by admin | Jan 13, 2016 | Appalachia, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Well past my child-bearing years and never interested in any type medical career, I was uncertain if I would find “The Mountain Midwife” to be a book I would enjoy. I need not have been concerned. This book was an enthralling romantic suspense with an Appalachian mountain setting that held my interest from its very first pages.
The author did a marvelous job with fully developed characters to whom I could relate. Ashley Tolliver was a compassionate woman whose dedication to the women of her community was commendable yet she was unaware of just how important a role she played. When Hunter showed up in search of the woman who claimed to be his mother, she found herself drawn into his quest as well as her own search for the mysterious young woman who had disappeared soon after Ashley delivered her baby.
The well-written plot moved along at a steady pace with ample drama, humor, mystery, and romance to whet any reader’s appetite. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the mountains in the company of Ashley and Hunter and was left wanting more. I am hoping for a sequel to this marvelous novel.
This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing and the Fiction Guild.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
For nearly two hundred years, women in Ashley Tolliver’s family have practiced the art of midwifery in their mountain community. Now she wants to take her skills a step further, but attending medical school means abandoning those women to whom she has dedicated her life, the mountains she loves, and the awakening of her heart.
Ashley Tolliver has tended to the women of her small Appalachian community for years. As their midwife, she thinks she has seen it all. Until a young woman gives birth to a baby at Ashley’s home and is abducted just as she tries to take the dangerously bleeding woman her to the nearest hospital. Now Ashley is on a mission to find the woman and her newborn baby . . . before it’s too late.
Hunter McDermott is on a quest—to track down his birth mother. After receiving more media attention than he could ever want for being in the right place at the right time, he receives a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother. Hunter seeks out the aid of the local midwife in the mountain town where the phone call originated—surely she can shed some light on his own family background.
Ashley isn’t prepared for the way Hunter’s entrance into her world affects her heart and her future. He reignites dreams of her own family she has long put aside in favor earning her medical degree and being able to do even more for her community. But is it commitment to her calling or fear of the unknown that keeps her feet firmly planted in the Appalachian soil? Or is it something more—fear of her growing feelings for Hunter—that make her hesitant to explore the world beyond the mountains?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Recipient of the National Readers Choice Award, Laurie Alice Eakes is the author of nine books and a novella, with four more books and two novellas scheduled for release. She is a writing teacher and speaker and has her master’s degree in creative writing. She also writes articles on writing, including “Writing from the Heart While Writing for the Market” for The ACFW Journal.
Visit her website at www.lauriealiceeakes.com
Facebook: authorlauriealiceeakes
Twitter: @LaurieAEakes
by admin | Jan 2, 2016 | Books, Historical, Humor, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I always enjoy Regina Jennings’ historical romance novels because I know I can expect an entertaining combination of humor, drama, and romance laced with a touch of mystery and suspense and surprises. It is also a plus to find a good message of faith woven through her stories. “At Love’s Bidding” did not disappoint with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and a sweet romance that kept me happily reading and satisfied at its end.
I loved this tale about Miranda Wimplegate who travels with her grandfather to Missouri where their new auction house is located, hoping to find a valuable portrait before it is too late. The fun really begins upon their arrival in Missouri where they find themselves over their heads with their new business that is not at all what they expected. It was quite enjoyable reading about Miranda’s efforts to keep up with her grandfather and her interactions with Wyatt Ballentine were fascinating.
As always, the reader can expect some amusing conflicts between the primary characters before the romance commences. A unique group of secondary characters offers added interest and support to the story. Rather than chance revealing more and spoiling the story, I suggest an immediate trip to the closest bookstore or favorite online retailer to pick up your own copy of “At Love’s Bidding”. I do not think you will be sorry.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She sells priceless antiques. He sells livestock by the pound. Is he really the man to make a bid for her heart?
After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she’s accidentally sold a powerful family’s prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the people who could ruin them forever, they track it to the Missouri Ozarks and make an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house and all its holdings before the painting can move again.
Upon crossing the country, however, Miranda and her grandfather discover their new auction house doesn’t deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its frustratingly handsome manager, Wyatt Ballentine, is annoyed to discover his fussy new bosses don’t know a thing about the business he’s single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more heads of cattle than they can count–but no mysterious painting–Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and prevent a bad situation from getting worse.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She is the author of “A Most Inconvenient Marriage,” “Sixty Acres and a Bride,” and “Caught in the Middle,” and contributed a novella to “A Match Made in Texas.” Regina has worked at the Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children.
Find out more about Regina at http://www.reginajennings.com/.
After a cross-country trip to track down a sold painting that could ruin her family’s business forever, Miranda Wimplegate forms an unlikely but charged partnership with livestock auctioneer Wyatt Ballentine in Regina Jennings’ At Love’s Bidding. Miranda and her grandfather discover their new auction house doesn’t deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its frustratingly handsome manager, Wyatt, is annoyed to discover his fussy new bosses don’t know a thing about the business he’s single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more heads of cattle than they can count–but no mysterious painting–Miranda and Wyatt must try and prevent a bad situation from getting worse.
Join Regina in celebrating the release of At Love’s Bidding by entering to win her Cozy Winter Night giveaway and RSVPing to her January 5th author chat party!
