Always the Baker Never the Bride is a fun filled story that is both humorous and dramatic. Bricker’s characters are wonderful and the book is full of spellbinding situations and dialogue. Recipes, wedding tips, and trivia and scattered between the chapters and add a special touch.
A story about a widower who has opened the specialty wedding themed hotel of his late wife’s dreams and a prize-winning, diabetic baker who has given up any hope of romance in her own life, Always the Baker Never the Bride is a joy to read with many laugh-out-loud moments. Several sub-plots add interest and relatives of both the hero and heroine contribute to the drama.
I loved this book and will probably pick up a physical copy to add to my collection. I highly recommend it.
A digital copy of this book was provided for review by Abingdon Press through NetGalley.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Thirty-six-year-old Emma Rae Travis has been baking specialty cakes and melt-in-your-mouth pastries at The Backstreet Bakery in historic Roswell, just outside of Atlanta, for the last six years. But here’s the rub about her job as a baker … Emma is diabetic. When she tastes her creations, it can only be in the most minute portions. Emma is considered an artisan for the stunning crème brulee wedding cake that won her the Passionate Palette Award last year, but she’s never even had one full slice of it.
When Jackson Drake hears about this local baker who has won a prestigious award for her wedding cake artistry, he tells his assistant to be sure and include her in the pastry tastings scheduled at his new wedding destination hotel the following week. And for Jackson, that particular day has started out badly with two workmen trapped in a broken elevator and a delivery of several dozen 300-thread-count bed linens in the wrong size abandoned in the lobby. But when the arrogant baker he met a week prior in Roswell stumbles into the dining room with a platter of pastries and a bucketful of orders, he knows for certain: It’s going to be a really rotten day.
Can these two ill-suited players master the high-wire act and make a go of their new business venture? Or will they take each other crashing downward, without a net? And will the surprise wedding at The Tanglewood be theirs?
Read the first chapter of Always the Baker Never the BrideHERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sandra D. Bricker has been publishing in both the Christian and general market for years with novels for women and teens, magazine articles and short stories. With 11 novels in print and 4 more slated for publication through 2012, Sandie has carved out a niche for herself as an author of laugh-out-loud comedy for the inspirational market. Sandie was an entertainment publicist in Hollywood for 15+ years and currently works a “day job” as an editor.
A Rush of Wings is a psychological romantic suspense that gripped my attention until its conclusion. Each character has a blend of both positive and negative traits that help to keep them realistic. Although Noelle St. Clarie can’t remember why she is running away, she has the presence of mind to avoid using her credit cards or anything else that can be used to track her location. Vivid nightmares and flashbacks add to her reluctance to trust men but both Rick and Morgan Spencer are able to break through her defenses. As Noelle finds the peace she seeks on the Spencer ranch, she lets down her guard and begins to fall in love.
As the reader learns more about Noelle’s nightmares and the father and fiance she has left behind, a few clues begin to emerge. However Heitzmann feeds the information a little at a time so that the reader only suspects what is really behind the nightmares and terror Noelle experiences and does not know the full story until the end.
Although A Rush of Wings is a reissue, it is a worthwhile story for anyone who hasn’t read it. I would definitely recommend it as well as any other book written by Heitzmann.
This book was provided for review by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Though her panic is real, Noelle St. Claire is uncertain what danger she is fleeing. Fragmented images and slivers of memory have driven her to abandon her wealthy, sheltered life in New York for the hope of a haven—remote and safe.
Noelle’s arrival at the Rocky Mountain horse ranch owned by Rick Spencer and his brother Morgan causes more than a little stir. Beautiful, vulnerable, yet strangely secretive, Noelle is an enigma the two contrasting brothers seek to unlock. But as their attentions breach the wall she hides behind, the past becomes a menacing threat from which Noelle can no longer hide.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kristen learned to read at age four in the sit-on-the-floor school her father taught at home. That was the start of her love affair with stories. Skipping kindergarten, she went to first grade at five and dove into learning with a passion. In elementary school, she wrote and illustrated her own miniature books and the highlight of the week was the mile and a half walk to the book mobile.
A bit of a tomboy, she and her brother played numerous make believe games of cowboys and Indians. She played the Indian because the toy bow really shot arrows (a distinct advantage over caps.) Other early interests were catching frogs and exploring, playing baseball and football, and any form of art she could put her hand to. She studied violin from age seven to seventeen, taught herself piano, guitar, recorder and tambourine.
Of her three main interests, art, music and writing, she chose to study English at the University of Colorado and thrived on Creative Writing and Literature classes. She married her husband Jim, and turned her energy to building a family. They have four children whom they have home schooled for all or most of their education. Kristen is a music minister with the ecumenical covenant community People of Praise.
