The Lady of Galway by Jennifer Deibel

by | Mar 10, 2022 | Books, Historical, Ireland, Romance

MY REVIEW:

The Lady of Galway Manor is a joy to read for so many reasons. First there is the lush descriptions of Ireland and its people and customs. Then there are the characters who seem to want to pop right off the page. The plot is steady with interwoven elements that grabbed my attention. Then of course a seemingly unsuitable romance rife with misunderstandings and a strong thread of faith and forgiveness rounds out the story.

The hero and heroine of this tale are perfection. Lady Annabeth defies the expectations of her heritage by apprenticing at a jewelry shop where she meets the aloof Stephen and his father Seamus. Stephen and Annabeth do not get off to a good start and it takes awhile for Stephen to believe that this daughter of the English Lord of Galway Parish is as genuine as she appears to be. Her giving nature and willingness to sacrifice for the good of others goes a long way to endearing her to everyone she meets, even those suspicious of her motives.

No good book should be without a conflict or two and The Lady of Galway Manor has its share of action and danger as well as a few surprises. I thoroughly enjoyed another visit to Ireland with the author and eagerly look forward to her next novel.                                              

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:

In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy’s father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without the trappings and finery of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family–descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh ring.

Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than make a career in his family’s jewelry shop. The past has taught him to no longer believe in love and the “lies” the Claddagh ring supposedly promises. How can he peddle what he now finds offensive?

The war for Irish independence gains strength, and the De Lacy family is caught in the crossfire. As events take a life-threatening turn, Annabeth and Stephen will discover that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty can only be made stronger when put through the refiner’s fire.

Read an excerpt here.

Puchase a copy here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at www.jenniferdeibel.com.

Every Star in the Sky by Sara Davison

by | Mar 4, 2022 | Books

MY REVIEW:

I have read several novels that included human trafficking during the past year or so. Most of them were quite good but Every Star in the Sky may be the best one yet. The author does a marvelous job of communicating to her readers the torment experienced by the victims while keeping the narrative clean and without graphic details.

The excellent plot moves along at a steady pace with several twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. I didn’t want to put this book down. Action and suspense, faith and hope, love and forgiveness are key elements of the story.

Starr was a wonderful character whose faith sustained her over the years of bondage. Instead of bowing to despair, she always attempted to help and encourage the other girls enslaved by the trafficking ring. Cole was the perfect hero, protective and patient with Starr. She learned quickly that he could be trusted.

Every Star in the Sky should be a must read for most readers. It is an honest portrayal of victims of human trafficking yet offers hope to those bound by it. God is always with his children despite their circumstances even when we feel abandoned and without hope.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by The Novel Way Blog Tours with the Mosaic Collection. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Title: Every Star in the Sky

Author: Sara Davison

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: March 2, 2022

She is willing to testify against her trafficker. If she can stay alive that long.

“You’re safe here, Starr.”

How many times has Detective Cole Blacksky said that to her since helping her escape the life she’d been forced into eight years earlier?

Starr desperately wants to believe him, but she knows Brady Erickson, her former captor, too well. Although Cole has promised her protective custody on his family’s remote ranch, no place on earth is safe enough. Brady will stop at nothing to permanently silence her before she ever reaches the witness stand.

And he is powerful enough to do it.

Purchase Every Star in the Sky:

https://www.amazon.com/Every-Mosaic-Collection-sparrows-penny-ebook/dp/B09HSVSC5H (US)

https://www.amazon.ca/Every-Mosaic-Collection-sparrows-penny-ebook/dp/B09HSVSC5H (Canada)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sara Davison is the author of four romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo Trilogy, and Two Sparrows for a Penny, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, she is a Word, Cascade, and Carol Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario with her husband Michael and their three mostly grown kids. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason. Get to know Sara better at www.saradavison.org and @sarajdavison.

Sara, tell us more!

A lot of Christian authors have recently released books on the theme of human trafficking. While it feels like a trend, I think it is a great deal more than that. I truly believe that El Roi, the God who sees, is revealing His heart for these precious women (and some boys and men).

When the idea for Every Star in the Sky came to me, I was in the middle of writing another book. I tried to shelve the new idea to work on when I finished my current project, but it refused to wait its turn. I had to set what I was working on aside and write Starr’s story out in its entirety before I was able to return to the original project.

This was a powerful lesson to me that it is God who is laying these stories on authors’ hearts, asking them to put names and faces—even fictional ones—to these beautiful, hurting, traumatized souls in order to bring them to the forefront of readers’ attention.

These stories are not only for entertainment. They are a call to action. After reading them and thereby gaining a deeper understanding of this heinous practice that exists and is prevalent in every corner of the world, including North America, readers may then feel compelled to do more. Our primary responsibility as believers is to pray. Pray that these modern-day slaves will be freed. That they will find healing in Jesus Christ and hope for their future. And that all those perpetuating this evil will be brought to justice.

