by admin | Mar 12, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
“Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe” is a whimsical and cozy novel that nevertheless packs a significant spiritual punch. My reservations about a novel from Max Lucado were quickly put to rest as I settled in for an enjoyable reading experience. Not only is this author’s reputation fully deserved but his versatility is impressive.
Chelsea Chambers was a natural leading character and she had a wonderful supporting cast. I had a doubt or two when I realized one of the characters was an angel but Manny the clumsy, Star Wars loving angel quickly won my heart. I had several good chuckles because of his antics.
I enjoyed walking with Chelsea on her journey to forgiveness through numerous lessons and trials. I loved her compassionate and generous spirit despite negative events and financial struggles. As far as I’m concerned, the book ended perfectly and I was happy that I had the chance to read it.
“Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe” is definitely a winner and I recommend it to everyone.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What if you could ask God anything? What would you ask? And how would he answer?
Chelsea Chambers is on her own. After a public split from her NFL superstar husband, Chelsea takes a bold step out of the limelight and behind the counter of the Higher Grounds Café, an old-fashioned coffee shop in dire need of reinvention. But when her courage, expert planning, and out-of-this-world cupcakes fail to pay the bills, this newly single mom finds herself desperate for help. Better yet, a miracle.
Then a curious stranger lands at Chelsea’s door, and with him, an even more curious string of events. Soon, customers are flocking to the Higher Grounds Café, and not just for the cupcakes and cappuccino. They’ve come for the internet connection to the divine. Now the café has become the go-to place for people in search of answers to life’s biggest questions.
When a catastrophe strikes and her ex comes calling, Chelsea begins to wonder if the whole universe is conspiring against her quest to make it on her own. After a shocking discovery opens her eyes to the unseen world around her, Chelsea finds the courage to ask, and heaven answers in a most unexpected way.
Learn more and purchase a copy at Max’s website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
More than 120 million readers have found comfort in the writings of Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.
Find out more about Max at http://teamlucado.com/beforeamen/cbd.html.
‘Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe’ and iPad Giveaway BLOG CODE: In Max Lucado’s new fiction release, Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe, he asks, If you could ask God anything, what would you ask—and how would he answer? When a catastrophe strikes and her ex comes calling, Chelsea begins to wonder if the whole universe is conspiring against her quest to make it on her own. After a shocking discovery opens her eyes to the unseen world around her, Chelsea finds the courage to ask, and heaven answers in a most unexpected way.
Join Max in celebrating the release of his new fiction book by entering his iPad giveaway and RSVPing to his Coffee with Max webcast!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- An iPad Mini
- A copy of Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 23rd. Winner will be announced March 24th on the Litfuse blog. Then tune in later on the 24th for his Coffee with Max webcast. RSVP here!
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by admin | Mar 11, 2015 | Books, Civil War, Historical, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingSpy of RichmondRiver North (March 1, 2015)byJocelyn Green
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jocelyn Green is a child of God, wife and mom living in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She is also an award-winning journalist, author, editor and blogger. Though she has written nonfiction on a variety of topics, her name is most widely recognized for her ministry to military wives: Faith Deployed. Her passion for the military family was fueled by her own experience as a military wife, and by the dozens of interviews she has conducted with members of the military for her articles and books, Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives and its sequel, Faith Deployed…Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives. She is also co-author of both Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan and Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front (forthcoming, May 2012). Her Faith Deployed Web site and Facebook page continue to provide ongoing support, encouragement and resources for military wives worldwide.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Trust none. Risk all. Richmond, Virginia, 1863. Compelled to atone for the sins of her slaveholding father, Union loyalist Sophie Kent risks everything to help end the war from within the Confederate capital and abolish slavery forever. But she can’t do it alone. Former slave Bella Jamison sacrifices her freedom to come to Richmond, where her Union soldier husband is imprisoned, and her twin sister still lives in bondage in Sophie’s home. Though it may cost them their lives, they work with Sophie to betray Rebel authorities. Harrison Caldwell, a Northern freelance journalist who escorts Bella to Richmond, infiltrates the War Department as a clerk-but is conscripted to defend the city’s fortifications.
As Sophie’s spy network grows, she walks a tightrope of deception, using her father’s position as newspaper editor and a suitor’s position in the ordnance bureau for the advantage of the Union. One misstep could land her in prison, or worse. Suspicion hounds her until she barely even trusts herself. When her espionage endangers the people she loves, she makes a life-and-death gamble.
Will she follow her convictions even though it costs her everything-and everyone-she holds dear?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Spy of Richmond, go HERE.
by admin | Mar 9, 2015 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I cannot get enough of Jen Turano’s books. Perhaps it is because I tend to be a bit glum at times and her novels help to get me out of the dumps. Or it may just be that it is because her books are filled with some of the most feisty, witty, and sometimes even outrageous characters that I just have to love them.
It is entirely possible that “After a Fashion” could be the most over-the-top Turano offering yet. There were times it bordered on slapstick comedy and I loved every minute of it! The characters are wonderful! Each one is a distinct individual and despite some of the craziness, believe it or not, each was entirely plausible. Harriet and Oliver were both special characters who were perfect for each other even if they took awhile to realize it. And Harriet’s roommates were an added bonus. I am hoping to find future books featuring each of them.
“After a Fashion” is just such a fun-filled story yet it has plenty of depth to it also. It is not just fluff. As always, I found a serious spiritual message woven throughout the story. There is also a bit of danger and mystery that apparently will continue into the next book of the series. I certainly don’t mind that – it just makes me anxious for its release.
Readers, if you have not experienced Jen Turano’s novels, please don’t wait any longer. “After a Fashion” would be an excellent book to begin.
