“The Feathered Bone” is one of the most difficult to read books I have ever encountered but not because it was poorly written. The book itself is very well written but at times the subject matter is painful. This story illustrates all too well the lasting and devastating effect that a few minutes can have on a number of individual lives. This is a story that may very well stay with me forever.
Told through the eyes of both Amanda and Sarah’s journal, “The Feathered Bone” relates the story of their families during the years following Sarah’s disappearance while on a field trip to New Orleans. Her parents were understandably devastated but the aftereffects on Amanda, her daughter, and husband make up a large portion of the story. Sarah’s experiences while being held captive are detailed in her journal and reflect both faith and hope during what must have been painful years.
I was impressed with how the author was able to relate Sarah’s story in a way that the reader understood what was happening to her without resorting to lurid and explicit details. Cantrell paints such a vivid picture that it was easy to imagine myself in Amanda’s position.
I cannot say enough good things about this book but I do want to warn readers that it may not be for everyone. But – it might be one that would be helpful for all parents to read if only to make them more careful with their own children, especially in public.
This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
“Feathers—no matter what size or shape or color—are all the same, if you think about them. They’re soft. Delicate. But the secret thing about feathers is . . . they are very strong.”
In the pre-Katrina glow of New Orleans, Amanda Salassi is anxious about chaperoning her daughter’s sixth grade field trip to the Big Easy during Halloween. And then her worst fears come true. Her daughter’s best friend, Sarah, disappears amid the magic and revelry—gone, without a trace.
Unable to cope with her guilt, Amanda’s daughter sinks in depression. And Amanda’s husband turns destructive as he watches his family succumb to grief. Before long, Amanda’s whole world has collapsed.
Amanda knows she has to save herself before it’s too late. As she continues to search for Sarah, she embarks on a personal journey, seeking hope and purpose in the wake of so much tragedy and loss.
Set amidst the murky parishes of rural Louisiana and told through the eyes of two women who confront the darkest corners of humanity with quiet and unbreakable faith, The Feathered Bone is Julie Cantrell’s master portrait of love in a fallen world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie Cantrell has served as editor-in-chief of the Southern Literary Review and is a recipient of the Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Fellowship. She is the author of two children’s books as well as Into the Free, which received Christy Awards for Best Debut Novel and Book of the Year 2013 as well as the Mississippi Library Association’s Fiction Award.
This debut novel received a rare starred review by Publishers Weekly and was selected as one of five finalists for the University of Mississippi Common Reading Experience 2014. It also was selected as a best novel of 2013 by LifeWay, USA TODAY, and many bookclubs.
Cantrell’s sophomore novel, When Mountains Move, is the sequel to her debut. Since its release in September 2013, it has been named a 2013 Best Read by LifeWay, was shortlisted for several awards, and won the 2014 Carol Award for Historical Fiction.
The Feathered Bone, Cantrell’s third novel, is set to release January 2016.
I may have read some of her Love Inspired romance novels but was mostly unfamiliar with this author when I chose to review “Back in the Saddle”. When I saw the cover I knew it would probably be right up my alley. I was not disappointed. This book had just the right elements to make it another one of those books I didn’t want to put down. The right blend of drama, family dynamics, mystery, and romance plus well-defined characters held my interest until the end.
When Colt Stafford has little choice but to return home to the family ranch with his finance career in limbo and little cash in his pocket, he is uncertain of his welcome. His father and brother welcome him with reservations after the beautiful new housekeeper Angelina greets him with a gun. As he settles back into life on the ranch, Colt finds himself attracted to Angelina but feels that she is hiding something.
A contemporary version of a prodigal son story, “Back in the Saddle” is an excellent example of restoration, reconciliation, and forgiveness. I enjoyed reading about how the characters worked their way through insurmountable problems and came out on the other side. It was encouraging to see how the Stafford men bridged the gap between themselves and their town as well.
I look forward to the upcoming books in the Double S Ranch series. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
This book was provided for review by Blogging For Books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Prodigal Is Coming Home.
