by admin | Oct 5, 2018 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Humor, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21 ESV
Summer Plans and Other Disasters is a light-hearted romance that contains an important lesson. The story revolves around Callie Stevens a school teacher who believes she has heard from God about what she should do over summer vacation and has planned accordingly. The only problem is that her plans seem to fall apart at every turn and Callie begins to doubt if she heard God correctly. Perhaps she just took the ball and ran with her own interpretation of what she heard.
Other characters include Callie’s older brother Jack, his best friend Ryan, Callie’s old flame Kyle, and her new friend Stacey. The narrative is related through several points of view and it is evident the characters are not always on the same page. Intelligent, accomplished Callie who does everything accordingly to plan is a disaster in the making which definitely adds quite a bit of humor to the tale. Jack is the perfect big brother, level-headed and competent except when he’s around a certain young lady. Ryan is a perfect leading man but then Kyle is not too bad either. The problem is will Callie figure out which one meets God’s plan for her or will she carry through with her own plans?
I mostly enjoyed this book even though at times Callie could be just a bit exasperating. Her education and accomplishments were in direct contrast to some of her quirky actions. Nevertheless, Summer Plans and Other Disasters is a great novel for those times when one wants to read something light and humorous. I would be open to reading a sequel, especially if it is about Jack.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Audra Jennings PR. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Elementary school music teacher Callie Stevens thinks she’s finally figured out God’s plan for her life—she even made a list to keep her on track. Moving in with her brother and reconnecting with her ex-boyfriend are at the top of the list. What’s not on the list is running into her childhood crush, Ryan. God wanted her to connect with Kyle, right?
Trying to figure out God’s plan is hard enough. But a dating-averse older brother, the young blonde who adores him, a pregnant best friend, and Callie’s continual mishaps make her wonder whether her best laid plans were truly God-inspired.
Now available from Elk Lake Publishing!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Karin wrote her first novel in 2007 to cope with her husband’s cancer diagnosis (no worries – he’s cancer free now!). With the support and encouragement of her family, she submitted that manuscript. That particular manuscript has not been published yet, but Summer Plans and Other Disasters, her first published book, releases in September 2018.
Karin writes contemporary and speculative fiction stories with a healthy dose of romance, but she’s also expanded her repertoire: she writes feature stories for the local paper, copy material for businesses, and blog posts for herself and others. She even edits (offering copy editing, fiction editing, and critiques through Write Now Editing Services) and teaches (she’s the Substantive Fiction Editing instructor for the PEN Institute and can be found around the country teaching writing and editing courses at conferences and at her local college).
When Karin’s not reading, writing, or editing, she enjoys cooking and baking. She plays the piano and sings (the key of E, please). She kayaks with her husband in the summer, watches football in the fall (Go Blue!), and enjoys Christmas lights all winter long. Shy but extroverted, Karin adores her nieces and nephew and loves spending time with her family. Learn more about Karin at: karinbeery.com.
You can also follow her on:
Facebook – www.facebook.com/authorkarinbeery/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/karinbeery
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/karinbeery/
by admin | Oct 5, 2018 | Books, England, Gothic Romance, Historical, Mystery
MY REVIEW:
Sandra Byrd is a master at creating those mysterious and atmospheric gothic style novels that I love so much. I have missed novels similar to those by Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt that I once devoured and am thrilled to see a few Christian authors beginning to publish novels in this style. I have loved each and every one of Sandra Byrd’s previous series and if Lady of a Thousand Treasures is any indication, I will also love her Victorian Ladies series.
Lady of a Thousand Treasures held me spellbound from page one until the end. It was fun imagining what the different treasures looked like based on the author’s detailed descriptions of them but it was even more fun to actually see examples shared on her Pinterest board. This particular story is filled with enough mystery and romance to keep me involved and has plenty of twists and unexpected turns to satisfy the most particular reader. Characters are well-rounded and are quite easy to either love or hate but it is not always simple to decide where a couple of them stand.
This is a lovely, lovely book with beautiful prose and so many facts about art and history that most readers will not only be entertained but educated. And of course a subtle message of faith is deftly woven throughout. This author cannot write quickly enough for me but I will have to be patient and perhaps try to slow my reading speed. I look forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author and Tyndale House Publishers. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.
The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart.
Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims.
With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.
Read an excerpt here.
Purchase a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published fifty books.
Sandra’s delighted to kick off her new historical romance series with Tyndale House Publishers, Victorian Ladies, with Lady of a Thousand Treasures. The three-book Victorian Ladies series follows her historically sound Gothic romances, Daughters of Hampshire, launched with the bestselling Mist of Midnight, which earned a coveted Editor’s Choice award from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, was published in 2017. Check out her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2011, and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012.
Sandra has published dozens of books for kids, tweens, and teens, including the bestselling The One Year Be-Tween You and God Devotions for Girls. She continued her work as a devotionalist, with The One Year Home and Garden Devotions, and The One Year Experiencing God’s Love Devotional.
Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more or to invite Sandra to your book club via Skype.
by admin | Oct 4, 2018 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Readers of Dani Pettrey’s Chesapeake Valor series finally get their chance to discover where Luke Gallagher has been since he disappeared from his friends’ lives. Dead Drift is a wild ride from beginning to end as Luke and his old friends work together (mostly) to stop an imminent attack that could undermine the country. In the midst of all the action and danger, Luke and Kate Maxwell find themselves reevaluating their past relationship and whether they even want to resurrect it. Meanwhile Griffin and Finley may just be close to wrapping up a series of cold case murders that could be the work of a serial killer.
All I can say is “wow!” This book had me furiously turning the pages to see what would happen next while wanting to slow down so the story wouldn’t end. Quite a few breath-holding moments interspersed with a bit of light-hearted dialogue for relief. I always find it interesting when I read about investigative procedure and how it’s really done, especially when the story is not bogged down in too many unneeded details.
