"Second Chance Hero" by Winnie Griggs

About the Book

To help his dying sister, Nate Cooper once broke the law—and he's regretted it ever since. Now the ex-con turned saddler hopes for a new beginning in Turnabout, Texas. So when Nate saves a young widow's daughter from imminent harm, he's shocked to be called a hero. 

Single mom Verity Leggett leads a safe life, avoiding danger and excitement at all costs. But her daughter's rescuer Mr. Cooper seems like a perfectly responsible—and handsome—man she can rely on. But when his secrets come to light, will Verity be able to get over his past and see Nate for the caring man he's become? 

Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…

Please visit Winnie Griggs' webpage

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This book was released in May 2015

This book was a well loved library book that was reviewed

My Review

“Second Chance Hero” by Winnie Griggs is the sixth book in her 'Texas Grooms' series but also is a wonderful stand alone book. Yes we see one character from the first book, “Handpicked Husband” but more in the way of friend, counselor and confidant. We may here of other characters here and there but in passing as just like it would happen in any story within a town where everyone almost knows everyone.

As the title suggests this is a story of second chances not just for the hero but also for the heroin of the story even if she doesn't know that she needs that second chance.

We know that Nate has done something that ended up with him spending time in prison but what a twist as to why he ended up there and how that plays a huge part in the story. Through the story as his secret is revealed it is really hard to reconcile what he did with the type of person he shows himself to be throughout the entire story. Once everything is out, it is easy enough to reconcile the two then for emotions were such a powerful driving force for him then and in the present time of the story. Nate is a man who is honest but is considerate of those who could be the most harmed with his secret.

Then there is Verity, which I can sure my mind was saying it wrong, whose name is unusual, old fashion and well just perfect for this young widow. There is so much about Verity that really seems overly cautious but as her own back story comes out it is understandable. She is a woman who is always thinking of others, has this way about her that helps put everyone around her at ease, and is willing to help out where she is needed. There is quite a few lessons that she learns throughout the story.

As I said Nate is the holder of a secret, a secret that could harm another person but this secret hurt another because of the past that this person has themselves. It seems so often there is someone out to hurt the secret holder so they spread the secret, but this time that wasn't exactly the case. I actually thought the way the secret came out was perfect for it showed a characters true inner spirit. It was a risk to allow the secret to come out for some much could have happened yet those who heard the secret reacted normally yet showed a grace that really showed more spirit of those characters.

Second chances as I said for Verity and Nate happened by the end of the story, as is expected from a romance story, so no I don't feel as if I am giving anything away. As the story unfolds it was so hard not to fall in love with both of them and feel sorrow for their hardships as well. I hope all who read this wonderful book enjoys it as much as I did.

"A Baby Between Them" by Winnie Griggs

About the Book 

 For two months, Nora Murphy has cared for the abandoned infant she found on their Boston-bound ship. Settled now in Faith Glen, Nora tells herself she's happy. She has little Grace, and a good job as housekeeper to Sheriff Cameron Long. She doesn't need anything more—not the big family she always wanted, or Cam's love….

A traumatic childhood closed Cam off to any dreams of family life. Yet somehow his lovely housekeeper and her child have opened his heart again. When the unthinkable occurs, it will take all their faith to reach a new future together.

Please visit Winnie Grigg's website

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This book was released in June 2012
This books come from my own personal collection for review

My Review

“A Baby Between Them” by Winnie Griggs is the third and final book in the 'Irish Brides' continuous series. I stayed up past my bedtime so that I could finish this wonderful book (I finally got my hands on another book and look for that review tomorrow, that I have been waiting for) and this was just not a book that I put aside to read the one I have been waiting for. This is the book that wraps up the other books completely and totally with nothing left hanging. Mysteries solved, answers discovered, hearts healed and so much more which is why I just couldn't put this book on hold, even with this being a book I have read once before.