It’s been a long time since Colt Stafford shrugged off his cowboy legacy for shiny Manhattan loafers and a promising career on Wall Street. But when stock market manipulations leave him financially strapped, the oldest son of legendary rancher Sam Stafford decides to return to the sprawling Double S ranch in Gray’s Glen, Washington. He’s broke, but not broken, and it’s time to check in with his ailing father, and get his legs back under him by climbing into the saddle again.
He doesn’t expect to come home to a stranger pointing a loaded gun at his chest— a tough yet beautiful woman that Sam hired as the house manager. Colt senses there’s more to Angelina Morales than meets the eye and he’s determined to find out what she’s hiding…and why.
Colt’s return brings new challenges. Younger brother Nick has been Sam’s right-hand man at the ranch for years and isn’t thrilled at having Colt insert himself into Double S affairs. And the ranch’s contentious relationship with the citizens of Gray’s Glen asks all the Stafford men to examine their hearts about what it truly means to be a neighbor. And as Wall Street recovers, will Colt succumb to the call of the financial district’s wealth and power—or finally the courage to stay in the saddle for good?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ruth Logan Herne has more than half a million books in print, including fifteen Love Inspired contemporary novels. Back in the Saddle is the first book in her new western romance series. Ruth is a founding member of Seekerville, a popular writing collective blog. A country girl who loves the big city, Ruth and her husband live on a farm in upstate New York.
When I first met Evie in “The Dandelion Field” she came across as a bit uptight. Nothing had changed when I began reading “The Hearts We Mend”. Widowed at a young age, Evie had raised a son virtually on her own and still had not let go of her loss. Now that her son Cody is embarking on a life of his own with a wife and an expected baby, Evie clings to her routines with everything in its place and scheduled time as if by maintaining control she can protect her heart. On the eve of Cody’s wedding Evie’s world is turned upside down by the new substitute janitor at her church where she also works. Jack’s scruffy appearance and casual approach to life make Evie want to stay far, far away from him but she gradually finds herself drawn into a life she never imagined and learns a lot about herself as a result.
I thoroughly enjoyed “The Hearts We Mend”, especially the changes experienced by Evie. The story was so beautifully written that I didn’t want to put it down – even to sleep. My how the housework suffers when I get into a good book! I liked Jack from the beginning and had hopes for him and Evie. The story took some unexpected turns but those helped shape the perfect plot. At risk of revealing too much, I will just encourage readers to pick up a copy of “The Hearts We Mend” as soon as possible. I think they will enjoy it too!
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Planning and Post-It notes are the epitome of Evie’s life. But when she meets Jack, her life gets more than a little complicated.
Thirteen years ago, Evie’s firefighter husband was killed in the line of duty, leaving her to raise their young son, Cody, alone. Now, Cody is marrying the love of his life, and as he packs up his belongings, the house feels as empty as Evie’s heart. But for all her planning and mad organizational skills, Evie could never have anticipated the dramatic shift her life is about to make.
Tattooed, rough-around-the-edges Jack raises quite a few eyebrows in the tight-knit community of Banister Falls. Where Evie’s life is stream-lined, Jack’s approach to living is moment-by-moment. But as Evie gets drawn into Jack’s world—a world that isn’t as safe or predictable as the one she’s worked so hard to create—he challenges her to open her eyes to the problems outside the walls of the church.
Jack doesn’t make Evie feel comfortable, but he definitely makes her feel something. Something she hasn’t felt since Max passed away—or, maybe ever. Because even though Jack isn’t anything like her late husband, he just might be everything she needs.
Kathryn Springer is a USA Today bestselling author. She grew up in northern Wisconsin, where her parents published a weekly newspaper. As a child she spent many hours sitting at her mother’s typewriter, plunking out stories, and credits her parents for instilling in her a love of books – which eventually turned into a desire to tell stories of her own. Kathryn has written nineteen books with close to two million copies sold. She lives with her husband and three children in Marinette, Wisconsin.
Celebrate the release of The Hearts We Mend with Kathryn and enter to win two of her books by signing up for her newsletter on her website (left sidebar). The winner will be announced March 23 via Kathryn’s newsletter.
