miranda: "I don't have a husband."

Lincoln: "So we get you one."

This simple exchange promised quirky, awkward moments for Randi Woodruff, and Melissa Tagg delivered! I loved the storyline and how the three different men in Miranda’s life played so well off of each other. One scene built upon another until I was holding the book mere inches from my face in eager anticipation of what would occur next. This book is an easy read that is sure to keep you entertained and yearning for more.

Look out, world! Melissa Tagg has arrived!

Melissa, thank you for including me in your Tagg Team of influencers. I appreciate the complimentary copy of Made to Last in exchange for my honest review and social media support.

Readers, don't forget to visit Melissa Tagg on Facebook and/or her website! She recently jazzed up her website, so I know you'll want to check that out.

Have you ever been in an awkward situation? Did you find the humor in it, or did you want to just sit down and cry? What did you learn from your experience?

The Hope Within -- by guest Joanne Bischof

Today, I'm thrilled to host author Joanne Bischof here on Writing to Inspire. Her Cadence of Grace series gripped my heart immediately with its sweet poignancy, hope and heartbreaking moments. Joanne has been a joy to get to know, and I hope you get a glimpse of her sweet personality here today.

Lonnie’s character was one of the first pieces of the Cadence of Grace series to fall into place, she’s also a character that so many readers have written to me to share how much they connected with her as a woman and, in many ways, as a friend. Early on, one of her main defining characteristics is her longing to be loved. With an abusive father and a shy spirit, she’s always led a quiet life. In the first moment she steps onto the pages of Be Still My Soul, she also steps onto the stage at the town dance in Rocky Knob, Virginia. Not liking to sing in front of people, it’s the last place she wants to be.

As she faces this great fear, she meets Gideon O’Riley, the handsome mandolin player with a reputation with the ladies. She’s always noticed him from afar, but never had he really noticed her. It’s a great surprise to Lonnie when he walks her home that starry night, and stealing a kiss, he seals their fate of a shotgun wedding. Lonnie’s quiet ways are so different than Gideon’s confident and roguish personality, but the sweetness of her heart is just what Gideon needs as he fights a battle of the spirit, and though it takes him a while to realize what he has in her, he’ll soon discover the blessing she is on his life.

The patience of Lonnie’s heart is truly rewarded by the time readers see her again in Though My Heartis Torn. Her husband, Gideon, is immensely grateful for the precious gift he has in his wife. Though when Gideon’s past as a scoundrel comes back to haunt him, their greatest trial lies ahead in the form of a woman claiming that she is his rightful wife, not Lonnie. Even as Lonnie’s world seems to crumble, she clings to that quiet faith, hoping and trusting that the Lord will hold her through this, all the while, hoping and praying that out of this trial, Gideon will grow closer to the Lord he’s kept at arm’s length his entire life. One of the themes I really wanted to capture with this series is the strength God can equip us with, regardless of the path we are on. Lonnie’s character is meant to symbolize how God can make us strong even when we feel we are weak.

By the time Lonnie steps onto the page in My Hope is Found. She’s armed with many life experiences. She’s shed a few tears and she’s loved greatly. Her heart is filled with the yearning for a man she’s certain is lost to her, yet it’s still for the taking. So when Gideon steps back into her life, she’s not only a bit older, but a bit wiser.

One of my greatest hopes is for these characters to feel human—with real struggles. A moment that comes to mind is in My Hope is Found. Faced with the trial of being so near to the man she loves, yet who is no longer her husband, Lonnie is faced with an immense struggle. While just like with the girl she was in Be Still My Soul, her longing to be loved hasn’t changed, but she has a greater understanding of wisdom and faith in the Lord…that He works all things for His glory.

My Hope is Found releases on
October 15, 2013.

Gideon O’Riley has been given another chance at a life with Lonnie. But will the fight for her heart risk it all over again?

Christy Award-finalist and author of Be Still My Soul and Though My Heart is Torn, Joanne Bischof has a deep passion for Appalachian culture and writing stories that shine light on God’s grace and goodness. She lives in the mountains of Southern California with her husband and their three children. When she’s not weaving Appalachian romance, she’s blogging about faith, folk music, and the adventures of country living that bring her stories to life. www.joannebischof.com

How do YOU cope when you feel weak and inadequate? Do you have a favorite Bible verse you turn to in moments of disappointment? Do you have a support group or friend who helps you rediscover hope when you feel there is none?