by admin | May 26, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingWhen Hope RisesPelican Book Group (May 2015)byDora Heirs
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
After a successful auditing career, Dora left the corporate world to be a stay-at-home mom to her two sons. When her youngest son no longer wanted her hanging out at school with him anymore, Dora started writing Heart Racing, God-Gracing romance. She is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and her local chapter, Carolina Romance Writers.
Dora and her real life hero make their home in North Carolina. When she takes a break from cranking out stories, she enjoys reading, family gatherings, and mountain cabin getaways. She despises traffic, bad coffee, technological meltdowns, and a sad ending to a book. Her books always end with a happily-ever-after!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Art teacher Shelby Coltman transforms junk into treasure and longs for a place to showcase her creations. She’s thrilled when her friend volunteers to room with her. Shelby can finally buy a storefront. Unfortunately, Kennedi’s brother can’t seem to let go.
Abandoned as a teenager, guidance counselor Tate Malone has become surrogate and over-protective father to his sister. Life is great until Shelby Coltman wheedles his impressionable sister into sharing an apartment. Raised in wealth, the beautiful Shelby could never understand poverty or rejection, and Tate doesn’t appreciate her uprooting his sister. When Shelby hands over her savings to a homeless student, will God obliterate Tate’s fears and deliver all of Shelby’s dreams…when hope rises?
If you would like to read the first chapter of When Hope Rises, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
When Hope Rises is a quick and easy read, perfect for the beach or backyard this summer. A sweet romance, it features two people who seem to be totally unsuitable for each other – but there is an irresistible attraction between them. Both Shelby and Tate have reach an age where most of their friends have married and many have children. Unknown to each other, the one thing they have in common is their commitment to waiting for the person God has for them.
With an interesting plot, some definite romantic sparks, and an excellent Christian message about purity and social responsibility, When Hope Rises is definitely worth the time it takes to read it. I recommend it for all who enjoy a good but short romantic novel.
by admin | May 20, 2015 | Amish, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Mennonite
MY REVIEW:
“When Grace Sings” continues the story that began in “When Mercy Rains”, the first volume of Kim Vogel Sawyer’s Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy. Alexa has opened her bed and breakfast in her grandmother’s home and her very first long-term guest is big-city reporter Briley Forrester whose intentions are not what they seem. Anna-Grace and Steven are making plans for their upcoming wedding and are working hard making repairs on the family farm he has inherited. The only problem is that his dream is to be a teacher – NOT a farmer! To further complicate matters, Anna-Grace has been made aware that members of her birth family (she is adopted) live in Arborville although she does not know their identities. Alexa, who does know the truth, is uncomfortable around Anna-Grace due to her own insecurities about how she became a part of the family.
Needless to say, “When Grace Sings” contains a twisted thread of confusing relationships with a monkey wrench or two thrown into the mix for good measure. But the author is talented in taking puzzles and putting them together to form a beautiful picture. As the characters in this novel interact, each of them is changed as God’s grace becomes apparent to them. Even Briley, who is very difficult to like, charmer that he is, undergoes profound changes by the conclusion.
I thoroughly enjoyed “When Grace Sings” but I was happy that I had read “When Mercy Rains” first. It was so much easier to understand the whole story that way. I highly recommend this series as well as most anything by Kim Vogel Sawyer.
This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah and Blogging for Books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When trouble roars into quiet Arborville, Alexa and Anna-Grace find themselves the target for discord and exposed secrets. Can they continue to seek the God of all grace amidst the fog of confusion?
Alexa Zimmerman wonders if the Old Order Mennonite community in Arborville, Kansas will ever fully accept her. Her family roots here aren’t what anyone thought when she first arrived, but she is hopeful that her culinary and hospitality skills will win the skeptics over. The bed-and-breakfast she’s operating needs to succeed so Alexa agrees to allow Briley Forrester, the hotshot reporter from Chicago, to stay as a long-term boarder not knowing his real motives for being amongst the Plain folk.
But when Alexa agrees to host her cousin Anna-Grace Braun, the presence of extended family brings out Alexa’s insecurities and sets Briley on the trail to uncovering a web of hidden truths.
Plans for a secure future and the sweetness of young romance hang in the balance when Alexa and Anna-Grace have to face that their secrets are interconnected, binding the two in ways they could not have imagined. They must trust in a loving, heavenly Father and His plan for their futures.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print and have garnered awards including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas, with husband Don and their four feline companions. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and ten grandchildren.
