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Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

About the Book

Title: Husband Auditions

Author: Angela Ruth Strong

Publisher: Kregel

Release Date: August 17, 2021

Genre: Christian Romance, Comedy

How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?

In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest wedding–a 1950s magazine article of “ways to get a husband”–she decides there’s nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can’t get any more single, can she?

Her brother’s roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love–Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.

When Meri Me debuts, it’s an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she’s looking for . . .

With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for. 

About the Author

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK. Get to know her even better at http://www.angelaruthstrong.com.

My Impressions

“Poor ideas in real life often make the best entertainment.” And so is born the premise of this hilarious rom-com novel from Angela Ruth Strong. Meri and Kai, reluctant roommates (actually housemates)act and film respectively in a reality-made-for-YouTube channel serial movie about 100 ways to catch a husband. The catch of Husband Auditions is, that the rules are taken from a 1950s women’s magazine and applied in today’s world. As filming progresses, Meri and Kai begin to wonder how wise it is to complete this unusual project. Will there be a winner, or just losers?

With a sense of humor that will have you laughing out loud, Ms. Strong also presents very real moral situations for her characters to work through. Staid Sunday School answers need not apply. How does the very real love of Jesus work itself out in (gasp)Hollywood? In personal boundaries? In how we judge and treat others? Conservatives may have a hard time with the emphasis of the fact the Meri and Kai and another beauty are roommates(housemates). Strong WANTS you to be uncomfortable. Are we as readers assuming relationships that are not present? Do people answer to God or us? One of many dilemmas couched in Strong’s trademark humor to challenge your reactions to others and make you question if you are fully living out your faith.

My Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Magnificent! Hilarious Rom-Com

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A Latte Difficulty, #3 The CafFunated Mysteries by Angela Ruth Strong

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About the Book

Title: A Latte Difficulty

Series: #3 The CafFunated Mysteries

Author: Angela Ruth Strong

Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink

Released: April 2020

Can two baristas track down a gunman after the espresso shot heard ‘round the world?

When Marissa witnesses an attempted murder during the 4th of July parade, it starts a battle for her independence. She is forced to hide out in a safehouse, leaving her co-owner, Tandy, to run their coffee shop, track down the criminal, and, worse, plan Marissa’s wedding. Thankfully Tandy has help, but can she really trust the P.I. in a bow tie, her new deaf barista who acts more like a bartender, or a wedding planner who’s keeping secrets?

The threat on Marissa’s future goes from bad to worse when her bridal gown is covered in blood. Though her fiancé, Connor, agrees to give up his identity to join her in the Witness Protection Program, Marissa refuses to wave the white flag. Instead, she enlists Tandy to help her fight for truth, justice, and the Americano way.

 

My Review

The third book in the CafFUNated Mysteries, A Latté Difficulty, by Angela Ruth Strong, is a cozy winner. It is time for an extended celebration of the Fourth of July in the small town of Grace Springs. If you have read the first two novels in the series, you will welcome back old friends Marissa and Tandy, owners of the Caffeine Conundrum, and their boyfriends, Connor and Greg. While Marissa is in the throes of planning her perfect wedding, their frenemy, Randon, is attacked in their shop and his computer stolen. 
We see a bit more of sweet Billie and her rich, but rough-around-the-edges businessman boyfriend whose company becomes embroiled in ransomware, possibly involving Randon. Will the new deaf ex-barista Zam be a help or a hindrance as our foursome rush to save Randon’s life and keep themselves safe from the unknown assailant(s)? 
Zam is such a fun and amazing character to add to this cozy mix. With his mad juggling skills and lip-reading abilities, Marissa and Tandy are lucky to have him on their side… unless he’s not… 

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Finally… it’s taken me three books to really like Goth Tandy. But do I ever admire her quick wit in this book and ability to get herself and Marissa out of trouble on more than one occasion because of it! 
Kudos to Strong for the cross-mention of crime scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire, by Christy Barritt. Scenes like that ramp up the reading fun. 
Fun, suspense, and faith. All of these factors into this cozy. The suspense is great, but Strong makes sure to place comic relief at just the right points. The other important factor in her books is faith. The main thought here is that the fear of the Lord if understood properly, will set you free from the fear of man. Wow! 

