by admin | Jul 14, 2015 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I was so charmed by Millie’s character in “After a Fashion” that I couldn’t wait to read her own story. Well, I finally had the chance and as expected I loved it. My only complaint is that it ended much too soon and now I have to wait again for the next volume of this wonderful series.
Millie’s character brought back memories of my grandmother who was feisty, funny, and had a similar tendency to get words mixed up. We still laugh about the time she told us that a person must be scenic but meant psychic. With all her fun-loving ways, I would like to think that in her younger days my grandmother may have been much like Millie.
Aside from my personal memories, “In Good Company” absolutely lived up to my expectations. It was humorous, romantic, and entertaining yet did not fail to impart a spiritual message as well. Peppered with numerous laugh-out-loud scenes from the very beginning, the story captured my interest and wouldn’t let go until the final page. I loved touching base with characters from “After a Fashion”, several of whom continued to play strong supporting roles.
Jen Turano is my go-to author when I need a light-hearted book that will be sure to cheer up the darkest mood. If you haven’t tried one of her novels, please do yourself a favor and pick up one (or all) of them.
This book was provided for review by the author through
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren’t always well-received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position.
Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he’s desperate for competent childcare.
At wit’s end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance–with each other. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges, Everett focuses on achieving the coveted societal status of the upper echelons. But as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the children’s parents, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?
Read an excerpt from In Good Company.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jen Turano, author of six books, is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in clothing and textiles. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.
by admin | Jul 12, 2015 | Books, England, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I found Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor to be a riveting story that spanned three generations of women of one family. Although the story moved from past to present frequently, I never had a problem keeping up with the plot. I loved how the author put the story together with Heather discovering family secrets when she returned home to settle her father’s estate.
I also liked how those secrets were doled out one at a time as I learned new facts about each of the women that eventually resulted in more than one huge surprise – surprises that revealed just how closely the histories of these women were entwined and how similar their lives had evolved.
With ample drama, renewed romance, a touch of mystery, and a faith-based plot, Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor contained every element that I require in a good book. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and recommend it.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Uncover a plethora of secrets and a mystery that tie two families together in Melanie Dobson’s new book, Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor. Years ago, the body of Oliver Croft, heir of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor, was found drowned in the River Coln. Authorities searched for answers, but no one was ever held responsible for Oliver’s death.
When Heather Toulson returns to her parents’ cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder.
Libby, a free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver’s death.
Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family’s cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She’s mourning her father’s passing but can’t let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family’s belongings left behind in the cottage. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family’s history.
Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways.
Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of thirteen historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels. Two of her novels won Carol Awards in 2011, and “Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana” won Best Novel of Indiana in 2010. Melanie lives with her husband Jon and two daughters near Portland, Oregon.
Find out more about Melanie at http://www.melaniedobson.com.
by admin | Jul 7, 2015 | Books, Historical, Miracles
MY REVIEW:
When I agreed to review “The Pilgrim” I was actually unaware of its subject. My past experience with Davis Bunn’s novels is that I can expect them to hold my interest and to be very well researched. I have read so many of them that I do not hesitate when a new one is released. I grew up in a small, southern, rural community where almost everyone went to a Protestant church – usually Baptist, Methodist, or Presbyterian so I had very little knowledge of the Catholic faith. I went into this book with absolutely no clue about Empress Helena and very limited memory about her son Constantine, but I am so thankful I had the opportunity to get to know her through its pages.
What a lady! I can only wish that my faith and determination to live it could be even a fraction of the amount of faith Helena possessed. Her pilgrimage to Jerusalem and her firm belief in the vision she received from God were inspirational. Her strength and love motivated an ever-growing group of pilgrims whose faith grew as a result. I couldn’t help but think how different our world today might be if Christians worked together in the same way and were an example to those who were yet to believe.
