One Hundred Valleys was an enjoyable read from beginning to end. I am partial to historical fiction and this book made the early days of Oregon come alive for me. I was particularly interested in the location because when my daughter and her husband moved from Tennessee to Oregon several years ago their first assignment was in Grants Pass along the Rogue River, the general area of the book.
After her mother’s death and another disappointment, Emmalin Hammond travels to Oregon to find the father she has never known and believed to be dead. After yet another tragedy, Emmalin decides to continue the journey to Deer Creek with Jacob Landon as her guide. Various hardships and encounters with Indians along the way strengthened a friendship between Emmalin and Jacob but they were both aware that they were totally unsuitable for each other. In many ways, despite their obvious differences, Jacob and Emmalin were much alike. Although Emmalin had been raised with abundance, circumstances of her life had left her not knowing exactly where she fit in. Jacob’s loss of family at an early age and life among the Indians had also left him feeling out of place.
Both Emmalin and Jacob were strong characters. Jacob was caring and protective despite his rough upbringing. Emmalin was stronger than she could have ever imagined as a pampered society girl. It was fun observing the growth of their relationship as well as Emmalin’s connection to her father. A steady plot filled with both disaster and blessings and a cautious romance, it also illustrated a believable path back to trust in God.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit.. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
After the death of her mother, Emmalin Hammond discovers she is not the heiress she’d always assumed she’d be. The revelation exposes her fiancé true intentions when he withdraws his marriage proposal, leaving Emmalin heartbroken and humiliated. When she discovers the father she believed to be dead is still alive and living in the Oregon Territory she decides it is time to meet the man who has been hidden from her all of her life.
Accompanied by her Uncle Jonathon she sets out for the Oregon Territory in search of answers and hoping for a renewed relationship with her father. When tragedy strikes, she confronts the terrifying challenge of completing her quest alone. Faced with few options, she entrusts her life to a mountain man named Jacob Landon who agrees to transport her to a small settlement in Southern Oregon called Deer Creek, a place also known as the Land of One Hundred Valleys.
Emmalin is not prepared for the hardships of life in the Oregon wilderness. Each day presents a new challenge. Newfound friends, including the reserved Jacob Landon, come alongside to help her adapt and she gradually finds her way. Yet, she feels out of place. Should she brave the arduous journey back to Philadelphia and the life she once knew or remain and hope for something better in the Oregon wilderness?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bonnie Leon is the author of twenty-two novels, including the recently released Return to the Misty Shore, the popular Alaskan Skies and bestselling The Journey of Eleven Moons. Bonnie’s books are being read internationally and she hears from readers in Australia, Europe, Poland, and even Africa. She enjoys speaking for women’s groups and mentoring up and coming authors.
Bonnie and her husband, Greg, live in Southern Oregon. They have three grown children and seven grandchildren.
MORE FROM BONNIE:
Why this story?
In the spring of 1980 my husband and I, our two-year-old son, and our infant daughter left city life in Washington state and moved to Southern Oregon. We gave up our community of friends and family along with my husband’s reliable and well-paying job. Our friends thought we were crazy, but we were determined that Oregon was where we belonged. We were scared but not deterred.
I think the change in my own life as a young woman had a lot to do with why I wrote this story of Emmalin Hammond. To be sure, Emmalin’s level of difficulty and danger is distinctly different than mine, but there are similarities. We both experienced adventures, joy, and, yes, even danger.
Oregon has been my home for forty years now, and I am glad my husband and I made the decision to move here. We’ve had a good life in this wild and beautiful country. Sometimes I wonder about the women who made that choice during the nineteenth century. Emmalin set out on her harrowing journey to Oregon in the spring of 1855. Many who began that journey did not make it across the plains and desserts of America.
When I put down roots in Douglas County, Oregon I was thrilled to be here, but the changes weren’t all easy. The old farmhouse we lived in had more broken windows than intact ones. It was mouse infested. The plumbing needed major repair. And yet I loved it. The countryside was lush and green, and the rolling hillsides were dotted with farm animals, wildlife, and broad-limbed oak trees. There were wild blackberries sprawling along the farm’s fences and fresh fruit in our orchard. It looked much the same as the Oregon Emmalin discovered in my story, One Hundred Valleys.
I loved hard work and spent a lot of time splitting logs for our only heat source—a wood burning stove—felling trees on our new property, and working alongside my husband in our vegetable garden.
