by admin | Jul 14, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Split Time

MY REVIEW:
I anticipate that Set the Stars Alight may take its place as my very favorite book of 2020. In my opinion, it will be extremely difficult to surpass this beautifully written story. I have found each and everything I have read by Amanda Dykes to be filled with wonder and a magical, lyrical style that makes me want to immerse myself into the story and stay forever. Each of her tales is better than the last.
Although many reviewers have remarked on the sense of wonder and light that emits from this book, I can only agree. Wonder just seems to be the right word and no other one will do to describe how I felt when reading it. This author has a powerful gift that touches the very soul and Set the Stars Alight was just what I needed to read during the dark days of this summer.
Set the Stars Alight is story-telling at its best. Quotable lines abound on nearly every page. I highly recommend reading it for the sheer beauty of its words but its story is worthwhile and offers a ray of hope to all who enter in.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In an aged brick cottage in London, the magic of the past comes alive each night for the family of a humble watchmaker. In her father’s fireside stories, Lucy Claremont’s fascination with the high seas begins, leading her to devote her life’s work to discovering the whereabouts of a legendary lost ship. But when tragedy strikes, it’s childhood friend Dashel and his knowledge of the stars that may help her solve the puzzle.
Two hundred years earlier, three young lives are altered forever when a shepherd rescues the privileged son of a powerful admiral. As the children grow, war leads to unthinkable heartbreak, deep love, and a story of betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption that fades into obscurity as centuries pass.
As Lucy and Dash explore mysterious ruins on the East Sussex coast, their search leads them to a community of souls and a long-hidden tale that may hold the answers–and the healing–they so desperately seek.
Read an excerpt here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
by admin | Jun 6, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Split Time

MY REVIEW:
I have thoroughly enjoyed Olivia Newport’s entire Tree of Life series thus far but I believe When I Meet You is probably my favorite. I love the way the author takes her readers back in time to meet earlier members of the family tree being researched by Jillian. I also enjoy reading about the relationships formed with her clients as Jillian researches their family. It’s also a bit fun when Jillian cannot stop herself from getting just a bit more involved in her work than it requires.
Jillian definitely gets more involved in her current research project and manages to ruffle a few feathers while she’s at it. And it it just possible that she may have met a potential romantic interest during this case? Somehow a simple assignment of finding possible descendants of the owner of a long abandoned trunk becomes quite personal to Jillian and she can not rest until she learns the truth.
I too found myself wanting to know what happened to the owner of that trunk. As I read the account of the original owner I hoped against hope that she did not meet with foul play. Her story played out at just the right pace with just enough details shared to keep the suspense building.
I also love Jillian’s relationship with her father and other members of the community. This author truly makes me want to visit and possibly stay in the make believe town of Canyon Mines. My only complaint is that all the talk about food makes me hungry!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Book: When I Meet You
Author: Olivia Newport
Genre: Christian fiction
Release Date: May, 2020
Click here to get your copy!
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Book 3 in the Tree of Life Series: A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Faith Journeys on Family Trees
A trunk abandoned at Denver’s Union Station more than a century ago leads Jillian and Nolan to untangle the mystery of its contents—including correspondence with the head of Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency Denver office. While Nolan digs into the legalities of the findings, Jillian searches for the descendants of a stolen identity who might not be who they think they are on Colorado ranch land. When Drew seems anxious to hear what Jillian has to say but his Great Aunt Min slams the subject closed—twice—Jillian is all the more determined to find out what happened to the woman who never claimed her luggage, why Min doesn’t want to talk about it, and what will happen for Drew if he gets the answers he seeks.
When I Meet You is the third book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. You’ll want to return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. Her husband and twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of Pikes Peak.
MORE FROM OLIVIA:
Stolen Identity or Stolen Secrets?
Years ago I made a business trip to a country in Asia. Somehow I managed to pack for two weeks in carry-on luggage. This was before everyone started carrying electronic devices that required a bag of their own, and the impoverished area I visited had only intermittent electricity anyway.
When it was time to come home, my luggage met the requirements to keep it with me as I traveled halfway around the world through several airports. But at the boarding gate, a woman pushed a cart stacked with six oversized and overstuffed suitcases, insisting she had to take all of them on the plane. Her argument was that she couldn’t risk losing her personal belongings. She was moving back to the States, this was everything she owned, and she just wasn’t having this nonsense about abiding by the same limitations as the other 300 people in line or that none of those bags would fit in an overhead compartment anyway. The airline staff began waving people around her to get the large aircraft boarded on time for an international flight. She was one of the last people to take her seat—without her bags.
