Lexi Eddings was a new author to me but I agreed to review “The Coldwater Warm Hearts Club” based almost entirely on its gorgeous cover art. With a cover that beautiful, how good the book not be good as well? I am happy to say that I enjoyed the book equally as much as I liked its cover.
With an ample supply of interesting and sometimes even quirky characters, “The Coldwater Warm Hearts Club” is a tale that invited me in and encouraged me to stay awhile within its pages. It’s one of those “you can’t go home again” stories that pretty much disproves that old adage by its end but it takes awhile for Lacy to understand that Coldwater is exactly where she belongs. Returning home broken and ashamed, Lacy Evans just wants to get back on her feet so she can leave Coldwater again. But an unlikely old friend and the help of the Warm Hearts Club show Lacy that there is more to life than what she considers success.
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Coldwater, especially getting to spend time with some of its special residents. I particularly liked Jacob Tyler and his mostly positive attitude considering his circumstances and rooted for him to win Lacey’s heart even when it was beginning to look doubtful.
I am still not entirely certain if this book fits within my usual Christian fiction parameters but overall I found it to be a clean read with a good positive message. The plot was well written with an inviting and easy-to-read style and held my attention throughout. I am hoping to have a chance to read other books in this series soon.
A free copy of this book was provided for review by the author. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
For Lacy Evans, returning to flyover country is the definition of failure. She had everything she wanted—an award-winning design firm, a chic city condo, a handsome, aristocratic almost-fiancé. Then her boyfriend ran off with her receptionist and her clients’ money. Now she’s out of business and crashing on her parents’ couch. When she slides into a booth at the Green Apple Grill, she’s feeling lower than a worm’s belly.
But Lacy’s old classmate Jacob Tyler is happy to see her. Coldwater’s football hero came back from Afghanistan short part of a leg and some peace of mind, but he’s counting his blessings, and Lacy could be one of them. Then there’s her ex Daniel, wearing a sheriff’s badge and a wedding ring but looking like young summer love. And a host of unlikely serendipities: the selfish do-gooders who sneak around taming curmudgeons and constructing second chances, The Fighting Marmots and the sprawling, take-no-prisoners Bugtussle clan.
Lacy thought she knew her hometown, and herself. She just wanted to get on her feet and keep running. But the longer she stays, the more she finds to change her mind . . .
Lexi is the award-winning author of the Coldwater Cove series, a collection she describes as big stories in a small town…with Ozark snark! Her goal is to make her readers laugh a little, cry a little and then leave them with a guaranteed happy ending. When she’s not writing, she loves singing, reading and spending time with her kids and pets. She also loves traveling with her husband who’s taken her on more adventures than she deserves!
I fell in love with Kara Isaac’s debut novel “Close to You” and have eagerly awaited her second. I am pleased to say that I was not at all disappointed. If anything, Isaac’s writing is even stronger and her characters more developed. in “Can’t Help Falling”.
I did not find quite as many laugh-out-loud moments in “Can’t Help Falling” but there were definitely some of those moments sprinkled throughout its pages. And who could resist a Narnia loving heroine and hero? Emelia and Peter were a fun couple who definitely grew on me as the story progressed. I absolutely loved the Narnia related moments and bits of whimsy that were worked deftly into this oh so serious romance. I also enjoyed catching up with Alison and Jackson from “Close to You” who played prominent supporting roles in this novel. Then there was Peter’s brother Victor who was perfectly horrible through most of the story. I personally hope he will be featured in a future story of his own. I just love finding characters I dislike in one book featured in another one where they become a changed person. Victor has such potential so my fingers are crossed!
“Can’t Help Falling” is a beautiful story of forgiveness and redemption in which several characters blame themselves for the bad choices of one person that led to her own death. That same guilt was the source of multiple misunderstandings that nearly destroyed relationships. You will need to read the book to learn how it all works out but I think you will enjoy the entire process.
I can’t recommend Kara’s two novels enough. They were both wonderful and kept me flipping those pages quickly. She is a new author who is worth taking a chance on.
A free copy of this book was provided for review by the author through her publisher. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A funny, heartfelt romance about how an antique shop, a wardrobe, and a mysterious tea cup bring two C.S. Lewis fans together in a snowy and picturesque Oxford, England.