The last Murphy sister is finally having her story told, and what a story Nora has. Things are not smooth for this remarkable woman who has this incredible strength to do the things that are right but not easy. Nora is an independent woman who tries to make sure everything is going the way she wants them to, even to the point of doing more than maybe she should. She also has this heart for others that is so different than her sisters, but her heart combined with her determination and strength makes Nora this truly special woman, that frankly I admire. She makes decisions that honestly I am not sure I could have made or been willing to make as quickly as she did. Yes, Nora has to be my favorite Murphy sister that is for sure.

Cameron is a man who is hiding something and boy he is a stubborn about holding on to his past. Regardless of that, Cameron is a man who has remarkable honor. Somehow Cameron has this ability to help others out without being obvious or having a good enough excuse to make it sound as if others are helping him out. This is not something that easy for any author to write and make it believable but Ms. Griggs does a wonderful job with that trait and made it work beautifully.

As I said before everything is resolved with this book. Little hints that had been given throughout the series now make perfect sense, and while it has been sometime since I read the series I have to say that I forgot some of the smaller little hints which made this book so wonderful. Things that seemed so obvious were no longer so obvious and tears were leaking out as everything fell into place. Truly this is a story that held my attention from the get go and really hated having to put the book down in order to deal with things that life threw my way this week.

I hope all who read this book and entire series enjoy it as much as I did both times I have read them.

Other "Irish Brides" Books

  The Wedding Journal

Mistaken Bride

A Baby Between Them

"Her Holiday Family" by Winnie Griggs

About the Book

THE CHRISTMAS CHILDREN 

Reserved widow Eileen Pierce never considered herself the kind of woman who was cut out to be a mother. She wouldn't know what to do with one child, much less ten. But when handyman Simon Tucker is stranded in town with a group of young orphans at Christmastime, she discovers she can't just turn them away.

Simon knows there's more to Eileen than meets the eye. Though his easygoing demeanor immediately clashes with her buttoned-up propriety, Simon's kindness soon melts Eileen's stern facade. Simon and the children already upended Eileen's quiet, orderly life. Will they do the same to her guarded heart?

Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…

Visit Winnie Griggs Website

Buy "Her Holiday Family"from Amazon

Buy "Her Holiday Family" from Barnes&Noble
Buy "Her Holiday Family" from Harlequin

This book will be released in November 2014
I was honored to be given this book by Ms. Griggs in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

“Her Holiday Family” by Winnie Griggs is another wonderful part of Ms. Griggs series, “Texas Grooms”. Though it is part of a series this is a wonderful stand alone book with some wonderful story lines that really made me think. Though the word Holiday is part of the title and it does have a pretty special part in the book, there is so much more to the book though in its own subtle way it shows the Christmas meaning is a wondrous way.

Eileen is a woman who has intrigued me since the first book “Handpicked Husband” for I always thought that there was more to her then what was shown, and then I really had my interest piqued again in “Lone Star Heiress” where we saw even more of her. There was something actually about her that always seemed so sad, and that there was a lot more to what had been hinted at in the prior books. This book explains so much about her that is for sure that, I found myself angry at what happened in the past and rooting for her future with the subtle changes that happens to her over the course of the entire book. Eileen is a woman that is complex with who projects one personality while underneath there is a whole other person.

Simon is a man who is determined to follow through with his commitment above all else, and even when things don't look that good either. He is a happy fellow that is for sure, even though he is a bit over his head with his commitment. Simon has learned what he enjoys doing in his life after discovering what he really dislikes.  He seems to be the type of man who would be hard to ignore for too long because he just seems to be so happy that it is almost infectious even with so much going wrong.

Though both Simon and Eileen seem to be complete opposite of each other, very much like oil and water, and at times it is doubtful to see how these two people could end up together especially as back-stories are told. ( Do I feel as if I am giving a spoiler about this little bit, no I don't after all this is a romance with the two main characters talked about in the synopsis of the book on the back. It is part of the reason why I wanted to read the book in the first place.)  With all that happens throughout the book with being so close in contact with each other, much like oil and water mixing together some, both Simon and Eileen learn to work together pretty well.

Though it is pretty subtle, there is a really great connection that not only the orphans have with each other but also to both Eileen and Simon that I found extremely wonderful. This connection is not something that would seem obvious, after all I did say subtle, but I think this connection helped create this beautiful bound between all of them, that helped with this deeper understanding of each other when they were willing to look deeper under the surface.

