by admin | Nov 18, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Spiritural Warfare, Supernatural, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I was unfamiliar with this author so when I received the book from Amazon’s CreateSpace, I was just a tad unsure whether I had made the right choice to review it, especially since my calendar seemed to be filling up much too quickly. I am happy to say that I did make a very good choice. I thoroughly enjoyed “Destiny Defied” – so much so that I stayed up well past 2:00 a.m. in order to finish it.
“Destiny Defied” is a page-turner for sure. A supernatural suspense, this novel features four college guys who have been friends for many years. A week on a deserted island seems just the thing for a fun and relaxing vacation for them until they discover an injured young woman who has washed up on shore. Their fun and games turn into a mysterious and dangerous adventure that challenges their faith.
While there is emphasis on spiritual warfare, “Destiny Defied” presents the gospel in an uncompromised manner. I believe that the way the “Fearsome Foursome” interacted with Riki had to be one of the best examples of living your faith that I have ever encountered in the many books I have read.
J.A. Marx has made a new fan here. I cannot wait until “Destiny Delivered”, the sequel to “Destiny Defied” is released.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A dramatic shipwreck emancipates Riki Hammad, but the island where she finds refuge is compromised. Unless she finds a power truly great enough to defeat her dark past, she will choose death over returning to captivity. Lord Vétis, high priest of a cultic underground, will stop at nothing to reclaim their chosen one. Using black magic, he manipulates Riki and her four self-assigned bodyguards, triggering a battle that consumes the entire island. The underground will never allow Riki to live out her dreams of a normal life…something she has never known.
Learn more and purchase a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
J.A. loves writing embattled spirit novels — adventure and suspense with supernatural undertones. On the side, she dabbles in non-fiction articles and e-zine editing. J.A. owes many thanks Jerry Jenkins and the Christian Writer’s Guild for their support and education.
Find out more about J.A. at http://online.jamarx.net.
Frank Peretti meets a modern day Treasure Island! {And Kindle Giveaway!}
Welcome to the series launch of J.A. Marx‘s Destiny series. Book one, Destiny Defied, is a chilling tale of freedom from oppression and the Light that overcomes the dark.
J.A. is celebrating the launch of her series with a Kindle giveaway and a Facebook author chat party on December 2.
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- Destiny Defied by J.A. Marx.
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 12/2. Winner will be announced at the Destiny Defied Facebook author chat party on December 2nd. RSVP for a chance to connect with J.A. Marx, to chat about the book, as well as to win some great prizes!
{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}
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 2nd!
by admin | Nov 18, 2014 | Amish, Books, Historical, Romance, WWII
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingPromises to CherishHoward Books (October 7, 2014)byElizabeth YountABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Elizabeth Byler Younts is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She is an Air Force officer’s wife and a homeschooling mom with two young daughters. She makes her home wherever her family is stationed. Elizabeth was Amish as a child and after her parents left the church she still grew up among her Amish family and continues to speak Pennsylvania Dutch.
Learn more about Elizabeth and her books on her Website .
ABOUT THE BOOK:
As World War II draws to a close, nurse Christine falls in love with roguish Amish boy Eli and must choose between a new, uncertain life in the Amish faith or face the judgment of a conservative postwar American society for her past mistakes.
It’s 1945, and Christine Freeman is a nurse at Hudson River State Hospital, where she works alongside members of a Civilian Public Service unit. Eli is one of the conscies—conscientious objectors to the war—and he is doing his best to become a man of character instead of the immature heartbreaker he used to be back home in his Amish community.
Christine and Eli are friendly, but when an old acquaintance, Jack, returns home from the war, Christine’s world is violently turned upside down. Eli, heartbroken to see his friend so hurt, offers her an escape within his Amish community. Despite her misgivings, Christine is fully embraced by Eli’s community. She slowly begins to feel valued and loved as she learns the Amish way of life.
Christine finds herself falling for Eli. But soon, the abusive Jack discovers Christine in her Amish hideaway and starts causing trouble for the quiet community. Christine can’t see herself becoming Amish, and she knows that if Eli leaves the church to be with her, he will be shunned. Will she escape Jack and possibly have to give up the one thing she holds most dear, or will she follow her heart and promise to cherish the Amish man who loves her?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Promises to Cherish , go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
“Promise to Cherish” is much more than the typical Amish fiction. Much of the story takes place in the Hudson River State Hospital during World War 2 where Christine Freeman is a nurse for patients with various mental problems. Eli, an Amish conscientious objector is assigned to her unit where he has a positive influence on many of the patients. The author’s vivid descriptions of hospital conditions and attitudes toward both the mentally ill and the conscientious objectors are eye-opening and disturbing.
The realistic plot covers some tough subjects without pulling any punches, yet manages to do so without unwelcome details. The Amish were not placed on a pedestal but were portrayed with a fresh honesty that revealed that deep down we are really not all that different. Well-developed characters who grew in their faith and managed to overcome despite their serious challenges were central to the story. I especially liked Aunt Annie whose acceptance, compassion, and wisdom made such a difference to Christine’s life.
