by admin | Oct 1, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romantic Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Moonstone Secrets” is the second book in a series but can easily stand on its own. DeeDee McCreary has traveled to Victoria, BC to meet her boyfriend Nick’s family and is hoping for a proposal but there are problems from the very beginning. When Nick disappears, DeeDee sets out on her own to find him and discovers some disturbing answers. Nick has been arrested for a serious crime and DeeDee must decide if she believes he is guilty or if she should help prove his innocence.
This book is a riveting suspense filled with mystery and danger as well as the expected romantic angle. Character development is excellent and the plot moves at a fast pace. DeeDee and Nick are both worldly people living without faith and are living their lives as would be expected. It is satisfying to watch as they discover a need for God in the midst of their critical circumstances.
I enjoyed “Moonstone Secrets” as well as the first book of the series, “Sapphire Secrets”.
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:
As the Christmas season sparkles around her, DeeDee McCreary eagerly anticipates visiting magical Victoria, BC, with her boyfriend, Nick, and meeting his family. But the trip proves disastrous. First, Nick finds his bank account cleaned out. Then he disappears. Frantic, she determines to uncover what happened. When she discovers something far worse than she anticipated, she questions everything she believes to be true about him.
With the man she loves in jail for an unspeakable crime, DeeDee knows the truth lies somewhere in Nick and his ex-wife’s past. But if she pursues their secrets, will she put herself in danger, too?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Author Dawn V. Cahill pens “Stories of Victorious Faith for the 21st Century,” nearly always with a crossword puzzle, sudoku, or dark chocolate nearby. “The characters in my stories face situations that would have been unthinkable even 20 years ago. We live in a vastly different world than our parents did, and that’s the world I write about.”
Seeing an unfilled niche in the Christian fiction market, Ms Cahill created Hot Topic Fiction at an intensive four-day writers conference. HTF isn’t afraid to explore the question, how does God want us to live out our faith in this not-so-brave new world? Without insulting the reader by offering pat or easy answers–because there aren’t any–HTF tells stories of ordinary Christians following hard after Christ in an upside-down world.
Ms. Cahill also blogs about puppies, substance abuse, and single parenting…sometimes all in the same day. She’s going to finish that novel she started at age 11 called Mitch and the Martians…someday. She has written several newspaper articles, three Christian contemporary novels, and more limericks than she can count. Email her at dawn@dawnvcahill.com, or find her on Facebook. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).
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by admin | Oct 1, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Love Inspired, Romantic Suspense
MY REVIEW:
What could be more romantic than a Christmas wedding on a cruise ship? Sounds wonderful doesn’t it? Jordan Somerton and Amy Delgado who are serving as best man and maid of honor just want the week to end quickly because the tension between them is pretty high. A misunderstanding has left Jordan embarrassed and Amy unable to trust him. When Amy’s niece is kidnapped, everything goes from bad to worse and the two are forced to work together to rescue her and protect the ship’s passengers.
It doesn’t take very long for the suspense to get started in “Christmas Captive” and the action doesn’t stop until it reaches the end. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how Jordan and Amy put aside their differences to work together against a group of terrorists. There were some very creative scenes as they were forced to use their creativity to try and stop the bad guys without any weapons. There was one character who made me want to shake him but that just added another layer to the story. A combination of faith and determination served Jordan and Amy well and the crisis had a predictable yet satisfactory ending.
“Christmas Captive” was a great read that is perfect for anytime of the year even if it does take place at Christmas. A relatively short read, it would be perfect for a long winter evening by the fireside.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Litfuse Publicity. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
SABOTAGE AT SEA
On his cousin’s Christmas cruise wedding, navy SEAL Jordan Somerton anticipated having the typical best man duties—not facing down criminals boarding the ship. But when the luxury liner is infiltrated by men determined to kidnap the flower girl, he’s plunged into an unexpected mission. Maid of honor and DEA agent Amy Delgado hasn’t forgiven Jordan for a misunderstanding in their pasts. But with her young niece targeted, she must draw on Jordan’s skills as a protector. Signs point to an inside job. With a traitor in their midst, can they ensure that every passenger returns home safely for the holidays…even as they find love amid deepening danger?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Liz Johnson is the director of marketing for a Christian radio network. She finds time to write late at night and is a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. Liz makes her home in Tucson, AZ, where she enjoys going to the theater and spending time with her nieces and nephews. She’s happiest writing stories of true love with happy endings and shares about her adventures in writing at www.LizJohnsonBooks.com.