I admit I prefer keeping my bags with me and getting in and out of airports quickly. And once my bags didn’t come off the same plane I did, and it took a few hours for them to be delivered to me.
But what happens to truly unclaimed baggage? One-half to one percent of baggage that goes through American airports is never claimed. Airlines will try for ninety days to find the owners. If they can’t, they have to do something with it. Generally it’s sold, sight unseen, to the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Alabama. There it is opened and sorted into what can be cleaned and sold in their store, what might be donated, and what has no value and is disposed of as trash. They find some pretty interesting things!
But my brain goes back to the curious question of why the baggage is unclaimed in the first place.
It’s not just because the airline lost it. We’ve all seen the lines of suitcases that baggage handlers remove from the circling conveyer belt because they’ve been around enough times that it’s obvious no one is there to pick them up after the flight. People got off the plane and left the airport without their bags. Why?
My new book, When I Meet You, raises the same question about travel in the railroad era. A trunk abandoned at Denver’s Union Station more than a century ago surfaces, leading genealogist Jillian and her lawyer father, Nolan, to untangle the mystery of its contents—including correspondence with the head of Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency Denver office. While Nolan digs into the legalities of the findings, Jillian searches for the descendants of a stolen identity who might not be who they think they are on Colorado ranch land. When Drew seems anxious to hear what Jillian has to say but his Great Aunt Min slams the subject closed—twice—Jillian is all the more determined to find out what happened to the woman who never claimed her luggage, why Min doesn’t want to talk about it, and what will happen for Drew if he gets the answers he seeks.
When I Meet You is the third book in the Tree of Life series. Return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys.
Visit www.olivianewport.com or find me at www.facebook.com/OliviaNewport.

BLOG STOPS:
Through the Fire Blogs, May 28
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 28
Texas Book-aholic, May 29
deb’s Book Review, May 29
For the Love of Literature, May 30
Lighthouse Academy Blog, May 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
A Reader’s Brain, May 31
Blogging With Carol, May 31
Older & Smarter?, June 1
CarpeDiem, June 1
Inklings and notions, June 2
All-of-a-kind Mom, June 2
Hallie Reads, June 2
Betti Mace, June 3
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 3
For Him and My Family, June 4 |
Bigreadersite, June 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 5
Worthy2Read, June 5
Pause for Tales, June 5
Just the Write Escape, June 6
Inside the Wong Mind, June 6
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 7
Connect in Fiction, June 7
Daysong Reflections, June 7
She Lives To Read, June 8
Read Review Rejoice, June 8
A Baker’s Perspective, June 9
Mary Hake, June 9
Remembrancy, June 9
Moments, June 10
With a Joyful Noise, June 10 |
GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/fa0b/when-i-meet-you-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Apr 6, 2020 | Books, Historical, Louisiana, Post Civil War, Split Time

MY REVIEW:
I honestly don’t even know how to begin a review for The Book of Lost Friends. As a long-time fan and influencer for Lisa Wingate, I obviously wanted to review this book but due to my mind being distracted by a prolonged family crisis, I had absolutely no clue as to its contents. I went into the story totally blind. As some other reviewers mentioned, it began fairly slow but I knew that the author tends to build her stories one layer at a time and the next thing I know I find myself hooked. That was the case with this beautiful tale. It didn’t take me long to wonder why I thought it could be at all slow.
A split time novel, readers are taken back and forth between post-Civil war Louisiana and 1987 Louisiana with freed slave Hannie and a teacher with her very first assignment. Interspersed between the chapters are actual historic newspaper ads from Hannie’s era of people who have written in search of their family members or friends. These ads played a huge role in the story as Hannie and two other young women traveled to Texas in search of her former master. Hannie’s tale is filled with danger and tragedy yet a small spark of hope pushes Hannie to continue searching for her own family members who were sold years before.
Benny soon finds herself in over her head with the high school students she is expected to teach. An avid reader, Benny hopes to instill a love of books into her pupils but most of them have absolutely no interest in the only book available to them. An unexpected discovery prompts Benny to develop a project that requires the students to dig into their own backgrounds.