Connect with Kim Vogel Sawyer
by admin | May 20, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
Because of a devastating experience ten years earlier, Charity had avoided her hometown to escape the memories. She had also avoided any thought of romance, concentrating instead on her successful writing career. That is – until her publisher requested that she right a romance novel instead of her usual genre. So with writer’s block and a noisy house due to structural repairs after a flood, Charity finally returns home to her parent’s quieter house. There she quickly learned that her high school crush Buck was now the next-door neighbor and an unexpected accident forced Charity and Buck to spend time together. Could close proximity persuade the two determined to avoid romance that it might not be such a bad thing?
“Whenever You Come Around” is a novel that is quickly read but it nevertheless contains some serious content. Although Charity and Buck have run from romantic involvement for different reasons, it all boiled down to avoiding pain. This novel takes them both through the healing process to the point where they realize that sometimes love is worth the potential pain and that their faith would seem them through.
Authentic characters and a well-paced plot with just the right blend of drama, humor, and romance kept the pages turning. I thoroughly enjoyed “Whenever You Come Around” as I have every novel I have previously read by Robin Lee Hatcher.
This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Just when Charity’s wild imagination failed her, a flesh-and-blood hero walked into her life.
Best-selling author Charity Anderson returns to her hometown of Kings Meadow to defeat a bad case of writer’s block. She imagines she’ll spend a lonely summer writing and then return to her home in Boise. She soon finds herself caring for Buck Malone, a wilderness guide-and the object of her unrequited teenage crush. But what else can she do? Her dog Cocoa caused the accident that left Buck with a broken ankle and wrist, taking him off the trail for weeks of prime tourist-season work.
Buck and Charity have gone different ways since high school, and at first it seems they have little in common. Buck loves the simple, low-key life he’s made for himself in the mountains of Idaho, and she’s a woman accustomed to the faster, bustling pace of the city. But spending so much time together has Buck hoping to change her mind about staying in the small town she thought she’d left behind for good.
It’s a summer for discovering that young love is a spark not soon extinguished.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robin Lee Hatcher is the bestselling author of 70 books. Her numerous awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. Robin and her husband currently reside in Idaho. For more information, visit www.robinleehatcher.com.
by admin | May 20, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Art of Losing YourselfWaterBrook Press (April 21, 2015)byKatie Ganshert
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award-winning author, Katie Ganshert, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in education, and worked as a fifth grade teacher for several years before staying home to write full-time. She was born and raised in the Midwest, where she lives with her family. When she’s not busy penning novels or spending time with her people, she enjoys drinking coffee with friends, reading great literature, and eating copious amounts of dark chocolate.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Just like in my dream, I was drowning and nobody even noticed.
Every morning, Carmen Hart pastes on her made-for-TV smile and broadcasts the weather. She’s the Florida panhandle’s favorite meteorologist, married to everyone’s favorite high school football coach. They’re the perfect-looking couple, live in a nice house, and attend church on Sundays. From the outside, she’s a woman who has it all together. But on the inside, Carmen Hart struggles with doubt. She wonders if she made a mistake when she married her husband. She wonders if God is as powerful as she once believed. Sometimes she wonders if He exists at all. After years of secret losses and empty arms, she’s not so sure anymore.
Until Carmen’s sister—seventeen year old runaway, Gracie Fisher—steps in and changes everything. Gracie is caught squatting at a boarded-up motel that belongs to Carmen’s aunt, and their mother is off on another one of her benders, which means Carmen has no other option but to take Gracie in. Is it possible for God to use a broken teenager and an abandoned motel to bring a woman’s faith and marriage back to life? Can two half-sisters make each other whole?
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Art of Losing Yourself, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
The Art of Losing Yourself is the poignant story of complex relationships and the difficult circumstances that complicate them. It is the story of Carmen, a successful meteorologist whose grief over multiple miscarriages has created a wide chasm between her and her husband…and has caused some unfortunate behavior that threatens her career. Carmen’s young sister Gracie has had all she can take of life with her alcoholic mother and refuses to live with her father’s new family. Running to the only place she has felt loved, Gracie finds her beloved family hotel abandoned and boarded up. Together, Carmen and Gracie work to refurbish the old hotel and in doing so may just find what they have been looking for.