“The Pilgrim” is a story for everyone. It may be the story of a Catholic saint but her trust in the Lord to take care of her as she followed the path as He directed is an example to all those who claim to follow Christ.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from
Franciscan Media in exchange for my honest review.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Travel with Empress Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine the Great, on a perilous journey through ancient Judea to Jerusalem.
Abandoned by her husband, in danger because of her faith, but with an implacable will to do what God calls her to, Helena meets those who would help and harm her along the way. Miracles seem to follow this humble but determined woman as she wins many over to the faith, and changes lives forever—including her own. This unforgettable story is a vivid portrait of one of Christian history’s most important women.
Free sample of The Pilgrim by Davis Bunn
ISBN-10: 1632530341
ISBN-13: 978-1632530349
Hardcover and Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Franciscan Media
Publication Date: July 17, 2015
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Davis Bunn is an award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies.
His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the Christy Hall of Fame.
Davis divides his time between Florida and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent’s Park College at The University of Oxford. Visit Davis at http://www.davisbunn.com.
Q&A With Davis Bunn, author of The Pilgrim
Q: There are many legends about Constantine and his mother, Helena. How did you decide which legend to incorporate into the story?
Davis Bunn: The period when Constantine became the first Christian emperor is one about which so much has been written, and yet so little detail is known. No one knows for certain where his mother, Helena – the main character in The Pilgrim – was born. There are three main legends, and I used the one that has the greatest sense of historical resonance, that she was British, and her father ruled one of the provinces taken over by the Romans. Her husband was a general who met Helena in the local market and fell in love at first sight.
Q: What is the appeal of writing about a historical figure? What was one special challenge you faced in doing so?
First and foremost, Helena is a saint in the eyes of the Catholic church. Her son, Emperor Constantine, was the first Roman leader to convert to Christianity. His death marked the moment when Christians were freed from persecution. Constantine was led to faith by his mother. The Pilgrim is her story.
While I am a fervent evangelical Protestant, my wife is Catholic. My mother is a Catholic convert. As is my sister, who has raised her two daughters as Catholic. So part of what I wanted to do here was to grow closer to the heritage that these dear people treasure. Their faith has had such an impact on my own life. It was important that I use this story and this opportunity to create something that would honor their perspective on faith. I also wanted to share with readers the enormous life lessons we can learn from the lives of the saints.
So many, many different issues came up as a result of this quest. It proved to be a beautiful and intense growing experience. Although this book is not particularly long, the actual writing took as long as some of my much bigger books. Part of this was honing the story so their faith, and their history, was honored, but done from a foundation that reflected my own personal walk in faith.
My hope, my fervent prayer, is that the story will resonate with readers from both faith communities.
Q: The end of The Pilgrim leaves the reader wanting more. Will you revisit this story down the road?
I am working on a second book, The Fragment, which is scheduled for publication in the spring of 2016. The Fragment carries some of the concepts from The Pilgrim into the early twentieth century, when the U.S. came to possess a reliquary with a supposed component of Jesus’s cross. It ends in a vignette that happens today, when a couple travels to Rome.
Q: How can readers find you on the Internet?
Website: http://www.davisbunn.com/
Subscribe to Davis’s e-newsletter: Send a blank email to davisbunn@aweber.com
Receive Davis’s latest blog posts via your feed reader: http://feeds.feedburner.com/DavisBunn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davisbunnauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/davisbunn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/davisbunn
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/davisbunn/
by admin | Jul 7, 2015 | Books, Giveaways, Historical, Regency, Romance, Shakers, Speculative, Supernatural
MY REVIEW:
Ann Gabhart takes her readers back for another visit to Harmony Hill where they are treated to an intimate glimpse of life in the Shaker village. The peace-loving residents of Harmony Hill are hard-working folks and many go about their business in a loving manner. Others enjoy forcing their strict rules on new residents with a controlling hand. Still others hide secrets that threaten those who discover them.
