Books for Christian Girls: "With This Ring?" by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Mary Connealy, & Melissa Jagears

About this book:

“Four top historical romance novelists team up in this new collection to offer stories of love and romance with a twist of humor.”

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“The Husband Maneuver” by Karen Witemeyer

About this novella:

“Marietta Hawkins has been in love with ranch foreman Daniel Barrett since she came home from school three years ago. Unfortunately, her father's rule about hands not fraternizing with his daughter has kept him out of reach. She believed patience would prove a virtue in winning him over--until now. He is leaving. Starting up his own spread. To have any hope of maneuvering him into a proposal, she has to act fast or lose him forever. Fans of A Worthy Pursuit will enjoy seeing these characters again!”

Spiritual Content- Thanking God (once or twice); A few mentions of the Lord; A couple mentions of prayers; A couple mentions of Heaven; A mention of the Bible, ark & the flood; A mention of a godsend;

*Note: “ugly as sin” is said.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘drat’, a ‘drat it all’, a ‘doggone it’, a ‘dumb’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘jumpin’ Jehoshaphat’, a ‘what is tarnation’, two ‘thunderation’s, thee ‘stupid’s, and eight ‘shoot’s; Lots of Blood, Pain, Injuries, Shooting, Glass, Knives & Fight (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of carcasses, dead cows & vultures (semi-detailed); Mentions of scaplings, hangings, & being bullwhipped; Mentions of a wolf attack & shooting them (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); A mention of drunks, saloons & whiskey.

Sexual Content- a forehead kiss, a semi-detailed cheek kiss, two detailed kisses; Wanting to kiss & embrace (up to semi-detailed); Touches & Embraces (up to semi-detailed); Playing & Touching a woman’s hair (semi-detailed); Noticing (semi-detailed); Blushes & Flutters; a bit of Jealousy; Mentions of temptations & imaging; Mentions of reputations; Mentions of flirting; A mention of violating a woman; A mention of seducing someone; Love, being in love, and the emotions.

-Marietta Hawkins, age 21

-David Barrett, age 33
P.O.V. switches between them

Set in 1892

80(-ish) pages

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“Her Dearly Unintended” by Regina Jennings

About this novella:

“Heavy rain means trouble for Katie Ellen. With her parents away, she's left to take care of the mountaintop farm alone until Josiah Huckabee happens to check on her. She used to think him charming--used to--but before she can run Josiah off, a stranger appears. The bridge has washed out, stranding a weathered and threatening man with them. Immediately sensing danger, Josiah steps in and claims the place--and Katie Ellen--as his own. His farm, his wife, and this Silas Ruger character better be respectful. Furious, Katie Ellen is forced to play along. Readers of Regina's Ozark Mountain Romance series will love seeing favorite characters all grown up.”

Spiritual Content- A couple Prayers & Blessings over food; A hymn; A mention of those in the Bible; A couple mentions of God; A couple mentions of Church & Heaven; Mentions of a preacher.

Negative Content- a ‘blamed’, a ‘buck up’, a ‘how in blazes’, a ‘shut up’, and three ‘stupid’s; Pain (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of killing & burying someone; Mentions of blood & hitting someone; A few mentions of outhouses & relieving a bladder; A few mentions of pipes & smoking; A mention of shooting a rabbit; A mentions of gossips.

Sexual Content- a blown kiss, a cheek kiss, a border-line semi-detailed // detailed kiss and a detailed kiss; Many mentions of a kiss (up to semi-detailed); Touches (up to semi-detailed); Noticing & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Josiah doesn’t like to wear clothes & tries to undress in front of Katie Ellen (she slams the door on him); Josiah & Katie Ellen pretend to be a married couple & have to act like they sleep in the same room (they do share a bed, but nothing happens); Mentions of reputations; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Love, being in love & the emotions.

-Katie Ellen Watson, age 18

-Josiah Huckabee
P.O.V. switches between them

Set in the 1870s

80(-ish) pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

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“Runaway Bride” by Mary Connealy

About this novella:

“Big John Conroy is a Texas Ranger asked by a friend to assist Carrie. He catches up to Carrie and her brother Isaac and races away from a dangerous man who will stop at nothing to make the beautiful young woman his wife. Soon Big John's feelings for Carrie turn to more than simply protective, and Carrie finally feels that she's in the presence of a man she can respect--something she's never known. Fans of Mary's The Kincaid Brides and Trouble in Texas series will enjoy catching up with those characters.”