I have always enjoyed Sandra Bricker’s novels with their humorous and sometimes quirky twists as well as their spiritual content. This particular series seemed to me to be a tad less humorous than previous books but I found each of the three books of the serious to be excellent.
“From Bags to Riches” is the final installment of Bricker’s Jessie Stanton series and I am so sorry to see the series end. I have loved reading about Jessie and Danny’s relationship ups and downs from the very beginning and can happily say I thought things ended well for them. I also liked watching Jessie’s values change over the course of the three books and was quite pleased with some decisions she made in this one.
Emotions ran high in “From Bags to Riches” – from joy one minute to grief the next. I’ll admit I shed a few tears a time or two. Overall the entire series was enjoyable and gratifying to read. I eagerly look forward to Bricker’s next novel.
This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Jessie Hart worked so hard to put her Louisiana roots in the rear view mirror and her Adornments boutique on the map. So when renegade “husband” Jack turns up again, the new and improved Jessie catches his attention. As he fights through his residual legal battles, he makes every effort to win her back and marry her for real this time… before Danny gets the chance.
When a celebrity stylist with her own reality show makes Adornments a hot spot, Jessie’s hard work is finally paying off. But amid award shows and photo shoots, Jessie’s beloved grandfather is diagnosed with cancer and she’s nudged back to the Louisiana roots she worked so hard to escape. Now, in her quest to find the success, true love, and faith that has always eluded her, will God really lead her right back home?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sandra D. Bricker was an entertainment publicist in Los Angeles for more than 15 years, where she attended school to learn screenwriting and eventually taught the craft for several semesters. She is now a best-selling, award-winning author of Live-Out-Loud Fiction for the inspirational market, best known for her Emma Rae Creation series. As an ovarian cancer survivor, she gears time and effort toward raising awareness and funds for research, diagnostics, and a cure. Sandra resides in Toledo, Ohio, and online at SandraDBricker.com.
At a period in my life when I find myself perhaps oversensitive to noise, my review copy of Cynthia Ruchti’s “Song of Silence” arrived at the perfect time. While the story itself was enjoyable, it became more personal to me. My own circumstances could not be more different than Lucy’s but there were lessons within the pages for me to meditate upon. I was especially blessed by all the scripture references and quotations scattered throughout the story that mention silence in one form or another.
Lucy’s story began with one disappointment, the loss of her job. She found it difficult to get past her grief over the loss of what she believed to be her passion and calling and what she thought was a lack of understanding by her family, especially her husband. Imagine her surprise when her life careened even more out of control by one unexpected complication after another. Yet in Lucy’s time of trial, she encountered multiple people who spoke into her life and eventually guided her to a renewed relationship with the Lord and her husband. And in the midst of the silence, Lucy found a new calling.
“Song of Silence” is a profound novel that will stay with me for awhile. I am thinking it may be time for me to do an in depth Bible study on silence. Perhaps the Lord is trying to tell me something too.
This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Music taught Lucy love and beauty. Could silence teach her hope?
Lucy and Charlie Tuttle agree on one thing: they’re committed to each other for life. Trouble is, neither of them expected life to look like this. While Charlie retired early, Lucy is devoted to a long-term career . . . until the day she has no choice.
Forced to retire from her position as music educator in a small Midwestern K-8 school, Lucy can only watch helplessly as the program her father started years ago disintegrates before her eyes. As the music fades and a chasm separates her from the passion of her heart, Lucy wonders if her faith’s song has gone silent, too. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes.
When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and hears—everything.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cynthia Ruchti is the author of the critically acclaimed Where the Morning Glory Blooms and They Almost Always Come Home. After 33-years as writer/producer of the daily 15-minute radio broadcast, The Heartbeat of the Home, Cynthia served a two-year term as president of American Christian Fiction Writers and currently serves as ACFW’s Professional Relations Liaison. In addition to writing novels, devotionals, and magazine articles, she speaks for women’s events and writers’ conferences. Cynthia and her plot-tweaking husband live in Central Wisconsin, where she creates stories of Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark. Find Cynthia on the web at CynthiaRuchti.com.