I loved the way the author ties the characters of the two eras together. It was fun reading a name in a newspaper ad or in Hannie’s story and then find the same name among Benny’s students or residents of Augustine, Louisiana. Sometimes poignant yet filled with hope, The Book of Lost Friends brought me a new understanding of the slaves displaced by their owners or the war. It is a story with a little bit of everything – action and adventure, secrets and mystery, faith and hope, with just a touch of romance for good measure. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to everyone.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours comes a new historical novel: the dramatic story of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post–Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives.
Bestselling author Lisa Wingate brings to life startling stories from actual “Lost Friends” advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War, as newly freed slaves desperately searched for loved ones who had been sold away.
Louisiana, 1875: In the tumultuous era of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Hannie, a freed slave; Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now destitute plantation; and Juneau Jane, Lavinia’s Creole half sister. Each carries private wounds and powerful secrets as they head for Texas, following roads rife with vigilantes and soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of stolen inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and siblings before slavery’s end, the pilgrimage west reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family still be out there? Beyond the swamps lie the limitless frontiers of Texas and, improbably, hope.
Louisiana, 1987: For first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, a subsidized job at a poor rural school seems like the ticket to canceling her hefty student debt—until she lands in a tiny, out-of-step Mississippi River town. Augustine, Louisiana, is suspicious of new ideas and new people, and Benny can scarcely comprehend the lives of her poverty-stricken students. But amid the gnarled live oaks and run-down plantation homes lie the century-old history of three young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change everything.
Order a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lisa Wingate is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Before We Were Yours, which remained on the bestseller list for fifty-four weeks in hardcover and has sold over 2 million copies. She has penned over thirty novels and coauthored a nonfiction book, Before and After with Judy Christie. Her award-winning works have been selected for state and community One Book reads throughout the country, have been published in over forty languages, and have appeared on bestseller lists worldwide. The group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa and six others as recipients of the National Civies Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life. Booklist summed up her work by saying, “Lisa Wingate is, quite simply, a master storyteller.” She lives with her husband in North Texas. More information about her novels can be found at www.lisawingate.com where you can also sign up for her e-newsletter and follow her on social media.
LISA’S INTERNET LINKS:
Lisa’s website: www.Lisawingate.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/lisawingate
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaWingateAuthorPage
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/lisawingatebook/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/178832.Lisa_Wingate
Greeting cards with Lisa Wingate quotes. Buy a Card, Feed a Child.
http://www.shoplegacy.com/greeting-cards/browse-author-series/lisa-wingate-series-756/
by admin | Jan 1, 2020 | Books, Mystery, Romance, Split Time

MY REVIEW:
Jaime Jo Wright writes the type of books I love – atmospheric stories filled with mystery and emotions with characters that I can care about. Echoes Among the Stones is just that sort of novel. A split-time tale set in both 1946 and the present day, the narrative focuses on Aggie Dunkirk and Imogene Grayson who Aggie knows as her grandmother Mumsie.
Imogene’s story begins with the death of her beloved sister and follows her attempts to discover the killer. Aggie’s story begins when she moves to live with Mumsie and takes a job as secretary for the town’s cemetery. As one strange and frightening event after another occurs, Aggie and her new archaeologist friend endeavor to discover how the events are connected and who might be responsible.
I absolutely adored this darkly fascinating story and enjoyed how the author connected the past and present. The plot moved at a perfect pace, teasing me along the way. Characters were well rounded and seemed quite lifelike. The book was a definite page turner and I hated to put it down for even a minute until I reached its end. Of course I was also disappointed that I reached that point so quickly. I am eager for Wright’s next offering. It will definitely be on my must read list.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from the author and provided by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
After Aggie Dunkirk’s career is unceremoniously ended by her own mistakes, she finds herself traveling to Wisconsin, where her grandmother, Mumsie, lives alone in her vintage, though very outdated, home. Aggie didn’t plan for how eccentric Mumsie has become, obsessing over an old, unsolved crime scene–even going so far as to re-create it in a dollhouse.
Mystery seems to follow Aggie when she finds work as a secretary helping to restore the flooded historical part of the town’s cemetery. Forced to work with a puzzling yet attractive archaeologist, she exhumes the past’s secrets and unwittingly uncovers a crime that some will go to any length to keep hidden–even if that means silencing Aggie.
