I am so happy that I had the chance to read and review this wonderful book; however my review of “Holding the Fort” is later than I had planned due to unexpected complications with a family member’s health. I always look forward to every new release from Regina Jennings because I can count on reading a story filled with history, faith, romance, and just plain fun. “Holding the Fort” was no exception.
This book had so many laugh-out-loud moments for me. I especially liked one scene near the beginning where Major Daniel Adams just had to see for himself if he could perform a certain trick on horseback for which a young soldier had recently been disciplined. His results were less than stellar and the outcome was not at all funny. Both Daniel and Louisa Bell were awesome characters who had me rooting for them from the very beginning. Daniel’s daughters and Louisa’s brother added special touches to the story.
I cannot think of even one thing I disliked about “Holding the Fort” unless it was the fact that I reached the end much too quickly. If you are a lover of historical romance and haven’t tried one of Jennings’ books, please do yourself a big favor and pick up a copy of this book today. I can almost guarantee you will want to read more of her books. I certainly look forward to her next release.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author and Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
With Miss Bell as the Teacher, Everyone’s Bound to Learn an Interesting Lesson
Dance hall singer Louisa Bell has always lived one step from destitution. When she loses her job at the Cat-Eye Saloon, she has nowhere else to go but to her brother, a cavalry soldier stationed in Indian Territory. But he’s run afoul of his commanding officer. Unsure what she can do to help him and desperate for a job, she doesn’t protest when she’s mistaken for a governess at the fort. How hard can teaching really be?
Major Daniel Adams has his hands full at Fort Reno, especially raising two adolescent daughters alone. If this new governess doesn’t work out, his mother-in-law insists she’ll raise the girls herself–far away from the fort. Miss Bell bears little resemblance to Daniel’s notion of a governess–they’re not supposed to be so blamed pretty–but he finds himself turning a blind eye to her unconventional methods. Louisa has never faced so important a performance. Can she keep her act together long enough to help her brother and to secure the respectable future she’s sought for so long?
Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a minor in history. She’s the winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, a two-time Golden Quill finalist and a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award. Regina has worked at the Mustang News and at First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.
As a historical fiction buff, I love most eras of history and have favorite authors for each. Sarah Sundin is at the top of my list for novels with World War 2 settings because she truly makes history come alive through the eyes and experiences of her characters. Not only does she write about the major historical events that took place but she gives her readers an intimate look at behind the scenes operations that helped to make it happen according to plan. Through her characters we can experience the emotions that arise from living in such perilous times.
In “The Sea Before Us” Dorothy Fairfax is one of the women of England’s Royal Naval Service whose work with photos helps create the crucial maps needed for the upcoming D-Day battle. Wyatt Paxton is a U.S. Naval Officer who works closely with the WRENS to prepare the reports based on the maps created by Dorothy and her team. I found these details added greater depth to my understanding of how the war was fought. I never thought about the amount of planning and yes even practice runs needed to prepare for such an offensive.
Of course there was also a personal side to the story that included quite sad backgrounds for both Wyatt and Dorothy and how what they had experienced affected their faith. I won’t give away too much but let me say that several times I wanted to sit Miss Dorothy down and convince her that she needed to open her eyes to see the truth about a certain man. It was touch and go there for awhile but she finally saw the light in more ways than one.
This was a wonderful book with plenty of action and danger, a bit of a mystery, and some surprises along the way. As the first book in a new series, it did end with some unresolved issues but I am looking forward to learning more in the next installment. Anyone who enjoys World War 2 fiction should enjoy “The Sea Before Us” as well as any of Sundin’s previous novels.
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:
Nothing but love could heal the wounds of war
In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a “Wren” in the Women’s Royal Naval Service, who pieces together reconnaissance photographs with holiday snapshots of France–including those of her family’s summer home–in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt turns into naval bombardment plans for D-day.
As the two spend concentrated time together in the pressure cooker of war, their deepening friendship threatens to turn into something more. But both of them have too much to lose to give in to love . . .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sarah Sundin is the author of Through Waters Deep, Anchor in the Storm, and When Tides Turn in the Waves of Freedom series, as well as Wings of the Nightingale and the Wings of Glory series. Her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal. Her popular Through Waters Deep was a Carol Award finalist and named to Booklist‘s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years.” A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. Sarah lives in California. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information.
If you are a reader who mostly avoids Amish fiction because you think you cannot relate to what many think of as a perfect, sinless lifestyle that might be just a little boring, you really should give Laura Hilton’s novels a try. In them you will find Amish characters who struggle with the same problems and temptations that everyone else experiences – you know the old “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”. Yes the Amish deal with those issues too and Hilton writes about those issues beautifully and scripturally.