While continuing to pray, some may also want to look into organizations that help those caught up in the sex trade to escape and begin a new life. I mention a couple of these organizations in my letter to readers at the end of Every Star in the Sky, but there are many others that are working—often at risk to staff or volunteers—to free involuntary sex workers and to support them in their journey of healing. Donating money or becoming involved in these organizations in other ways is a powerful response to God’s call to remember and to fight for these women and men that He loves.

My hope and prayer for this book and all others written on this topic is that God will use them as He sees fit to help accomplish these objectives. And that readers will not only be drawn to pray for the victims of trafficking but will also be reminded that the God who placed every star in the sky and knows each of them by name knows their names too.

The theme of the two sparrows for a penny series is the same as it is for all my books—that we are never alone. God has promised that He will not leave us or forsake us, whatever we are going through. May you be reminded and deeply impacted by that as you read Every Star in the Sky and as you pray for all victims of human trafficking, that they will experience the truth of that promise for themselves.

Connect with Sara:

Website: On the Edge Suspense – On the Edge Suspense (saradavison.org)

Facebook – Author Sara Davison

Twitter – Sara Davison (@sarajdavison)

Instagram – Sara Davison (@davisonsara)

BookBub – @saradavison1

Newsletter Subscription: On the Edge Suspense – On the Edge Suspense https://saradavison.org/connect/

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March 3 – The Adventures of a Traveler’s Wife (https://Travelerswife4life.com)

March 4 – Daysong Reflections (https://daysongreflections.com)

March 5 – Library Lady’s Kid Lit (janemouttet.wordpress.com)

–  Candace West (https://candaceweststoryteller.com/blog/)

March 6 – Batya’s Bits (https://batyasbits.home.blog/)

March 7 – Milla Holt (https://millaholt.com/blog/)

March 8 – Chautona Havig (https://chautona.com/blog/)

GIVEAWAY:

To a Brighter Tomorrow by Kari Trumbo

by | Feb 26, 2022 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western

MY REVIEW:

One thing I always enjoy is a good historical western romance novel. Kari Trumbo has provided just that in her latest novel To A Brighter Tomorrow. With its classic western trope with feuding sheep and cattle ranchers and a disputed tract of land, the story features the Johlman family and their rivals the Douglas family.

Younger son Gideon is a hard worker who is content following his father’s instructions but he has fallen head over heels for Josie, a half breed young woman his father would never accept as part of the family. They continue to meet secretly until their secret is discovered. Mischief is afoot with mysterious events that pit the two families against each other but Josie and her brother discover a sinister plot that no one would have suspected.

To A Brighter Tomorrow begins slowly but quickly works up to plenty of action, danger, romance, and faith. The author presented Josie’s situation with sympathy and I cheered for her as she bravely stood up for truth and justice despite her ill treatment. The dynamics within the Johlman family were believable and it was gratifying to watch certain attitudes change as the story progressed.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one in this series.

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:

What’s a woman to do when she isn’t accepted?
Anywhere . . .

By the age of sixteen, Josephine Littlebear determined she was better off on her own. Her father’s hatred of her heritage sent her, alone and independent, to the cow town of Belle Fourche, SD. For years she worked hard and kept to herself, but that changed when she saved a man, and his sheep, from a chance encounter with a bear. Now she’s faced with having something she’s never had before: a friend.

Gideon has always done what his father asked of him.
Until now . . .

Being the second brother, Gideon’s life has always been planned out for him. He was destined to marry someone who could help their sheep ranch and build a family legacy. But when he’s trapped by a hungry bear and a woman he’s never seen before rescues him, sparks fly. Trouble is, his father will never accept a half-Indian bride.

The Johlman ranch is under attack, and no one seems to know by whom. Their faith is tested when proven friends turn to enemies. When Gideon’s older sister makes a surprising choice that could cost the family everything, he must choose which is more important—the family that’s given him everything, or the love of his life.

Order a copy HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Where western meets happily ever after.

Kari is a USA Today bestselling author who writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart.

Her favorite place to write about is the place her heart lives, (even if she doesn’t) South Dakota.

Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.

 

To Disguise the Truth by Jen Turano

by | Feb 24, 2022 | Books, Historical, Mystery, Romance

MY REVIEW:

To Disguise the Truth, final installment of the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency by Jen Turano is the perfect companion for a cozy winter evening by the fire. Easily stands on its own, this novel is even better if read following the first two books of the series.

Finally readers are offered the background of Eunice Holbrooke, the mysterious owner of the agency. Their latest client wants to hire them to find a missing heiress. It doesn’t take long to figure out that Arthur Livingston wants Eunice to help him find herself and from that point hilarity and mystery run amok.

I always love Turano’s books with their quirky characters, and the perfect blend of history, mystery, comedy, and romance. I know I can usually also expect a few dialogue interludes that can be both hilarious and frustrating as certain characters tend to get their wires crossed in their attempts to communicate.

Familiar characters as well as some new favorites fill the pages of To Disguise the Truth. The plot moves along at a mostly steady rate with so many twists and turns it is sometimes difficult to keep it all straight. A bit of action and danger add to the fun and a surprise or two are in store. All’s well that ends well and that’s all I have to say about it.