In 1946, Imogene Grayson works in a beauty salon but has her sights set on Hollywood. But coming home to discover her younger sister’s body in the attic changes everything. Unfamiliar with the burgeoning world of forensic science and, as a woman, not particularly welcomed into the investigation, Imogene is nonetheless determined to stay involved. As her sister’s case grows cold, Imogene vows to find justice . . . no matter the cost.
Read an excerpt HERE.
Purchase a copy HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jaime Jo Wright (www.jaimewrightbooks.com) is winner of the Christy, Carol, Daphne du Maurier, and INSPY Awards. She’s also the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of three novellas. Jaime works as a human resources director in Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and two children.
by admin | Oct 23, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, England, Historical, Ireland, Romance, Split Time, WWII

MY REVIEW:
The final book in Kristy Cambron’s Lost Castle series, The Painted Castle features Kiera, another member of the Foley family who seems destined to have castles in their lives. As an art expert, Kiera is asked to evaluate a mysterious painting found in an old English manor. Parallel stories that also feature the same manor take place in the Victorian era and during World War 2.
Each story could have easily been developed into a full novel of its own but worked splendidly together to flesh out the history of the people who had once lived in the manor as well as the mystery behind the portrait found there. Not only was each story a romance but each also contained unique elements that kept me wanting to know more. Victorian era Keaton and Elizabeth’s story held a murder mystery that spanned a decade. Amelia and Wyatt experienced the horrors of World War 2 bombings. Emory and Kiera worked together to discover the secrets of the manor and the unknown painting that had been hidden for so many years. These wonderful characters revealed a solid strength as they battled difficult circumstances in their lives.
I thoroughly enjoyed this journey through the years and Cambron’s unique way of revealing the manor’s secrets bit by bit. I hated to reach the end and could easily have read more about each time frame of the story. 
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Book: The Painted Castle
Author: Kristy Cambron
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: October 15, 2019
Click here to grab your copy. |
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Bestselling author Kristy Cambron concludes the Lost Castle novels with this sweeping tale of art and secrets long buried in England.
It was supposed to be a one-week job: survey an art find, collect a hefty fee, and use that to settle historian Kiera Foley’s life back into balance. But from the moment she sets foot in the East Suffolk countryside, the mysteries surrounding the old English manor and the enigmatic art thief who’s employed her stir more questions than answers. Then, Kiera finds the existence of a portrait captivating enough to upend all of her expectations. This one could be a twin-a painting so close in composition to a known masterpiece, it may be rendered priceless if it truly captured the likeness of a young Queen named Victoria.
Set in three time periods-the rapid change of Victorian England, the tumultuous skies over England’s eastern shores in WWII, and modern day-The Painted Castle unfolds a legacy of faith, family, and stories that are generations in the making.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
KRISTY CAMBRON is an award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling debut The Butterfly and the Violin, and an author of Bible studies, including the Verse Mapping series. She’s a Women’s Ministry Leader at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, and a passionate storyteller who travels to speak at events across the country, encouraging women to experience a deeper life in the Word through verse mapping. Her work has been named to Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books, RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, and received 2015 & 2017 INSPY Award nominations. Kristy holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing, and has 15 years of experience in education and leadership development for a Fortune-100 Corporation, working with such companies as the Disney Institute, IBM/Kenexa, and Gallup. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, and can probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good read.
MORE FROM KRISTY:
About The Painted Castle
A war-torn estate holding its secrets close. A lost library bricked off from the world. And a portrait-maker’s unknown masterpiece of a Queen named Victoria… What stories do they long to tell?
It was supposed to be a one-week snatch-and-grab: survey an art find, collect a hefty fee, and use that to settle historian Kiera Foley’s life back into balance. But from the moment she sets foot in the East Suffolk countryside, the mystery of an old English manor, a crumbling beekeeper’s cottage, and a library that had long ago been sealed off brick by brick, all stir more questions than answers. What begins as a novice assignment instead peels back layers, lulling Keira into the depths of the estate’s long-forgotten history.
