by admin | Jan 8, 2013 | Amish, Books, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I am so glad that through the magic of Suzanne’s pen (probably her computer but pen sounds so much better), her readers did not have to wait for the inimitable M.K. to grow up in real time. Clearly the same M.K. we all grew to love in The Haven and The Keeper, her vivacity and zeal for life continued to place her in precarious situations.
When a careless accident forced her to take over as the new school teacher, M.K. dreaded each day she would be forced to spend inside the schoolroom and was certain she would be a failure as a teacher. Although Mary Kate and her father’s mysterious new worker seemed to lock horns at every encounter, they soon developed a connection that neither could ignore.
As with all Fisher’s books, “The Lesson” was well-written and entertaining with characters that were easy to love. Although Amish fiction is not my preferred genre, I always look forward to any new novel by Suzanne Woods Fisher. Filled with humor, drama, and romance, “The Lesson” also contains more than one lesson for its readers. I heartily endorse it.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity and Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Centered on one of Suzanne Woods Fisher’s most loved characters, this is the story fans have eagerly anticipated. The precocious M.K. is all grown up (well, almost) and ready to take on the world–with surprising results. Fisher’s trademark plot twists and turns are as unexpected and satisfying as ever in this third book in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series.
In her wildest dreams, spunky and impulsive nineteen-year-old Mary Kate Lapp never imagined herself behind a schoolteacher’s desk. A run-in (literally) with the schoolteacher compels her to act as a substitute teacher, just as her restless desire to see the world compels her to apply for a passport . . . just in case. The only thing of interest to M.K. in the sleepy Amish community of Stoney Ridge is the unexplained death of a sheep farmer that coincided with the arrival of a mysterious young man into the community. Frustrated that no one takes the crime seriously, she takes matters into her own hands. Unfortunately, as tends to be the case for M.K., she jumps headlong into trouble.
Purchase a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Lancaster County Secrets series and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is the host of internet radio show Amish Wisdom and a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit
www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your iphone or ipad!
Download the Free App!
Enter to win an iPad from @SuzanneWoodsFisher in “The Lesson” Giveaway!
Celebrate the release of The Lesson with Suzanne Woods Fisher by entering to win one of TWO iPads!
Two winners will receive:
- A brand new iPad
- A $15 gift certificate to iTunes
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 20th. Winner will be announced on 1/22/13 at Suzanne’s Blog.
Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.
by admin | Jan 8, 2013 | Books, Love Inspired, Medical, Romance
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Doctor To The RescueLove Inspired (December 18, 2012)
by
Cheryl WyattABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born Valentine’s Day on a Navy base, Cheryl Wyatt writes military romance. Her Steeple Hill debuts earned RT Top Picks plus #1 and #4 on eHarlequin’s Top 10 Most-Blogged-About-Books, lists including NYT Bestsellers. Cheryl loves interacting with her readers and can be found almost daily on Facebook.
Word from the Author:
I do regular giveaways including a Kindle for every 250 people who join (aka “Like) my Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/CherylWyattAuthor and I’d LOVE for word to spread about that. We have a lot of fun there as I ask for frequent reader input on current books, with helpers being mentioned in the acknowledgements and fun stuff like that.
Learn more about Cheryl and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Combat doctor Ian Shupe returns home from overseas with his most important mission: to raise his little girl. But Ian’s a single dad, and working at Eagle Point’s trauma center means having to find child care. When bighearted, struggling lodge owner Bri Landis offers babysitting in exchange for construction work, Ian accepts. He vows to keep his emotional distance from Bri, yet can’t deny that his daughter is blossoming under her tender care. But is he ready to believe that his heart’s deepest prayer may finally be answered?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Doctor To The Rescue, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
One of my favorite little indulgences is reading Love Inspired books. In fact I had subscriptions to both the Love Inspired and the Love Inspired Suspense series for years but had to drop them when my book review commitments grew to the point that I never seemed to have the time to indulge in the Love Inspired novels anymore. So I am enjoying the fact that I am beginning to find some Love Inspired books on my review lists. I have mentioned in previous posts and still believe that it must take considerable talent to write a novel within the guidelines for one of these shorter mass market books and still have characters and plot with which the reader can connect. Doctor To The Rescue was one of those novels that packed a lot of character development and an excellent plot between its covers.
Doctor and single father Ian Shupe doesn’t have time for nor does he want a relationship with any woman, especially not his best friend’s sister. But Bri Landis’ offer to babysit his daughter is too convenient to turn down. Under Bri’s care, Tia has begun to heal from her mother’s abandonment and to trust that her dad won’t leave her – and somehow Ian’s heart has begun to thaw a little also.
