Winner Takes All. Erin Kern. 2016. 384 pages. Forever. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] As the first installment in a new “Championship Valley”series, Winner Takes All does not disappoint. Blake is disgraced, begrudingly retired football star who’s return to his hometown with one season to turn around a high-school football team’s losing record. Annabelle is a control-freak physical therapist who refuses to quit on the team, even if it means she’s constantly under Blake’s skin. The two make for an interesting pairing – they both want the best for the team, but are constantly fighting (not well) their own attraction for each other. I am pleased with Kern’s newest release. Books from her “Trouble” series did not disappoint, so I came in with high expectations. She continues to create well-developed main characters who are relateable and realistic. Their motivations aren’t always spelled out in an elementary way, but there’s enough detail for readers to understand the various choices they make. Both Blake and Annabelle are flawed, but their story is interesting and actually entertaining to watch. Their playful banter coupled with frustrating work interactions makes for a story that’s simply fun to read. At times it’s emotionally draining, but…

Not Quite Perfect. Cathernine Bybee. 2016. 332 pages. Montlake Romance. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] In full disclosure, I’m a huge fan of the Not Quite Series from Catherine Bybee. Book 5, “Not Quite Perfect,” continues by focusing on psychology Mary Kildare and her strained history relationship with Glen Fairchild — at least, it would be a relationship if either of them would make the first move. There’s plenty of chemistry between them, but Glen’s playboy past makes Mary leery of opening up to him. Add to that the fact that the pilot/co-owner of Fairchild airline lives on the opposite side of the country – there’s enough to give Mary pause than just their antagonistic first impressions. “Not Quite Perfect” did not disappoint. As always, Bybee gives the reader an enticing courtship between intriguing characters. I found myself constantly wondering whether Mary would be her own biggest hurdle to a successful relationship and whether Glen would actually commit to a relationship, rather than a fling.

A March Bride. Rachel Hauck. 2014. 99 pages. Zondervan Books. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] What girl doesn’t dream of marrying a prince and becoming queen in a faraway kingdom? It’s literally the fairy tale most girls dream of from the time they’re old enough to speak. That wasn’t quite what Susanna, a girl-next-door from Georgia, thought she was getting when she started dating Nathaniel. However, she soon finds herself head over heels in love and facing the prospect of becoming a part of Brighton royalty. The hitch? She has to give up everything she has dreamed of. No small-town wedding with her closest friends and family looking on. No quiet life in America. She’ll even have to renounce her American citizenship. And as the wedding draws near, all her carefully laid plans are coming apart one by one.

Prairie Anna. Peggy House. 2012. 112 pages. JourneyForth. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] Prairie Anna is a historical fiction novel that has Anna as its protagonist. She is the daughter of Russian immigrants who are trying to build a life in the prairies of Dakota. At only ten years old, Anna has a great deal of responsibility in helping her family survive, and throughout this book, she sees a great deal of hardship, including the death of her mother and newborn sister, the loss of the family home, and difficulty of keeping her faith in the face of all of this.

Change the World Before Bedtime. Mark Kimball Moulton, Josh Chalmers, Karen Good. 2013. 32 pages. Schiffer Publishing. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] This book reminds me of the quote “Be the change you want to see in the world.” It is a story that shows what kids (and adults) can do to make the world a better place by engaging in small tasks that impact the people and community around them. Some lessons include taking care of oneself by eating well, being sustainable, taking care of others around you, etc.