I enjoyed Carlyn and Luke’s story even though it was sometimes filled with difficulties and seeming roadblocks. The author painted a portrait of the Shakers in a matter-of-fact way that allows readers to make up their own minds about their unorthodox practices. I came away from the story with the realization that many residents of Harmony Hill were possibly there for similar reasons as Carlyn – they had nowhere else to go but did not necessarily buy into the odd theology. Others may have been deceived but were not actually bad people.
I always find historical fiction of interest and usually learn from it. I liked how well Gabhart seems to have researched her subject matter. I also thought she told Carlyn’s story well with plenty of insight into her thoughts plus enough action, suspense, and romance to hold my attention.
This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She longs for peace–for her land and her heart–but can it truly be found at Harmony Hill?
Carlyn Kearney has spent two lonely years not knowing whether to mourn or to hope after she receives word from the Union Army that her husband is missing. When the war ends without further word, Carlyn finds herself penniless, in debt, and forced from her home. With nowhere else to go, she seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill.
The Shakers profess peace through simple living, but to Carlyn, the Shaker life seems anything but simple. When mysterious deaths disturb the peace of the village, Carlyn falls under intense scrutiny. Can a kind sheriff help her expose the true culprit?
Bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart invites fans back to Harmony Hill for a story laced with intrigue, romance, and heart.
Read an excerpt from THE INNOCENT.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
by admin | Jul 2, 2015 | Books, Historical, Romance, San Francisco
MY REVIEW:
After reading the first book in Karen Barnett’s The Golden Gate Chronicles, I have eagerly anticipated “Beyond the Ashes”. I love most genres of Christian fiction but Historical novels hold a special place in my heart and books like Karen’s fuel the fire (no pun intended).
When this story begins, San Francisco is in the process of rebuilding after its devastating earthquake. Many are still homeless and live in government provided huts in city parks. Doctors Gerald Larkspur and Robert King have continued their research into cancer treatment with radiation. Although they have seen some positive effects, none of their patients have survived and apparently Gerald has suffered a severe burn from the x-ray equipment they use.
Robert’s older sister Ruby has been alone for two years after the death of her husband in an accident. Encouraged by her cousin and good friend to find something useful to do, Ruby decides to face her fears, leave her home in Sacramento, and go to San Francisco to use her nursing training to help those in need. Ruby is not prepared for what she finds when she reaches San Francisco, especially the attraction she feels for her brother’s partner.
I thoroughly enjoyed every page of “Beyond the Ashes”. The early history of radiation treatment for cancer was eye-opening considering how much we take it for granted now. Details about the organized recovery efforts after the earthquake were also of interest and made me wonder if today’s population would work together as well if faced with a similar disaster.
I enjoyed spending time again with Robert, Gerald, Abby, and their families from “Out of the Ruins” and loved getting to know Ruby and Patrick and hope to see more of them and the rest in the next novel. Ruby was stronger than she realized and proved that fact in the way she took on challenges many women would not even consider. Her beauty and her caring heart won her more than one admirer but only one of them threatened to capture her lonely heart. I did get a bit aggravated with Gerald’s determination to ignore his injury for so long and his refusal to allow Robert to treat it before it became so serious.
“Beyond the Ashes” is a wonderful book with a strong theme of turning your future and your dreams over to the Lord. I very much recommend it as well as “Out of the Ruins”. Can’t wait for book three in this series.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Where better to rebuild and face one’s fears than in 1906 San Francisco, a city rising from the ashes?
Ruby Marshall, a young widow, is certain she’ll discover new purpose assisting her brother Robert with his cancer research, but she doesn’t anticipate finding new love.
Dr. Gerald Larkspur dreams of filling his empty home with family, but he’d always hoped it would be a wife and children. In the aftermath of the great earthquake, the rooms are overflowing with extended family and friends left homeless by the disaster. When Robert’s widowed sister arrives, the close quarters seem close indeed.