In “Love by the Numbers” Hilton’s characters come to life within the pages, especially Lydia and Caleb. Lydia has come to Jamesport to run her aunt’s gift store because she needs a safe place to stay due to false accusations made against her. Caleb was instantly attracted to Lydia and grew to care for her as he got to know her better but because of guilt from his own past he feels he is not good enough for her. Their story involves learning to trust God and to accept His grace in their lives.
There are several scenes in which Caleb and Lydia are strongly tempted by their attraction. Although the scenes are quite tastefully written and are not at all explicit, some readers may not want to share this book with younger teens.
I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every book I have read thus far by Laura Hilton and appreciate the honesty with which she writes. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Click to purchase
After her fiancé dies in a buggy accident, Lydia Hershberger is invited to Jamesport to manage her Mennonite aunt’s gift store while her aunt and uncle are on a mission trip. While there, Lydia gets acquainted with her aentie’s best friend, Bethel Bontrager, and her grown son, Caleb. Lydia is surprised to find herself drawn to handsome clockmaker, Caleb Bontrager. But in spite of an instant flame of attraction between them, he doesn’t seem interested. In fact, pesky Caleb treats her like he doesn’t even like her.
Bright and sparkly. That’s Caleb’s first impression of Lydia. He’s always been attracted to sparkly things. In fact, his affinity for those things, and the trouble they can cause, are exactly why he’s determined to change his ways and settle down. With Lydia’s aentie gone, he is handling the books for the gift shop and is forced to spend too much time in her presence.
When God offers Lydia a second chance at love and family, will she take it? Or will the secret Caleb harbors cause her even more heartbreak?
Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals for blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.
Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.
When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas.
GUEST POST FROM LAURA V. HILTON:
Story Behind the Story – Love by the Numbers
Caleb was a minor character in couple of my Amish books – I think he first made a by name appearance in Amish Wanderer and Christmas Admirer. A minor character. Lydia was a very minor one-time appearance in those stories, too, a girl who happened to be in the room with Bethany and Susanna at a wedding. (This story is stand alone!) But I knew when Caleb first saw Lydia that they would end up together by the way he reacted to her presence. I wondered what their story was.
March and April is tornado season in Arkansas (and in many other states) and in 2011 we had a bad one. I was out and about that day, driving to the county seat with my five children, and there was something in the air. It was heavy, hard to breathe, and the sky was black off to the west. I’m sure I broke speed limits racing to Melbourne, and then home again so we wouldn’t be out in the storm.
Later that afternoon, tornado sirens went off. One went over our house – even from the basement we could hear the sound of a train roaring overhead. Scary. And still thanking God it didn’t touch down. Highland, Ash Flat, and Evening Shade, Arkansas were hit hard. Buildings completely gone. When we drove out that way later in the week there were pickup trucks in the tops of trees. Other things in odd and unusual places. I always wondered how they got the treetop pickups down. I would’ve stopped to watch if I’d been out there when it was done. I did hear that some of those trucks weren’t damaged at all. Unreal. My two sons and my husband both helped with clean up and my oldest son went with a crew to Joplin, Missouri, to help with clean up there.
There has been other occasions I’ve been out in tornados. Once I was in the Walmart parking lot when a tornado went through a town west of it. We could see the funnel touching down from where we stood. It did hail when we were on our way home, praying our house was still standing. It was.
On a different note, in 2016 my oldest son came home with a kitten. She was the sweetest thing ever, and he named her Rosie. Sadly, I was highly allergic to her. I couldn’t even be around the children after they played with her. They’d have to go change clothes and wash their hands, otherwise I couldn’t breathe. Rosie was full Siamese, blue eyes and all, and she was so adorable. I allowed my son to keep her in the shed. I was about four chapters into the story when Rosie found some poison (I think, not sure) and died. We all cried.
Also about the time I was writing this, a very dear friend of a lot of writers died. I told my street team I was going to name a character after her, and was told a lot of writers would be. I agreed. And a lot of their books were released already. But Aenti Judith in this story is named after Judy Burgi. I still miss her and pray for her family.
One of the verses my daughter had to memorize in Sunday School was 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. ‘We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.’ Perfect for the faith message in Love by the Numbers! I love how God always provides the perfect verse for my characters’ faith messages. I’m pretty sure this verse is one I never memorized, and I never would of thought of it on my own, but God put it in my daughter’s lessons for Sunday School, so she had to memorize it – and thus I did too since I help my daughters learn their verses every week.