This book was provided for review by the author
and Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself out of an income.
Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiance cause the hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.
Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can’t make her fashionable. She’ll never truly fit into Oliver’s world, but just as she’s ready to call off the fake relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages.
Read an excerpt from “After A Fashion” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jen Turano, author of A Change of Fortune, A Most Peculiar Circumstance, and A Talent for Trouble, is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in clothing and textiles. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.
by admin | Mar 9, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Medical, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I have always enjoyed the medical suspense novels of Hannah Alexander so I was delighted to have the chance to review “Hallowed Halls”. Although a bit different than the previous novels I have read by this author, it had all the elements that have kept Hannah Alexander near the top of my “must read” list.
Populated with characters that want to step off the page, the story developed naturally with a nice blend of drama, suspense, romance, and humor. One thing I particularly liked was that the characters were not static. One character in particular was perfectly detestable at the beginning but circumstances brought him around and he ended up being a fairly nice guy at the end. I loved Joy’s somewhat quirky mom and Tressa was a perfect addition to the tale.
“Hallowed Halls” is another great medical mystery by this author team and is a not-to-be-missed story of faith, reconciliation, and redemption. Take my advice and pick up a copy soon. I have already purchased “Dandelion Moon”, the next book of this series and cannot wait to find time to read it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author
in exchange for my unbiased review.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Dr. Joy Gilbert is fired by a grieving boss who wants more from her than she’s willing to give, she returns to her tiny hometown of Juliet, MO to find her ex-fiance still single, her once-strong and independent mother struggling in every way. Before she can make a move, however, the back door of her car bursts open and Tressa, her former employer’s fifteen-year-old daughter, clambers out, refusing to return home to either of her divorced, embittered parents.
Zack Tyler, director of Juliet Hospital’s ER, is stunned to see the woman he still loves has returned to town, apparently unbroken by the rejection of her former employer. That same employer, Weston Cline, told Zack last year that Joy wanted to spread her wings and take the job Weston offered her in a suburb of Kansas City. Zack would have expected to see her heartbroken, in tears, but all she’s worried about is her mother’s health and Tressa’s rebellion. To help her financially, Zack hires her to work in the ER, but the minute he does that, he knows he’s in for another wild ride of the heart.
When Tressa first begins having blackouts, she’s relieved that they take place when she’s alone. If she’s not careful, she’s afraid Joy will feel the need to tell her parents, who will insist she return home. But more and more often, the blackouts hit, and she’s in grave danger before Joy and Zack can discover what is causing them, and what caused the deaths of her brother, her father’s baby brother, a great grandfather…how many unexplained deaths will her family have to endure?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
HANNAH ALEXANDER is the pen name for the writing collaboration of husband and wife Cheryl and Mel Hodde. They chose the name “Hannah Alexander” to incorporate their two names into one. They have read that Hannah means “her hope is in the Lord,” and Alexander means, “servant of mankind.”
by admin | Mar 9, 2015 | Amish, Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Anna’s Crossing” is entirely different from any other Amish novel I have encountered while reviewing many of them over the past several years. As a lover of historical fiction, I found it to fit easily into that genre rather than the typical Amish romance I expected.
A narrative describing the voyage of a group of Amish and Mennonite settlers who hope for a better life without persecution in the New World, the novel features Anna König, a young Amish woman who has reluctantly agreed to accompany her fellow believers on the voyage and Bairn, the ship’s carpenter. Despite their vast differences in lifestyle and beliefs, Anna and Bairn’s encounters lead to a friendship that could lead to an even stronger attachment.
This book is filled with excellent historical details that I believe accurately illustrate the conditions experienced by the people on board the Charming Nancy as well as their reactions to their circumstances. Complete with drama, danger, romance, and even some humor courtesy of young Felix, “Anna’s Crossing” held my attention throughout. I especially enjoyed the revelation of a surprise or two that are in store for the reader.
If you are a lover of Amish fiction, “Anna’s Crossing” is a must read to learn some of the early history of these believers but even those who do not normally enjoy Amish fiction may find it captivating. I enthusiastically recommend this novel.
This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Some endings are really beginnings . . .
On a hot day in 1737 in Rotterdam, Anna König reluctantly sets foot on the Charming Nancy, a merchant ship that will carry her and her fellow Amish believers across the Atlantic to start a new life. As the only one in her community who can speak English, she feels compelled to go. But Anna is determined to complete this journey and return home–assuming she survives. She’s heard horrific tales of ocean crossings and worse ones of what lay ahead in the New World. But fearfulness is something Anna has never known.
Ship’s carpenter Bairn resents the somber people–dubbed Peculiars by the deckhands–who fill the lower deck of the Charming Nancy. All Bairn wants to do is to put his lonely past behind him, but that irksome and lovely lass Anna and her people keep intruding on him.
Delays, storms, illness, and diminishing provisions test the mettle and patience of everyone on board. When Anna is caught in a life-threatening situation, Bairn makes a discovery that shakes his entire foundation. But has the revelation come too late?
Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the beginning of Amish life in America with this fascinating glimpse into the first ocean crossing–and the lives of two intrepid people who braved it.
Read an excerpt from “Anna’s Crossing” HERE.
Endorsements:
“I found Anna’s Crossing to be everything I love in a novel, especially in a historical novel! Fast paced, character driven, filled with rich descriptions and enjoyable dialogue. It was a pleasure to read, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to endorse it.”–Shelley Shepard Gray, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
“This novel is a winner.”–Publishers Weekly
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Letters, The Calling, 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 an Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner for The Search, a Carol Award finalist for The Choice, and a Christy Award finalist for The Waiting. She is also a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.