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by admin | Oct 1, 2017 | Appalachia, Books, Historical, Post WW2
MY REVIEW:
“These Healing Hills” is a beautifully written novel that takes place in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains near the end of World War 2. Central characters are Francine Howard, a nurse who has moved to the mountains for training as a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service and Ben Locke, a lifelong resident of the community who has recently returned from the war. As Fran and Ben get to know one another, they find themselves increasingly attracted despite the vast differences in their upbringing.
Ann Gabhart has written a story that held my interest from the very beginning. Her descriptions of the Appalachians and their people were captivating and it was easy to see why Francine lost her heart to the area. I loved reading about the Frontier Nursing Service and the challenges these brave women encountered and the rewards they gained from their sacrifices. It was great fun getting to know all the unique residents of the area, especially Ben and Woody. What a blessing to see that all people have similar struggles no matter what their background and that faith in the Lord is the ultimate connection that draws them together.
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:
Francine Howard has her life all mapped out–until the man she loves announces his plans to bring home an English bride from war-torn Europe in 1945. Devastated, Francine seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains, training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service.
Deeply affected by the horrors he witnessed at war, Ben Locke has never thought further ahead than making it home to Kentucky. His future shrouded in as much mist as his beloved mountains, he’s at a loss when it comes to envisioning what’s next for his life.
When Francine’s and Ben’s paths intersect, it’s immediately clear that they are from different worlds and value different things. But love has a way of healing old wounds . . . and revealing tantalizing new possibilities.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit: © Memories by Chris
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, Love Comes Home, Words Spoken True, and The Heart of Hollyhill series, as well as several Shaker novels–The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.
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by admin | Oct 1, 2017 | Christian CDs, Giveaways, Music, Worship
I have been provided a copy of “Glory Song” for one of my readers. Winner will be chosen by a random drawing of all who comment on this post.
To enter, please leave a comment telling me about your current favorite worship song.
(It doesn’t have to be from Matt Redman!)
Deadline for entries is Friday, October 5. Winner will be contacted asap and will need to provide a mailing address to receive the CD that will be mailed from Propeller/Flyby Promotions.
“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
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by admin | Oct 1, 2017 | Christian CDs, Music, Worship
ABOUT THE ALBUM:
Matt Redman teamed up with several of his worship-artist friends for this album, first releasing the track “Gracefully Broken (feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard).” Tasha Cobbs Leonard also released her own version of this song on the same day! The album also features Kierra Sheard, Guvna B, Madison Cunningham, and Kim Walker-Smith.
SOCIAL CORNER:
Gracefully Broken Top Of The Tower Live Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__haUJns_b8
Gracefully Broken (Lyric Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJNR0lxbIP4
Gracefully Broken (Song Story): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LeKJYkhIo8
Buy Link: http://capcmg.me/GlorySong?IQid=flyby
MY REVIEW:
Matt Redman has been a mainstay in the Christian praise and worship community for a number of years with several of his songs, including Blessed Be Your Name and 10,000 Reasons becoming standards during Sunday morning services. His latest album, “Glory Song” has a lot to live up to and I will say that it comes pretty close.
I have had only a week to listen to the CD before reviewing so I haven’t had a great deal of time to let it really sink in through repeated listening. However there are several songs that I found particularly notable. All Glory, Greatest Hallelujah, and Gracefully Broken were the standout songs for me although most of the others were quite good also. I like the fact that most of the songs focused on worshiping God and the hallelujah theme that seemed to run through the entire album with strong lyrics that seemed to conform to scripture. If I had any complaint at all, it would be that some of the songs began to sound a little alike.
“Glory Song” is certain to become a favorite of many, especially those who are already Redman fans.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this CD provided by Propeller Consulting, LLC. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
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