Emelia Mason has spent her career finding the dirt on the rich and famous. But deep down past this fearless tabloid-reporter façade, there’s a nerdy Narnia-obsessed girl who still can’t resist climbing into wardrobes to check for the magical land on the other side. When a story she writes produces tragic results, she flees to Oxford, England—home to C.S. Lewis—to try and make amends for the damage she has caused.
Peter Carlisle was on his way to become one of Great Britain’s best rowers—until he injured his shoulder and lost his chance at glory. He’s determined to fight his way back to the top even if it means risking permanent disability to do so. It’s the only way he can find his way past failing the one person who never stopped believing in his Olympic dream.
When Peter and Emelia cross paths on her first night in Oxford, the attraction is instant and they find common ground in their shared love of Narnia. But can the lessons from a fantasyland be enough to hold them together when secrets of the real world threaten to tear them apart? Cobblestone streets, an aristocratic estate, and an antique shop with curious a wardrobe bring the world of Narnia to life in Kara Isaac’s inspiring and romantic story about second chances.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kara Isaac is an award-winning writer who lives in Wellington, New Zealand, where her career highlights include working in tourism as Private Secretary for the Prime Minister. She loves great books almost as much as she loves her husband and two children.
I remember reading the two books of Bunn’s Reluctant Prophet series (“The Warning” and “The Ultimatum”) nearly twenty years ago (could it be that long?!) and then watching later as much of his warnings seemed to play out in real life. I didn’t know if this author was a prophet or someone who just knew finance and paid close attention to what was happening in that world. I did decide that I could trust that his research for his novels would be thorough.
Well, Davis Bunn is back with another financial thriller in his latest novel “The Domino Effect”. As usual, the story itself is riveting with plenty of drama, action, and dangerous situations. I was almost unable to put the book down before I finished it. I had to admire the heroine Esther Larsen for her courage and determination to do what was right even at her own risk. Although it did not come as a total surprise, I did find it somewhat frightening to read about how close the world could be to a total financial disaster due to the manipulation of the markets by large and powerful banks.
Mr. Bunn provide a wealth of information within this suspenseful story. I cannot say that it was exactly a pleasure to read because the subject matter is so crucial, especially if it is based on true possibilities as I believe it must be. “The Domino Effect” is a novel that should grab the attention of its readers and give them some serious matters to consider about how they handle their own money in the future.
A free copy of this book was provided for review by Blogging Bistro. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A Financial Thriller That Will Keep Readers on the Edge of Their Seats
Esther Larsen, a leading risk analyst at one of the country’s largest banking institutions, is becoming more and more convinced that she has uncovered a ticking bomb with the potential to overshadow 2008’s market crash. And as her own employer pursues “investment” strategies with ever-increasing levels of risk, she becomes convinced she must do something. Yet what can one person really do?
The markets are edging closer to a tipping point–like the teetering first domino in a standing row that circles the globe. And when Esther does sound the alarm, she wonders if anyone will take her seriously. But as public support grows for her ideas, so does the desperation of those whose conspiracy of greed she seeks to expose. With global markets on the brink, and her own life in danger, Esther is locked in a race with the clock to avert a worldwide financial meltdown.
This fast-paced suspense novel will make you wonder where the fiction ends and reality begins. . . .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Davis Bunn is an award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies.
His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the Christy Hall of Fame.
Davis divides his time between Florida and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent’s Park College at The University of Oxford. Visit Davis at http://www.davisbunn.com/
“After September” is an easy-to-read contemporary novel about divorce recovery. Of course it is much more than that. You could also say it is a novel about self-discovery as well as about how the plans we make are not necessarily the plans the Lord has for us. At least that is what Rose Davis found out.
I enjoyed reading about Rose and how she pretty much burned all her bridges before purchasing a cottage in the Caribbean. Although her primary intention was to heal from a sudden and unexpected divorce, Rose soon learned that God had different plans for her life and the life of her daughter also. As is often the case, the road to God’s best for Rose was not particularly a straight and smooth one and she had to overcome some major obstacles along the way but her reward was a new and better love and a renewed and improved relationship with the Lord. What could be better?