One grand prize winner will receive everything you need for a cozy winter night:
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 1/5. The winner will be announced at the At Love’s Bidding Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Regina and other readers, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!
RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!
by admin | Dec 12, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“The Wedding Chapel” is just another confirmation of why Rachel Hauck has remained among my top ten favorite authors for several years. There is no such thing as missing one of her books. In fact I usually have them on my Amazon wish list far in advance of publication. I am often offered a review copy but if not, I never hesitate to buy a copy as soon as it is released.
This particular novel contains two romances and moves back and forth between four primary characters and also between past and present times. Despite the frequent changes I had no problems keeping up with what was happening. In fact certain facts related in one person’s background helped me to understand a few things about another of the characters. All-in-all, this is a poignant story that involves unrequited love, betrayal, and marriage problems due to inability to communicate.
In her true fashion, Rachel has once again penned a captivating story filled with forgiveness and redemption. I particularly loved the “heartbeat of God” scenes and can well imagine how frightening yet faith building that such supernatural events could be. There were a few surprises along the way and I found the ending to be very satisfying. I can’t wait for Rachel’s next book!
This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program
of Harper Collins Christian Publishing and The Fiction Guild.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A lonely wedding chapel built as a tribute to lost love just might hold the long-awaited secret to hope and reconciliation.
For sixty years, the wedding chapel has stood silent and empty. Retired football hall-of-famer Jimmy “Coach” Westbrook built the chapel by hand, stone by stone, for his beautiful and beloved Collette Greer, whom he lost so many years ago. The chapel is a sanctuary for his memories, a monument to true love, and a testament to his survival of the deepest pain and loss.
Photographer Taylor Branson left her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee to make a new life for herself in New York. Taylor had lots to run away from, not least of all a family history of broken promises and broken dreams. Love catches Taylor off guard when she falls for Jack Forester, a successful advertising executive, and their whirlwind romance leads to an elopement – and then to second guesses. Jack, in spite of his very real love for Taylor, is battling his own demons and struggles to show her his true self and the depths of his love for her.
When Taylor takes a photography assignment in Heart’s Bend, she is thrown back into her own past and encounters family secrets buried deep beneath the sands of time. And when Taylor and Coach’s journeys collide, they each rediscover the heartbeat of their own dreams as they learn that the love they long to hold is well worth waiting for.
Download a sample chapter here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rachel Hauck is an award winning, bestselling author. Her book, The Wedding Dress, was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times, and Once Upon A Prince was a Christy Award finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and two pets and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at rachelhauck.com, Facebook: rachelhauck, and Twitter: @RachelHauck.
by admin | Dec 11, 2015 | Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
I loved “Pieces on Earth”! Cathy has a special gift in making her characters come alive. They each have normal human frailties and their circumstances are so true-to-life.
A Christmas novella, the story focues on Liv Tulley, a navy wife who looks forward to having her husband home to celebrate Christmas with their family. His unexpected deployment and her unexpected pregnancy create unwanted stress for Liv and even some resentment toward God. Despite her troubling circumstances, Liv never totally loses her faith and her nightly bedtime routine with her daughter is a wonderfully simplified retelling of the Gospel complete with tender conversations.
I really liked how the author described broken people with Jesus as the “Fixer” who would pick up all the broken pieces. I also liked the redemptive message woven throughout the story and how one of Liv’s broken friends was affected by overhearing the nightly story time between Liv and her daughter.
Since reading “Pieces on Earth” I have suddenly begun to hear songs about brokenness that brought the story back to my mind, particularly one song – Brokenness Aside by All Sons and Daughters. Ellie Holcomb’s album “As Sure as the Sun” also several songs dealing with brokenness. I can’t help but believe that perhaps this theme is one that deserves more of my consideration.
A digital copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for my honest review.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
As the wife of a naval aviator in sunny Pensacola, Florida, Liv Tulley eagerly anticipates the first Christmas in several years with her husband, daughter, and extended family. Then her husband is unexpectedly deployed for an undetermined amount of time, smashing her white Christmas dreams. Can she find God’s peace in the midst of life’s pieces?
Purchase Links:
Print: http://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Earth-Christian-Fiction-Christmas/dp/1941699103/
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/PIECES-EARTH-Christian-Fiction-Christmas-ebook/dp/B017FV5AAG/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amazon best-selling author Cathy Bryant loves to write heart-stirring stories of God’s life-changing grace, and has done so through six Miller’s Creek novels, two Bible studies, one Christmas novella, and two devotional books written in collaboration with other Christian authors. She’s also written for The Upper Room devotional magazine. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her rummaging through thrift stores, romping in the great outdoors, or up to her elbows in yet another home improvement project in the mountain cabin she shares with her minister husband of over thirty years. You can connect with Cathy in the following online spots, including her website: http://www.CatBryant.com, where you can download a free eBook copy of one of her novels.
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PIECES ON EARTH $200 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway:
In celebration of the release of PIECES ON EARTH, Cathy is giving away a $200 Amazon Gift Card. The contest closes on December 21, 2015. Winner will be announced via social media channels on Cathy’s Reader’s Group Newsletter. Click here to enter: http://www.catbryant.com/win-a-200-amazon-gift-card/