I had run-ins with things like poison oak and skunks, but that did not dampen my enthusiasm as a new Oregonian. I loved picking wild blackberries, fishing the high mountain lakes, hiking mountain trails, and fishing the North Umpqua river. I cherished those days as a farm wife and mother. Those were the best years of my life. I have never regretted our move to the beautiful land of one hundred valleys in Southern Oregon.
I am thankful for the early explorers who challenged the wilderness in the Oregon Territory more than a century ago. It is their courage and determination that made it possible for me and my family to live and thrive in this beautiful place.
Christy Barritt’s latest book The Art of Eavesdropping is the first of her promising new series. Of course who could disagree with the fact that all her books are good? Once again this author offers her readers a cozy mystery with a somewhat quirky yet relatable heroine and more than one interesting male character who might or might not become a romantic interest in a future installment.
In this case the heroine is Elliot Ransom who grew up on the mission field in the Amazon jungle. Political unrest sent her family back to the states where life changed dramatically for them all. When Elliot takes a job as assistant to a private investigator she finds that the job description might include more than the expected desk job. Her first assignment involves trying to find evidence to prove a murder suspect’s innocence and she quickly experiences more than one close call with death. I loved Elliot. She is one sharp cookie whose unique observational skills and spatial intelligence are exactly what it takes to solve the mystery.
Its fast-paced plot, fun dialogue, and sometimes awkward situations make this book one that can easily be read in one sitting. A mystery in Elliot’s own life promises to add extra dimension to her future adventures. The Art of Eavesdropping has definitely hooked me and I must read the entire series because I have to know what happens next.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Missionary kid Elliot Ransom is restless after moving from her beloved Amazon home to a wealthy DC suburb. Though Storm River, Virginia, is beautiful, it’s also a playground for haughty politicians and wealthy playboys. She’s never felt so out of place.
Becoming an assistant to a hotshot private investigator changes everything . . .
Expecting to help with filing and background checks, Elliot is shocked when she’s catapulted into the frontlines of a murder investigation instead. While trying to prove their client innocent, she’s forced from the administrative role she usually plays. The change is surprisingly invigorating.
Learning the art of investigating shouldn’t be so dangerous . . . but this case just might be as dicey as the new town Elliot is living in. Could a little harmless eavesdropping lead to a big disaster?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today has called Christy Barritt’s books “scary, funny, passionate, and quirky.”
A Publishers Weekly best-seller, Christy writes both mystery and romantic suspense novels that are clean with underlying messages of faith. Her books have sold almost two million copies, and one is currently being developed as a movie.
Christy’s books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, have been twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and have finaled for both a Carol Award and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year.
She’s married to her prince charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious–but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado.
Christy currently splits her time between the Virginia suburbs and Hatteras Island, North Carolina. She loves spending time with her husband, her two sons, and her four dogs.
High stakes international intrigue that involves two different foreign countries, the FBI, and a city detective kept the pages turning for me well into the night. I was beginning to think that detective Aubrey Grayson must have nine lives like a cat because she had so many brushes with death. FBI agent, Aubrey’s best friend from high school turns up just in time to help rescue her from a kidnapping and the action does not slow down very much from that point on. Needless to say there is plenty of mystery, suspense, danger, and plot twists to keep things interesting and surprise or two just adds extra dimension to the story. Very action oriented, the book also contains an element of faith and the expected romance that does not overpower the suspense.
I loved this book and look forward to the next offering from this author. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy.
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:
Join the hunt for the truth–and a traitor
When FBI agent Jack Shannon arrives in Corpus Christi, Texas, he is focused on one thing: find the man who has been selling encrypted government secrets to the Chinese. But when a senator is shot during a hunting trip and the woman he was with is abducted, Jack agrees to join the search–especially when he discovers that the kidnapping victim is Aubrey Grayson, a woman he was once in love with.
As the search continues, it becomes clear the senator may not have been the intended victim–and Aubrey may be connected to the other case Jack is supposed to be working on. Can Jack untangle the knots before it’s too late? And when he learns the truth, will it be too painful to get past?