Doctor To The Rescue is an engaging story that was hard to put down. The romance developed at a believable pace and for all the right reasons. A subtle message of faith was woven through the pages with an emphasis on trusting God and forgiveness.
by admin | Jan 3, 2013 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I had been reading some positive comments about “Be Still My Soul” and was eager to read it for myself. When I saw it offered on the Blogging For Books program I was happy to have a chance to review it.
Once again I have been privileged to read the debut novel of an author I plan to add to my ever-growing library. “Be Still My Soul” will not be the last book I read by Joann Bischof. Her willingness to tackle difficult topics and to handle them in a realistic manner was just one aspect that made this book such a good one. Bischof has a way with words that made the chapters flow. I liked the way her characters matured both emotionally and spiritually as the book progressed. I also appreciated its redemptive message that provides hope for even the most undeserving.
I’ll admit that I didn’t particularly care for Gideon through most of the book but was happy with the conclusion of the story. I did like Lonnie a bit better but at times I became a little frustrated with her decisions. Good supporting characters added a depth to the story that enhanced its enjoyment.
I loved “Be Still My Soul” and can’t wait for the next offering in the Cadence of Grace series.
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group Blogging For Books Program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Gideon only ever cared about himself. Now that Lonnie is his wife, will he ever be worthy of her heart?
Night’s chill tickled her skin. Lonnie pressed her hands together and glanced up. He was even more handsome up close. Having grown up the shy, awkward daughter of Joel Sawyer, she’d hardly spoken to any boy, let alone the one who had mothers whispering warnings in their daughter’s ears and fathers loading shotguns.
Pretty Lonnie Sawyer is shy and innocent, used to fading into the background within her family, and among the creeks and hollows of the Appalachian hills. Though her family is poor and her father abusive, she clings to a quiet faith. But when handsome ladies’ man and bluegrass musician Gideon O’Riley steals a kiss, that one action seals her fate.
Her father forces her into a hasty marriage with Gideon—a man she barely knows and does not love. Equally frustrated and confused by his new responsibilities, Gideon yearns for a fresh start, forcing Lonnie on an arduous journey away from her home in Rocky Knob.
Her distant groom can’t seem to surrender his rage at the injustice of the forced matrimony or give Lonnie any claim in his life. What will it take for Gideon to give up his past, embrace Lonnie’s God, and discover a hope that can heal their two fractured hearts?
Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia at the turn of the last century, Be Still My Soul weaves together the threads of yearning, hope, and redemption to form a tale Joanne hopes will touch your heart, stir your senses, and evoke a greater understanding for the majestic God who created every hue and surface of the mountains I hold so dear.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Married to her first sweetheart, Joanne lives in the mountains of Southern California where she keeps busy making messes with their home schooled children. When she’s not weaving Appalachian romance, she’s blogging about faith, writing, and the adventures of country living that bring her stories to life.
by admin | Jan 3, 2013 | Books, Historical, Ireland, Romance
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Flight of the Earls
B&H Books (January 1, 2013)
byMichael Reynolds
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michael K. Reynolds is the writer and producer of Emmy and Telly Award-winning film campaigns and has more than two decades of experience in fiction, journalism, copywriting, and documentary production. He owns Global Studio, a marketing agency, and is also an active leader in church and business, speaking in both ministry and corporate settings. Michael lives with his wife and three children in Reno, Nevada.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
It’s 1846 in Ireland. When her family’s small farm is struck by famine, Clare Hanley and her younger brother, Seamus, set out across the ocean to the Promised Land of America.
Five years prior, Clare’s older sister Margaret and her Uncle Tomas emigrated in similar fashion and were not to be heard from again. But Clare must face her fears as she lands in the coming-of-age city of New York. There she discovers love, adventure, tragedy, and a terrible secret which threatens to destroy her family and all she believes.
Flight of the Earls is the first book in a historical novel trilogy based on Irish immigration in the 1840s.
If you’d like to read the first chapter of Flight of the Earls, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Apparently my knowledge of Irish history is sadly lacking because I failed to understand the significance of the title of this book until near its end when there was a brief mention of the historical event(s) that inspired it. A bit of the original history at the beginning to set up the story might have helped those like me whose Irish education was neglected. Perhaps I place too much importance on a title but I was tempted to pass this one by and that would have been a shame. Fortunately my lack of knowledge did nothing to prevent my enjoyment of Flight of the Earls.
Flight of the Earls is a well-written historical novel that makes the Irish immigration of the mid-1800’s come to life. The pages of the novel are filled with drama, action, secrets, betrayal, and romance. I was quickly drawn into the lives of Clare and Seamus and eagerly followed their journey from famine torn Ireland to a land of opportunity in America. I experienced tragedies and triumphs, disappointments and accomplishments with them as they struggled to find their way in their new home. Despite hardship and tragedy, Clare’s determination, the love of a good man, and finally her surrender to the Lord helped her to overcome the obstacles in her life.
Flight of the Earls is definitely a must-read for all historical fiction lovers.