In honor of the tour, Whitaker House is giving away
Grand Prize Package: Love By the Numbers, Healing Love (Amish of Webster County #1), and The Snow Globe (The Amish of Jamesport #1) by Laura Hilton; “The Angels Cry Holy” scented candle in tin with lid from Abba Jerusalem
1st Place Package: Love By the Numbers, The Snow Globe (The Amish of Jamesport #1) by Laura Hilton, and Whitaker House/Anchor Coloring Book with Colored Pencils
2nd Place Package: Love By the Number by Laura Hilton and Whitaker House/Anchor Coloring Book with Colored Pencils!!!
The danger and action keep on coming for Cassidy Livingston who is supposed to be keeping a low profile in Lantern Beach but that girl just can’t seem to avoid getting involved in solving crimes. This time she and neighbor Ty, the handsome ex-Navy Seal, attempt to discover what happened to the man their friend Skye is accused of murdering. The story takes up soon after the end of the first novel in this series. “Flood Watch” can easily be read alone but details provided in the first series book “Hidden Currents” would help readers to understand more of the background on why Cassidy is in Lantern Beach and a little of the history between her and Ty.
As expected, I loved “Flood Watch” and pretty much read it through in one sitting. Now I must wait for the next installment and I find myself a bit impatient to find out what happens next. I love Christy Barritt’s novels because they have just the right combination of mystery, suspense, action, and romance with the perfect amount of her trademark humor to keep things balanced.
If you have not read anything by Christy Barritt, please do yourself a favor and pick up one or more of her novels asap. Her Lantern Beach series would be an excellent place to start but I daresay you will probably be hooked just like me.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The tide is high, and so is the danger on Lantern Beach. Still in hiding after infiltrating a dangerous gang, Cassidy Livingston just has to make it a few more months before she can testify at trial and resume her old life. But trouble keeps finding her, and Cassidy is pulled into a local investigation after a man mysteriously disappears from the island she now calls home. A recurring nightmare from her time undercover only muddies things, as does a visit from the parents of her handsome ex-Navy SEAL neighbor. When a friend’s life is threatened, Cassidy must make choices that put her on the verge of blowing her cover. With a flood watch on her emotions and her life in a tangle, will Cassidy find the truth? Or will her past finally drown her?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Christy Barritt loves stories and has been writing them for as long as she can remember. When she’s not working on books, Christy writes articles for various publications. She’s also a frequent speaker at various writers groups, women’s luncheons and church events. She’s married to Scott, a teacher. They have two sons, two dogs and a houseplant named Martha. For more information, visit her website at: www.christybarritt.com.
I have been bingeing on Christy Barritt novels lately and now I need to get myself into high gear to write reviews for them all. “Hidden Currents” is the first book in Barritt’s latest series – Lantern Beach Mysteries. As expected, I found myself engrossed in an exciting story filled with danger, mystery, a touch of romance, and plenty of the author’s trademark humor. I just wish I had her imagination!
Who wouldn’t love a story about a police officer living under an assumed name on a somewhat remote island clear across the country from her west coast home – a young woman who is supposed to keep a low profile but cannot resist sticking her nose into the investigation when it is obvious that Sheriff Bozo is unable to solve the murder case. Then there is the attractive ex-Navy Seal next door. They may have got off on the wrong foot but there just may be a few sparks igniting between them.
I loved “Hidden Currents” with all its interesting and sometimes unique characters, an ice cream truck that seems to have a personality of its own, and a plot that managed to keep me engaged throughout. I really like this series and can’t wait to find out what happens to Cassidy/Cady next.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
You can take the detective out of the investigation, but you can’t take the investigator out of the detective.
A notorious gang puts a bounty on Detective Cady Matthews’s head after she takes down their leader, leaving her no choice but to hide until she can testify at trial. But her temporary home across the country on a remote North Carolina island isn’t as peaceful as she initially thinks.
Living under the new identity of Cassidy Livingston, she struggles to keep her investigative skills tucked away, especially after a body washes ashore. When local police bungle the murder investigation, she can’t resist stepping in. But Cassidy is supposed to be keeping a low profile. One wrong move could lead to both her discovery and her demise.
Can she bring justice to the island . . . or will the hidden currents surrounding her pull her under for good?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Christy Barritt loves stories and has been writing them for as long as she can remember. When she’s not working on books, Christy writes articles for various publications. She’s also a frequent speaker at various writers groups, women’s luncheons and church events. She’s married to Scott, a teacher. They have two sons, two dogs and a houseplant named Martha. For more information, visit her website at: www.christybarritt.com.
Because her father was a prominent businessman running for political office, Annalee’s case generated wide-spread attention and those responsible for her punishment were careful not to show her any favor. Annalee was assigned a penalty of a number of community service hours but was surprised not only by how difficult the assignment would be but the sheer animosity shown her by some of the people she would be working with and even her own probation officer.