Ruby and Gerald’s fledgling romance is put at risk when Gerald develops symptoms of the very disease they’re striving to cure. Together they must ask—is it worth a second chance at love when time might be short?
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Karen Barnett is the author of “Beyond the Ashes,” “Out of the Ruins,” and “Mistaken.” Named the 2013 Writer of Promise by Oregon Christian Writers, Karen lives in Albany, Oregon, with her husband and two kids. When she’s not writing novels, she loves speaking at women’s events, libraries, and book clubs.
Find out more about Karen at http://karenbarnettbooks.com.
by admin | Jun 26, 2015 | Books, Depression Era, Dust Bowl, Historical, Oklahoma, Oklahome
MY REVIEW:
“On Shifting Sand” is a difficult book to read but not because it is poorly written. In fact, in many ways it may be a literary masterpiece. The difficulty is the way Nola gets under your skin and forces you to look at yourself and what drives you – possibly more closely than is comfortable.
There are many who probably should not read this novel because it will not meet their standards of what should constitute a “Christian” novel. After all, the primary character sins repeatedly and for some reason, quite a few readers want their books to be sweet and perfect. So if you are one of those, please don’t bother reading “On Shifting Sand”. It is too down-to-earth and contains what might be offensive to you.
Yes, Nola was messed up and she brought many of her problems on herself. Every time temptation came calling, she fooled herself into thinking she was strong enough to handle it but she rarely succeeded. In fact, there were times that she even went looking for trouble, mistakenly thinking she could set things right. It would be wrong to lay the blame entirely at Nola’s feet or to be so foolish to blame it on the devil. Our enemy does seem to know our weaknesses and is skilled at exploiting them. But Nola was broken emotionally by her upbringing and had such low self-esteem that she needed someone who “saw” her. Her husband Russ, loved her but was so wrapped up in his little congregation that Nola often felt invisible. In her own way, Nola also tried to let Russ know that there was a problem but he never understood.
“On Shifting Sand” is set during the depression and dust bowl era and Pittman’s description of life in Oklahoma during that time is so eloquent that I came close to getting lost there and was almost surprised to look up from my book and find myself in my own air-conditioned home.
I could probably write my own novel about all the impressions I gained from this book. I suggest that if you aren’t afraid of a gritty, realistic book, go ahead and pick up a copy.
This book was provided for review by The Book Club Network, Inc..
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Long before anyone would christen it “The Dust Bowl,” Nola Merrill senses the destruction. She’s been drying up bit by bit since the day her mother died, leaving her to be raised by a father who withholds his affection the way God keeps a grip on the Oklahoma rain. A hasty marriage to Russ, a young preacher, didn’t bring the escape she desired. Now, twelve years later with two children to raise, new seeds of dissatisfaction take root. When Jim, a mysterious drifter and long-lost friend from her husband’s past, takes refuge in their home, Nola slowly springs to life under his attentions until a single, reckless encounter brings her to commit the ultimate betrayal of her marriage. For months Nola withers in the wake of the sin she so desperately tries to bury. Guilt and shame consume her physically and spiritually, until an opportunity arises that will bring the family far from the drought and dust of Oklahoma. Or so she thinks. As the storms follow, she is consumed with the burden of her sin and confesses all, hoping to find Russ’s love strong enough to stand the test.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
As far as I know, I have always been a writer. Before I could put words to page, I would dictate stories to my mother. I have always lulled myself to sleep by crafting stories–a new chapter each night. When God called me to write, I was thrilled to answer His prompting. And so it was, after a long conversation with my husband, I left a 20-year teaching career to pursue a new direction. It called for a HUGE step of faith, but God has kept me and our family safe. I count every single one of my readers as one of God’s blessings in my life, and I like to think of my stories as being the first step in a conversation. Please visit my website, www.allisonpittman.com and send me an email. It is one of my greatest joys to hear from you!
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Words Spoken True, as well as several Shaker novels–The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted–and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Learn more at 
