Book Review: The Ride of Her Life by Lorna Seilstad

Can a determined roller coaster designer take a reluctant, no-nonsense widow on the ride of her life?
The only man pragmatic Lilly Hart needs in her life is four feet tall and six years old.

Widowed two years ago, Lilly left the shelter of her intrusive in-laws home to stand on her own and provide for her son,
Levi. She figures after a summer of working at the lake, she should have enough money for a place in the city where
she could get a job at the candy factory. When her interfering in-laws show up at the Midway diner where she’s
employed insisting her tent home at Lake Manawa is unsuitable, she is furious. They demand she allow Levi’s return
to their home. A verbal altercation ensues and a handsome stranger intercedes on her behalf.

The stranger, she soon learns, is the roller coaster designer, Nick Perrin. But Lilly is not about to get involved with any
man, especially a cocky rich man whose job requires him to travel the country. Charismatic Nick, however, is hard to
ignore.

Saving Levi pulls them together, but will Lilly let her fears tear them apart?  
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I read Lorn Seilstad's first book, Making Waves, when I agreed to review the book for her. When she came out with the next two books, A Great Catch and The Ride of Her Life, I couldn't wait to volunteer to review them for her - Seilstad quickly became one of my favorite historical romance writers.

Like her first two books, The Ride of Her Life introduces Lilly and Nick - endearing, flawed, engaging characters. Lilly and Levi quickly pull you into their lives. Then Nick pops in, capturing everyone's heart, including Lilly's. 

Seilstad's plot and setting wrap you up in their world, taking you on a fantastic, romantic adventure. A wonderful story.

Book Review (and Giveaway!): Firethorn, by Ronie Kendig

Nightshade leader Griffin Riddell is framed for murder. While he's in a max security facility, the rest of is team is attached and kidnapped. He doesn't know this until covert-op Kazi Faron, a tiny blonde gal, shows up and breaks him out of prison. As they work together, they discover a traitor, fall in love, fight to save each other , and the team.

This books was a little hard to follow because it's been so long since I read the first three books, and I've already given them away (so I couldn't look back for reference). There are a lot of characters, so I really had to focus to remember who was doing waht.

I had a hard time relating to Kazi, so I didn't quite understand her motives - her storyline reveal seemed a little anti-climactic.

HOWEVER ... Firethorn is a fitting conclusion to the Discarded Hero series. Kendig brought back all of the original characters for one more mission. Not only do you get to follow Griffin and Kazi and their personal adventure, you get to see the transformation of the team and characters from their first meeting to their final mission. It's more than just the thrill of watching Griffin and Kazi fight for and fall for each other - there's a joy in watching the team evolve as they learn more about each other and God.

Discarded Heroes is one of the best military series' I've read, and Firethorn doesn't disappoint.

Now - your chance to own and read Firethorn! I'll pick a winner in two weeks - leave your name and email address for your chance to win!