Dani Pettrey is a pro when it comes to writing a great suspense novel. I really hate to see this series end but I know I can expect another great book from her soon. If you are a suspense lover and haven’t discovered Dani Pettrey’s books, please give them a try. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House and the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Final Countdown to Stop an Imminent Attack Has Begun.
Burning debris littering the ground . . . smoke pluming in the acrid air . . . this is just the beginning if he fails.
Seven years ago, operative Luke Gallagher vanished to become part of an elite team set on capturing a deadly terrorist. When Luke returns to face those he left behind, their help becomes his only hope of stopping his target’s latest threat of an attack that would shake America to its core.
Private investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving or looking for Luke after he disappeared. But she also never imagined he left her or his life by choice. Now he’s back, and together they must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal, all while on the brink of a biological disaster.
Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist’s next mark?
Read an excerpt here.
Purchase a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit: © Michael Pettrey Photography
Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold more than 400,000 copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).
Her Alaskan Courage series and Chesapeake Valor series have received praise from readers and critics alike and spent multiple months topping the CBA bestseller lists. Dani has also been honored with multiple awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two HOLT Medallions, a Christy Award finalist, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award.
by admin | Oct 4, 2018 | Books, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
I discovered Heather Blanton’s books due to my love of Christian fiction with historical western settings. Her novels meet that requirement perfectly. Ms. Blanton tends to tackle subject matters that many avoid and for that reason they are usually quite realistic and sometimes gritty. Nevertheless she manages to keep them clean with an emphasis on faith which I appreciate.
To Love and to Honor features a married man who has lost his leg due to a war injury only to be abandoned by his wife. He meets a young, unmarried woman on the stage who has been abandoned by her lover when he discovered she was expecting his child. With no other options, the young lady is reluctantly returning home to a father she expects will be less than welcoming. Although he feels defeated, Joel Chapman is still enough of a gentleman to try to help Angela temporarily. Neither expects what happens next.
Yes, neither of these characters is the ideal hero or heroine of a Christian novel but yet they are because this story is one about redemption and restoration and how the Lord uses others to rescue hopeless situations and make them new again. I loved this book and always look forward to new ones by this author.
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:
Joel Chapman’s spirit is dying a slow, painful death. An amputee, he can no longer fulfill his duties as a cavalry soldier. According to his wife, without two good legs, he can’t fulfill his duties as a husband and provider. In a world of able-bodied men, it seems honor and faith don’t count for much. Angela Fairbanks is the daughter of a cattle baron known for his iron fist and cold heart. She has no doubt once her father learns she is carrying an illegitimate child, he will banish her from the ranch. A chance encounter with Joel results in a reckless but compassionate offer: for one day, he’ll play the role of her husband, and then “abandon” her. For the sake of the baby, Angela agrees to the ruse. But when love weaves itself into the lie, Joel and Angela will discover there’s much more at risk than just their hearts. Faith. Honor. Love. Which one will they sacrifice?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Best-selling author Heather Blanton is a former journalist and avid researcher who endeavors to seamlessly weave actual history in among fictional storylines. She loves exploring the American West, especially ghost towns and museums. She has walked parts of the Oregon Trail, ridden horses through the Rockies, climbed to the top of Independence Rock, and even held an outlaw’s note in her hand.
Her novels are all Christian Western Romance because this is the genre that lets her write about feisty pioneer women who struggle to find love and keep their faith. Like all good, old-fashioned Westerns, there is always justice, a moral message, American values, lots of high adventure, unexpected plot twists, and often a touch of suspense. Of course, romance is always a strong element in her stories because it is such a beautiful gift from God and a perfect reflection of how he loves us: sacrificially and lavishly. Her work is inspired by authors like the great Louis L’Amour, Francine Rivers, and Linda Lael Miller, to name just a few.
She grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina on a steady diet of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and John Wayne Westerns. Her most fond childhood memory is of sitting next to her daddy, munching on popcorn, and watching Lucas McCain unload that Winchester! Her daddy also taught her to shoot and, trust us, she can sew on buttons with her rifle.
She is a proud member of Western Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers.
by admin | Oct 4, 2018 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
Author Karen Witemeyer writes such wonderful books. Within their pages one usually finds ample humor, romance, action, and sometimes mystery to satisfy most readers but I also often find an important lesson about life and faith woven into a delightful story. More Than Meets the Eye is such a book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The strong ties of three children forced to rely on each other for survival joined them together into a family of sorts that followed them into adulthood. It was heartwarming to see how they cared for and looked after each other. Each of the characters had unique traits that made them all the more realistic. Evangeline was such an optimist that she encouraged everyone. Despite his own health problems Seth was determined to do his part in taking care of their home. And big brother Zach felt responsible for them all and sacrificed more than they knew to make sure they had what they needed.
Then into their lives rode Logan Fowler, a man bent on revenge against the man he believed destroyed his family. The poor man had no idea what he was in for or how his interactions with this unusual family would change his life and theirs forever.
If you have never read a book by Karen Witemeyer, please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of More Than Meets the Eye. I know you will enjoy it at least almost as much as I did.
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:
When Her Family Is Threatened, She Doesn’t Expect Falling in Love to Be Their Best Defense
Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes–one bright blue, the other dark brown–Evangeline has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world’s judgments, and Evangeline has two–Seth and Zach, fellow orphans she now counts as brothers.
Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father’s death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. And when Hamilton’s unique sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time they cross paths, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?
Read an excerpt here.
Purchase a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance to give the world more happily-ever-afters. Karen makes her home in Texas, with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com.