Like every other book I have read by Katie Ganshert, The Art of Losing Yourself was real and at times heart-wrenching. With such true-to-life problems as alcoholism, teen runaways, troubled marriage, dementia, and infertility, many readers will easily identify with this novel. Characters are well-rounded and the plot moves along at a good pace.
Once again, Ganshert has produced a strong story that is authentic, thought-provoking, and faith-challenging yet ultimately offers hope. I recommend it.
by admin | May 11, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“No Place to Hide” is another breath-holding, edge-of-your-seat novel by Lynette Eason. With non-stop action and true-to-life characters, this novel kept me turning the pages until its conclusion. With riveting suspense, the requisite romance, and a faith-based theme, “No Place to Hide” is the kind of book that has kept Eason on my to-read list.
Whan an old school friend is accused of being a terrorist, Jackie Sellers attempts to contact him and soon finds herself on the run from the same people who want Ian Lockwood dead as well as the FBI. No matter where they attempt to hide, it seems the bad guys are always one step behind them and they certainly mean business. Plenty of action, danger, and drama fill the pages with a nice bit of romance for brief relief of the suspense.
Lynette Eason is one of my go-to suspense authors. Pick up a copy for yourself to discover why.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She’ll defend her friend until the bitter end–but is she in over her head?
It’s not every day you see your childhood friend and onetime crush on national news. Jackie Sellers just wishes it were under different circumstances. She can’t believe that Ian Lockwood is wanted in connection with a terrorist plot, and she’s determined to find him and help him clear his name. Unfortunately, she’s not the only one looking for him. The FBI wants him captured. The bad guys want him dead. Ian just wants to stay alive long enough to prove his innocence and prevent a catastrophe.
Lynette Eason delivers nonstop action as Jackie and Ian travel a dangerous road–one that may lead straight to destruction.
Read an excerpt from “No Place to Hide” HERE.
Praise for the series:
“For any reader looking for ‘edge-of-your-seat’ thrills, this series is the perfect gift.”–Suspense Magazine
“Fans of Eason’s and readers of Christian suspense will definitely want to check out this new series. I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment.”–Fiction Addict
“An exciting new series with action and thrilling chase scenes.”–RT Book Reviews
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series and the Deadly Reunions series, as well as No One to Trust, Nowhere to Turn, and No Place to Hide in the Hidden Identity series. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She has a master’s degree in education from Converse College and she lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.
by admin | May 11, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
New-to-me author Brandy Heineman delivered an intriguing novel that held my interest throughout. The book was somewhat different than what I am used to but interesting nevertheless. Its reasonably slow-moving plot fits perfectly with the Southern background of the story.
Filled with characters with secrets or unresolved issues, the story revolves around Abby Wells who after her mother’s death and loss of her job, leaves everything to attempt to discover her family roots. Her Georgia relatives are somewhat weird to say the least and Abby’s Aunt Ruby soon has her believing that the family home is inhabited by a ghost. Needless to say, secrets are revealed and Abby discovers the truth about her ghost. Abby is a character who is difficult to like or understand but I found myself pitying her and her plight. I did admire her ex-boyfriend Greg whose persistence won me over.
“Whispers in the Branches” will appeal to those with interest in genealogy and Southern literature. I enjoyed it immensely.
This book was provided for review by the Book Club Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Tending a void in her heart that demands to be filled, Abby Wells uproots her life in Ohio to move into the ancestral home in Georgia. Now that her mom is gone, it’s her best chance to connect with the last of her family, and she can’t deny the pull of the supposedly haunted house. The seductive comfort of believing that ghosts could be real drives her search, but Aunt Ruby’s plans for Abby don’t include revealing secrets kept for seventy years. Oh, there’s dirty laundry she’d like to air-just not her own.
Indulging in the attentions of the house’s handsome caretaker helps numb her pain, but Abby’s ex-boyfriend won’t let go of the past. He hounds her about his newfound religion in hopes of reconciling, but why reach for him or the God who couldn’t or wouldn’t spare her mom? In the stillness of the old house, the spirit world feels so close she can almost touch it. But she doesn’t know yet that there’s more than one way to be haunted.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
BRANDY HEINEMAN pens dual time frame novels from a Christian worldview, including Genesis finalist Whispers in the Branches. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and an alumna of Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. She and her husband, Michael, reside in metro Atlanta.
Visit her website at http://brandyheineman.com.