The conflict of the story is not so much of the typical conflict but more of a dilemma that must be dealt with and is really used to help create the close contact between Eileen and Simon that helped them learn to work together. Honestly I figured out on the most part how the conflict was going to be resolved, however, there are a few interesting tidbits that happened along the way with that conflict.  I dont get the feeling that the conflict was meant to keep the reader in suspense but more to help the characters remain in close contact with each other. There is a lot of internal conflict within one character that we watch unfold throughout the whole story.

This was a wonderfully written story that I found myself so lost in the book, that I completely lost track of time. I hope all that read this book enjoy it as much as I did.

Other Books in "Texas Grooms" Series

Handpicked Husband

The Bride Next Door

A Family for Christmas

Her Holiday Family

"Lone Star Heiress" by Winnie Griggs

About the Book

Rescuer Turned Husband? 

Plucky Ivy Feagan is headed to Turnabout, Texas, to claim an inheritance, not a widower's heart. That all changes when strapping schoolteacher Mitch Parker rescues her in the wilderness. Straightlaced Mitch has never met a woman like Ivy—beautiful, adventurous and good-hearted—but he already lost love once and doesn't dare try again.

When Turnabout's gossips target Mitch and Ivy's friendship, he proposes to save her reputation. But Ivy doesn't want to marry for honor, and she doesn't need to marry for money. Ivy will only agree to a proposal made for love's sake—but will Mitch make his heart part of the marriage offer?

Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…

Visit Winnie Griggs Website

Buy "Lone Star Heiress" from Amazon

Buy "Lone Star Heiress" from Barnes&Noble

This book was released in June 2014
This was a well loved library book that was reviewed

My Review of "Lone Star Heiress"

“Lone Star Heiress” by Winnie Griggs is her fourth book in her 'Texas Groom' series where the last and final would-be groom finds his own happy ending. To finally see the reclusive, stand offish Mitch Parker tumble head over heels was an enjoyable experience to say the least. Though this book is indeed a part of a series, it can stand all by itself as well. Any information that is needed from prior books is explained so that a reader won't feel as if they are missing something.

I have since the first book, “Handpicked Husband”, Mitch has been the character I wanted to know more about for he always was so stand offish and so lonely I thought that there was something deeply hurting him more than the others, though they were hurt too in different ways. As Mitch's story comes out, it is so understandable as to why he is the way he is, and why he feels the way he feels. Mitch is a man that has a lot of hidden parts to him that comes out in this story, though those hidden parts were not that much of a surprise to me for I suspected that they were there.

Ivy Feagan is a woman who is not afraid of life, though she doesn't do anything to put herself at risk, she is one that tries to do everything not to let little things bother her too much. She is a determined woman who has a secret that is slowly revealed through the story that explains why she is the way she is. Her joy and golden heart is visible from the very start of the book, yet so is her determination to do right without giving in to other people thoughts.

So both Mitch and Ivy have reasons to be the way they are, but things change and those second chances are so beautiful to watch unfold. The only really disappointing part of the whole story is that we never really see when and how Mitch changed his mind. I would have loved to see how and when that happened for I think that would have been something really special with all that he had gone through to get to that point. It was just a little let down in my own humble opinion, but that didn't take away from the story for it was a joy to read.

The messages that were sent too were subtle so that maybe readers will take away something different. I took away that one must have courage to stand for what they believe like Ivy did, knowing the consequences, but still standing by her decision. Also that no matter how far we feel that God has drifted away, He is always there just waiting for us to return. Lastly there is the fact that second chances should always be grabbed a hold of and treasured.

This book moved continuously at a steady pace where there was neither too much or too little happening at any one point but moved steady throughout the whole book. Though the book take place over a pretty short time, there is nothing that seems rushed about the relationship that develops for there is plenty of time spent together.

I hope all who read this book enjoy it as much as I did.

Other Books in Winnie Griggs "Texas Grooms" Series

Handpicked Husband
The Bride Next Door
A Family for Christmas