I enjoyed “Promise to Cherish” and would recommend it to all who enjoy Amish fiction.
by admin | Nov 15, 2014 | Books, Christmas, Historical, Humor, Romance
MY REVIEW:
The sixth novella in The 12 Brides of Christmas series, “The Gingerbread Bride” is short, sweet, and funny. So far this novella is the most humorous one and had me laughing almost throughout. I am having a delightful time reading the various Brides of Christmas stories and look forward to the rest of them.
Maddie is in love with Harlan but is too impatient to wait for him to reciprocate. In order to hurry him up, she procures a “love potion” but panics when she discovers Harlan has eaten the entire plate of gingerbread she made with the “potion”. The results are hilarious but to tell more would give away the entire story.
Even with its humor, “The Gingerbread Bride” has a very important lesson about waiting on the Lord rather than trying to rush things through one’s own efforts. I remember Abraham having to learn a similar lesson.
This book was provided for review by Shiloh Run Studios.
Maddie Sinclair loves Harlan Calhoun, but feels like she can’t get his attention, so she visits an eccentric woman in the Ozark Mountains for an herbal mixture—a love potion—that she bakes into a batch of gingerbread cookies. When Harlan suddenly proposes, Maddie is torn by guilt and confusion. Is this true love or just the herbs talking?
Purchase a copy of
The Gingerbread Bride HERE.
More About The Gingerbread Bride with Amy Lillard
Amy Lilliard’s first historical novella starts out with a common problem but her heroine Maddie seeks an unusual solution in The Gingerbread Bride.
Maddie’s weakness is lack of trust in God. As a result, “she’s so desperate to find love that she grows impatient and takes matters into her own hands.”
The results, of course, backfire in a curious way involving a Christmas gingerbread man.
Set in Arkansas‘ Ozarks following the Civil War, The Gingerbread Bride features a zany young woman, the voice of reason in her younger sister and a lonely young man, Harlan, invited to Christmas dinner.
Amy enjoyed writing the story because of the close relationship between Maddie and her sister Grace. “It made me miss my own sisters. We don’t live close, but we always have each other’s back—even when we mess up,” she said.
A history major in college, Amy was always intrigued by this time period, “a nation rebuilding, still growing and pushing westward, settled, but still a little wild.”
During the writing of the novella she researched the location and period clothing, but also mistletoe traditions and when they started, Christmas trees in America, Christmas cookies, and wedding cakes.
“The idea that everyone is one of God’s children grew out of the story itself,” Amy added.
Christmas in the Lilliard household involves a big meal served around a fancy set table.
”But what makes the celebration different from year to year is we tend to invite anyone and everyone to come eat with us. It seemed natural to me that the pastor would invite Harlan to dinner. He has no family close and needs to be with others on Christmas Day. Family can mean so much more than those joined by blood or marriage.”
Amy has enjoyed working on The Twelve Brides of Christmas Collection. “I feel so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful and talented group of authors. I have made some great friends.”
Who is Amy Lilliard?
Published author, expert corn bread maker, and Squirrel Princess. Amy is a native of Mississippi who currently lives in Oklahoma with her husband and son.
For more information about Amy, please visit her website: amywritesromance.com
You can also find Amy on Facebook and Twitter.
by admin | Nov 14, 2014 | Books, Historical, Romance, San Francisco
MY REVIEW:
I have been a reader of Julie Lessman’s books since the very first and have always enjoyed them. “Surprised by Love” came as no surprise to me. It contained the same skillfully crafted plot and characters as each of her earlier novels. Julie has a way of making her readers part of the series family and I for one do not want to miss a minute of their lives.
“Surprised by Love” features Megan, the sweet but retiring McClare daughter whose year in France transformed her into a young woman even her own family did not recognize. She quickly realized that her feelings for her longtime supporter Bram had grown into love but she also found herself pursued by Devin, her tormentor from school days. Another romantic triangle continues within these pages with Megan’s mother Cait, her uncle Logan, and Andrew Turner.
It is always fun to catch up with what is happening in the lives of the primary characters of the previous novels in a series and “Surprised by Love” indulges me in that respect. In fact, the entire series could be one continuing novel except for the change in primary characters in each one. A novel with emotional highs and lows, ample drama, some unexpected twists, and of course romance, “Surprised by Love” is certain to make all Julie Lessman fans happy readers for a few all-too-short hours.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She can turn the head of the man who spurned her–but can she turn his heart?
When Megan McClare left San Francisco to study in Paris, no one would accuse her of being poised and pretty. But on the other side of the Atlantic, this wallflower blossomed into a beauty with big dreams. When she returns to California and accepts an internship at the district attorney’s office, she’s thrilled that her life is taking shape. But the exciting opportunity quickly loses its glow when she discovers she’ll be working alongside Devin Caldwell, who mercilessly mocked her at school–and with whom she was hopelessly enamored.
Bram Hughes is the best friend to whom Megan has always turned for support and advice. But when she seeks his counsel about working with Devin Caldwell, Bram’s vision is clouded by his sudden unwelcome attraction to a girl he had always thought of as a little sister. He advises forgiveness, but can he forgive himself for pushing the woman he loves into the arms of another man?
Author Julie Lessman draws a romantic triangle that will touch your heart in this glittering Gilded Age tale of transforming love.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston series, the Winds of Change series, and The Heart of San Francisco series. The recipient of seventeen Romance Writers of America and other awards, Lessman was chosen as the #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 and 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards. She resides in Missouri with her family. Learn more at www.julielessman.com.