If I had my way, Amanda Cabot’s Texas Crossroads series would continue for several more volumes. The Rainbow’s End Resort is such a special place – not only for romance but for emotional healing. How wonderful would it be to be able to escape there for awhile!
What an unexpected romance! Who would ever think to pair a scruffy loner on a motorcycle with a former concert pianist – especially a pianist with such a strong aversion to motorcycles? But somehow it worked beautifully even if both Gillian and TJ had tons of excess baggage to sort through before they could admit and act on their true feelings.
Amanda Cabot is able to capture the true essence of her characters and bring them to life for her readers. Every nuance is important and I was able to experience both joy and pain, trust and doubt, right along with Gillian and TJ. “On Lone Star Trail” is a beautiful romance with a redemptive message for us all. I truly hate to see this series come to an end.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A woman without a future. A man running from the past.
One enchanting place where broken dreams are mended.
If there’s one thing Gillian Hodge never wants to see again, it’s a man on a motorcycle. Her last encounter with one left her right hand crushed, ending her promising career as a concert pianist. Unsure about the next phase in her life, she heads to Rainbow’s End Resort for some R&R when a sudden thunderstorm causes a motorcycle to crash right in front of her.
When TJ Benjamin’s wife died, he lost more than his best friend; he lost his faith. He has spent the past year wandering the country on his motorcycle, trying not to think about the future. When he finds himself stranded with a busted bike and a reluctant rescuer, he has to wonder about God’s sense of humor.
As these broken people collide, they find that a bright future is still ahead–it just might not be the one they imagined for themselves.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of the Texas Dreams series, the Westward Winds series, Christmas Roses, At Bluebonnet Lake, and In Firefly Valley. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers’ Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at www.amandacabot.com.
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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie Cantrell has served as editor-in-chief of the Southern Literary Review and is a recipient of the Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Fellowship. She is the author of two children’s books as well as Into the Free, which received Christy Awards for Best Debut Novel and Book of the Year 2013 as well as the Mississippi Library Association’s Fiction Award.
Ruth Logan Herne has more than half a million books in print, including fifteen Love Inspired contemporary novels. Back in the Saddle is the first book in her new western romance series. Ruth is a founding member of Seekerville, a popular writing collective blog. A country girl who loves the big city, Ruth and her husband live on a farm in upstate New York.
Kathryn Springer is a USA Today bestselling author. She grew up in northern Wisconsin, where her parents published a weekly newspaper. As a child she spent many hours sitting at her mother’s typewriter, plunking out stories, and credits her parents for instilling in her a love of books – which eventually turned into a desire to tell stories of her own. Kathryn has written nineteen books with close to two million copies sold. She lives with her husband and three children in Marinette, Wisconsin.
Sandra D. Bricker was an entertainment publicist in Los Angeles for more than 15 years, where she attended school to learn screenwriting and eventually taught the craft for several semesters. She is now a best-selling, award-winning author of Live-Out-Loud Fiction for the inspirational market, best known for her Emma Rae Creation series. As an ovarian cancer survivor, she gears time and effort toward raising awareness and funds for research, diagnostics, and a cure. Sandra resides in Toledo, Ohio, and online at 
Cynthia Ruchti is the author of the critically acclaimed Where the Morning Glory Blooms and They Almost Always Come Home. After 33-years as writer/producer of the daily 15-minute radio broadcast, The Heartbeat of the Home, Cynthia served a two-year term as president of American Christian Fiction Writers and currently serves as ACFW’s Professional Relations Liaison. In addition to writing novels, devotionals, and magazine articles, she speaks for women’s events and writers’ conferences. Cynthia and her plot-tweaking husband live in Central Wisconsin, where she creates stories of Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark. Find Cynthia on the web at 
Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of the Texas Dreams series, the Westward Winds series, Christmas Roses, At Bluebonnet Lake, and In Firefly Valley. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers’ Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at 