Spiritual Content- Thanking God (once or twice); An ‘H’ is capital when referring to God; A few mentions of God; A few mentions of a parson; A couple mentions of Heaven.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’ and a ‘shut up’; Blood, Hitting & Fighting (up to semi-detailed); Shooting, injuries & pain (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of gambling, debts, bets & cheating; Mentions of drinking & liquor; Mentions of prison, the war, & criminals; Mentions of threats & killing.

Sexual Content- a cheek kiss, four barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and three semi-detailed; Touches, Heat & Embraces (semi-detailed); Blushes; Noticing & Nearness (semi-detailed); A bit of jealousy; Mentions of not consummating a marriage (but it’s hinted they do it anyway); Nine mentions of a wedding night; A mention of a husband’s rights; Mentions of thoughts of being alone & having children; Mentions of a cruel man acting like he’s buying Carrie; Mentions of the cruel man wanting Carrie pure & untouched; Mentions of touches (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of reputations; A Marriage of Convenience, Love, falling in love & the emotions.

-Carrie Halsey

-John Conroy
P.O.V. switches between them

Set in 1879
80(-ish) pages

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New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

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“Engaging the Competition” by Melissa Jagears

About this novella:

“Ever since Charlotte Andrews bested four-eyed Harrison Gray in a shooting competition when they were teenagers, he decided a tough, show-off girl like Charlie didn't need him to look after her. Now a teacher at the local school, Harrison learns Charlie intends to marry a neighbor who comes from a long line of no-good troublemakers and, for some inexplicable reason, it falls to him to talk some sense into her...if she has any under that tomboy exterior.
Their heated confrontation unfortunately takes place right as a bad storm is coming on and, in the melee of arguing and taking shelter, Harrison's glasses are knocked off his face and broken when Charlie's horse crushes them under a hoof. Harrison and Charlie may have their differences, but she can see from his panic that the loss of his glasses is a blow to him. She volunteers to help him at school until his new pair of special order glasses arrive despite knowing the one place she can't best Harrison is in the classroom.”

Spiritual Content- A couple Prayers; A few mention of God; A ‘H’ is not capital when referring to Jesus; mentions of a reverend, Church, Sunday School & sermon; A couple mentions of prayers; A couple mentions of those in the Bible; A mention of a Bible; A mention of Biblical instruction; A mention of something Jesus said.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a ‘blast it’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘sucker’, a ‘what in blazes’, eleven ‘stupid’s; Many mentions of bullies; Mentions of fighting; A couple mentions of shooting food animals & skinning them; A couple mentions of tobacco.

Sexual Content- a forehead kiss, two semi-detailed ear kisses, an almost kiss, and two semi-detailed kisses; Staring at lips; Wanting to kiss; Touches, Brushes & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Noticing & Smelling; Mentions of crushes, daydreams, & feelings; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of reputations; Mentions of marriages of convenience; Four mentions of a wedding night; Love, being in love & the emotions.

-Charlie Andrews, age 25

-Harrison Gray, age 24
P.O.V. switches between them

Set in 1901
80(-ish) pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Well. That was disappointing. :( I was hoping there wouldn’t be many kisses, but instead there was detailed kisses in almost every novella.

The first one, “The Husband Maneuver”, had some cute parts and I remembered the characters from “A Worthy Pursuit”, but there was just too many kisses, touches, temptations & feelings.

Novella number #2, “Her Dearly Unintended”, just felt awkward. The stranger gave me creeps, and I’m still not believing he’s who he says he is. Katie Ellen & Josiah’s bickering got on my nerves fast and they weren’t fooling anyone that they were married.

“Runaway Bride” was very confusing to me! Everything felt rushed and the romance came out of left field. Definitely not a fan of the marriage of convenience and all the hints.

The last one, “Engaging the Competition” was cleaner than the rest, but I was annoyed (yet again) at the main characters bickering and competing with each other. It was very over-the-top.

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review! :)