“After September” is the first book I’ve read by Stephanie Smith but I plan to keep my eyes open for more of her work in the future.
A free copy of this book was provided for review by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Click book cover to purchase.
From the outside, Rose Davis had the perfect life: a long marriage to a successful politician, two grown children away at college, and respect within her community. When she suddenly finds herself divorced, she turns her back on God.
In an effort to reclaim her life and pride, she spends the summer in the Caribbean. Her plan does not include meeting Patrick, the charismatic local doctor with a tragic past who ignites a passion both unexpected and thrilling.
As she begins to open up to love, doubt and fear creep in. Once again she finds herself broken hearted, left on her own to pick up the pieces. It’s only when she experiences the unmistakable love and grace from the very One she turned away from that Rose realizes what she needed most was there waiting for her all along.
Stephanie’s love of the written word began long before she could read. As a child she would hold a newspaper in hand and move her fingers along the page, pretending to read along.
By the time she was a teenager, she dreamed of writing stories that would touch people’s lives, much like hers had been by so many authors.
She lives in the Pacific Northwest and enjoys listening to Christian rock music while she writes, spending time with her family, watching British television, or reading YA fantasy novels.
GUEST POST FROM STEPHANIE SMITH:
I’m so excited to work with Sandra and Celebrate Lit to launch my debut novel AFTER SEPTEMBER which I’ve come to see as a labor of love and trust in the Lord.
You see, becoming a published author has always been my dream, but every time I’d try to write a novel, the inner critic would kick in and stop me in my tracks. I’d write a few paragraphs before giving up, unhappy with all my written imperfections. So, I continued my day job and the idea of writing a novel, let alone publishing it, became less and less realistic. For some reason I never lost that kernel of hope that it might happen one day. God was speaking to me then, I just didn’t realize it.
In 2010 I was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After six months of intensive chemotherapy, I was in remission and had the strongest desire to write a novel. At first, the idea was to write a fictional story based on my experience. As I started to write, it just didn’t feel right. I then switched to writing a memoir, but that too fell flat. Frustrated, I gave up on writing once again.
Fast forward to 2013 and the idea of AFTER SEPTEMBER came to me. The premise was about a woman who goes through a divorce, spends a summer in the Caribbean and has a summer fling. The idea was so strong I began to write. I couldn’t help but write. As the story spoke to me, I kept this mantra in my head: “Just write. Just write.” I was finally able to quell my inner critic and nine months later, completed the first draft. Boy did I feel accomplished! Well, the feeling didn’t last very long. After getting feedback from a few beta readers, I re-wrote the entire story in a different point of view.
When I finished I realized I had to put this story in a box. A genre box. Was it women’s fiction? A romance? Christian or secular? After reading more about these genres I realized I’d made a big mistake. I hadn’t identified my brand from the get-go and the story didn’t really fit in any genre. Too secular for the Christian market; too Christian for the secular. It makes sense to me now why the first round of agent queries were declined.
I began to pray in earnest, seeking God’s will for this story. I felt He’d led me to write Rose’s story and realized my agenda had gotten in the way. Why would God have me write a story with pre-marital sex? The answer is He wouldn’t. Once my heart was satisfied I knew the direction He wanted me to go, I was back to the drawing board. Once again, I re-wrote AFTER SEPTEMBER. This time I kept my Christian viewpoint in mind and after the third re-write the final version was born.
Well, life has a funny way of stopping you in your tracks. I’d begun querying agents for the second version, and in June 2014 my cancer came back. You’ve got to be kidding me!
Okay, Lord. I trust you. I put my faith in You.
Another six months of intensive chemo put me back in remission. PRAISE GOD! I resumed my agent query and again met with rejection after rejection. This didn’t stop me. By this point I was bound and determined AFTER SEPTEMBER would be released. My hopes were raised when a small publisher I’d have given anything to work with wanted to read the entire manuscript. With baited breath I waited. When the disappointed rejection came, I nearly gave up. But God had other plans. See, when I placed my trust in Him, I had to accept His will, not mine. His time, not mine.
The last on my list to query before going the self-pub route was Desert Breeze Publishing. I submitted my story with the expectation of another rejection. Around January 1st of 2016 I received THE e-mail I’d dreamed about: an offer for a contract. I was in shock. THANK YOU LORD!! Nine months later, AFTER SEPTEMBER has been published. I want to pinch myself. I feel it’s all a dream and I’ll wake up.