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A Latté Difficulty had twists enough that the reader may have trouble, like I did, figuring out who to trust and who to suspect, yet I was still surprised. Well done, Mrs. Strong!! 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This in no way affects my opinions, for which I am solely responsible. 

My Rating

5 Stars – Superior – Hit My Reading Sweet Spot and leaves me begging for more CafFunation!

About the Author

4746114Angela sold her first story to a national magazine while still in high school and went on to study journalism at the University of Oregon. Her debut novel LOVE FINDS YOU IN SUN VALLEY, IDAHO released in 2010 to a four-star review from Romantic Times. Angela loves connecting with fans and mentoring aspiring authors, which led her to start IDAhope Writers. She currently lives in Boise with her husband and three kids.

 

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Once upon a Christmas: Contemporary Retellings of Timeless Tales

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This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the links, I may be compensated.

About the Book

Title: Once upon a Christmas: Contemporary Retellings of Timeless Tales

Authors: Andrea Boyd, Toni Shiloh, Mikal Dawn, Angela Ruth Strong, Jaycee Weaver

Released: October, 2019

Embrace the magic of the Christmas season with these contemporary twists on timeless tales.

Upon a Dream — A rare sleeping disorder keeps Talia from performing, but when Philip recognizes her gift, he’ll do whatever it takes to see her onstage.

Claim My Heart — Li Na and Colin Wen face off in a Mulan-esque courtroom battle where the real win might be losing their hearts.

A Snow White Christmas — Sheltered heiress Amala White flees her conniving stepmother’s plans and finds refuge with a handsome orchard owner and his seven quirky uncles.

Christmas Ella — Reality TV meets Cinderella story when a location director is swept off her feet by a rising star.

A Splash of Love — Las Vegas glitz meets Land of Enchantment culture in A Splash of Love, a modern twist on the Little Mermaid.

Get your copy here.

My Review

This is a delightful collection of five retold, re-imagined fairy tales, especially for the holiday season. I was familiar with one author, but I am now also on the lookout for the other authors’ works. Here are my quick thoughts on each:

Upon a Dream by Andrea Boyd
This anchor story for the collection sets Sleeping Beauty in a theater with a unique twist for modern-day. I enjoyed the unfolding of this retold fairy tale, with its updates for today’s world.

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Claim My Heart by Mikal Dawn
Would you believe I have never watched Mulan? As a result, I had no “original” with which to compare this. This was my least favorite, but it was because of the character’s integrity.

A Snow White by Toni Shiloh
I liked the way Marcus asked God for wisdom even about the relationship. The “seven uncles” was a neat idea, especially the way that the relationships occurred.

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Christmas Ella by Angela Ruth Strong
Strong always surprises me with her ingenuity, creativity, and humor in unexpected places. I have never met a story of Strong’s I haven’t loved.

A Splash of Love by Jaycee Weaver
As full of deceit and treachery as the original tale, this one was more painful. You’ll have to read it to see why I say that.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the authors. This in no way affected my opinions, which are solely my own.

My Rating

5 Stars – Hit My Reading Sweet Spot!

About the Authors

Each of Andrea Boyd‘s series represents a different genre but all fall into the category of romance. All offer an element of her own brand of humor. And all are a tribute to God. 14689507
Besides writing, she loves spending time with her family, quilting, going to car shows, and driving around in her 1968 Barracuda convertible.
Andrea lives with her husband, Tommy, and at least a couple of cats in York County, SC.
You can visit her website @ http://www.andreaboyd11.com

 

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.13656663

 

Mikal Dawn is an inspirational romance author, wedding enthusiast and proud military wife. By day she works for an international sports ministry, and by night she mutters to imaginary friends, performs sketchy Google searches, and procrastinates (like any good writer!). When she isn’t writing about faith, fun, and forever, she is obsessively scouring Pinterest (with coffee in hand, of course!) for wedding ideas for her characters. 16465702

Born and raised just outside of Vancouver, Canada, Mikal has lived throughout the southern and Midwest United States, currently residing in Oklahoma (and hoping it’s their last move!) with her husband, two of her three kids, and one ferocious feline.