This story was so heart-warming as Annalee found true purpose in her life as she spent more time with the underprivileged children in the center and saw something different in the lives of the people around her. Secrets and misunderstandings were common and it was fun to watch a sweet romance develop between Annalee and C.J. despite multiple complications.
The book was well written and I found myself absorbed by Annalee and C.J.’s story. It was the perfect blend of drama, romance, and faith with memorable characters and and encouraging plot. I would definitely recommend “Ain’t Misbehaving” to any who enjoy a good contemporary romance.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
True, Annalee’s crime amounted to very little, but not in terms of community service hours. Her probation officer encouraged her with a promise of an easy job in an air conditioned downtown environment. She didn’t expect her role to be little better than a janitor at an after-school day care in the worst area of town. Through laughter and a few tears, Annalee finds out that some lessons are learned the hard way, and some seep into the soul unnoticed.
Carlton Whelen hides behind the nickname of CJ so people won’t treat him like the wealthy son of the Whelen Foundation director. Working at the foundations after-school program delights him and annoys his business-oriented father. When a gorgeous prima donna is assigned to his team, he not only cringes at her mistakes, but also has to avoid the attraction that builds from the first time he sees her.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Marji Laine has completed seventeen years of homeschooling with the surreal notion that she’ll now have time on her hands. But that’s unlikely. Her publishing company, Write Integrity Press, keeps her extremely busy. In her spare time, she teaches a high school and college Bible Study, leads a Sunday morning high school fellowship group, directs a children’s choir, and sings in her church’s adult choir.
She enjoys road trips with her family and friends, photography, scrapbooking, and participating in musical theater. Her favorite past time is game night with her family and her kids’ extended collection of friends.
GUEST POST FROM MARJI LAINE:
AIN’T MISBEHAVING delves into the depth of life from the perspective of a shallow, sheltered woman. Annalee Chambers has been raised to pay attention to all aspects of society, particularly the appearance of success. Being cultured and socially-educated, she’s not really prepared to work in one of the poorest sections of town. And she’s really not expecting to find such joy intertwined with such poverty.
Having my story set in my hometown has some fun aspects. I got to handpick the homes for the main characters and the locations for the after-school program. And even now when I drive past some of those places, I get all excited about the story again.
Photo by Andreas Praefcke via Wikimedia Commons
For instance, I chose a particular building downtown to be CJ’s (the hero’s) condo. It’s in One Arts Plaza. This condo was for sale when I was writing the book so I was able to download actual pictures of the place including the view from its southeast facing patio. You’ll laugh, but I don’t drive by that building without looking up to the 18th floor and half expecting to see CJ standing there.
AIN’T MISBEHAVING goes much deeper than only the setting, though. It was written a number of years ago, so many that I barely remembered the storyline. But when I started editing, I was moved to tears again and again. These characters are so real, and I would love to meet them!
I hope you’ll enjoy AIN’T MISBEHAVING and watch for Annalee and CJ to have an extra special cameo part in Book 2 of the Dallas Duets, PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ.
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Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a minor in history. She’s the winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, a two-time Golden Quill finalist and a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award. Regina has worked at the Mustang News and at First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.
Sarah Sundin is the author of Through Waters Deep, Anchor in the Storm, and When Tides Turn in the Waves of Freedom series, as well as Wings of the Nightingale and the Wings of Glory series. Her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal. Her popular Through Waters Deep was a Carol Award finalist and named to Booklist‘s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years.” A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. Sarah lives in California. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information.
Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals for blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.
Christy Barritt loves stories and has been writing them for as long as she can remember. When she’s not working on books, Christy writes articles for various publications. She’s also a frequent speaker at various writers groups, women’s luncheons and church events. She’s married to Scott, a teacher. They have two sons, two dogs and a houseplant named Martha. For more information, visit her website at: 
True, Annalee’s crime amounted to very little, but not in terms of community service hours. Her probation officer encouraged her with a promise of an easy job in an air conditioned downtown environment. She didn’t expect her role to be little better than a janitor at an after-school day care in the worst area of town. Through laughter and a few tears, Annalee finds out that some lessons are learned the hard way, and some seep into the soul unnoticed.
Marji Laine has completed seventeen years of homeschooling with the surreal notion that she’ll now have time on her hands. But that’s unlikely. Her publishing company, Write Integrity Press, keeps her extremely busy. In her spare time, she teaches a high school and college Bible Study, leads a Sunday morning high school fellowship group, directs a children’s choir, and sings in her church’s adult choir.
