Book Review of Midnight Blue by Susie Waltner

Happy Monday Bookworms!

How was your weekend?  Not only am I slowly healing from my surgery, but I'm pretty sure I've got the flu on top of everything else.  Not the best start to 2023, especially when I think about how we're already halfway through January (how????) but I am using my downtime to read more books to review, so no complaints here!

Today I am reviewing a super sweet romance that is already getting raving reviews, and I tend to agree.  I hope you enjoy, and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter to win an amazing giveaway!

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Midnight Blue by Suzie Waltner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Midnight Blue 

Series: Love in Color #1 

Author: Suzie Waltner 

Publisher: Anaiah Press Publishing 

Release Date: September 6, 2022 

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance 

A series of heartbreaking setbacks behind her, Scarlett Sykes is now focused on creating the best life possible for her daughter. One where innocence and joy is not colored by rejection or loss. While finances are tight and Scarlett’s job isn’t ideal for a single mother, her child will always know she’s loved. Especially since Harmony’s father wanted nothing to do with them. 

As lead singer and the face of a successful country band, Jake Turnquist’s closest friends depend on him, but life in the spotlight is quickly losing its appeal. At a party celebrating another accomplishment, he’s stunned to discover Scarlett assisting the caterer. Almost ten years have passed, but he’s never forgotten his first love. 

In the hours after a surprise revelation, Jake scrambles to orchestrate a way to spend time with Scarlett and Harmony—the family he’s always wanted but never knew he had. He once gave her up to pursue his music. What will he have to surrender to win her back?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

---

My Review

I don’t know if I am becoming a cynic in my old age, but second chance troupes have not been my favorite reads lately but Midnight Blue has been getting such raving reviews I had to see if I could be won over, and I was.

I’m not a fan of fathers not being told that they are fathers, but I have to hand it to Scarlett.  This girl tried everything to let Jake know that he was a dad but was blocked at every single turn, and still chose to raise her daughter all by herself while watching the love of her life rise to fame, leaving her in the dust.  Scarlett is resilient, and relies on her faith and the love of her daughter to make it through.  She is strength personified and I love seeing a strong heroine.

Jake had my heart from the start.  It’s immediately apparent that he’s an upstanding man, and is clearly still carrying a torch for his high school love.  Fame has catapulted him into a life that he never could’ve dreamed of, but no matter how much he acquires in his professional career there is still something missing.  Scarlett.

This is a very sweet novel with likable characters that I could easily see becoming a Hallmark movie one day.  Faith is mentioned throughout, but it is not forced, and the struggles that Jake and Scarlett deal with are very true to life.  This novel is well written with heart and a decent flow, and I am excited to see that this is going to be apart of a series.  Scarlett’s sister Cassidy was one of my favorite characters, and I’d love to see her get her own story.

Am I still a cynic?  Yes, but I was won over by the power of true love and music.

My Rating: ★★★★

---

About the Author

Suzie Waltner is a lover of fiction and is first and foremost a reader. When she’s not at work or reading or writing, you can find her cheering on the Nashville Predators (hockey) or dancing an hour away in Zumba class. Until her second year of college, her life plan was to become a veterinarian. A fainting spell while watching a surgery performed on a sheep changed that plan. Now she works in the corporate world during the day while creating stories in her free time. Suzie resides in a suburb of Nashville, TN and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers as well as Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers. She currently serves as the president of the Middle Tennessee ACFW chapter.

Connect with Suzie by visiting suziewaltner.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

---

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a Everything But the Book Cozy Reading Basket: sherpa throw, I'd Rather Be Reading mug, I Read Past My Bedtime socks, 12 oz orange spice candle, portable power bank, book cozy, and some reading snacks plus a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 16, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 23, 2023. 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. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

---

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

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.