4746114Angela Ruth Strong sold her first story to a national magazine while still in high school and went on to study journalism at the University of Oregon. Her debut novel LOVE FINDS YOU IN SUN VALLEY, IDAHO released in 2010 to a four-star review from Romantic Times. Angela loves connecting with fans and mentoring aspiring authors, which led her to start IDAhope Writers. She currently lives in Boise with her husband and three kids.

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A Nevada native and New Mexico transplant, Jaycee Weaver is also a wife and mother of 3. She enjoys reading, writing, singing, photography, & all things kitchen and crafty. She considers herself a recovering perfectionist and is grateful for the grace of God that covers a multitude of eclectic hot messiness.
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A Cuppa Trouble, #2 The CafFUNated Mysteries by Angela Ruth Strong

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Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for A Cuppa Trouble by Angela Ruth Strong, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: A Cuppa Trouble
Series: The CafFUNated Mysteries #2
Author: 
Angela Ruth Strong
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Release Date:
July 1, 2019
Genre: Inspirational Cozy Mystery

Can a couple of baristas chase down a car thief without spilling a drop of their favorite drinks?

Plans for a Valentine’s Day grand opening of a small town coffee shop go awry when the first customer is killed. Evidence points toward the victim being mixed up in a car theft ring, but shop owners Tandy and Marissa have reason to believe he was framed.

An assortment of suspects–from a pink-haired heir to Tandy’s charming ex–all seem to know a little too much about grand theft auto.

Without approval from either their boyfriends or the gum-chewing FBI agent in charge, the shop owners go on stakeouts, plan stings, and pursue justice in a high-speed car chase. If they don’t find the killer soon, it might be more than their love lives in trouble.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

MY REVIEW

“The flowers would die, but coffee was forever.” Any of you who know me know how intriguing I would find this new book from Angela Ruth Strong, A Cuppa Trouble. First, it’s a cozy, full of sprinkles of faith, light-hearted fun, and two young ladies who are exact opposites. Tandy and Marissa are working at being civil business partners. Each drinks only one hot beverage and despises the other’s drink of choice in their shared store.
What a perfect set-up for snarky, zingy, one-liners traded faster than the speed at which Marissa can trip over her ugly boots to the neon open sign.
And the juxtaposition and competition begin!A Cuppa Trouble Three.png
While this is second in the series, this book stands alone. In the last book, the girls almost didn’t secure the store site due to murder. This time, they barely open before…
And before you think all is fun and games, there are some serious relationship issues going on, not to mention some other rather important issues involving clothing, vehicles, and generally, staying alive. Can I say being from Iowa and Michigan makes this book a little scarier and more real to me than otherwise might be?! Will you correctly guess each girl’s choice of man? Tandy really surprised me.
I will have to stop looking down on Tandy for her Goth look. She explains it perfectly:
“Black is the color of coffee. You can’t go wrong with black.”
Marissa is an energizer bunny. “Everyone needs espresso to keep up with you.”
Susan’s character was a hoot!
“Perhaps her pink hair came from being a hot-tempered redhead who’d tried to bleach the color out.”
Other great quotes:
“Why would one need to be vulnerable with God if He already knew everything?”“He drew closer to God to really see things from God’s perspective. And that, my friend, is how I believe you define a man after God’s own heart.”
Finally, you have to find this hilarious one for yourself: “Friends don’t let friends…”A Cuppa Trouble Four.png
A great cozy you will want to devour with EITHER coffee or tea.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Just Read Tours. This in no way affects my opinions, which are solely my own.

MY RATING

golden-stargolden-stargolden-stargolden-stargolden-star

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

angela ruth strong

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about.

Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK.

CONNECT WITH ANGELA:  Website | Facebook Twitter

TOUR GIVEAWAY 

(1) winner will receive a “Coffee is like Sherlock Holmes” mug, “Drink Coffee & Do Good” sign (painted with coffee by author’s cover designer), $25 Starbucks Gift Card & “Drink Coffee,  and Read Books & Be Happy” tote.

Angela Ruth Strong's prizes

Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 24, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on July 1, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

Just Read affiliate links

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.