Once she realized the stories in her head were truly a calling from the Lord, she made writing not just a passion, but a ministry. She has written seven historical fiction novels as part of the The Rocky Mountain Legacy series and the Diamond of the Rockies series. Most recently, she has written seven contemporary fiction novels: Twilight, A Rush of Wings, The Still of Night, Halos, Secrets, Unforgotten, and Freefall.
Writing is not only a passion for Kristen, it is a commission, her way of sharing the themes of grace and forgiveness and dependence on Christ. She believes God gave her a voice, and she joyfully uses the talent for His glory.
Another of Melody Carlson’s annual Christmas novellas, Christmas at Harrington’s tells the story of Lena Markham as she attempts to start over in a new town. Although Lena has very little other than the clothes on her back, a few dollars, and the promise of a job, her hope of success is virtually nonexistent. An encounter on the bus with a generous older woman is the beginning of new friendships and encouragement. Lena’s own generosity despite her circumstances endears her to others which in turn raises her spirits. However (and isn’t it just always the case), her satisfying new job comes to a screeching halt when secrets of her past are revealed.
I loved this book! Carlson has a way of getting into her characters’ hearts and revealing both the good and bad inside them. I liked how many people Lena touched along the way with her sweet spirit when she had every right to be bitter about how she had been betrayed. It is such a wonderful story that reveals the true meaning of Christmas. I suspect that there will also be much demand for Carlson’s children’s book ‘Twas The Night: The Nativity Story that was quoted in Christmas at Harrington’s. Too bad it seems to be out of print.
I recommend Christmas at Harrington’s and plan to leave it on my coffee table for the season. I may just read it again.
This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Get In the Holiday Spirit with this Inspiring Christmas Story ABOUT New Beginnings
Just in time for the holidays, comes Christmas at Harrington’s, a tender story about fresh starts from Melody Carlson, the bestselling author of The Christmas Bus.
In Carlson’s latest tale that will charm readers, Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless, and nearly hopeless. She is trying to restart her life after false accusations landed her in prison, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent.
When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret?
Full of redemption and true holiday spirit, Christmas at Harrington’s will be readers’ newest Christmas tradition.
Christmas at Harrington’s
by Melody Carlson
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1925-8
Available Oct. 2010; $15.99
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus. She also writes many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon. Visit Melody’s website at www.melodycarlson.com.
Vanessa Miller of Dayton, Ohio, is a best-selling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. Her stage productions include: Get You Some Business, Don’t Turn Your Back on God, and Can’t You Hear Them Crying. Vanessa is currently in the process of turning the novels in the Rain Series into stage productions.
Vanessa has been writing since she was a young child. When she wasn’t writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels, reading great books consumed her free time. However, it wasn’t until she committed her life to the Lord in 1994 that she realized all gifts and anointing come from God. She then set out to write redemption stories that glorify God.
To date, Vanessa has completed the Rain and Storm Series. She is currently working on the Forsaken series, Second Chance at Love series and a single title, Long Time Coming. Vanessa believes that each book will touch readers across the country in a special way. It is, after all, her God-given destiny to write and produce plays and novels that bring deliverance to God’s people. These books have received rave reviews, winning Best Christian Fiction Awards and topping numerous Bestseller’s lists.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Two women from different worlds find hope together.
Faithful Christian Deidre Clark-Morris is a professional career-minded woman with a loving husband, but no children. Kenisha Smalls has lived in poverty all her life. She has three children by three different men and has just been diagnosed with inoperable cervical cancer.
While the meeting between these two women appears accidental, it becomes their catalyst of hope. Neither woman expects the blessing that God has in store for her. While Deidre will guide Kenisha on the path to eternal life with Jesus Christ, Kenisha will teach Deidre how to stand strong against the hard-knocks of life.
Although Long Time Coming is not the usual type book I choose to read, Vanessa Miller’s talented writing style captured my attention and held it until the last word. Heartrending yet filled with hope, this story is filled with a varied array of realistic characters and several difficult situations. It is a story of redemption, forgiveness, faith, hope, and love that reminds the reader that nothing is impossible with God. Just be sure to keep a box of tissues handy. You will need them.
After completing a master’s in Creative Writing and working as a visiting instructor at Miami University in Ohio, Bethany Pierce now lives with her husband in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she is a member of the McGuffey Art Center and continues to write. Her first book, Feeling for Bones, was one of Publishers Weekly‘s Best Books of 2007.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
With rejections piling up, she could use just a little inspiration…
Amy Gallagher is an aspiring writer who, after countless rejections, has settled for a career as an English professor in small-town Ohio just to pay the bills. All her dreams suddenly start to unravel as rejections pile up–both from publishers and her boyfriend.
But just as Amy fears her life is stuck in a holding pattern, she meets the mysterious, attractive, and unavailable Eli. She struggles to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as staying true to her faith becomes unexpectedly complicated.
When secrets, tragedy, and poor decisions cause rifts in Amy’s relationships, she must come to terms with who she’s become, her unrealized aspirations for her life, and the state of her faith. Can she dare to hope that she will find love and fulfillment despite it all?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Amy Inspired, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
I have to say that I have very mixed feelings about Amy Inspired. On the one hand, it was well written and easy to read. On the other hand, I found it pretty depressing.
The main character, Amy had decided to make a career of writing (after checking every other possibility off her list). Unfortunately everything she submitted for publication only earned her rejection letters. Her love life was pretty pitiful too – unless you count getting hit on by your best friend’s beau or by a weird student. Then when a guy came along that she was attracted to, she did everything she could to avoid him. I kept waiting for something to happen that would inspire Amy but for the most part she just plodded along in her self-absorbed funk.
Amy Inspired was not a bad book. In fact there were actually many humorous and entertaining scenes. I have read quite a few glowing reviews so I have to believe that it just did not meet my own personal preferences. I would advise reading other reviews before rejecting it – Amy Inspired might just be the perfect book for you.
I believe every life has hidden songs that hang by twin threads of music and memory. I believe in the songs that have never been played for another soul. I believe they run between the rocks and along the creekbeds of our lives. These are songs that cannot be heard by anything but the soul. They sometimes run dry or spill over the banks until we find ourselves wading through them.
Excerpt from Chapter 1
Although the prologue didn’t particularly capture my attention, the second paragraph (above) of the first chapter of Almost Heaven did the trick. This book is so riddled with lyrical prose that I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite paragraph to quote. Not only does Chris Fabry tell a good story but he does it so beautifully. The music lover in me truly appreciated it.
Almost Heaven is the story of Billy Allman that is told both from his point of view and that of his guardian angel Malachi. As Billy chronicles his life as seen through his own eyes, Malachi provides a view of the same events that were invisible to the human eye. Even Billy had no idea of behind the scenes efforts that affected his life. Like many people, Billy had what seemed to be more than his share of tragedy and hardship, but through it all, he remained dedicated to God .
One event that stood out to me was Billy’s encounter with Rev. Adrian Rogers, long time pastor of the largest church in my area and well known in Baptist circles. The way Dr. Rogers took time out of his busy life to spend it counseling with a total stranger rings so true. I have heard numerous similar stories from everyday people that were blessed by his caring spirit.
Almost Heaven is a realistic tale about the faithfulness of God and what one man dedicated to him can do. It relates the importance of dealing with buried secrets by letting the Lord bring them to light so that healing can take place. It should also be an encouragement to anyone who feels that he has nothing to offer.
There are a few places that the narrative gets a little slow but overall the plot moves at a good pace with enough action to keep it interesting. It is well worth the effort and I definitely recommend it.
This book was provided for review by LeAnn Hamby with Glass Road Public Relations.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Billy Allman barely survived the flash flood that swept through his holler, taking many a life. Truth be told, it took his daddy’s life, too. Daddy’s body kept living after the flood, but his mind never left the waters that snatched two little girls from his arms and held them until they were in the loving arms of Jesus.
The only thing Billy saved was his daddy’s mandolin and it is his ability to make that instrument sing that God allows to bring about Billy’s destruction…and his ultimate redemption.
Special Offer! Through a promotion with Tyndale House Publishers, Amazon.com is offering Almost Heaven free for the Kindle. That’s right, FREE. Just click here and it’s yours for the checking out.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris Fabry is the host of Chris Fabry Live!, an hour of spiritual encouragement from his backyard radio fence. The program challenges listeners to think biblically about their spiritual journeys. Chris is also the author of the Christy Award-winning novel Dogwood, and his latest fiction release, June Bug. He and his family live near Tucson, Arizona. You can learn more about Chris at www.chrisfabry.com
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Thirty-six-year-old Emma Rae Travis has been baking specialty cakes and melt-in-your-mouth pastries at The Backstreet Bakery in historic Roswell, just outside of Atlanta, for the last six years. But here’s the rub about her job as a baker … Emma is diabetic. When she tastes her creations, it can only be in the most minute portions. Emma is considered an artisan for the stunning crème brulee wedding cake that won her the Passionate Palette Award last year, but she’s never even had one full slice of it.
Sandra D. Bricker has been publishing in both the Christian and general market for years with novels for women and teens, magazine articles and short stories. With 11 novels in print and 4 more slated for publication through 2012, Sandie has carved out a niche for herself as an author of laugh-out-loud comedy for the inspirational market. Sandie was an entertainment publicist in Hollywood for 15+ years and currently works a “day job” as an editor.
