by admin | Sep 26, 2019 | Amish, Books, Christmas, Romance
MY REVIEW:
A Christmas Haven is another heartwarming Christmas novella by the team of Cindy Woodsmall and her daughter-in-law Erin. In this book readers will revisit characters from last year’s Christmas novella, The Christmas Remedy. Not only will they catch up with Holly and Joshua but Holly’s sister Ivy takes center stage along with a couple of totally new characters.
The story itself actually covers a number of months but concludes during the Christmas season. Ivy finds the strict rules of her Old Order Amish community to be restrictive and has already begun to make plans to leave when Arlan and his sister Madga take refuge in her family’s home. The brother and sister are members of an even more conservative Amish group and find the Old Order practices to be quite liberal in comparison to how they have been raised. Over time both Arlan and Ivy begin to question their personal beliefs and decisions they have made.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Christmas Haven and appreciated the spiritual journey that several characters traveled during the course of the book. I encountered a number of very quotable passages during my reading and particularly liked the conclusions that Arlan came to about grace.
A Christmas Haven is another keeper for my growing collection of Christmas themed books. Readers who enjoy Amish fiction should love this one.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Waterbrook Multnomah. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
For fans of holiday romances and Amish life comes a new Christmas tale of surprising expectations and discovering miracles.
Old Order Amish Ivy Zook is wrestling with her need to shed her community’s ways so she can grow the business of her dreams: planning parties. As long as she’s stuck living without modernization, she can barely get her business on its feet. But if she leaves too soon, she’d cause trouble for her sister, Holly, who is planning her wedding to Joshua Smucker. All of their plans become twice as complicated when an old car crashes into the storefront of Greene’s Pharmacy, carrying a Swartzentruber (ultra-conservative sect) Amish man, Arlan, and his very ill sister.
The Zooks take in Arlan and Madga, tending to the woman’s illness and Arlan begins helping around the family farm. Ivy and Arlan are on different tracks, one wanting to leave her community and the other to return to his. But both young people are trying to discover what God has in store for their futures and what miracles might lie around the corner this Christmas season.
Read the first chapter Here.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Cindy Woodsmall is the “New York Times” and CBA best-selling author of eighteen works of fiction. She’s been featured in national media outlets such as ABC’s “Nightline” and the “Wall Street Journal.” Cindy has won numerous awards and has been finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards. Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in Flowery Branch, GA.
Erin Woodsmall is a writer, musician, wife, and mom of three. She has edited, brainstormed, and researched books with Cindy for almost a decade. She is very excited about their first coauthored book.
Find out more about Cindy and Erin at http://www.cindywoodsmall.com.
by admin | Sep 25, 2019 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
The more I read by Chautona Havig, the more I realize just what a talent she has. Words seem to flow effortlessly from this lady no matter what genre she decides to tackle. Whether it is mystery/suspense, contemporary romance, or a historical western, I have found that I can expect a few hours of reading enjoyment.
The Trouble With Nancy certainly met my expectations. Nancy, the heroine was a feisty and determined young woman who decided to step up and help save her family home despite the fact that she was woefully ill-equipped to take her brother’s place as a rider for the Pony Express. As I rode alongside Nancy in my imagination for all those harrowing miles as she bounced along painfully, I experienced hardship, danger, some unsavory characters, and even a few who went out of their way to help. A surprise romance added the perfect icing to the cake. I found myself laughing out loud at some of Nancy’s exploits one moment and holding my breath during others.
I particularly loved how Nancy grew closer to the Lord through her experiences and matured from a silly, self-absorbed girl into a wise and caring young woman. I am thankful that I had the chance to read this great book and hope that there will be more of this type coming soon.
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 Trouble with Nancy
Author: Chautona Havig
Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Western
Release Date: July 18, 2019 |
 |
Her reputation precedes her, whether the bad guys realize it or not.
Nancy Harrison has finally stepped out of her prissy box and tried to do something helpful–but did she go overboard in her first self-less act?
She can’t ride, she hates horses, and she’s terrified of being alone. What’s a girl to do?
Join the Pony Express, of course.
When Nancy Harrison’s family receives a tax bill they can’t pay, there’s only one option open to them. Her brother, Lewis, will have to join the Pony Express and earn the money that way.
It would have worked, too, if ruffians hadn’t attacked him and broken his leg.
She doesn’t want to do it, of course, but what choice is there? Lose everything or ride a stupid, smelly horse for a few weeks? Nancy decides that she’ll chop off her hair, take to the dusty overland trail, and prove that she isn’t a “flighty little thing.”
But things go from bad to worse as she discovers that riding astride is worse than sidesaddle—especially when you’re not used to it.
Can’t she just go back home to balls, teas, and the hope of a suitor before her twentieth birthday? Sans her hair, of course, because that’ll entice the fellows. Sigh.
Click here to get your copy!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her on the web and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.
VIDEO CHAT WITH CHAUTONA:
BLOG STOPS:
| Daysong Reflections, September 25
Quiet Workings, September 25
Blossoms and Blessings, September 26
Books, Life, and Christ, September 26
Pause for Tales , September 27
For Him and my Family, September 27
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess , September 28
Texas Book-aholic, September 29
Mary Hake, September 29
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 30
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 30
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 1 |
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 2
For the Love of Books , October 2
Inklings and notions, October 3
Emily Yager, October 4
Batya’s Bits, October 4
Older & Smarter?, October 5
janicesbookreviews, October 6
Betti Mace, October 6
A Reader’s Brain, October 7
Wishful Endings, October 7
Lots of Helpers, October 8
She Lives to Read, October 8 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of the book and a Pony Express book cozy!!
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/ed48/the-trouble-with-nancy-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Sep 23, 2019 | Books, Gold Rush, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Hills of Nevermore is a historical western featuring two young widows with children who form a bond on their wagon train journey to the west and decide to work together to establish a restaurant in the gold fields. As can be expected the long road to that dream is filled with action and danger which includes some Indians, drunken miners, corrupt law enforcement, and road bandits. The Old West was definitely not the most forgiving place to start over, especially as a woman but as most readers can imagine, two men were ready and willing to protect and help these independent ladies. But could they overcome the obstacles between them to find happily-ever-afters together?
Although this is my first book by this author, I found it to be quite enjoyable. I have a weakness for Westerns and this fit the genre quite nicely. I particularly liked the strong faith element that was woven seamlessly throughout the story as well as each character’s spiritual growth as it progressed. It was interesting to get to know each character and learn more about their past and how that affected their decisions. It was also fun to discover the sweet scene from which this novel got its name.
I enjoyed Hills of Nevermore so much that I look forward to the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Can a young widow hide her secret shame from the Irish circuit preacher bent on helping her survive?
In an Idaho Territory boom town, America Liberty Reed overhears circuit preacher Shane Hayes try to persuade a hotel owner to close his saloon on Sunday. Shane lands face-down in the mud for his trouble, and there’s talk of shooting him. America intervenes and finds herself in an unexpectedly personal conversation with the blue-eyed preacher. Certain she has angered God in the past, she shies away from Shane.
Addie Martin, another widow, invites America to help in her cook tent in Virginia City, the new mining town. Even with Addie’s teenage son helping with America’s baby, life is hard. Shane urges America to depart for a more civilized location. Neither Shane’s persuasions nor road agents, murder, sickness, or vigilante violence can sway America. Loyalty and ambition hold her fast until dire circumstances force her to confront everything she believes about herself, Shane, and God.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
My father instilled a love of literature in me at an early age by reading chapters from “The Wizard of Oz,” “Robinson Crusoe” and other classics. When I grew older, and he stopped reading bedtime stories, I put myself to sleep with tales I “wrote” in my head. My sixth-grade teacher noticed my penchant for writing and encouraged me to become a novelist.
I’m considered a multi-genre author, but I like to think of myself as a storyteller. The same elements appear in all my novels in proportions dictated by their genre: romance, mystery, adventure, history, and whimsy.
Sign up at http://janalynvoigt.com to be notified when these titles release, for book extras, and reader bonuses.
Epic Fantasy: “DawnSinger” and “Wayfarer” are the first two novels in the epic fantasy series, “Tales of Faeraven.” The final books in the series, “Sojourner” and “DawnKing,” are under contract with my publisher.
Historical Fiction: “Hills of Nevermore,” first installment in the “Montana Gold,” set during Montana’s gold rush in the days of vigilante justice, will release in 2017.
Romantic Suspense/Mystery: “Deceptive Tide (Islands of Intrigue-San Juans)” will release in October 2016. This title is romantic suspense, but I am also branching into writing mystery novels written in the classic style of Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt.
Find out more about my books and about me as an author at my website: http://janalynvoigt.com.
by admin | Sep 20, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
You Belong With Me is an easy-to-read and enjoyable contemporary romance. The primary character Hannah Thornton was a piece of work. As a realtor she seemed to spend more time trying to talk clients out of selling their homes than she did selling them. An talk about an accident waiting to happen! Yes, that would be Hannah. On the other hand Hannah loves her small town and is willing to do almost anything to help restore it and bring it back to life. Unfortunately that would take more money than the town had available.
Then there was the little complication of Hannah being in love with her best friend Luke Johnson but afraid to lose his friendship if things didn’t work out between them. So of course Luke feels the same about Hannah but is pretty sure he doesn’t measure up to what she wants for a husband. Plenty of poor communication going on here and things might just get worse before they get better. Hannah also has a habit of sticking her nose into things she shouldn’t. I could see all sort of potential for disaster.
I enjoyed You Belong With Me very much! I loved the characters and it was fun to see how their story played out. It was also great getting a two-for-one romance as a bonus but not telling who the other couple was. Hoping to see Derek’s story show up in a future book. He was pretty much a charming jerk in this on but I can see that he has potential to do a total turn-around. Looking forward to more novels by this author!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents.
Unfortunately, selling houses isn’t one of them.
When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map–and hopefully restore her disgraced family name. But she’ll need help to do it.
As a foster kid, Luke Johnson never truly felt he belonged. Now he has a chance to earn his place in his hometown. But he doesn’t anticipate how his relationship with Hannah will set into motion events that reveal the truth about who he is–and who he was.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tari Faris has been writing fiction for more than 10 years. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy, she works for My Book Therapy, manages learnhowtowriteanovel.com, and is a 2017 Genesis Award winner. She has an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary and lives in the Phoenix, Arizona, area with her husband and their three children. Although she lives in the Southwest now, she lived in a small town in Michigan for 25 years.
by admin | Sep 16, 2019 | Books, England, Historical, Regency, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
As a longtime fan of Gothic novels, I have been pleased to see several Christian authors begin to offer books in that genre. I’m not certain why I find those dark and mysterious books so intriguing but I do love them. Abigail Wilson is a fairly new author whose two books I’ve read fit into that genre very well.
Midnight on the River Grey features young Rebecca Hunter whose brother died under mysterious circumstances. Forced to live with her guardian, Lewis Browning who she believes is responsible for the death, Rebecca is determined to prove his guilt. As most readers know, things are not always as they seem and Rebecca may have a difficult finding the proof she needs. And is it possible that she may change her feelings toward her guardian?
I enjoyed this book immensely with its dark and brooding atmosphere, danger and secrets around every corner, and Rebecca’s own personal fears. The romance was not unexpected but welcome all the same. All-in-all this book was a satisfying experience and I would definitely read more by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Amazon Vine. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Can one develop feelings for the man you swore to see hanged? That’s just what Rebecca fears she has done in this Gothic Regency romance.
After her brother’s mysterious death, Rebecca Hunter vows to expose the man she believes responsible: Mr. Lewis Browning—known by the locals as the Midnight Devil and by Rebecca as her new guardian.
Summoned to his reclusive country estate to await her London season, Rebecca plans her own secret investigation among the darkened corridors of the mysterious Greybourne Hall. Yet Lewis Browning is not as she once imagined, and his motivation is horribly unclear. Recurrent nightmares and Rebecca’s restless feelings are further complicated by the shadow of her mother’s prior descent into madness and wondering if she, too, will follow the same heartbreaking path.
Even as midnight rides, strange injuries, and further murders lead back to Mr. Browning, Rebecca can’t ignore the subtle turn of her heart. Has she fallen for the man she swore would pay for her brother’s death? And moreover, can she trust him with her uncertain future?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A registered nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the national parks, attending her daughter’s gymnastic meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five contest and in 2016, ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a 2017 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children. Connect with Abigail at www.acwilsonbooks.com; Instagram: acwilsonbooks; Facebook: ACWilsonbooks; Twitter: @acwilsonbooks.
by admin | Sep 15, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
When I first began to read As the Light Fades there was a sense of familiarity about it but it took me a few chapters to remember that the familiar characters inhabited another book I read several years ago by the author, The Things We Knew. Although it is not an official sequel, I enjoyed catching up with other members of the Carlisle family and learning about how their lives had progressed since the previous novel.
In this book, Liz Carlisle has returned to Nantucket after her life pretty much imploded. Strapped for money and still fearful from an abusive relationship, Liz rents a guest house from Matthew Stone because it is the only thing she can afford and accepts a job at a business with a job she never imagined doing. Both Liz and Matthew have things from their past they would prefer to forget but as most of us know, sometimes the past refuses to remain buried. In addition, Matthew is responsible for his troubled niece which adds another layer onto why he is not interested in a relationship with anyone.
As the Light Fades is a testament to the wonderful writing skill of Catherine West. She is so adept in making family dynamics come alive with all the subtle nuances that exist in most families. She is also unafraid to tackle sometimes taboo topics such as dementia, self-harm (cutting) and several forms of abuse. Complicated relationships combined with family love and loyalty, forgiveness, and restoration of relationships combines to make this a book well worth reading. It may have a romantic focus but it is so much more than that. I highly recommend this book.
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:
Title: As the Light Fades
Author: Catherine West
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Sometimes we’re placed in the strangest of circumstances for the most important reasons.
After her carefully constructed life crumbles, Liz Carlisle finds herself back on Nantucket, picking up the pieces. With the family estate under renovations, the solitude she craves seems out of reach.
Matthew Stone intends to steer clear of his new tenant. She’s carrying a load of baggage, but as long as she pays the rent, he’ll let her be. He’s got enough to deal with caring for his wayward niece, Mia.
Liz doesn’t have time for teenagers and her track record with men is abysmal, but an unlikely friendship forms between the three.
When her former boyfriend is charged with assault, Liz is called to testify against him. But he knows the darkest secrets of her life—secrets she’d hoped to keep buried forever, and he’s ready to reveal them. Telling the truth is the right thing to do, but it may cost her everything she’s worked so hard for, and all she’s come to love.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Catherine West is an award-winning author of contemporary women’s fiction. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband reside in Bermuda, and have two adult children and two beautiful granddaughters. Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award (The Things We Knew, 2017 and Where Hope Begins, 2019, and a Carol Award Finalist for Where Hope Begins. Her latest novel, As the Light Fades, releases September 2019.
Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com
CONNECT WITH CATHERINE: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a $75 Amazon gift card from the author!
Be sure to check out each stop on these tours for more chances to win. Full tour schedule on this tour shown below. Giveaway begins at midnight September 11, 2019 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 18, 2019. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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