I loved this book but if you have not read the two previous books, I do recommend that you pick up the entire series and read in order. You will thank me later!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When a man arrives at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, anxious to hire them to find a missing heiress, Eunice Holbrooke realizes her past has finally caught up with her . . . and that she may no longer be able to hide under the disguise that has kept her safe for so long.

Arthur Livingston’s goal in life is to make his mark on the world as a mining industrialist, but after the man who could help him achieve his goal is murdered, Arthur feels compelled to seek justice for the family–but he’s left with more questions than answers after the eccentric Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency refuses to take on his case.

Desperate to conceal her real identity and avoid the irritatingly handsome Arthur, Eunice takes on a different case that requires her to go deep undercover and entangles her in one troublesome situation after another. When other secrets come to light, Eunice has no choice but to confront her past, hopeful that it will set her free but knowing it could very well place her life–and the lives of those she loves–in jeopardy.

Read an excerpt HERE.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com.

A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz

by | Feb 16, 2022 | Books

MY REVIEW:

As a lover of historical fiction, I have always enjoyed books by Laura Frantz. I love history but do not love the cold, hard facts. I want to know about the people who lived it and Laura Frantz does a superb job of giving me a chance to experience history through her characters.

A Heart Adrift does just that for me. It was fun reading about the everyday life of a chocolate maker during that era. I was also given a glimpse or two of the lives of a lighthouse keeper, a privateer, and even how the colonial Virginia government operated.

A story of longing, love, grief, faith, second chances, and restoration, A Heart Adrift is a beautifully written tale that will touch readers hearts. A bit slow at the beginning, the pace does pick up as the tale progresses. Esmee and Henri’s characters are revealed a little at a time and both are so much deeper and admirable than they first appear. I heartily recommend this book.

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:

It is 1755, and the threat of war with France looms over colonial York, Virginia. Chocolatier Esmée Shaw is fighting her own battle of the heart. Having reached her twenty-eighth birthday, she is reconciled to life alone after a decade-old failed love affair from which she’s never quite recovered. But she longs to find something worthwhile to do with her life.

Captain Henri Lennox has returned to port after a lengthy absence, intent on completing the lighthouse in the dangerous Chesapeake Bay, a dream he once shared with Esmée. But when the colonial government asks him to lead a secret naval expedition against the French, his future is plunged into uncertainty.

Can Esmée and Henri’sshared vision and dedication to the colonial cause heal the wounds of the past and reunite them?

READ AN EXCERPT HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Frantz is a Christy Award winner and the ECPA bestselling author of a dozen novels, including An Uncommon Woman, Tidewater Bride, The Frontiersman’s Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, The Colonel’s Lady, The Lacemaker, and A Bound Heart. She is a proud mom to an American soldier and a career firefighter. When not at home in Kentucky, she and her husband live in Washington State. Learn more at www.laurafrantz.net.

Sunrise by Susan May Warren

by | Feb 16, 2022 | Books

MY REVIEW:

Sunrise is another page turner from Susan May Warren, one of my very favorite authors. Sometimes I have to wonder how she finds the time to write so many books with so many different settings as well as characters with such varied occupations yet it always seems so spot on. Such talent!

Readers will find themselves in the wilds of Alaska in this one, riding a dogsled with Echo or in a plane with Dodge, or maybe fighting off a rogue grizzly or even a killer or two. I assure you, there isn’t much time to get bored with this book that moves quickly from one scene to another with more than enough action, adventure, and romance to keep most readers happy. The only negative for me is that I have to wait until the next installment, Sunburst to get answers about the cliffhanger at the end of Sunrise. This author seems to like to tease her readers with them quite often. Sure keeps me reading!

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:

Coming home was never the plan

After a terrible family fight, pilot Dodge Kingston left home to join the Air Force. A decade later, he’s headed back to the destiny that awaits him as heir to Sky King Ranch. But that’s not all that’s waiting for him at home.

Echo Yazzie is a true Alaskan woman–a homesteader, dogsledder, and research guide for the DNR. After her childhood best friend and former flame, Dodge, fled Denali, she settled into life on the Alaskan range. She’s made her peace with being left behind–by her mother and by Dodge. And she’s strong enough to live without them.

When one of Echo’s fellow researchers goes missing, Echo sets out to find her, despite a blizzard, a rogue grizzly haunting the woods, and the biting cold. What she doesn’t know is that there are more than just the regular dangers of the Alaskan forests stalking her . . .

As Dodge sets out to find Echo, he can’t ignore the feelings he still has for her. But will he be able to find her in time? And if he does, is there still room for him in her heart?

READ AN EXCERPT HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 85 novels with more than 1 million books sold, including the Global Search and Rescue and the Montana Rescue series, as well as Sunrise and Sunburst. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT Medallion and numerous Readers’ Choice Awards, Susan makes her home in Minnesota. Find her online at www.susanmaywarren.com, on Facebook @SusanMayWarrenFiction, and on Twitter @SusanMayWarren.