Despite questions swirling around the enigmatic, rumored art thief who’s employed her, Keira finds the existence of a portrait captivating enough to upend all of her expectations. This one could be a twin—a painting so close in composition to a known masterpiece, it may be rendered priceless if it truly captured the likeness of a young Queen named Victoria…
1842— In order to salvage what’s left of her family’s shaky circumstances, artist Elizabeth Meade knows her duty must be to marry well. But she hopes looks can be deceiving enough to hide her true motives behind a congenial smile and gain entry into the ballrooms of England’s noble elite. Instead of husband-hunting, Elizabeth searches for the one thing that’s seared to her memory—the eyes of her father’s killer, whom she unwittingly sketched one snowy night in Piccadilly ten years before. She never expects to find answers tucked away in the countryside at Parham Hill, in the form of a portrait-maker who could help her artist dreams come true, if only she could forget the highwayman she’s hunted for the last decade—the estate-owner who unwittingly selects her as his betrothed…
1942—When the 390th Bomb Group arrives at Amelia Woods’ Parham Hill Estate, the American flyboys bring playing cards, B-17 “flying fortresses”, and enough bravado to believe they can triumph over Hitler just by staring him down. Amelia isn’t certain, and she’s unwilling to compromise the safety and security in a carefully-crafted world she’s built for the dozens of London-evacuated children left in her charge. But with Anderson shelters buried in the gardens and an Allied airfield a stone’s throw away, Amelia may have no choice but to wait out the war under blackouts and bombs, and accept help from the captain who offers it—even if it means risking all she has left of her late husband’s memory…
From the streets of Piccadilly and the lavish halls of Buckingham Palace to the countryside surrounding Framlingham Castle, a warn-torn estate, a hidden library, and the lost portrait of a queen come together to write the final chapter in the Lost Castle series. Set in three time periods—the rapid change of Victorian England, the tumultuous skies over England’s eastern shores in WWII, and modern day—The Painted Castle unfolds a legacy of faith and the family we fight for, of risk and reward, and the artful crafting of a story that can be generations in the making… yet still change everything about a single life.

BLOG STOPS:
All-of-a-kind Mom, October 15
The Power of Words, October 15
A Baker’s Perspective, October 15
The Avid Reader, October 16
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 16
Betti Mace, October 16
Reflections From My Bookshelves, October 17
Fiction Aficionado, October 17
Through the Fire Blogs, October 17
Inklings and notions , October 18
AndreaChristenson, October 18
She Lives to Read, October 18
Bloging With Carol, October 18
The Christian Fiction Girl, October 19
Back Porch Reads , October 19
Christian Bookaholic , October 19
KarenSueHadley, October 20
Livin’ Lit, October 20
A Reader’s Brain, October 20
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 20
Genesis 5020, October 21
Worthy2Read, October 21
Life of Literature, October 21
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 22 |
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 22
janicesbookreviews, October 22
For Him and My Family, October 22
Older & Smarter?, October 23
Mia Reads Blog, October 23
The Becca Files, October 23
Daysong Reflections, October 24
Connect in Fiction, October 24
Texas Book-aholic, October 24
Just the Write Escape, October 24
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 25
Moments, October 25
Simple Harvest Reads, October 25
Pause for Tales, October 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 26
Lis Loves Reading, October 26
Hallie Reads, October 26
Living Life Free In Christ, October 27
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, October 27
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 27
Soutgern Gal Loves to Read, October 28
Remembrancy, October 28
Batya’s Bits, October 28
Leona J. Atkinson, October 28 |
by admin | Aug 1, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Historical, Romance, Split Time

MY REVIEW:
As far as I know, Robin Lee Hatcher has never written a book I didn’t enjoy. Some have been historical while others are contemporary. A few have been rather humorous and several have probed into deep emotional and spiritual themes. The author’s latest series, “A Legacy of Faith” combines both historical and contemporary stories that feature a family Bible that has been passed down through the generations. Cross My Heart is the second book in this excellent series.
This is the story of Ashley Showalter, a young woman who rescues horses and Ben Henning, a young man whose dream is to offer equine therapy on the farm he inherited. The two of them seem to have a lot in common and find it easy to spend time together. Neither is interested in a romantic relationship due to unpleasant life experiences but as expected, they find it difficult to resist the growing attraction between them. Naturally there will be roadblocks along the way but will love and forgiveness allow them to overcome the obstacles?
Cross My Heart deals with addiction and the effects it has on both the addict and his/her family and friends. The author handled the subject realistically without judgement or condemnation and illustrated how with God’s help, renewed trust and healing of shame and guilt are possible. The contrast between Ben’s life and his great-grandfather’s life added an extra element that made the story all the more enjoyable and made the series title come to life. I highly recommend Cross My Heart as well as the previous book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Book: Cross My Heart
Author: Robin Lee Hatcher
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release date: June 25, 2019
Click here to grab your copy. |
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Can two broken paths lead toward God’s redemption?