Lisa Harris is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel from Romantic Times for her novels Blood Covenant and Vendetta. The author of more than 40 books, including The Nikki Boyd Files and the Southern Crimes series, as well as Vanishing Point, A Secret to Die For,and Deadly Intentions,Harris and her family have spent over 16 years living as missionaries in southern Africa. Learn more at www.lisaharriswrites.com.
The Englisch Daughter was not at all what I expected but in my opinion that’s what made it so good. A multi-faceted story of betrayal and lost hopes and dreams, this book is an honest and open look at the life of an Amish couple and their close friends and family. The wife has sacrificed her own dreams to take care of her home and family, putting aside funds for the future business she has long desired. When the time is right she learns that her plans have been for nothing and she has a new added responsibility that came as the result of a hurtful secret her husband has carried on his own.
What a wonderful story of repentance, forgiveness, and restoration! The narrative was written in such a way that I was never certain if everything would turn out well or not. I could easily relate to the feelings of both Jemima and her husband Roy and suspected there was more to the story than it seemed. A difficult situation that was deftly handled by the author, The Englisch Daughter is so good. I recommend it to all readers but especially to those who love Amish fiction.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Waterbrook Multnomah. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What happens when your spouse has become a stranger?
Old Order Amish wife and mother Jemima Graber has put her marriage and young children ahead of herself for years. For the last decade she’s set herself aside while her husband, Roy, invested in the family’s successful horse farm. While raising four little ones, she’s followed all the rules and patiently waited to finally chase a dream of her own.
But now, at the time when her dreams are about to be realized, Roy has grown distant from Jem, and she doesn’t know what to make of his unusual moods and absences. Is his erratic behavior somehow connected to the tenant in the family’s rental property, an Englisch woman Roy dated during his rumschpringe days? And if so, how far does God’s forgiveness extend in impossible situations?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
CINDY WOODSMALL is a New York Times and CBA best-selling author of twenty-five works of fiction and one nonfiction book. Cindy’s writing has been featured on ABC’s Nightline and the front page of the Wall Street Journal. She lives outside Atlanta with her husband.
ERIN WOODSMALL is a writer, musician, wife, and mom of four. She has edited, brainstormed, and researched books with Cindy for almost a decade. More recently she and Cindy have coauthored five books.
I thoroughly enjoyed Runaway Bride by Jody Hedlund which features a wealthy young woman who fled for her life to escape marriage to an abusive older man. Fearing for her life she boarded a bride ship to British Columbia where she joined other women with hopes of a better future. With two vastly different men wooing her, Arabella felt immediate attraction to the one least suited to a woman of her standing but no sparks with the one she thinks she should marry. Time revealed the true character of both men and Arabella’s choices became more clear.
Arabella was a very likeable character. Although raised with every thing she could ever desire, she managed to adapt to a different lifestyle where she learned to enjoy serving others rather than being served. Her compassionate heart endeared her especially to the town baker who decided to marry her at their first meeting. Peter was a charmer and quite forward for the times yet he too had a heart filled with compassion for others. Lieutenant Richard Drummond was a gentleman on the surface but his perfect veneer hid a scheming heart.
Runaway Bride is an enchanting and fun to read tale that made me want to read all night. The plot moved along at a steady pace with a few surprises along the way. I highly recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction.
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:
Haunted by Mistakes in Her Past, Will She Ever Again
Trust Her Heart to Another?
Wealthy Arabella Lawrence flees to British Columbia on a bride ship, still bearing the scars of past mistakes. One of the few single women in the boomtown, she immediately attracts suitors, but she is determined not to find herself trapped again by making a poor choice.
Vying for her hand are two very different men. Lieutenant Richard Drummond is a gentleman in the Navy, held in high esteem. Peter Kelly is the town’s baker who has worked hard to build a thriving business. He and Drummond not only compete for Arabella’s affections, but also clash over their views of how the natives should be treated in the midst of a smallpox outbreak.
As Arabella begins to overcome her fears, she discovers someone in dire need–a starving girl left behind by her tribe. Intent on helping the child, Arabella leans on Peter’s advice and guidance. Will she have the wisdom to make the right decision, or will seeking what’s right cost both her and Peter everything?
Jody Hedlund (www.jodyhedlund.com) is the author of over 20 novels, including Love Unexpected, Captured by Love, Unending Devotion, The Preacher’s Bride, and A Noble Groom, and is the winner of numerous awards, including the Christy Award, Carol Award, and Christian Book Award. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in social work. Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy teens, and five spoiled cats. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog.
Flight Risk is a multi-layered tale that had me hooked from the very beginning. I honestly did not want to stop reading and it was responsible for at least one night’s lost sleep. Another novel that exposes human trafficking, Flight Risk is written from a different point of view and includes several plot twists that are totally unexpected.
The two primary characters, one a woman with her own law practice and the other a persistent journalist determined to expose the truth at all costs, each have trust issues that prevent them from forming relationships with many people. When Jett Glover’s expose’ on an international human trafficking organization include, s Savannah’s ex-husband, she finds it hard to believe but Jett has the evidence to back up his article. Unfortunately the article prompts a series of senseless murders and Jett and Savannah team up to find out why.
I have enjoyed each and every one of Putman’s suspense novels but this may just be the best one yet. With a wonderful cast of characters, a tangled plot with plenty of danger, action, and romance, as well as a strong message of faith, this story will have its readers questioning how to discern the real truth in any situation. I loved Flight Risk and highly recommend it to other suspense fans.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Bestselling author Cara Putman returns with a romantic legal thriller that will challenge the assumptions of truth tellers everywhere.
Savannah Daniels has worked hard to build her law practice, to surround herself with good friends, and to be the loyal aunt her troubled niece can always count on. But since her ex-husband’s betrayal, she has trouble trusting anyone.
Jett Glover’s father committed suicide over a false newspaper report that ruined his reputation. Now a fierce champion of truth, Jett is writing the story of his journalism career—an international sex-trafficking exposé that will bring down a celebrity baseball player and the men closest to him, including Savannah’s ex-husband.
When Jett’s story breaks, tragedy ensues. Then a commercial airline crashes, and one of Savannah’s clients is implicated in the crash. Men connected to the scandal, including her ex, begin to die amid mysterious circumstances, and Savannah’s niece becomes an unwitting target.
Against their better instincts, Jett and Savannah join ranks to sort the facts from fiction. But can Savannah trust the reporter who threw her life into chaos? And can Jett face the possibility that he’s made the biggest mistake of his life?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Since the time she could read Nancy Drew, Cara has wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 she attended a book signing at her local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, was history. There she met a fellow Indiana writer Colleen Coble. With prompting from her husband, Cara shared her dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, Cara’s been writing award-winning books. She is currently writing book 33 and dreaming up future books, not hard when she sees what-ifs everywhere.
Cara Putman is an active member of ACFW and gives back to the writing community through her service on Executive Board. She has also been the Indiana ACFW chapter president and served as the Area Coordinator for Indiana.
Cara is also an attorney, full-time lecturer at a Big Ten university, active in women’s ministry, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband and her kids that is. She graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School, and Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. You can learn more about Cara at www.caraputman.com.
Learn more about Flight Risk and Cara Putman here!
To celebrate her tour, Cara is giving away the grand prize package of a Vera Bradley travel cosmetics set, a journal for capturing vacation memories, a copy of Flight Risk, and a bracelet!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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Bonnie Leon is the author of twenty-two novels, including the recently released Return to the Misty Shore, the popular Alaskan Skies and bestselling The Journey of Eleven Moons. Bonnie’s books are being read internationally and she hears from readers in Australia, Europe, Poland, and even Africa. She enjoys speaking for women’s groups and mentoring up and coming authors.
USA Today has called Christy Barritt’s books “scary, funny, passionate, and quirky.”
Lisa Harris is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel from Romantic Times for her novels Blood Covenant and Vendetta. The author of more than 40 books, including The Nikki Boyd Files and the Southern Crimes series, as well as Vanishing Point, A Secret to Die For, and Deadly Intentions, Harris and her family have spent over 16 years living as missionaries in southern Africa. Learn more at 
CINDY WOODSMALL is a New York Times and CBA best-selling author of twenty-five works of fiction and one nonfiction book. Cindy’s writing has been featured on ABC’s Nightline and the front page of the Wall Street Journal. She lives outside Atlanta with her husband.
Jody Hedlund (
Since the time she could read Nancy Drew, Cara has wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 she attended a book signing at her local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, was history. There she met a fellow Indiana writer Colleen Coble. With prompting from her husband, Cara shared her dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, Cara’s been writing award-winning books. She is currently writing book 33 and dreaming up future books, not hard when she sees what-ifs everywhere.