A dream that began in my early teens took until my mid-forties to come to fruition. What I’ve realized is writing isn’t a dream but a calling. God knew this and remained patient with me as I finally figured that out. A calling to give women hope while reading a romance novel. Such became my tagline: “stories of life…love..hope”
What I’ve learned from this is to never give up on your dreams. Never stop believing God has something in store for your life, even when it seems like you are living one struggle after another. He is faithful to His promises!
Over the years I have read many novels about pioneers who travel west by wagon train but “Mattie’s Pledge” is the first one I’ve encountered that features the Amish. I found their story to be interesting, especially the contrast in their views from other settlers toward protecting themselves and their property.
When Mattie’s family decides to move west to a new settlement in Indiana, she was eager to go. Mattie had a good case of what many might call wanderlust and felt that if she could just see what was over the mountains, the emptiness in her soul would be filled. Jacob Yoder, Mattie’s childhood friend, and his family are part of the group of travelers. All Jacob wants is a home of his own and hopefully Mattie as his wife. Although they care for each other, neither of them quite understands the other’s dreams. The Amish travelers’ trail is dogged by a group of men who are intent on stealing their horses and one of them has his eyes on Mattie. Danger seems imminent but only Jacob seems to discern the threat.
Overall, “Mattie’s Pledge” was an enjoyable story but I did grow frustrated with Mattie and her sometimes foolish actions. I was also disappointed that the author did not take the opportunity to illustrate that the emptiness Mattie felt could only be filled by the Lord. Nevertheless, I believe that most fans of Amish fiction should love “Mattie’s Pledge.
A free copy of this book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When she feels the pull of both home and the horizon, which will she choose?
Mattie Schrock is no stranger to uprooting her life. Even as her father relocated her family from one Amish community to the next, she always managed to find a footing in their new homes. Now as the Schrock family plans to move west from Somerset County to a fledgling Amish settlement in Indiana, she looks forward to connecting with old friends who will be joining them from another Pennsylvania community–friends like Jacob Yoder, who has always held a special place in her heart.
Since Mattie last saw Jacob, they’ve both grown into different people with different dreams. Jacob yearns to settle down, but Mattie can’t help but dream of what may lie over the western horizon. When a handsome Englisher tempts her to leave the Amish behind to search for adventure in the West, will her pledge to Jacob be the anchor that holds her secure?
Tender, poignant, and gentle, Mattie’s Pledge offers you a glimpse into Amish life in the 1840s–and into the yearning heart of a character you’ll not soon forget.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jan Drexler brings a unique understanding of Amish traditions and beliefs to her writing. Her ancestors were among the first Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1700s. Their experiences are the basis for her stories. Jan lives in South Dakota with her husband, their four adult children, two active dogs, and a cat. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking the Black Hills and the Badlands. She is the author of the Love Inspired novels The Prodigal Son Returns, A Mother for His Children, and A Home for His Family (September 2015).
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Lexi is the award-winning author of the Coldwater Cove series, a collection she describes as big stories in a small town…with Ozark snark! Her goal is to make her readers laugh a little, cry a little and then leave them with a guaranteed happy ending. When she’s not writing, she loves singing, reading and spending time with her kids and pets. She also loves traveling with her husband who’s taken her on more adventures than she deserves!
Kara Isaac is an award-winning writer who lives in Wellington, New Zealand, where her career highlights include working in tourism as Private Secretary for the Prime Minister. She loves great books almost as much as she loves her husband and two children.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Davis Bunn is an award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies.
Stephanie’s love of the written word began long before she could read. As a child she would hold a newspaper in hand and move her fingers along the page, pretending to read along.
Jan Drexler brings a unique understanding of Amish traditions and beliefs to her writing. Her ancestors were among the first Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1700s. Their experiences are the basis for her stories. Jan lives in South Dakota with her husband, their four adult children, two active dogs, and a cat. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking the Black Hills and the Badlands. She is the author of the Love Inspired novels The Prodigal Son Returns, A Mother for His Children, and A Home for His Family (September 2015).