When Ashley Showalter and Ben Henning meet on Ashley’s horse rescue farm, they quickly discover how much they have in common. Both were raised by single moms. Both want to help where they see a need. And both work with horses in the Boise valley. Ben needs Ashley’s help and expertise after starting an equine therapy barn on his great-great-grandfather’s farm—and the more time they spend together, both Ashley and Ben have the feeling that there could be something more between them.
They also carry the burden of past experiences that may drive them apart if the truth is ever revealed. Ben is a recovering alcoholic with five years of sobriety behind him, while Ashley’s brother is an opioid addict residing in court-ordered rehab. Holding fast to the belief that addicts can never be cured, Ashley has promised herself she will never walk knowingly into the chaos created by addiction. Ben knows that with God, all things are possible—but will Ashley find it within herself to give love a chance? Or will her brother’s mistakes and the pain of her past jeopardize her future with Ben?
Cross My Heart threads together a contemporary love story with the heartwarming tale of Ben’s great-great-grandfather, Andrew Henning—reminding us that God’s Word is timeless and that His promises are new every morning.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 75 novels and novellas with over five million copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Robin is an ACFW Carol Award winner and an eight-time finalist and has won two RITA Awards and been a finalist eleven times. Her numerous other awards include the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. She is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. A mother and grandmother, Robin and her husband make their home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.
For more information, visit robinleehatcher.com; Facebook: robinleehatcher; or Twitter: @robinleehatcher.
MORE FROM ROBIN:
MY WRITING DESK
ROBIN LEE HATCHER
I have a wonderful home office with a large screen iMac and the perfect place to keep important papers and reminders right in front of me for easy access. There is also a bed for my dog, Boo, because no office is complete without a bed to welcome the dog. Right?
I also do a lot of writing while seated in a big easy chair in the living room. It all depends upon my mood and how many reference books I might need at the time.
My office usually looks neat when I begin a book. By the time I’m writing the end, the room has become a disaster—stacks of papers demanding my attention and a layer of dust are the most obvious issues.
My office also serves as my art studio (where I do decorative planning and Bible art journaling), so every inch that isn’t taken up by writing related items is filled with art related ones—paints, washi tape, stickers, pens galore, etc.
An early riser naturally, I consider sleeping in to be anything after 6 AM. On a normal writing day, I try to get in half an hour on the treadmill first thing in the morning (and often return to it for ten minutes segments a couple other times during the day). Then I sit at my desk or in my easy chair to do my Bible study. And finally I begin writing.
I can usually create new words for about four hours or so a day. The rest of the work day is filled with editing, revising, research, and correspondence with publisher, agent, readers, and other writers. I have an active online presence which needs attention daily, as well.
I am also a late-in-life part time college student, taking my classes online, so at least a couple of days a week, you’ll find me doing assignments and taking quizzes. For some reason, I rarely use my office for that. The kitchen table seems to suit me better. Probably because it is a large table and I can really spread out.
I feel very blessed to be able to work at home. I had a full time job when I wrote my first book. In fact, I wrote nine novels over the course of nine years while still working full time. The month my ninth book released, I quit my job in order to write full time. Seventy books and almost 28 years later, I’m still at it. As I said, I am blessed.
BLOG STOPS:
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 27
The Christian Fiction Girl, July 27
The Power of Words, July 27
Carla Johnson-Hicks, July 28
Christian Bookaholic , July 28
Through the Fire Blogs, July 29
A Baker’s Perspective, July 29
Back Porch Reads, July 30
Cultivating Us, July 30
Godly Book Reviews, July 31
For Him and My Family, July 31
God’s Little Bookworm, August 1
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 1
Daysong Reflections, August 2
EmpowerMoms, August 2
Southern Gal Loves to Read, August 2
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, August 3 |
Moments, August 3
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 4
Remembrancy, August 4
Pause for Tales , August 5
For The Love of Books, August 5
All-of-a-kind Mom, August 6
Hallie Reads, August 6
Living Life Free in Christ, August 7
To Everything A Season, August 7
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 7
Wishful Endings, August 8
Texas Book-aholic, August 8
janicesbookreviews, August 8
A Reader’s Brain, August 9
Inklings and notions, August 9
Simple Harvest Reads, August 9 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away a grand prize of a copy of her book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/e5a6/cross-my-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway