by admin | Jul 29, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Humor
MY REVIEW:
I missed the movie when it was in theaters locally but since I enjoy Tricia Goyer’s books, I thought I’d give this one a try. Oh – My – Goodness! This book was so funny yet so true. It has been many years since I had young children or teens in the house but I could so relate to the mothers in this book. There is so much truth in Allyson’s statement to her husband (paraphrased)”I’m living my dream – how come I’m not happy?”
“Mom’s Night Out” was filled with slapstick humor that had me laughing out loud yet by it’s end the three women had come to realize what was really important in their lives. I absolutely loved this book and sincerely hope that the movie will be available on DVD soon so I can watch it.
A digital copy of this book was provided for review by B&H Fiction through NetGalley.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Moms’ Night Out is a novelization of the hilarious family comedy that celebrates real family life—where everything can go wrong and still turn out all right.
All Allyson and her friends want is a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and conversation . . . a long-needed moms’ night out. But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation and food not served in a bag, they need their husbands to watch the kids for a few hours—what could go wrong?
Chronicling one night out gone awry, three harried moms, their husbands, a sister-in-law with a misplaced baby, a tattoo parlor owner, a motorcycle gang, and a bewildered cabbie all learn to embrace the beautiful mess called parenting. This book spotlights the unfulfilled expectations and serial self-doubts many moms feel . . . then reassures us that the key is raising kids in a loving home. Mom’s Night Out is an endearing, true-to-life comedy.
The MOMS’ NIGHT OUT film features Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy), Sean Astin (THE LORD OF THE RINGS), Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond, The Middle), Alex Kendrick (COURAGEOUS), Robert Amaya (COURAGEOUS), Andrea Logan White (REVELATION ROAD), Kevin Downes (COURAGEOUS), and platinum-selling country recording artist Trace Adkins (THE LINCOLN LAWYER).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer is the author of over 35 books, including the three-book Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and “Lead Your Family Like Jesus,” (co-written with Ken Blanchard). She has written over 500 articles for national publications and blogs for high traffic sites like TheBetterMom.com and MomLifeToday.com. She is the host of Living Inspired, a weekly radio show. Tricia and family live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have six children. You can find out more about Tricia at www.TriciaGoyer.com.
Find out more about Tricia and her books at http://triciagoyer.com.
by admin | Jul 29, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Heaven Sent Rain” is a charming story about two professional people who for reasons of their own are not inclined toward love or marriage. When their paths cross because of a little boy and his injured dog, the artistic vet and the lady CEO immediately clash. Neither of them has a clue how much their lives will change over the next few weeks.
I enjoyed “Heaven Sent Rain” so much! Jonah and his dog “DownMutt” captured my heart. I loved getting to know both Dinah and Garret and rooted for them to get together throughout the entire story. I found the parts about the natural supplement for diabetes to be particularly interesting and couldn’t help wishing that such a product was available. A story about trusting God and letting go of the past, “Heaven Sent Rain” was a book I couldn’t put down until I reached its end.
A digital copy of this book was provided for review by
FaithWords / Center Street through NetGalley.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Dinah Taylor has an orderly life that is just how she likes it. A perfectly furnished luxury apartment, a satisfying career as a scientist and CEO of her own company, and an uncomplicated personal life. But all of that changes when she meets seven-year-old Jonah.
The boy shows up one day, a scruffy dog by his side, in front of her office building. Dinah knows nothing about kids and even less about animals, but after she buys him breakfast, he shows up the next day…and the next. She tries to learn more about him, to help him, but he’s remarkably skilled at evading her questions. And then, late one night, he calls her in a panic-his dog has been badly injured. Dinah rushes them to a local animal clinic, where she meets Garret, a veterinarian with a thriving practice and a passion for drawing. Though Jonah takes to Garret right away, for some reason neither understands, Dinah and Garret just don’t mesh. But for Jonah’s sake, their lives continue to collide, and slowly the relationship between these three strangers begins to change.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of more than seventy books, with sales of more than 2 million copies.
She also writes for a wide range of magazines, and helps others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writers’ conferences across the country.
by admin | Jul 29, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, ebook, Novella
MY REVIEW:
“The Tidewater Sisters” served two purposes for me. First it tied up some loose ends in Tandi’s life as well as giving me some insight into her past and the troubled relationship between her and her sister, Gina. It also was somewhat of a tease, giving me a real desire to read Lisa’s next book in the series, “The Storyteller”. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
“The Tidewater Sisters” is a fairly short novella but it was so beautifully written with a magical poetic feeling at times. Although Tandi’s unplanned visit to her grandparents’ farm was prompted by difficult circumstances, secrets from the past were revealed that helped to set her free.
I loved this book and recommend it as well as absolutely anything that Lisa Wingate has written. She has a special gift with words that has blessed me time and time again.
I purchased a digital copy of this book.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Tandi Reese and her sister, Gina, have always been bound by complicated ties. Amid the rubble of a difficult childhood lie memories of huddling beneath beds and behind sofas while parental wars raged. Sisterhood was safety . . . once. But now? Faced with legal papers for a fraud she didn’t commit, Tandi suspects that her sister has done something unthinkable. With Tandi’s wedding just around the corner, a trip to the North Carolina Tidewater for a reckoning with Gina was not part of the plan. But unraveling lies from truth will require confronting strained sibling bonds and uncovering a dark family secret that could free Tandi from her past or stain her future forever.
Read an excerpt from Tidewater Sisters HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Selected among BOOKLIST’S Top 10 of 2012 and Top 10 of 2013, Lisa Wingate skillfully weaves lyrical writing and unforgettable Southern settings with elements of women’s fiction, history, and mystery to create stories that Publisher’s Weekly calls “Masterful” and ForeWord Magazine refers to as “Filled with lyrical prose, hope, and healing.” Lisa is a journalist, an inspirational speaker, a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books, and the author of over over twenty novels and countless magazine pieces.
Her books have held positions on many bestseller lists, both in the U.S. and internationally. She is a seven-time ACFW Carol award nominee, a Christy Award nominee, an Oklahoma Book Award finalist, a Christianity Today Book Award nominee, an Inspy Award nominee, a two-time Carol Award winner, a LORIES Best Fiction Award winner, and a Utah Library Award winner. Recently, the group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa along with Bill Ford, Camille Cosby, 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. Visit Lisa at her website: www.LisaWingate.com
by admin | Jul 22, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingFirewallTyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 1, 2014)byDiAnn MillsABOUT THE AUTHOR:
DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.
DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.
DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills
ABOUT THE BOOK:
After a whirlwind romance, Taryn Young is preparing to board a plane at Houston International Airport, bound for a dream honeymoon, when a bomb decimates the terminal. Injured but still alive, she awakens to discover her husband is missing and they’re both considered prime suspects in the attack. Further, the FBI is convinced her husband isn’t who he appears to be.
Agent Grayson Hall’s number-one priority is to catch those responsible for the day’s act of terror. All evidence is pointing to Taryn and her new husband. But his instinct tells him her pleas of innocence are genuine. Is her naiveté just for show, or could she truly be another victim of a master scheme, possibly linked to the software she recently developed for her company?
With both their lives and reputations on the line, and the media outcry for justice increasing with each passing minute, Taryn and Grayson have no choice but to trust one another . . . and pray they can uncover the truth before they become two more casualties.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Firewall, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
It would have been difficult to convince me that DiAnn Mills’ books could be improved upon – that is until I read Firewall. It seemed to reach out, grab me by the collar and pull me right into the story. I really wanted to slow down and savor the story but I was so caught up in its grip that I raced right through it. I just had to find out what would happen next.
I liked the characters very much. I could identify with Taryn because like her I have always been more comfortable with my books and computer. I could easily imagine the nightmare Taryn found herself unable to wake from. And Grayson – what a guy! Dedicated to solving a crime with evidence pointing to Taryn’s guilt, he nevertheless gave her the benefit of the doubt despite his partner’s determination to incriminate her. The plot moved at breath-taking speed with so many twists and turns that it was sometimes hard to keep up. More than one surprise was in store as identities of guilty parties were revealed at just the right point in the story. And a little romance never hurt anything! I also liked the natural way the main characters grew stronger in their trust in God and others despite (or maybe because of) their sometimes overwhelming circumstances.
Firewall is a masterpiece of romantic suspense. I can hardly wait for the next installment of DiAnn’s newest series.
by admin | Jul 17, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Once again Cate Kinkaid has found herself smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time (or something like that). Anyway, the assistant private detective is getting close to getting her license but is afraid doing so may end her relationship with Mitch who doesn’t approve of her occupation. Fortunately Mitch is Johnny On The Spot whenever Cate needs his assistance with the crazy situations that seem to follow her.
I have loved each and every one of The Cate Kinkaid Files and sincerely hope that this series will continue for many more installments similar to at least two secular mystery series with which I am familiar. “Death Takes a Ride” was fun and quirky like the previous books in the series but it may have been just a bit more on the serious side than the others. I love Octavia the cat and really enjoyed the addition of a dog to the mix. The story was just the right blend of action, danger, humor, and romance with a touch of faith. McCourtney’s characters are perfectly realistic and some of them (like Cate and Mitch) are people I think I would enjoy getting to know.
“Death Takes a Ride” is another winner and I hope it will not be the last of Cate’s series.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
It’s official. This case is above her pay grade–and Cate’s in over her head.
Cate Kinkaid arrives at H&B Vintage Auto Restorations to give a friend a ride. But, as usual, trouble finds Cate even there–this time in the form of one dead man, one wounded man, and what appears to be a pretty obvious case of self-defense.
Despite having been merely an unfortunate bystander, Cate finds herself sucked into the case. And the deeper she gets, the more she begins to suspect that the shooting in the H&B office may not have been as cut-and-dried as it appeared.
Bestselling and award-winning author Lorena McCourtney takes you on wild ride in this clever cozy mystery that will keep you guessing.
Praise for the Cate Kinkaid Files
“Quirky, charming, and fun.”–Publishers Weekly on Dying to Read
“This book has tension that is matched only by humor–you won’t find a place to stop and take a breath.”–The Suspense Zone on Dolled Up to Die
“An entertaining, quick-paced whodunit that’s sure to keep even seasoned mystery lovers guessing.”–RT Book Reviews on Dolled Up to Die
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lorena McCourtney is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of dozens of novels, including Invisible (which won the Daphne du Maurier Award from Romance Writers of America), Dying to Read, and Dolled Up to Die. She resides in Oregon. Learn more at www.lorenamccourtney.com.
by admin | Jul 16, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingShenandoah DreamsOakTara Publishers (July 1, 2014)byLisa BelcastroABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lisa Belcastro lives with her family on Martha’s Vineyard. She loves chocolate, gardening, outdoor activities, cooking, laughing, reading, traveling, a healthy dose of adventure, and her cat Ben, who keeps her company while she spends hours working at the computer.
She was inspired to write Shenandoah Nights, the first book in the Winds of Change trilogy, while chaperoning two Tisbury School summer sails with her daughter, Kayla, aboard the schooner Shenandoah. The weeklong adventure, sans electricity, Game Boys, iPods and modern conveniences, kindled her imagination to dream of an altogether different voyage.
In addition to writing romance novels, Lisa currently pens the cuisine column for Vineyard Style magazine. She has worked as a staff and freelance reporter and photographer for The Chronicle of the Horse and as assistant editor at The Blue Ridge Leader. She has written articles for USA Today, Dressage (London), USA WEEKEND Magazine, The Blue Ridge Leader and Sidelines.
When she’s not at her desk, Lisa is living in paradise, volunteering at her daughter’s school, serving in her church community, planting and weeding her numerous gardens, trying to run a marathon a month, or walking the beach looking for sea glass.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What if she met the man of her dreams…in another century? Tisbury, Massachusetts, Martha s Vineyard. It s just a dream, Melissa Smith whispers as she stares into the intense eyes of a man dressed in Colonial clothes, as though stepping out of an American Revolution movie set. A school chaperone with Holmes Hole Elementary, she d boarded the old schooner Shenandoah for a week long educational sail. But they are not visiting Plimoth Plantation, the Boston Tea Party Museum, or the Concord Bridge reenactment. They re sailing the waters around the island of Martha s Vineyard. Yet, when she awakes in Cabin 8, the captain claims to be Isaiah Reed, who sailed the original Shenandoah in the eighteenth century. He cannot possibly be real, Melissa thinks. And traveling back in time is impossible. But days pass, and she s still in 1770. What if Isaiah, who is simply too handsome to be real, is real? What if the fire he ignites in her from barely a touch isn’t in her imagination? Can a dream last for weeks on end? If so, how will she find her way home…to the twenty-first century? And can she bear to leave the one man who has captured her heart, when everything in her longs to stay? A Vineyard Romance Romance, history, adventure. Get swept into the exciting Winds of Change series.
If you liked to read the first chapter of Shenandoah Dreams, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Shenandoah Dreams was an unusual read. It was a bit of a stretch for me to accept that God would take someone to a different century to find the perfect man to marry. Yes, it is what I would consider a fantasy novel that involves unexpected time travel. Not my favorite genre but interesting nevertheless.
Actually, the book is well-written with appealing characters and is quite easy to read. I did hate that some of the characters were left with unresolved questions regarding Melissa but I don’t know of another way the situation could have been handled. Historical facts and details about sailing added extra depth to the story.
